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Gerald Celente discusses the worsening global financial crisis. Continued job losses, rising home foreclosures, more bailouts and bank closings could spell disaster for 2009.
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January 28, 2009
January 25, 2009
More Delusion from the 'New Apostolic Reformation' Camp
The NARites continue to Deceive
“Have you noticed lately that most of the big names in the Prophetic and Apostolic Movement are increasingly sprinkling the term DNA into their vocabulary? No longer content to hide their damnable heresies, they are brazenly flaunting their apostasy to the unsuspecting church through their use of double speak. It is a known fact that nothing is harder to find than something hidden in plain sight.
To understand the seriousness implications of their use of the term DNA, it is important to understand that the Dominionist doctrine embraced by an increasing number of apostate ministries is straight from the occult. From the very seeds of civilization, Gnostic sects and keepers of the Gnostic Kabalistic dogma have spoken of humankind evolving into a God-like being. The Kabbala calls this being the Adam Kadmon, or “God Man.” The name “Adam” refers to the entire human race and the term “Kadmon” refers to completion. Thus, Adam Kadmon speaks of a return to our beginning, with all the knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment of the first “Adam.” Those who embrace this doctrine firmly believe we can return to the Garden of Eden by becoming the Adam Kadmon and creating Heaven on Earth.
One becomes Adam Kadmon through activation of the divine nature. When enough of man kind has activated their divine nature we will evolve and become the “Corporate Christ.” DNA stands for Divine Nature Activation and it is being tossed around in the Christian community like rice at a wedding. Doing a quick online search using the term DNA activation will return a myriad of occult websites for your perusal.
Adherents of these occultic beliefs claim that the inactivated part of our DNA is preventing us from becoming God. They claim we have the divinity and enlightenment of the Adam Kadmon encoded into our DNA. As more and more of us activate this Divine Nature we will corporately become the Adam Kadmon, return to the Garden, and usher in heaven on earth. Is this starting to sound familiar? It should. It is exactly what the false apostles of the prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation teach. It is also what the New Age teaches. The Dominionists cloak their beliefs and their Luciferian agenda in more palatable terms to appeal to the undiscerning. However, it makes no matter what you wrap cyanide in to make it easier to swallow; it is still going to kill you.
Below is a quote from John Lewis from Age to Age Ministries in which explains the use of this term DNA. Interestingly enough, Age to Age ministries, which I had never heard of prior to my research, claims to be a Christian ministry.
“The 97% of your DNA that’s not activated is GOD waiting to be activated in man. You have the information and intelligence of Adam the son of God encoded in your DNA. Access and activation to this information will cause you to live as Adam the God-man in the Garden of your Be-in.
When Divine Nature is completely activated within man, he will be able to naturally transport himself from place to place without the aid of modern transportation. Elijah and Philip in the Bible were only examples of what will become the norm. Jesus said,
As the 97% of unused DNA is activated the 2-Strand double helix becomes a 12 –Strand DNA. Since science doesn’t understand the 97%, they don’t understand the purpose for the 5 extra pairs of DNA strands (shadow strands).
The 12-Strand DNA represents man coming into his Divineness. Mankind created in the image and likeness of God can be nothing less that God. Every seed must bring forth after its kind. Man is the visible expression of the invisible God. This has been the Creators plan from the beginning to multiply Himself to the point of filling All things.
Organized religion spends time shouting and screaming at their followers convincing them that they are not Gods. It seems to be their mission to deceive their followers into believing they are only human that can not think for themselves. The powers that be realize that if their followers would begin to activate the Divine Nature that would be the end of Organized Religion as we see it today.” www.atam.org/DNA.html
Now let’s look at some quotes from various leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation.
“We participated in a leadership meeting on Monday prior to the conference where Dutch released the vision of the Apostolic Alliance. It was a powerful three days of God imparting His DNA into this apostolic movement for national transformation.” April 2008 e-newsletter by Prayer Focus Ministries describing the Apostolic Alliance gathering in Colorado Springs, Colorado
In an apostolic network the person in charge of maintaining the DNA of the network is the lead apostle, who consults with those he or she chooses, and no one else.” ["Goodbye, Theologians," C. Peter Wagner, September 06, 2006, "Guest Commentary," Ministry Today]
God is trying to get us to a place of really understanding who we are. The church is having an identity crisis. When the people of God begin to realize that the purpose of Jesus on the earth was to birth a new breed of people who would carry the DNA of God within them and bring heaven to earth daily, we will begin to live with purpose. When the people of God begin to realize their identity as the very offspring of God and that as He is right now, so are we in this world, the church will begin to shake the nations with the power of God.” ["The New Breed - Part 2," Ryan Wyatt, Abiding Glory Ministries, Open Heaven]
Insight is the God given ability for you to know your Identity, your Kingdom ID; your spiritual DNA; your uniqueness in the earth and in the Body of Christ. There is no one like you. You are predestined for Greatness. [Chuck Pierce School of the Spirit, Faith Summit Church, Monday, March 24, 2008]
The Living Word or Bread of life once again desires to be made flesh through a body of people joined with Him in a holy consummation. As we live not by natural bread alone, but by the living Word proceeding from the mouth of God, the bread of abundant life, even so the hidden truth of godliness will become part of our spiritual DNA.” ["Shepherd's Rod, Part 1: Blood and Fire," Paul Keith Davis and Bob Jones: Oct 11, 2004]
I have called the best of every blood line in earth unto this generation…I have elected to bring them forth in this generation… the Elect Generation… even the bloodline of Paul… of David… of Peter, James and John… They will even be superior to them in heart, stature and love for me’…Your children will possess the spirit without measure…They will move into things of the supernatural that no one has ever moved in before… coming into the Divine Nature of Jesus Christ… a Church that has reached the full maturity of the God-Man! This generation…is going to see the beginning of this World-wide New Order.” [Vineyard Prophecy Conference, 1989]
These Gnostic Kabalistic doctrines are not the new revelations that today’s modern false Apostles and Prophets would have you believe. We are not Gods, nor will we ever become Gods through partaking of Lucifer’s secret doctrines and Gnostic illumination. It was this same exact lie whispered by the serpent in the Garden long ago which led to the downfall of man and our need for redemption through Jesus Christ in the first place! Is it not fitting that this lie is now the central theme of the last day’s apostate church?
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die (this was in direct opposition of what God said): For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, (the serpent promises higher gnosis or wisdom) and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 4-5
Peter warned Christians of destructive and heretical doctrines being brought into the church in II Peter 2:1-3.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
In the Greek, the word “Privily” means to bring in alongside. Peter is warning the church that these false teachers will bring in false doctrine into alongside the true doctrine and by so doing will bring the Truth into disrepute! The Truth to them will act as bait by which ensnare the undiscerning. Interestingly enough, the words “make merchandise of you” mean to “traffic” or “trade.” Peter is literally warning the church that these false prophets will use people for money. The word “feigned” in the Greek means to be molded like clay. Their “feigned words” will be molded in such a way as to elicit the greatest response from their audience and manipulate them for their gain.
We are living in a day when a large portion of the church has spiraled into apostasy. In order to avoid deception, we must love and cling to the Truth so passionately that it motivates us to pursue it all costs. We must diligently and prayerfully make studying scripture a priority. We must be concerned enough about what we ingest spiritually to verify it all against His Word. It does not matter who the teaching comes from, or how “right” it might sound, it must be examined in the light of scripture. Dictatorship and tyranny in a natural realm is always been preceded by disarming the people. So it is with the Spiritual. As Christians, our weapon is the Word of God. For many years Satan has been disarming us by slowly removing the Word of God from our every-day lives. Where he has been unsuccessful in complete removal, he has misquoted, twisted and perverted the Word. By so doing, he has brought the Truth into disrepute. Without the Bible we are defenseless against the wiles of the enemy and can easily turn aside to the fables being peddled as truth by the false Apostles and Prophets of today’s apostate church.
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. II Timothy 4:3-4″
Article taken from - http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com
“Have you noticed lately that most of the big names in the Prophetic and Apostolic Movement are increasingly sprinkling the term DNA into their vocabulary? No longer content to hide their damnable heresies, they are brazenly flaunting their apostasy to the unsuspecting church through their use of double speak. It is a known fact that nothing is harder to find than something hidden in plain sight.
To understand the seriousness implications of their use of the term DNA, it is important to understand that the Dominionist doctrine embraced by an increasing number of apostate ministries is straight from the occult. From the very seeds of civilization, Gnostic sects and keepers of the Gnostic Kabalistic dogma have spoken of humankind evolving into a God-like being. The Kabbala calls this being the Adam Kadmon, or “God Man.” The name “Adam” refers to the entire human race and the term “Kadmon” refers to completion. Thus, Adam Kadmon speaks of a return to our beginning, with all the knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment of the first “Adam.” Those who embrace this doctrine firmly believe we can return to the Garden of Eden by becoming the Adam Kadmon and creating Heaven on Earth.
One becomes Adam Kadmon through activation of the divine nature. When enough of man kind has activated their divine nature we will evolve and become the “Corporate Christ.” DNA stands for Divine Nature Activation and it is being tossed around in the Christian community like rice at a wedding. Doing a quick online search using the term DNA activation will return a myriad of occult websites for your perusal.
Adherents of these occultic beliefs claim that the inactivated part of our DNA is preventing us from becoming God. They claim we have the divinity and enlightenment of the Adam Kadmon encoded into our DNA. As more and more of us activate this Divine Nature we will corporately become the Adam Kadmon, return to the Garden, and usher in heaven on earth. Is this starting to sound familiar? It should. It is exactly what the false apostles of the prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation teach. It is also what the New Age teaches. The Dominionists cloak their beliefs and their Luciferian agenda in more palatable terms to appeal to the undiscerning. However, it makes no matter what you wrap cyanide in to make it easier to swallow; it is still going to kill you.
Below is a quote from John Lewis from Age to Age Ministries in which explains the use of this term DNA. Interestingly enough, Age to Age ministries, which I had never heard of prior to my research, claims to be a Christian ministry.
“The 97% of your DNA that’s not activated is GOD waiting to be activated in man. You have the information and intelligence of Adam the son of God encoded in your DNA. Access and activation to this information will cause you to live as Adam the God-man in the Garden of your Be-in.
When Divine Nature is completely activated within man, he will be able to naturally transport himself from place to place without the aid of modern transportation. Elijah and Philip in the Bible were only examples of what will become the norm. Jesus said,
As the 97% of unused DNA is activated the 2-Strand double helix becomes a 12 –Strand DNA. Since science doesn’t understand the 97%, they don’t understand the purpose for the 5 extra pairs of DNA strands (shadow strands).
The 12-Strand DNA represents man coming into his Divineness. Mankind created in the image and likeness of God can be nothing less that God. Every seed must bring forth after its kind. Man is the visible expression of the invisible God. This has been the Creators plan from the beginning to multiply Himself to the point of filling All things.
Organized religion spends time shouting and screaming at their followers convincing them that they are not Gods. It seems to be their mission to deceive their followers into believing they are only human that can not think for themselves. The powers that be realize that if their followers would begin to activate the Divine Nature that would be the end of Organized Religion as we see it today.” www.atam.org/DNA.html
Now let’s look at some quotes from various leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation.
“We participated in a leadership meeting on Monday prior to the conference where Dutch released the vision of the Apostolic Alliance. It was a powerful three days of God imparting His DNA into this apostolic movement for national transformation.” April 2008 e-newsletter by Prayer Focus Ministries describing the Apostolic Alliance gathering in Colorado Springs, Colorado
In an apostolic network the person in charge of maintaining the DNA of the network is the lead apostle, who consults with those he or she chooses, and no one else.” ["Goodbye, Theologians," C. Peter Wagner, September 06, 2006, "Guest Commentary," Ministry Today]
God is trying to get us to a place of really understanding who we are. The church is having an identity crisis. When the people of God begin to realize that the purpose of Jesus on the earth was to birth a new breed of people who would carry the DNA of God within them and bring heaven to earth daily, we will begin to live with purpose. When the people of God begin to realize their identity as the very offspring of God and that as He is right now, so are we in this world, the church will begin to shake the nations with the power of God.” ["The New Breed - Part 2," Ryan Wyatt, Abiding Glory Ministries, Open Heaven]
Insight is the God given ability for you to know your Identity, your Kingdom ID; your spiritual DNA; your uniqueness in the earth and in the Body of Christ. There is no one like you. You are predestined for Greatness. [Chuck Pierce School of the Spirit, Faith Summit Church, Monday, March 24, 2008]
The Living Word or Bread of life once again desires to be made flesh through a body of people joined with Him in a holy consummation. As we live not by natural bread alone, but by the living Word proceeding from the mouth of God, the bread of abundant life, even so the hidden truth of godliness will become part of our spiritual DNA.” ["Shepherd's Rod, Part 1: Blood and Fire," Paul Keith Davis and Bob Jones: Oct 11, 2004]
I have called the best of every blood line in earth unto this generation…I have elected to bring them forth in this generation… the Elect Generation… even the bloodline of Paul… of David… of Peter, James and John… They will even be superior to them in heart, stature and love for me’…Your children will possess the spirit without measure…They will move into things of the supernatural that no one has ever moved in before… coming into the Divine Nature of Jesus Christ… a Church that has reached the full maturity of the God-Man! This generation…is going to see the beginning of this World-wide New Order.” [Vineyard Prophecy Conference, 1989]
These Gnostic Kabalistic doctrines are not the new revelations that today’s modern false Apostles and Prophets would have you believe. We are not Gods, nor will we ever become Gods through partaking of Lucifer’s secret doctrines and Gnostic illumination. It was this same exact lie whispered by the serpent in the Garden long ago which led to the downfall of man and our need for redemption through Jesus Christ in the first place! Is it not fitting that this lie is now the central theme of the last day’s apostate church?
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die (this was in direct opposition of what God said): For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, (the serpent promises higher gnosis or wisdom) and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 4-5
Peter warned Christians of destructive and heretical doctrines being brought into the church in II Peter 2:1-3.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
In the Greek, the word “Privily” means to bring in alongside. Peter is warning the church that these false teachers will bring in false doctrine into alongside the true doctrine and by so doing will bring the Truth into disrepute! The Truth to them will act as bait by which ensnare the undiscerning. Interestingly enough, the words “make merchandise of you” mean to “traffic” or “trade.” Peter is literally warning the church that these false prophets will use people for money. The word “feigned” in the Greek means to be molded like clay. Their “feigned words” will be molded in such a way as to elicit the greatest response from their audience and manipulate them for their gain.
We are living in a day when a large portion of the church has spiraled into apostasy. In order to avoid deception, we must love and cling to the Truth so passionately that it motivates us to pursue it all costs. We must diligently and prayerfully make studying scripture a priority. We must be concerned enough about what we ingest spiritually to verify it all against His Word. It does not matter who the teaching comes from, or how “right” it might sound, it must be examined in the light of scripture. Dictatorship and tyranny in a natural realm is always been preceded by disarming the people. So it is with the Spiritual. As Christians, our weapon is the Word of God. For many years Satan has been disarming us by slowly removing the Word of God from our every-day lives. Where he has been unsuccessful in complete removal, he has misquoted, twisted and perverted the Word. By so doing, he has brought the Truth into disrepute. Without the Bible we are defenseless against the wiles of the enemy and can easily turn aside to the fables being peddled as truth by the false Apostles and Prophets of today’s apostate church.
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. II Timothy 4:3-4″
Article taken from - http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com
January 21, 2009
"Christians" under the influence of Another Spirit
By Warren Smith - A former New Ager
The apostle Paul went to great lengths to warn the Corinthians not to be deceived by --
a "Jesus" that wasn't Jesus Christ the Son of God
a spirit that wasn't the Holy Spirit and
a gospel that was not the true biblical Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).
Throughout the New Testament, believers are continually warned not to be deceived by spiritual teachings and experiences that are not from God. Jesus Christ specifically warned his disciples that spiritual deception would be a sign of the end (Matthew 24:3-4).
Today it is very sad to see so many believers falling under the influence of the same spirit that influenced me when I was in the "new age." This spirit says that it is a time for "breakthroughs" and for the fulfillment of our "destiny"; that there is something "new" and exciting in the wind. This teaching claims that we are in the midst of a great "transition" that will result in a "paradigm shift," and that through "new revelation" and "personal experience" God is in the process of taking the church to a "new dimension" and to a whole "new level." Many Christian leaders these days are so sure that what they are hearing and experiencing is from God, they are rarely testing the spirits, or even considering the possibility that they are being deceived.
The first century Bereans tested their leaders and tested their teachings as they "searched the scriptures daily" to see "whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers were always subject to God's holy Word. "New revelation" never nullified nor superseded scripture. The Bereans were not impressed by supernatural power and spiritual experiences that had not been tested by the Word of God. They did not depend on signs and wonders and miracles. They depended on the authority and reliability and trustworthiness of Scripture:
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)
Paul taught that if he or anyone else preached any other gospel--"new revelation" or otherwise--that person should be completely disregarded (Galatians 1:8). The Bible warns over and over again that we should not allow ourselves to be influenced or intimidated by teachings that originate not from God but from the spirit world and from the hearts of men:
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1).
"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:7).
What had been called "new age" is now being presented as "new gospel." These "new gospel" teachings are not new and have actually been around for centuries in one form or another. Whether it was ancient gnosticism, the occultic teachings of Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891) and Alice A. Bailey (1880-1949), or the present day "new gospel" channelings, the bottom line has always been the same--everyone is a part of God.
According to the "new gospel," Christ is not a person. It is an office. The "new gospel" teaches that while Jesus of Nazareth occupied the office during His active ministry, He no longer holds that same position. Today the office of "Christ" is occupied by someone else. And this "someone else" is presently in the process of establishing contact with humanity.
This "Christ" intimates that he is already in the world awaiting mankind's call. "Concerned" that humanity is in peril and facing possible extinction, this "Christ" explains that his "new gospel" will unify the world's major religions and bring peace to the world. He has communicated these "new gospel" teachings to his designated teachers, who in turn are now conveying these same teachings to the rest of the world.
This "reinvented" Christ of the "new gospel" teaches that all of humanity is the body of Christ. He, as the "Christ," is the head. This "Christ" states humanity's dilemma is that we have forgotten who we are. We are not "sinners" separate from God. We are all part of the one body of Christ and the one body of God. Salvation does not come by grace from accepting Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Rather it is achieved--when we accept ourselves as Christ and when we accept ourselves as God.
The "new gospel" teaches that when humanity collectively accepts and experiences itself as being a part of Christ and a part of God, we not only save ourselves, we save our world. The "Christ" of the "new gospel" warns that the hour is late. Peace must come. He will help. He has a plan. But everyone must play their part.
With "new revelation," often accompanied by direct personal spiritual experience, people are being taught that because they are a part of God they are actually "at-one" with God and all creation. This "new gospel" teaches when people have what is described as their "God potential" or "Christ within" supernaturally "activated," they actually experience themselves as a part of the "one body" of God which is all mankind. As these same people unite and join together in remembering and experiencing their "oneness" with God and with each other, they feel they are doing the "work" that is necessary to prepare the way for Christ's return.
The apostle Paul went to great lengths to warn the Corinthians not to be deceived by --
a "Jesus" that wasn't Jesus Christ the Son of God
a spirit that wasn't the Holy Spirit and
a gospel that was not the true biblical Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).
Throughout the New Testament, believers are continually warned not to be deceived by spiritual teachings and experiences that are not from God. Jesus Christ specifically warned his disciples that spiritual deception would be a sign of the end (Matthew 24:3-4).
Today it is very sad to see so many believers falling under the influence of the same spirit that influenced me when I was in the "new age." This spirit says that it is a time for "breakthroughs" and for the fulfillment of our "destiny"; that there is something "new" and exciting in the wind. This teaching claims that we are in the midst of a great "transition" that will result in a "paradigm shift," and that through "new revelation" and "personal experience" God is in the process of taking the church to a "new dimension" and to a whole "new level." Many Christian leaders these days are so sure that what they are hearing and experiencing is from God, they are rarely testing the spirits, or even considering the possibility that they are being deceived.
The first century Bereans tested their leaders and tested their teachings as they "searched the scriptures daily" to see "whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers were always subject to God's holy Word. "New revelation" never nullified nor superseded scripture. The Bereans were not impressed by supernatural power and spiritual experiences that had not been tested by the Word of God. They did not depend on signs and wonders and miracles. They depended on the authority and reliability and trustworthiness of Scripture:
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)
Paul taught that if he or anyone else preached any other gospel--"new revelation" or otherwise--that person should be completely disregarded (Galatians 1:8). The Bible warns over and over again that we should not allow ourselves to be influenced or intimidated by teachings that originate not from God but from the spirit world and from the hearts of men:
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1).
"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:7).
What had been called "new age" is now being presented as "new gospel." These "new gospel" teachings are not new and have actually been around for centuries in one form or another. Whether it was ancient gnosticism, the occultic teachings of Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891) and Alice A. Bailey (1880-1949), or the present day "new gospel" channelings, the bottom line has always been the same--everyone is a part of God.
According to the "new gospel," Christ is not a person. It is an office. The "new gospel" teaches that while Jesus of Nazareth occupied the office during His active ministry, He no longer holds that same position. Today the office of "Christ" is occupied by someone else. And this "someone else" is presently in the process of establishing contact with humanity.
This "Christ" intimates that he is already in the world awaiting mankind's call. "Concerned" that humanity is in peril and facing possible extinction, this "Christ" explains that his "new gospel" will unify the world's major religions and bring peace to the world. He has communicated these "new gospel" teachings to his designated teachers, who in turn are now conveying these same teachings to the rest of the world.
This "reinvented" Christ of the "new gospel" teaches that all of humanity is the body of Christ. He, as the "Christ," is the head. This "Christ" states humanity's dilemma is that we have forgotten who we are. We are not "sinners" separate from God. We are all part of the one body of Christ and the one body of God. Salvation does not come by grace from accepting Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Rather it is achieved--when we accept ourselves as Christ and when we accept ourselves as God.
The "new gospel" teaches that when humanity collectively accepts and experiences itself as being a part of Christ and a part of God, we not only save ourselves, we save our world. The "Christ" of the "new gospel" warns that the hour is late. Peace must come. He will help. He has a plan. But everyone must play their part.
With "new revelation," often accompanied by direct personal spiritual experience, people are being taught that because they are a part of God they are actually "at-one" with God and all creation. This "new gospel" teaches when people have what is described as their "God potential" or "Christ within" supernaturally "activated," they actually experience themselves as a part of the "one body" of God which is all mankind. As these same people unite and join together in remembering and experiencing their "oneness" with God and with each other, they feel they are doing the "work" that is necessary to prepare the way for Christ's return.
January 9, 2009
The Danger of Pragmatism
DEADLY DANGER of "PRAGMATISM"
-Paris Reidhead.
Would I be out of line in order if I were to talk to you for a little while about utilitarian religion and expedient Christianity? And a useful God? I would like to call attention to the fact that our day is a day which the ruling philosophy is pragmatism. You understand what I mean by pragmatism? Pragmatism means if it works it's true. If it succeeds it's good. And the test of all practices, all principles, all truth, so called all teaching, is do they work? Do they work?
Now - according to pragmatism, the greatest failures of the ages have been some of the men God has honored most. For instance, whereas Noah was a mighty good ship builder, his main occupation wasn't shipbuilding, it was preaching. He was a terrible failure as a preacher. His wife and three children and their wives were all he had. Seven converts in 120 years, you wouldn't call that particularly effective. Most mission boards would have asked the missionaries to withdraw long before this. I say as a ship builder he did quite well, but as a preacher he was a failure.
And then we come down across the years to another man by the name of Jeremiah. He was a mighty effective preacher, but ineffective as far as results were concerned. If you were to measure statistically how successful Jeremiah was, he would probably get a large cipher. For we find that he lost out with the people, he lost out with royalty, even the ministerial association voted against him and wouldn't have anything to do with him. He had everything fail. The only one he seemed able to please was....God, but otherwise he was a distinct failure.
And then we come to another well known person, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was a failure according to all the standards. He never succeeded in organizing a church or denomination. He wasn't able to build a school. He didn't succeed in getting a mission board established. He never had a book printed. He never was able to get any of the various criteria or instruments that we find are so useful (I'm not being sarcastic at all, they are useful). And our Lord preached for three years, healed thousands of people, fed thousands of people, and yet when it was all over there were 120..., 500 to whom he could have revealed Himself after His resurrection. And the day that He was taken, one man said, "If all the others forsake you, I'm willing to die for you." He looked at this one and said "Peter you don't know your own heart. You're going to deny me three times before the cock crows this morning." So all men forsook Him and fled. By every standard of our generation or any generation, our Lord was a single failure.
The question comes then to this, what is the standard of success and by what are we going to judge our lives and our ministry? And the question that you are going to ask yourself, "Is God an end or is He a means?" Our generation is prepared to honor successful choices. As long as a person can get things done or get the job done then our generation is prepared to say well done.
And so we've got to ask ourselves at the very outset of our ministry, and our pilgrimage, and our walk, "Are we going to be Levites who serve God for ten shekels and a shirt?", serve men perhaps in the name of God, rather than God. For though he was a Levite and performed religious activities, he was looking for a place, which would give him recognition, a place which would give him acceptance, a place which would give him security, a place where he could shine in terms of those values which were important to him. His whole business was serving in religious activities, so it had to be a religious job. He was very happy when he found that Micah had an opening. But he had decided that he was worth ten shekels and a shirt, and he was prepared to sell himself to anyone that would give that much. If somebody came along and gave more, he would sell himself to them. But he put a value upon himself and he figured then his religious service and his activities were just a means to an end, and by the same token, God was a means to an end.
-Paris Reidhead.
Would I be out of line in order if I were to talk to you for a little while about utilitarian religion and expedient Christianity? And a useful God? I would like to call attention to the fact that our day is a day which the ruling philosophy is pragmatism. You understand what I mean by pragmatism? Pragmatism means if it works it's true. If it succeeds it's good. And the test of all practices, all principles, all truth, so called all teaching, is do they work? Do they work?
Now - according to pragmatism, the greatest failures of the ages have been some of the men God has honored most. For instance, whereas Noah was a mighty good ship builder, his main occupation wasn't shipbuilding, it was preaching. He was a terrible failure as a preacher. His wife and three children and their wives were all he had. Seven converts in 120 years, you wouldn't call that particularly effective. Most mission boards would have asked the missionaries to withdraw long before this. I say as a ship builder he did quite well, but as a preacher he was a failure.
And then we come down across the years to another man by the name of Jeremiah. He was a mighty effective preacher, but ineffective as far as results were concerned. If you were to measure statistically how successful Jeremiah was, he would probably get a large cipher. For we find that he lost out with the people, he lost out with royalty, even the ministerial association voted against him and wouldn't have anything to do with him. He had everything fail. The only one he seemed able to please was....God, but otherwise he was a distinct failure.
And then we come to another well known person, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was a failure according to all the standards. He never succeeded in organizing a church or denomination. He wasn't able to build a school. He didn't succeed in getting a mission board established. He never had a book printed. He never was able to get any of the various criteria or instruments that we find are so useful (I'm not being sarcastic at all, they are useful). And our Lord preached for three years, healed thousands of people, fed thousands of people, and yet when it was all over there were 120..., 500 to whom he could have revealed Himself after His resurrection. And the day that He was taken, one man said, "If all the others forsake you, I'm willing to die for you." He looked at this one and said "Peter you don't know your own heart. You're going to deny me three times before the cock crows this morning." So all men forsook Him and fled. By every standard of our generation or any generation, our Lord was a single failure.
The question comes then to this, what is the standard of success and by what are we going to judge our lives and our ministry? And the question that you are going to ask yourself, "Is God an end or is He a means?" Our generation is prepared to honor successful choices. As long as a person can get things done or get the job done then our generation is prepared to say well done.
And so we've got to ask ourselves at the very outset of our ministry, and our pilgrimage, and our walk, "Are we going to be Levites who serve God for ten shekels and a shirt?", serve men perhaps in the name of God, rather than God. For though he was a Levite and performed religious activities, he was looking for a place, which would give him recognition, a place which would give him acceptance, a place which would give him security, a place where he could shine in terms of those values which were important to him. His whole business was serving in religious activities, so it had to be a religious job. He was very happy when he found that Micah had an opening. But he had decided that he was worth ten shekels and a shirt, and he was prepared to sell himself to anyone that would give that much. If somebody came along and gave more, he would sell himself to them. But he put a value upon himself and he figured then his religious service and his activities were just a means to an end, and by the same token, God was a means to an end.
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