Francis Chan’s Dangerous Path to “Unity” and a Eucharistic Christ |
By L. Sharp
Guest Writer
I am writing to address two related topics:
1) Francis Chan’s new book released 4/1/21 titled Until Unity
2) Francis Chan’s conversation with Hank Hanegraaff and KP Yohannan regarding Chan’s changing views on the so-called “Eucharist” (Aug. 2020 video on Hank Hanegraaff’s program).
I. Francis Chan’s website about his new book Until Unity
Francis Chan released his new book in April 2021 titled Until Unity. Why does this matter? Sadly, there is growing evidence that Chan has slowly turned away from the Bible as the source of truth and doctrine to church tradition, the opinions of men, and experiences to reformulate his theology.
Francis Chan’s own website explains his new book (see https://untilunitybook.com/):
CHURCH UNITY IS NOT OPTIONAL
. . . New York Times–bestselling author Francis Chan challenges us to see what keeps us from being unified as Christians across denominations and cultural differences—and why it needs to change.
. . . It’s clear from Scripture that God desires unity for His Church. Unity is what Jesus prays for, what He commands, and what He says will be the chief argument for unbelieving people coming to know God.
But if unity is that important to the heart of God, and that critical to the mission of the church, then why isn’t it something the Church fiercely fights for and passionately pursues?
We divide easily because we love shallowly.
. . . Francis Chan [says] doctrine is not at the root of most division [emphasis added].
The main problem is the shallowness or non-existence of our love for each other . . . Those who are believers will hear the call and be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit. This will be messy and painful, but we cannot allow this to discourage us from giving everything we have to the pursuit of a unified, restored Bride.
My comments:
Chan sidesteps the issue of doctrine (in the issue of “unity”) and claims the main problem is “the shallowness or non-existence of our love for each other,” so he can base his whole argument for “unity” solely on his “love” (or lack thereof) premise. If he would admit that doctrine does divide, then in his attempt to tell us how “unity” is achieved, he would have to deal with doctrine at some level. Yet, he dismisses doctrine from the start so he can talk about “love” or lack thereof and its role in achieving or not achieving “unity” and skip discussing specific doctrines(s) all together.
What does the Bible say about the importance of doctrine?
2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Titus 2:1 – But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
1 John 4:1 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hebrews 13:9 – Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Ephesians 4:14 – That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Titus 1:9 – Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Further Comment on Chan’s new book:
The dedication of Chan’s book reads: “This book is dedicated to the followers of Jesus from various denominations who have forgiven me for my arrogance and divisiveness over the years.”
II. Francis Chan’s March 11, 2021 YouTube video about his new book Until Unity
On Francis Chan’s Mar.11, 2021 short YouTube video advertising his new book, he talks about the need for unity, and at the very end, he quotes Eph.4:11-13, but he leaves out the next 3 verses (vs.14-16), which defines what unity is!
Here is the full context of how the Bible defines “unity” in Ephesians 4:1-16:
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, ‘When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)’
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Here are the verses Francis Chan left out in his video–Vs.14-16—
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Here are some observations about “unity” from Eph.4:13-15 (left out by Francis Chan):
1) According to verses 13 and 14, the goal of biblical unity is so we would “be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”
2) According to verse 15, biblical unity/”unity of the faith, involves “speaking the truth in love,” not just to “love” (in an experiential sense). “Speaking the truth in love,” the verse goes on, so that we may “grow up into him in all things.” Biblical unity involves “speaking the truth in love,” and by this, we grow up spiritually. Love without truth is not biblical love. And truth is about what the Bible teaches (i.e. doctrine).
III. Francis Chan, Hank Hanegraaff, KP Yohannan and the “Eucharist”
An Aug.18, 2020 video titled, “Is Christ Present in the Eucharist” reveals more of Francis Chan’s slide away from the truth of the Bible and his associations with men who have also turned away from the Bible.
At the urging of Hank Hanegraaff and KP Yohannan, Chan was challenged to reevaluate his view of church history and of communion (their meaning – Eucharist) verified in the video.
In the video, Francis Chan talks about reevaluating his view of communion, or the so-called Eucharist, and Hank Hanegraaff and KP Yohannan briefly discuss how they themselves formulated their current views about the Eucharist. Before discussing the contents of this Aug.18, 2020 video, I wanted to familiarize you with Hank Hanegraaff and KP Yohannan.
1)Hank Hanegraaff
Hank Hanegraaff is known to millions through his former radio program, “The Bible Answer Man.” He converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in April of 2017 in the Saint Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. His former radio program “The Bible Answer Man” has now been changed to “Hank Unplugged,” and in his latest book (released in 2019 by Thomas Nelson Publishers) titled Truth Matters, Life Matters More, he explains his Eastern Orthodox conversion (see link: https://www.thomasnelson.com/9780785216063/truth-matters-life-matters-more/).
The list of those who endorsed Hanegraaff’s book include Catholics, Eastern Orthodox folks, and most notably, Scott Hahn, Ph.D., Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at Franciscan University of Steubenville. [Hahn, who converted from Protestantism to Catholicism, is discussed in Roger Oakland’s book, Another Jesus: The eucharist christ and the new evangelization.]
The buzzword: “New Evangelization” is defined by Lighthouse Trails writer Kevin Reeves as: “A program by the Catholic Church designed to win the world to Christ [the Catholic Eucharistic christ, that is], with the Eucharist as the focal point.”
Please see Lighthouse Trails booklet by Roger Oakland titled: The New Evangelization From Rome
2)KP Yohannan
He is founder and director of Gospel for Asia (GFA). According to his own website (see link: https://kpyohannan.org/about-kp-yohannan/), he has written over 200 books in Asia, and 11 in the U.S.
Lighthouse Trails has confirmed KP Yohannan’s slide into contemplative spirituality (a spiritual outlook that incorporates a New Age style mystical meditation) via his 2020 book: Never Give Up.
That book, by the way, was also endorsed by Hank Hanegraaff.
IV. August 18, 2020 YouTube video: “Is Christ Present in the Eucharist?” With Francis Chan, Hank Hanegraaff, and KP Yohannan
The Aug.18, 2020 video “Is Christ Present in the Eucharist” reveals just how much Chan has turned away from the Bible he claims he believes in to church tradition and the opinions of men. Also, this trio together are contributing to the demonic momentum toward the movement of biblical Christians into an unbiblical view of communion (what is being called the Eucharist).
1) “Eucharist”? Why is Francis Chan even calling the communion “the Eucharist”?
Kevin Reeves, in his booklet: C is for Catholicism, defines Eucharist as: “the sacrament of the partaking of the Communion wafer and wine consecrated by the priest during the [Catholic] Mass. Believed to impart special grace, because the recipient is said to be eating and drinking the actual body and blood of Christ.”
At the urging of Hank Hanegraaff and KP Yohannan, Chan was challenged to reevaluate his view of church history and of communion (i..e., the Eucharist).
2)What did the August 2020 video reveal?
Francis Chan on the so-called “Eucharist”
He seems to think he has misjudged folks who believe in “transubstantiation.” What is transubstantiation? Kevin Reeves defines “transubstantiation” as: “The doctrine that asserts that during the Mass, the Host (the communion wafer) and the communion wine are transformed miraculously into the literal body and blood of Christ.”
Chan ends up opening the door about his view on the Eucharist and admits: “[I] don’t know where I land yet” (23:26 minute mark). He states that he “used to” (key words are “used to”) view those who believed in transubstantiation as “almost silly” or “heretical” (2:07-2:26 minute mark) but not anymore apparently.
*Note: on p. 101 of his new book: Until Unity, Chan states: “I am currently 90 percent sure that I have been wrong about my belief that Christ is not present in the Eucharist” [emphasis added]
3) Final thoughts about Francis Chan, the “Eucharist” and his new book: Until Unity:
May we pray for Francis Chan, that God would open his eyes to the Enemy’s deceptions. And, may God help rescue those sheep who are following Francis Chan and being led down a deceptive path of the Enemy.
God is Faithful and True, and His Word is true,
(photo (l-r): Francis Chan, Hank Hanegraaff, K.P. Yohanon, from a 2-second video clip from YouTube; used in accordance with the U.S. Fair Use Act)
Related Information:
Catholic Priest Believes Francis Chan Heading Into Catholic Church Based on Eucharistic Sermon
False Revival Kick-Started by Francis Chan, Rodney Howard Browne, Benny Hinn, Bill Johnson, and Todd White
Francis Chan Warns Those Who Criticize Christian Leaders: “God Will Destroy You”
DRESS REHEARSAL FOR A FALSE REVIVAL? – Evangelical, Charismatic, Emerging Leaders, & Pope Francis Unite for “Together 2016” in Washington, DC
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Letter to the Editor: Sincerely Deceived by the “Jesus” of Jesus Calling, But God’s Word Brought Me to Truth |
Dear Lighthouse Trails:
My searching for the true, living Jesus was fostered at a young age from a devout mother of prayer and service to the Lord Jesus Christ. However, not understanding the importance of inductively studying the Bible, and not encouraged by the churches we were attending to do so, I drifted away as I had no firm roots or foundation in His Word. Therefore, I was very ripe for New Age, “experiences,” false doctrines, false prophets. Eventually, I became a “prodigal.” After so many years of searching, the Lord, in His kindness and mercy, led me out of that, step-by-step, and years later, I thought I was finally on solid ground!
I was involved in church and very receptive to hear what others thought about the Lord (e.g., their experiences, encounters, ideas, what they thought the Scriptures said), and I amassed many, many books, Bible commentaries, and devotionals from what I would learn later that many were false doctrines from false teachers. My dear friend, strong in the Lord, would watch my spiritual journey and gently lead me to revisit what I thought was the truth. She provided me avenues of opportunity from home groups to in-person conversations with men and women in the Body of Christ who were following the true Jesus Christ, fully grounded in His Word. A dear pastor would always encourage me to be in God’s Word, but I was still very much drawn to experiences, although I would try to read God’s Word. During this time, I was enthralled in a book I bought in a Christian bookstore—Jesus Calling, and I carried it wherever I went, in/out of church, with no rebuke from anyone as many were reading it and quoting from it as well. I did not know the Jesus of Jesus Calling was not the true living Jesus, as I did not know God’s Word or Scripture well enough to see the error. The book was leading me to an almost “romanticized” lord!
One can be sincere and be sincerely wrong and deceived, and I was. Little did I know, my life and faith would forever change in one night. My friend invited me to attend a home group. At the end of the evening, a well respected, grounded, man of God announced he had a variety of Lighthouse Trails booklets he was making available for any who would like them. I was intrigued, as I had heard of LHT from my dear friend, When I looked through them, I was stopped in my tracks by a LHT booklet warning about Jesus Calling, along with one on Yoga and another on Spiritual Formation. I was fearful to read the booklet about Jesus Calling and at the same time intrigued. In coming home and reading it through several times, I was devastated, floored, convicted. Plain and simple, I was still in error, deceived! I brought the booklet to another, and after it was read, it was rebuked, and the inference was that LHT was judgmental, and we are not to judge. I then bought the book “Another Jesus” Calling by Warren Smith, and it further solidified the error.
That is when, I believe, I was being led by the true living Christ to renounce anything that implicitly does not lift up God’s Word exclusively. So, from that night on, books were purged, spiritual support sought, and after years of listening to people’s ideas and thoughts over what they thought the Bible said, I was led by another to begin a solid inductive Bible Study.
So, I thank LHT, the Lord, and that man that night that changed the trajectory of my life, and the patience and kindness of my dear friend who always pointed to Jesus and His Word—not man. During that evening someone shared words, to the effect, that they used to ask the Lord if they were being deceived and in some way for the Lord to show them. After awhile, the person was led to change that prayer to: Lord show me daily how I am being deceived. So, the battle of His Truth is always before us.
God Bless you all.
Sincerely,
M.
LTRP Note: If you are reading, or know someone who is reading, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, we would be happy to send you a complimentary booklet 10 Scriptural Reasons Why Jesus Calling Is a Dangerous Book (by Warren Smith). Just e-mail us at editors@lighthousetrails.com and include your mailing address (it will remain confidential). If you prefer, you may read the booklet free online and print copies for your personal use and to share with family and friends.
(photo from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission)
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Letter to the Editor From Inmate: God Can Reach the Hardest Hearts |
Dear Lighthouse Trails:
Greetings in the Name that is above all names! I received the literature you sent to me [donated by a LT reader]! I am so very thankful for all the books, booklets, and tracts that you have sent to me over the years. Your ministry has been a blessing to many of us doing time behind prison walls in here. I always make sure I share with the guys in the Bible study group I lead what you sent to me. Believe me: I can absolutely guarantee you that everything you send will always be put to good use! It will be for the glory of God and the edification of the Body of Christ. And for that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Again, I must tell you how some of us have been touched by the grace of God. There was a guy here who thought he was very tough. He loved to fight, worked out all the time, and had all kinds of tattoos all over his body. One day, he came to my room. We were talking about God and Christianity. He was trying to equate Christianity with so many “great and outstanding religions in the world.” (What a huge mistake!) He was actually trying to engage me in an argument. I told him that I did not (and do not) argue about the Scriptures or God. I have too much respect for Him to bring Him down to the level of a carnal argument. Then, I proceeded to say to him: “You can argue until you are blue in the face . . . but there is one thing you cannot do.”
He said, “And what is that!?”
I said to him: “The fact that Jesus Christ loved you enough to die for you on the cross! You cannot argue that fact! No other religion or religious leader ever did that! Deal with that!!” He looked at me for what seemed an eternity . . . and then left.
The next morning, as soon as they unlocked our doors, he rushed to my room, and with a big, fat tear running freely on his face, said to me: “You messed me up!! I could not sleep at all last night! I stayed up all night long weeping like a child.”
Needless to say that everyone took notice that the big, muscular, macho, tough guy was still weeping . . . Only the Love of Jesus Christ can do that to a hard heart and “tough” guy in this life! He gave his life to the Lord, and it was my privilege to disciple him, as he became my best friend! I could tell many more testimonies like this. God has not changed HIS agenda just because we have!!! He is still in the business of saving human souls from an eternity in the bowels of hell. The Holy Spirit still uses us (and who are we for the God of the universe to see fit to use us? Who am I???) to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! I say all of this for the Glory of His Name.
And remember: You all have a part in the ministry behind locked doors in prisons all over the world! For that, I say, “Thank you . . . from the bottom of my heart.” God bless you all!
Always and only because of His Grace!
Ralph
Related Information:
Heart-Felt Letter From a Prisoner
Christian Prisoners in U.S. Reach Out to Lighthouse Trails for Encouragement
(photo from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission)
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A Parent’s Summary of the Spread of Critical Race Theory At Gordon College |
LTRJ Note: The following summary is written by Manny Silva, the founder of Concerned Nazarenes (a watchdog group that began several years ago when the Nazarene denomination began to be heavily indoctrinated with the emerging church). Recently, his son was a student at Gordon College. Please do not think that the problems described below are within the confines of Gordon College. Many Christian colleges and universities are going down the same path. For an explanation of Critical Race Theory, read our July 2020 report and also S is for Social Justice The Language of Today’s Cultural “Revolution.” If you have children or grandchildren attending or about to attend any college or university in this country, please help equip them before they enter. Otherwise, you could end up witnessing a disastrous transformation in your young people. Worth noting, Gordon College has been on the Lighthouse Trails contemplative college list for several years. There is a connection between contemplative spirituality and the current “social justice” paradigm shift (one led to the next).
August 2020 to May 2021
 Manny Silva
By Manny Silva
In late August of 2020, just before classes started, a racially charged incident occurred, although the actual perpetrator to this day has not been found. During the course of the semester, two more incidents occurred, but no one was ever found to be responsible.
The first incident: A black student leader had used tape in a dorm hallway to spell out
BLM.” Later that morning, it was discovered that it was changed to say “ALM” (for all lives matter apparently). The very next day, Saturday, about 100 students marched to the President’s personal residence to protest. All this triggered a host of other activities, such as BLM signs posted all over the campus, as well as student sit-ins and protests, with demands for justice for people of color.
Even before these incidents, there were already a number of activities scheduled that were themed with
Black Lives Matter ideas. Dance parties, “educational” meetings, and seminars with speakers who had
backgrounds in Critical Race Theory.
The administration moved quickly to condemn acts of racism towards people of color. But the rest
of the semester would result in the very same social-justice warriors becoming the intimidators of
white students, or students of color who rejected the BLM movement. The administration was almost
completely silent about this particular problem.
Two other incidents happened that were made prominent. Some words were written on the wall next to
an Asian student with racist comments. And then later in the semester, a t-shirt with a BLM-type
slogan was defaced with a racist slur.
Again, to this day, the culprits have never been apprehended. But an interesting note: the same student
leader whose sign was defaced in the first incident, is the same black student who posted a violent and
racist rant against students and anyone else who supported President Trump. He also used profanity in
describing them. That student, months later, was depicted in an official Gordon College post as a model
Christian student.
The atmosphere in the first semester was one of racial tension. Chapel services deteriorated to being
platforms for social justice and rants against “white privilege.” Students looking for uplifting and
biblical messages were seeing very little of that and have been thoroughly discouraged.
Concerned Gordon Parents and the Letter to the Trustees
Finally, after conversations with various parents, I helped to form a group called Concerned Gordon
College Parents on November 7, 2020. In a few days, we had over 150 members. We strategized and
shared information for several months. During the first semester, various parents sent letters of concern
to President Lindsay. Others sent letters or met personally with Dan Tymann, Director of Student Life. I
met with Dan Tymann during the semester. Finally, a preliminary letter was drafted, and after other
parents edited and finalized it, we sent it to the Board of Trustees on February 2, 2021. (The Chairman
sent a response to the parents, which is one of the documents I have provided [see document links at bottom of this post].
Second semester began, and it was worse than first semester, as far as guest chapel and convocation
speakers. February was National Black History month, and it was a constant parade of CRT-type
speakers, culminating in some of the worst proponents of CRT ideology. These speakers included 2—
Marla Fredericks and Jemar Tisby. Another document that I’ve included is a review of Tisby’s ideology.
Not one speaker throughout the semester was ever invited who was a strong opponent of Critical
Race Theory. This was one of our major concerns, that Gordon College is actively promoting the
CRT ideology, not just allowing for discussion and scholarly debate.
The following 5 links are some related information:
- This is a letter to the editor I wrote that is at Lighthouse Trails Research website.
https://www.1iuhthousetrailsresearch.com/blow/?P=33078
2. Video of Student sit-in at Admin Building, with various students expressing themselves.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHGqLN3lov9/?igshid=b1sf5ttbrru3&fbclid=IwAR 0rpdzddC1rjQradcu-BNAgfDkGxUJ58g7cvf4M-h2 vZDu-0fkrryHbE
3. Marla Fredericks, convocation speaker, Feb. 21, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MqafnyG_R0
4. More of Marla Fredericks: highlights from the Impact Movement Zoom conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgWu4u7ilRM
5. Jemar Tisby, convocation speaker, Feb. 26, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw_CDQKQ5zM
Here is a post by the official Gordon College FaceBook page, where they decried racism, using
a BLM sign. The conversations are enlightening and show the great divide between different
parents and supporters of the college.
https://www.facebook.com/GordonCollege/photos/a.282385650634/10163995500 075635
And four more:
- President Lindsay’s response to the Nov. T-shirt Incident: https://www.gordon.edu/nov1response
2. Gordon College Shalom Plan 2021 (note various recommendations which are race-based)
https://www.gordon.edu/shalomplan
3. The AFRO Hamwe Instagram Page:
https://www.instagram.com/gc_afrohamwe/?hl=en
4. Pastor Marvin Daniels (** A very encouraging chapel message—one of the few good ones)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyRd-R_EHuY3
Other Issues to Be Concerned About
Please note that there are other concerning problems that have been on the rise for some time now, including the
LGBT activism on campus becoming a serious problem. At this writing, there is at least one current professor
who is a promoter of LGBT ideas. The homosexuality activism was also noted in the letter to the Board of
Trustees. It included reference to very inappropriate plays performed on campus in 2019, including a play that
depicted lesbian relationships. Another play included very profane language. The following two links are relevant:
- Spiritual and Sexuality Project: Christy Gardner, professor at Gordon College
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNy7MPrVWk8
2. The LGBTQ+ Instagram Page (Not an Official Gordon College site)
https://www.instagram.com/lgbtqplusatgordon/?hl=en
What to Look for This Upcoming 2021-22 College Year at Gordon
President Michael Lindsay has moved on to become President of Taylor University. In an interesting twist, the
Provost of Taylor University, Dr. Michael Hammond, has been appointed President of Gordon College. We are
already concerned with this appointment, and in our limited research, many of us believe that Dr. Hammond
may be more “woke” than President Lindsay. Time will tell, and I am sure we will find out more of his plans for
the coming year—although he must be aware by now of the Shalom Plan and all the issues that have occurred in
the past year. The following article may be of interest, and it references Dr. Hammond’s involvement in the
firing of a veteran professor at Taylor University.: Taylor University Fires Tenured Professor Over Little Hitler Video:
https://thecollegepost.com/taylor-university-little-hitler-video/
Manny Silva’s attached documents:
#1 Letter_Pres Lindsay_TO_Parents_01_26_2021
#2 Letter_Parents_TO_Board of Trustees_02_02_21
#3 Letter_Chairman Smith_TO_Parents_02_06_2021
#4 Shalom Plan 2021 Gordon College
#5 Tartan Article On Gordon Parents Letter_02_06_2021
(photo: wikidepedia - Gordon College)
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The Nature Behind Contemplative Prayer: The Heart of Occultism |
Without the mystical connection, there can be no oneness. The second always follows the first. Here lies the heart of occultism.
By Ray Yungen
Many Christians might have great difficulty accepting the assessment that what is termed Christian mysticism is, in truth, not Christian at all. They might feel this rejection is spawned by a heresy-hunting mentality that completely ignores the love and devotion to God that also accompanies the mystical life. To those who are skeptical, I suggest examining the writings of Philip St. Romain, who wrote a book about his journey into contemplative prayer called Kundalini Energy and Christian Spirituality. This title is revealing because kundalini is a Hindu term for the mystical power or force that underlies Hindu spirituality. In Hinduism, it is commonly referred to as the serpent power.
St. Romain, a substance abuse counselor and devout Catholic lay minister, began his journey while practicing contemplative prayer or resting in the still point, as he called it. What happened to him following this practice should bear the utmost scrutiny from the evangelical community—especially from its leadership. The future course of evangelical Christianity rests on whether St. Romain’s path is just a fluke or if it is the norm for contemplative spirituality.
Having rejected mental prayer as “unproductive,”1 he embraced the prayer form that switches off the mind, creating what he described as a mental passivity. What he encountered next underscores my concern with sobering clarity:
Then came the lights! The gold swirls that I had noted on occasion began to intensify, forming themselves into patterns that both intrigued and captivated me . . . There were always four or five of these; as soon as one would fade, another would appear, even brighter and more intense . . . They came through complete passivity and only after I had been in the silence for a while. 2 (emphasis mine)
After this, St. Romain began to sense “wise sayings” coming into his mind and felt he was “receiving messages from another.”3 He also had physical developments occur during his periods in the silence. He would feel “prickly sensations” on the top of his head and at times it would “fizzle with energy.”4 This sensation would go on for days. The culmination of St. Romain’s mystical excursion was predictable—when you do Christian yoga or Christian Zen you end up with Christian samadhi as did he. He proclaimed:
No longer is there any sense of alienation, for the Ground that flows throughout my being is identical with the Reality of all creation. It seems that the mystics of all the world’s religions know something of this.5
St. Romain, logically, passed on to the next stage with:
[T]he significance of this work, perhaps, lies in its potential to contribute to the dialogue between Christianity and Eastern forms of mysticism such as are promoted in what is called New Age spirituality.6
Many people believe St. Romain is a devout Christian. He claims he loves Jesus, believes in salvation, and is a member in good standing within his church. What changed though were his sensibilities. He says:
I cannot make any decisions for myself without the approbation of the inner adviser, whose voice speaks so clearly in times of need . . . there is a distinct sense of an inner eye of some kind “seeing” with my two sense eyes.7
St. Romain would probably be astounded that somebody would question his claims to finding truth because of the positive nature of his mysticism. But is this “inner adviser” with whom St. Romain has connected really God? This is a fair question to ask especially when this prayer method has now spread within a broad spectrum of Christianity.
St. Romain makes one observation in his book that I take very seriously. Like his secular practical mystic brethren, he has a strong sense of mission and destiny. He predicts:
Could it be that those who make the journey to the True Self are, in some ways, demonstrating what lies in store for the entire race? What a magnificent world that would be—for the majority of people to be living out of the True Self state. Such a world cannot come, however, unless hundreds of thousands of people experience the regression of the Ego in the service of transcendence [meditation], and then restructure the culture to accommodate similar growth for millions of others. I believe we are only now beginning to recognize this task.8
A book titled Metaphysical Primer: A Guide to Understanding Metaphysics outlines the basic laws and principles of the New Age movement. First and foremost is the following principle:
You are one with the Deity, as is all of humanity . . . Everything is one with everything else. All that is on Earth is an expression of the One Deity and is permeated with Its energies.9
St. Romain’s statement was, “[T]he Ground [God] that flows throughout my being is identical with the Reality of all creation.”10 The two views are identical!
St. Romain came to this view through standard contemplative prayer, not Zen, not yoga but a Christian form of these practices.
Without the mystical connection, there can be no oneness. The second always follows the first. Here lies the heart of occultism.
There is a profound and imminent danger taking place within the walls of Christianity. Doctrine has become less important than feeling, and this has led to a mystical paradigm shift. People who promote a presumably godly form of spirituality can indeed come against the truth of Christ.
How could this mystical revolution have come about? How could this perspective have become so widespread? The answer is that over the last thirty or forty years a number of authors have struck a deep chord with millions of readers and seekers within Christianity. These writers have presented and promoted the contemplative view to the extent that many now see it as the only way to “go deeper” in the Christian life. They are the ones who prompt men and women to plunge into contemplative practice. It is their message that leads people to experience the “lights” and the “inner adviser!”
Endnotes:
- Philip St. Romain, Kundalini Energy and Christian Spirituality (New York, NY: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1995), p. 24.
- Ibid., pp. 20-21.
- Ibid., pp. 22-23.
- Ibid., pp. 28-29.
- Ibid., p. 107.
- Ibid., pp. 48-49.
- Ibid., p. 39.
- Ibid., pp. 75-76.
- Deborah Hughes and Jane Robertson-Boudreaux, Metaphysical Primer: A Guide to Understanding Metaphysics (Estes Park, CO: Metagnosis Pub., 1991), p. 27.
- St. Romain, Kundalini Energy and Christian Spirituality, op. cit., p. 107.
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NEW BOOKLET: Drugs, Meditation, & “A Fully Developed Spirituality” |
NEW BOOKLET: Drugs, Meditation, & “A Fully Developed Spirituality” by David Dombrowski is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklet. The Booklet is 14 pages long and sells for $1.95 for single copies. Quantity discounts are available. Our Booklets are designed to give away to others or for your own personal use. If you know someone who is involved in any kind of “meditation” (e.g., Yoga, mindfulness, centering prayer, lectio divina), please consider giving them a copy of this booklet. Below is the content of the booklet. To order copies of Drugs, Meditation, & “A Fully Developed Spirituality,” click here.
Drugs, Meditation, & “A Fully Developed Spirituality”
Lessons From A Former Shaman For Today’s Church
By David Dombrowski
It is interesting how God orchestrates things in life which demonstrate His great love and ongoing mercy to ordinary people like myself. But, more specifically, I am thinking right now about how years ago I happened to come across a copy of a nearly forgotten book at the university library while working on a project. I still find it amazing that this secular humanistic library even had a copy of Stories From Indian Wigwams and Northern Campfires—a book written by a missionary to the Canadian Native peoples of the 1800s sharing not only his life among them but the incredible stories they would tell him as they would warm themselves before a fire. This book is a treasure of the long-forgotten heritage of the Cree and Saulteaux tribes and how their lives were wonderfully transformed through the proclamation of the Gospel.
Though I first read that book over thirty years ago as a young university student, in 2010 God put it on our hearts at Lighthouse Trails to publish this book; then, when we were preparing to release it for publication, Nanci Des Gerlaise, a Christian Canadian Cree, contacted us about a book she had written titled Muddy Waters. The great surprise was that Nanci, to whom we then sent a review copy of the Wigwam manuscript, recognized in it the name Mask-e-pe-toon as being the name of the best friend of her great, great grandfather. Nanci then agreed to write the foreword to our edition of the Wigwam book. We also agreed to publish Muddy Waters.
“The Foolishness of God”
Sometime after publishing the Wigwam book and Muddy Waters, we added a DVD film titled I’ll Never Go Back!: The Testimony of Chief Shoefoot (which can also be seen freely on YouTube). In this documentary, Chief Shoefoot shares his own story of what life has been like for him both before and after he received the Gospel—hence his words “I’ll never go back.” Chief Shoefoot is a member of the native people known as the Yanomamo. The Yanomamo reside in a northern region of South America bordering Venezuela and Brazil. Hearing that Chief Shoefoot is part of a Yanomamo tribe especially caught my interest because I remembered studying these people in an anthropology class at the university.
Anthropologists have been studying the Yanomamo for many years now, and the typical reaction by many secular anthropologists to missionary outreaches to these people is that the Yanomamo people would have been better off if they had been left alone. Granted various missionary efforts were probably not conducted as they should have been, the fact remains that Jesus commissioned the Gospel to be shared with the whole world. What makes this video unique is that it is the testimony of an actual member of the Yanomamo tribe sharing his viewpoint and his side of the story; and his conclusion is an emphatic yes to having received the Gospel. Contrary to what these anthropologists are saying, Chief Shoefoot makes it clear that his life has been forever changed for the better.
In today’s current “progressive” emergent atmosphere, much of the Christian mission field has been marred by the mentality that we should be less intrusive about sharing the Gospel (as Roger Oakland defines in his booklet, New Missiology: Doing Missions Without the Gospel). Now don’t get me wrong; it’s true that there may be many non-spiritual aspects of a culture that don’t need to be changed, but the Gospel is very intrusive in calling all people everywhere to repent (change direction, acknowledging one’s sinful condition), to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (His sacrifice on the Cross and His resurrection), and to put their trust solely in Him for salvation. Jesus came as Savior to the whole world, and all people from all tribes and nations are offered one way to God. But today numerous mission organizations have been taking a more “politically correct” approach in assuming that every culture already has within its religious traditions an acceptable pathway to God, and our only duty is to encourage the people of these other cultures in what they already believe and are already doing with little more than perhaps an occasional reference to the Jesus Christ of the Bible.1 The sad truth and reality is that, although many peoples and cultures may believe in some type of supreme being and do have a sense of right and wrong (instilled into man through our God-given conscience), the Gospel is unique in that it is God’s revealed Word and offer of salvation based on grace through faith alone as opposed to a gospel of good works based on a belief in the innate goodness of mankind and God’s willingness to accept any and all man-made plans of salvation.
The truth is that God has declared in his Word that all are sinners and in need of a Savior. So while it may be true that God has not called us to impose European or Western customs on the indigenous peoples of the world, the Gospel is God’s “culture” for all mankind in that it calls all people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. All I can say is that I personally am so glad that God “imposed” Himself on me when I received Christ as my Savior; and in both Muddy Waters and in I’ll Never Go Back lies the powerful and convincing testimony of two people—a medicine man’s daughter (in the book) and a former shaman or witchdoctor (in the film). Their stories are evidence that knowing Jesus Christ as Savior is more precious than anything the world has to offer and does beseech us to forsake those things displeasing to Him.
Albeit, God has given all people everywhere a conscience—a sense of right and wrong—it remains that the spirituality of all tribes and nations must give way to the truth of the Gospel rather than trying to reshape the Gospel to make it more palatable to any particular culture. After all, what part of the Gospel would we change? The fact is, the “preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Thus, it remains that the Gospel will always be offensive and politically incorrect to the unbeliever regardless of cultural setting. The Gospel is offensive not because it is the “white man’s religion” (which it never was) but because it is the way God chose to redeem mankind—which appears foolish to the carnal mind. But as Scripture declares, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).
A Fully Developed “Spirituality”
In I’ll Never Go Back, Chief Shoefoot shares about how he became a shaman (i.e., witchdoctor) and the spirituality that ensued. In watching his testimony, I was amazed by the realization that as he was describing his spirituality as a shaman, he was describing the spirituality being promoted in the church today as “cutting-edge Christianity.” In fact, Chief Shoefoot’s spirituality was far ahead of the current contemplative prayer movement and the New Age of today. Furthermore, his people were already incorporating spiritual disciplines into their meditative practices. When I realized this, I listened to Chief Shoefoot very attentively and with much interest because I understood then that they had been practicing “contemplative spirituality”* and the “spiritual disciplines” probably for many centuries—perhaps even longer than the Desert Fathers** (after all, the meditation the Desert Fathers practiced didn’t originate with them but rather was most likely “borrowed” from the east.2) In listening to Chief Shoefoot describe his spirituality as a shaman, I also realized that he was, at the same time, describing where the spirituality of contemplative prayer, the New Age, and the spiritual disciplines will be in the future.
So, while the meditative practices and disciplines of the Desert Fathers phased out to near extinction after the Middle Ages then was later resurrected by Catholic monks such as Thomas Merton and Basil Pennington, the Yanomamo have preserved and developed these practices and brought them to full fruition. In other words, as the church and the New Age movement are in unison developing these practices, they will in time become like the Yanomamo. Let me explain.
In the film, Chief Shoefoot describes how he was introduced to shamanism at an early age because he was far advanced for his age in spiritual acuteness, he was told. Like contemplative prayer and New Age meditation, connection with “God” is accomplished by going into an altered state of consciousness (i.e., the silence). In the case of the Yanomamo, a drug is used for this purpose along with chanting (mantra), rhythm, and dancing. Spiritual disciplines (to include the withholding of food (i.e., fasting) and sleep) are also used to make the spiritual senses more acute. As I listened to Chief Shoefoot describe his story, I could see he was much more advanced than the mystics and contemplative prayer leaders of today. He literally saw into the spirit world and beheld various spirits for which the Yanomamo even had names.
The Yanomamo shaman recognizes the spirit world as a reality, not a superstition. According to Chief Shoefoot, spirits of various sorts are seen as desirable and are invited to “get inside your chest” while others are avoided as being evil. I am reminded how contemplative pioneer Richard Foster warns his students to beware of dangerous spirits when they practice contemplative prayer. In Faith Undone, Roger Oakland talks about this:
Proponents of contemplative prayer say the purpose of contemplative prayer is to tune in with God and hear His voice. However, Richard Foster claims that practitioners must use caution. He admits that in contemplative prayer “we are entering deeply into the spiritual realm” and that sometimes it is not the realm of God even though it is “supernatural.” He admits there are spiritual beings and that a prayer of protection should be said beforehand something to the effect of “All dark and evil spirits must now leave.”3
What Chief Shoefoot realized too late is that none of these spirits are good, and those considered to be evil cannot be avoided either. He learned that once a person enters into the occultic or contemplative realm, he becomes subject to the spirits that inhabit that realm. Christian mystics who engage in contemplative prayer think they are encountering the Holy Spirit, but Chief Shoefoot literally saw that this realm is inhabited by nothing more than demons who in time also made their habitation in him (and in other members of the tribe).
With this in mind, it is understandable that much of the activity of the tribe was marked by immorality and violence. Even anthropologists who are unsympathetic to the Christianizing of these tribes recognize a problem in their social and domestic interactions. Consider, for example, the following quote from an anthropological source regarding the role and treatment of wives in Yanomamo culture:
It is interesting to watch the behavior of women when their husbands return from a hunting trip or a visit. The men march slowly across the village and retire silently into their hammocks. The woman, no matter what she is doing, hurries home and quietly but rapidly prepares a meal for her husband. Should the wife be slow at doing this, the husband is within his rights to beat her. Most reprimands meted out by irate husbands take the form of blows with the hand or with a piece of firewood, but a good many husbands are even more severe. Some of them chop their wives with the sharp edge of a machete or ax, or shoot them with a barbed arrow in some nonvital area, such as in the buttocks or leg. Many men are given to punishing their wives by holding the hot end of a glowing stick against them, resulting in serious burns. . . . It is not uncommon for a man to injure his errant wife seriously; and some men have even killed wives. Women expect this kind of treatment. Those who are not too severely treated might even measure their husband’s concern in terms of the frequency of minor beatings they sustain. I overheard two young women discussing each other’s scalp scars. One of them commented that the other’s husband must really care for her since he has beaten her on the head so frequently! . . . Some men . . . seem to think that it is reasonable to beat their wife once in a while “just to keep them on their toes.”4
For lack of space, let me just say that the interactions of men with each other both within and between tribes is often not peaceable either. But, in any case, Native Spirituality*** plays a highly significant role in the happenings of these tribes.
Now, I imagine my statement made earlier—that those who practice “Christian” contemplative prayer or New Age mysticism will eventually become like the Yanomamo—must sound too extreme or at least a tongue-in-cheek statement. Actually, given the popularity today of mystical meditative practices, it would bring me much comfort if I were to know I am completely wrong in this assertion. But I am deeply concerned about people, many of whom are Christians, who are delving into contemplative prayer, eastern meditative practices, Yoga, Reiki, and New Age mysticism thinking they will better themselves (and come into a more enlightened consciousness) by doing so. All of these are occult practices that will tie the user in with the demonic realm though he may think he is connecting with “good” spirits, spirit guides, or the Holy Spirit.
Seeing that mystical meditation has become such common place, I realize a very great number of people would also see the statement I just made as fanatical or as a conspiracy theory. But the fact is, a conspiracy is already underway, instigated by Satan himself and performed by his vast number of demons. As Ray Yungen suggests in his book A Time of Departing, mysticism will have much to do with the great delusion that is already sweeping throughout the world. He points out that a mystical sector or element inhabits the various religions of the world, so it would only make sense that if the religions of the world are to unite, mysticism will play a major role.
It is not unusual for people to join the New Age movement or engage in Yoga or meditative practices like contemplative prayer in order to reap health benefits, to include higher levels of relaxation, or to live a more victorious life, but all the while, they are being introduced to something demonic both in origin and operation. The Bible makes a clear statement about occult or mystical practices in Deuteronomy 18:9-12 by sounding the alarm that these practices are “an abomination unto the LORD.” Then, too, Jesus warned against praying as the heathen do by using “vain repetitions” (Matthew 6:7), which is a clear indictment against chanting or the mantra-like words and phrases used in contemplative or meditative prayer.
The only real difference between the mysticism or Native Spirituality of the Yanomamo and the “Christian mystic” of today is that the Yanomamo have a fully developed spirituality and are far ahead of the mystical leaders and contemplative prayer proponents of the present. An example of this is that the Yanomamo have developed a broader variety of techniques that enable them to enter “the silence” more quickly. For instance, a drug is used that quickly brings the participant into an altered state of consciousness.
A Deadly Direction
Now, because the Yanomamo have been practicing mysticism and the spiritual disciplines for a very long time, it stands to reason that what they have brought to fruition will, in time, be the outcome of these practices that are sweeping through our churches today. So, without attempting or pretending to be prophetic, we can forecast the outcome of these practices based on where they have brought the Yanomamo and other peoples who practice Native Spirituality. The reason why I can say these things is because when the Yanomamo shaman engages in mysticism, he enters the same mystical realm that Christians do when they engage in contemplative prayer. In both cases, they enter into an occultic realm and put themselves at the mercy of the demons who inhabit those realms. Unfortunately, the demons are not merciful but rather pose as angels of light or the Holy Spirit and lead the practitioner away from the simple truth of the Gospel. While promising much, they deliver what is ultimately harmful to the practitioner. Currently, contemplative or mystical prayer is sweeping the church with the sales pitch that it enhances physical, mental, and spiritual well being to include relaxation and a direct connection to hearing from God. But as we have been attempting to demonstrate over the past two decades with our research materials, contemplative prayer and mysticism do indeed connect one with a spiritual realm, but that realm is not God, and it is not good.
And while the New Age movement promises an Age of Aquarius (or enlightenment) as an age of peace and oneness if we all engage in mystical prayer, the Bible indicates that the last days will be marked by unrest and war. And if we look at the Yanomamo, who have been practicing spirituality for centuries, we can see that the lives of these tribesmen and women are marked not by peace but by unrest and violence. If all that the mystics are saying were true, you would think that when the anthropologists discovered the Yanomamo peoples they would have discovered utopian bliss and celestial innocence; but rather, violence and unrest were discovered. The Yanomamo have tried and proven that spirituality is not what sustains a people, but as Chief Shoefoot points out after his conversion, our hope is in Jesus Christ alone. It is tragically ironic that while a Yanomamo chief, like Chief Shoefoot, has time tested and proven that mysticism does not work and has now turned to Jesus, countless Christians are now turning to mysticism (the very thing that Chief Shoefoot renounced) to find answers.
Babylon
Interestingly enough, the Book of Revelation makes reference to the re-emergence in the last days of “that great city Babylon” (Revelation 18:21) which was in ancient times a center of idolatry and mysticism but in the end times will be the mercantile hub of false religion. Revelation 18 describes Babylon as “the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” (Revelation 18:2). But how can it be that a city that practices contemplative prayer and mysticism can be frowned upon by God to such a degree? Is it not because the mystical or occultic realm is the habitation of devils? Chief Shoefoot says that it is so. Of further significance is verse 23 that states, “for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived” (Revelation 18:23). If we consult Strong’s Concordance, we find that the Greek word used for “sorceries” is pharmakeia (pharmacy) signifying medication and derived from the word pharmakon signifying drugs (i.e., spell-giving potions). It seems very possible, therefore, that the mystics of the last days will incorporate drug use into their mystical practices, and as indicated in verse 23 above, this may become a great merchandising endeavor where people all over the world will be using mind-altering drugs.
The Catholic mystic Thomas Merton, who helped to pave the way for contemplative prayer to enter our generation, said he felt sorry for the hippies of the ’60s who used LSD because, as he pointed out, they could have achieved the same result by practicing contemplative prayer.5 But the mystic of the end times may actually feel sorry for Thomas Merton because drug use could make the mystical state much more readily attainable by anyone. Contemplative prayer takes some effort by incorporating a mantra-like word or phrase to create a hypnotic state whereas, in the future, the same result could be achieved by popping a pill or inhaling the smoke of a drug (such as marijuana****)—hence “instant” spirituality! Yet, all the while God’s statement about such practices will be, “for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” Apparently, whatever happens will be a massive global effort, and by it, people all over the world will be living in great delusion.
Sweeping the World
Perhaps “Babylon the great” spoken of in Revelation 18 refers to the re-emergence of a literal city of mystical practice and idolatry in the last days, but, at the very least, it must refer to a state of affairs that will sweep the world. Mysticism will be practiced on a global scale. And, all the while, the masses will be thinking they are pleasing God by practicing mysticism, oftentimes with the aid of drugs.
Then, this chapter in Revelation brings out one final point where it says, “And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth” (Revelation 18:24). May I point out once again that mysticism (or occultism) connects one with a spirit world inhabited by demons posing to be angels of light. The occultist Alice Bailey, under the influence of her spirit guides, predicted that while New Age-style meditation will be promoted and propelled by the apostate Christian church, Christians who will not forsake the fundamentals of the faith will be seen as being in the way of bringing in this Age of enlightenment—an age of peace where everyone sees his or her own divinity and oneness with all things (which is, incidentally, the “fruit” of contemplative prayer). New Age leader Barbara Marx Hubbard suggests that these resisters of the new world/new reformation will be like a cancer that needs to be excised out of the Earth. She calls this elimination the “Selection Process.”6 Now I ask, what can be more hypocritical and diabolical than to think that the annihilation of godly people will bring about peace?
“The Regeneration of the Churches”
Yet, more and more Christians are joining in contemplative or mystical prayer, thinking it will make them stronger spiritually when the opposite is the case. In fact, what Christians are being drawn into is very antichrist in nature. Our research shows that those who engage in contemplative prayer in time see less and less relevance to the Cross (the atonement) to where it becomes unnecessary. The reason for this is quite simple: contemplative prayer makes a person feel one with and a part of God to where a sacrifice for sin no longer makes any sense. As one New Age mystic said, “The era of the Single Savior is over.”7
Shamanism, contemplative prayer, and New Age meditation are one and the same thing. As one adherent of mysticism explains, “The meditation of advanced occultists is identical with the prayer of advanced mystics.”8 Thomas Merton identified with Buddhism (saying he “intend[ed] to become as good a Buddhist as [he] can”)9 because he realized that the prayer of the Buddhist monks was the same as his. Alice Bailey, whom I consider the “mother” of the New Age movement, predicted that New Age (or occultic) spirituality would not enter the world by going around the Christian church but rather through it. She called it “the regeneration of the churches.”10 In explaining this, Ray Yungen says:
[I]nstead of opposing Christianity, the occult would capture and blend itself with Christianity and then use it as its primary vehicle for spreading and instilling New Age consciousness!11
In other words, occultic prayer all over the world is coming to a head and bringing about the great falling away that the Bible predicts will happen. Modern-day proponents refer to it as quantum spirituality; and through borrowing terms used in physics, they tell us that if enough people meditate at the same time, we will achieve a critical mass, and we will then witness the dawning of the age of Aquarius where peace will guide our planet. However, Alice Bailey and New Age leaders who adhere to the same beliefs see Christians who do not practice New Age-style meditation as in the way because they are not being “vibrationally sympathetic.”12 Such people, they maintain, will have to be eliminated!
In His Will or Abandoning Truth?
What will be the end of this resurrected city of Babylon? Revelation says:
Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. (Revelation 18:8)
And again it says, “for in one hour is thy judgment come” (Revelation 18:10). Apparently, the judgment to come will be speedy and severe.
So, while we can only speculate on the details of what will happen, we can be sure that a massive delusion will encompass the world and that severe judgment will also take place. Just knowing this, let us, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, cling all the more dearly to the Word of God and the Gospel message. Jesus died on the Cross to save sinners and rose from the dead to conquer death; our hope is in Him and nowhere or no one else. And while it is scary to think of persecution of the believers, it is more frightening to think of God’s judgment on those who abandon God’s Word for a lie. May we remember that no matter what we might suffer as Christians, the safest place to be is in God’s will. Knowing this, let us encourage one another with the comfort and hope that is in the Lord.
At Lighthouse Trails, we have a sense of urgency to call all Christians to return to their true roots. Our loyalty needs to be with our Savior and not with the traditions of men.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:13-14)
To order copies of Drugs, Meditation, & “A Fully Developed Spirituality,” click here.
Endnotes:
- Nanci Des Gerlaise addresses this issue of cultures in Muddy Waters and also in her booklet Can Cultures Be Redeemed? Both available through Lighthouse Trails and on Amazon.
- Roger Oakland, Faith Undone (Eureka, MT: Lighthouse Trails Publishing), p. 98.
- Ibid., p. 99; citing Richard Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home (Harper: San Francisco, 1992, First Edition), p. 157.
- Napolean A. Chagnon, Yanomamo: The Fierce People (New York, NY: Holt, Reinhart and Winston, 3rd edition), pp.112-113.
- A statement by Matthew Fox who was quoting Thomas Merton from a statement Merton told him in 1967; http://web.archive.org/web/20060425035122/nineoclockservice.tripod.com/mattiefx.htm.
- Read Warren Smith’s book False Christ Coming: Does Anybody Care? (chapter 2) or his online article at https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=15611) discussing the “Selection Process.”
- Neale Donald Walsch, The New Revelations: A Conversation with God (New York, NY: Atria Books, 2002), p. 157.
- Richard Kirby, The Mission of Mysticism (London, UK: SPCK, 1979), p. 7. as cited in A Time of Departing, 2nd ed., p. 32.
- David Steindl-Rast, “Recollection of Thomas Merton’s Last Days in the West” (Monastic Studies, 7:10, 1969).
- Alice Bailey, Problems of Humanity (New York, NY: Lucis Publishing, 1993), p. 152.
- Ray Yungen, A Time of Departing (Eureka, MT: Lighthouse Trails Publishing, 2nd edition), p. 124.
- Yungen states: “The term ‘vibrationally sympathetic’ here means those who suspend thought through word repetition or breath focus—inward mental silence. That is what attracts them. That is their opening. That is why New Ager Tilden Edwards called this the ‘bridge to far Eastern spirituality,’ and this is what is being injected into the evangelical church!” (A Time of Departing, 2nd ed., p. 88). According to quantum spirituality, desirable changes can occur when a sufficient number of people are meditating, thereby achieving “critical mass.” Those who refuse to meditate will be seen as impeding this progress by not being “vibrationally sympathetic.”
*Contemplative Spirituality: A belief system that uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence) and is rooted in mysticism and the occult but often wrapped in Christian terminology. The premise of contemplative spirituality is pantheistic (God is all) and panentheistic (God is in all). Common terms used for this movement are “spiritual formation,” “the silence,” “the stillness,” “ancient-wisdom,” “spiritual disciplines,” and many others.
**The Desert Fathers were Catholic monks and hermits in the early Middle Ages who lived in the wilderness and practiced various mystical rituals.
***To understand the structure and complexities of Native Spirituality, read Muddy Waters.
****Read Richard and Linda Nathan’s booklet The Cross and the Marijuana Leaf, regarding marijuana, a drug which is fast becoming legalized for recreational use throughout the U.S.
To order copies of Drugs, Meditation, & “A Fully Developed Spirituality,” click here.
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