Dr. John MacArthur’s False Teachings

Cursed is the man that trusts in man (Jeremiah 17:5—Bible)

Jesus Christ put His trust in no man as He knew what was in man (John 2:24-25)

 

Dear readers,

I am sharing my letter regarding Dr. John MacArthur. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider.

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Dear ———

I trust you are being blessed today. In this day and age of antichrists we must be so careful of whom we listen to. The apostasy is grave!

I want you to know that I am calling John MacArthur a false teacher. I will not turn my back on Jesus Christ and not call him a heretic. If I would not stand before you regarding this, I know I would be denying my Savior. Anyone who blasphemes the blood of Christ, is a wicked, vile, false teacher. This blood disassociation fact would hurt and anger any true believer who truly has been born again and washed in the precious blood of Christ. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins!!!!

Hebrews 9:14 “ How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament”…This is what communion is all about. 1 John 1:7 states the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin.

Yes, John MacArthur is a false, wicked teacher!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._MacArthur

From Wikipedia:
…The controversy concerning the efficacy of the blood stems from MacArthur’s statement that it is not the literal liquid blood of Christ that saves, but his sacrificial death on the cross, a view that he espoused in an article titled, “Not His Bleeding, but His Dying,” published in the May 1976 issue of the Grace to You family paper that is distributed to his church.
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MacArthur says the blood of Christ “could not save” and “it was not the FLUID that saved us, it was the DEATH of Christ.”

Ten years later, in a letter to Tim Weidlich, MacArthur stated:

“Obviously, it was not the blood of Jesus that saves or He could have bled for us without dying. It was His death for sin that saves. When Romans 3:25 speaks of ‘faith in His blood’ everyone understands that to be a reference to His death — not the blood running through His body. In Romans 5:9, being ‘justified by His blood’ also refers to His death, as verse 10 makes clear in saying ‘we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.’ In fact, the careful explanation of salvation in Romans 6 omits any reference to His blood at all. The point is that the shedding of blood was just the visible indication of His death, His life being poured out. … I admit that because of some traditional hymns there is an emotional attachment to the blood — but that should not pose a problem when one is dealing with theological or textual specificity. I can sing hymns about the blood and rejoice with them — but I understand that reference to be a metonym for His death.”

On page 237 of John MacArthur’s commentary on Hebrews, he states that it is “not Jesus’ physical blood that saves us, but His dying on our behalf.” In a letter to Mr. Tim Weidlich, dated April 4, 1986, MacArthur wrote, “Obviously, it was not the blood of Jesus that saves or He could have bled for us without dying. …Yes, the blood of Christ is precious – but as precious as it is – it could not save.”

MacArthur is clear “Nothing in his human blood saves. His shed blood represents His sacrificial death for us.” (Grace to You”, 1976)

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Regarding Paul’s Conversion:

From MacArthur’s Website:
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/90-296

John MacArthur:

“Now this becomes very clear throughout the Scripture, not just Romans 8. So I want to do a little Bible study with you, go back to Romans 1 and I think you’re going to enjoy this, and it’s going to stretch you into a wonderful new category of understanding. Paul…Romans 1:1, “A bondservant of Christ Jesus, called as an Apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.” He’s a good one to look at for this kind of call because when the call of God came on the life of the Apostle Paul, it was a sovereign divine gracious and irresistible summons. He was slammed in to the dirt on the road to Damascus with nothing to do but respond, he is called as an Apostle. Down in verse 6 he’s talking about the obedience of faith in verse 5, obeying the gospel, among whom you also are the called. You are the called ones of Jesus Christ to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called saints, called holy ones. You are the called, the holy ones, the ones called out.

Look at 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 1, again “Paul called an Apostle.” He doesn’t mean that’s his title, he means he was called by God, by the will of God to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ. And again, it wasn’t something that he could resist. Verse 2, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling.” So whatever this calling is, it makes you a saint. In Romans 8 it justifies you. Here it sanctifies you. And down in verse 9, “God is faithful through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” You were called into the fellowship that you enjoy with the Lord Jesus Christ, called by God. Over in verse 23, “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are…here it is again…the called both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Now follow this. If you are among the called, then when Christ crucified is preached, He becomes to you the power of God and the wisdom of God. To the Jews a stumbling block, to the Gentiles it’s foolishness, but to the called whether Jew or Gentile, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God…Paul understood that he was just grabbed by the neck by God and awakened to the glory of Christ and saved and made an Apostle…”

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I, Val, have to say nowhere does the Bible say Paul was grabbed by the neck and was slammed in the dirt. This is a lie! This sounds most hateful like a newly enlisted soldier saying yes, sir, because he has no choice after being slapped around by his sergeant.

Paul saw the light and fell to the earth that is what Scripture states and it cannot be added to or subtracted from (Acts 9:3-4). God did not grab Him by the neck and slam him to the earth. This is horrendous blasphemy! To say he had no choice is wrong.

Paul, at this point wanted to chose to follow Christ and He did. He fell in love with Savior and chose to follow.

Yes, Paul was chosen, but he also chose. He had a free will. He was not a robot. God wooed him to Himself, he was not grabbed by the neck by a God who makes us bend at the knee without a choice. I have witnessed people come to Christ. They do not act like they are being grabbed by the neck and lose all their normal reasoning. It is clear that they are loved to Christ and therefore choose Him.

It is not because we have no choice because God is mean to His children. God woos us onto Himself and we choose Him. We can take no credit, positively. We are saved by His loving grace as He removes the blindness of doubt and unbelief from our heart so we see the truth and receive Him.

It seems what Mr. MacArthur stated regarding Paul contradicts a following statement by Mr MacArthur. With Paul, he presented there was no free will in his false presentation of his conversion” “And again, it wasn’t something that he could resist.”

But below is a later statement in this same sermon which appears to contradict what he presented with Paul. He says he does believe in free will and no one came to Christ because they were coerced:

“Well all of that is really needless because that’s not what Scripture says. No one was ever saved against their will. No one was ever brought into the Kingdom kicking and screaming, protesting. No one was ever saved who was dragged against the grain of having dug their heels in. That is not what Scripture teaches. No one has ever been saved against his will, no one ever will be. Everybody who is saved is saved because they will to believe the gospel. In fact, they will with all their heart and soul to believe the gospel. No one is ever saved without being willing. It is an act of the will to believe. The question is, what made them willing? Or better, who made them willing? Was it them? Was it the preacher? That’s what we would have to conclude in that kind of system. Somehow it’s them in the end and somehow though they were not willing they became willing, they found…they found somewhere they could get a hold of a boot strap and pull themselves up out of unwillingness into willingness. Or the preacher smashed their resistance and by his preaching he made them willing.”

John MacArthur’s heresy regarding Christ the Son:

John MacArthur teaches that although Jesus is eternal, He is not the eternal Son of God. He writes, “Son is an incarnational title of Christ. It is an analogy to say that God is Father and Jesus is Son…God’s way of helping us understand the essential relationship between the first and second persons of the Trinity…Christ was not Son until His incarnation”. (Commentary to the Hebrews, pp. 27, 28)

MacArthur is a false teacher. We wrote to Mr. Weidlich:

“Regarding the Sonship of Jesus. I am only concerned to explain the meaning of Hebrews 1:5. If there was a time when the second member of the Trinity became a son, was begotten; and if the use of the future shall be to me a Son;’ then there must have been a time when He was not.”

Psalm 2:7 refers to Christ being begotten at the time of His millennial rule. He has always been the Son and is referred to “the Son” in the Old Testament as well.

Son of God is referred to in Daniel 3:25 when Christ appeared in the furnace. Psalm 2 refers to God the Son twice “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled. The Old Testament refers to God the Son throughout.

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection of the dead” (Romans 1:4).

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I have to ask, why does John MacArthur speak for Israel on the one hand, and on the other hand he participates in Bible Conferences with false teacher, R. C. Sproul, and other false Reformed men? These men despise dispensationalism and refuse to believe in Christ’s millennial rule on the earth, when He will reign in Jerusalem and all of Israel will be saved. Reformed men strongly teach that Israel has no future at all, there will be no millennial kingdom, most prophecies were fulfilled in 70 A.D. and that we should approach the prophetic Scriptures in a non-literal way.

Like most hidden Calvinists today, these men will say Israel has a some future and will leave it at that. They often want to sneak in their teaching so they place a little bit of error in a large amount truth to slowly deceive.

Why does John MacAthur hate the world dispensationalist if he is truly Jewish-friendly? I know Calvinists lie and are deceitful, just as their god Calvin lied and deceived.

This is all crazy to me. You can’t speak out of both sides of your mouth. All is needed if for the Scripture to be read word by word, verse by verse. God made it simple. Everything in the Word explains God’s Word. No complicated, forked tongue theologian is needed. People like John MacArthur like to complicate the Word of God so they sound deeply intelligent or so it seems. What they do is change the Word and this is not allowed! His commentaries remind me of Calvin who always complicated and changed God’s Word. MacArthur is different than Calvin in some of his teaching, but his style very much resembles Calvin.

The Bible makes it clear we are to have no association with false teachers.

Thanks for taking your precious time to listen to me!

In Christ who never lied in His Holy Word and shed His precious blood that men might be saved,

Val Lee

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*Gathered info from various web sources

Toronto Blessing and Other Info

Church Good News:

It was thrilling to read of God’s miracle work in Kenya. Men were able to bring Bibles into schools and children received Christ as their Savior. Schoolchildren were animated to receive the Word of God—cheering, clapping and yelling with excitement. Kenya is in political unrest (see below info) as the article stated, yet God opened all the doors for Bible distribution. 226,575 Scriptures were placed in 526 schools and other locals.

There were some obstacles as one truck, loaded with Bibles, was hijacked. However, God moved in miracle force! The truck would not start for the hijackers who were quite upset to learn it was filled with Bibles. They finally left the truck unable to budge it. However, when the truck was placed in the hands of the rightful owner, it did start and the Bibles were all distributed. God is omnipotent and His ordained will cannot be thwarted by men.

(Kenya is political turmoil and pain because of Raila Odinga, President Obama’s cousin who received Obama’s full personal and financial support during Kenya’s presidential campaign. When Odinga lost Kenya’s presidential election, his tribe assisted him by incinerating church attendees, burning down churches and committing other atrocities. Odinga is a Marxist Muslim murderer who now holds the position of Prime Minister of Kenya by appointment. After Odinga lost the election, Obama continued working with him, telephoning him constantly from New Hampshire. Prime Minister Odinga recently spoke at the University of Buffalo in New York.)

Odinga info:
http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/639430
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=103329
New York Times article: http://www.genocidewatch.org/images/Kenya-2Jan08MobBurnsChurchinKenya.pdf
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/12/obamas-kenya-ghosts/

Church Distressing News:

People speak of the “Toronto Blessing” and Christians receiving it at the Toronto Vineyard church. This all reveals the wickedness of our day—demonic activities in the name of Charismatic experience, but nothing done by Scriptural example.

The article below refers to TB leaders doing nothing about sexual wickedness, including wife swapping, being participants. With what pastors state and allow today, it would not surprise me if wife swapping is occurring in some fellowships. I knew a Mormon family that left their ward because they were asked to partake in the ward’s wife swapping. Their son became a believer in Christ.

Mormon wife swapping historical written records including the involvement of Brigham Young:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Iy-F3Dg3LccC&pg=PA295&lpg=PA295&dq=mormon+wife+swapping&source=bl&ots=yyIJtoVm5_&sig=9iSylM74aH0Yb-lJmmgAMwtPkwc&hl=en&ei=cOltSqn_A4O0sgPY87DKDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7

Wife swapping is even accepted on television as one show is called Wife Swap. And it appears every state has a wife-swapping club.

Because I have had to stand against pornography within Christendom, very little would surprise me. The other day, Alan and I ran into a Bible church attending-couple we knew a few years ago. The wife stated to me they were letting her daughter live with her boyfriend in their home and their daughter was pregnant. This is slapping our holy LORD in the face. Every time people engage in this sin, they slap Jesus Christ in the face. People who allow such activity are walking hand in hand with satan.

A very sad state exists in Christianity and in the charismatic movement in Canada. Unfortunately, many believe the demonic practices of the “Toronto Blessing” is of God.

http://www.christiandoctrine.net/doctrine/articles/article_00040_the_true_spirit_of_the_toronto_blessing_reveals_itself_web.htm

Excerpts from Toronto Blessing Article:

…In one “Toronto Blessing” church there is an ongoing wife-swapping ring. From what I gather (from members of the same church), it is well established. Some claim to have refused the ‘offers’ of gratuitous sex, but nevertheless they will not discuss the matter with leaders within their own church. They also claim that many in their church have taken up the offer…

In another (“Toronto Blessing”) church, a leader’s sexual activities were brought to our attention. It was reported that he used large quantities of ‘pornographic’ articles which he distributed in his church. Such accounts can be multiplied many times, my friends. These people belong to the ‘respectable’ churches. These are not men who fail, or who make mistakes. They are living sexually wanton lives – deliberately! There is no excuse. And it is these very men who accuse me of ‘bringing the cause of Jesus Christ into disrepute’ because I make their activities publicly known! What hypocrites! What liars! If you shout loudly about your ‘respectability’ you had better make sure it is true!

We can expect these things to occur, because charismaticism is heresy. The true nature of charismatic teaching is evil, and evil permeates its structures and life. Therefore, that evil must show itself sometime, somewhere! In past times Satanic activity was hidden. But today, with laxity amongst true Believers, Satan is free to be more bold in what he does. Hence the sex and violence, the intimidation and hatred. The open nature of what is happening leads us to think that the mass apostasy spoken of in scripture is now starting…

Another indication of what is truly behind the Toronto Blessing, is the emergence of sex aberrations during TB meetings. Perhaps the most obvious case was in recent meetings held by churches in Bournemouth. A main leader was a well-known local pastor. During one meeting, he moved behind a woman who was in a trance and he simulated sexual intercourse! I do not hesitate to say that this sounds to me like demonic activity – no man of his stature and status would dream of deliberately doing such things in public, if he was in his own mind. This, however, does not excuse him. There were five meetings in all, and at each of them there were open displays of sexuality – in particular, women were writhing on the floor in a very sensual manner, simulating masturbation, or moving in such a way as if they were performing intercourse with an unseen lover – all of them in public view! Charismatics have invented an excuse for the latter travesty – they say that such women are “rebirthing Christ” or “birthing Christ”!! They also say that these are signs given by God to show how much He loves us!

Christians attempted to complain about these incidents to the leaders, who did nothing about it. These sexual aberrations have appeared elsewhere also but, again, we ought not to be surprised, for when demons are allowed such easy access, they inevitably begin to show their presence in sexual and violent ways. This, my friends, is the true spirit of the Toronto Blessing. And if this is so for the Toronto Blessing, it is also true for charismaticism in general, from which it sprang. Leaders might deny this, but even in my hometown, I know of one major charismatic church, which has an ongoing wife-swapping ring. I doubt very much if the leader is aware of its existence but it does not matter, because the true spirit of charismaticism is demonic by nature and it must show itself somehow.

(Note: We have signed testimonies from people who attended the Bournemouth meetings. These have been compiled into a separate Article).

Another feature of the Bournemouth meetings was a despair and terror, as people were taken over by the ’spirit’. In one particular case one of the platform leaders ran about shouting “You are Satan” whilst pointing at the platform speakers, and pleading with Satan not to “make me do it”. Two of the witnesses spoke of a feeling arising within their bodies and the feeling of being choked. People who have been saved out of spiritualism said that they had left demon spirits behind and did not want anything to do with what was happening. One of the witnesses said that some years ago those who were exhibiting certain manifestations were said to be taken over by an evil spirit – but the very same manifestations today are being called ‘of God’!…

Toronto Blessing Death:

A young man was found dead, laying naked, face down in Poole Harbour. This was just about 2 -3 months after joining a Toronto Blessing church. Before joining the church (pastored by the very leader who simulated sex behind a woman), the man was normal. By the time he died, he was having visions of Satan and Jesus Christ, and was rambling about the end of the world. It is likely that he killed himself. He had never had any kind of religious background, so the only place he could have received false teaching was from the church he had joined. This was also the conclusion of the coroner. I personally knew of a spate of similar charismatic deaths in the 1970’s, when I was a psychiatric nurse, and have no doubt whatever that the young man in Poole was the victim of TB/charismatic error.

Important note: On the 29th June 1995, I received conclusive proof from an unexpected source that the TB caused the young man’s death. One of the young women who provided us with a signed testimony about the sexual scandals, happened to have been the girlfriend of the young man. She testifies that they both attended the meetings and that her boyfriend was ‘zapped’. His face contorted horribly. Immediately after that meeting, the boy experienced visions of Christ and Satan and had constant thoughts of killing himself. There is now no doubt that the TB led directly to the boy’s death. Derek Owers of Bournemouth has established what the boy was like before his death. Everyone has testified that he was normal and healthy, without a trace of any problems whatever.
God help those who administer this vile deception. We pray that the movement will meet a swift death of its own, before it ruins many more lives, not just spiritually, but also mentally and physically. Take note all TB adherents, for you are not immune! And God help leaders of the deception – how can they ever face the boy’s parents?

Note: At the time of writing we have also had unconfirmed reports of 20 similar deaths in Sweden.

Also see: http://www.w3church.org/ChristianMagic.html
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/r06a14.html
http://www.tzemach.org/articles/torbless.htm
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Tongue Truth

Language speaking must be performed completely in line with the inerrant Bible or not at all. Tongues must be spoken in known languages that can be interpreted, which is also in accordance with Acts chapter 2.

The gift of interpretation is far more important than speaking in foreign languages as Scripture states. This gift is evidenced through the power of the Holy Spirit whereby one knows every language of the world. All interpreters must be tested to affirm they do know every dialect on the globe by bringing before them people who know foreign languages—Greek, Hebrew, Chinese, French, Italian, Russian, German, etc.—they need to speak before the one claiming the gift of interpretation. I state this as believers have been in services and have witnessed people speaking in languages they know and have heard completely false interpretations or the blasphemy of God in that language. I heard of an instance where one came into a service and they knew the language spoken and Christ was being cursed and no one knew but the visiting believer who knew the language. If church services are not being performed completely Biblically, including women being silent in tongue speaking (1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 2 Timothy 2:12), then they are being performed through Satan’s design and desire.

God is not a God of confusion; 1 Corinthians 14:33. Everything must fall into sound and true holy wisdom, within all governed orderliness in Christ’s discerning realm. Nothing can appear amiss or crazy. Nothing is to be performed by the desire or design of men and women. God commands that language services be performed completely in wise order so Christians never appear foolish, undone or insane; verse 23.

Also if sign gifts were truly present today, people would be healing others with simply the touch of the hand. An ill person would be healed by touching a healer’s garment. The dieing in hospitals would walk out completely cured by the touch of a true healer. We would be witnessing people being raised from the dead on a continual basis if these apostolic gifts were in existence today. It would be nothing short. None of the apostolic gifts would arrive short of Biblical examples.

I will also add that gifts are listed in various places in Scripture, but sign gifts are only listed in 1 Corinthians and Acts; they are not mentioned within the gifts of the Spirit in Ephesians chapter 4 or Romans 12:6f. If tongues are so important then why are they not listed as gifts of the Spirit in these passages?

Also Charismatic or Pentecostals will say you have to speak in tongues to receive the Holy Spirit. This is a lie from satan! The Bible declares not all speak in tongues and that it is the least of all the gifts as seen by the list in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 . Think about this. Why don’t Charismatics proclaim you have to know every language of the world so you can be an interpreter or that men have to teach or preach if Biblically qualified? Why don’t they say you must reveal the gift of helps to verify you have the Holy Spirit? These and others being the greater gifts of the Spirit; 1 Corinthians 12:28-31, Ephesians 4 and Romans 12:6f.

We have the entire Scripture today, whereby nothing is to be added to or subtracted from. If people do not stand on the Word of God without question, we must avoid them.

Val Lee (It is my heart to follow the apostles’ example. For many walk according to what they think or have experienced or what others think or have experienced. This hurts my heart and such actions made Paul and the other apostles weep. We are to walk according to their example and teachings without questioning; 1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Peter 3:2 and Jude 17. Those who do not are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is their destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is their shame, who set their minds on earth things; Philippians 3:17-19)

Letter From Missionary Pastor and Fawn Photo

 

I shot this fawn at a local park

I request prayer for Christian women everywhere to dress in feminine, discreet, and modest (shamefaced) apparel that is not low, short or tight. We, as women, must dress in chaste apparel in order for men to look upon us in all purity as sisters in obedience to the Word of God (1 Tim. 2:9 and 5:1-2, 1 Cor. 11:5, 1 Peter 3:1-2).  I pray this for myself as well. I often ask my husband if my attire is modest.

Edited letter to me and other women from missionary pastor:

One of the main comments he makes: “Do you know that I as a preacher I have had to turn my eyes from seeing up a dress when I have stood up to preach or have had to look else where to not look at a sister’s back, stomach or chest?”

Dear sisters in Christ,

Thank you for taking the time to read the following. I have a burden on my heart, as one that will have to give account for you before God on the last day as Heb13:17.

On Sunday we studied the question if we are growing in holiness to be more like Christ and less like the world. In the discussion it was brought out that we have fallen from where we were and instead of being more holy we are become more like the world. This is very serious in light of 2Pet.3:17,18

In light of these scriptures, our present situation in the Church and the responsibility I have before God I would like to ask you to prayerfully answer the following questions…

My goal is not to have you please men (Gal.1:10) but God. I know that the flesh, the world and the devil are working day and night to make you sin in this area and I hope this article will help you fulfill the desire of your heart to please God daily as He looks from heaven at His godly daughters.

A true Christian is called to deny him self take up his cross and follow Christ in every area of his life. Have you done this in your way of dress?

Do you believe that the way you are dressing today in comparison with when you first confessed Christ as Lord is more godly, more modest? Does your dress reflect a growth in that meek and quite inner spirit of Christ that is of great value before God? 1Pet.3:5

Does your dress correspond with that of a holy woman that professes godliness?

Do you believe that it is godlier to dress in a way to draw more attention to you face than to your body?

Do all the clothes you use fulfill this goal?

Is it godlier to wear loose fitting clothes or tight ones to show the form of your body?

Generally speaking is it more godly to wear simple  looking clothing than fancy or costly clothing?

Has your way of dress been a testimony to others giving you an opportunity to share your faith?

To unbelievers does you dress reflect more godliness, Christ likeness,__ or worldliness__?

Should a godly Christian woman dress in any way that could possible cause a brother to be tempted in any way to think of her body?

Are you aware of the fact that many brothers all over the world (according to the knowledge that I have gained working with men) have problems when they see a sister with tight clothing or clothing that doesn’t properly cover their legs and chest and some times even arms?

Do you know that many brothers who fight with all the visual temptations around them on the street do not want to have to fight with the same thing in the church, as one brother said “he had to look up at the ceiling or at the floor”?

Do you know that I as a preacher I have had to turn my eyes from seeing up a dress when I have stood up to preach or have had to look else where to not look at a sister’s back, stomach or chest?

Do you believe that God would testify that you are dressing the way he has said you should dress in 1Tim.2:9,10 and 1Pt.3:4,5.

Do you believe that for a woman to wear a bathing suit (one peace or two peaces) is dressing modestly when she is before men or brothers in the Church?

God says that what ever is not of faith is sin, Rom.14:23 Do you dress in faith, with conviction, never changing your moral standard no matter who you are with or what your circumstances are ? Never change__ Seldom __ Often__

Do we still believe that it is an abomination to God for men to dress in women’s clothes or women to dress in men’s clothes as He wants a distinction between the sexes. Deut 22:5

If you think that this principle has changed could you please give some scripture that makes you think that way. ________

Rom. 12:1,2  Have you personally sought not to be conformed to the world in the way you dress?

In sincerity who do you think has had more influence over you in the clothing you use God’s word ___ other Christians___ the world___?

Have you studied the scriptures on this subject to have you mind freed from the world’s mentality to be able to think as our Holy Father thinks concerning the godly way He wants His daughters to dress?

How often have you given way to you flesh, to the pride of life to dress immodestly and sin against God? Never__ seldom__ often__

Have you given into the temptation to be a friend of the world to dress in a way that seeks more the approval of the world? Never___ Seldom___ Often___

 Have you made your self as James says an enemy of God?

As God is a jealous God do you think that you have provoked Him to jealousy more than once by dressing more to gain the worlds admiration that His. Sometimes___ Never___

If you have sinned against God in this area are you willing to take time to prayerfully remove all clothing from your house that could cause you to stumble at a weak moment in your life?
Have you seen other sisters dress immodestly or in a worldly manner? Have you prayed for them, talked to them and tried to help them? If you didn’t admonish them was it because you feared their reaction? Or was it because you haven’t always been a good example?

Generally speaking what is the motive most women use jewelry?  To draw attention to them selves _____? To be more attractive _____? To please God ____ ? Other _______ Do the following scriptures encourage ____ or discourage_____ the wearing of Jewelry?

If a sister doesn’t want to obey what the elders teach on modesty or doesn’t agree with it what should she do? 1. For the good of the church submit with all her heart as Heb.13:17 says.___ 2. Talk with the elders about her convictions.___ 3. If she still has no peace then with the counsel and blessing of the elders go to another assembly where she is more fully in agreement.___

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(1 John 5:10-13—the Bible)

The Emerging Church—What it is

 

The Emerging Church Facts

 

Please watch these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGSQjtWTpaw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkhq0R0TIyM

 
The hippie-like emerging church is moving in power and its philosophies are being slyly introduced into so-called Biblical Christianity. It actually has been reaching in and taking hold for many years. This is a demonic movement that has loomed out of hell. It has no problems with satansim, New Age, Catholicism, Episcopalism, etc. It also covets diversity and affirming mandates. It seems anything goes.

As I write my Revelation commentaries, I can see the church slowly entering the religious realm that will someday fight against the Christ of the Bible—who is completely chaste, pure, undefiled, harmless, separated from sinners and made higher than the heavens; Hebrews 7:26. This emergent, ecumenical religious body, foreseen in Revelation, will be he heathenistic, worshipping countless false gods as Israel did in her apostasy being documented in the books of Jeremiah, Isaiah, etc. Israel was condemned for displaying more false gods than the pagan nations that surrounded her. The church seems headed in that same direction.

The church today wants to mirror a Hollywood mentality. It is the avenue that unveils every new contemporary way. Even Christians will turn to it to see how they should be acting, what they should be wearing and what new lingo should be flowing from their lips.

It is no wonder the church wants all people coming in its doors to see a new look—a Christianity that implements the best of productions…videos that entertain more than they preach convicting truth if any truth is presented.

The church of today relishes explaining Christ to an audience that loves the satanic sensual realm, people who love mystical (demonic) books and movies with “sexy” included. Today’s contemporary church presents an apostate Jesus for all to enjoy. The true Jesus Christ hates Hollywood’s worldly productions. He hates the fact the church desires to imitate this state-of-the-art fanfare. He hates the fact pastors want to refer to the entrainment business in their sermons in a positive way. These so-called men of God want to use television programs and movies to get a point across while attempting to entertain at the same time. They want to be one with their entertaining-loving congregation. They do not want to be different. They do not truly fear and tremble before God.

The LORD hates all sin and He hates this realm that does not uplift His holy name with His holy, innocent and pure ways.

The church does not present a Christ who was despised and hated of men. A Christ who was the song of drunkards and the object of gossip because He taught holy righteousness and separation; Psalm 69:12f. Jesus Christ was not a Hollywood star nor was He a rock star nor did He desire to be. He walked the hated road of separation. He was totally separated from man’s desires for fame and popularity. His kingdom was not of this nasty world.

Many believers are into pornography and movies that show skin. Today’s church attendees relish the thought that everyone can come to church as they are. Many men (including pastors and teachers) of the church like women dressing provocatively. They like a bit of cleavage showing and it shows in most every church today. It wasn’t that long ago that such a thing was viewed as disgraceful.

Our churches need Biblical change not emergent change. Fellowships need to throw out the false Jesus of sensuality, and move in the true Christ of holy righteousness. The Christ of innocent chastity.

For churches to make a positive change, pastors and leaders need to follow all the instructions for the church structure, exhibited in the books of Timothy, Titus, 2 Peter, Jude, Ephesians, etc. They must focus on the true Jesus Christ who never lies nor does His holy, inerrant provided Word.

They must throw off the emergent social mandates. Socials have replaced Biblical callings. He calls it to preach, teach the Word, evangelize, pray, perform communion, minister and to humbly sing hymns and spiritual songs. God made the church simple. He does not call for community incentives to raise money through silly fundraisers. All church monies are simply to be collected from those who give cheerfully on the first day of the week.

Adding to the church mandates is pharisaical. Christ condemned the religious leaders as they added their own traditions to Scripture. Pastors feel they have to add program upon program. When one program fizzes out, they add another. And every silly program has to have a theme to catch the attention of a floating congregation. Getting back to the simple commands is the only answer no matter the dwindling congregation. Actually, it would probably become most blessed if everyway was followed.

It is not about numbers; however, it is about evangelism and the harvest is plentiful. But it is not man who gives the increase it is God. Remember Christ did not need any rock group and fun comedians. It is totally blasphemous to imagine such a thing. He never implemented music as he spoke nor did the apostles. He left no example to entertain and leave an audience in awe. We are to follow His example totally, not man’s, not Hollywood, and not the emerging church exampled.

The church is a complicated socialized structure of the emergent mindset. It is in trendy “conversation” with the world, when it is to be alienated from the world. We are strangers and aliens on this earth. The church is not to mingle in the social stream of a community church. The church is not of the community of men, it is of the realm of God alone. We are to be separate from satan’s children. We are the called out ones. We are not one flowing river of social reform. We are not a “village” of one-mindedness with the globe. We do not engage in “peer to peer” dialog with those who have not been born again. We have nothing in common with the unsaved outside of normal life behaviors. Our true family is of the true saints, not those who curse our Savior. Satan is the father of blasphemes and the nations that blaspheme Christ, being made clear in Revelation chapter 13. The emerging church is a blasphemous church that will manufacture more strength when satan moves to center stage on a gigantic scale when the apocalypse reaches nearer.

We should not want to partake of the contemporary experience. We are called to the ambassador role in total humility. We are not to conform to the culture that surrounds as if we were one in the same. Our calling is not humanitarianism, it is evangelism.

May the apostate emerging church wake-up and reach upward for truth.

 

In Him who warns of every wayward way taught in the church today,

Val Lee (It is my heart to follow the apostles’ example.  For many walk according to what they think or have experienced or what others think or have experienced. This hurts my heart and such actions made Paul and the other apostles weep. We are to walk according to their example and teachings without questioning; 1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Peter 3:2 and Jude 17. Those who do not are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is their destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is their shame, who set their minds on earth things; Philippians 3:17-19)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerging_church

Wickipedia edited:

The emerging church (sometimes referred to as the emergent movement) is a Christian movement of the late 20th and early 21st century that crosses a number of theological boundaries: participants can be described as evangelical, post-evangelical, liberal, post-liberal, charismatic, neocharismatic (both Pentecostal and charismatic) and post-charismatic. Participants seek to live their faith in what they believe to be a “postmodern” (meaning after the modernist movement. A style and concept in the arts characterized by distrust of theories and ideologies and by the drawing of attention to conventions) society—a new cultural society. Proponents of this movement call it a “conversation” to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature, its vast range of standpoints and its commitment to dialogue.

The emerging church favors the use of simple story and narrative not strong Scriptural charging. Members of the movement often place a high value on good works or social activism, sometimes including missional living or new monasticism (commune or monastery). Many emergents emphasize the here and now.

Some have noted a difference between the terms “emerging” and “Emergent.” Whilst emerging is a wider, informal, church-based, global movement, Emergent refers to an official organization, the Emergent Village, associated with Brian McLaren, and has also been called the “Emergent stream.”

Emerging churches can be found throughout the globe, predominantly in North America, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. Some attend local independent churches or house church labeled “emerging” while others worship in traditional Christian denominations.

Dr. Stuart Murray states:
It will bring together the most helpful of the old and best of the new, blending the dynamic of a personal Gospel with the compassion of social concern. It will find its ministry being expressed by a whole people, wherein the distinction between clergy and laity will be that of function, not of status or hierarchical division. In the emerging Church, due emphasis will be placed on both theological rootage and contemporary experience, on celebration in worship and involvement in social concerns, on faith and feeling, reason and prayer, conversion and continuity, the personal and the conceptual.

The emerging church seeks a post-Christendom approach to being church and mission through: renouncing imperialistic approaches to language and cultural imposition; making ‘truth claims’ with humility and respect; overcoming the public/private dichotomy; moving church from the center to the margins; moving from a place of privilege in society to one voice amongst many; a transition from control to witness, maintenance to mission and institution to movement.

In the face of criticism, some in the emerging church respond that this it is important to attempt a “both and” approach to redemptive and incarnational theologies. Some Evangelicals and Fundamentalists are perceived as “overly redemptive” and therefore in danger of condemning people by communicating the Good News in aggressive and angry ways. A more loving and affirming approach is proposed in the context of post-modernity where distrust may occur in response to power claims. It is suggested that this can form the basis of a constructive engagement with twenty-first century post-industrial western cultures. According to Ian Mobsby, the suggestion that the emerging church is mainly focused on deconstruction and the rejection of current forms of church should itself be rejected.

The emerging church is a response to the perceived influence of modernism in Western Christianity. As some sociologists commented on a cultural shift that they believed to correspond to postmodern ways of perceiving reality in the late 20th century, some Christians began to advocate changes within the church in response. These Christians saw the contemporary church as being culturally bound to modernism. They changed their practices to relate to the new cultural situation. Emerging Christians began to challenge the modern church on issues such as: institutional structures, systematic theology, propositional teaching methods, a perceived preoccupation with buildings, an attractional understanding of mission, professional clergy, and a perceived preoccupation with the political process and unhelpful jargon (“Christian-ese”).

As a result, some in the emerging church believe it is necessary to deconstruct modern Christian dogma. One way this happens is by engaging in dialogue, rather than proclaiming a predigested message, believing that this leads people to Jesus through the Holy Spirit on their own terms. Many in the movement embrace the missiology that drives the movement in an effort to be like Christ and make disciples by being a good example. The emerging church movement contains a great diversity in beliefs and practices, although some have adopted a preoccupation with sacred rituals, good works, and political and social activism. Much of the Emerging Church movement have also adopted the approach to evangelism which stressed peer-to-peer dialogue rather than dogmatic proclamation and proselytizing.

A plurality of Scriptural interpretations is acknowledged in the emerging church movement. Participants in the movement exhibit a particular concern for the effect of the modern reader’s cultural context on the act of interpretation echoing the ideas of postmodern thinkers such as Jacques Derrida and Stanley Fish.

Therefore a narrative approach to Scripture, and history are emphasized in some emerging churches over exegetical and dogmatic approaches (such as that found in systematic theology and systematic exegesis), which are often viewed as reductionist. Others embrace a multiplicity of approaches.

Some leaders in the movement publicly welcome open discussion with other religions regarding the definition of Christian faith. Others in the movement label the practice differently, calling the interfaith dialog a means to share their narratives as they learn from the narratives of others. Some Emerging Church Christians believe there are radically diverse perspectives within Christianity that are valuable for humanity to progress toward truth and a better resulting relationship with God, and that these different perspectives deserve Christian charity rather than condemnation.

The movement appropriates set theory as a means of understanding a basic change in the way the Christian church thinks about itself as a group. Set theory is a concept in mathematics that allows an understanding of what numbers belong to a group, or set. A bounded set would describe a group with clear “in” and “out” definitions of membership. The Christian church has largely organized itself as a bounded set, those who share the same beliefs and values are in the set and those who disagree are outside.

The centered set does not limit membership to pre-conceived boundaries. Instead a centered set is conditioned on a centered point. Membership is contingent on those who are moving toward that point. Elements moving toward a particular point are part of the set, but elements moving away from that point are not. As a centered-set Christian membership would be dependent on moving toward the central point of Jesus. A Christian is then defined by their focus and movement toward Christ rather than a limited set of shared beliefs and values. John Wimber utilized the centered set understanding of membership in his Vineyard Churches. The centered set theory of Christian Churches came largely from missional anthropologist Paul Hiebert. The centered set understanding of membership allows for a clear vision of the focal point, the ability to move toward that point without being tied down to smaller diversions, a sense of total egalitarianism with respect for differing opinions, and an authority moved from individual members to the existing center.

Authenticity and Conversation

The movement favors the sharing of experiences via testimonies, prayer, group recitation, sharing meals and other communal practices, which they believe are more personal and sincere than propositional presentations of the Gospel. Teachers in the Emerging Church tend to view the Bible and its stories through a lens which they believe finds significance and meaning for their community’s social and personal stories rather than for the purpose of finding cross-cultural, propositional absolutes regarding salvation and conduct.

The emerging church claims they are creating a safe environment for those with opinions ordinarily rejected within modern conservative evangelicalism and fundamentalism. Non-critical, interfaith dialog is preferred over dogmatically-driven evangelism in the movement. Story and narrative replaces the dogmatic:
The relationship between words and images has changed in contemporary culture. In a post-foundational world, it is the power of the image that takes us to the text. The bible is no longer a principal source of morality, functioning as a rulebook. The gradualism of postmodernity has transformed the text into a guide, a source of spirituality, in which the power of the story as but on potential moral reference point has superseded the didactic. Thus the meaning of the Good Samaritan is more important than the Ten Commandments – even assuming that the latter could be remembered in any detail by anyone. Into this mileau the image speaks with power.

Those in the movement do not engage in aggressive apologetics or confrontational evangelism in the traditional sense, preferring to encourage the freedom to discover truth through conversation and relationships with the Christian community.

Missional living

Participants in this movement assert that the incarnation of Christ informs their theology, believing that as God entered the world in human form, adherents enter (individually and communally) into the context around them, aiming to transform that culture through local involvement in it. This holistic involvement may take many forms, including social activism, hospitality, and acts of kindness. This beneficent involvement in culture is part of what is called “missional living.

This approach leads to their focus on temporal and social issues, as opposed to a perceived Evangelical overemphasis on eternal salvation. Drawing on research and models of contextual theology, Mobsby asserts that the Emerging Church is using different models of contextual theology to Conservative Evangelicals. Conservative Evangelical Churches tend to use a ‘translation’ model of contextual theology, (which has been criticized for being colonialist and having a very low opinion of culture and humanity), where the Emerging Church tends to use a ’synthetic’ or ‘transcendent’ model of contextual theology. The Emerging Church has charged many Conservative Evangelical Churches of withdrawal from involvement from contextual mission and seeking contextualisation of the gospel.

Calvary Chapel and Emerging Spirituality

Church News

Edited Article

On May 5th Paul Smith, brother of Chuck Smith (the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement), was fired from his position in the Calvary Chapel (CCOF) organization during an unscheduled meeting that day. The motion to fire Paul Smith was made by board member Roger Wing and seconded by Chuck Smith’s son-in-law, Brian Broderson. Other board members affirmed the motion and Paul Smith was dismissed.

For some time now Paul Smith, who has been in full-time ministry since 1951, has been putting forth tireless efforts to help keep contemplative and emerging spirituality out of the Calvary Chapel movement. At times, this caused conflict with other Calvary Chapel figures who did not resonate with these efforts.

Calvary Chapel released a Position Paper denouncing mystical practices (i.e. contemplative prayer) and the emerging church. This weekend a position paper addressed to pastors was posted on the Calvary Chapel website. The paper indicates that Calvary Chapel is taking a stand against contemplative spirituality and the emerging church and decrees that the title Calvary Chapel not be attached to such movements.

In the Position Paper, Calvary Chapel pastors were told not to use the Calvary Chapel title on their church name if they were going to go in the contemplative/emerging direction.

Calvary Chapel is at a critical point in the history of the movement. If nothing more happens than a written statement, and pastors and churches are permitted to carry the name Calvary Chapel but embrace contemplative purpose driven seeker friendly market driven ideas, the movement will break into various segments. There are many Calvary Chapel pastors who are asking for this kind of clear cut direction and want Calvary Chapel to remain what it once was.

If Calvary Chapel stands firm on defending the gospel message and rejecting heretical demonic doctrines, it may be setting a precedent for other Christian ministries to do likewise. With organizations such as Purpose Driven, Zondervan,

(Zondervan Publishes the NIV Bible that omits hundreds of words and phrases from the Word of God by NIV translators. The “Godhead” in the NIV was completely removed from the Word of God. All the following words have been omitted from the NIV: Propitiation, regeneration, mercyseat, remission, Jehovah, immutable, omnipotent, Comforter, Messiah, infallible, et cetera. The word “sodomite” is completely gone, as are the words: fornication, carnal, effeminate, vanity, devils, Lucifer, damnation, brimstone, and the bottomless pit. Zondervan Publishers does not reveal they are OWNED by Harper Collins, which also publishes The Satanic Bible and The Joy of Gay Sex. Http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Zondervan-Corporation-Company-History.HTML Dr. Marten Woudstra, chairman on the NIV committee, was involved in sex perversion. He is quoted as saying that loving monogamous relationships between gay men or women were acceptable to God and that there was nothing in the Old Testament that spoke against the perversion. (Lies) Dr. Virginia Mollenkott, a literary critic on the NIV translation, was a sodomite. In Episcopal, Witness (June 1991, PP. 20-23), she comes out of the closet by saying, “My lesbianism has ALWAYS been a part of me. . .” This could explain why, “sodomite” is never found in the NIV. (Deut. 23:17, I Kings 14:24, 15:12 , 22:46 , II Kings 23:7) Not only that, but all other references to sodomy are perverted to say something else: 1Cor. 6:9, “. . . Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, . . .” is replaced with the “. . . Nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders. . .” According to Wikipedia.org, the New International Bible (NIV) printed by Zondervan is the most popular Bible version today. Zondervan Publishers does not reveal they are OWNED by Harper Collins, who also publishes The Satanic Bible and The Joy of Gay Sex. Http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Zondervan-Corporation-Company-History.HTML)

Nav Press publishers (Publishers of the heretical Message Bible),  Willow Creek and Renovare, all promoting contemplative spirituality, and with many other ministries appearing to head that way; it is becoming less and less popular to do what Calvary Chapel has done. But it is a time in history when compromising the integrity of the Gospel could actually help to unfold the greatest spiritual deception Christianity has ever seen.

Calvary Distribution (the resource arm of Calvary Chapel) removed all Purpose Driven materials from their resource database. The pressures on young pastors today to conform to the current trends for the sake of having a successful big church are ever increasing. The financial backing that is behind the birth of the current emerging church movement reveals the movement is not simply a “discontent grumblings of young people looking for answers” but entails a far more structured effort to bring about a new mystical spirituality that would ultimately reject the very core of the Bible’s main tenets and its inerrancy.

But as with most denominations and Christian organizations, there are indications that contemplative/emergent/Purpose Driven is continuing to influence the Calvary Chapel movement contrary to the efforts and statements of Chuck Smith in 2006. For instance, Calvary Chapel speaker Gayle Erwin has come out strong in support of the New Age sympathizing book, The Shack. Erwin’s endorsement for William Paul Young’s New York Times best-seller sits on The Shack website and says: Riveting with twists that defy your expectations while teaching powerful theological lessons without patronizing. I was crying by page 100. You cannot read it without your heart becoming involved.

Unfortunately, an event is scheduled between Rock Harbor and Calvary Chapel at the end of May. The conference will take place at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and will feature Rock Harbor’s teaching pastor Mike Erre and worship team. Mike Erre is the author of a new book, Death by Church: Rescuing Jesus from His Followers, Recapturing God’s Hope for His People. The book is filled with kingdom-now theology—anti-Revelation, rapture and millennial, including dismissing the countless promises to the Jews found throughout the Word of God. Also numerous favorable references to and quotes by people like Brian McLaren, Dallas Willard, and other contemplative emerging figures. Based on this book alone, it is accurate to say that Erre has all the earmarks of a heretic, as an emerging church pastor. In Erre’s 2008 book, Why Guys Need God, he quotes and references a number of contemplative mystic-proponents: Richard Rohr, Larry Crabb, Pete Scazzero, Rob Belland others. It is very clear by Erre’s remarks about Richard Rohr (whom he references over a half a dozen times in the book) that he esteems him highly. And yet Rohr’s spirituality would be in the same camp as someone like Matthew Fox (author of The Coming of the Cosmic Christ) who believes in pantheism (god in trees, rocks, etc. A denial of Biblical God). Rohr wrote the foreword to a 2007 book called How Big is Your God? by Jesuit priest (from India) Paul Coutinho. In Coutinho’s book, he describes an interspiritual community where people of all religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity) worship the same God. How ironic that Paul Smith’s firing is sandwiched between two Rock Harbor events at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Members at that church should be very, very concerned.

At a Calvary Chapel’s Costa Mesa’s high school, a teacher asked his class to read, review, and study How to Stay Christian in College written by Protestant-turned-Catholic J. Budziszewski. The book has references in the back of some editions to mystic emergent Tony Jones and Budziszewski himself is a proponent of contemplative prayer practices. Many families in today’s churches are trying to protect their children and teens from spiritual deception. Christian parents must realize that the souls of their youth are at stake. Satan is in churches trying to obtain them through the false demonic movement of contemporary Christianity.

Isaiah 11:1-5: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.”

This situation with Calvary Chapel is not isolated. Nearly every evangelical denomination and organization of any size in North America is going in this same direction to one degree or another. One key factor in why this is happening so rapidly is that Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries are heavily saturated with contemplative/emerging spirituality. Biola University, for instance, where many Calvary Chapel pastors have attended and graduated is deeply involved in this “new spirituality.” Satan is certainly increasing in power in these later days as the Bible predicted. Christ revealed, He would not find any faith on the earth when He returns. Faith in the inerrant Bible is dwindling every day from our churches.

The spirituality of the desert fathers has gotten a grip on the current theological thought and practice like no one could have predicted just a few years ago, thanks largely in part to the emerging church and the work of Rick Warren and Bill Hybels. Remember, mysticism is what gives the emerging church its momentum. Holistic doctor and author Dr. Rick Levy revealed that in 2008, 17 million Americans were practicing meditation (eastern-style). That number is up from 10 million in 2003. At that rate, in another five years it will probably be somewhere between 20 and 25 million. There is no doubt that this surge of mysticism will have a profound effect on virtually every North American family. This statistic is sobering when you consider what Richard Kirby observed: The meditation of advanced occultists is identical with the prayer of advanced mystics, it is no accident that both traditions use the same word for the highest reaches of their respective activities: contemplation. (Mission of Mystic) Mysticism (i.e. the satanic controlled occult) is overtaking all segments of society, and this means that the world is falling under the spell of sorceries (magical arts). This fact represents the book of Revelation and the belief system that will arise in the later days (Revelation 18:23). The acceptance of Harry Potter in the church has certainly been the springboard to what we now observe in our apostate fellowships.

________________

Contemplative prayer or Spirituality defined:

Below is a simple definition and Wikipedia’s take:

Definition of Contemplative Spirituality: “A belief system that uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence) and is often wrapped in Christian terminology; the premise of contemplative spirituality is pantheistic (God is all) and panentheistic (God is in all). The purpose of contemplative prayer is to enter an altered state of consciousness in order to find one’s true self, thus finding God. This true self relates to the belief that man is basically good. Proponents of contemplative prayer teach that all human beings have a divine center and that all, not just born again believers, should practice contemplative prayer.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemplative_prayer

In Christian mysticism, Contemplative prayer can refer to:
• Repetitive chanting, breathing in a controlled manner or silent concentration to quiet the thoughts and feelings and commune with God.
• Infused contemplation, for many writers, including St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila (both demonic Catholic mystics), the sole sense of the term;
• Acquired contemplation, also known as “Prayer of Simplicity”; or
• Centering prayer, which is sometimes called contemplative prayer, although “It is not contemplation in the strict sense, which in Catholic tradition has always been regarded as a pure gift of the Spirit, but rather it is a preparation for contemplation.”[1]
“Contemplative consciousness,” says [Thomas] Merton, is “a Trans-cultural, Trans-religious, Trans-formed consciousness … it can shine through this or that system, religious or irreligious”[2]
One question that has surfaced at various times in history is whether contemplative prayer is given only to select people or whether everyone is called towards it. Generally, the latter view has prevailed. In the 17th century, however, several writers, most notably John Baptist Scaramelli, taught, in reaction to Quietism, that ascetism and mysticism are two distinct paths to perfection; the former was the normal, ordinary end of the Christian life, and the latter, to which contemplative prayer belongs, is something extraordinary. The controversy was more or less resolved in the early 20th century with Arintero and Garrigou-Lagrange exonerating the view that infused contemplation is a normal development of the spiritual life. This is now the generally accepted position.[4]

*Some info gathered and quoted from Lighthouse Trails Publishing  (This is a conservative publisher, but I do not agree wtih everything stated by their authors)