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
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Faith....or not?
After much reflection, I have come to the conclusion that church leaders and churches that continually harp on giving of money to the church organisation, and attempt to force people to come into the bondage of the Law again in their giving are, at heart, completely unable to rely on God meeting their needs and the needs of the church through the freewill, generous, unforced giving of the people of God. In short, they lack faith in God to meet their need.
Is that hypocritical or not? Is this what many leaders are? Unable to trust God? How then do they presume to speak for God to their people, when they themselves are guilty of such fear and lack of faith? Perhaps they know in their hearts that much of the 'infrastructure' established in God's Name is really a product of man's imagination and pride? How can they then trust God to provide for what they know that they, and not He, have established? How can they teach God's people to rightly divide His Word and live holy lives when they have such unstable foundations that they cannot even trust God for their needs, but must resort to manipulation and Scripture-twisting to ensure a flow of money because that, according to them, is the hallmark of success, the badge of approval?
Decide for yourself.
Is that hypocritical or not? Is this what many leaders are? Unable to trust God? How then do they presume to speak for God to their people, when they themselves are guilty of such fear and lack of faith? Perhaps they know in their hearts that much of the 'infrastructure' established in God's Name is really a product of man's imagination and pride? How can they then trust God to provide for what they know that they, and not He, have established? How can they teach God's people to rightly divide His Word and live holy lives when they have such unstable foundations that they cannot even trust God for their needs, but must resort to manipulation and Scripture-twisting to ensure a flow of money because that, according to them, is the hallmark of success, the badge of approval?
Decide for yourself.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Enquiry to Saddleback and Rick Warren....(have they taken leave of their senses?)
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:48:56 +0800 From: Ron Oommen User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-GB; rv:1.9.2.13) Gecko/20101207 Thunderbird/3.1.7 MIME-Version: 1.0
To: info@saddleback.net
Subject: Truly puzzled
Dear Rev Warren and the church at Saddlesback
I happened to visit the Saddleback website today and was surprised to find that Saddleback is promoting the "Daniel Plan" for health. No, I wasn't surprised by that. What astounded me was the panel that you have assembled to do this - three well-known and prominent health professionals in Americaand the world at large who are, as far as I am aware, not only not believers in Jesus Christ but active proponents of non-Christian and pagan philosophies as a basis for their health initiatives.
Since there is no indication that these men have now become followers of Christ, do you really expect that they will put their pagan worldviews aside for the Daniel Plan? Or is it more reasonable to expect that they will give the people of Saddleback exactly what they give to the rest of America 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 why this is so strange and unnatural, or 2) You already know this, but you simply don't care, for reasons of your own.
I am a believer from a Third World African country. I cannot begin to understand 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 who are the temple of the Holy Spirit of the Living God.
Far be it from me to judge your intentions or motives. However, the fruit that you are showing is very, very bad. I shudder to think of how many immature and young believers will be caused to stumble because of this 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
To: info@saddleback.net
Subject: Truly puzzled
Dear Rev Warren and the church at Saddlesback
I happened to visit the Saddleback website today and was surprised to find that Saddleback is promoting the "Daniel Plan" for health. No, I wasn't surprised by that. What astounded me was the panel that you have assembled to do this - three well-known and prominent health professionals in Americaand the world at large who are, as far as I am aware, not only not believers in Jesus Christ but active proponents of non-Christian and pagan philosophies as a basis for their health initiatives.
Since there is no indication that these men have now become followers of Christ, do you really expect that they will put their pagan worldviews aside for the Daniel Plan? Or is it more reasonable to expect that they will give the people of Saddleback exactly what they give to the rest of America 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 why this is so strange and unnatural, or 2) You already know this, but you simply don't care, for reasons of your own.
I am a believer from a Third World African country. I cannot begin to understand 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 who are the temple of the Holy Spirit of the Living God.
Far be it from me to judge your intentions or motives. However, the fruit that you are showing is very, very bad. I shudder to think of how many immature and young believers will be caused to stumble because of this 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
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