Which version are you contemplating?

Someone asked what I have against contemplative spirituality. I’ve heard some people apply the term to a quiet life of prayer. One in which you spend time in solitude to clear your mind and converse with God. That’s fine; we DO need quiet times of prayer. Unfortunately, the growing trend of contemplative spirituality that is popular involves a mixture of new age, eastern mysticism, and secular humanistic elements. If you are quietly and prayerfully journeying, and are focused on Christ…that’s ok. When you start trying to tap into the “god within us….spiritual oneness”, when you remove the focus from Jesus and place it on human reasoning or on yourself, and when you manipulate Bible verses to support your purpose…there’s a problem.

Simply expressed, contemplative prayer encourages the use of breathing techniques and repetitive chanting to achieve an altered state of higher consciousness. This is simply transcendental meditation (TM). Wrap TM in some scripture verses and throw in the backing of one or two big names and the end product is contemplative spirituality.

Early monks used a memory system to memorize the Bible so that they would be able to meditate upon it later. Contemplation, as exemplified in monastic orders, is different from that which is arising in the Emergent Church.

New-fangled contemplation puts the focus inward upon the person. It is not longer God-centered. It is a blend of New Age and eastern mysticism.

So, as a matter of semantics, I am both for and against it. When the definition becomes clear, as a Jesus follower, I cannot endorse something which eradicates the need for Jesus and puts the focus solely on man, a collective consciousness, and a god-within mentality. I can; however, support quietly pondering on God’s word while prayerfully communicating with Him and attempting to draw nearer.

New Age Lies Exposed

This is a repost from my personal blog that, sadly, I have been lax in keeping.

A friend told a story to me this week. She heard it on television, but couldn’t remember which religious show she heard it on. It went like this, “Some teenage boys wanted to see an R-rated movie, however, their father refused. Sulking, they went to their bedroom. Meanwhile, the father gathered some dirt from outside and poured it into the brownies that he was baking. When the boys tasted the brownies later that night, they wondered what was wrong with them. Their little brother, who was not eating any, laughingly explained to them what their father had done. In astonishment, they stared at their father. He lovingly explained to his boys that the dirt represented the things of the world that they wanted to participate in: things that didn’t seem too bad, but that went against their Christian values. While one or two movies might not seem like a big deal to them, it would have an effect on them nonetheless. This was the best way he knew to illustrate to them that a little dirt did affect the batter just as a little sin affects our lives.”




What is being done to Christianity today is similar to the dirt in the brownies. The Bible is the inerrant word of God. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Yet, in today’s world, we see an increase in people and denominations attempting to manipulate the scriptures to fit their modern lives. There are many verses in the Bible that warn us to not be deceived by false teachers. In her book, New Age Lies Exposed: How To Stand Firm In God’s Truth, Dr. Sandra Clifton gives a brief history of the New Age Movement, explains the difference between Gnostics and true Christian mystics, and defines the differences between the various definitions of humanism. From her book, you will also learn the gradual shift from a God-centered theistic humanism to deistic humanism, to naturalism where God doesn’t exist and finally to the modern New Age rhetoric being spouted by people such as Eckhart Tolle, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Wayne Dyer. Clifton presents detailed explanations of New Age arguments mentioned above as well as existentialism, relativism, pantheism, and quantum physics. More importantly, she also tells you how to recognize their rhetoric, gives prayer strategies to combat them and pertinent Bible verses to meditate upon.



I have encountered many Christians who faithfully watch Oprah (not all of her shows are bad) and who claim that they have learned from and been benefited by the books of Eckhart Tolle, Rhonda Byrne and Wayne Dyer. They have even attempted to point out that the books reference God and that some reference Jesus. It is not the Jesus of scripture, however. The books do not mention Jesus as Savior; rather Jesus is one of many enlightened teachers. These people have been misguided by self-proclaimed experts who use a little truth combined with their new age rhetoric to manipulate scripture so that it fits their lives. Just as a little dirt in the batter ruined the brownies, a little new age rhetoric that sounds good in the moment can pollute the true meaning and message of the Bible. New Age Lies Exposed will show you how to address these arguments. The book is available from sources such as the publisher at www.bridgelogos.com or from www.amazon.com

God is jealous of me?

A friend recently sent a video for me to view on Facebook. The video was titled, “The Church of Oprah” and showed several clips from the show in which Oprah advocates that there is one God and several paths to reach Him. At one point, audience members tell her that there is just one way and that way is Jesus. Oprah becomes argumentative and dismissive. Her reply to the audience members is that Jesus is their way, but not THE way. Further clips present additional information on the new age gurus who Oprah is increasingly beginning to feature on her show. The New Age Rhetoric of Wayne Dwyer, Rhonda Byrne and Eckhart Tolle that Oprah so earnestly embraces and advocates is not being questioned by Christians. Alarmingly, a woman asked Oprah how she, as a Christian, managed to reconcile these enlightening teachings with religious beliefs. Oprah’s answer was that she realized Christianity wasn’t the only way after sitting in church one day and listening to the preacher say that God was jealous. It did not make any sense to her that God was jealous of her. Yes, God IS jealous, however, not of you Oprah and not of me. God is jealous over the things that we put before Him.

Let’s look at some of the verses that attribute “jealousy” to God. The second part of Exodus 20:5 contains the statement, “ for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.” The preceding verses, however, clearly state that God is jealous when we worship graven images or serve anyone other than Him. This is clarified again in Exodus 34:14 "For thou shalt worship no other god; for the Lord is a jealous God." Further study of the use of the word “jealous” in reference to God is equated with people who serve worldy things or graven images. In Joshua 4:19, “jealous” refers to the people who were attempting to serve the gods of the Amorites and Egyptians as well as God. Deuteronomy 4:24 and 5:9 refer to graven images. If you read the first chapter of Zephaniah, you will find that God’s jealousy was provoked by a society that was serving idols and worldly vices. In 1 Corinthians 10:20-22, God is provoked to jealousy against us because of the sins that are being committed by, once again, serving worldly things or false gods. “But I [say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” The following are a few of the things that people often place more concern and value on accompanied by Bible verses that explain they are negative:

Food

Philippians 3:19 “Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly…”


Money

Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [wealth/money]”


Pride (appearance, possessions, self-image)

Proverbs 6:16—19 "Theses six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."


While you may not think of these things as “false idols” and argue that you don’t serve them, consider this definition of an idol: image of a deity, any person or thing regarded with devotion r blind admiration, false conception or notion, figment of mind. Anything that we put above God that takes up all of our time and energy could be defined as something we are serving—a false idol—and that is what brings God to jealousy.


Unfortunately, this is not an isolated event. Increasingly, I hear of people who, because of one thing or another, begin to disagree with their Christian upbringings. They may have been influenced by someone they met; they may have been swayed by a course they took in college, or by something in the media. They begin searching until they find a different religion or a cult whose doctrines “fit” more with their lifestyles and current beliefs.

The Bible contains many warnings about false prophets and teachers who will lead others astray with their false doctrines. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15. In the upcoming weeks, join us for an introduction into the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Science, Scientology, The New Age Movement, Eckankar, Rosicrucianism, Kabbalah, Buddhism, and Islam.

All Roads Lead Back To The Basics

A friend told a story to me this week. She heard it on television, but couldn’t remember which religious show she had heard it on. It went like this, “Some teenage boys wanted to see an R-rated movie, however, their father refused. Sulking, they went to their bedroom. Meanwhile, the father gathered some dirt from outside and poured it into the brownies that he was baking. When the boys tasted the brownies later that night, they wondered what was wrong with them. Their little brother, who was not eating any, laughingly explained to them what their father had done. In astonishment, they stared at their father. He lovingly explained to his boys that the dirt represented the things of the world that they wanted to participate in: things that didn’t seem too bad, but that went against their Christian values. While one or two movies might not seem like a big deal to them, it would have an effect on them nonetheless. This was the best way he knew to illustrate to them that a little dirt did affect the batter just as a little sin affects our lives.” I’ve since heard from another reader who said that she had heard the story in the 1980’s. Instead of dirt, it was dog poo. Yuck! For our article, I’ll stick with the dirt.

What is being done to Christianity today is similar to the dirt in the brownies. The Bible is the inerrant word of God. Yet, in today’s world, we see an increase in people and denominations attempting to manipulate the scriptures to fit their modern lives. Secular Humanism is the accepted norm. Daytime talk shows promote the new age rhetoric of Eckhart Tolle, Rhonda Byrne and Wayne Dyer. Their books mention Jesus, however, not my Jesus. Their Jesus is an enlightened teacher. My Jesus is more than that. He died because I am a sinner and he loved me enough to save me.
In Matthew 28: 19-20, Jesus instructed us to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”(KJV). Legislation enacted to protect against racial and religious discrimination has created a society of political, social and religious tolerance. Nobody should be discriminated against based upon race or religion. This does not mean, however, that Christians should stop defending their faith.

While preaching the gospel of prosperity is appealing, we need to get back to the basics. Many people don’t defend their faith because they lack an understanding of why they believe what they believe. Others are accepting of the teachings of the New Age Movement and the Christian-based cults because they think anyone who professes a belief in God is a Christian.

Join us as we begin a discussion of cults and the New Age Movement. We will present articles that will give you the background on some cults, their beliefs, and why they are not Christian. It is our goal to lay a solid foundation and assist you in being able to discern faulty doctrines. After all, a little false doctrine is like a little dirt in the brownie batter.