Christian discernment is learning the difference between what is good and what is evil, what is of God and what is a lie from Satan. The Bible was given to us to help us do that. Anything that is contrary to what God said in His word is Satanic. There is an obvious lack of discernment in Christendom today because many confessing Christians do not know what God said. They cannot discern the truth so they cannot see the difference between God’s plants and Satan’s plants in the world. Some Christians like to water toxic weeds and then they wonder why it produces deadly runoff.
We do have to be careful in our identification of Satan’s plants because many of the plants that look like toxic weeds might just turn out to be one of God’s plant that just needs some extra care. Nevertheless, there are common obvious obnoxious weeds that anyone rooted in God’s good ground should be able to discern.
With all the weed watering that is going on in our churches, perhaps Christians need to take a brief Gardening 101 class so that they can better identify Satan’s plants in the world and within Christendom. If the Devil’s plants are not watered by Christians, they still will be seen in the world but at least they will not be found on Church grounds. Everything you need to spot the weeds is found in God’s abundant growing manual.
To help you along in your quest to identify Satan’s plants I will identify three good examples. All three claim to be Christian plants and they are being watered by many ignorant Christians that actually believe them. Those that trained themselves in God’s manual would be able to discern Satan’s plants by the peculiar order that emanates from them. They usually smell a little like money or baloney.
Barack Obama – Is one of Satan’s plants. How do I know? Because everything he does is contrary to God’s manual. He is not just a misled soul. He has been told the truth and he has rejected the truth for universalism. True Christians do not attend hate churches for twenty years that teach a gospel of racism and hate. He attended there because Wright was a mentor. Christians do not take the wrong side on every moral issue and appoint the most immoral scum ever seen in the history of this nation. He appoints such people to high position because he identifies with them and wants to make America conform to their ideals. Christians do not give lip service to Christianity but then promote an antichrist religion like Islam. Christians do not believe in forced redistribution of wealth. Christians do not constantly lie. Christians do not play hate cards in order to set the poor against the rich, and one race against another. Obama is arguably the most divisive President in the history of this nation. We cannot even get a straight answer on his earlier life and he is a mocker of anyone that questions him or disagrees with him. Christian leaders claiming that Obama is a Christian need a reality check.
Newt Gingrich – is one of Satan’s plants. I am sure Gingrich will have a big say over who gets the Republican nomination for President if he does not get it himself. Gingrich is a CFR member and he is part of the globalist establishment. Here is a guy that knows about Christian doctrine and tries to identify with Christian conservatives but he is anything but a Christian or a Conservative. Newt Gingrich believes in the third way or third wave, which is Communitarianism.
“Communitarianism is a collectivist philosophy that explicitly rejects individualism. It does not merely relegate individualism to a subordinate position, but is openly hostile to it. It is an ideology of ‘civic society’ which is nothing less than one version of Post-Marxist collectivism which wants privileges for certain wealthy and influential organized groups, and in consequence, a renewed feudalising of society.”, Vaclav Klaus.
Communitarianism is central planing for a futurist’s idealist world. In Gingrich’s brave new world all people will be forced to comply with the decrees for the common good. Gringrich is always the opportunist, having all the answers for everyone else, but he cannot get his own personal life together. He is on his third marriage after a couple of affairs while in Congress. He disgraced himself in office and was forced to resign as Speaker of the House. He thinks he can now become President because he believes Americans will not care. Even when he had total control of the House he furthered the progressive globalist agenda. Recently Gringrich was pushing global warming cap-and-trade which is really a globalist ploy to redistribute the wealth and to gain global governance over everything. Now that most Americans turned against global warming legislation he flipped like a newt (often confused with a chameleon).
Gingrich has been working hard to reinvent himself. He wants Christians to believe that he has matured and that he has seen the light and the error of his sinful ways. Yet, did Gingrich join a biblical church? Like his globalist friend, Tony Blair, Gingrich became a Catholic. He also has connections with leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation (dominionists). If Gingrich got elected and had a Republican House and Senate there would be no stopping world governance and I am sure the world harlot religion that Tony Blair is pushing and the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and Emergent Church leaders would play a large part in it.
I think if Gingrich got in power he would become the most scary figure in the world since Attila the Hun. Think of a system running the world much like the Chinese government now runs China and you might get the picture. Group think and team concepts will rule at lower levels and the selected elites would rule the world at high levels but govern like fascists. This Satanic plant is being watered by some misled conservative leaders that like the rhetoric coming from Gingrich that is and will be designed specifically for their ears. The NAR dominionists and emergent leaders will be pushing each other over (pun intended) to pour their anointed holy water on his head. However, Gingrich is anything but a Christian Conservative, but he will shape shift into one, if that gets him the presidency.
Harold Camping – is one of Satan’s plants. This man with his date setting for the Rapture and the end of the world will do more to destroy premillennial Christian theology than anyone in our time. Some might say he is just misled. No. he is not mislead, he has done this before and he refuses to be teachable. He has been told the truth but he rejects it. He wants people to believe in his Gnosticism and his date setting formulas but even that is probably all a big con. The Bible tells Christian to warn people about their wrong doing and if they continue to persist to have nothing to do with them. His Rapture date setting is not his only heresy either. Yet, tens of thousands of Christians continue to water this Satanic plant with their money and they help him promote lies.
How can I say Camping is a clear Satanic plant? Because he uses his TV and radio networks to deceive with a doctrine that is sure to bring ridicule to the body of Christ. Once again, the world has reason to mock those that believe that Jesus will come again to take away His Bride. The atheists and those that hate this doctrine have already scheduled mocking parties for next week. Many pastors being the politically correct cowards that they are, will never allow the Rapture doctrine to be taught in their church anymore. Because of Camping you can be sure the NAR and Emergent types and Liberals in Christendom will soon join the mocking and fulfill 2Pet 3:4.
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
There will be real consequences to Harold Camping’s erroneous teaching in the world and it will not just be spiritual. Some people have given up their life savings and their living and are now just waiting for the big day this Saturday. Some will go into massive depression and even kill themselves when the Rapture does not occur. It is things like this that could make preaching futurist eschatology against the law, it already is against the law in some nations. Camping is not doing Christianity and Christian doctrine any service. He is clearly helping to destroy the ministries of those that teach sound doctrine. It is all a Satanic plot and Camping is his plant.
How do I know that the Rapture will not happen on May 21st 2011? I don’t, but there is a better than 99.9 percent chance that the Rapture will not happen on that day. I also know that there is a 100 percent chance that the end of the world will not come five months later like Camping claims. Such timing is in direct contradiction to scripture.
There are many Satanic plants posing as Christians that are being watered by Christians. I will list just a few plants from the Emergent and New Apostolic Reformation movement that is now merging and will merge with others that cannot discern the truth to become the mother of all Satanic plants called the great Harlot.
Brian Mclaren
Erwin McManus
Leonard Sweet
Frank Viola
Richard Foster
Heidi Baker
Jay Bakker
Tony Campolo
John Arnott
C. Peter Wagner
Rick Joyner
Dutch Sheets
Bill Hamon
What these people and thousands of Satan’s plants such as them have in common, is that they all twist scriptures, and they all also give new revelation from arguments of arrogant human intellect or presumptuous and demonic spiritual mysticism contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible.
Beyond obvious, but add Oprah to the list.
Obama is now cursing Isreal, an extremely dangerous and suicidal action that will bring down cursing / judgment on this nation from God with extreme prejudice. As stated earlier, the voters get what they deserve. To have the audacity to come up with this nonsensical 1967 border charade is extremely disturbing at every level. Beyond the observation of how corrupt the nation is, generally, but how quickly the nation has positioned itself to the point that it now thinks it can flaunt the most dangerous warning demonstrated time and again throughout history (let alone the Nazi’s extermination campaign) — you do not threaten or curse Israel. That is a pure death wish.
On a lighter note, when I saw the name Frank Viola, I had to do a double take (the only Frank Viola I know played for the Twins).
Speaking of Israel and death wish, add Hillary to the list – how she has the audacity to state that no administration has done more for Israel than Obama? Yes, Satan’s plants are on a spree. The voters get what they deserve.
Watch and pray.
A different Frank Viola just coauthored a book with Leonard Sweet called Jesus Manifesto.
I agree that Oprah is on the other team and might be considered a Christian by some but she really has made it quite clear that she is not a Christian. That is not true of the others on this list.
I guess you could put most left wing politicians that claim to be Christians on the list including Hillary.
“Anything that is contrary to what God said in His word is Satanic.”
I think this quote is the bottom line, period !!!
Don , it amazes me anyone can take Harold Camping seriously. Even worse than setting a date for the rapture is saying the world ends 5 months later. I am as much in need of the grace, mercy , and forgiveness of GOD as anyone ever has been so I try not to throw stones. However, it is amazing how many media comments I’ve heard about the May 21st rapture frenzy from people who refuse to take the time to see what does the Bible really say. The media has no clue.
As my friend Chuck Missler says , “don’t believe anything I tell you , find out what the Bible says” Always remember : Acts 17:11 BLESSINGS to ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!
Don , something I neglected to mention in my previous comment , there are some who are saying that Obama threw Israel under the bus. The scripture is very clear how GOD fells about Israel and HIS future plans for Israel. I think Obama threw Obama under the bus and JESUS is driving the bus.
the end of the world tommorro—No
but my husband and I have a bad insight or bad feeling about tommorro and we do not know why–but not the end
I will say this–if you have a clear mind and know about salvation through Jesus Christ who died on the cross at calvary for our sins—it would be a really good idea to ask Jesus Christ to grant you the free gift of salvation and to repent of your sins. If you are reading this and have not received the free gift of salvation than maybe today is your day to receive it.
Mr Fritts, as I see it, Obama has been throwing the U.S. Nation further under the bus since he’s been in office. I don’t blame all the ills in this country on Obama, but he seems to be in a hurry to finish us off.
Reading this post reminded me of a C H Spurgeon quote,
“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”
Sadly, most professing Christians today are unable to discern clear right and wrong let alone right and almost right. Why? Exactly as you have pointed out – biblical illiteracy. Deception always follows it. Without a working knowledge of Gods word, there is no possible way to distinquish right from wrong. One will become the antithesis of Eph 4:14.
Just reading down the list of so called leaders in the church at the end of this post illustrates the depth of the growing apostacy. The fact the so many in the church are watering them is staggering but not surprising considering the condition of the church. One only has to look at what these people walk towards or line themselves up with (ideologies or theology in clear violation of scripture) to see that they are, as you say, Satan’s plants.
A W Tozer had a quote that seems relevant, “It would be impossible to overemphasize the importance of sound doctrine in the life of a Christian. Right thinking about all spiritual matters is imperative if we would have right living. As men do not gather grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles, so sound character does not grow out of unsound teaching.”
There is a reason why Jesus and Paul kept mentioning over and over again to be careful not to be deceived. People’s apathy towards studying the Bible for themselves is a serious problem. However, the lack of quality expository teaching/preaching in most churches today is, in my opinion, a big part of the problem also. There are exceptions, but most of the sermons I hear lack serious substance and are quite boring. But I won’t get off point here and will save comment on that for the earlier post on boring church services.
First time posting. All your efforts in maintaining this site are appreciated. Thank you for your time investment.
Blessings.
David , no argument from me on Obama’s actions . My wife somtimes has to remind me that GOD is in control, not me. I have an aunt who hates ( I mean literally hates) Obama. I keep telling her that praying for Obama carries more weight with GOD than spewing hate. No way am I defending Obama , but scripture says pray for those in authority, JESUS said we should pray for our enemy and I consider Obama our mutual enemy. In Jude when the angel Michael instead of accusing Satan said ” THE LORD rebuke you” . Maybe GOD gave us Obama to wake us up , anyway Obama is eternally throwing himself under the bus. BLESSINGS to YOU David.
Thank You…and blessings to you also Mr. Fritts.
Don, SPOT ON! especially Camping.
Ken,
Great quote by Spurgeon. That’s the problem with Glenn Beck. The truly astute will not be deceived by something obviously false. They will be led down a parallel path by, the almost true, nevertheless to a quite different end. It ties back into Don’s point on Gingrich, and what American politics has become. No tangible difference between Dem and Repub.
Hi Ken C
Good hearing from you, it has been awhile. Glenn Beck is another good example of Satan’s plants to deceive Christian Americans as is George Romney. The first is a new age Mormon and the other is a Mormon Bishop. Both have a different Jesus and a different gospel of salvation than do true Christians.
Don,
Before this article, I had no idea about Gingrich. I did some research and you are correct, like usual.
“No tangible difference between Dem and Repub.”
I think Ken C. is correct about American Politics and everything else he said.
That, among other reasons, is why I love coming here, to learn truth that I wouldn’t learn in just about any other place.
David , your kindness is appreciated. Mr Fritts is much too formal. Don Koenig , can you please clarify your reference to Frank Viola ? Several years ago a Frank Viola had a program on a Los Angeles Christian radio station , he was the former baseball pitcher. From time to time I used to listen to Frank Viola and found him to be a refreshing voice for the faith.
Is this the Frank Viola to whom you are referring in your article ?
There is some difference between the two parties today because of the radical Left road the Democrats have been going down. There will be more difference if the Republicans get more Christian conservatives in office. But will that happen or is America already too far gone into statist Marxism? We will know for sure in less than 18 months.
Don
This is the Frank Viola, notice the Emergent like book titles. I do not follow baseball so you tell me.
http://www.ptmin.org/books
Don , I wiil attempt to research this. I think there are 2 different men here .
Don’t bother, I read the bio on the link above and it says nothing about baseball
Don , I owe you an apology on this. I confused Frank Viola with a different baseball pitcher. Frank Pastore was the one who had the radio program in Los Angeles. Sometimes I confuse myself.
Hi Don, I’ve been around, just haven’t been compelled by the spirit to say much. I agree with your assessment, there is SOME difference between the parties. My point was more intended for where we are going to end up because of them and their business of politics.
I think it was Carrol Quiggly (Bill Clinton’s mentor) that said something to the effect of, the end result of the progressive movement should be to blur the lines between Democrat and Republican so that every four years the people think that all they have to do is through the bums out, without ever effecting any real change.
I think the problem now is that the bums took over the “progression”. It’s now more like a gay pride parade.
I do not think the sane people that remain have the votes to actually bring about any meaningful change so I expect self destruction this decade. Let’s face it, there is birth to death brainwashing going on through now satanic media and edu-indoctrination systems and its been very effective. Not to mention that most of the salt has lost its savor.
When one of the ladies in a Bible study that I attend, arrived with her Bible that had a picture of Obama that covered the cover, I knew the brainwashing has been more effective than I ever imagined.
To Bob: you must confront this lady. You can’t let it stand implicitly. Sorry. It won’t be pleasant and you won’t succeed, but I think it must be done.
I didn’t post on the “church is boring” blog, but this kind of corruption (biblical ignorance) is certainly a key reason why I have, well, given up on churches.
I am so looking forward to the future city hovering in the sky.
Hi Craig: This is not a church sponsored Bible study. It is a “non-denominational” study/meeting at God’s Waiting Room (GWR) – over 55 complex – where I live.
I am already a “pain in the rear” as we are in the middle of Osteen country and I don’t endorse all the stuff that is mouthed. I attend to hopefully gain whatever little nuggets might accidentally fall.
Bob: Good to hear (about the “agitation”, that is), chuckle. You (we) are respected, if that counts for anything.
I think almost all of those that frequent this blog are swimming against the prevailing cultural current.
Now that 5/21 has passed, it will be interesting to see the excuses and fallout.
Ammi, do you or any others know the meaning of the Hebrew Word “Ba Shamayim.?
Bob
I think “Ba Shamayim” would be part of a phrase, as in “lo ba-shamayim hi” not in Heaven” or Avinu She-Ba-Shamayim “Our Father who is in Heaven” alone it just means “in the sky” or “in the heaven”
Don, I went back and looked at the video clip about The Raid on Entebbe where I saw the phrase. It was sung as the hostages were being flown home. Lo And Behold! The English appeared below it. “In The Heavens.”
I feel soooo dumb!
Welcome to the club. we have all been there.
The satanic media is now happy to report that a majority of Americans now support gay marriage. Yet another example of how effective the brainwashing is.
That was the result on Gallap Poll and I have no reason to doubt it. That should tells us why there is no hope to get a real Conservative in as President.
Unless Conservatives really get radical and change some brainwashed minds in America in the next 17 months. America as we have known her is toast.
I was at a local Republican rally night night. They were promoting 2 chr 7:14 which is not going to solve the problem because we are not His people like Israel, the nation is mostly Gentiles and they act like Nineveh and Sodom. Therefore, We need a Jonah to walk the land and the people in this nation are going to have to repent or we are toast and then it is not going to get pretty.
Yeah Don,
I agree, it’s really totally simple to save this nation in concept, all we need to do is repent in Jesus’ name…as a nation. If it were possible, I think the CA Bay Area would be a good place to start…but the probability of any kind of success there…is ???
David , Having lived in California from 1967 to 2008 when I retired, I can tell you it will take nothing less than an act of God to fix that mess. My wife was a teacher for the Los Angeles School District for 35 years , she can tell you some public school system stories that would shock you. Thankfully , she taught kindergarten. The Los Angeles High Schools are close to day care for gang bangers. Harold Camping has done enough damage to Christianity, hopefully he will now SHUT UP. He deceived a lot of people , but the deceived people have no one to blame but themselves. Amazing how many will just believe some relegious leader at face value and never open thier bible. Acts 17:11 says search the scriptures daily to see if it’s true.
To: Don Fritts,
I think you are right, it will be an act of God…but not necessarily to fix the evil, my guess is to judge us as a Nation and wake us up.
Unfortunately, most of humanity doesn’t respond well to reproof (especially us spoiled Americans), so then I’m sure we’ll hear, “what kind of God would do this ?”…when the judgments/reproofs do happen.
The Harold Camping, false prophet saga really saddens me, lives are ruined, atheists are having a field day over an idiot…it just seems like Jim Jones Koolaid all over again.
And no, Camping will not shut up…he’s scheduled to continue his radio show Monday.
Just when you think Harold Campimg would go find a hole to crawl in he now says Judgment Day is going to be Oct.21, 2011. According to Camping , May 21st was an invisible spititual judgment day by Christ. This is posted on the Fox News website. According to CNN ( take anything CNN or Fox reports with caution and discernment) , CNN says Camping has said it is not necessary to be a Christian to go to Heaven , you just have to believe the right things.
Talk about doctrines of demons , stay tunned , film at eleven. BLESSINGS to ALL!!!!!!!!!!
Talking about ignorance and watering Satan’s plants…
Does anyone have any opinions on Bill Clinton’s collaboration with Tony Blair on their ‘Face To Faith” (one world religion) endeavor ?
David, it seems we can start to connect the dots. Blair has converted to Catholicism, I believe Colson’s wife is RC and Colson is very open to “co-operation with the RC church, Warren and Colson are best buddies, and Rick Joyner is a member of the Knights of Malta (which is headed by the Pope)
There are lots of ties…many not so obvious.
However, I don’t see a connection to the Bilderberg Group surfacing, yet.
Bob From Texas,
Yep, it seems to be that religion is a big joke…just choose your flavor.
I guess if Jesus Christ is not the flavor someone wants, well then, they can just choose another or make up their own.
Seems to me from the Bible that this has been going on since near the beginning of time. Ashtoreth, Ba-al, Mammon, etc seem to be alive and well today…only thing is, the True and Living God frowns upon this apostasy.
Don. Quick question. Are all Israelites Jews, or just those from the tribe of Juda. You have Benjaminites, Yahudim (Jews), etc. Yahudim from the tribe of Juda (Yahudah). Maybe I’m mistaken.
I believe it is now correct to call all Israelites “Jews” even though not all came from the tribe of Judah.
I think this link will help explain why that is for those thinking otherwise.
http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p900703.htm
Don, are you quite sure about that?
Good article. Do you know if the “lost tribes” populating Britain/Europe is part of Oneness Pentecostal theology? I have a UPC friend that insists Gog in Ezekiel 38 is Germany, not Russia.
Bob,
I never heard of “lost tribes” as being part of Oneness Pentecostal doctrine of course there are people within Oneness that have their own views that are apart from what they get taught from the UPC.
This may have been a personal viewpoint. That was a great link and very helpful.
Thanks for the link Don. Maybe I’m biased, but the article was fine until the quran was quoted, as if its an inspired book. I see why calling yourself a YAHUdim, when your actually part of the synagog of satan could be blasphemous. According to Ex. 20:7
Ric,
The reason I quoted this article for you was not because I agree with his eschatology it was to answer your question from a professor that studied the history why all of Israel can now be called Jews.
I do not at all agree with his eschatological views, he seems to have a allegorical idealist and amillennial or post millennial position like most in Christendom today.
It seems to me that he was just quoting what the Quran says, he was not saying it was an inspired book. What he was saying was that he though the Jews and Muslims will turn to Jesus in the end and the Quran reference he used was used as why he thought Muslims would come to accept Jesus. But his conjecture about that have nothing to do with what you asked me anyway.
In the correct premillennial position the Jewish conversion to Jesus is not going to be something they gradually come to except like he thinks. The Jews will accept Jesus only after a great tribulation for Israel. I think Islam will be defeated before Israel accepts their Messiah.
Ken C,
That is my position and the position of most scholars in Christianity. If I actually learn something different that holds water I will certainly let you know. Even so, what people call Jews is not exactly my top priority right now 😎
Don, I’m a little surprised. Being able to correctly distinguish between Israel and Judah (Jews), affects everything that the scripture teaches, past, present and future.
Nevertheless, this is not something I desire to argue here. Only to say this, the article you linked to was from someone who, though he would come to denounce the teaching (quite rightly in my opinion, for Herbert W Armstrong was a heretic and the WWCG teaching was heretical), he nevertheless garnered much of his understanding of the subject matter from it. And I believe, in his zeal to denounce it, overlooked much of what scripture has said concerning this matter.
As I’ve said, I have no desire to take YOUR blog down a road that really has no bearing on our salvation through our faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. That notwithstanding however, I believe that it is a significant Biblical subject that deserves honest open debate.
Ken C,
I disagree with the premiss that you made that “correctly distinguishing between Israel and Judah, affects everything that the scripture teaches, past, present and future”. That statement is absurd without revising all Christian theology and we certainly are not going to do that here.
When I look into your claims about the differences between the House of Israel and the Jews I will discuss it with you, but it won’t be here.
Don, I totally understand you on this one. PS, there are many Jews that now believe that the 7 feasts points to the Christ as we know him. Your still right that many more should come Christ.
Agreed. It would seem that I am guilty of employing hyperbole there. 😳
It is certainly NOT my intention to revise all Christian theology.
Just when we thought the Chrislam mania apostates couldn’t go any lower, we now have this…
http://www.wnd.com/2012/01/new-bible-yanks-father-jesus-as-son-of-god/
That’s right: Muslim-friendly Bibles.
Included in the controversial development is the removal of any references to God as “Father,” to Jesus as the “Son” or “the Son of God.” One example of such a change can be seen in an Arabic version of the Gospel of Matthew produced and promoted by Frontiers and SIL. It changes Matthew 28:19 from this:
“baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”
to this:
“cleanse them by water in the name of Allah, his Messiah and his Holy Spirit.”
Have you debated your point about Frank Viola with Frank himself? I understand that he is very open to debate, and usually publishes those debates. I ask this because unless I’ve missed something, You did not substantiate your accusation about Frank Viola being a satanic plant with actual facts.
Matt,
Why should I debate any heretic about the heretical theology they placed in the public arena to mislead gullible and ungrounded people away from Biblical doctrine? I am warning Christians not to follow such teachers. I have no intention of giving Viola or others like him another platform to present their extra-biblical heretical views to the gullible. As we all know snakes can sound very convincing for those wanting to hear the message of snakes.
There is nothing to debate, you either believe the Bible is the only infallible word of God given, or you think you can find new revelation through some esoteric techniques or questionable sources. Thus making man’s mystically obtained and unreliable concepts about God, equal to or superseding God’s sovereign unchangeable revelation to man.
If you would have read the comments, you would have found a link to the Viola books. The writes ups and coauthors say it all.
http://frankviola.org/books/
http://apprising.org/2010/06/01/leonard-sweet-frank-viola-and-mystic-meister-eckhart/
http://apprising.org/2010/06/07/frank-viola-and-corrupt-contemplative-spiritualitymysticism/
Those heretics who dare to impose their thoughts on the Bible do so because of delusional feelings of superiority in understanding – both in life and righteousness.
Such people don’t think, for thinking necessitates objective appraisal both of life and righteousness and such honest appraisal will inevitably reveal shortcomings in one’s righteousness – and therefore in one’s life.
It is this lack of objectivity in facing the reality of unrighteousness, sin, and evil in their lives that causes people to be subjective and so use their emotions as the basis for their ‘alternative reality’.
Even a casual reading of the Bible soon reveals an objectivity re the sins of mankind, therefore people who are ignorant of God’s Word, and rely on what they ‘feel’, are without comprehension of their total enslavement to sin and their emotions, and thereby to the god of this world.
These heretics are the tares which Jesus allowed a place in Christendom, and which will be collected for burning at the end of the age. It is our duty to clarify the issues of the gospel but we will not uproot them.
Don you don’t need any man’s encouragement to clarify things, but there are many of us who offer it nevertheless.
I’ve never called myself a “mystic.” I only recall using the term “contemplative prayer” once or twice in my life. And at the time, I had no idea that some Christians were using it in ways I don’t agree with at all. I was using it in the way that John Piper used it in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTbX_88vJyY
I don’t subscribe to the kind of contemplative prayer that Jessie Penn Lewis warned about in “War on the Saints” … which involves a passive mind. Nor do I hold to chants which are parcel to Eastern mysticism. I never have.
I’ve not read enough of Meister Eckhart to know his theology, but as I’ve done with many other writers (including atheists, agnostics, etc.), I found one quote by him to be interesting. But that’s not an endorsement on his work and I’ve never held him up to be model for anything. Tozer and Sparks are models for me in the area of prayer.
So the simple answer to your question is: I’ve always believed what I’ve written in this post. Peter Toon, a respected evangelical, wrote about Christian meditation from the Reformers’ writings in some of his books on Christian meditation. I see those practices as going deeper than traditional prayer (asking God for things) and traditional Bible study (studying for knowledge) … that’s what I meant by those terms. Lectio Divina, the way some of the Reformers practiced it, is simply reading the Bible and talking to God about what one reads. I don’t think anything is wrong with that, though some teachers of the past who taught it held to theologies I don’t agree with and added elements to it that I am not comfortable with. Namely Catholicism, etc.
Any practice that takes a believer away from the Scriptures and from the testimony of the church (in the creeds, etc.) is something I don’t hold to and never have. Frank Viola.
Don, I respect the fact that you believe what you say, and that others share your beliefs, and opinions. Personally I do not. I am aware of both the critics and supporters of Viola, and I like the fact that Frank does not run away from his critics and answers their questions succinctly. I suspect I know what your response is going to be, so thank you for allowing me to comment.
Matt,
This post is not about you so I really do not know why you’re defending yourself as if it is. I looked for another comment by you on this thread but see nothing, so I really do not know what you are talking about. What question by me to you?
It is rather difficult to tell who is talking in your comment if there are no quotes. People can say they do not believe in any practice that takes a believer away from the Scriptures but if they add the practice of mystical contemplative prayer defined by the Emergent Church Movement leaders or the presumptions claims of direct revelation and apostolic powers from the New Apostolic Reformation heretics (half of those on the post list) they have in effect done that.
Was there something in the links that I gave you on my last comment that you did not understand? I think Appraising Ministries has it correct. And if you want to know about the teachings of Leonard Sweet there are also articles there that will inform you about his heretical teachings. I only mention that because Frank Viola published at least one joint book with Leonard Sweet.
Matt mentioned “traditional prayer [asking God for things].” I’m taking it out of context but it kind of bothered me because there is so much more to prayer than just asking God to meet our needs. There’s praising Him for who He is, thanking Him for His daily care, and pleading for others. Prayer is also just letting it all out the way David prayed in Psalms.
Don,
I have looked around here but have not been able to discern if you are Pauline in doctrine. Are you? By that I mean do you believe Christ gave Paul a unique gospel to preach to the Gentiles and the Jews (except those Jews of the Circumcision whom were under Peter’s leadership.)
Gerald,
As the Apostle John said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Paul was given this gospel by divine Revelation according to the scriptures and Peter said that Paul’s letters were scripture. Paul preached first to Jews but after most of the leadership rejected his message he mainly preached to the Gentiles. And thus Paul become known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Having said that, there is only one Gospel message to all. That is, Salvation comes by God’s grace through faith in the Messiah that God sent. For those before the cross salvation comes through faith in God’s righteousness to save those that put their trust in Him. That salvation has now been fulfilled in the Messiah that God sent.
I phrased my question poorly and left out important detail. I will ask it
differently: Do you admit that When- as you wrote: “most of the leadership” of Israel rejected Christ, God ended offering the kingdom to Israel and raised up Paul to preach the cross to Jew and Gentile alike, with no difference between them; and for inclusion in the Body of Christ separate from Israel? And that Israel will only be saved after the BOC is raptured and after the future tribulation?
Gerald,
The answer is yes, but I would not limit the work of the Holy Spirit to the ministry of Paul.
There can be no Jewish Kingdom on earth until the Jewish survivors acknowledge their transgression and accept their Messiah saying “Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord” Mt 23:39.
I believe there is only one way into the Body of Christ for both Jew and Gentile and that is through Jesus Christ. I also believe that after the Bride is complete that God will again deal with Israel and a remnant will be saved to populate the Millennial Kingdom on earth but they will first say those words.
Thanks. I intend to take time to look over your site some more. 🙂