Enfolding Spirituality or devotion to Christ

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

I’ve been watching this Emergent movement phenomena for many years. There are 2 streams that I am thinking about today.

1. The Ooze: (Remember that? I was on the mailing list for years, just to see what was going on.) This supposedly Christian, “embracing doubt” skepticism movement takes struggling Christians, deconstructs them and transforms them into atheists.

2. The Hatchery (and similar movements): This “alternative to traditional Christianity” mystical, transcendent, contemplative spirituality movement takes struggling Christians and deconstructs and transforms them into full-fledged New Age Mystical, “spiritualism” practicing, global spirituality (“all is one”) enlightened, spiritually evolved, wisdom sages.

http://hatcheryla.com/contemplative-activism-an-outflow-of-the-broken-heart-by-holly-roach-co-founder-of-transform-network/

http://es.hatcheryla.com/

Integral Theory, Evolutionary Human Development model of Spiral Dynamics, Enneagram spirituality? Dove and serpent power?

These are current movements in “Christianity”, which now includes the traditional institutional organized Christianity, as well as this Emergent Church Christianity.

If you go to Christian college, you will encounter all this. If you go to a Mainline denomination or a Neo-Evangelical Church, you will encounter this. If you go to a Roman Catholic Church you will encounter this. If you read popular Christian books you will encounter this. If you are involved in a Christian parachurch organization or Christian humanitarian organization, you may encounter this. Why? The whole loaf is fully leavened and it “arises” high as it grows. The leaven has made this fermenting mess impure. Jesus tells us: false Christs and false prophets shall “arise” from among you. They are showing great signs and wonders indeed. People are impressed with these lofty  (“puffed up”) ideas.

The change agents for these movements are operating inside and outside of traditional organized Churches. Their goal: your transformation and spiritual evolution. These “postmodern spirituality” and “Alternatives to traditional Church”  movements are cults.

We are either “enfolding spirituality” or devoted to Christ. God is separating out His people unto Himself, as He calls His sheep out from what is that great Babylonian mystery: “ancient free and accepted” Christianity.

Our devotion to Christ is simple and it is pure. Let this truth bring us joy today!

Witnessing in Church (Buildings)

Several years ago I was at church (not my current assembly) and I began to take note of the many new people. I had long since given up on trying to meet and really know all the new people, since this church was growing so fast. But I was concerned for the spiritual condition of the newcomers. Speaking to each one separately, I soon discovered an amazing set of similarities among these new regular attenders. They all had been coming for several months; some for a year, and none of them could articulate to me at all anything that would indicate that they were actually in Christ. And none of them had any idea what the Gospel was. The Lord gave blessed opportunity to share the Gospel with these folks- inside “the four walls”.

I asked them why they were coming to this church, and they all said ‘because it makes me happy’ ,or ‘it makes me feel good’, or ‘it gives me some inspiration and helps me get though the week’. Another answer had to do with having “a community”.

Yes it’s true: these ‘seekers’ were coming to church and they never heard the Gospel in the service. This church was working hard to become a successful church through the addition of numbers of people, via Willowcreek’s ‘Vision 2010’ program of church growth. “Outreach” services addressed people’s felt needs and issues of Psychology and Sociology, but nothing of the Gospel was mentioned. I remember the announcement man saying (with a laugh) from the pulpit something about how “we” (the church) did not want to be controversial or make people uncomfortable. As far as I could tell, the plan was to bring in as many people as possible, mix together the Christians and the seekers (unbelievers), “plug them in” and hopefully they would eventually become Christians. Let me repeat: these church attenders I spoke to had no idea what the Gospel was.

We attended a Christmas Eve service at a mega church in another state. After more than two hours of jovial entertainment and glorification of men, there was still not one word of Gospel Truth spoken to the two thousand people gathered. (And there was no worship.)

About a year ago I went to a memorial service for a little boy who died in an accident. The church building was packed with hundreds of people from all over the community. There was not one word of Hope or Redemption through Jesus Christ in the whole service. The liberal minister’s word of consolation to the grieving was to find comfort from the community. These hundreds of people never heard the Gospel in that place at all.

At our Biblical church where Jesus is central and the Gospel is heard from the pulpit, there are visitors and relatives who occasionally are in attendance. This give us opportunity to also share the Gospel with them also, as the Lord leads, since this is not just the job of the pastor, but all believers are called by the Lord to be His witnesses.

Consider the spiritual needs of those visitors who come to your church; perhaps they have never heard the Gospel. And if you are looking for a mission field, consider the ‘unreached people groups’ found inside America’s Liberal and Modern Mega Evangelical church buildings.

Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. Ps.96:2-3

Report from Legacy

Here are a few drops from the showers of blessings at the Legacy conference.

There are saints who are preaching the Biblical Gospel, teaching Biblical Theology, edifying the brethren and leading the congregation of God in worship- all using the medium of hip hop. I did not even know this until about a year ago. It was a blessing, and very humbling, to meet many of these brothers and see them being used of God to exalt Christ and minister to Jesus’ church.

I was overjoyed to see and meet hundreds of young people the Lord is raising up to represent and serve Christ in the next generation. The young people I met shared how God saved them called them into various ministries. God is preparing them to be missionaries, evangelists, teachers, street preachers, pastors and worship leaders. They are being trained in the deep things of God as well as being trained how to disciple and “teach others also”; 2Tim.2:2.

One thing I rejoiced in was the fact that this conference had nothing to do with the various unbiblical movements that are currently popular in American Christianity. I’m referring to the Emergent, church growth, and “signs-wonders-I-got- a-word from God” movements which are basically man centered. No, these young believers were studying Biblical Doctrine and Theology and the focus was JESUS: knowing, serving and worshiping Him in Spirit and in Truth. I loved observing all these young urbanites reading “Biblical Theology” books and attending workshops such as, “The Attributes of God”. The core values of this conference consist of the “5 Solas”; this year’s theme was Sola Scriptura.

I chatted with Jerry who told me how God saved him in high school and called him to be a pastor. He is from the Bronx and before he even knew where the rest of his first semester tuition was going to come from, he already had his truck packed and ready to go to Bible college. By the time he arrived, the Lord had provided the last few thousand dollars he needed to start his freshman year. His father is a postman and his mother cleans rooms, and Jerry works in addition to starting Bible school this fall. This young man was on fire with love for Christ and the people of God. He is following Jesus. And there were hundreds more, just like him.

Finally, the most blessed thing at Legacy –besides the fellowship, corporate worship and theological unity — was the call to return to the preaching of the BIBLICAL GOSPEL.

The Two Christianities

The two Christianities are completely different things, and the visible church is falling on one side of the line, or the other.

The true church, which I’ll call “Biblical Christianity”, is about the objective truth of God’s Word, Jesus, walking the narrow path, repentance, faith, humility, obedience, redemption, the gospel, and evangelism. It has the Holy Spirit. It often involves suffering.

The other church, which I’ll call “Fake Christianity”, is about subjective personal revelation that is not really from God, entertainment, feelings, experiences, popularity, prosperity, success, pride, fake spiritual manifestations, false signs and wonders, spirits and ‘angels’, fake dreams and visions, New Age beliefs and practices, bringing the glory of God down, bringing the Kingdom now etc. It “fakes” the Holy Spirit. It is often about money.

I’m mainly referring here to the Kingdom Now/N.A.R. movement but I also believe included in “Fake Christianity” would be the Emergent movement and in my opinion, the Church Growth movement as well. Eventually everything that denies the truth of God’s Word joins Cultural Christianity, the Roman Catholic Church, the New Agers (New Spirituality), the world religions and the Globalists/Humanists for the “one world religion”. In Rev. 13:11, the false prophet looks like a lamb (like a Christian) but speaks as a dragon (like satan).

Oddly, this group thinks that Biblical Christianity is the “establishment church”: the Pharisees which must be opposed. But in fact, it is this huge group which is forming, which will be the world’s accepted church, established by the world. These will be the ones who will persecute the true church, just like the Pharisees persecuted Jesus. In Matt. 24:10 I believe that the “many” are people in the visible church. Persecution of the true church will come from the “one world religion”.

Meanwhile, we watch the dividing between the “Two Christianities”.

Blog: Bentley Revival-goers are angry when they hear Tony Miano preaching the gospel- they don’t want to hear it.

New Spirituality is Hot

New Spirituality is hot right now with Oprah featuring A Course in Miracles lessons on her satellite radio show as well as teaching Ekhart Tolle’s A New Earth on her web class. Then there’s Pope Benedict XVl in the country hosting yet another interfaith conference where he will continue the work of joining Roman Catholicism together with Islam and the rest of the world’s religions, based on “common ground”. We also have the Dalai Lama here with thousands going to him for spiritual enlightenment. Public schools are busing children in to hear him promote the “compassion movement”.

And then we have “from within Christianity”, Rob Bell at the Interspiritual Seeds of Compassion conference referring to the Dalai Lama as “His Holiness”, and redefining death and resurrection for a universalist-friendly crowd. He could have used this incredible opportunity to speak of the true God, sin, righteousness, judgment, the Deity and Lordship of Christ, the cross, the love and grace of God, repentance and faith, but he did not. He blended. Why? New Spirituality is hot! It is “New Paradigm” (even though it has really been around since Genesis). Faith in Jesus as the only way is “Old Paradigm”. The world seeks to evolve to the next level of consciousness: the idea that we are all “one”. The Shift; the global transformation, is rapidly coming to completion. This is the idea that we are all one because we are all god. This is the “Christ consciousness.”

So, are you ready to be different? (Are you different already?) Are you ready to not sign up with the one world religion? Are you ready to endure when you see people who call themselves “Christians” join also? Are you ready to be left out? Are you ready for the pressure to conform? Are you ready for what’s next? The world will bow to the enemy’s New Spirituality; the worship of self as god.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Eph.6:13.

Audio: Here’s Jan Markell and Warren Smith discussing New Age & Christian leaders promoting the New Spirituality.

1 Year

Hey it’s the one year anniversary of Witnessing Encouragement! To celebrate, I’d like to review some resources, teaching and ideas featured on this site to help you become equipped to biblically share your faith. Get trained, and then teach others!

And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 2Tim.2:2.

Read The Gospel and Personal Evangelism, by Mark Dever.

Read The Way of the Master, by Ray Comfort.

Read One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven, by Mark Cahill

Learn about how the Law and Grace work together in Biblical evangelism.

Study to learn what the Biblical gospel is, in order to communicate it.

More on knowing what the gospel is, so we can witness.

Understand the difference between modern evangelism and Biblical evangelism.

Understand that Biblical evangelism always uses words. 

Understand the issue of Postmodernism and the gospel.

Understand the issue of the Emergent/Emerging church and the gospel.

Learn why we must be “direct” when witnessing, as well as “relational”.

Consider the many different ways to witness.

Check out Way of the Master ministries, which trains and equips believers in how to share your faith. They have audios and videos online to get you started.

Here’s one example of a basic gospel message:
Audio: THE GOSPEL, or Click here or here for high quality audios of this message for burning your own “audio gospel tracts” to give out.

Right Before our Very Eyes

I remember, back when I was a young believer, when it seemed every Christian was passionate for God’s Word, when evangelism was a normal activity, and when false teaching was something that happened out there, hidden in the shadowy world of the New Agers and cults.

Now things are different. The New Agers have gone mainstream; popularizing their occult religion in every venue of our culture, from education to entertainment and the marketplace. What used to be found only in a crystal and incense filled Berkeley bookstore is now openly promoted throughout society. Even the main textbook for the foundation of my college major existed to mainstream the New Age. The world religions, the New Agers, secular humanists and the occult have come out from the underground and have normalized their worldview.

Now things are really different. Now we have many from within Christianity, joining in with what is now called the “New Spirituality”. I remember ten years ago when I walked into a bookstore, and saw a prominent display of John Shelby Spong’s book, Why Christianity Must Change or Die. Yes this was a liberal mainline skeptic’s manifesto. But something was up. Then a few years later he gave us A New Christianity for a New World: Why Traditional Faith is Dying and How a New Faith is Being Born. At that point, I realized that Protestant Christianity had joined with the New Age.

Today, ever increasing numbers of Evangelicals are now joining in with the skepticism, doubt and denial of the Word of God. They are speaking the same words as those in the New Spirituality. They have joined the New Faith. They have joined the One World Religion.

Just like God said would happen, thousands of years ago. We are seeing it unfold now, right before our very eyes.

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostacy comes first, and the man of lawlesness is revealed, the son of destruction…2Thes.2:3.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. 2Tim.2:3-4.

But false prophets also arose among the people; just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them… 2Pe.2:1.

“Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am Christ!’ and will mislead many.” Mark13:6.

And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast…Rev.13:11-12.

Listen: Christian Worldview radio. The merger of modern-day “Christianity” and Evangelicalism with the New Age Movement and Universalism. Laying the groundwork for a world religion and a world leader as predicted in the Bible. This is happening fast and you are seeing what the Bible foretold thousands of years ago.

Chart: Biblical Truth (thesis: the Bible), the transition phase(antithesis: the New Age movement), and the New Spirituality (synthesis: Global Spirituality) compared.

Article: New Spirituality Emerging into One Church for the world.

Article: Bringing Christianity into the One World Religion.

Video: The whole world coming together as One spiritually.

A Biblical Youth Group (wow!)

“So, honey, what did they teach about tonight?”, I asked my Jr. Hi age daughter as we drove home from our local youth group of choice. Her answer was music to my ears.

No, it wasn’t “Belong to the group” (psychology +Church Growth Movement), “Take back the city from the principalities of darkness and claim the territory for God” (Kingdom Now/Dominionist movement), or “God spoke to me and said you are the end time army of God to be the new authoritative apostles and prophets” (New Apostolic Reformation movement).

They didn’t play Halo, shock-value unsanitary “gross games” or worship unbiblicaly with candle & incense burning, altar decorating, stations of the cross, chanting or labyrinth walking (Emergent/return to Rome movement).

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for fun and being social. They do play games, eat pizza and go on fun summer and winter trips. But the focus is discipling young Christians in God’s Word.

So what did she learn? “God is Sovereign”. That’s right; they are teaching the youth the attributes of God. How refreshing!

I’m so, so thankful for this youth group, and youth pastor. This is God’s faithful provision. The pastor desires to teach young people Biblical Christian doctrine, theology and some apologetics. He has a heart to pass on the faith and disciple youth in the Word of God. He desires to prepare kids to hold fast to Biblical Truth, as they come of age in a world of apostasy in the church, and increasing hatred of the things of God out in the world. He wants to prepare them for a life of service to God, as ambassadors of the gospel, and to stand strong in faith in Jesus.