KAREN ARMSTRONG'S CHARTER FOR COMPASSION TO BECOME A REALITY

This post is a follow-up to a series I wrote called The Golden-Rule Twisted (in 4 parts). In Part 4 I wrote about Karen Armstrong winning a TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) award for her idea of creating a global Charter for Compassion based on the Golden Rule. For the background on today's post I suggest you read the articles that I have highlighted above. The fourth article explains who Karen Armstrong is, what the TED award is and who is behind it as well as the details of Armstrong's dream for this global charter.

By the way, did you know that Rick Warren was the recipient of a TED award in 2006. That is where he gave his famous speech about identity, income and influence and the purpose of life. He is addressing the question, "What are you doing with what you've been given?". This is also where he says that God looks down on us when we are using our gifts to make the world a better place and says, "That's my boy!" Sadly, Warren misses mention something vital - being born again by the Spirit of God - confessing our sin, repenting and turning by faith to Jesus Christ for salvation - all things necessary for becoming a child of God. The Bible teaches that those who do not belong to God in Christ are His enemies. He loves them, but they are dead in their trespasses and sins and are in rebellion to God. He is telling a group of people, some who have likely never heard the gospel, some who are trusting in their own good deeds to gain favor with God, that they are His child. How can a person who is named "America's Pastor" sit before an audience in the making of a video that millions of people are going to watch and miss telling them something so absolutely vital to their eternal destiny, and then lie to them by implying they are all the children of God. This is a false gospel. If you haven't yet watched this TED video, you can see it by clicking HERE. (TED's sponsor is BMW, which supports its belief in the power of ideas. It is primarily a forum for new age ideas, interfaith teaching, and worldly wisdom. Now I wonder why they would honor Rick Warren with this award!!?)

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It was announced on November 13th that the Charter for Compassion will be moving forward to its realization by calling for people of many and diverse religious beliefs around the globe for their input towards its completion in 2009. The Charter for Compassion website has a three and a half minute video explaining its purpose. In it Armstrong calls fundamentalism a dangerous thing, but what it ignores is that biblical "fundamental" Christianity stands apart from all religions. The fundamentalism (in its traditional definition) in true Christianity is not a dangerous thing. I never met a traditional fundamental and biblical Christian yet that forces anyone to convert. It is not dangerous. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts people of sin and convinces them of truth. It is up to Christians to proclaim that truth, and to live it - that is all. Anyone who forces someone to convert does not understand the Christian gospel. Debating with someone about the validity of their beliefs is not a violent thing in and of itself. (But of course the new spirituality has redefined violence to include that.)

The definition of tolerance has been changed to mean acceptance of all religions as equal. What these people do not realize is that one can tolerate something without considering it equally valid in its teachings. In that Christianity is not a religion, as compared with all the "isms" of other beliefs, it stands apart and is unique. It alone has the truth about God, the nature of man, the deity of Jesus Christ and the eternal destiny of man. Those who are fundamental Bible-believing and Bible-honoring Christians know that they cannot compromise the truth that there is salvation in no other name than that of Jesus THE Christ. Those who make that compromise are not Christians, they are pseudo-Christians. There is no peace to be had on the earth apart from the peace that comes when an individual has received redemption through Christ's sacrifice in His blood. Any other message is not the Christian message. It is a lie.

The global "peace" and subsequent "unity" of those who have set their hearts on forming the Charter for Compassion will be the fulfillment of the Antichrist's attempt to rule the world once and for all and set himself up as God in the place of the Creator of the universe. What Karen Armstrong doesn't realize is that she is helping to usher in the Antichrist's global kingdom by using the "Golden Rule" as its "holy grail", just as Oprah and all of her fellow new age gurus are when they promote "A New Earth". They accuse fundamentalist Christians of ushering in Armageddon when they teach about the last days according to Bible prophecy, and are determined that they are not going to let it happen. Are you kidding!? It is the height of arrogance and rebellion to believe human beings are going to prevent God's predetermined plan for mankind. Instead, they are going to end up persecuting Christians for standing in the way of global unity, the new tower of Babel, and usher in the Antichrist's Kingdom.

I realize there may be people who come across my blog who don't understand what I am talking about. If there is something that doesn't seem quite right to you about all this global unity talk, I urge you to examine some of the links I have posted at the top of my sidebar. You may also email me and I will do my best to help you. The Bible prophesied hundreds of events about Jesus Christ's coming to earth so that you may be saved from the wrath of God coming against Satan and his followers, hundreds of years before they happened. They were all fulfilled. The only Bible prophecies yet to be fulfilled concern the global economic, political and spiritual unity under the Antichrist, the seven years of tribulation to come upon the earth such as it has never before experienced and the final judgment of unbelievers and the beginning of a new era under God's rule and the establishment of Christ's kingdom. Satan is a deceiver and the father of lies. From the beginning he has tried to set himself up as God in his rebellion. Throughout history he has never wavered from his goal. He, and all those he has deceived into following his agenda will be cast into the Lake of Fire that is reserved for him. Hell was created for the rebellious and arrogant fallen angel, Satan, not for human beings. But those human beings who reject the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was sent by God to save us from the evil nature that lurks within us will join him if they don't look to Christ as their only hope of salvation.

I urge you to carefully consider this. The hour is late. Don't delay. It will soon be too late to change your mind before the coming tribulation is upon this world. And then if you do, you will either be deceived into worshiping Satan wholeheartedly or be put to death for refusing to do so. He will require every man to receive a mark on his hand or forehead in order to buy or sell anything upon the earth. The failure of the nation's economies and the coming economic collapse will make this seem like a good solution. These things are all prophesied in the Bible. They will happen whether Oprah, Obama, or Karen Armstrong try to stop them or not. These people twist God's Word to suit their own agenda and to their peril. Don't fall for the deception.

ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH GOD

I like what Don Koenig of The Prophetic Years blog wrote about the coming global spiritual, economic and political unity. Regarding an article by Brannon Howse, Koenig says:

Brannon House gives a very good explanation of how three different demonically inspired worldviews have merged to create what he calls “One-World Spirituality”. After you read this article you will have a much better understanding of where Oprah, Obama, Al Gore, Tolle are leading the world via the lies from Media, Educational systems, Radical Environmentalism, Emergent Church, WCC, CFR, UN etc.

Over half of America now is under the influence of this new worldview and that includes most of those who call themselves Christians. All of the three worldviews are incompatible with Christianity and when combined they are not only hostile toward Bible believers they also have the power to carry out hostility and persecution on those who oppose them. The root teaching of all of the worldviews can be traced back to people influenced by paganism and the occult.1.

Click here to read the Howse article, One World Spirituality: Three Worldviews Emerge.

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On a related note, Slice of Laodicea reports that spiritual leaders of many faiths gathered at the Aspen Institute in Colorado (a New Age interfaith organization) this month to discuss the "healing of the nation" (USA). The article in the Aspen Times said that it was deliberately scheduled two days after the presidential election. Here are a few quotes from the Aspen Times article, Spiritual leaders gather in Aspen: group hopes to discover collective voice:

Included among the group are Father Thomas Keating, senior monastic, St. Benedict’s Monastery in Old Snowmass; Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of the Jewish Renewal Movement; Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, chairman of the American Buddhist Association; Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, former general secretary of the National Council of Churches; Swami Atmarupananda, senior monastic of the Ramakrishna Mission; Imam Mohamed Bashar Arafat, founder and president of Civilizations Exchange & Cooperation Foundation, and Brother Achalananda, senior monastic of the Self-Realization Fellowship, among many others.

The premise of the gathering is that the spiritual landscape of America is changing.

Organizers said that the religious voice of the Fundamental Christian Right has dominated the country for several years and it represents a minority of Americans.
That’s why the initiative conducted an extensive search to find respected leaders from the Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, contemplative Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths — who aren’t advocating for the superiority of one faith, themselves or their churches. (emphasis mine)

“We have come together across spiritual lines, because that is where the great mystical energy resides,” said Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW). “There is a type of activism that comes out of contemplation, anything else is social action.”

“Our new president, Barack Obama, said there will be some changes and that is happening now, right here,” said a participant during Friday’s summit. “I hope that we can all get together, live a good life and be kind to each other.”

The summit wraps up today, starting with meditation and yoga at the Aspen Meadows Gym. Discussions begin 9 a.m. The day’s activities close at 4 p.m. with an inter-spiritual ceremony.

Merriam said she hopes the spiritual coalition will gain momentum in the coming months and contribute to the nation’s most pressing challenges, and ultimately lead to a paradigm shift in the world’s leadership.

“A new spiritual energy is emerging in the country,” she said. “Just as the political landscape is changing, so too is the spiritual landscape. We must tap this new energy to gain a forward looking vision of how to advance our national well being.” 2.

Please note the list that includes "contemplative Christian" as a faith that is not advocating the superiority of one faith over another. This contradicts Jesus words stating that He is the only way to the Father. "Contemplative Christians" try to wiggle around this by using verbal gymnastics, twisting His words and their meaning to include all people of all faiths. To those who have had doubts that the emerging church and its contemplative leanings are a danger to those who uphold the Word of God, this should make it clear where the contemplative spirituality movement is moving. It is in step with a one-world spirituality, fitting right in with Obama-style Christianity, and Oprah's and Eckhart Tolle's ("A New Earth" author) New Age christ. It leaves little to wonder about who and what the "paradigm shift in the world's leadership" (as stated in the above quote) may be referring to.

In order for many Christians to fall away in the last days they must be decieved into accepting a counterfeit christ within the framework of a counterfeit Christianity. Those who are following the "Christian" contemplative pathway are flirting with the devil who is appearing as an angel of light. Beware: the contemplative christ is the counterfeit christ. If you are following the contemplative pathway you are on a collision course with the Creator of the Universe, Jesus Christ himself (John 1).

Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way,which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:13-15

1.http://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/2008/10/29/three-demonically-inspired-worldviews-merge-to-oppose-the-christian-worldview.html

2.http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20081109/NEWS/811089983/1077&ParentProfile=1058&title=Spiritual%20leaders%20gather%20in%20Aspen,%20hope%20to%20discover%20collective%20voice

RE-WHAT?

I'm getting really sick and tired of all the reinventing, reimagining, rethinking and redefining that is going on within Christianity these days. What the church really needs is to RE-PENT, as we are told by Christ in the book of Revelation, lest He remove our lampstands before He RE-TURNS to gather His bride to meet her in the air. I pray she will be found faithful and have kept herself pure and unspotted by the world on that day by washing her robes in the blood of the Lamb.

Here is a look at the reinvented and redefined "New Christianity" from a website by the same name. (Please note the Hindu concept of union with God and the unbiblical methods for doing so):

Source: http://www.newchristianity.typepad.com/

Basic Concepts of the New Christianity

1. The New Christianity (NC) presents concrete solutions to the problems of life, and concrete methods for living it. The NC seeks to clarify and explain Christian teachings.

2. The NC encompasses religion, psychology and philosophy.

3. The ultimate goal of the NC is Union with God in this Lifetime. (aka, Heaven, from “The Kingdom of God is within you”, aka Enlightened Freedom from Suffering)

4. Union with God requires control of the thought-waves in the mind.

5. Repeat: Union with God requires control of the thought-waves in the mind.

6. Everything in the Bible, and everything that Jesus Christ taught-as well as every other TRULY highly evolved spiritual leader-concerns the issue of obtaining control of the thought-waves in the mind.

7. In our current state, we do not have control over our own thought-waves. They are controlled by external stimuli and rooted in the events of our individual pasts.

8. Our thoughts lead to words, and our words in turn lead to our actions. Our actions, when repeated, become habits. Our habits become our character, and our character ensures our destiny. Thus, our thoughts-which our not “our own”-control our destiny.

9. The thoughts we plant today are the seeds of our futures. “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”

10. Thus, we are chained and imprisoned by our thoughts: this is Hell.

11. We have the ability to become free from those bindings-to change our thoughts-and the suffering it causes: this is Heaven or Union with God.

12. The NC is concerned solely with breaking free from these bindings. Whether one “believes” in Christ or not, everyone can benefit from the methods of the NC, as the NC contains psychological truths which are universal and objective in nature.

13. Before one can break free from one’s bindings-escape from Hell-one must learn what those bindings are. Thus, the first exercise of the NC is to “Know thyself,” from which the practice of Watchfulness, or Witnessing, is derived. This directive is all over the Bible and all over spiritual texts of any sort, including Jewish, Hindu, Islamic and Buddhist teachings. The importance of this cannot be understated. (Note that the term Witness is used here in a completely different way than is commonly understood. This term will be more fully discussed in a later posting, but it is the opinion of this writer that common use of the term has arisen due to misunderstanding of its true intent.)

14. The Commandments and the Seven Deadly Sins are merely examples of common ways that human beings allow their thoughts to be controlled. They are guidelines to help one see one’s thoughts.

15. Unfortunately, in a way, the word “Sin” has itself become a sin in the sense that the word itself conjures up automatic thoughts and feelings of guilt, repulsion, judgment and/or condemnation. Some people can become stuck at these very points-thus, the teachings about sin have had the exact opposite of their original intention by imprisoning instead of showing the path to freedom.

16. The NC does not condemn nor judge “sinners”. To do so is to violate many, many passages of the Bible. Further, those who condemn and judge others reveal their own sins, for “The faults one finds in others, are the faults one has oneself.” This is a universal law. Use it when observing your own thoughts, and you will start to become free.

17. Among other things, The Devil is the personification of the Ego. It is the ego that must be subdued, controlled, destroyed. The Bible and other spiritual texts address ego issues such as self-image, pride/humility/vanity, greed/covetousness, and anger, over and over again. Many such negative thoughts originate in the ego.

18. Opinions and beliefs are dangerous when one’s self-image becomes too heavily invested in, too attached to, those opinions. This includes the beliefs in one’s religion, including Christianity. This means that one’s religion can be a source of imprisonment, the very thing religion is intended to help one escape from.

19. The NC teaches methods of obtaining control over one’s own thoughts. These methods are scattered throughout the Bible and many other texts. For some reason, these methods have been lost and are not practiced by the majority of Christians. These methods include, first and foremost, the concept and practice of Watchfulness or Witnessing, from which all other practices derive, Christian meditations, Christian mantras, prayer done correctly, and affirmations, as well as other methods.

20. Religion should not function to control one’s thoughts, but should show how one can control one’s own thoughts. Religion should not tell one what to do, but should show people how to find out for themselves what to do. Religion should not label, condemn and divide, but should deconstruct, value and unite.

The Essentials of New Christianity website had this to say about this adulterated form of Christianity with its New Age terminology (selected excerpts):

Source: http://www.newchristianity.ca/About/
WhatisNewChristianity/tabid/56/Default.aspx

This New Christianity is a spiritual renewal that will reclaim the essence of Christ’s life and teachings. For many of us the path of Jesus has been a way to awakening deep spiritual truths. As we have grown the church has failed us in its inability to move past the Old Testament war God into a relationship with the God of Love, the Source, the God of Creation, the Divine that all people of faith seek to experience.

The shift to a New Christianity does not necessarily mean that we need to abandon the organized church. It does mean that we need to move beyond rote practices and weary metaphors in order to connect powerfully with the divine energy in and around each of us. For some of us we will need to leave or at least take a sabbatical from organized Christianity in order to find our own connection with the divine through Jesus Christ.

As a Christian leader with a thorough understanding of the Christian life and a deep love for the Creator, I am developing a spiritual understanding that integrates Christ’s life and teachings with eastern energy practices that allow me to continue to deepen my connection with the divine. (emphasis in these quotes is mine - Bonnie)

This website, with four pages of recommended resources, lists the books/dvds The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace (M. Scott Peck), The Celestine Prophecy (new age philosophy), The Power of Now: A guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (Eckart Tolle, new age), A Return to Love (Marianne Williamson, new age), and Blue Like Jazz (in which the author, Donald Miller says, "I once listened to an Indian on television say that God was in the wind and the water, and I wondered at how beautiful that was because it meant you could swim in Him or have Him brush your face in a breeze."). This is pantheism, not Christianity.

It is apparent that those who haven't learned from history are bound to repeat its mistakes. Over and over in the Old Testament God warned His people not to worship the gods of the nations around them and to adopt their spiritual practices. Doing so was a serious affront to Him. He knew that doing this would lead them into spiritual darkness. The New Testament also warns us not to live like the Gentiles in the futility of their thinking with their false worship of false gods. Syncretism is equated with unfaithfulness in God's Word.

I find it very disturbing when people say we need to "let God out of the box". Christians have not put God in a box, although it certainly seems many people want to put Christians in a box by saying they do. The written Word is an inerrant account of the revealed Word of God. Is God confined to the pages of a book? Of course not, but the complete revelation to us for this age is. It seems to me that the problem is one of rebellion rather than a lack of knowledge.

In answer to those who have become disillusioned with the church, I believe the problem has more to do with our own disobedience to the words of God. Have Christians down through the ages failed to perfectly do what they are supposed to as the bride of Christ? Of course they have, and yet Christ has not given up on the church. The Holy Spirit continues to guide those who desire to be faithful to Him and His Word even though they sometimes stumble along the way. Christ continues to build His true church as He promised He would. Our infallibility is why we continually need to return to God's Word for correction. There are many in the Christian church who have strayed from God's Word: this is the real problem. It was God who instituted the church, just as He instituted marriage. If we don't like the model, does that mean we can change it. That would be like saying marriage is a good thing, but an affair on the side is a healthy thing to explore. There is no perfect marriage and no perfect church, but there are faithful marriage partners and there are faithful believers even though they may not have a perfect relationship with their spouse. But God honors and rewards their faithfulness.

Contrary to what those promoting the "New Christianity" appear to believe, the way is narrow, and there are few who find it.(Matthew 7:13-15). I have no personal vendetta against those who promote false teaching. I feel pity for those who have been led away from the safety of the Scriptures. That is why I expose doctrine that is contrary to God's Word and warn others about it, in the same way I would warn my teenagers not to drive on the wrong side of the road. The human race needs a standard to follow and an orderly way of doing things. Those who try to "wing it" with their spiritual beliefs have no assurance they are on the right track, and theology is only dry to those who have lost their first love. If you are reading this blog because you are exploring the "New Christianity" I implore you to REPENT and turn to Christ alone for salvation by the way of His atonement for your sin by His shed blood on the cross.

"MAN"UAL TRANSMISSIONS, SHIFTING AND THE NEW SPIRITUALITY

It appears that the proponents of the New Age have "shifted" to a new identity called The New Spirituality or The New Christianity. They appear to be identical in their underlying philosophy and spiritual practices.

As a spare bus driver for the past 1o years, I have spent many hours with my hand on the gear-shift of a manual transmission. I was thinking several days ago that it was a good analogy to the spiritual shift that is taking place across the globe. Comparing the differences between a manual transmission and an automatic one, I observed that it is something I have to physically accomplish by the power of my own arm if I want to get the bus moving or change to a different gear. With an automatic transmission, the motor does this on its own at the appropriate time if things are working as they should. In the New Spirituality, the "evolution/awakening" to the next stage in the spiritual realm (the new heaven via an altered state of consciousness, and the new earth via global unity according to Eckhart Tolle, Oprah and their New Age friends) is taking place "MAN"ually, being powered by man rather than the Holy Spirit. (Now, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, following the 1000 year reign of Christ - the one and only Christ - but it will take place in God's own time and be accomplished by Him, not us). As a biblical Christian, we rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us to move in the direction we ought to go. The New Spirituality teaches that we are the makers of our own destiny, placing us in the position of God, and promoting the "divinity of man". Doesn't the lie that we will be like the Most High originate from the serpent, the devil, when he enticed Eve to disobey God in the Garden of Eden? Instead of Eve going to Adam and the two of them going to God to understand the deceitfulness of Satan's character and proposal, they simply took matters into their own hands, disobeyed God and as they say, the rest is history. Satan continues this very day to entice people to disobey God, appealing to our inherited sinful nature to take things into our own hands. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must be sure we are walking in step with the Holy Spirit and in obedience to the Word or we too can be deceived.

Here is a look at the "New Christianity" from a blog by the same name:

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Basic Concepts of the New Christianity

1. The New Christianity (NC) presents concrete solutions to the problems of life, and concrete methods for living it. The NC seeks to clarify and explain Christian teachings.

2. The NC encompasses religion, psychology and philosophy.

3. The ultimate goal of the NC is Union with God in this Lifetime. (aka, Heaven, from “The Kingdom of God is within you”, aka Enlightened Freedom from Suffering)

4. Union with God requires control of the thought-waves in the mind.

5. Repeat: Union with God requires control of the thought-waves in the mind.

6. Everything in the Bible, and everything that Jesus Christ taught-as well as every other TRULY highly evolved spiritual leader-concerns the issue of obtaining control of the thought-waves in the mind.

7. In our current state, we do not have control over our own thought-waves. They are controlled by external stimuli and rooted in the events of our individual pasts.

8. Our thoughts lead to words, and our words in turn lead to our actions. Our actions, when repeated, become habits. Our habits become our character, and our character ensures our destiny. Thus, our thoughts-which our not “our own”-control our destiny.
9. The thoughts we plant today are the seeds of our futures. “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”

10. Thus, we are chained and imprisoned by our thoughts: this is Hell.

11. We have the ability to become free from those bindings-to change our thoughts-and the suffering it causes: this is Heaven or Union with God.

12. The NC is concerned solely with breaking free from these bindings. Whether one “believes” in Christ or not, everyone can benefit from the methods of the NC, as the NC contains psychological truths which are universal and objective in nature.

13. Before one can break free from one’s bindings-escape from Hell-one must learn what those bindings are. Thus, the first exercise of the NC is to “Know thyself,” from which the practice of Watchfulness, or Witnessing, is derived. This directive is all over the Bible and all over spiritual texts of any sort, including Jewish, Hindu, Islamic and Buddhist teachings. The importance of this cannot be understated. (Note that the term Witness is used here in a completely different way than is commonly understood. This term will be more fully discussed in a later posting, but it is the opinion of this writer that common use of the term has arisen due to misunderstanding of its true intent.)

14. The Commandments and the Seven Deadly Sins are merely examples of common ways that human beings allow their thoughts to be controlled. They are guidelines to help one see one’s thoughts.

15. Unfortunately, in a way, the word “Sin” has itself become a sin in the sense that the word itself conjures up automatic thoughts and feelings of guilt, repulsion, judgment and/or condemnation. Some people can become stuck at these very points-thus, the teachings about sin have had the exact opposite of their original intention by imprisoning instead of showing the path to freedom.

16. The NC does not condemn nor judge “sinners”. To do so is to violate many, many passages of the Bible. Further, those who condemn and judge others reveal their own sins, for “The faults one finds in others, are the faults one has oneself.” This is a universal law. Use it when observing your own thoughts, and you will start to become free.

17. Among other things, The Devil is the personification of the Ego. It is the ego that must be subdued, controlled, destroyed. The Bible and other spiritual texts address ego issues such as self-image, pride/humility/vanity, greed/covetousness, and anger, over and over again. Many such negative thoughts originate in the ego.

18. Opinions and beliefs are dangerous when one’s self-image becomes too heavily invested in, too attached to, those opinions. This includes the beliefs in one’s religion, including Christianity. This means that one’s religion can be a source of imprisonment, the very thing religion is intended to help one escape from.

19. The NC teaches methods of obtaining control over one’s own thoughts. These methods are scattered throughout the Bible and many other texts. For some reason, these methods have been lost and are not practiced by the majority of Christians. These methods include, first and foremost, the concept and practice of Watchfulness or Witnessing, from which all other practices derive, Christian meditations, Christian mantras, prayer done correctly, and affirmations, as well as other methods.

20. Religion should not function to control one’s thoughts, but should show how one can control one’s own thoughts. Religion should not tell one what to do, but should show people how to find out for themselves what to do. Religion should not label, condemn and divide, but should deconstruct, value and unite.

(Emphasis is in the original source)
Source: http://www.newchristianity.typepad.com/

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Doug Lester, author of a website called The Essentials of New Christianity gives this definition:

This New Christianity is a spiritual renewal that will reclaim the essence of Christ’s life and teachings. For many of us the path of Jesus has been a way to awakening deep spiritual truths. As we have grown the church has failed us in its inability to move past the Old Testament war God into a relationship with the God of Love, the Source, the God of Creation, the Divine that all people of faith seek to experience.

The shift to a New Christianity does not necessarily mean that we need to abandon the organized church. It does mean that we need to move beyond rote practices and weary metaphors in order to connect powerfully with the divine energy in and around each of us. For some of us we will need to leave or at least take a sabbatical from organized Christianity in order to find our own connection with the divine through Jesus Christ.

As a Christian leader with a thorough understanding of the Christian life and a deep love for the Creator, I am developing a spiritual understanding that integrates Christ’s life and teachings with eastern energy practices that allow me to continue to deepen my connection with the divine.

(Emphasis is mine)
Source: http://www.newchristianity.ca/About/WhatisNewChristianity/tabid/56/Default.aspx

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Please note in the above quote that this new form of Christianity (with its New Age terminology) is about experiencing God. It appeals to the flesh and uses "eastern energy practices". What we have here is syncretism, which Scripture warns us against in both the Old and New Testaments. This from a man who claims in his online biography to have "a thorough understanding of the Christian life", and a long history within the Christian church. What in the world is happening to people? Deception and apostasy, as it appears to me. Be aware that this is not that far from the Christian church. I would say it is on the doorstep of some, and already in the pulpit and pews of others, especially the emerging church. (Read Marsha West's article. The link is listed below).

Here is what Jeremiah had to say to those who turned aside and followed spiritual leaders who led the people astray from the way He had set out for them:

The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests bear rule by their means;
and my people love to have it so:
and what will ye do in the end thereof?

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush:
therefore they shall fall among them that fall:
at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush:
therefore they shall fall among them that fall:
at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see,
and ask for the old paths,
where is the good way, and walk therein,
and ye shall find rest for your souls.
But they said, We will not walk therein.

Also I set watchmen over you, saying,
Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.
But they said, We will not hearken.

Jeremiah 5:31 and 6:15-17

Here is a good article explaining the differences between the Christ of the New Spirituality/Christianity and the biblical Christ: The False Imagining of the False Christ (Colossians and the coming of the cosmic-christ) by Pastor Larry DeBruyn of Franklin Road Baptist Church.

Also related to this topic, an article by Marsha West, The Shift to the New Christianity and New Spirituality Through the Emerging Church, at NewsWithViews.

I was reminded this week just how deceptive this "shift" is as I was in a situation where I overheard two women that I know (one of them a Christian) speak glowingly about Eckart Tolle's New Earth. I was in shock and didn't know what to say at the time. Please pray that I will have the courage and wisdom to speak up next time, and as I try to talk to this Christian lady and warn her of the spiritual deception she is being involved in, and a receptive heart on her part. There is no doubt in my mind that we are in the midst of a serious spiritual battle and in the last days before Christ calls His own preceding the final showdown with our Adversary, the Devil.

Keep looking up, and stay on your knees!

ROB BELL TO PARTICIPATE IN SEEDS OF COMPASSION CONFERENCE

**Also read The Gospel According to Rob, another article I have written about Rob Bell's propensity for New Age doctrines, and an off-site article by Carla at an older blog, Books and Things, written on March 25, 2006 (look for the picture of Bell about a third of the way down the page).**

Why would someone who claims the name of Christ choose to participate in a conference (The Seeds of Compassion) co-founded by the personal emissary for peace for the Dalai Lama, as reported by UWNews? The article makes this statement about the Dalai Lama:

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on July 6, 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet. At the age of two the child, who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time, was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.(1)

Could Rob Bell possibly participating in this conference in order to preach about the exclusivity of Christ's claims to messiahship and godhood, and His work on the cross? Could it be to call for repentance of sin and humility before the Creator of the universe who is going to judge the world because of its rebellion and rejection of His Son? Highly unlikely, considering that Rob Bell is an emergent pastor who promotes an eastern-style meditation to his followers and dos not accurately represent Christ.

I find his participation in this coming event very disturbing, since Rob Bell's Nooma videos are being used far and wide in Christian youth groups. The Christ Bell worships is beginning to look more and more like the New Age christ all the time. He uses an emotional appeal backed up by Scripture to teach. I say "uses" to refer to what he does with Scripture as well, because there is evidence to believe he is not "rightly dividing the word of truth". He preaches a watered-down version of the gospel.

It can be disheartening for those who want to remain faithful to Christ to realize that many of those new in leadership are altering the message and the meaning of the gospel to include a New Age or Eastern worldview, and ultimately a global spiritual unity. At this point it becomes a belief that looks more like the New Age than Christianity, all the while remaining under the guise of Christianity.

When does a person cross the line from being a biblical Christian to being a New Ager? I used to believe that Oprah was a Christian, but I now see that she speaks from both sides of her mouth, claiming the name of Christ while promoting New Age authors and their techniques. I think she has crossed the line and is now worshiping the christ of the New Age. Jesus said that there would be many deceivers and many deceived in the latter days before His return. People like Oprah, Ken Blanchard, Ken Wilber and Rob Bell will not give up their associations with Christianity, because part of the plan is to infiltrate the Christian church and overtake it for the New Age christ (antichrist). How else could Christians become deceived and fall away as prophesied in Scripture, if the deception did not come from within and use the same language (albeit, with altered definitions)?

Scripture commands us to be sober and vigilant, as our adversary, the Devil, is seeking whom he may devour. His days are numbered, and he is anxious for victims, especially looking for unwary Christians to deceive. I urge you to warn the brethren of this deception and to read the Word and pray as this day comes upon us like a woman in labor and the birth pangs increase.

Click HERE to read the latest newsletter at Lighthouse Trails, which reports this event (scroll partway down the page).

(1) http://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=39958

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ROB

There are a LOT of Christian youth groups out there using Rob Bell's Nooma videos. I think that most youth pastors go by whatever is new and being promoted by their local Christian bookstore, looks good, is entertaining and by what other youth groups are using when choosing a curriculum for the group they are leading. Should that really be the criteria by which they are chosen? What about their faithfulness to the gospel message according to the Scriptures? It would seem that isn't always a priority. Makes you wonder what the next generation of Christians will believe, doesn't it?

Greg Gilbert from 9marks, a website dedicated to helping local churches re-establish their biblical bearings and re-think their ministry methods, has written a three-part article called "The Scoop'a on NOOMA" which talks about the problem with Bell's theology. For anybody with teenagers, this can be a little disheartening, but it is important to know so that you can teach them to have spiritual discernment and perhaps influence your youth pastor to find something more biblical.

Click HERE to read PART 1
Click HERE to read PART 2
Click HERE to read PART 3

I have also located a website called Youth Ministries Alert which reviews the latest teaching materials available for youth pastors. A great website for parents and youth leaders alike. Check it out.

For more information on Rob Bell's spirituality, Lighthouse Trails has an article called
"NOTICE TO PARENTS: Christian Schools Introducing Teens to Mysticism Proponent" exposing Bells' leanings toward mysticism. Click HERE to read the article.

A revealing quote:

"We're rediscovering Christianity as an Eastern religion, as a way of life."

- Rob Bell, from "The Emergent Mystique"

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I began writing this post late last night, but decided to delay posting it until today. In the meantime I found this on Christian Research Net: Everything I learned From My Rabbi I Passed On To You Rob Bell. It talks about Bell's tendency to overemphasize Jesus' humanity and deemphasize His divinity, using the story of Jesus being found in the temple at age 12 by his parents in Luke 2:41-49. Bell seems to imply that Jesus was there to sit under the teaching of the Rabbi's in order to learn about the faith. This is a misrepresentation of what happened. Here is the actual account:

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
And when he was twelve years old,
they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned,
the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem;
and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
But they, supposing him to have been in the company,
went a day's journey;
and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
And when they found him not,
they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
And it came to pass, that after three days
they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors,
both hearing them, and asking them questions.
And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
And when they saw him, they were amazed:
and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us?
behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me?
wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

The Scriptures say that they were astonished at his understanding and answers. He wasn't learning from the Rabbi's (doctors), he was astonishing them with His understanding!! And His parents were amazed! Now, why would they be amazed if they had sent Him to be schooled by the rabbi's? Wouldn't they rather be proud or thrilled that He had remembered what He had been taught, or angered that He would have the audacity to do such a thing? No they were amazed, because He had a knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures that they knew nothing about and was beyond His years.

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Two more good articles on Rob Bell below:

To read The Open Creation of Rob Bell and about Bell's New Age slant (and terminology) on creationism at Apprising Ministries, click HERE.

Then go to Slice of Laodicea to read Rob Bell is "Open" to New Age Thought by clicking HERE.

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I really think you can only truthfully call yourself a "Christain" for so long when you're heading down this path. Many used to (and some still do) believe Oprah Winfrey is a Christian. But how can somebody be a Christian and promote the teachings of the New Age (occult) and a New Age christ? Somewhere there is a change from believing that God says what He means and means what He says in Scripture, to believing the doctrines of men and demons.

It's time to call IT what IT IS!! (But of course that wouldn't be deceitful enough for the Father of Lies, would it? And all those vulnerable young people wouldn't be led down the path of dectruction either). This is a very sad commentary on the the state of the Christian church these days and a sign of the times in which we live, isn't it? If you can't find truth in a Christian church at a Christian youth group anymore, where can you find it these days? (Read your Bible, read your Bible, READ YOUR BIBLE!).

PLAYING WITH FIRE: TURNING PRISONS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES INTO MEDITATION CENTRES

Image above courtesy of freefoto.com by Ian Britton.

Hebrews 12:1-10, 25-29

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire.

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Leviticus 10:1-11

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.

And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled. And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

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The purpose of GOD'S fire is to purify the children of obedience and make them holy, not to destroy them. In the Old Testament God put Nadab and Abihu to death for disobeying His command and offering strange fire to Him. God makes a clear distinction between what is holy and what is not, what is from Him and what is not, what is acceptable and what is not. The Israelites were warned not to adopt heathen practices or entertain heathen gods. Are Christians today able to distinguish between the two? We must examine carefully the origins of the fire we encounter, to distinguish between the holy fire that brings repentance and purifies us from sin, and the strange fire that deceives and destroys.

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The latest newsletter at Lighthouse Trails gave an update on the growth of the practice of meditation at an astonishing rate of approximately 1.7 million people a year since 2003, when the number was at 10 million in the United States of America. They report that according to Dr. Rick Levy`s book, Miraculous Health, that the number of practitioners in the United States alone is currently 17 million.

The newsletter goes on to say:

Keep in mind that we are not talking about people that have just embraced a particular belief system intellectually or rationally. We are talking about mystics, people who are in touch with the supernatural realm on a continous basis. We believe this remarkable acceleration is due to two factors.

First is the tremendous explosion of the interest in Yoga. Yoga, for those that don't know, means union, as in the mystical sense, the union with the divine or the Hindu concept of the divine. Most people may think it is just stretching and a form of calisthenics but Yoga and meditation are supposed to go together. You can't really have one without the other and still call it Yoga.

Secondly, and more important from the perspective of Lighthouse Trails is the explosion of the interest in contemplative prayer, which is a westernized form of meditation.

The newsletter states that the explosion of interest in contemplative prayer is due to rise of the Purpose Driven movement and the Emerging Church movement. I would like to add to that the
Roman Catholic Church, as it has a growing contemplative movement as well.

At the beginning of January I began writing a post which I never completed that deals with this topic. It contains several examples of how and where the growth of meditation and yoga is taking place here in Canada. Below is an edited version of that post.

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Has anybody noticed how big yoga is these days? Several weeks ago I was at a grand opening for a Mark's Work Wearhouse store. As I was browsing through their clothing section an advertisement came on over their sound system promoting their yoga wear and extolling the virtues of the practice. Then several days ago I was in Wal-mart and I saw an ad on the shopping cart I was pushing that was also promoting yoga.

On January 5th I decided to watch some television and came across a program on VisionTv called The Fires That Burn, an hour-long documentary featuring a Roman Catholic nun, Elaine MacInnes who has been recognized for her work as a Zen Master and made an officer of the Order of Canada in 2001. Sister Elaine MacInnes is a member of Our Lady's Missionaries, an order of Roman Catholic nuns and is associated with The Phoenix Trust, a meditation and yoga program for prison inmates in Ireland and the UK. The VisionTV website states that her mission now is to introduce meditation and yoga classes into Canadian penitentiaries through a Toronto organization called Freeing the Human Spirit.

It is interesting to note in the promotional picture for the documentary (directly above) that there is clearly a connection between eastern and western meditation. Those promoting meditation within the Roman Catholic Church seem to have no problem with this connection and recognize it openly. However, whenever an evangelical Christian is confronted with this issue, it is quickly denied. Are they naive or just in denial?

Ascent magazine (Yoga for the Inspired Life) contains an article profiling Sister Elaine MacInnes entitled not broken by Talya Rubin. In it MacInnes is quoted:

"I was never moved to be a Buddhist,” she says. When people in Japan asked her about it, she would say, “Look, I was just brought up in Moncton, New Brunswick. I can’t all of a sudden say I have had a hundred lives beforehand. I was born on March 7th in 1924 and I was fresh and clean and I have my own personality. I’m not another hundred thousand people behind me.” When her teacher noticed her first breakthroughs in Zen practice, he simply said, “Now you go out and be a better Christian and a better Sister.”

Sister Elaine speaks of Zen as being about direct experience, not words or objects. “There was never anything but the right now, right here.” Even the Buddha requested that his words not be recorded. He taught from experience and it was these practices that were later to be the basis for Zen teachings, but the terms themselves and the religious elements of Buddhism were recorded later. “Scholars say the Buddha grew up in a Hindu country so that he just went back to the religious matrix of his time.”

Of her own teaching Sister Elaine says, “I have Jewish people and I have Muslims and I have people with no religion and it doesn’t bother me at all. I just try to use quite a few different terms so that people won’t get stuck on one. We don’t find it necessary to impose a god on you, we just ask you to sit down and keep quiet.” She laughs heartily at this.

“My teacher in Japan used to say ‘we are all born to be mystics.’(1.)

Rubin goes on to say:

The yoga and meditation taught are a practice of “silent body, silent mind,” and apparently it works. By the time she retired from the Trust, Sister Elaine had set up eighty-six teachers in prisons across the UK and they receive thousands of letters each month from the inmates. “I would say our discipline is therapeutic and that is why it is so important for prisoners."

The kind of zazen they teach is Shikantaza. “‘Shika’ means ‘only’ and ‘ta’ means ‘to hit’ and the ‘za’ is squatting on the floor. It is something that will hit the mark.” Simple counting of breath is emphasized, as well as correct posture. “The bottom line of meditation for a teacher is that you’re bringing people to a deeper state of consciousness and that involves something very, very touchy. There is something in practising silence the way we teach that is very safe, and to my knowledge it has never been known for anyone to crack up.”

In her prison programs, Sister Elaine felt it necessary to balance meditation practices with yoga instruction. Yoga Outreach, a charity organization based in Surrey, BC, was asked to implement a yoga program for the correctional institutions in Canada. The yoga postures taught are breath-centred to facilitate a link between body and mind.

The practice of yoga and meditation brings a space of silence to the prisoners, and with this seems to follow discipline, productivity, a sense of purpose, an alleviation of depression, a reduction in violence, and in the long run, a reduced rate of recidivism. This approach fits in with a paradigm shift slowly being introduced into the judicial system called Restorative Justice.

When thinking about Sister Elaine, the image I am left with is from a documentary film made about her life and work called The Fires that Burn. The image of an inmate – shaved head and tattooed arms, his muscled body suddenly looking very fragile as he holds himself in Plank pose. I have never seen anyone do yoga with such tenderness and fear before. This is clearly fertile ground – the space for things that are broken to mend in silence. (2.) (emphasis in bold is mine)

There is no doubt left to the readers mind that this is an eastern practice being promoted by a Roman Catholic nun. And she makes no bones about where she learned it, although she willingly promotes it as being available to all regardless of their faith. She emphasizes that it is the method that is important and makes the practice effective, not its eastern origins. This should cause anyone professing the Christian faith to realize that you can call the practices of yoga and meditation by any name you like (contemplative prayer), but they will all lead down the same pathway ~ to a union with "the divine", and a belief that "all is one".

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Meditation for Health is a website promoting its community-based medical program in Toronto, Canada run by M.D. Lucinda Sykes, "a Toronto physician psychotherapist with over twenty-five years experience in general practice psychotherapy. She trained with Jungian analysts, Marion Woodman and Fraser Boa, and has twice participated in MBSR professional training programs under the direction of Dr. Kabat-Zinn. She is a past board member of the General Practice Psychotherapy Association. Dr. Sykes has had a personal practice of hatha yoga and meditation for over twenty years, and has lead Meditation for Health groups since 1997."(3.)

I'm sure this is just one of myriads of these types of programs available to people these days. It seems just about every hospital, clinic, massage or chiropractic office has posters up that promote them; in fact, it is difficult to find one that doesn't. The program used by Meditation for Health is called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). The site says that MBSR

"develops our capacity for mindfulness, with a program of simple meditation exercises and body stretches"...and ..."Although the practice of mindfulness has been most developed in the traditions of Asia, it is taught without a particular religious or philosophical belief. It is a basic awareness technique, a way of looking at things, that people of all faiths can share."(4.)(emphasis in bold is mine)

Meditation for Health website has a page listing resources with "Books of Interest to Christian Meditators" containing a total of 27 books! The authors include Brother Lawrence, Thomas Merton, Basil Pennington, Richard Foster, Thomas Keating, Willis Jager, and of course, Sister Elaine MacInnes (Zen Contemplation for Christians), among others.

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I came across another interesting website while I was doing some research on a book that my daughter was required to read as part of a Bible School course she was taking (called Devotional Classics, by none other than Richard Foster). The quotes (given below) from this site illustrate the New Age/Hindu teaching regarding "Christian" mysticism. Although their teachings about Christ are unfaithful to Scripture, they illustrate the occultic nature of these practices.

About.com had this in its section on Alternative Religions about Mystic Christianity in an article written by Yogi Ramacharaka (William Walker Atkinson):

That there is a Secret Doctrine of Christianity is not generally known to the majority who claim the name of "Christian." But it has always been known to the mystics in and out of the church, and its flame has been kept steadily alight by a few devoted souls who were chosen for this sacred task.

The Secret Doctrine of Christianity did not originate with Jesus, for He, Himself, was an Initiate of Mysteries which had been known and taught for centuries before His birth. As St. Augustine has said:

"That which is called the Christian Religion existed among the ancients and never did not exist, from the beginning of the human race until Christ came in the flesh, at which time the true religion which already existed began to be called Christianity.

"Origen states that:

"The Scriptures have a meaning, not only such as is apparent at first sight, but also another, which escapes the notice of most men. For such is written in the forms of certain Mysteries, and the image of divine things. Respecting which there is one opinion throughout the whole Church, that the whole law is indeed spiritual; but that the spiritual meaning which the law conveys is not known to all, but to those only on whom the grace of the Holy Spirit is bestowed in the word of wisdom and knowledge." (De Principiis.)

We could fill page after page with live quotations from the writings of the Early Christian Fathers, and their successors, showing the existence of the Inner Teachings. But we must rest content with those which we have given you, which are clear and to the point, and which come from undoubted authority.

The departure of the Church from these Inner Teachings was a great calamity, from which the Church is still suffering. As that well-known occultist, Eliphias Levi, has said:

"A great misfortune befell Christianity. The betrayal of the Mysteries by the false Gnostics--for the Gnostics, that is, those who know, were the Initiates of primitive Christianity--caused the Gnosis to be rejected, and alienated the Church from the supreme truths of the Kabbala, which contains all the secrets of transcendental theology.... Let the most absolute science, let the highest reason become once more the patrimony of the leaders of the people; let the sarcerdotal art and the royal art take the double sceptre of antique initiations and the social world will once more issue from its chaos. Burn the holy images no longer; demolish the temples no more; temples and images are necessary for men; but drive the hirelings from the house of prayer; let the blind be no longer leaders of the blind; reconstruct the hierarchy of intelligence and holiness, and recognize only those who know as the teachers of those who believe." (The Mysteries of Magic, Waite translation.)

And now, you ask, what were taught in these Christian Mysteries--what is the Inner Teaching--what the Secret Doctrine? Simply this, good students--the Occult Philosophy and Mystic Lore which has been taught to the Elect in all times and ages, and which is embodied in our several series of lessons on THE YOGI PHILOSOPHY AND ORIENTAL OCCULTISM, plus the special teaching regarding the nature, mission, and sacrifice of Jesus the Christ, as we have tried to explain in the present series of lessons. The Truth is the same no matter under what name it is taught, or who teaches it. Strip it of the personal coloring of the teacher and it is seen to be the same--THE TRUTH. In these lessons we have tried to give you the Key to the Mysteries, but unless you have studied the other lessons in which the Occult Teachings have been set forth, you will not be able to see their application in Mystic Christianity. You must bring Knowledge to the lessons, in order to take away knowledge. (5.)(emphasis in bold mine, emphasis in capital letters theirs)

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Isn't it odd that a Hindu Yogi recognizes the occultic nature of Christian mysticism, while many Christians are unwittingly adopting it. Ramacharaka-Atkinson consistently misuses and misinterprets quotes from Scripture and other historical theologians throughout this article (which you can see if you read the entire article) to suit his occultic worldview. I wonder how long it will be until the barriers separating the east from the west (occultic mysticism from contemplative prayer) will cease to exist in the mind and heart of the Christian church? It is evident that they don't make such a distinction within the New Age and occultic camps. Scripture tells us to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, as our adversary, the devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

I again direct you to the book of Jude (1-5, 17-25)and its warnings:

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,
to them that are sanctified by God the Father,
and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you
of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you
that ye should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints.

For there are certain men crept in unawares,
who were before of old ordained to this condemnation,
ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,
and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

I will therefore put you in remembrance,
though ye once knew this, how that the Lord,
having saved the people out of the land of Egypt,
afterward destroyed them that believed not.

But, beloved, remember ye the words
which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time,
who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
These be they who separate themselves,
sensual, having not the Spirit.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;
hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling,
and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory
with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Saviour,
be glory and majesty, dominion and power,
both now and ever. Amen.

(1.) http://www.ascentmagazine.com/articles.aspx?articleID=
192&page=read&subpage=past&issueID=30
(2.) ibid
(3.) http://www.meditationforhealth.com/bio.html
(4.) http://www.meditationforhealth.com/index.html
(5.) http://altreligion.about.com/library/texts/bl_
mysticchristianity27.htm

THE GOLDEN RULE TWISTED ~ PART 3

Read the THE GOLDEN RULE TWISTED ~ PART 1
Read the THE GOLDEN RULE TWISTED ~ PART 2
Read the ADDENDUM TO THE "GOLDEN RULE TWISTED ~ PART 2

I have been having a little trouble getting back to this topic to create Part 3 as I said I would, part of the reason being that I have been discovering a new connection to another post I wrote not long ago (END TIMES WATCH ~ NOAHIDE LAWS ~ "EVERY KNEE SHALL BEND") which also links with this topic. Anyone doing research understands that it takes time to gather material and assemble it into something that makes sense, and the revisions that have to take place when additional material is discovered and needs to be incorporated. In between I have been customizing a new computer, as my old one is on it's deathbed, so I have been a little distracted lately. But now, forward we go...

The United Religions Initiative began as an idea in 1993 in the mind of Episcopalian Bishop, Willliam Swing after a sleepless night following a United Nations invitation to host an interfaith service, when he asked himself, "If the nations of the world are working together for peace through the UN, then where are the religions of the world?". His question and the resulting idea of a united religious organization came to fruition with the creation of the United Religions Initiative, which could be considered to be the spiritual counterpart to the global political entity, the United Nations. Here is its stated purpose:

United Religions Initiative (URI) was founded in 2000 by an extraordinary global community committed to promoting enduring, daily interfaith cooperation and to ending religiously motivated violence. Today the URI includes thousands of members in over 65 countries representing more that (sic) 100 religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions. (1.)

The organization advanced until it joined together with the United Nation to declare an international day of peace:

On June 20, 2006, The Global Council Trustees, on behalf of the members of the UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE throughout the world, issued a Peace Proclamation, joining with the United Nations in proclaiming September 21 as The International Day of Peace. We urge all our members to encourage all citizens of this world to work together to create peace, justice and healing for the Earth and for all living beings. (2.)

Moving steadily forward, in April 2007 the Interfaith Peace-building Initiative (IPI), a member of the URI, has proclaimed April 5th to be "Golden Rule Day", calling for it to be recognized as such by all citizens and organizations of the world, including the UN. This should not be a difficult task to accomplish, since a poster of "The Golden Rule" ala Scarborough Missions is already hanging on the walls of the UN Headquarters, and its agenda is worldwide peace. (See previous posts on this topic). Below is the news account of the "Golden Rule Day" Declaration by the IPI:

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Written by Mussie Hailu
Tuesday, 17 April 2007

Addis Abab, Ethiopia. Athlete Haile Gebreselassie Appointed Goodwill Ambassador of Golden Rule by URI CC in Ethiopia.

Golden Rule Day proclaimed for April 5. World renowned, holder of many world records and superstar athlete, Haile Gebreselassie, was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the Golden Rule by the Interfaith Peace-building Initiative (IPI), a peace-building organisation whose purpose is to promote the Golden Rule, interfaith harmony, a culture of peace, reconciliation, nonviolence, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

Handing over the certificate of appointment, trophy, peace medal and the framed “Golden Rule,” the Board Chairman of IPI and Coordinator of Golden Rule Goodwill Ambassador Program Hon. Mussie Hailu said “this honor is bestowed upon athlete Haile in recognition of his outstanding contribution in promoting a culture of peace, harmony, and international solidarity among people of different cultures, ethnic groups, religions, and nationalities through the Great Ethiopian Run program.” The Board Chairman further said “his exemplary work in promoting, throughout the world, the universal message of the Golden Rule which says ‘Treat others the way you want to be treated’ is highly appreciated and commendable.” The Golden Rule has been affirmed in many religions, traditions, indigenous cultures and secular philosophies as a fundamental principle of life and the foundation upon which a global ethic is founded. It is the best tool to educate people about respect and mutual esteem in order to achieve peaceful coexistence and solidarity among members of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions, and it has played a major role in promoting the culture of dialogue so that understanding and interest may develop among individuals and peoples as these are the conditions of authentic peace. The message is simple, universal and powerful and is the most prevalent and universal moral principle in human history.

The Board Chairman further said “It is high time to promote the Golden Rule throughout the world as it is a fundamental principle that addresses critical issues such as peace, non-violence, interfaith harmony, democracy, human rights, respect for each other, gender equity, social development, constructive dialogue among nations, conflict prevention and right human relationship.

With this in mind, IPI declared this day, April 5, as Golden Rule Day and calls upon all citizens of the world, religious leaders of the world, mayors, heads of state of the world, the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, interfaith organisations, schools, higher learning institutions, the business community and civil society to join IPI in proclaiming this day as Golden Rule Day and to live accordingly to make this world a better place for all and the coming generation." Athlete Haile, on his behalf after receiving the award, expressed his profound appreciation for the work of IPI and thanking IPI for the honor bestowed upon him and he affirmed to the board members of IPI that he will do all he can to promote this principle which is a key to life. Further he said, “There will not be development without peace as peace is the foundation of everything.” He strongly emphasized that, by promoting the Golden Rule, it will open up the door for peace to prevail on Earth and the betterment of this world. In response to the board’s invitation Athlete Haile accepted to be an honorary member of the Interfaith Peace-building Initiative and United Religions Initiative, an international interfaith organisation which is working throughout the world to build global interfaith cooperation for a better world. IPI is a member of the United Religions Initiative.

All board members, on behalf of all the members of IPI, expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the great work Athlete Haile is doing by promoting his country and building a good image for Ethiopia and Africa through sport, and by bringing people all over the world together for the common good. This kind of collaboration is what is needed in our world to bring a positive change and create a better future for the coming generation. The Proclamation of the Golden Rule, which was declared on this occasion, will be sent to all Heads of State, religious leaders of the world, United Nations, African Union, European Union, interfaith organisations, international organisations and members of civil society and the business Community. It is the hope of IPI that this proclamation will be endorsed through the United Nations General Assembly and that “International Golden Rule Day” will be proclaimed by the UN so that all member states can use this day as a neutral platform where policymakers and citizens of the world could meet together and pave the way for a better world.

May Peace Prevail on Earth! (3.)

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Bishop Swing, initiator of URI, also authored a book entitled The Coming United Religions, in which he equates proselytizing with religious violence. A customer at Amazon.com left this comment about the book:

Swing...identifies Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as "exclusive religions" (p. 31) and says, "if billions of people from exclusive religions are commanded to oppose the godly claims of other exclusive religions, what hope is there for peace among religions? In order for a United Religions to come about and for religions to pursue peace among each other, there will have to be a godly cease-fire, a temporary truce where the absolute exclusive claims of each will be honored but an agreed upon neutrality will be exercised in terms of proselytizing, condemning, murdering, or dominating. These will not be tolerated in the United Religions zone" (p. 31). (4.)

This is a ridiculously impossible ideal! I am not a fatalist; I am, however, a realist. Once again, we have a utopian, socialistic ideal. It has NEVER worked, and WILL NOT, because this world is full of sinners who live before a Holy God who cannot abide sin. I think it would be cruel not to be willing to share God's way of salvation with others, in effect to proselytize. He only gave the world one solution ~ His Son, Jesus Christ ~ and it is by faith in Him alone that we can escape the the eternal consequences of our sinful condition. Truth is not what we want it to be, it is what God says it is. It is narrow and concise, and it is embodied by the person of Jesus Christ, and it is exclusive by its very nature. Every time an organization has tried to implement socialistic ideals it has ended in disaster for all those involved and those who had to endure its ideology against their will. But I move on...

The following is a video of the Public Interfaith Service for Peace, hosted at NYC's historic Riverside Church - Sept. 2005. Sponsored by the Tanenbaum Center, International Committee for the Peace Council and Union Theological Seminary.

Peace Is Possible - Peacemakers read the Golden Rule



And now I assert: Apart from from faith in Christ alone and His work of atonement on the cross, PEACE IS IMPOSSIBLE! It will never prevail upon the earth until the PRINCE OF PEACE physically returns in power and glory to reign in righteousness and justice. (Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 1:7). Those who have rejected Him will have no part in His kingdom. The promise of worldwide peace and safety are lies of the Antichrist which will end in disaster and bondage. I am reminded of the verses in 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11, which say ~

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you,
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord
so cometh as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety;
then sudden destruction cometh upon them,
as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness,
that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:
we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night;
and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love;
and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep,
we should live together with him.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together,
and edify one another, even as also ye do.

I am all for tolerance when it comes to believing that every human being is a creation of God, and should be treated with dignity and respect. But not all ideas, all beliefs, and all faiths are equal or valid or truthful. The battle for the truth is a spiritual battle, by the way, not a physical one. There are some who have named the name of Christ who have gone to war in His name. This is due to a false understanding of the nature of the kingdom of God, which is a spiritual kingdom at this time. I in no way advocate the use of force, physical or otherwise, and do not equate proselytizing with force. The Christian is never to force anyone to accept their beliefs, but an invitation to examine the truth is not a forceful thing. If it is done with force, it is done contrary to Christ's own teaching, and that person is no true Christian, or is one who is acting contrary to the faith. However, when Christ does return in the flesh, he will conquer the evil one and his followers and destroy them. So now is the time to choose to follow and obey Christ, before that time comes, and it is too late to change your mind.

We must be able to answer the question, "What is truth?". This is the question Herod asked Jesus as He stood before him preceding the crucifixion, and the answer and response to this question will determine your eternal destiny. Truth cannot be relative, for if that could be possible, then it would cease to exist. It would cease to be the truth. Truth by its nature is fixed and stable, not relative. Those who would claim tolerance as their creed will not tolerate this statement. And they must reject the embodiment of truth according to God's Word, Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. NO MAN comes to the Father BUT BY ME." (John 14:6), because this is an exclusive statement, and counter to the religious tolerance movement. We cannot follow a Christ of our own making, or He is nobody but a figment of our imagination. The Christ who we are to accept is the Christ we are told of in the Bible, an historically and spiritually accurate document of His life and His nature. We can not cut out the passage in which He claims exclusivity. Those who do not have a love of this truth will accept a lie and delusion in the days to come, and must be warned of the consequences. To remain silent would be the greatest tragedy and error of all, for it is this truth that sets us free to live as we ought in this world, not any rule or law.

The golden rule is only an ethic. It has no power to rescue or save. It is a standard and a law, not a savior. It does not have the power to change a person's heart and it cannot create peace or make the world a better place to live. It never has, from the day it first came into being. It does not have the power create peace within one single individual, so how can it create peace worldwide? It does not solve mankind's inability to measure up to the standard, as it is not inherent within it. Its existence within every religion only proves that man was created with a conscience, a sense of right and wrong. This is proof that he is a created being with a sense of justice, not proof that he is capable of solving the world's problems. The power to follow the golden rule comes only outside of it, through Christ and His indwelling Holy Spirit, to the believer.

Those who would include Christianity within the spectrum of the religious tolerance movement want to say that the golden rule is what it is all about, the underlying principle of its beliefs, and the most important element it contains. But those in the movement reject its exclusivity and embrace an ethic contained within it as the basis of unity with all other faiths. Just because it contains a common element (ethic) does not mean that other religions are equal to it or should be equally accepted. That is like saying that aspirin and arsenic are equal and can be used interchangeably because they both come in tablet form or contain cornstarch as a filler ~ possibly true, but deadly if confused one with the other. The golden rule/global ethic is the filler, not the active ingredient. When it comes to matters of faith, unity in diversity is a deadly combination, with no good outcome. To believe otherwise, I would have to deny my faith. And remember, those within the movement have redefined tolerance to include acceptance and agreement without proselytizing. Shall we tolerate untruth according to these terms?

That would be THE GOLDEN RULE ~ TWISTED.

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(1.) http://www.uri.org/About_URI.html
(2.) http://www.uri.org/United_Nations.html
(3.) http://www.uri.org/CC_News/Africa/Gebres.html
(4.) http://www.amazon.com/Coming-United-Religions-William-Swing/
dp/0963789759/ref=sr_1_1/103-0203452-6738268?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185476920&sr=1-1