Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Parenting 001 - Kevin De Young
This has got to resonate with every parent who desires to see their children grow up to love the LORD with all their heart, soul, strength and mind. Perhaps we're trying too much to make things happen, instead of remembering the "one thing that is needful"...?
Parenting 001
Parenting 001
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
He's at it again!
Un-buh-lievable!!!
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/23/doomsday-leader-flabbergasted-that-the-end-didnt-arrive/?hpt=C2
You'd think the man would open his eyes, and realise he's a doofus of the first order, repent and humble himself before God, apologise to his followers, and return the money he collected. But - no! That would be too much like admitting he's wrong! So, what do we do when we get caught with our pants down?
Set a new date!!!!!
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/23/doomsday-leader-flabbergasted-that-the-end-didnt-arrive/?hpt=C2
You'd think the man would open his eyes, and realise he's a doofus of the first order, repent and humble himself before God, apologise to his followers, and return the money he collected. But - no! That would be too much like admitting he's wrong! So, what do we do when we get caught with our pants down?
Set a new date!!!!!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Listen and understand...
I came across this extract from the writings of Martin Luther, circa 1626 AD and they appeared to me to be extremely pertinent to this day, when the so-called 'disciplines' of the so-called 'monastic' life are being lauded and learnt by all manner of Christian churches as THE way to get close to God. People abandon the Word of God for all manner of esoteric experience, urged on by so-called mentors and 'spiritual teachers'.
Listen, then, to the words of one who has "been there, done that" and knows what he's talking about.
Listen, then, to the words of one who has "been there, done that" and knows what he's talking about.
"Idolatry is all manner of seeming holiness and worshipping, let these counterfeit spiritualities shine outwardly as glorious and fair as they may; in a word, all manner of devotion in those that we would serve God without Christ the Mediator, his Word and command. In popedom it was held a work of the greatest sanctity for the monks to sit in their cells and meditate of God, [solitude] and of his wonderful works; to be kindled with zeal, kneeling on their knees, praying, and having their imaginary contemplations of celestial objects, with such supposed devotion, that they wept for joy. In these their conceits, they banished all desires and thoughts of women, and what else is temporal and evanescent. They seemed to meditate only of God, and of his wonderful works.
Yet all these seeming holy actions of devotion, which the wit and wisdom of man holds to be angelical sanctity, are nothing else but works of the flesh. All manner of religion, where people serve God without his Word and command, is simply idolatry, and the more holy and spiritual such a religion seems, the more hurtful and venomous it is; for it leads people away from the faith of Christ, and makes them rely and depend upon their own strength, works, and righteousness. In like manner, all kinds of orders of monks, fasts, prayers, hairy shirts, the austerities of the Capuchins, who in popedome are held to be the most holy of all, are mere works of the flesh; for the monks hold they are holy, and shall be saved, not through Christ, whom they view as a severe and angry judge, but through the rules of their order." (Tabletalk, 1626 AD)
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Eeeeeeee
I'm often light years behind others in my reading. I tend to get to books that others have read and discarded years after most have forgotten all about them. I like it that way. I'm not the kind of person who queues outside the local bookshop at 2am to get the first copy of the new 'masterpiece' that will be available when the doors open. Uh-uh. If it's worth reading, it'll be worth reading once all the fuss has died down. If it isn't, well...who was it who said that a wise man learns from other people's mistakes?? I will say that part of my reticence to having to read the new book is the mundane matter of money. Newly published books - especially those that are preceded to the bookshelves by slick marketing - burn a serious hole in your pocket. Now, I have a problem with shelling out money on something that I can either borrow free from the library or pick up second hand at a tenth of the price - if I'm prepared to wait a bit.
Anyway, there's also the small matter of e-books. I've found electronic versions of printed books to be a cheap and excellent alternative to the traditional book. This is primarily true when I'm trying to find a book written by an overseas author and not published or sold here - if it is available as an e-book, I can buy it online and download it to me computer, for a fraction of the price of getting a printed copy and paying to ship it over the seven seas. Plus, I could have the book on my hard drive in a matter of mere minutes, from start to finish. If I find reading online to be too hard on my eyes or something, I can always print it out and read it the traditional way.
Long live pdf!
Anyway, there's also the small matter of e-books. I've found electronic versions of printed books to be a cheap and excellent alternative to the traditional book. This is primarily true when I'm trying to find a book written by an overseas author and not published or sold here - if it is available as an e-book, I can buy it online and download it to me computer, for a fraction of the price of getting a printed copy and paying to ship it over the seven seas. Plus, I could have the book on my hard drive in a matter of mere minutes, from start to finish. If I find reading online to be too hard on my eyes or something, I can always print it out and read it the traditional way.
Long live pdf!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
History....is a funny thing
History fascinates me. Even though records of history can be - and often are - subject to the interpretations of its recorders, there is still so much real and concrete information available that make the study of history such an appealing and vital exercise.
To my mind - and I'm not a historian by any means; just a layman - there is nothing new in history. Only the names and the dates and some of the specifics change. The rest of it remains naggingly consistent. What does "The Teacher" say? "There is nothing new under the sun".
History is a record of the struggle of human against human to live and thrive, in most cases, or to rule, in several others. History is not filled with tales of peaceful co-existence. It is a litany of brutal conquest, machiavellian dissembly, human frailty, military prowess, technological competition and above all, it is the story of man attempting to establish himself without bowing to his Creator. History is far too frequently streaked by the bloody footmarks of violent men.
Yes, it is all this.
But, yet, history is also a tale of triumph over odds, of obstinate resistance against the tide, of defending one's own against the might of empires.
What a paradoxical mixture!
Perhaps, that may provide a little insight into why I find history so fascinating. Apart from the more normal motivations of trying to get a glimpse of life for our forebears, and a sense of peeling back the layers of countless earthly rotations and revolutions, and trying to understand what life might have been like for those long dead.
I still think, though, that history is a funny thing (Funny, as in 'strange' - not funny as in 'humorous'). George Santayana, the Spanish-American writer and philosopher is credited with the quote "The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again". This has been framed and displayed at one of the horrors of world history - the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, where it was made so painfully clear that education and culture cannot change the essential dark nature of makind.
It is this latter, possibly, that is my biggest motivation to learn from history. There is no horror inflicted on men by other men in our lifetime that has not been done to others in the past. A brief visit to the reference section of your local public library will confirm this. All the attempts that man makes to refine himself turn out to be worthless, in the end. For every Hitler, there is an Ivan the Terrible. For every Waterloo, there is an Isandlwana. For every Holocaust, there is the wholesale slaughter of Australian Aborigines, with bounties on their heads like wild animals.
No, I do not attempt to compare these, or to detract from their individual seriousness and bloodiness. I merely wish to point out that for every historical event that we can call upon in our lifetime, past generations can also call upon events from their own lifetimes to rival - or even, surpass - ours.
We should not forget, but neither should we make the mistake of presuming that we are unique in all history. We are not. We are the children of our fathers, and we continue what they did.
Make no mistake. It will take very little for another Holocaust to be unleashed. The heart of man is still the same. Remember that as you go through life.
To my mind - and I'm not a historian by any means; just a layman - there is nothing new in history. Only the names and the dates and some of the specifics change. The rest of it remains naggingly consistent. What does "The Teacher" say? "There is nothing new under the sun".
History is a record of the struggle of human against human to live and thrive, in most cases, or to rule, in several others. History is not filled with tales of peaceful co-existence. It is a litany of brutal conquest, machiavellian dissembly, human frailty, military prowess, technological competition and above all, it is the story of man attempting to establish himself without bowing to his Creator. History is far too frequently streaked by the bloody footmarks of violent men.
Yes, it is all this.
But, yet, history is also a tale of triumph over odds, of obstinate resistance against the tide, of defending one's own against the might of empires.
What a paradoxical mixture!
Perhaps, that may provide a little insight into why I find history so fascinating. Apart from the more normal motivations of trying to get a glimpse of life for our forebears, and a sense of peeling back the layers of countless earthly rotations and revolutions, and trying to understand what life might have been like for those long dead.
I still think, though, that history is a funny thing (Funny, as in 'strange' - not funny as in 'humorous'). George Santayana, the Spanish-American writer and philosopher is credited with the quote "The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again". This has been framed and displayed at one of the horrors of world history - the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, where it was made so painfully clear that education and culture cannot change the essential dark nature of makind.
It is this latter, possibly, that is my biggest motivation to learn from history. There is no horror inflicted on men by other men in our lifetime that has not been done to others in the past. A brief visit to the reference section of your local public library will confirm this. All the attempts that man makes to refine himself turn out to be worthless, in the end. For every Hitler, there is an Ivan the Terrible. For every Waterloo, there is an Isandlwana. For every Holocaust, there is the wholesale slaughter of Australian Aborigines, with bounties on their heads like wild animals.
No, I do not attempt to compare these, or to detract from their individual seriousness and bloodiness. I merely wish to point out that for every historical event that we can call upon in our lifetime, past generations can also call upon events from their own lifetimes to rival - or even, surpass - ours.
We should not forget, but neither should we make the mistake of presuming that we are unique in all history. We are not. We are the children of our fathers, and we continue what they did.
Make no mistake. It will take very little for another Holocaust to be unleashed. The heart of man is still the same. Remember that as you go through life.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Are you also asking....
....What on earth is going on?
Barely 3 weeks after Christchurch suffered its second earthquake in 5 months and the most deadly in New Zealand's recent history, Japan has been struck by an 8.9 whopper and a 10m tsunami that carried all before it. I, like, millions of others across the globe watched the images of ships, houses, bridges and cars swept aside like matchsticks before the onslaught of the tidal wave. When I went to bed on Friday night (Perth time), the farthest reaches of the Pacific Ocean had been alerted to the possibility of the tsunami hitting their shores. Hawai, Russia, the US west coast, etc. Although none of these places suffered any major damage, for Japan, things have gotten rather worse. A nuclear power station has suffered a massive explosion and authorities have confirmed a huge jump in radiation levels.
At last count, over a 1,000 people are confirmed dead and many thousands more missing. The devastation is extraordinary. Seismic experts, according to the News.com.au website, adjudge the Japan earthquake to have been 8,000 times more powerful than the recent Christchurch earthquake.
This is the latest in a series of violent cataclysms and strange events that have captured the attention of everyone on earth over the last 12 months, at least. Birds falling out of the sky en masse, dead fish washing up on beaches in their millions, violent and increasing frequent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, ad infinitum. Barely a week before the Japan earthquake, hundreds of dead fish (mackerel?) washed up on the shores of Western Australia, and millions of dead sardines choked a little marina south of Los Angeles. This is quite apart from the Iceland volcanic eruption and subsequent ash cloud that paralysed European air travel for several days, or the Indonesian volcano that spewed out similar clouds of smoke. Need one go into the Chilean earthquake, and all the others that have happened within this period of time? What about the devastating floods and cyclones that Australia has endured over the past few months? In fact, while one part of the country was battered by rain and water, another part was battling wildfire.
Shall one speak of food riots that broke out in several countries over the past year? Small scale, no doubt, but a food riot is a food riot. It says there isn't enough to go around. Or, at least, there isn't enough actually going around - which is probably more accurate.
And what of the events in North Africa and parts of the Middle East, where a frustrated populace has decided to give their hoary old dictators the heave-ho, and take matters into their own hands. Or, so they think.
One might be forgiven for thinking that the whole world had gone mad. Coming on the heels of the events of 2007 and 2008 that resulted in a global financial meltdown that we haven't seen the last of, it would not be surprising to hear people wonder where the world of peace and prosperity promised by the likes of Barack Obama, and Tony Blair, and the Asian tigers is? Death and destruction lies all around us.
Where indeed is the peace, and the prosperity? The unlimited economic growth? The inexorable progress of man towards divinity and unimaginable excellence? The evolution, if you will, upwards and onwards...?
Now, this may sound simplistic, but for the real answers you need to go back to the very beginning. To the very beginning of man. To the Bible, and the book of Genesis - the book of beginnings?
Oh? You don't believe in the Bible, you say? You don't believe in the God of the Bible?
That's ok. Nobody's perfect.
That's ok. Nobody's perfect.
Stay tuned.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Sacred cows...(part 2)
4. We should not question servants of God. Let God deal with them in His way if they are wrong. Just pray for them. This is one of my favourites. No, really. I used to mouth this pious platitude once upon a time, so it makes me cringe even more when I hear this. This is brought out when a 'servant of God' (read that any way you like) stands up on a pulpit and says something like " God remembers His covenant with David because David gave all his silver and gold to the temple" (Ergo, so should you and me. Preferably to said 'servant' of God. Crisp notes or credit cards accepted, unless you have actual Krugerrands to fork over) and someone has the temerity to say "But surely that isn't in the Bible? How can he say that?" Or another 'servant' of God makes demands for red carpet treatment, first class flight tickets, five-star hotels, etc if you want him to come and preach at your 2-day conference. Plus a five figure 'honorarium'. When someone asks "Isn't the gospel free?", out comes the weapon of choice, without fail. Trouble is, such a principle or even attitude is never sanctioned, required, encouraged or commanded in Scripture. On the contrary, in every single situation, we are told to test those who come in the name of the Lord. Under Mosaic Law, a false prophet was required to be stoned to death. While we are not subject to the letter of the Mosaic Law in the New Covenant, we would do well to remember this. In the New Testament, we are continually exhorted to test all things, test the spirits, etc, etc. What things? Things that are taught from the pulpit and 'servants' of God who say one thing but seem quite happy to do another. Like the Pharisees. And we all know how kind and gentle Jesus was with them. He showed us all how it's done.
5.God helps those who help themselves. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard this from Christians and non-believers alike, I'd have enough to buy one of those little islands for sale off the coast of South America. In fact, it's become so cliched, I fear some people actually think this is in the Bible. Newsflash - it's not! Nada. Zilch. It's not there. What people really intend to convey in such a phrase is this: God only helps those who help themselves, so get off your backside and get a job - and this is used as an excuse to justify turning a blind eye to those who are in need. Right? Well, what does the Scripture actually say? "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble". Certainly God condemns laziness ("You shall eat your bread by the sweat of your brow") but from that to jump to "God will not help you unless you help yourself" is ridiculous. If you are capable of "helping yourself", why do you need God? If you're not capable of helping yourself, does that mean that God will do nothing for you? How ridiculous! Why do we insist on creating our own little pet phrases that are not based on Scripture and make that a rule for living? The Bible says that God Himself fights for the orphans and widows - does that mean they're helping themselves so He decides to throw His lot in with them?? If you answered yes to that - please, someone take me outside and shoot me.
6. If you are truly saved, you'll stop wearing gold and jewellery of any kind. Ok, this is another one of my favourites, although there aren't too many Christians/churches that hold to this 'doctrine'; however, the ones that do are usually biblically sound otherwise - which makes it all the more surprising . And it's another one based on a faulty reading of Scripture, from 1Pe 3:3. First of all, basing an entire doctrine on an isolated reading of one or a few verses, without the witness of the entire Word of God is treading on dangerous ground. But, lt's look at the verse and then we'll see for ourselves. I've provided renderings of this particular verse in a number of different Bible versions:
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel (KJV)
1Pe 3:3 Of whom let not be the adorning of garments, or outward braiding of hair and wearing of gold, or of putting on clothing (MKJV)
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel (ASV)
Now, let's ignore - for a moment - the necessity of context, etc and look at the verse itself. Obviously, it follows on from verses 1 & 2, where Peter exhorts wives how they are to behave towards their husbands, especially those who might not be in the faith. Now, if you read this verse in isolation it basically says that a wife's adorning should not be by braiding/plaiting hair, or wearing of gold or 'putting on of apparel'. Ok? Ok. No...wait. 'Putting on of apparel'? But...but...doesn't apparel mean clothes? So, this basically says 'don't put on clothes'? Nah! Can't mean that, surely! But, wait. Let's check out the original Greek. The word 'apparel' is translated from the Greek ἱμάτιον, himation (pronounced him-at'-ee-on). According to Strong's dictionary, 'himation' means, variously, "apparel, cloke, clothes, garment, raiment, robe, vesture". No question about it - it means 'clothes'. You say that this verse says we should not wear gold ornaments. It also says, 'don't wear clothes', by the same token.
Ok, do you agree with me that this doesn't make sense? Either this verse is contradictory to the rest of Scripture urging modesty in our clothing, or this verse has been wrongly interpreted and applied. What EXACTLY does this say? Well, you have to read the passage as a whole - for starters. Read it for yourself, and ask God to help you work it out. It's pretty simple, actually. I have confidence that you'll get it pretty quickly!
Plus, if ornaments are banned by this passage, then so is braiding/plaiting hair. Is that silence I'm hearing?
7. You have to go to church every Sunday plus the weekly Bible study, plus any other meetings there are or you'll never grow spiritually. In fact, if you take this particular sacred cow to its logical end, it would be better to move into the church building so you can be there 24 hours a day and pop out every now and then to go to work and school. That way you'll always be at church and your spiritual growth will be tremendous.
But what's wrong with going to church every Sunday and attending Bible studies, etc? Surely, I have the wrong end of the stick this time? Well, I'll put it this way. How do we grow in Christ? What does the Bible say? Secondly, going to church does not make you a part of Christ's Body anymore than a flea in a dog's hair makes it part of the dog's body. If you're born again, you're part of the Body of Christ- period. And I didn't come up with that concept - that's what God's Word says.
Gathering with other believers to worship God is vitally important, as is gathering together to study His Word. Scripture exhorts us to do so - we, the members of the Body, encourage one another to live for Christ. But our life itself is in Christ Himself, and in God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, NOT through the gathering per se. We need to be clear about the difference. It is our relationship with Christ that makes us part of His Body, not anything else. Growing in Christ flows from our relationship with the Lord, not what we do or how many church meetings we go to. When building a house, the most important part is the foundation. Without that all the fancy balustrades and Italian marble and downlights you can think of will be like a ring in a pig's nose. Our growth derives from our walk with Christ - without a personal relationship with the Lord of Lords, through faith in Him who has redeemed us from our sin, going to church is meaningless. All the activity in the world will not substitute for this, the foundation.
Let's not put the cart before the horse. And don't get me wrong. Don't stop going to church or to bible studies, etc. Make sure that your source of life is Christ in His Word, by His Spirit. Let me put it another way - if you woke up tomorrow morning and the right to gather at a church had been taken away from you, so that from henceforth you could never go to church, or to a bible study, etc - would you still continue in the faith? Would you grow in Christ and into His fullness?
'Nuff said.
6. If you are truly saved, you'll stop wearing gold and jewellery of any kind. Ok, this is another one of my favourites, although there aren't too many Christians/churches that hold to this 'doctrine'; however, the ones that do are usually biblically sound otherwise - which makes it all the more surprising . And it's another one based on a faulty reading of Scripture, from 1Pe 3:3. First of all, basing an entire doctrine on an isolated reading of one or a few verses, without the witness of the entire Word of God is treading on dangerous ground. But, lt's look at the verse and then we'll see for ourselves. I've provided renderings of this particular verse in a number of different Bible versions:
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel (KJV)
1Pe 3:3 Of whom let not be the adorning of garments, or outward braiding of hair and wearing of gold, or of putting on clothing (MKJV)
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel (ASV)
Now, let's ignore - for a moment - the necessity of context, etc and look at the verse itself. Obviously, it follows on from verses 1 & 2, where Peter exhorts wives how they are to behave towards their husbands, especially those who might not be in the faith. Now, if you read this verse in isolation it basically says that a wife's adorning should not be by braiding/plaiting hair, or wearing of gold or 'putting on of apparel'. Ok? Ok. No...wait. 'Putting on of apparel'? But...but...doesn't apparel mean clothes? So, this basically says 'don't put on clothes'? Nah! Can't mean that, surely! But, wait. Let's check out the original Greek. The word 'apparel' is translated from the Greek ἱμάτιον, himation (pronounced him-at'-ee-on). According to Strong's dictionary, 'himation' means, variously, "apparel, cloke, clothes, garment, raiment, robe, vesture". No question about it - it means 'clothes'. You say that this verse says we should not wear gold ornaments. It also says, 'don't wear clothes', by the same token.
Ok, do you agree with me that this doesn't make sense? Either this verse is contradictory to the rest of Scripture urging modesty in our clothing, or this verse has been wrongly interpreted and applied. What EXACTLY does this say? Well, you have to read the passage as a whole - for starters. Read it for yourself, and ask God to help you work it out. It's pretty simple, actually. I have confidence that you'll get it pretty quickly!
Plus, if ornaments are banned by this passage, then so is braiding/plaiting hair. Is that silence I'm hearing?
7. You have to go to church every Sunday plus the weekly Bible study, plus any other meetings there are or you'll never grow spiritually. In fact, if you take this particular sacred cow to its logical end, it would be better to move into the church building so you can be there 24 hours a day and pop out every now and then to go to work and school. That way you'll always be at church and your spiritual growth will be tremendous.
But what's wrong with going to church every Sunday and attending Bible studies, etc? Surely, I have the wrong end of the stick this time? Well, I'll put it this way. How do we grow in Christ? What does the Bible say? Secondly, going to church does not make you a part of Christ's Body anymore than a flea in a dog's hair makes it part of the dog's body. If you're born again, you're part of the Body of Christ- period. And I didn't come up with that concept - that's what God's Word says.
Gathering with other believers to worship God is vitally important, as is gathering together to study His Word. Scripture exhorts us to do so - we, the members of the Body, encourage one another to live for Christ. But our life itself is in Christ Himself, and in God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, NOT through the gathering per se. We need to be clear about the difference. It is our relationship with Christ that makes us part of His Body, not anything else. Growing in Christ flows from our relationship with the Lord, not what we do or how many church meetings we go to. When building a house, the most important part is the foundation. Without that all the fancy balustrades and Italian marble and downlights you can think of will be like a ring in a pig's nose. Our growth derives from our walk with Christ - without a personal relationship with the Lord of Lords, through faith in Him who has redeemed us from our sin, going to church is meaningless. All the activity in the world will not substitute for this, the foundation.
Let's not put the cart before the horse. And don't get me wrong. Don't stop going to church or to bible studies, etc. Make sure that your source of life is Christ in His Word, by His Spirit. Let me put it another way - if you woke up tomorrow morning and the right to gather at a church had been taken away from you, so that from henceforth you could never go to church, or to a bible study, etc - would you still continue in the faith? Would you grow in Christ and into His fullness?
'Nuff said.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Deja vu...it's like a bad dream!
Came across this particular blog.....and this particular post....it sounds so very much like the schlepp I used to hear for a number of years. I'm not going to enter into an exhaustive dissection here of this blog before I have actually corresponded with the author so I will confine my comments here to just these: On the face of it, it does appear that Dr. Chris Martin is encouraging a highly manipulative method of raising money for the church - not for God, but for the church. I say the latter because of point #2. Also, it appears that he believes those who actually know the Lord and His Word will see through this - see comment #3.
I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
http://www.breakingalltherurals.com/2011/tips-to-a-better-sunday-offering/
I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
http://www.breakingalltherurals.com/2011/tips-to-a-better-sunday-offering/
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Sacred cows... (part 1)
I've been engaged in a discussion with a dear Christian brother in South Africa, which led me to think about some of the the 'doctrines' or premises that most Christians unconsciously adopt even though these may not actually stand up to scrutiny against Scripture. Here are a few:
1) If a preacher can draw the crowds, then he's 'anointed'. Really? That's in the Bible?? Because that implies that those who can't draw the crowds aren't. Logically, that would mean that "No crowds = no anointing". Whether we like it or not, isn't that what we're actually saying? Which would then mean that the prophet Jeremiah was utterly 'un-anointed' and a failure, since those he preached to blatantly refused to obey God. Perhaps, we need to study the Word, and examine this pet theory.
2) If a church is growing greatly in numbers, God is blessing that ministry (or something to that effect). This time, we even have a Scripture passage to support this premise! In Acts 5:34 - 39, we read of how Gamaliel advised the Jewish council and elders not to stop the apostles preaching the gospel lest they find themselves opposing God. He stated that if this was a movement of men, it would come to naught, and cited two examples of such movements which came to naught, one of whom was Judas of Galilee, better know to Israelis as Judas Maccabeas. Hey presto! Suddenly, counsel given by an unbeliever (no evidence that Gamaliel was a follower of Christ - yet) to other unbelievers about being cautious not to oppose God becomes "increase in numbers and in ministry is proof of God's hand and blessing". How on earth do we make that jump? By that logic, Islam is blessed by God, since it is the fastest growing religion on the planet. Or, how about atheism/agnosticism? Are we seeing the silliness of even thinking this??
3) Those who serve God should have the best. Hmm, really? Best of what? What is the best? Usually, we've decided it means the best house, the best car(s), the best dog, the best salary, the best clothes, the best jewellery ad infinitum. Newsflash - who said those things are 'the best'?? Jesus said that a man's life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions - since we appear to be talking 'material' best. By that logic, then Paul and the other apostles clearly missed God's best, unless you count the shipwrecks and hardships and beatings with rods and the 39 lashes five times as 'the best'. Interesting how the definition of 'best' is exactly the same as that of the unbelieving world?!!
That's all I can think of right now. Sleep beckons. More in the next instalment.
1) If a preacher can draw the crowds, then he's 'anointed'. Really? That's in the Bible?? Because that implies that those who can't draw the crowds aren't. Logically, that would mean that "No crowds = no anointing". Whether we like it or not, isn't that what we're actually saying? Which would then mean that the prophet Jeremiah was utterly 'un-anointed' and a failure, since those he preached to blatantly refused to obey God. Perhaps, we need to study the Word, and examine this pet theory.
2) If a church is growing greatly in numbers, God is blessing that ministry (or something to that effect). This time, we even have a Scripture passage to support this premise! In Acts 5:34 - 39, we read of how Gamaliel advised the Jewish council and elders not to stop the apostles preaching the gospel lest they find themselves opposing God. He stated that if this was a movement of men, it would come to naught, and cited two examples of such movements which came to naught, one of whom was Judas of Galilee, better know to Israelis as Judas Maccabeas. Hey presto! Suddenly, counsel given by an unbeliever (no evidence that Gamaliel was a follower of Christ - yet) to other unbelievers about being cautious not to oppose God becomes "increase in numbers and in ministry is proof of God's hand and blessing". How on earth do we make that jump? By that logic, Islam is blessed by God, since it is the fastest growing religion on the planet. Or, how about atheism/agnosticism? Are we seeing the silliness of even thinking this??
3) Those who serve God should have the best. Hmm, really? Best of what? What is the best? Usually, we've decided it means the best house, the best car(s), the best dog, the best salary, the best clothes, the best jewellery ad infinitum. Newsflash - who said those things are 'the best'?? Jesus said that a man's life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions - since we appear to be talking 'material' best. By that logic, then Paul and the other apostles clearly missed God's best, unless you count the shipwrecks and hardships and beatings with rods and the 39 lashes five times as 'the best'. Interesting how the definition of 'best' is exactly the same as that of the unbelieving world?!!
That's all I can think of right now. Sleep beckons. More in the next instalment.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Libya burning....
Who would have thought Brother Leader would have come to this? The self-appointed President of the United States of Africa (his own idea) is fighting for political suvival as bloodshed and violence overtakes the country that he has ruled as his personal fiefdom. It was a matter of time. Who is it who said "Even a worm will turn"?
The latest reports on Fairfax Media news sites and a live blog on the Al-Jazeera website document the turmoil in Libya, even as the official press denies the numbers of dead and wounded being reported by bloggers, twitterers and international media. Junior "Brother Leader" Saif al-Islam Gadaffi cut an almost Comical Ali-type figure in his televised interview last night - without the utter buffoonery of Saddam's erstwhile spokesman. His strident refusal to face reality, though, was frighteningly similar. It was the picture of a regime utterly out of touch with its subjects and completely dumbfounded by how quickly it was losing control - and completely incapable of dealing with it.
Gadaffi's initial response to the protests in Benghazi was to send troops out firing live ammunition and - get this - anti-aircraft guns at or above the protestors. I believe that was the moment he sealed his fate. A measured response, more reflective of the general mood may have allowed him, at the very least, to exit with some honour. At the most, he may have continued to enjoy some role in a reformed government set-up. Unlikely, but possible. All that has changed now. If he thought that getting out the sledgehammer to deal with a bunch of ants would do the job, well, the the ants came back with reinforcements. As one blogger/twitterer put it: "these people are not after Gadaffi anymore. They're after blood". The ire of a subdued nation has been aroused. 40 years of pent-up rage is now unleashed. Most recent reports on CNN and other international news media suggest that Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city, is now in the hands of anti-government protestors.
If he still listens to sound advice, it would be this: Leave now, and never come back. Ride off on your camel into the Saudi desert, where you will receive succour like the rest of your fellow dictators. Saudi Arabia, land of oil, Mecca, Bin Laden and the welcoming home for any brutal, savage dethroned despot with an Islamic name. Go now, before you share the fate of Nicolae Ceausescu.
I wonder what Nelson Mandela thinks of Gadaffi now. Does he still think "this man is our friend", as he insisted soon after taking office, when he paid a state visit to Triploi to thank "Brother Leader" for his support for the ANC while in exile. In return for his support, the ANC turned a blind eye to his brutal regime and the suppression of basic freedoms in Libya. While his support was very real and beneficial from a South African perspective, it was a morally compromised choice. Altriusm would have been farthest from Gadaffi's mind as, even back then, he entertained grandiose designs of himself at the head of a union of African states. Whatever it is, it will be interesting to see how Jacob Zuma's government responds officially to the latest developments in Libya - if at all.
Does a tree...
What's that age-old question again - "Does a tree falling in a forest make a sound if there is no-one to hear it?"
We could ask that in different ways and applied to different things.
Is an athlete the best in the world if there is no-one to compete against him?
Is someone a writer if no-one reads his work?
Would I be a house builder if no-one lives in the houses I build?
Would I be a dog lover even if I don't own a dog?
Would I be a cat lover even if I don't own a cat?
Is someone still a leader if no-one follows him, or all his followers desert him?
And we could go on and on in that vein, I suppose.
So, what's my point?
Well, it's a bit self-centred. I have this blog and I write here. I also write several other things outside of this blog. Much of what I write may never be seen by anyone. I write because I want to and I'm able to articulate things better when I think about things and put them down on paper. (Yes, I know this is a keyboard, but you know what I mean). So, am I still a writer if no-one ever reads what I write?
In my opinion, yes. Being a writer is not predicated on having an audience in the purest sense, anymore than being a farmer requires people to buy your crops. Being a farmer means that you should be someone who 'farms', i.e. grows crops, raises livestock, etc. That is a given. But if no-one ever bought your produce, it could be either that you produce only for yourself, you like to give away your surplus, or you're a bad farmer. Likewise, being a writer means that you have to be someone who 'writes'. Whether someone ever reads what you write or no, does not determine whether you are a writer or not.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Lessons from yesteryear...
If you ever thought that false teachers are a 21st century phenomenon, think again. First, read the Bible, and see how even in Paul's time, false teachers began to spring up. Simply from the witness of Scripture, there is no basis for us to consider this a new thing. However, it is good for us to know what has passed through the history of the church. Read this about Spurgeon and what is referred to as the "Down-Grade Controversy".
http://www.spurgeon.org/downgrd.htm
http://www.spurgeon.org/downgrd.htm
Friday, February 18, 2011
A Study in Disingenuity...
Let's consider a particular scenario: You're a Christian, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. You have a wife and a family with growing teenagers. Your kids are not doing too well at school, so you decide you want to take them to a motivational coach, who will help them focus on their strengths and get themselves better organised with their school work, etc.
Ok, but then I come along and happen to notice this motivational coach coming to your home. I've done some research on his teaching methods and note, with concern, that he promotes sexual activity as a way to build confidence and 'expand horizons' and he has no qualms about encouraging teenagers and unmarried people to engage in sexual activity. So, I contact you and warn you of the danger of letting this person teach your children. Additionally, I tell others I know of the dangers of accepting this motivational coach into their midst because of his promotion of immorality. You listen to my communication and decide to ignore it because of this person's value as a motivation coach. So, you proceed to bring him in and, sure enough, he tells your children to engage in sexual activity. I and others persist in reminding you of what the Word teaches about sexual purity and that you should not be allowing someone who promotes sexual immorality to teach that to your children. We persist to such a degree that you decide to tell your children about sex and tell them how the Bible defines sex as right and necessary and set within a marriage. Then, however, you start telling them about how some very, very confused Christians - meaning me and others - have been talking against sex and running away from sex, and tell them that there is nothing wrong with sex and they should not be dismayed by such confused people.
Is that a straw man argument or not? Nowhere did any of these "confused" Christians say anything against the Biblical definition of sex. All we did was tell warn you against someone encouraging your children to engage in sex that falls outside of the Biblical definition!! Moreover, since you clearly know what the Biblical definition of sex is, how would you explain how you allow your children to be taught to engage in unbiblical sexual activity?
Yes, I know, that's not a very good parable mainly because I have thoughts stumbling over each other and racing ahead in my mind. But, in essence, this is what the esteemed Rev. Rick Warren has just done.
To recap for the benefit of those of you who're thoroughly mystified, Rick Warren has started his Saddleback church in California on a 'Decade of 'Destiny' and has decided that 2011 will be the year of health and has set up what he calls 'The Daniel Plan' to encourage people to live healthy, eat right, blah, blah. Apparently, none of this has ever been said before, so people don't know that they need to eat right and exercise, etc. It requires Saddleback to make people aware of these things.
Ok, that was a rather pitiful attempt at sarcasm. But, I digress.
Anyway, as part of this 'Daniel Plan' - so called because of Daniel and his friends who, as captives in Babylon, decided to forego the Babylonian king's dainty dishes and lived on a diet of vegetables and fresh water, though he did it to honour God and not to 'be healthy' - he's called in three health experts, three renowned doctors, to teach his church how to be healthy. First of all, none of the doctors are believers. Ok, that's not a big deal. If all they're going to do is tell people how to lose weight by eating right and exercising, can't faut that. But wait - in checking these experts out, what if you find that they promote what is called "holistic" health, which is a euphemism for saying they try to incorporate 'spiritual' health into what they're promoting. But...but, we just noted that none of them are believers, so what 'spiritual' health can they possibly be pushing? Aha! Therein lies the rub. All of these gentlemen promote 'meditation' and laud its benefits. Two of them say 'meditation' AND 'yoga', while one pushes 'meditation'. If you're a believer in Christ, the hair on the back of your neck is standing up just about now. Anyway, several Christians began to question this, including yours truly. Scroll down to look at my first and second letters to Saddleback in this regard and you'll get the rest of the picture.
Suffice to say that these guys have been encouraging 'meditation' and 'yoga', etc to Saddleback, just like they do to the rest of the world. It's not their fault, that's what they do with everyone. At least, they're being true to what they believe and are not being hypocrites, unlike certain 'famous leaders' who will remain unnamed.
That's right, they've been telling the Saddleback church, that's people who say they are believers in Jesus Christ, to 'meditate' and practise yoga. Now this is the eastern kind of mantra meditation, transcendental meditation, the sort of kooky, occultish stuff that most Christians were warned about in Rabindranath Maharaj's book 'Death of a Guru'. This is not 'read the Scriptures and think/ruminate about what you read' meditation, which is what the Bible exhorts us to. This is the real deal - the occult, eastern, weird stuff that's done by hindus and buddhists. In short, nothing that is remotely Christian in essence or practice.
Now, watch the video below and wait for the bit where Rick Warren starts bemoaning the fact that "confused" Christians are whingeing about 'meditation' and running scared every time meditation is mentioned. He then proceeds to explain what biblical meditation and then decries all those 'confused' Christians who don't seem to understand that there is nothing to be worried about in biblical meditation.
Have you seen it yet? Have you seen the problem yet?
Yep, that very little problem - somehow Rick Warren forgets to mention that, despite his actually telling his church what biblical meditation is, this is NOT the same as the meditation his esteemed health panel has been telling his church to adopt! They're worlds apart! Somehow, he tries to make it sound like the critics are all idiots because they're opposing what the Bible does not - oh man! How does this wolf get away with it?? How does he continue to pull the wool over people's eyes?? He sets up a straw man and proceeds to tell his people how the Bible is at odds with the straw man.
Here's what I think, Rick Warren is a tool of judgement upon the church at Saddleback and American Christianity and a lot of the church across the world. I think he is the epitome of the false teacher that people love to gather for themselves today, who tells them what their ears are itching to hear. With the same mouth he teaches truth and lies. Not surprising, since the devil himself knows the Scripture thoroughly. Why wouldn't a man know the scripture and still be a wolf in sheep's clothing - a man who pretends to be a Christian, but is a false teacher par excellence. Because this biblically illiterate and spiritually lazy generation want nothing more than to be stroked and tickled and entertained, God has given them over to delusion, so that they may believe a lie. If you don't believe me, read the Bible.
So, here it is, me nailing my colours to the wall. I'm saying it out loud now. I never have before but this incident forces me to voice it out. Rick Warren is an apostate, false teacher and one of those roundly condemned in the Bible, numbered among the false prophets and teachers that Jesus warned us of in Matthew 24. And his end, and those end of those who follow him blindly, will be destruction, unless he repents.
I'll take militant atheist Richard Dawkins any day over this man. Dawkins says what he believes and sticks by it - there's no middle ground. Rick Warren, on the other hand, is a chameleon, a hypocrite, a liar and a deceiver.
If you have any love for God and the Body of Christ, pray for this man to be saved. Else, he will draw numberless millions into judgement with him. Your friends, your family, your loved ones. Pray, pray without ceasing. Pray for God to have mercy. Jesus said that for such a person who causes others to stumble, it would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be cast into the sea. His judgement will be terrible.
Even for such as he did Christ shed His blood. While there is still an opportunity for him to repent, pray for Rick Warren and his people in Saddleback, that their eyes be opened and the scales fall away, so that they may see clearly and walk after the Lord Jesus.
Spread the word around to those you care about and urge everyone to test this man and his teachings by the Scriptures.
I await the indignant emails, calls and messages from those eager to protect their 'anointed' leader.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Netbook....or not to netbook...
That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler still to suffer the weight of larger computers on one's knees, or to bite the bullet and 'netbook', and save oneself virtual arthritis.
The choice is clear.
Now, to check my money tree...
The choice is clear.
Now, to check my money tree...
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Tell me why....
It's considered that Christians are 'required' to pay a tithe, in accordance with the Law of Moses but not to keep the Jewish Sabbath or get their male children circumcised?
Now, which was was more important under the Mosaic law? If the Sabbath and circumcision are not 'required', why is tithing? Not taught anywhere in the New Testament, none of the apostles required it of the church (i.e. the body of believers), not once anywhere in the New Testament is there an injunction or even an encouragement to tithe. On the contrary, we are exhorted several times to give to the saints in need, to give liberally and reminded that if we sow sparingly we reap sparingly. Nope, no 'requirement' to tithe. Can't find it.
Dare I say, to all those pastors out there that burden your people with this 'law', examine your doctrine and see whether it is really zeal for the Lord or your own selfishness or, perhaps, your own laziness (i.e. to test the doctrine that others have taught you) that causes you to lay a burden on believers that Israel was never able to bear (Not my words, but the apostle Peter's)? There is judgement for all you at the hands of the Lord for taking people's generous giving and applying it to buildings and programs and your own lifestyles, when the Biblical injunction is to give to the saints in need. How many of your people go hungry, lack medicines, lack a decent place to live, are unable to afford good clothes, better schools for their children, etc because of this pernicious LIE that is foisted on them by those who ought to know better? When did the church metamorphose from being 'ekklesia' - the 'called-out people' to a building, an organisation, a megachurch, a 'tv ministry', etc, etc???
In that inimitably South African expression - EISH!!!!!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
A response from Saddleback and my reply (regarding the Daniel Plan)
(Scroll down to see my original email to Saddleback and the response from David Chrzan, Chief of Staff at Saddleback)
-------- Original Message --------
-------- Original Message --------
| Subject: | Re: Truly puzzled |
|---|---|
| Date: | Sat, 12 Feb 2011 07:04:07 +0800 |
| From: | Ron Oommen |
| To: | Rick Warren’s Office |
Dear David
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate that.
I have been following the ongoing lectures, etc on the Saddleback website and have also visited the blog link you included in your reply.
I have to say, my initial concerns remain unaddressed. My original question about what exactly three non-believers would be feeding the people of Saddleback appears to be answered. From the videos, etc on your website I have watched the good doctors plug to Saddleback exactly what they have to the rest of the world. In the midst of the medical jargon, I also listened to them plug yoga and similar types of meditation as highly beneficial. As a believer in Christ, you should know that there is no such thing as "Christian" yoga. Ask a Hindu and see what he/she would say - yoga is unequivocally Hindu in concept, essence and practice. What Saddleback appears to have done is legitimise such practices as part of the Christian walk through your promotion of the three doctors and their worldviews and philosophies - with nary a word or caution about testing everything against God's Word. Do you not realise that unbiblical teaching always comes with subtlety and not openly? Read the Bible and see how many times we are warned against false teachers and prophets 'creeping in' among us, or as 'wolves in sheep's clothing'.
The blog kept referring to the need to have a conversation with the culture, and that this is what the Daniel Plan is doing, especially since there are lots of unbelievers coming to the sessions who will very likely remain to be in church. Like Paul, I can commend this if Christ is being preached by whatever means. However, is Christ indeed being preached? What exactly is the point of unbelievers continuing to come to church if they do not repent of their sins and become born again? I fear that Saddleback is falling into the trap of 'enticing' people under false pretences, attracting them to come to church, and not telling them it means nothing at all unless they 'die to themselves' and become new creations in Christ. Have they repented of their sins? Or do they simply pray a 'sinner's prayer' and have a pastor/leader proclaim them 'saved'? Please look to the Word and examine your own programs and beliefs.
Since I'm nobody to you, you're under no obligation to listen to me or even pay any heed to my words. However, biblically, I see no precedent for your premise that we need to have a 'conversation with the culture' in order to save people from hell. I think you've put the cart before the horse. Redeeming people is what Jesus shed His blood for. If people are being approached with anything less than the gospel, namely that we are all in sin and under penalty of death, that Jesus the Christ - the Word of God and God Himself - came and died upon a cross, and rose on the third day that we might repent and have remission of our sins, then we are not giving them the good news but 'another gospel', as noted in Paul's letter to the Galatians and you can read for yourself what the Word of God has to say about that. Anything less than this is manipulation. It would be akin to a timeshare shyster trying to sign you up on the basis of pictures of palm islands and pretty beaches and not telling you what it will cost and how long you will need to pay for it.
I encourage you all at Saddleback to give up your compromise of God's Word, start to study it for yourselves, and ask God for understanding to walk in His ways without compromise. The Bible repeatedly warns us to examine ourselves to see if we are indeed in the faith. Do not commend yourselves that your programs are drawing many to church, or that you have thousands of members, or that your pastor dines with presidents and kings. Jesus said that at the end, many will come to him telling Him of how much they've done for the kingdom and He will reject them, saying "I never knew you. Depart from me, workers of iniquity". Read the scripture for yourself (Matt 7:22) and tell me how you can even attempt to ignore that?
I fear, though, that Saddleback loves the things and adulation of the world too much to pay attention to this. Beware, our Lord is returning and will not tarry a single hour beyond the time fixed by the Father. Make sure that you are indeed doing His will - and not yours or the culture's or anyone else's. Remember that the Bible tells us that friendship with this world is enmity to God. You can rationalise that all you like but you cannot pretend that the Bible teaches otherwise. Do not love the world that you feel the need to 'redeem the culture'. God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). No mention of redeeming the culture, is there? The gospel is always good news to people. God loves people, period. When people, repent and become new creatures in Christ, their patterns, habits, practices change - they HAVE to, if they are truly Christ's. This is the only way cultures can be 'redeemed', if such a thing is possible. Anything else is superficial and dishonest because it does not present the true Gospel.
I pray for you all that God will open your eyes and enable you to judge rightly. Really, I do. It pains me no end that this shallow excuse for the gospel that appears to be endemic throughout the American church is now being fed to other parts of the world, particularly to the simple folk of Africa and Asia. Do you recall Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees that they would travel the seas to win one convert and then end up making him twice a son of hell than they were (Matt 23:15)? Beware lest you find yourselves under like rebuke.
Disregard me, if you like. I am truly nobody. I do not feast with kings or schmooze with those in high places. Regard the Word of God, though - there is no excuse for not doing that. And remember that those who teach the Word will be judged more severely - if you are found peddling anything less than the gospel, beware lest judgement come upon you.
I pray for you all. May God have mercy on you.
Yours sincerely,
Ron Oommen
On 12/02/2011 3:02 AM, Rick Warren’s Office wrote:
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate that.
I have been following the ongoing lectures, etc on the Saddleback website and have also visited the blog link you included in your reply.
I have to say, my initial concerns remain unaddressed. My original question about what exactly three non-believers would be feeding the people of Saddleback appears to be answered. From the videos, etc on your website I have watched the good doctors plug to Saddleback exactly what they have to the rest of the world. In the midst of the medical jargon, I also listened to them plug yoga and similar types of meditation as highly beneficial. As a believer in Christ, you should know that there is no such thing as "Christian" yoga. Ask a Hindu and see what he/she would say - yoga is unequivocally Hindu in concept, essence and practice. What Saddleback appears to have done is legitimise such practices as part of the Christian walk through your promotion of the three doctors and their worldviews and philosophies - with nary a word or caution about testing everything against God's Word. Do you not realise that unbiblical teaching always comes with subtlety and not openly? Read the Bible and see how many times we are warned against false teachers and prophets 'creeping in' among us, or as 'wolves in sheep's clothing'.
The blog kept referring to the need to have a conversation with the culture, and that this is what the Daniel Plan is doing, especially since there are lots of unbelievers coming to the sessions who will very likely remain to be in church. Like Paul, I can commend this if Christ is being preached by whatever means. However, is Christ indeed being preached? What exactly is the point of unbelievers continuing to come to church if they do not repent of their sins and become born again? I fear that Saddleback is falling into the trap of 'enticing' people under false pretences, attracting them to come to church, and not telling them it means nothing at all unless they 'die to themselves' and become new creations in Christ. Have they repented of their sins? Or do they simply pray a 'sinner's prayer' and have a pastor/leader proclaim them 'saved'? Please look to the Word and examine your own programs and beliefs.
Since I'm nobody to you, you're under no obligation to listen to me or even pay any heed to my words. However, biblically, I see no precedent for your premise that we need to have a 'conversation with the culture' in order to save people from hell. I think you've put the cart before the horse. Redeeming people is what Jesus shed His blood for. If people are being approached with anything less than the gospel, namely that we are all in sin and under penalty of death, that Jesus the Christ - the Word of God and God Himself - came and died upon a cross, and rose on the third day that we might repent and have remission of our sins, then we are not giving them the good news but 'another gospel', as noted in Paul's letter to the Galatians and you can read for yourself what the Word of God has to say about that. Anything less than this is manipulation. It would be akin to a timeshare shyster trying to sign you up on the basis of pictures of palm islands and pretty beaches and not telling you what it will cost and how long you will need to pay for it.
I encourage you all at Saddleback to give up your compromise of God's Word, start to study it for yourselves, and ask God for understanding to walk in His ways without compromise. The Bible repeatedly warns us to examine ourselves to see if we are indeed in the faith. Do not commend yourselves that your programs are drawing many to church, or that you have thousands of members, or that your pastor dines with presidents and kings. Jesus said that at the end, many will come to him telling Him of how much they've done for the kingdom and He will reject them, saying "I never knew you. Depart from me, workers of iniquity". Read the scripture for yourself (Matt 7:22) and tell me how you can even attempt to ignore that?
I fear, though, that Saddleback loves the things and adulation of the world too much to pay attention to this. Beware, our Lord is returning and will not tarry a single hour beyond the time fixed by the Father. Make sure that you are indeed doing His will - and not yours or the culture's or anyone else's. Remember that the Bible tells us that friendship with this world is enmity to God. You can rationalise that all you like but you cannot pretend that the Bible teaches otherwise. Do not love the world that you feel the need to 'redeem the culture'. God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). No mention of redeeming the culture, is there? The gospel is always good news to people. God loves people, period. When people, repent and become new creatures in Christ, their patterns, habits, practices change - they HAVE to, if they are truly Christ's. This is the only way cultures can be 'redeemed', if such a thing is possible. Anything else is superficial and dishonest because it does not present the true Gospel.
I pray for you all that God will open your eyes and enable you to judge rightly. Really, I do. It pains me no end that this shallow excuse for the gospel that appears to be endemic throughout the American church is now being fed to other parts of the world, particularly to the simple folk of Africa and Asia. Do you recall Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees that they would travel the seas to win one convert and then end up making him twice a son of hell than they were (Matt 23:15)? Beware lest you find yourselves under like rebuke.
Disregard me, if you like. I am truly nobody. I do not feast with kings or schmooze with those in high places. Regard the Word of God, though - there is no excuse for not doing that. And remember that those who teach the Word will be judged more severely - if you are found peddling anything less than the gospel, beware lest judgement come upon you.
I pray for you all. May God have mercy on you.
Yours sincerely,
Ron Oommen
On 12/02/2011 3:02 AM, Rick Warren’s Office wrote:
Dear Ron,Thanks for taking the time to write to Pastor Rick about The Daniel Plan. As a result of the program’s wide popularity we’re not able to answer individual questions instead we’re asking people to visit our blog and read an article that answers frequently asked questions and explains the plan’s evolution.All of The Daniel Plan lectures, articles, recipes and health tips are available online at our website.God Bless,
David ChrzanChief of Staff
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Oommen [mailto:roney.oommen@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 5:48 AM
To: Communications
Subject: Truly puzzled
Dear Rev Warren and the church at Saddlesback
I happened to visit the Saddleback website today and was surprised tofind that Saddleback is promoting the "Daniel Plan" for health. No, Iwasn't surprised by that. What astounded me was the panel that you haveassembled to do this - three well-known and prominent healthprofessionals in Americaand the world at large who are, as far as I amaware, not only not believers in Jesus Christ but active proponents ofnon-Christian and pagan philosophies as a basis for their healthinitiatives.
Since there is no indication that these men have now become followers ofChrist, do you really expect that they will put their pagan worldviewsaside for the Daniel Plan? Or is it more reasonable to expect that theywill give the people of Saddleback exactly what they give to the rest ofAmerica and the world - Reiki, eastern meditation and the like?
I'm not sure whether one should be shocked or saddened that either : 1)You and the members of Saddleback do not appear to be able to see whythis is so strange and unnatural, or 2) You already know this, but yousimply don't care, for reasons of your own.
I am a believer from a Third World African country. I cannot begin tounderstand how you Americans think that engaging in eastern occultic(yes, that is what Reiki and tantric meditation are) practices -ostensibly for health reasons - can at all be reconciled to those whoare the temple of the Holy Spirit of the Living God.
Far be it from me to judge your intentions or motives. However, thefruit that you are showing is very, very bad. I shudder to think of howmany immature and young believers will be caused to stumble because ofthis and engage in things that will harm their souls and spirits.
May God have mercy on you.
In all humility I am,
Sincerely yours,
R. Oommen
Monday, February 7, 2011
Critical Issues Commentary: Richard Foster—Celebration of Deception
Critical Issues Commentary: Richard Foster—Celebration of Deception
It really boggles the mind how people can read stuff written by people like Richard Foster or Dallas Willard and not be alarmed at how far from the Word these men are. Why? Why do people WANT to believe a lie??
Perhaps 2 Thessalonians 2: 11 & 12 provide an explanation.
It really boggles the mind how people can read stuff written by people like Richard Foster or Dallas Willard and not be alarmed at how far from the Word these men are. Why? Why do people WANT to believe a lie??
Perhaps 2 Thessalonians 2: 11 & 12 provide an explanation.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
What does the Bible really say about 'territorial spirits'?
I don't remember when exactly it was that I was first introduced to the teaching that there are territorial spirits that exist in every human habitation, whether villages, towns or cities which have to 'warred against' spiritually and be bound and defeated in order to allow the gospel to be preached effectively and for souls to be saved. I suspect it may have had something to do with books I read by someone in YWAM (not sure if it was Floyd McClung) and also by Neil Anderson as well as the book 'He Came to Set the Captives Free' by that truly kooky character, Dr Rebecca Brown. It may also have been listening to the testimony of someone like Mike Warnke, the former 'high priest of Satan', and similar stories. It may have been the subsequent teaching of men of God I respected greatly which informed me of these things.
And, yet, all the while in the inmost depths of my spirit, there was a disquiet - because I could find none of these teachings laid out in Scripture. Of course, you had all the various verses that are quoted by teachers of this ilk to support this theory but I am talking about a consistent and emphatic witness in Scripture of such things, like the good news of the kingdom of God, the coming, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Did Scripture teach such a 'doctrine' or did men dream this up and go looking for Scripture verses to tack onto their teachings?
So, to the Word I finally went - as I should I have from the outset. (*sound of self booing self*).
This is just a simple blog so I will not go into a detailed refutation here but, suffice to say, I find it next to impossible to see ANYWHERE in Scripture that we are told to fight against territorial spirits to make the way easier for people to accept the Lord - it's simply not in Scripture. Sure, the Bible clearly talks about Satan who is the 'prince of the power of the air' and of principalities and spiritual wickedness in the high places and that we have to put on the full armour of God to stand (Eph 6). But, don't take my word for it. Do this for yourself. Start in the New Testament and find out how many times Jesus 'warred' against teritorial spirits and taught his disciples to do the same. Read about all the times that the apostles, including Paul whose missionary journeys are clearly documented for us, taught and practised this doctrine. See how many times we are exhorted to be fighting against territorial spirits and bringing down the strongholds over cities, etc, to free up the effective preaching of the gospel.
That's right - none. Nada. Zilch. Not one single instance can be found. Now, would you agree with me that such a key doctrine, if true, would have been prominently taught in the New Testament? So, perhaps, it's not so key after all! Perhaps, it's not even a true teaching.
I mean, think about it. How many times have you heard someone pray, or even prayed yourself (I've done both in the past) for Satan to be bound? With so many praying in this manner, ya gotta wonder - WHO'S THE JOKER SETTING HIM LOOSE AGAIN???
What DO we see in the New Testament? When the apostles were taken before the Council and ordered not to speak about Jesus (Acts 4), they went back and started to 'come against the evil spirit over Jerusalem' and bind the strong man.....yeah, right. None of that nonsense! They gathered and prayed to the Lord - who is sovereign over any principality or power - and asked Him for boldness to continue declaring His Word!
And so on and so forth. Show me one instance of any of the New Testament believers doing this 'fighting against teritorial spirits' thing?
It's simply not in the Bible. And, if it's not in the Bible it must be.....false.
Elementary, my dear Watson.
PS. Perhaps, I should add that Mike Warnke's testimony, on which so much teaching about Satanism was based, turned out to be one huge lie - even though he continues to maintain its truth to this day without being able to put forward any evidence to support any of the 'facts' in his book. Rebecca Brown turns out to be one paranoid, delusional individual, stripped of her licence to practise medicine. Hmm, and these are the teachers we're following?? Now wonder the church is so confused.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Who is Joseph Prince?
If you live in Australia and, especially, are a believer who attends a pentecostal/charismatic church it is highly unlikely that you would not have come across Pastor Joseph Prince of New Creation Church in Singapore. I was introduced to this gentleman when visiting some dear Christian friends who suggested we watch a DVD in which he expounds very clearly what Paul means in 1 Cor 11:29 about 'not discerning the Lord's body'. Since we're always glad to hear good biblical teaching, we heartily agreed. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what the fuss was all about. There was a lot of hype and he was quite a confident and engaging speaker but the teaching itself was, in my opinion, rather lightweight and vacuous. I was left wondering, at the end, just what exactly it was he was trying to say?
Anyway, since then, I've discovered that Joseph Prince's star is soaring high in the Christian TV/charismatic world. His weekly broadcast, called "Destined to Reign" is shown on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) as well as a number of other channels and beamed all over the United States, as well as his native Singapore and Australia (Australian Christian Channel). Every time I come across any of his material on the internet or in a Christian bookshop, I often wonder what exactly it is that he teaches. He comes across as a charismatic personality, well spoken, and wants everyone to enjoy the blessings of God. Plus, he's not American! All good points. However, that's the impression I used to have of teachers like Kenneth Copeland - until I started to delve into his teachings and came across stuff that is so unbiblical the mind boggles that any sane believer would accept it. So, whether rightly or wrongly, my 'heresy-sensor' is always on alert these days whenever I came across any prominent preacher.
It is high time therefore, that I did some digging around into Pastor Joseph Prince and understand exactly what it is he teaches, so that I can know for myself whether his teachings line up with Scripture or not.
Lest this sound like some sort of pitiful witchunt by an unknown trying to 'take down' 'God's anointed man', be advised that it is important to know what people really teach versus the Bible. We are commanded to test everything in the Word. No man is more important or greater than God's written Word. No matter how high or popular he is, if what he teaches is not in line with Scripture, we've got a problem.
Watch this space. To be continued.
Anyway, since then, I've discovered that Joseph Prince's star is soaring high in the Christian TV/charismatic world. His weekly broadcast, called "Destined to Reign" is shown on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) as well as a number of other channels and beamed all over the United States, as well as his native Singapore and Australia (Australian Christian Channel). Every time I come across any of his material on the internet or in a Christian bookshop, I often wonder what exactly it is that he teaches. He comes across as a charismatic personality, well spoken, and wants everyone to enjoy the blessings of God. Plus, he's not American! All good points. However, that's the impression I used to have of teachers like Kenneth Copeland - until I started to delve into his teachings and came across stuff that is so unbiblical the mind boggles that any sane believer would accept it. So, whether rightly or wrongly, my 'heresy-sensor' is always on alert these days whenever I came across any prominent preacher.
It is high time therefore, that I did some digging around into Pastor Joseph Prince and understand exactly what it is he teaches, so that I can know for myself whether his teachings line up with Scripture or not.
Lest this sound like some sort of pitiful witchunt by an unknown trying to 'take down' 'God's anointed man', be advised that it is important to know what people really teach versus the Bible. We are commanded to test everything in the Word. No man is more important or greater than God's written Word. No matter how high or popular he is, if what he teaches is not in line with Scripture, we've got a problem.
Watch this space. To be continued.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
The unthinkable - coming soon to a church/bible study group/Christian conference near you
If you, like me, are one of those who laboured under the delusion that those who call themselves believers in the Lord Jesus Christ would be easily able to discern at least the basic 'rights and wrongs' such as the difference between biblical faith and occultic meditative practices masquerading as spirituality - well, it's time to wake up and smell the unprintable. If you thought that Deepak Chopra's teachings were relegated to the world of Oprah, where the sycophantic faithful lap up the next fad in their quest to be healthy, wealthy and wise without God - think again.
What would you say if I came to your church and urged you to learn spiritual practices from the Dalai Lama's Tibetan Buddhism or Zen Buddhism or even Transcendental Meditation (TM) in order to draw closer to God? You'd kick me out (Ok, unless – perhaps - you're a certain RW of SCC). You'd rightly point out that these teachings are not biblical and such practices have nothing to do with true faith and everything to do with the occult and false religion.
Ok.
But wait – what if I came and brought to you the works of Thomas Merton, a deceased Catholic Trappist monk and Richard Foster, a Quaker mystic who urge us to experience God mystically? In fact, the very same thing previously offered but this time they speak to us as believers in the God of the Bible...right? What would you do then? Kick me out? Or, because I name the name of Christ, invite me in and see what I have to say?
Well, it seems a lot of churches, particularly in western countries, have done just this. They have invited into their midst gentle, peaceful men and women who bring with them a teaching that is so reasonable and so apparently divinely inspired – to recover lost spiritual practices and learn the peace that comes from what they call variously 'Christian mysticism', 'Contemplative prayer', 'Centering prayer', Christian meditation' among others. These are the more common of the terms used to describe these spiritual practices that, they tell us, were intrinsic to the historical church but were lost to Christianity but, praise God, He has brought teachers into our midst now who have recovered these lost arts and are sharing them with the body of Christ so that we can all 'know God'.
How does that sound? Very reasonable, right? Who would say no to 'knowing God'?
The strangest thing about these practices that we are invited to partake of is that they are indistinguishable from those offered in Buddhism, Hinduism or other eastern religions in essence. The same requirement for solitude, calming ones mind, emptying one's mind, use of a sacred repetitive word or mantra, etc. I'm not making this up! Check it out for yourself! It's exactly the same.If these are not biblical, why would they be considered acceptable with a 'christian' mantle?
Well, let me not attempt to talk too much of something that I have done very little research on and know only a little about – other than that it shouldn't be touched with a barge pole. Others, far more eminently qualified than I am, have produced well researched material on this phenomenon that appears to be sweeping across pastors and churches across most of the Western world. Visit the links provided and read through. Prepare to be shocked, if you know nothing about this.
PS. I will keep putting additional links on here on an ongoing basis.
PS. I will keep putting additional links on here on an ongoing basis.
http://apprising.org/2008/09/21/meditating-on-contemplativecentering-prayer-part-2/
This is a particularly good article: A Review of Dallas Willard's book, The Spirit of the Disciplines
This is a particularly good article: A Review of Dallas Willard's book, The Spirit of the Disciplines
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Do you hate sin?
Do we really know, do we really understand what sin is? Do we understand how vast a chasm exists between the holiness of God and sin? Do we then understand exactly what it is that Christ has done for us that "...He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him?
What is sin, when we get down to brass tacks? Let's look at the classic definition. I looked it up in Strong's dictionary and did a double take when Strong's came back with 45 definitions. Going through them all, however, many are variations of a basic definition and it turns out there are a core of various words used to name sin:
guilt, to miss, crime, offence, soiled, impious, treachery, transgression, perversity, iniquity, mischief, revolt/rebellion, to stray or mislead, to turn aside from what is right.
In 2 Cor 5:21, the Word of God declares that God made Him (Jesus) to be sin (hamartia - offence) for us , who knew no sin (hamartia - offence).
Sin is offence. Period.
Sin is offence to, and against, God who is HOLY.Sin is offence, it is rebellion, it is treachery, a crime against God!
And we are ALL guilty! 1 John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin (hamartia - offence), we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
We are guilty of SIN, guilty of offence against a holy and righteous God.
Do you get it? Read 2 Cor 5:21 again. Jesus, the spotless, sinless Lamb of God who knew NO sin (Hebrews 4:15, He was without sin; again hamartia - offence) to become sin for us, or on our behalf! Jesus, completely innocent of offence against God was made an offence to God on our behalf.
Think about that. Just stop and THINK about that.
The wages of sin is death. DEATH!!!! And we (mankind) are guilty of sin. We deserve DEATH!!! Not just physical death but eternal separation from God - damnation forever.
And, yet, Jesus Christ was made sin, made an offence to the Holy God, on our behalf - in our stead - that "we might become the righteousness of God in Him". (2 Cor 5:21)
Can we grasp the enormity of what the cross means? Can we begin to understand what the price paid for our salvation is? Do we realise why Jesus was in anguish in Gethsemane? Why He prayed that, if possible, the cup might pass from Him? Do we have ANY idea at all the depth of Christ's suffering when he cried out "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
How tritely we often sing about Him dying for our sins.
Do we understand what it cost Father and Son to make atonement for our sin? The Bible says it pleased God to bruise Jesus (Isaiah 53:10) - why? For God so loved the world.....the Weymouth translates it "For so greatly did God love the world" (John 3:16), that He did not withhold His own Son (Romans 8:32). For God desires that NONE should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). It pleased God to bruise Jesus, to afflict Jesus, to lay upon His pure, spotless, sinless Son the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:10) that His created beings - fallen, sinful, wicked - might become His righteousness in Christ Jesus.
The wages of sin is death. Separation from God, for God does not simply turn away from sin, but God judges it because He is holy and righteous and His justice demands that sin be judged and punished. God did not merely turn His face from Jesus, but judged Him an offence and laid upon Him the punishment that should have been ours.
May the Holy Spirit of God move our hearts to grasp this truth! Sin is abomination to God (Pro 15:9). Abomination is "tô‛êbah", that variously means disgusting, abhorrent - an abomination. When the Bible declares that Jesus was made sin for us, this is what the Word means. Jesus was made abhorrent to God, on our behalf.
Oh, the terrible, terrible enormity of the cross! Physical death was not Jesus' concern - becoming abhorrent to His Father was the thing that drove Him to sweat drops of blood in His anguish in the garden.
We who are called to be a "holy people", and to "be holy as God is holy" - can we hate sin as God hates it? We should. God loves you and me, but His justice will not allow us to enter His presence because of our sinful state - Jesus death on the cross satisfied His justice and makes a way for us to now enter into the Holy of Holies. Can we hate sin?
Do you hate sin?
What is sin, when we get down to brass tacks? Let's look at the classic definition. I looked it up in Strong's dictionary and did a double take when Strong's came back with 45 definitions. Going through them all, however, many are variations of a basic definition and it turns out there are a core of various words used to name sin:
guilt, to miss, crime, offence, soiled, impious, treachery, transgression, perversity, iniquity, mischief, revolt/rebellion, to stray or mislead, to turn aside from what is right.
In 2 Cor 5:21, the Word of God declares that God made Him (Jesus) to be sin (hamartia - offence) for us , who knew no sin (hamartia - offence).
Sin is offence. Period.
Sin is offence to, and against, God who is HOLY.Sin is offence, it is rebellion, it is treachery, a crime against God!
And we are ALL guilty! 1 John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin (hamartia - offence), we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
We are guilty of SIN, guilty of offence against a holy and righteous God.
Do you get it? Read 2 Cor 5:21 again. Jesus, the spotless, sinless Lamb of God who knew NO sin (Hebrews 4:15, He was without sin; again hamartia - offence) to become sin for us, or on our behalf! Jesus, completely innocent of offence against God was made an offence to God on our behalf.
Think about that. Just stop and THINK about that.
The wages of sin is death. DEATH!!!! And we (mankind) are guilty of sin. We deserve DEATH!!! Not just physical death but eternal separation from God - damnation forever.
And, yet, Jesus Christ was made sin, made an offence to the Holy God, on our behalf - in our stead - that "we might become the righteousness of God in Him". (2 Cor 5:21)
Can we grasp the enormity of what the cross means? Can we begin to understand what the price paid for our salvation is? Do we realise why Jesus was in anguish in Gethsemane? Why He prayed that, if possible, the cup might pass from Him? Do we have ANY idea at all the depth of Christ's suffering when he cried out "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
How tritely we often sing about Him dying for our sins.
Do we understand what it cost Father and Son to make atonement for our sin? The Bible says it pleased God to bruise Jesus (Isaiah 53:10) - why? For God so loved the world.....the Weymouth translates it "For so greatly did God love the world" (John 3:16), that He did not withhold His own Son (Romans 8:32). For God desires that NONE should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). It pleased God to bruise Jesus, to afflict Jesus, to lay upon His pure, spotless, sinless Son the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:10) that His created beings - fallen, sinful, wicked - might become His righteousness in Christ Jesus.
The wages of sin is death. Separation from God, for God does not simply turn away from sin, but God judges it because He is holy and righteous and His justice demands that sin be judged and punished. God did not merely turn His face from Jesus, but judged Him an offence and laid upon Him the punishment that should have been ours.
May the Holy Spirit of God move our hearts to grasp this truth! Sin is abomination to God (Pro 15:9). Abomination is "tô‛êbah", that variously means disgusting, abhorrent - an abomination. When the Bible declares that Jesus was made sin for us, this is what the Word means. Jesus was made abhorrent to God, on our behalf.
Oh, the terrible, terrible enormity of the cross! Physical death was not Jesus' concern - becoming abhorrent to His Father was the thing that drove Him to sweat drops of blood in His anguish in the garden.
We who are called to be a "holy people", and to "be holy as God is holy" - can we hate sin as God hates it? We should. God loves you and me, but His justice will not allow us to enter His presence because of our sinful state - Jesus death on the cross satisfied His justice and makes a way for us to now enter into the Holy of Holies. Can we hate sin?
Do you hate sin?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Daniel Plan....an eyewitness account
I wrote very recently about an email I had sent to Rick Warren and Saddleback about their recently opened "Daniel Plan', ostensibly a health plan for 2011 based on the Bible. Digging into who they invited to deliver this plan had me questioning what exactly was going on and whether any of this was actually biblical. Needless to say, I have not received a response to my enquiry. I live in hope...
Jennifer from the "Ponderings From Patmos" blog took the time to go to one of the sessions of the oddly-named Daniel Plan last weekend and has written an excellent article based on her first-hand observations and her conclusions of these. It is quite exhaustive and well referenced. My thanks to her for allowing me to reproduce the article here.
Saddleback Health & Fitness Seminar - Infomercial for Sustainable Development (Ponderings From Patmos)
Today on Patmos we will discuss my experience at the Saddleback Health and Fitness Seminar this past weekend. I first arrived to Saddleback's campus only to be told that "all parking lots were full." I drove across the street to see if there were any spots available in the business lots and they were full too. I ended up parking in a housing tract and walked a mile or two back to Saddleback's campus. As I arrived, I overheard a parking lot attendant say they estimated about 6,000 people had come to the seminar.
I was a little late, so I was grateful to my nephew who went online and began to relay what was being said in the opening comments, as I didn't want to miss what was to be the foundation of the talks that day. I was a little taken aback when my nephew told me the first speaker, Dr. Amen, made reference to the Egyptian pyramids and how they were built upon an "idea," and if man could build something like that all those thousands of years ago, what could he do today if he put his mind to it? I found that to be somewhat disturbing, as the pyramids, no matter how impressive they were, represent the ancient pagan religions which got their start in Babylon when Nimrod gathered men (the community) together to commit idolatry by building a tower to honor themselves as gods (Gen. Ch. 11). [1] And yet here it was, the analogy that was chosen to illustrate this new "idea" Saddleback would launch their 52 week program with. No matter what Dr. Amen's intent was, I believe the analogy was appropriate, and the subtle message is telling..."MAN CAN DO ANYTHING HE PUTS HIS MIND TO." Sound familiar? (Read Gen. 3:4-5). [2]As I began to head up the hill toward the main sanctuary, a Saddleback tram pulled up and the driver asked if I wanted a lift and I said I preferred to walk, but thanks. The driver yelled, "Let's all give her a hand folks, she's started the Daniel Plan already!" And the people on the tram cheered. Nevermind the fact that I have been walking my entire life because I enjoy doing so, not because of some health and fitness campaign. I sensed I was entering a nightmare.
The main sanctuary was full & it was standing room only. They told me the overflow areas were full too. So I found a spot on the patio outside the main sanctuary looking in. I had a good view and could see the stage perfectly. Their outdoor sound system made it so I could roam around, observe the audience, continue to listen to the guest speakers, and take notes.
To begin, I'd like to state that Saturday Jan. 15th, 2011 will go down in the history books as the day Saddleback Church was sold a bill of goods. The masses had come out in droves for answers to their weight loss difficulties & health problems, but unbeknownst to them, they were being given a prescription for restructuring society & population control.
The prescription goes by the name Agenda 21, a.k.a. "Sustainable Development" or "Smart Growth." Agenda 21 is a published document put out by the United Nations with the intent to put limits on population and to restructure nation-states into a global society. [3] Rick Warren's "new friends" had dubbed it, "The Daniel Plan - God's Prescription For Your Health." A more appropriate title would've been, "Sustainable Living - Destroying Inalienable Rights, One Community at a Time."
By the time I settled into listening more intently, the second speaker, Mark Hyman, began. It didn't take too long to figure out what the basis of his message was. We "need to heal with community" (he termed this "accompaniment"), "we're here for the sake of each other," this plan "is our way out," this plan "saved me," and in fact will "change the world." Saddleback was being told they were a "test community" to show the world how to live "healthy and sustainably." When I heard these words, my heart sank. It was as I'd feared. I knew which buzzwords to listen for, and he was hitting them all. The audience was told they would be champions in health to show the world what "living sustainably" was all about, but Dr. Hyman is a leftist who is more than a champion in health, he's a change agent for the global elite, as is Dr. Oz & Dr. Amen. Dr. Hyman is the founder and medical director of the Ultra Wellness Center, he advises Dr. Oz's healthcore group, and he's a nominee to President Obama's advisory group on prevention, health promotion, and integrative and public health. [4] Hmmmmmm. I smell an agenda.
Dr. Hyman practices what's known as "functional medicine," which means he uses a "whole systems" approach to medicine, in other words, he practices medicine "wholistically." This is also known as "Mind Body" medicine. At Saddleback's seminar, "mind body" or "functional" medicine was presented as if it's completely scientific. Any scientist worth his salt will tell you that yes, the body can be measured scientifically, but the mind falls into an entirely different category which can never be measured by science. As stated by Dave Hunt in his book Occult Invasion - The Subtle Seduction of the World and Church, "Physical science, by very definition, can make no judgements concerning a nonphysical realm" as is the mind & the soul. [5] In other words, the mind and the soul are scientifically immeasurable.
It's the same with the religions of "Mind Science." Calling a religion "Mind Science" or "Scientology," when there's nothing scientific about it, is the same as calling a cereal "Grapenuts" when it contains no grapes or nuts. But we live in an era when the masses have been sufficiently dumbed down and all it takes to impress is clever packaging and branding. If "they" say it's science, then dog-gone-it, it's science! After all, "these doctors are on television."As I sat through all 3 presentations by Dr.'s Hyman, Amen, & Oz, what came to mind were the traveling snake oil salesmen of the 1800's. They talk fast, so fast that the message that's really being given, goes right over people's heads. They used tactics to tug at the heart strings such as videos of sick little girls who suddenly got well from being on "the program" and have been "set free" from relying on medications. Then they flooded the audience with "facts" and "statistics" to scare any grandmother, such as "a tsunami of disease is hitting us," "life expectancy is going down," "1 out of 2 people are diabetic or pre-diabetic," "70% of all agricultural land is taken up by growing animals to feed all the people," "the bigger your body gets, the more your brain shrinks," etc.
I about fell off my chair when Dr. Hyman stated, "The key to the success of the "Daniel Plan" is "group living"..."individuals" will not succeed, our only hope lies in "community." And with that, it was announced that the "Saddleback community" would be an example of "sustainable living" and would set the course to "change this world"...and the crowd went wild! I have to admit that visions of the masses being manipulated by Adolf Hitler's oratory skills came to my mind, only this particular crowd had just been manipulated by a really bad infomercial.
Dr. Hyman said that he is a Jew, Dr. Amen is a Christian, and Dr. Oz is a Muslim. And doesn't that represent the demographic of "most of the population of the world?" But then he said, "We're all the same underneath." True to his snake oil salesman fashion, Dr. Hyman didn't define his terms. What in the world does he mean "we're all the same underneath"? That can mean a number of things. Since he was speaking to a religious crowd, I'd venture to say some of the folks present took that to mean we're all children of God (Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.), which is patently false according to the Bible. The Bible says there are only two groups, children of wrath and children of God. You're either one or the other, a believer in Christ Jesus, or a non-believer. We aren't "all the same underneath." (Ephesians Ch. 2). [6]
The only way in which we're "all the same underneath" is we're all sinners in need of a savior, and the savior isn't "sustainable living." The Savior is Jesus Christ and He is the only way unto salvation. (John 14:6). [7] And to become a child of God, Jesus said, "You must be born again." (John Ch. 3). [8] The tragic thing about the talks given at Saddleback is, Jesus was never mentioned...and I mean NEVER. There was a reference to Jesus in the opening worship song along with a few passing references to God by Rick Warren. Daniel Amen mentioned that our bodies were "a temple of the Holy Spirit and the brain is the innersanctum," but in the lessons being taught that day, Jesus didn't make the cut, "sustainable lifestyles" & "group living" did.
Following Dr. Hyman's talk, my best friend arrived to observe the day with me, only to hear Dr. Amen mention in his presentation that he did a brain scan on one of his clients who had a habit of cheating on his wife. The brain scan showed that there were "holes in the pre-frontal cortex of his brain" which controls the impulses. In other words, this man wasn't sinful, he was "mentally ill." All he needed was to get on the "Change Your Brain, Change Your Body" program, and his personal struggles with sin were remedied. Once again, Jesus was removed from the equation. My friend and I were dumbfounded when we listened to the Saddleback crowd cheer. My best friend couldn't contain it any longer and let out a, "You've got to be kidding me." My thoughts exactly!
Dr. Hyman recommended yoga and meditation to the crowd. Dr. Amen gave a diplomatic denunciation of yoga (which is contradictory since he has recommended it himself), but about five sentences later mentioned a study done by a friend of his named Andy Newberg who did brain scans on Tibetan nuns and Franciscan priests while in "prayer and contemplation" and the study showed that "spiritual connection" is healthy. Dr. Amen has been an advocate of "Sa Ta Na Ma" meditation. [9]
If by chance any attendees of the Saddleback "Health and Fitness Seminar" read this blog post, I encourage you to educate yourself about what globalism truly is. You also need to research Agenda 21. As stated earlier, the purpose of Agenda 21 is to restructure society. Sounds conspiratorial, I know. But it isn't a conspiracy, it's a published document of the United Nations that's in full swing. Anywhere you hear the terms, "Sustainable Development," "sustainable living," "smart growth," "going green," etc., rest assured you've just been exposed to the U.N.'s Agenda 21. [10]
It shouldn't surprise us that Pastor Rick Warren would allow a seminar of this nature at Saddleback, after all, he himself has "GONE GREEN." [11] He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. [12] This illustrates the natural progression of one being unequally yoked with non-believers & buying into heresies such as "Kingdom Now," "Dominionism," or "Restoration Theology." Where these heresies reign, as they do at Saddleback, you will find that the focus subtly shifts from salvation in Christ alone, through faith alone, to misguided efforts to restore mankind & the earth through "community" works, sustainable living, and social justice. How convenient that these just happen to be the vehicles which the United Nations is using to further it's own agenda to restructure society & unite the world under its governing body of global elites.
TRUE TRUTH:
2 Timothy 4:3-4
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
(I found it to be slightly humorous that, on page 9 of the booklet which Saddleback passed out to attendees, the symptom of "itchy ears" was listed in the "Medical Symptom/Toxicity Questionnaire"...oh, the irony!)
Endnotes:
1. Genesis 11:4 - "Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.'"
2. Genesis 3:4-5 - "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
3. Agenda 21 -
http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21/
4. Mark Hyman's presentation at "Authors @ Google" titled, The UltraMind Solution: Healthy Body, Powerful Mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAZVpsd2Nao
5. Occult Invasion - The Subtle Seduction of the World and the Church, Dave Hunt, Harvest House Publishers 1998, pg. 61
6. Ephesians Ch. 2:1-5 - "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)."
7. John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
8. John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
9. Dr. Amen recommends "Sa Ta Na Ma" meditation a form of Kirtin Kriya yoga.
http://richardeward.com/kirtin-kriya-sa-ta-na-ma-meditation/
10. Agenda 21 - The U.N. Plan for Your Sustainable Community
http://www.crossroad.to/text/articles/la21_198.html
11. A Greener Spirit: Evangelicals Embrace "Creation Care"
http://environment.change.org/blog/view/a_greener_spirit_evangelicals_embrace_creation_care
12. Council on Foreign Relations Membership Roster
http://www.cfr.org/about/membership/roster.html?letter=W
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