SHOULD I GIVE UP?

I am tired.  At 64, the physical tiredness is often there, but the tiredness I speak of today is mental, emotional, and spiritual.

I had just about decided, and had even told my husband, that a certain ongoing project I found myself beginning several years ago just doesn't seem worth the fight anymore.  It doesn't seem that I make any difference.  I feel swallowed up except for an ultrathin shaft of light at the end of the tunnel.  It seems all but closed up sometimes.

Then a sweet lady approached me this weekend and said something to me that gave me hope and makes me think that I've made some sort of impact on that one person.  Could there be more?

This morning's Bible reading schedule encouraged me more.  I checked it and today's New Testament reading is 2 Timothy 3.  Here is the entire chapter, but verse 14 is the one that really spoke to me.

2 Timothy 3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. ² For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, ^[a]haters of good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ holding to a form of ^[b]godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. ⁶ For among them are those who ^[c]enter into households and captivate ^[d]weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the ^[e]knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. ⁹ But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as ^[f]Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

¹⁰ Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, ^[g]perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ¹³ But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is ^[h]inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for ^[i]training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

I see the evidence of verses 1-5 all around me.  I'm even able to secretly pin names on most of the negative attributes listed there.  Maybe I'm not supposed to do that, but I do, not revealing them to others but knowing that these things are true for many people right now.  And I believe these ARE the last days.

I don't know if I'll continue on this project or not.  Maybe writing this blog indicates that I will...or that I never gave it up...or that these recent encouragements have made me pick it back up.  I don't know, but I'll keep praying and asking God to show me what to do.  The road is long and hard and the persecution goes completely against my sanguine temperament, but as Paul said, I look forward, fighting for the prize.

DO IT ANYWAY

As you may know, I read or listen or read and listen through the Bible every year and have done that for about 20 years or so.  It's an amazing thing to do.  Yesterday this was part of my reading:

Mark 6:1-6 - Jesus went out from there and *came into ^[a]His hometown; and His disciples *followed Him. ² When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such ^[b]miracles as these performed by His hands? ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of ^[c]James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. ⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in ^[d]his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” ⁵ And He could do no ^[e]miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And He wondered at their unbelief.

And He was going around the villages teaching.

This is a simple message, but aren't those some of the ones that impact us the most?  And if you've ever done anything, especially for the Lord, that was...shall we say "different" than is expected from those around you...this passage will speak to you immediately.  Your town, your friends, your family, and your household suddenly wonder what in the world you're doing and, "Who do you think YOU are, you self-righteous, holier than thou so-and-so??????  I knew you when you were just a little pipsqueak who could barely add two and two.  I've known you all your life.  Do you think you can impress me now?"

Well, Jesus wasn't in the business of impressing people.  He made that abundantly clear all through the New Testament.  His life was dedicated to serving God and doing whatever it was He told Him to do, even to dying on a cross for my sorry self.  He would have done that even if I had been the only person on earth, and I really don't think that has ever sunk into my inward parts.  (He did it for you, too.  TRY and let that sink in.)

Yes, this is a simple message but profound.  He had to do most of all that he did outside his hometown and away from his own people, even his own immediate family for a time.  I think they finally got it, but it took them awhile.   I'm certainly not comparing myself to Jesus, but I'm not sure I could have done some of the things I've done either if I had stayed in my hometown.  They're good folks and it's a good place, but they know me.  They knew me most of my life until I left there in my mid-20s, still a sinner.  So when I got saved about the age of thirty and started living for Him, some of them probably wouldn't have taken me or what I was doing seriously, and that can detract from the goal of getting something done for the Kingdom.

Do you know what strikes me most about this passage, though?  The very last sentence:  "And He was going around the villages teaching."  He KNEW what He was supposed to be doing and it mattered not that no one else believed that He was supposed to be doing that.  He did it anyway...because He knew it was what God was calling Him to do.  He and God had that kind of close relationship.

And wouldn't you know it?  Here is how God works.  I have this little thing that I call a flippy chart thing because I'm not sure what it's called.  It's a wooden pedestal about 8" tall that has a bunch of cards with sayings and Bible verses on them.  You flip one over every day and read it and it starts your day off with something to think about.  I've had it for about 40 years.  My niece gave it to me when we were both young sprouts.  I'm just six years older than she is, so yes we were young together.  Some of the sayings are just stupid and I have crossed them out so that I'll know to flip to the next one and not camp out on the stupid ones, such as, "A coincidence is a small miracle where God chose to remain anonymous."  Sigh.

Well, guess what today's says.  "How men treat us will make little difference when we know we have God's approval."  Don't you just love how God operates sometimes?

THE SINNER'S PRAYER UNDER ATTACK

There are those now who are trying to make a case against The Sinner’s Prayer.  The argument is that it is superstitious and unbiblical, or so goes David Platt’s conclusion.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPhEEzjU8xQ (accessed on November 21, 2017)  He says it is nowhere in the scriptures.  To that I say, neither is abortion or the rapture, but conclusions can be made from other scriptures about God’s instruction on those subjects.

To address what the Bible says about salvation and how someone may have come up with The Sinner’s Prayer (I have no idea who came up with it or how, but Biblically it appears to be okay to me) let’s go straight to the Bible.  No better place to start…or end, for that matter.

The argument some people make is that what the Bible actually says is that we should orally confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead.  The basis for that is Romans 10:9, which actually says:  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  That is absolutely true.  However, are we not taught that we should compare scripture with scripture?  Is that ALL the Bible says about salvation, or is there more?

Can we also offer these scriptures? (From the New American Standard Bible, NASB)

John 1:12 – But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His Name…  There is no mention of confessing with your mouth or believing that God raised Him from the dead here.  Neither is there mention of receiving Him and believing in His Name in Romans 10:9.  So we must believe in His Name and receive Him.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  There is nothing from Romans 10:9 here.  "Believe" is mentioned in both but with different meanings.  In Romans 10:9 it is that we are to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.  In John 3:16 it is that we are to believe in Jesus.  Two distinctly different ideas.  So we must believe in Him.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Again, there is no mention of confessing with your mouth or believing that God raised Him from the dead here.  Neither is there mention of John 3:16’s message of believing in Christ.  So we must believe salvation is free to us but we must accept this gift.

Ephesians 2:8-9  - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works so that no one may boast. Again, there is no mention of confessing with your mouth or believing that God raised Him from the dead here.  So we're saved through faith and accept His free gift.

Ephesians 3:17 – …so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…

None of the previous scriptures contribute to this one’s message except Ephesians 2, which says you’re saved through faith.  If you don’t accept Christ into your heart, how is Ephesians 3:17 going to happen?  If you're a Christian, not only has He come into your heart, He is DWELLING there!  No one DWELLS at your house unless you invite them.  Just like there are probably not squatters in your house (I hope!) there aren’t squatters in your heart.  If someone is in your heart, you’ve allowed it.  You’ve invited them in.  So by faith we must invite Christ to dwell in our hearts.  He does not force His way in.

It appears to me that God offers us a free gift:  salvation through Jesus Christ.  It also appears that we must take ALL the scriptures on salvation (and surely I have not listed them all here) and compare them, put them together, and tell the whole story.  Let me ask you this:  if I stand in front of you holding a wrapped gift and tell you that it’s yours, don’t you have to accept it?  Don’t you have to walk up to me and take it from my hand?  I guess I could put it on the ground in front of you and walk away, but you still have to pick it up.  You still have to accept it.  Accepting the free gift of Jesus Christ as our salvation is VERY Biblical, in my humble opinion.  The gift is there.  If you never accept it, do you really have it?

God is not going to force Himself into your heart.  If Ephesians 3:17 is true...and it is...it’s up to you to invite Jesus Christ into your heart.

Have you done that?  Or have you left His beautifully wrapped gift lying on the ground and walked away?

UP ALL THE TIME

I saw this posted on Facebook this morning.  In my opinion this is one of the most misleading and, yes, even foolish quotes I’ve ever heard.  The person who posted it is a friend of mine and I love her, but I think she didn’t really get the full impact.  Again in my opinion, this is just another example of how easily we Christians are deceived.  I know a lot of the people who hit the “like” button and I just simply believe they took the post at face value, maybe just skimmed through it and it sounded good, and didn’t really concentrate on it.  At first glance to some, this seems like a great read.  For me it wasn’t.

"We shouldn't be so up and down. There ought to be consistency. We should be the same all the time, because if we're walking with Jesus, He's 'the same yesterday, today, and forever' (Hebrews 13:8). If we're up sometimes and down other times, it's because sometimes we're trusting Jesus and other times we're walking in our own flesh. WE OUGHT TO BE SUPERNATURALLY NATURAL. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is in us at all times (Ephesians 1:19-20). It never fluctuates." ~ Andrew Wommack "Living in God's Best"

Is there a Christian on earth that doesn’t on occasion walk in the flesh?  How about those of us who go for that second piece of cake when we know we shouldn’t?  How about those who give in to premarital or extramarital sex?  And, yes, that happens to some Christians.  They may not be very strong Christians but they’re Christians nonetheless.  All of us give in to temptation, which Jesus never did.  Mr. Wommack is asking me to BE Jesus, not be LIKE Jesus.  There’s a great difference.

And speaking of Jesus, how about Him?  He cried when he was at the tomb of Lazarus…and He knew He was going to raise him!  Doesn’t sound like a very “up” moment.  How about when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane?  That was not a very “up” moment for Him.  He was grieving.  How can you grieve to the point of sweating drops of blood and be “up” at the same time?  If it was possible for anyone, it would have been possible for Him, but it doesn't appear that way when you read this account in the Bible.  Probably not an “up” moment for Him.

And what about being “supernaturally natural?”  It is not natural…or even human…for someone to be “up” all the time.  Even a Christian.  I guarantee you that if you know someone who is “up” every time you see them, they’re having a “down” moment sometimes when they’re alone.  One of our emotions is sadness.  Am I to believe that there is a Christian who has never been sad?

Anyway, here is my response to her post.  Oddly, one of the people who first made a positive comment on the post hit the “like” button on my response.  Maybe my response made her reread the post and come to a different conclusion.

However, we are humans and this is just not going to happen. A person going through something devastating (divorce, sickness, etc.) is going to have a down moment or two although they know Jesus hasn’t left them. Jesus also asked us to be perfect as He is perfect and holy as He is Holy but we all know that’s not going to happen on this earth. I appreciate the thought but it is a crushing burden for anyone to expect that of me. And, really, if you know me you know I’m usually “up” but it’s just not that way every moment of every day. I wish it were, but Jesus is always there in those moments.

Soooo…what do you think?

New Age Entry #16

We’ve been looking at the New Age daily guide entitled “A Course in Miracles.” Here are some of the quotes from the “Jesus” of that book: (NOT the Jesus of the Bible)

“There is no sin.”

“A slain Christ has no meaning.”

“The journey to the cross should be the last useless journey.”

“Do not make the pathetic error of clinging to the old rugged cross.”

“The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol…It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray.”

“God is in everything I see.”

“The Atonement is the final lesson he (man) need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation.”

Do you think the real Jesus Christ… the One in the Bible…would ever utter any of these?

(Most of these quotes come from an interview with former New Ager, now Christian, Warren B. Smith here:
http://www.lamblion.us/…/warren-smith-testimony-new-age-jes… )

Stay tuned! :)

New Age Entry #15

Our last New Age "discussion" was on “A Course in Miracles,” what I call the “New Ager’s Bible.” You’ll remember that it is a daily guide to teaching the New Age. I last wrote about it, giving two of their examples: “My thoughts don’t mean anything” and “God is in everything I see.” You may want to refer to my Facebook page “New Age Installment for September 30.” “A Course in Miracles” is part of what Oprah Winfrey was pushing on her show before she left it and started her OWN channel. She had a New Age friend named Marianne Williamson who helped her do this. Many people were persuaded to follow this teaching. Oprah believes that Jesus is not the only Way. In her “OWN” words: (Begin at about the 43-second mark of the clip.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noO_dCWtB1E And should you think I’m picking on black people, here’s Joel Osteen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwL1DThtxYg There’s a lot of truth in what he said in this short clip, but he denied Christ. Plain and simple. Stay tuned! :)

Entry #12 in the New Age Series

danielplan.com

Last time, we talked about Rick Warren and “The Purpose Driven Life.” We’ll conclude our discussion on Rick today.

Another one of his projects is The Daniel Plan, a diet program he launched in 2011. I haven’t read the book and know nothing of the plan except that it has to do with how the prophet Daniel ate as described in the Book of Daniel, but I found the three men that he invited to help him write the curriculum interesting. You might, too. The men are Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Daniel Amen, and Dr. Mark Hyman.http://danielplan.com http://www.doctoroz.com/slideshow/daniel-plan-diet-mind-body-and-spirit  Some websites have made adjustments so that Dr. Oz's name doesn't show up in conjunction with The Daniel Plan anymore.

You recognize Dr. Oz’s name immediately. It’s interesting that he’s a Sufi Muslim. The Sufis are more interested in the spiritual side of Islam, seeking the purification of the inner self. Why would Rick Warren invite a Muslim (of any order) to assist him with writing a curriculum? Dr. Oz’s wife is a massage therapist. Not just any massage therapist. She is involved in Reiki massage, a form of New Age massage. (“The practitioner stores energy in their own body so the heat and flow can translate to energize the meridians, qi, and chakras in the body.” Fromanswers.com http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_Reiki&altQ=What_is_reiki_massage&isLookUp=1#Q=what%20is%20reiki%20massage  They call this energy, we call it demonic spirits. She is not just involved in Reiki, she is a Reiki Master. http://www.tara-do-reiki.com/lisa-oz-reiki-master.html Dr. Oz has placed his seal of approval on this.http://iarp.org/dr-oz-and-the-healing-power-of-reiki

Dr. Amen is a psychiatrist, sometimes dealing with children. In his book “The Brain in Love” (formerly titled “Sex on the Brain”) he recommends tantric sex, which involves the worship of sex. This is not a Christian idea. Does it bother anyone besides me that a child psychiatrist is associated with worshipping sex? Does it also bother anyone besides me that Rick Warren asked him to help write a curriculum…for ANYTHING?http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/5708516031.html

Finally, Dr. Hyman is a family practitioner, metabolic expert, and medical advisor for “The Dr. Oz Show” and to Bill and Hillary Clinton (Amy Chozick (April 11, 2014). "He Tells the Clintons How to Lose a Little". The New York Times) His book “The UltraMind Solution” offers practical medical advice but also suggests New Age resources and recommends yoga and meditation to his readers.

http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/011/discernment/warren-gurus.htm

(Some of this information was also extracted from a pamphlet entitled “The Dangers of Rick Warren’s Daniel Plan” from Lighthouse Trails Research, where there is a wealth of knowledge on the New Age.)

I just have to wonder why Rick Warren would claim to be a Christian and invite three unbelievers to join with him in writing a curriculum for a diet plan…or anything else. Why would he ask three New Agers unless he’s into the New Age himself? If you were going to embark on a project that you need help with, wouldn’t you ask like-minded people to assist you? (I think Rick Warren did, don’t you?)

Stay tuned! smile emoticon

Entry #11 in The New Age Series - A Testimony

This is a detour from my regular New Age series posts.  I was just given this link by a friend who knows I am interested in exposing the New Age.  I have not really looked at anything on this website except his testimony, which I viewed on youtube.  His testimony is 14 minutes long and well worth sitting down to watch.  Enjoy this sweet brother's story.  And stay tuned!

http://www.exposingthenewage.com/

Entry #9 of the New Age Series

Today’s focus is on “The Message” by Eugene Peterson. Some people call it a Bible. I, and many, MANY others, don’t consider it a Bible because the Bible itself says you are not to add to or take away from it. That is mentioned in the books of Deuteronomy and Revelation. Although in both places it says you are not to add to or take away from “this book,” which could limit the instruction to Deuteronomy or Revelation, it would make sense that if God doesn’t want those books amended, chances are He doesn’t want any of the rest of the Bible tampered with either. You may wonder where “The Message” has added to or taken away from the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, not only has it been added to, but it has been watered down. This passage appears to be an unveiled attempt to cater to the “Save-the-Earth” and LGBT communities. Here is the passage in the NASB and in “The Message.” The differences are not subtle at all but blatant. NASB 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified..." THE MESSAGE "Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom. A number of you know from experience what I'm talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you've been cleaned up and given a fresh start...."   The use of the phrase "use and abuse" is relative to the reader's viewpoint.  What does "use and abuse" mean to a Christian?  What does it mean to a homosexual or lesbian?  What does it mean to a pedophile? And notice the phrase, "use and abuse the earth."  Do you see the earth mentioned in this passage in any other version of the Bible?  I tried but I couldn't find it, so here is one passage where The Message has added to the Bible. Let's move on.  Contrast these two versions of The Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13. They don’t say NEARLY the same thing. NEW KING JAMES VERSION Matthew 6:9-13 "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. THE MESSAGE "Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best - As above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! Notice in “The Message” version of The Lord’s Prayer the phrase, “as above, so below.” This is a term used in witchcraft when a spell is cast. This term “seals” the spell. It is also used in numerous New Age works, including “The Secret,” by Rhonda Byrne. Here is more information on “as above, so below.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism (Scroll down about a third of the way to the heading, "As Above, So Below.")  An internet search will tell you much more. There was also a horror movie a year or so ago entitled “As Above, So Below.” While there are many examples of how “The Message” has secularized, watered down, and amended the Bible, there are also some passages that are too embarrassing and, I feel, too crude and borderline vulgar to post here. If the Bible is supposed to be God speaking to us, I can’t see Him using this type of language to do so, especially when you consider that He says in Ephesians 5:4, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” If you want to compare them for yourself, you can find your favorite version and “The Message” at www.biblegateway.com The passages in question are: Ezekiel 16:24; 2 Kings 18:27; Jeremiah 2:24, Jeremiah 3:2; Jeremiah 18:13, 1 Samuel 20:30; Hosea 2:10, Hosea 4:12. Are you seeing how Satan is introducing the New Age into the church? Stay tuned!

Entry #8 of the New Age Series

Today’s let’s talk about “The Shack,” by Paul Young, a popular book several years ago.  It spent over 172 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, 52 weeks at #1.

I had just heard the title and didn’t know much about it until a friend asked if I’d heard of it.  She had received a copy as a gift and said she was afraid to read it.  I wasn’t, so she gave it to me.  I read it, with pen and paper beside me because if THIS friend was afraid to read it, there had to be something wrong with it.  There was.  I took negative notes on every chapter except one!

Before I give you my critique of the book, here is 4:02 of what Voddie Baucham thinks of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqcysnN0-oA

Briefly, it’s a fiction novel about a man whose daughter had been kidnapped and killed.  He ended up on some mind trip where he went into the woods and spent some time with what the book says is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Apparently, it was the New Age father, son and spirit because they weren’t very much like the trinity of the Bible.  See if you agree.

God was portrayed as a woman who was black and hefty and known as Papa.  I immediately knew this book was in trouble with God…the real God…when I saw that description because all male figures in the Bible are referred to as “he” or “him.”  Likewise all females as “her” or “she.”  So how could God, referred to in the Bible in the masculine, be presented as female?   Next he/she was portrayed as black, which meant the author had assigned a race to God.  God is spirit and has no race or color.  Finally, it portrayed him/her as overweight which meant that God had an eating problem, was a glutton, or had a health issue that caused him to have weight gain.  None of this is true about God the Father.  Maybe the New Age “God” has these troubles but our perfect heavenly Father does not.

Next the Jesus character in the book was portrayed as sort of a Brawny guy with a plaid shirt and jeans and a tool belt, which is neither here nor there because Jesus had been a carpenter and in today’s setting would have probably looked like that.  However, on page 104 the Jesus character is mixing something in a bowl and drops the bowl, making a mess and having to clean it up.  Maybe this doesn’t mean much to you, but I think that if the real Jesus could be tempted in every way as man and not sin, he could probably hold onto a mixing bowl.  Just sayin’.  On page 112 he tells the main character that God dwells in, around, and through all things.  Blammo!  There’s our basic New Age belief.

Last but not least is the “Holy Spirit,” of “The Shack,” who was portrayed as a small Asian woman who was glittery and flittery and sort of a “now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t” character.  And again, a woman.  (Not sure how the Jesus character got away with being a male.)  She was here sometimes and you could see her, and here at other times and you couldn’t.  And her name was Sarayu.  I knew when I saw the name that there had to be something behind it, so I did a search and sure enough, there it was.  Sarayu is a river in India and has ancient significance because it’s mentioned in The Vedas and Ramayana, two works of Hindu writings.  The Vedas are credited to the Hindu god Brahma.  On page 136 Sarayu says, “…evil and darkness…do not have any actual existence.”  Maybe not in your make-believe fantasy world, sister, but they do in the real world.

Stay tuned!  J

Entry #7 in the New Age Series

Today’s post concerns the very popular “Jesus Calling” devotional book by Sarah Young. Did you have any idea that it is very New Age? Here’s why.

It’s my understanding that Sarah started out as a Christian. Then she read “God Calling,” a New Age book whose authors were two anonymous women who referred to themselves as “the two listeners.” They operated in “spiritual dictation,” believing they were receiving personal messages from God. It was a popular book on New Age participants’ bookshelves decades ago. Because of Sarah Young’s endorsement of it, it has resurfaced and is popular again. She said, “It is a treasure to me.” She liked it so much that she wanted to receive personal messages from Jesus, so she began to operate in spiritual dictation, too. In other words, she became a channeler. How do we know that it is not from the real Jesus Christ? Well, you decide.

On page 246, the August 23 entry, he is talking about entrusting your loved ones to him. He says, “I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from son-worship. Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the father’s undisciplined emotions. I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love.” Abraham was being obedient to God, not worshipping Isaac. And what undisciplined emotions was this "Jesus" talking about?

On page 376, the December 25 entry, as he is talking about his birth, he says, “I accepted the limitations of infancy under the most appalling conditions—a filthy stable. That was a dark night for me…” Wouldn’t it be more likely that it was a dark night for Satan? Jesus was glad to give up Heaven for earth. In my opinion, the only thing that might appall Jesus is sin. Paul said in Philippians 4:11 that he had learned to be content in whatever situation he found himself. Wouldn’t the Savior feel that way even more?  And he thought that a filthy stable is "the most appalling conditions?"  Can you think of anything more appalling?  Yeah, I can, too.

“Jesus Calling” is rife with references to “My Presence.” That sounds good until you discover that the New Age is also rife with these same references, and especially with both words capitalized. There is even a New Age book called, “Practicing the Presence,” by Joel Goldsmith, in which he states, “All is God manifested…God constitutes the life, the mind, and the Soul of every individual.” We’ve already established that God is not in every human, but He lives in every Christian.

One last point for today. The New Age refers often to Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” They suggest that it is a call to sit in silence and listen for God’s voice when it is actually a call, according to Matthew Henry and others, to the nations to literally “shut up” and be still and know that HE is God. It is taken out of context. God is speaking to the nations in this verse. I have to admit…I had interpreted it as sitting in silence, too, but if we’re supposed to be quiet and listen and think on nothing, wouldn’t it make sense that Satan could drop a few ideas into our heads in that time, too? And didn’t King David say, “Blessed is the one…who meditates on His law day and night?” Psalm 1:2

Warren B. Smith, a man who spent years in the New Age then got saved, has written several books. One is “Another Jesus Calling” in which he points out so many, many New Age tendencies in “Jesus Calling.” It is available from amazon.com. I have taken some of the info in this post from this book. There is much more.

Stay tuned!

Entry #6 in the New Age Series

Today let's look at Neale Donald Walsch. http://www.benchmarkcoaching.com/law2.html

In this entry about him, he is quoted as saying, "The purpose of life is to recreate ourselves anew in the highest version of the grandest vision we ever had about ourselves..." This is in direct opposition to the Bible, which says our purpose is to bring glory to God. Isaiah 43:7

One quote attributed to him at http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/9374.Neale_Donald_Walsch  is, “There is no truth except the truth that exists within you.  Everything else is what someone is telling you.”  However, in John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way  and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Another quote from that same website is, "The meaning of everything is the meaning I give it."  (Please feel free to do a search for any of the names I throw out at you. There is MUCH to be learned about them all and not nearly enough space here for all that information. I just want you to be aware of who they are in case you hear their names or read about them somewhere. Believe me, as we go along you'll see some very well known names.) Walsch is a New Age leader who has authored several books, one of which is "Conversations with God." In the beginning of the book, he thanks "my best friend, God," then Walsch's wife, Nancy, "on a somewhat different plane, though no less heavenly..." Do you see how he has equated his wife with God? Of course, that's because New Age folks believe that everyone is God.

He also thanks such "teachers" as Ellen DeGeneres, Anne Heche (who was her lover several years ago,) Jerry Jampolsky, Marianne Williamson, and Oprah Winfrey. More on Marianne and Oprah later.

In this book, Walsch also experiences automatic writing, an occult phenomenon in which a person writes but not under their own power. Their hand literally writes without the person's control of it. This is a way of channeling a spirit guide. We spoke earlier about channeling and how it is occult. The channeler is under Satanic influence and invites demonic activity. Of course, they don't refer to it as demonic. Sometimes they will even say they're channeling Jesus. Of course, this is never how Jesus works. Our relationship with Jesus is not occult. It can't be since the Bible tells us to stay away from anything occult. Again, a search will tell you much. Here's what Wikipedia says about it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_writing (If you are one who has trouble trusting Wikipedia, please feel free to search other sites for information you deem more trustworthy.)

This site has many quotes by Walsch that are pretty "far out."  Compare them with scripture.  You'll find many of them are way off from what God really says.

More later! Stay tuned!

Entry #5 in the New Age Series

Here's a New Age leader I'm sure most of you have heard of...Robert Schuller. Although he died last year, he was on TV for years. As you were channel surfing, you probably saw him in his powder blue robe preaching in his Crystal Cathedral, a massive all-glass structure in Garden Grove, CA. Over the years, he invited various celebrities to join him at his pulpit. He wrote several books, one of which is, "If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It." Let's look at a few quotes from it.

"I characterize the basic needs of people as follows: food, clothing, and shelter; security; family and friends; to understand and be appreciated; to help others, to find God." Notice God's ranking in this list! Odd for a preacher, don't you think?

Here's another one: "Treat yourself right. Take care of yourself and others will start treating you better. You deserve the best." Another selfish, self-esteem, New Age statement. Does it agree with the Bible?  Doesn’t the Bible say that we’re supposed to put others first?

The last one I have for you is: "I believe! I believe! I believe! Even if the words don't come naturally, force yourself to repeat them morning, noon and night. Force them into your subconscious. These words will give you the power to face life again. I guarantee it!" Believe what? In yourself, I suppose. And Who is our power to face life? The Holy Spirit, not some mantra we're supposed to force ourselves to repeat in order to feel good. This is just a fraction of what Schuller is responsible for feeding innocents. You can Google him and find much more.

So far we've discussed two New Age leaders who have had much unholy influence over the years on untold numbers of people. These were mild. It heats up a bit. Join me in a couple of days for discussion on another. I'll leave you to  your thoughts on today's post and also give you time to Google Robert Schuller.  Stay tuned!

Entry #4 in the New Age Series

Did you figure out what was wrong in the Noah story from the pictures in the last post? Here it is: It talks about the animals’ and man’s “goodness.” The true account in the Bible never mentions anything about the animals’ or man’s “goodness.” In fact, David says that no one (meaning no person) is good, (Psalm 14:3) and Jesus says that only God is good. (Matthew 19:17) The New Age would believe that man is good because they think we are all God, therefore they would think that we would have to be considered good. They also are into self-esteem and being sure you’re respected and treated well by others. Sounds a bit selfish to us Christians who are taught in the Bible to die to self, doesn’t it?

As I said before, the New Age is a conglomerate religion in that they have drawn on ideas from just about every religion in existence, including Christianity. You can join them and bring Jesus with you if you wish, but you just can’t claim that He’s the only way to Heaven or to God. They even have their own God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, which sounds good to begin with, but on further investigation you find that they are not the same as our God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. We’ll address that later.

There are many New Age leaders, some you’ve heard of and some you haven’t. Here are just a few: Norman Vincent Peale, Alice Bailey, Jerry Jampolsky, Dr. Bernie Siegel, Neale Donald Walsch, Ken Blanchard, and MANY more.  Brace yourself...in a few days you'll read some names here that may shock you.

You’ve probably heard of Norman Vincent Peale. (He died in 1993.) I remember hearing of him when I was a child in the '60s and about a book he wrote that practically everyone has heard of: “The Power of Positive Thinking.” Sounds good, doesn’t it? Let’s investigate.

In the introduction to “The Power of Positive Thinking,” he says you can rise above obstacles “…by channeling spiritual power through your thoughts.” Channeling is occult and the Bible tells us very plainly that we are to stay away from anything that smacks of the occult, including mediums, witchcraft, sorcerers, etc. (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) Galatians 5:20-21 speaks of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God and includes those involved with witchcraft. There is much more in the Bible about the occult. A simple internet search will show you all you want to know about where to find this in the Bible.

Here are a couple of Peale’s quotes: “Practice self-affirmations, for example…I can do all things through belief in myself.” Did you catch that? Isn’t that in direct opposition to the Bible in Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through Christ…?” Here’s another quote of his: "Only use positive thoughts in prayers, never negative. Only positive thoughts get results.” Does that mean if I’m on my face before God crying out to Him in pain (not a very positive situation) that He won’t answer me? No. It does not. He also quotes an “inspiring friend,” who said, “Learn to pray big prayers. God will rate you according to the size of your prayers.” Not true. In fact, the Bible speaks of not praying long, wordy prayers just for the sake of wordiness.

Norman Vincent Peale pastored Marble Collegiate Church in NYC for 52 years. I heard Donald Trump on the radio awhile back saying that he had attended that church as a young man and Peale was his pastor.

Part of Peale's and his church’s legacy??? Guideposts Magazine! No wonder so many people have read it for decades…my guess is that it’s unrealistically positive and makes them feel ecstatic!

You may want to take a few minutes to do a search for Norman Vincent Peale, but keep your Christian hat on...don't be fooled by all the positive things you'll read!  Speaking positive things doesn't make someone a Christian.

More to come.  I'd love to hear from you!