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Beware of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
Mike Gendron On Wolf, Brennan Manning –
source HERE
The Lord Jesus Christ warned His followers, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheepʼs clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matt. 7:15). The warning was important because Jesus later said to them: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16). The apostle Paul, with tears and a deeply troubled spirit, penned a similar warning: “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29). Throughout church history these warnings have seldom been taken seriously. Christians continue to be deceived because they can not discern truth from error.
According to Websterʼs Dictionary “deceive” means “to lead astray or to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid.” Could it be the church has not only lost its ability to discern truth from error but also to discern wolves from sheep?
Consider Brennan Manning, an inactive Roman Catholic priest, who has some obvious characteristics of a “wolf,” yet goes mostly undetected. In the last ten years, he has become a popular speaker in many “evangelical” churches. Manning was ordained to the Franciscan priesthood after graduating from St. Francis Seminary in 1963. Later he was theology instructor at the University of Steubenville (a Catholic seminary and catalyst for Mary to be named co-redeemer). After being treated for alcoholism and leaving the Franciscan Order in 1982, he married Roslyn Ann Walker. The marriage has since ended in divorce but his popularity as a writer and speaker continues to grow despite his proclamation of “another” gospel.
The teachings of Manning are charming, seductive, cunning and dangerous as he takes advantage of his undiscerning audiences. He teaches that you can overcome fear, guilt and psychological hang-ups, even alcoholism, through meditation. His meditation techniques are drawn from a mixture of eastern mysticism, psychology, the New Age Movement and Catholicism. Manning gives the impression that he has a very intimate relationship with God and reports having many visions, encounters and conversations with Him. He assures his audiences that if they apply his teachings, they too can become more intimate with God.
I first met Manning at the Christian Booksellers Association in New Orleans. As he was signing autographs for his book, The Ragamuffin Gospel, I asked him if his “ragamuffin gospel” followed the Catholic plan of salvation or the biblical plan of salvation. He responded, “Read it and find out for yourself.” Still trying to gain insight into his theology, I gave him a tract I had written called Roman Catholicism: Scripture vs. Tradition and asked for his comments. After looking at it for a couple of minutes he tore it into pieces and threw it in the trash.
The next time I saw Manning was January 21st at Hillcrest Church, a congregation of over 5,000 members in north Dallas. Manningʼs message was about our need for a second conversion, a conversion that can only take place when one overcomes self-rejection and gains esteem through self-acceptance. After the service I asked two elders of Hillcrest Church how they could allow a Roman Catholic priest speak to their congregation. Their response—”we welcome everyone who loves God.” This was indeed a fulfillment of Paulʼs prophetic words: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
Finish Article HERE
How to Know When the Emerging Church
Shows Signs of Emerging in Your Church
Commentary by Roger Oakland
http://understandthetimes.org/
The world is changing. So is the Christian evangelical church. There was a time— not that long ago—when the Bible was considered to be the Word of God by the majority of evangelical Christians. Now that we are well into the third millennium and the post-modern, post-Christian era, the term evangelical can mean almost anything. What has happened? Why is this happening and what is the future for mainstream Christianity?
For the past several years, I have been speaking around the world on current trends that are impacting Christianity. After these presentations, I am approached by Christians who come from many different church backgrounds. Many are expressing their concerns about what is happening in their churches, troubled by the new direction they see their church going. While they may not always be able to discern what is wrong, they know something is wrong and that it needs to be addressed.
Further, many have told me they have attempted to express their concerns with their pastors or church elders. In almost every case, they were told they had a choice to make—get with the new program or get out of the church.
This move towards a reinvented Christianity (one designed to “reach people”) seems to be here for the long haul. It is not just a passing fad. I am often asked by concerned brothers and sisters in Christ to provide an explanation in order to help them understand what they have encountered. They want to know why these changes are underway and what to expect in the future. As well, they want to know what, if anything can be done, to stem this tide. It is for this reason I am writing this commentary—to provide biblical insight regarding the Emerging Church and where it is heading in the future.
The Gospel According to the Scriptures
Throughout church history, various trends have come and gone. While culture changes from place to place, biblical Christianity has always been based upon the central message of the Bible which is the gospel of Jesus Christ and the message never changes.
This gospel message is about who Jesus Christ is, and what He has done. A child can understand the gospel message. This message proclaims that life here on planet earth is finite and that life after death is eternal. The good news is that we can be saved from our sins if we will repent and simply ask for forgiveness and follow Him.
How we respond to the gospel message during the time we have on earth determines where we spend eternity—heaven or hell. Jesus, the Creator of the universe, provided a way and the only way we can spend eternity with Him. It is a matter of making a personal decision whether or not we will accept the plan He has provided.
God’s adversary does not want mankind to understand the simple message. His plan is to deceive the world. If he can blind people from the gospel or convince them that they believe the gospel when indeed they do not, his plan has been successful. Throughout the ages, countless billions have been duped, either rejecting the truth, or believing that they had believed the truth when instead they had been deceived.
The Gospel According to Postmoderism
Times change! However, the gospel must remain the same no matter what else changes. We are now living in the postmodern era. In a sincere attempt to reach the postmodern generation with the gospel, it seems many Christians have become postmodern in their thinking.
Perhaps the term postmodern is new to you. Let’s examine what it means.
First, the modern era was characterized by a time of rational thinking based on factual observation. Many claim the modern era ended in the mid 1900s.
The postmodern mindset moves beyond the rational and the factual to the experiential and the mystical. In other words, in the past it was possible to know right from wrong and black from white. In the postmodern era all things are relative to the beholder. What may be right for you may be wrong for someone else. There is no such thing as absolute truth. The only thing that is absolute is that there is no absolute.
We now live in a time in history that is characterized as postmodern. Professors at universities teach students there is no right or wrong. All things are relative. The gospel message to the postmodern mindset is far too dogmatic and arrogant. They say it is necessary to find a more moderate gospel that can be accepted by the masses.
Many church leaders are now looking for ways to reach the postmodern generation. They believe they can find the appropriate methods to do so without changing the message. However, in their attempt to reach this postmodern generation, they have become postmodern themselves and have changed the message. As the gospel is fixed upon the Scriptures, the gospel cannot change, unless of course it becomes another gospel. I believe this is what is happening in the Emerging Church.
He Didn’t Come
Many have noticed that since the turn of the millennium, their churches have changed positions on Bible prophecy and the Second Coming of Jesus. Many have given up on the return of Jesus. From the ‘60s on there was an excitement about the imminent return of Jesus. The Jesus People were excited about Bible prophecy and could see signs that Jesus would descend from the heavens for His Bride at any moment.
The year 2000 was of particular importance. When Jesus didn’t show up, it seems many were apparently disappointed. “Perhaps Jesus has delayed His coming,” some have said. Others are even taking the position that He may not be coming at all, at least not in the manner we have been taught. They are now convinced that we need to be busy about “building His Kingdom” here on earth by “whatever human effort is required.”
The Gospel of the Kingdom
One of the main indicators that something has changed can be seen in the way the future is perceived. Rather than urgently proclaiming the gospel according to the Scriptures and believing the time to do so is short, the emphasis has now shifted. No longer are “signs of the times” significant. The battle cry is very different. A major emphasis among evangelicals is the idea that the world can be radically improved through social programs.
This concept, while on the surface may sound very good, has some serious biblical implications. According to the Scriptures, there will be no kingdom of God until the King arrives. All the human effort man can muster up will fall short of bringing utopia. In fact, according to the Scriptures, fallen man will lead us further down the road to a society of despair and lawlessness just like it was in the days of Noah.
Thus, this purpose-driven view of establishing global utopia may be a plan, but it is “driven” by humanistic reasoning and not led by the Holy Spirit. While it is of course good to do good unto others, all the goodness that we can do will not be good enough. Pastors and church leaders who get involved in such man-driven programs can usually be identified by certain characteristics:
Sound biblical doctrine is dangerous and divisive, and the experiential (i.e.,mystical) is given a greater role than doctrine.
Bible prophecy is no longer taught and is considered a waste of time
Israel becomes less and less important and has no biblical significance
Eventually the promises for Israel are applied to the church and not Israel (Replacement Theology).
Bible study is replaced by studying someone’s book and his methods
Church health is evaluated on the quantity of people who attend.
The truth of God’s Word becomes less and less important
God’s Word, especially concepts like hell, sin and repentance, is eventually downplayed so the unbeliever is not offended.
Spiritual Formation and Transformation
Much of what I have described provides the formula for a dumbing-down of Christianity that paves the way for an apostasy that will only intensify in the future. This trend away from the authority of God’s Word to the reinvented form of Christianity has overcome all evangelical denominations like an avalanche. Few Bible teachers saw this avalanche coming. Now that it is underway, few realize it has even happened.
However, there is another big piece to the puzzle that must be identified in order to understand what is emerging in the Emerging Church. While biblical Christianity has been dumbed-down and the light of God’s Word diminished, another avalanche of deception is underway that is equally devastating.
This is best described by the Word of God giving way to experiences that God’s Word forbids. The best way to understand this process is to recall what happened during the Dark Ages when the Bible became the “forbidden book.” Until the Reformers translated the Bible into the language of the common person, the people were in darkness. When the light of God’s Word became available, the gospel according to the Scriptures was once again understood.
This trend, which is underway today, shows us that history is in the process of repeating itself. As the Word of God becomes less and less important, the rise of mystical experiences is alarming and these experiences are being presented to convince the unsuspecting that Christianity is about feeling, touching, smelling and seeing God. The postmodern mindset is the perfect environment for the fostering of what is called “spiritual formation.” This teaching suggests there are various ways and means to get closer to God. Proponents of spiritual formation erroneously teach that anyone can practice these mystical rituals and find God within. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is not a prerequisite.
These teachings, while actually rooted in ancient wisdom (the occult), were presented to Christendom post-New Testament and not found in the Word of God. The spiritual formation movement is based upon experiences promoted by desert monks and Roman Catholic mystics – these mystics encouraged the use of rituals and practices, that if performed would bring the practitioner closer to God (or come into God’s presence). The premise was that if one went into the silence or sacred space, then the mind was emptied of distractions and the voice of God could be heard. In truth, these hypnotic, mantric style practices were leading these monks into altered states of consciousness. The methods they used are the same that Buddhists and the Hindus use as a means of encountering the spiritual realm
Such methods are dangerous, and are not sanctioned in the Bible – God gives no instruction for this. On the contrary, he warns severely against divination, which is practicing a ritual or method in order to obtain information from a spiritual source. While proponents of spiritual formation (like Richard Foster) say these methods show that the Holy Spirit is doing something new to refresh Christianity, I would suggest that what is happening is not new and is not the Holy Spirit.
The spiritual formation movement is being widely promoted at colleges and seminaries as the latest and the greatest way to become a spiritual leader in these days. These ideas are then being exported from seminaries to churches by graduates who have been primed to take Christianity to a new level of enlightenment.
As well, these contemplative practices are being promoted by emergent leaders such as Brian McLaren, Robert Webber, Dallas Willard and others. Publishers like NavPress, InterVarsity and Zondervan are flooding the market with books promoting contemplative practices based on Eastern mysticism. Pastors and church leaders read these books and then promote the ideas as if they were the scriptural answer to drawing close to God.
Signs the Emerging Church is Emerging
There are specific warning signs that are symptomatic that a church may be headed down the emergent/contemplative road. In some cases a pastor may not be aware that he is on this road nor understand where the road ends up.
Here are some of the warning signs:
Scripture is no longer the ultimate authority as the basis for the Christian faith.
The centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ is being replaced by humanistic methods promoting church growth and a social gospel.
More and more emphasis is being placed on building the kingdom of God now and less and less on the warnings of Scripture about the imminent return of Jesus Christ and a coming judgment in the future.
The teaching that Jesus Christ will rule and reign in a literal millennial period is considered unbiblical and heretical.
The teaching that the church has taken the place of Israel and Israel has no prophetic significance is often embraced.
The teaching that the Book of Revelation does not refer to the future, but instead has been already fulfilled in the past
An experiential mystical form of Christianity begins to be promoted as a method to reach the postmodern generation.
Ideas are promoted teaching that Christianity needs to be reinvented in order to provide meaning for this generation.
The pastor may implement an idea called “ancient-future” or “vintage Christianity” claiming that in order to take the church forward, we need to go back in church history and find out what experiences were effective to get people to embrace Christianity.
While the authority of the Word of God is undermined, images and sensual experiences are promoted as the key to experiencing and knowing God.
These experiences include icons, candles, incense, liturgy, labyrinths, prayer stations, contemplative prayer, experiencing the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of the Eucharist.
There seems to be a strong emphasis on ecumenism indicating that a bridge is being established that leads in the direction of unity with the Roman Catholic Church.
Some evangelical Protestant leaders are saying that the Reformation went too far. They are reexamining the claims of the “church fathers” saying that communion is more than a symbol and that Jesus actually becomes present in the wafer at communion.
There will be a growing trend towards an ecumenical unity for the cause of world peace claiming the validity of other religions and that there are many ways to God.
Members of churches who question or resist the new changes that the pastor is implementing are reprimanded and usually asked to leave.
What does the Future Hold?
If the Emerging Church continues unfolding at the present pace, mainstream evangelical Christianity will be reinvented and the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures will be considered too narrow and too restrictive. In other words, the narrow way to heaven that Jesus proclaimed will eventually be abandoned for a wider way that embraces pagan experiential practices. I call this reinvented, re-imagined form of Christianity that is unfolding—“Christian Babylonianism”.
This new form of Christianity will replace biblical faith with a faith that says man can establish the kingdom of God here on earth. The Word will continue to become secondary to a system of works driven by experiences.
An ecumenical pattern towards unity with Rome will become more apparent. Those who refuse to embrace this direction will be considered spiritual oddballs that need to be reprimanded. Those who stand up for biblical faith will be considered the obstructions to the one world spirituality that is promoted as the answer for peace.
The best way to be prepared for what is coming is to gain an understanding of what is happening now. While there are not many who seem to discern the trend underway, there are some. Without the Bible and the Holy Spirit as our guide, the darkness that is coming would be overwhelming. However, the light of God’s Word penetrates the darkness and there are those who are being delivered from deception and see what is taking place.
I am convinced we are seeing apostasy underway, exactly as the Scriptures have forewarned. This means that this current trend is not likely to disappear. We must continue to proclaim the truth in the midst of deception with love. As Paul instructed Timothy:
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2 Timothy 2: 24-26).
There are still pastors and churches who are dedicated to proclaiming the truth. Find out where they are and support them. If you are in a location where this does not seem to be possible, seek out materials that are available from solid Bible-based Christian ministries and hold Bible studies in your own home.
And keep looking up! Jesus is coming soon.
Discovering the New Age Movement / New World Order, Part One
Submitted by Craig “Lee” Dorsheimer
I first became aware of the New Age Movement / New World Order in the late 1980s well before I became a Christian through an acquaintance who was witnessing to me at the time and who allowed me to borrow a book titled The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow written by Constance Cumbey, a Detroit area attorney. I ended up buying a copy of the book.
A few years later, I recall being in night school and seeing on a TV in our break room President George H. W. Bush in his 1991 State of the Union address stressing a “New World Order” and chills went down my spine.
…What is at stake is more than one small country; it is a big idea: a new world order, where diverse nations are drawn together in common cause to achieve the universal aspirations of mankind — peace and security, freedom, and the rule of law. Such is a world worthy of our struggle and worthy of our children’s future…
…The world can, therefore, seize this opportunity to fulfill the long-held promise of a new world order, where brutality will go unrewarded and aggression will meet collective resistance. Yes, the United States bears a major share of leadership in this effort…[1] [emphasis mine]
And, again on March 6, 1991, at the close of the Gulf War:
…Now, we can see a new world coming into view. A world in which there is the very real prospect of a new world order. In the words of Winston Churchill, a world order in which “the principles of justice and fair play protect the weak against the strong. . . .” A world where the United Nations, freed from cold war stalemate, is poised to fulfill the historic vision of its founders.
…Even the new world order cannot guarantee an era of perpetual peace. But enduring peace must be our mission. Our success in the Gulf will shape not only the new world order we seek but our mission here at home.
In the war just ended, there were clear-cut objectives — timetables — and, above all, an overriding imperative to achieve results… [1] [Emphasis mine]
It would be years after this that I would accept Jesus Christ as my savior. During my B.C. [before Christ] days I began to see New Age / New World Order connections in quite a few different areas. One in particular was music – a HUGE idol in my life. There was Eastern mysticism in most of the different genres of music I listened to whether it was the lyrics, liner notes, artwork, music or a combination of these. And, of course, most music stores have an entire section devoted to “New Age” music. This genre is generally for meditational purposes since it’s usually quiet and relaxing yet repetitive – perfect for use as a vehicle for emptying one’s mind.
A basic tenet of the New Age Movement is a syncretism of religions with the belief that there are ‘many paths to God.’[2] However, the main focus is to realize that God is in all – this is called panentheism – so, we just need to realize, then actualize, our own divinity.[3] Panentheism is a further step from pantheism which means ‘God is all.’[3] Religious tolerance is promoted and accepted with the exception of Orthodox Biblical Christianity and other monotheistic religions since these are viewed as divisive.[4]
Some New Agers redefine Christian terminology into New Age meanings. A perfect example is found in the Theosophical writings of Alice A. Bailey – who claims her writings were channeled through her by a ‘Tibetan master’ named Djwan Khul – in the use of ‘atonement’ which is hyphenated to the more Eastern ‘at-one-ment.’ The redefined meaning is to become ‘at one’ or to ‘achieve unity’ with God.[5]
It was at a particularly low point in my life when I accepted Christ; and, the thought of the New Age Movement was far from my mind. During my subsequent Christian walk, which was fraught with waywardness amid faithfulness, I would occasionally think about the New Age Movement / New World Order; but, the stresses and distractions of daily life in the U.S. would overshadow them. However, around April of 2007 I was introduced to some strange teachings that I recognized as being New Age in origin.
Here is Constance Cumbey, who was “The first major evangelical critic of the New Age Movement” according to her own words in this clip, filmed at the 2006 Radio Liberty Conference in Aptos, California:[6]
I entreat you to set aside one hour of your time to listen to what she has to say on the subject of the New Age Movement / New World Order. Cumbey wrote The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow in 1983 and its follow up A Planned Deception: The Staging of a New Age “Messiah” in 1985 in which she exposes the NAM/NWO having thoroughly researched this unfolding of end time’s prophecy. She continues to research news reports and other info in her ongoing search of the NAM/NWO on her blog.[7]
Throughout this article and the upcoming second part I will provide quotes from this video/audio message in which Cumbey recounts her journey into the knowledge of the New Age Movement beginning in 1981. In addition, I will bold some key New Age Movement (NAM) / New World Order (NWO) terms as I’ve already done above. This does not mean to imply that every time one sees these words that they are necessarily referring to the NAM/NWO.
While the NAM and NWO are intrinsically intertwined, for the sake of simplicity it may be easiest to see the NAM as the spiritual/religious side compared to the NWO which is its political aspect. But, make no mistake, the intention is to establish a one world religion/one world government. This, in fact, makes perfect sense in light of Biblical prophecy:
7He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
13And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. [Revelation 13:7-8, 13-17 Emphasis mine]
This makes it clear that the ‘beast’ will have authority over the entire earth and all inhabitants including the monetary system. The only way for this to occur is to have total governmental control as in a one world government. In addition, if the ‘beast’ is going to conquer all the saints – true Christians – then either: 1) all religions of the world will be in total opposition to Biblical Christianity; or, most likely, 2) there will be a one world religion which will be at odds with Biblical Christianity.
It seems quite obvious that this prophecy will not be fulfilled in a ‘one fell swoop’ kind of way but rather a process over time. It is highly implausible that the Antichrist would just appear on the scene without some sort of plan toward this end. Keep in mind, this is not “man” doing this – this is the power of dark forces bringing forth biblical prophecies toward their fulfillment. And, of course, God is allowing it.
18Dear children, this is the last hour, and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us but they did not really belong to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. [1 John 2:18-19 NIV]
In the above what is John referring to with his words “their going?” I believe it obviously refers to those who’ve walked away from the faith altogether; however, I also believe it refers to those who have moved away from the strict Word of God to subtle errors which in turn leads to larger errors. Remember Jesus’ and Paul’s words regarding ‘a little yeast/leaven’ and how these can “leaven the whole.” [Matthew 16:6, 11-12; Galatians 5:7-10; 1 Corinthians 5:6-7] Whether these folks are doing it knowingly or unwittingly only the Lord knows for sure.
Constance Cumbey’s Introduction to the New Age
In a Methodist book store across from her law office Cumbey found books with a common theme proclaiming the need for a “‘New World Order…’ for ‘transformation,’ to ‘see ourselves as part of an interconnected whole.’ Cumbey: “I started thinking I was looking at some very serious religious apostasy combined with some political elements…”[6]
These books were from those identified as Methodist, Baptist, Mennonite and Catholic authors; however, “…The books all sounded more like each other rather than the respective teachings of their respective denominations.”[6]
From The Aquarian Conspiracy by Marilyn Ferguson, Cumbey quotes, “Doctrine is losing authority and knowing is superseding belief.” [Emphasis mine] This quote itself was taken from The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ by Levi H. Dowling according to Cumbey. Dowling’s book spoke of a Jesus “‘who was not always ‘the Christ’ that …Jesus had earned the degree ‘Christ’ by a life of strenuous service and equipping Himself to find the ‘Christ Consciousness…’[6]
“‘…it is time for more revelation and Jesus is the flesh-made messenger to bring that light to man; but, in the ages yet to come man will attain to greater lights… and finally at last a mighty master soul will arise to light the way to the throne of perfect man.’ I slammed that book shut… I knew I just looked at something about and promoting and preparing folks for the Antichrist.”[6]
The name ‘Lucifer’ comes from the Latin ‘lucis’ which means ‘light’ and ‘ferre’ ‘to bring;’ so, ‘Lucifer’ literally means ‘light bringer’ or ‘bringer of light.’[8]
At a dinner with Phyllis Warren, a biofeedback instructor at Detroit’s Unity Temple who claimed she could heal Cumbey’s husband who had lost both legs just above the knees, Warren proceeds to tell Constance about the “New Age Movement” also known as “The Holistic Movement,” “The Networking Movement,” “The New Consciousness Movement,” and “Age of Aquarius.”[6]
Cumbey comments, “So help me, I did not know that they had a slogan ‘When the pupil is ready the master will appear.’”[6] Interestingly, I found this quote on a site on neopaganism/paganism in response to the following questions on that site, “How do I find pagans/Witches/covens/teachers in my area? How do I evaluate them:”
Some of your best contacts may come from your local new age, pagan or occult bookstores. Check their bulletin boards for notices, or ask the staff.
Don’t be in a hurry to find a teacher. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear” is a popular saying in most pagan and Craft communities.[9] [Emphasis mine]
Cumbey quotes Warren as saying that those in the movement “‘communicate with code words and signals.’” Cumbey began to say some of the code words which Warren agreed with, “Spaceship Earth, Global Village, interdependence… …I had noticed this strong thread of mysticism, both Eastern and Western, running through it.” Warren further states that Marilyn Ferguson’s book understates the magnitude of the movement.[6]
Cumbey tells Warren that she had been reading the Bible and was “convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that this may very well be what was described in the Bible as the last political/social movement that will bring the Antichrist on the scene.” Warren, still thinking that Cumbey wanted to “come on board,” proceeds, “Oh yes, that’s VERY perceptive of you… I’ve been convinced of that for many years myself.”[6]
Cumbey opens her Bible to Daniel 11:38, “‘He shall honor in his estate a god of forces, a god whom his fathers knew not.’ And, I turned to a page in The Aquarian Gospel: ‘and one may enter fully into the god of forces.’” To which Phyllis Warren says, “You saw it! You saw it! That’s such an important point! Most students of esotericism fail to grasp it immediately. …we believe that Jesus and the Christ are two separate entities, that ‘Christ’ is an office not a man.”[6]
Another meaning for ‘Lucifer’ is ‘force god’ or ‘god of forces’ according to esotericists such as Freemasons, Theosophists, Pantheists, etc.[10] (Star Wars anyone?) So, what does that say about Word of Faith adherents who believe God used the ‘force of faith’ in speaking things into existence assuming Christians can tap into this same creative ‘force?’
Cumbey then quotes 1 John 2:22, “‘Who is the liar but he who denies Jesus is the Christ …is antichrist he that denies the Father and the Son.’ And, suddenly she [Warren] had a mystic, crystal revelation – she told me too much. And, she started trying frantically to take it back.”[6]
Phyllis Warren, after figuring out that Cumbey believed the Bible to be the inerrant, infallible Word of God with no ‘hidden meanings’ or ambiguities blurted out, “‘That’s not right, that’s not right! …That book is simply too misleading…The Antichrist is NOT the negative thing the Bible’s made him out to be!’”[6]
Read Part Two of this series here.
[1] < http://www.c-span.org/executive/stateoftheunion.asp>
[2] < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age>
[3] Strohmer, Charles. “Beliefs Behind the ‘Seens.’” Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs; John Ankerberg & John Weldon; Harvest House Publishers; Eugene, Oregon; 1996; ppX-XI
[4] Strohmer, Charles. “Beliefs Behind the ‘Seens.’” Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs; John Ankerberg & John Weldon; Harvest House Publishers; Eugene, Oregon; 1996; p XIII
[5] Bailey, Alice A. “Introduction to Initiation.” From Bethlehem to Calvary. Lucis Trust; copyright 1937 by Alice A. Bailey, renewed 1957 by Foster Bailey; 4th paperback edition, 1989; Fort Orange Press, Inc., Albany, New York; p 18
[6] <http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8937919448007045479>
[7] < http://cumbey.blogspot.com/>
[8] < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lucifer>
[10] < http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/masonry.html
This is a related article you might enjoy reading:
https://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2007/08/09/the-age-of-aquarius/
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