Two Charismatic leaders question there own discernment and actions in regard to Todd Bentley. That is a good first step but it seems the initial corrections only comes from Christians outside their movement. Only after the circus act is exposed by secular reporters or the leaders fall from their own immoral lifestyles do the Word-Faith leaders claim to see the errors of their ways. These circus acts have been going on for over thirty years in the Charismatic Word-Faith arenas. I have witnessed one after another.

So don’t you Word-Faith Charismatics think it is about time to fix the problem by returning to knowledge of scriptures rather than relying on your tingly feelings and the words from your self appointed anointed? Remove the hucksters and profiteers from among you, and admit that the leaders that you have been putting on pedestals are just fallible people who should always be checked out against God’s Word. They are not a new wave of prophets, healers and apostles bringing new revelations signs and wonders. Until you face up to that fact, the three ring circus will just get a new ringmaster and move somewhere else. Just like it has for decades.

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - The Needed Closure on Todd Bentley

I dodged the questions about the revival in recent radio interviews I did in other parts of the United States. Finally, I refused to answer the hundreds of e-mails I got about the “revival” from other folks all over the world. In essence, I protected my flock from the three-ring circus and hoopla but did nothing to protect the Body of Christ as a whole.

Hindsight they say is 20/20. It now turns out that all of the rumors were true. It now turns out that the scriptural discernment was correct. It now turns out that this was the same craziness without accountability that the leadership of the sponsoring church is known for. The three-ring circus has been packed up, the tents have been taken down, and the moral failure has been announced. Everyone involved is pushing back, and thousands of hurting people are left questioning God and their salvation.

The question that I now have to ask myself and the question that will haunt me for quite a while is this. Did I sit on the sidelines while the playing field burned? Should have I blogged about it and spoken out about it publicly — done more to get the word out to the rest of the world that this whole thing was about Todd and not God? I took care of my own house — but should I have done more to take care of the entire neighborhood?

Charismatic leader Dutch Sheets also humbled himself stating, “My assignment from the Lord is to repent on behalf of the leadership of the Charismatic Body of Christ. We have failed the Lord and His people in many ways. We must repent if we are to be trusted in the future. We, the leaders of the Charismatic community, have operated in an extremely low level of discernment. Frankly, we often don’t even try to discern. We assume a person’s credibility based on gifts, charisma, whether they can prophesy, or work a miracle.”

Full article

I always said wait until the counterculture hippies grew up and they got into positions of power. Well that day has arrived and they have taken control of the education system, political system, national media, and the religious systems of America. They also produced postmodern brainwashed children who now believe themselves to be the norm. So unless real Christians and real conservatives win this cultural war it is the end of this nation. When the far left hippies and their offspring gain total control they will embrace a totally pagan fascist world system. Woe to any who oppose them.

Had anyone said that America would decline this rapidly fifty years ago people would have thought you were smoking dope. Now half of our society is smoking dope or worse and they all think that they are perfectly sane. The Democrat running for President even claimed to be a crack user himself but does anyone care? The Democrat running for President never distinguished himself in any position he ever held but does anyone care? The hippies and their offspring just want change toward a secular idealism that is not possible with man’s evil nature. They like murder of the unborn being their own choice, so they all hail the Obamanation. They like it that homosexuality is destroying morality in America so they will have no moral restraints, so they all hail the Obamanation. They think Christianity is creating a world utopia on earth for people to continue in their abominations, so they all hail the Obamanation. All the idol worshipers now worship the Obamanation because he has the same demented values of the old hippies and their young offspring.

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - Jezebel and the Cultural Creatives

The Emergent Village and “progressive” Christian liberalism are but a drop in the progressive bucket. To their left, “cultural creatives” or “new progressives” are brimming over with an optimistic vision for taking political power.

Who are the “cultural creatives”? They define themselves as the “organic food-buying, national-health-care-supporting, yoga-practicing, misunderstood counter-culturalists.” According to the high-end spirituality magazine, What Is Enlightenment? (August/October, 2008), their ranks continue to swell, thanks to Al Gore’s movie, Barack Obama’s “change”, and Eckhardt Tolle and Oprah Winfrey’s “New Earth” webinar (see NC #47). This movement favors “ecological sustainability (read: green collectivism), non-traditional spirituality (neo-pagan religion), civil rights (rights for all sexual expressions) and grassroots politics (non-democratic, non-governmental organizations working under the geo-political umbrella of the United Nations). They also distinguish themselves from “modernism” (secular humanism) and “traditionalism” (Christianity).

Their appearance is of immense historical and religious significance. They explicitly identify themselves as inheritors of the “values revolution [of] the Sixties [that] is still developing and maturing.”

They are the maturing fruit of a development that no one expected. We all thought the Sixties was an ephemeral social event driven by marginal drop-out hippies. Whoops, they dropped back in! In the Left Coast New Age spirituality we witnessed the first signs of a major religious and social revolution. Its conquering march through the institutions has established as normative a worldview of drug-aided mystical, neo-pagan spirituality, radical egalitarianism and total sexual license. The marginal cult has now morphed into a master plan, a full-blown all-inclusive spiritual worldview to transform every aspect of life on the planet. The bizarre views of the Sixties counter-culturalists, though few knew it, signaled the disturbing germination, in “Christian” America, of the age-old alternative to biblical theism, namely spiritual paganism.

Full article

“The Shack”, by William P. Young is still a hugely popular and very deceptive book that is likely to become a movie. Those that believe there is a Christian message or theme in this book are totally deceived and must not believe biblical doctrine themselves at all. The book presents another God, another Christ, and another path to salvation. “The Shack” really promotes “New Age” all paths Universalism much like A.A. which itself was founded by a man who got messages from the occult. The book is blasphemous toward God presuming to speak for God while actually promoting a “Queen of Heaven” type God that does not exist.

This pluralistic theme where many paths lead to the same God is now being promoted everywhere thanks to A.A., other 12 step programs, and the postmodern redefining of Christianity by high profile religious and secular media figures. Nevertheless, no true Christian should be sucked into such an unbiblical “New Age” postmodern concept. There is only one way to the Father (not the mother) according to the teaching of the only God/Man that ever walked the earth. That way is only through Jesus Christ as He is defined in the Bible and not as Jesus is redefined in the light of “New Age” demonic darkness.

Any Christian leader promoting “The Shack” should be immediately removed from their position because they are promoting doctrines of demons and the lie of the adversary that leads people to Hell.

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - The Shack is A.A.’s higher power.

According to the author, the god of The Shack dwells in everybody, and apparently does not condemn any to eternal punishment—or, as The Shack would address this, “She does not punish anyone.” The novel’s “christ” is the “best way” to salvation, but apparently not the only way.

What about Alcoholics Anonymous? The A.A. Big Book states, “We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men. When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God.”[19] According to the A.A. Big Book, God is “deep down within us.”

Thus are the seeds of the New Age planted in the soil of both The Shack and Alcoholics Anonymous. The tentacles of various heresies are reaching out and linking. The false “christ” of The Shack seems poised to be welcomed into, or serve as a catalyst for, emergent/contemplative/12 Step Spirituality.

Many Christians have superimposed their beliefs upon The Shack, supposing it a novel written by a Biblical Christian. As James De Young and others have pointed out, this is not necessarily the case. Over the decades, many Christians have also jackhammered their God into AA’s anti-Biblical system

Full article

The article I link to in this post says a lot and not just about contemplative prayer. It explains the demonic deceptions that are going on in many churches today in the name of being relevant to our postmodern society. I doubt that there are many large evangelical churches that are not to some extent being negatively influenced by this by either the pastor, some assistant pastor or one or more lay leaders. Certain influential national leaders are mixing various amounts of poison wrapped in Christian speak and Christian sounding programs and many are buying into their deadly deceptions because they never hear any biblical counter argument.

Someone needs to form an expense paid national conference for top pastors and evangelical leaders where they would hear the arguments of authors like John MacArthur, Roger Oakland, Dave Hunt, Bob DeWaay etc. to educate the church leadership on the doctrines of demons now being introduced in most large churches. Then the conference should be put on a internet site and on DVD and a copy should be given to all lay leaders in the church. We need some some Christian foundation or a group of discerning churches to fund this. If certain churches can put together postmodern rethinking and shifting conferences you would think that someone could also put together a biblical thinking conference to counter them.

Beware of This Doctrine of Demons

It’s called “contemplative” or “centering” prayer and if you haven’t heard about it yet, chances are unfortunately good that you will soon. It’s invading churches like a virus in which submicroscopic pathogens contaminate the body many hours or days before the victim is aware of its presence.
Contemplative prayer is one of a number of ancient mystical practices or spiritual disciplines, as their proponents refer to them, which are being encouraged at an alarming rate by evangelical churches. It is all part of something called Spiritual Formation and the Emergent Church, a movement that as John MacArthur states in his book, The Truth war, is subtly changing the beliefs and doctrines of the evangelical church as we know it.

In its pure form, contemplative prayer is practiced by sitting still, quieting, and concentrating on your breathing and repeating a word of choice (maybe the name Jesus, for instance) over and over again. You’re to concentrate on that word and your breathing, and work to eliminate all thoughts from your mind. Over a period of maybe 20 minutes — and with practice — you can enter into “the silence.” Your mind is blank. You have, in fact, hypnotized yourself. And it is in “the silence” where “God” allegedly speaks to you.

According to the testimony of one former, now-redeemed New Ager I recently read this is the exact method used by New Agers and Eastern mystics to enter an altered state of consciousness that opens a person up to demonic influence. Ray Yungen, author of the book, A Time of Departing, confirms this and says, “Unknown to most people, a blank mind in a meditative state is all that is necessary for contact with a spirit guide.” He also points out, “Those who lack discernment are at great risk.”

Read full article

Marsha West put an article together on some on the latest Word-Faith cons from the same old con artists fleecing the same gullible people who never learn. A few samples of what they are doing are below but read the article. I wish Marsha would quit calling these people brothers though. If John Avanzini, Benny Hinn, and Kenneth Copeland and the rest of these predators are my brothers. I serve notice that I do not want to be where these despicable people are going.

One other thing, God is not going to take away your debt when you put yourself in debt and you put yourself in further debt by giving your money to hucksters like John Avanzini and the people who bring him to their venues to help rob you.

You people had better wise up or the only blessing your going to get is when your creditors come and take away everything you own and close your credit card accounts. You take money you do not have and cannot pay back (and thus rob) to support this white trash that is speaking blasphemy and robbing people and then you expect God to bless you?

Do you realized that if you did not support these con artist hucksters they would not exist and they would not now be robbing thousands of other poor Christian people. You therefore who fund them are in league with them and you enable them to keep their flam-flam-man show on the road and to rob other gullible sheeple. Do you really think God is going to bless you for this? Maybe its time for a spiritual reality check.

It does not take faith to give what you do not possess. It only takes a fool living in some presumption that God has to obey man’s commands.

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - Televangelists Snicker All The Way To the Bank

What I’m about to reveal illustrates the great lengths two false prophets have gone to to add to their own personal wealth.

In a recent article “God Bless Your Credit Card” [1] Rapport news describes what occurred in Johannesburg during televangelist Benny Hinn’s Miracle Crusade. Around 18,000 people went to the Coca-Cola Dome in Randburg to hear Hinn’s message of healing and miracles. What they heard was that God wants to make people rich. Pastor Todd Koontz, who accompanied Hinn, spoke about financial burdens. He told the receptive crowd that 500 audience members would receive “an exceptional blessing.” He said the service would “yield millionaires and billionaires within 24 hours.” The “exceptional blessing” rested on everyone donating up to $1,000. Here’s the catch. To motivate people to part with their money the blessing would be poured out for only two minutes. That’s right. Folks had only two minutes to receive God’s “exceptional blessing.” Credit-card machines were at the ready to accommodate those who were convinced that the “anointing” was flowing through to them.

Avanzini had a whole new doctrinal revelation to tell us about: the doctrine of reverse entrapment. If you’ve never heard of that before, that’s because God just showed it to him right there. Reverse entrapment is when you put a gift to Avanzoni [sic] on a credit card and outsmart the lenders who are trying to get rich off your debt. When you put a gift on a credit card, I quote, ‘something happens in the spirit world.’ Here he tells everyone how to have a credit card breakthrough. Turns out Avanzini has a way for you to get rid of your mortgage debt. All you have to do is to give him a gift the size of your house payment and God will see that your mortgage gets paid off right away. If you don’t have a house, $500 will do nicely for future debt. Avanzini assured us that it worked for him.

“Perhaps the man sensed a few hostile vibes from the audience (from our row in particular) because he warned us not to let the devil keep us back from getting free from debt by putting a gift for his ministry on our credit card. The credit card ‘invitation’ began as the keyboardist began to noodle around with some mood music. Then Avanzini warned everyone again not to let the devil keep us away. The people streamed down to the stage area and wrote out their credit card numbers and house payment gifts and left them at the expensively shod feet of the speaker. While the people came down to the front to divest themselves of their money, Avanzini appropriately chose to tell an Al Capone joke. I doubt if one other person in the house recognized the irony.

“Avanzini then prayed an igniting prayer over the stones everyone was clutching. Presumably, we still have to ignite our own with a credit card gift, but maybe his igniting prayer was considered the first step. The entire thing was an unspeakable tragedy. These men target the poor in particular because they are the ones desperate enough to need a ‘breakthrough.’ That is the evil in all of this. The rich aren’t stupid enough to give away their cash to the likes of Avanzini. It’s the poor and the needy, the hurting and the ill who desperately need help who are vulnerable to these sharks.”

Please join me in “believing” that false prophets like Benny Hinn, John Avanzini, Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland will be exposed as frauds and go flat broke.

The National Association of Evangelicals and the World Evangelical Alliance don’t speak for me or any church that I will attend. I don’t know why we Bible believers need anyone to represent us anyway they always get off track sooner or later. If any Pastor starts preaching the good points of Islam from the pulpit or tells me that Muslims worship the same God. I will walk out of that church and never return. Islam teaches that Allah has no son and their Jesus did not died on a cross at all and did not die for the sins of mankind. They claim to have the latest revelation from God through his prophet Muhammad. Islam is a replacement theology for Judaism and Christianity and it is a salvation by works theology. There can be no agreement between the Sons of God and the sons of darkness. Jesus claimed that no one comes to the Father except through Him and the Bible claims that anyone who denies the Son denies the Father who sent Him. Any so called leader that cannot grasp those facts should not be leading any association or alliance that claims to speak for Evangelical Christians. Why are these people still in leadership?

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - ARE EVANGELICAL PULPITS ABOUT TO PRAISE ISLAM?

Over 140 conference participants unanimously approved a cooperative statement that signaled a “new beginning of collaboration between Christians and Muslims” where stronger assertions of faith would be required. So the statement began by affirming the “unity and absoluteness of God” and God’s merciful love as central to both religions.

Wait a minute! Allah has merciful love? And Allah is central to both Christianity and Islam?

In attendance and in agreement, sadly, were both the head of the National Association of Evangelicals and the World Evangelical Alliance. Those two organizations represent most evangelicals in America. But both faiths pledged to spend one week a year sharing the good aspects about the other’s faith. Our pulpits are already lacking in sound gospel preaching! Now we must take one week each year to learn that Islam might really be “a religion of peace?” And that Christians and Muslims worship the same God?

Brian McLaren is just another sign that we are in the end times. All he cares about it getting everyone to sing “We are the people, we are the world” together and establishing his postmodern religious kingdom of everyone gets along pluralism.

He obviously could care less about the salvation of peoples souls or he would teach them the gospel (if he even even knew it). I do not know why he is still regarded as a “Christian” by Christians when he clearly denies the faith.

He claims he knows what matters to the heart of God but he does not have any clue about what matters to the heart of God. What matters to the heart of God are those that find Christ. The heart of God does not want those who love their made up religions to remain deceived but Brian McLaren encourages this.

McLaren says the future of Christianity will require Christians to join with unbelievers. No it will not. It will require an apostate harlot religion called “Christianity” to join with other religions.

People of a feather flock together, so it is not surprising that McLaren would promote the postmodern Obama who also redefines Christianity to be secular humanism and universalism.

Emerging Church leader promotes lifestyle rather than faith (OneNewsNow.com)

A Christian broadcaster claims that Emerging Church leader Brian McLaren is fulfilling the biblical prophecy that in the latter days men will not put up with sound doctrine – according to II Timothy 4:3.

McLaren also tells ChristianityToday.com the future of Christianity will also require Christians to “join humbly and charitably with people of other faiths — Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, secularists and others — in pursuit of peace, environmental stewardship,” and other things that quote “matter greatly to the heart of God.” But McMahon argues that what matters most to the heart of God is that individuals receive salvation on “his terms…through his gospel.”

McLaren has joined the Matthew 25 Network, a liberal political action group of Catholics, Protestants, Pentecostals and Evangelicals seeking to get Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) elected president.

Every hear of Joel’s Army? This article will tell you all about what is coming from the “New Wave” or “Third Wave” act that is sweeping the Charismatic crowd looking for titillating manisfestations of God through demonic people. You know, the stuff coming from the Todd Bentley’s, the Rick Joiner’s and all the manifest sons of deception crowd. Notice that Joel’s army physically attacks the church in order to purify it. I guess they want us to believe that a demonically inspired group of men is going to purify the church and take the world for Christ. Sure! And the Easter Bunny is the risen Christ.

If you believe the Bible teaches any of this stuff that these people are saying you really need to read through your Bible for the first time in your life.

Joseph Chambers

Dominion Theology and Joel’s Army

Religious deception is always the most subtle and dangerous kind. When the church forsakes the old paths of righteousness and consecration, the next step is haughtiness and doctrinal confusion. It is impossible to rightly interpret Scripture; to rightly divide the great truths of the “meat of the Word” unless humility and a contrite spirit controls our life. There are no haughty and arrogant prophets in the kingdom of God. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17).

The entire Evangelical church world is being assaulted with the Kingdom Dominion Theology. It is like mortal combat between those who defend the Biblical doctrines of the End Times (The Rapture of Christ’s Bride, the Tribulation followed by the Millennium) and the “New Wave Theology.” A book entitled Joel’s Army describes this “New Wave Theology” as promoted by one New Wave organization. The author stated that this ministry was “holding conferences overseas and throughout the U.S.A. Churches and denominations are being proselytized and preyed on with a ‘gospel’ they claim is ordained to bring forth:

1. the greatest revival the Church has ever known;
2. the greatest baptism of the Spirit the Church has ever experienced;
3. the greatest Army (Joel’s Army) distinguished by invincibility, immortality and divinity;
4. the greatest purging (inquisition) in the history of the Church;
5. the greatest ministry - the Prize of all Ages; and
6. the greatest miracles, supernatural signs and wonders far exceeding that of the Apostles and Prophets of old.” (JOEL’S ARMY, pages 1&2).

Since Joel’s Army is supposed to be men and women taking possession of this earth for their King, a second class of warriors becomes necessary. These they call the “Phineas Priesthood.” Rick Joyner made mention of those with the “spirit of Phineas” in his book, The Harvest.

“The dismantling of organizations and disbanding of some works will be a positive and exhilarating experience for the Lord’s faithful servants…..a great company of prophets, teachers, pastors and apostles will be raised up with the spirit of Phineas…” (THE HARVEST, Rick Joyner).

A book written by Richard Kelly Hoskins entitled, “Vigilantes Of Christendom,” describes these warriors. He says of them, “As the Kamikaze is to the Japanese, As the Shiite is to Islam, As the Zionist is to the Jew, So the Phineas priest is to Christendom.” It is very clear that they are preparing to slaughter those who resist their authority. Jesus warned that, “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” (St. John 16:2). That sounds exactly like the great inquisitors of the dark ages.

“The DAY OF THE LORD as seen through the eyes of the NEW WAVE ‘prophets’ will be a time when JOEL’S ARMY led by the ‘prophets’ will pour out God’s wrath on the church. Then for the first time in two thousand years the ‘pure church’ will come forth. In other words, the ‘blood of Christ’ did not avail, nor will it in the LAST DAYS because JOEL’S ARMY and the ‘prophets’ will do what the blood could not, i.e., cleanse the Church. If indeed it takes JOEL’S ARMY to purify the church, then all the preaching of the Cross from the early Church to the present was in vain. And rather than the ‘cross’ being God’s final answer to ‘walking in newness of life’ . . ., we do well to look for another. The JOEL’S ARMY doctrine as it applies to the Church and world is not only in total conflict with the ‘Gospel of Christ’, but is a radical new rendition of the doctrine of redemption and purification. By all analysis, it is ‘another gospel’ and poses a real threat to unstable churches in that it is yet another great deception beguiling the Church.” (JOEL’S ARMY, page 9.)

Warning
Every theological direction these religionists are taking is rooted in esoteric revelations rather than the “tried and true” doctrines of the Bible. They are quick to say that this is a day of new revelations. The New Agers call it a “paradigm shift.” Tommy Reid, a noted New Wave leader, calls it “a new world view.” The Bible calls it “apostasy.”

A sovereign move of God’s Holy Spirit is the only answer to these wild speculations. There are a multitude of “angels of light” sent by Satan to deceive. If you are looking for something titilating, you will probably find the same. If you are looking for “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” He lives in the Holy Scripture and is waiting for you to open the door. He reveals Himself in your will and heart (spirit), not your emotions.

I think it high time Christians realize that heads of Christian institutions do not speak for Christianity especially in these last days of moral and spiritual relativism. They speak for some people in their various denominations, organizations and movements which is quite different than speaking for the Body of Christ. Most of their members and followers never became part of that Body of Christ or they would not be appointing apostate people into leadership. Most of the statements we hear from some of these postmodern leaders are simply anti Christ.

Ninety percent of the who’s who’s list of Christianity do not speak for me on biblical issues either. No more than the religious leaders of ancient Israel that Jesus condemned spoke for the true Jews who found Jesus to be the Messiah. The leaders led the cry to crucify Him.

There is a great move toward religious pluralism today where all in the world worship the same God without ever coming through Jesus Christ God’s Son. It cannot be done. If that offends Muslims or anyone else tough; it is the absolute truth. That is the foundation of the Christian belief it cannot be compromised. We know that their is no salvation outside of Jesus because Jesus was the Creator. Only through Jesus Christ can anyone ever have a family relationship with God. That is why God came to earth, so that those who would recognize Him and accept Him as their Savior for their sins would be saved into His new creation.

Those that join in this ongoing religious harlotry will only bring in the Antichrist, a counterfeit god. They want religion to unite mankind on pluralism because they never understood or accepted that man is evil and has to become a new spiritual creature through being born of the Spirit by God’s Son. Instead, they think if we all water down our religious beliefs that it will promote world peace and brotherhood. Truth cannot be watered down or it becomes a lie.

They have no clue that out of a evil heart of unregenerate man hate, strife, and wars happen and that hearts cannot change without being born into the Body of Christ. They do not understand that those who reject Jesus Christ are not our brothers, they are the enemies of the cross. They have a different family and a different father.

Someone ought to tell the Muslims that people like the Archbishop are just talking out of their hind end. They do not speak for true Christians at all, although they may speak for phony Christians. Don’t confuse the two.

Archbishop of apostasy -Hal Lindsey

No doubt I was not the only one left with his mouth gaping open when I read that the archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the worldwide Anglican Church, proclaimed, “Christian doctrine is offense to Muslims.”

The archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual head of one of the oldest mainstream Christian denominations of the Reformation and as such, a defender of the faith.

Except, evidently, where it offends Muslims.

Not only did the archbishop apologize to Islam for Christianity, he turned history on its head in the same document, accusing Christianity of “being promoted at the point of a sword.”

I found this to be the most profoundly disturbing comment of all. Surely, the archbishop of Canterbury, of all people, knows that is impossible.

Christianity is not a political system. It isn’t a church denomination. Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, independent of any church membership.

One cannot be forced at the point of a sword to enter into a relationship of faith. To argue that it is not only possible, but part of the heritage of the Church of Jesus Christ reveals a stunning lack of understanding of what Christianity is.

You cannot make someone believe – either at the point of a sword or in exchange for a kingdom.

The Apostle Paul predicted that, just before the time of the end, a great apostasy would come upon Christendom. “But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2 ASV).

When someone can rise to the post as head of one of the largest denominations in Christianity without understanding the most basic elements of salvation, one can truly say that the apostasia has arrived.

This is Marsha West’s follow-up on “Bam! Bam! bam! said the the false prophet” article. I posted it on this blog not too long ago and there is a also a link to it at the end of this article. This article gives quite a bit of additional information to her above article and she also writes about a first hand account of someone who actually went to Lakeland for healing. I have already told my readers what I think of the Todd Bentley freak show so I will not repeat it all here. If you have not read what I wrote. Go to “home” on this Blog and type in the name “Todd Bentley” in the search box and the articles should come up.

By the way, there is nothing new about people like Todd Bentley. I have already seen this act first hand thirty years ago by those who started this Word-Faith movement spin off. They used to make the Charismatic mega church circuits in Phoenix when I was living there. One guy I am thinking of also saw angels and later he saw jail (for embezzlement or fraud I believe). Let me assure you that the claimed healings are all nonsense. I personally knew people who claimed healing they obviously never had.

The crowd is put into an auto suggestive state and the rest is much like a stage hypnotist act. They have no problem making people look like fools and I think that is some of their intent. They are actually mocking these gullible people and Christianity. The same gullible people followed these clowns around from venue to venue in the Phoenix area when I was there hoping that this would be the day they would get their healing. It would be laughable if it was not so tragic to the sick and dying and deadly to the true gospel. Now they tie money to the amount of healing you will get which is a refinement of what they used to do. They used to just keep passing the basket until they got what they wanted. Three collections was quite common.

Don’t be a sucker, learn to discern good from evil.

Marsha West — Learn to Discern Good From Evil

There’s a rumor going around that dead folks are coming to life again, the blind see, the sick are getting healed, amputees are even growing new limbs, all due to the supernatural healing powers of Canadian faith-evangelist Todd Bentley. Some believe there’s a “Holy Spirit breakout” going on at the “Lakeland Outpouring.” Fresh Fire Ministries is behind the so-called revival. The burning question for the Fresh Fire team is, where’s the flesh? Doubting Thomas’s would like to hear a couple of the prior dead stand up and give their testimonies. One verifiable testimony would help.

Here’s another question: Why hasn’t Oprah invited one of the 30 plus people Bentley claims have passed over to the other side, then suddenly reentered their bodies due to his “God-given” healing powers, onto her daytime show. Her audience would eat it up!

My final question is for the Christian who believes Todd Bentley hung the moon and stars: Are you serious?

In my commentary “Bam! Bam! Bam! said the false prophet”[2] I exposed Todd Bentley as a fool and a fraud. Not surprisingly I received a large number of email from Christians who accused me of judging him. Several emailers claimed they’ve been to the Lakeland Outpouring, thus they feel they’re experts on what’s happening there. Because I haven’t “experienced” the “move of the Holy Spirit” first hand, I have no business “judging” Bentley. Which is like saying that those who haven’t been to Afghanistan or Iraq shouldn’t express their opinion on the war. That’s ridiculous! The greater a Christian leader’s responsibility, the greater his/her accountability. Judging is not only permissible, it is every Christian’s duty. But that fact has not stopped some “protectors of the prophet” from being put out with me. And so I received this dire warning: “!” What do they mean by that threat? Critics must keep their hands off word-faith teachers. Which is ludicrous on its face since it’s scriptural to expose false teachers and abusive pastors.

I responded to my critics by saying that my marching orders come from the King! As such, I will continue speaking publicly about Todd Bentley’s unscriptural theology. My mission is to expose Christian liberalism and the influential “Christians” who are leading the undiscerning into neo paganism. Ever wonder why professing Christians say they’re “spiritual” instead of religious? It’s because they’ve strayed from the straight and narrow path and are following the path of the mystics! In other words, they’ve strayed from historic orthodox Christianity and now embrace beliefs acquired from Eastern mysticism! As a result of the Progressive Christianity movement, liberalism and occult practices have made their way into mainline churches.

Progressives have mounted an all out assault on the validity of the Bible. Why? They want to remove the only source of real truth. Who’s behind it? Our adversary the devil! His goal is to rid the world of the Book that conveys God’s redemptive plan to fallen humanity. Listen to what Paul says about the Bible:

What Dembski reports next is profoundly disturbing. He explains that after Bentley “preached,” an offering was taken. During the offering he asked the crowd:

“’How much anointing do you want to receive?’ Thus he linked the blessing we should receive with the amount of money we gave.”

Following the prayer for mass healing, Bentley told the crowd he would pray for the severest cases. What happened next is beyond belief:

[Read more...]

Glad to see that there are some that have the same opinion of the Todd Bentley and the “third wave” crowd that I do. Show some people a few lying signs and wonders and they will believe anything.

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - Trusting Miracles or Christ?

Anytime someone goes beyond what Scripture tells us, he is “intruding into those things which he hath not seen.” (Col. 2:18) Speaking of “intruding into those things which he hath not seen” and being “vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,” check this out:

Here are a couple of excerpts from Todd Bentley’s 2003 article entitled Angelic Hosts:

“So when I need a financial breakthrough I don’t just pray and ask
God for my financial breakthrough. I go into intercession and
become a partner with the angels by petitioning the Father for the
angels that are assigned to getting me money: ‘Father, give me
the angels in heaven right now that are assigned to get me money
and wealth. And let those angels be released on my behalf. Let
them go into the four corners of the earth and gather me money.’”

There is no mention of Jesus Christ here in Bentley’s praying. He just partners with angels to get what he wants

Looking to these externals (signs, wonders, dreams, miracles, etc.) is tied with looking to mere men. They become idols of our hearts. If we are going to look to men, look to the apostle Paul, John, and Peter. They were authentically His disciples, filled with His Spirit, honored His holy Word above all else, and walked with Him. The Bible tells us they were “holy men of God.” (2 Pet. 1:20-21) God Himself approved these men as opposed to the many self-proclaimed prophets and self-promoting deceivers on the scene today. Look to Jesus Christ. His Word is final authority (Rom. 3:3-4). Didn’t Jesus tell us that false prophets who come in His holy name would deceive “many”? (Matt. 24:5, 11, 24) Also, did He not foretell that “MANY” who call Him “Lord, Lord” and even use His name in vain to do miracles, prophesy, and do many wonder works, are going to hell? (Matt. 7:21-23)

It is essential to believe what God has revealed to us about Jesus Christ. We must remain in those fundamental doctrines of Christ or we will lose out in the end. The mission of the enemy is to use one of his many deceivers to move you away from the doctrinal and spiritually pure worship of Jesus Christ our LORD. Examine this next passage closely. 2 John 7-11 says:

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not (does not remain) in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.

[Read more...]

The whole idea that there will be a wealth transfer from the world to the Church is preposterous. What do they think the world will be doing while we take away their wealth and what in the world would we do with the wealth of the world anyway? Get rid of poverty? Where does it say the Church will do that in scripture? Actually these people will take new found wealth to build more and larger circus tents for their “third wave” freak shows?

There is no such concept of a wealth transfer to the Church in scripture it is totally contrary to what the scripture teaches.

These “third wave” self appointed, apostles, prophets and healers are proud presumptuous deranged people or they are greedy con artists and liars.

The “third wave” apostles, false prophets and healers appeal to people’s flesh and that is the only reason they have a following. They certainly do not hear the true gospel from these people and they do receive any sound Christian teaching.

These are the people Jesus was talking about in Matthew chapter 7: 21-22. They tell Jesus did we not prophecy in your name and cast out Devils in your name and do great works? But, Jesus will say to them depart from me you workers of inequity I never knew you.

Most of these people are con men deceivers. I am not so gullible as to believe that they actually believe the stuff they peddle. I guess there could be a few simple minded exceptions in the group but the rest are simply religious acting con artists.

They use scriptures without understanding because they have none. They have no Holy Spirit to give it to them. They are followed by those who do not read God’s word. They would rather listen to people who tickle their itching ears. They could all be board members of the First Church of the Flesh.

These leaders claim to be apostles, prophets and healers and they claim to be great anointed people of God but they really are the wolves in sheep’s clothing that the Bible warns us against.

People wonder why I say the “Word of Faith” movement is a false gospel cult. Well, what movement produced the prideful presumptive demonic “third wave” movement and the prosperity gospel? They distort everything in the Bible. So much so, that their Jesus cannot even be found in any honest study of the Bible.

I think many of the “third wave” leaders are demon possessed and many of those who go to their gatherings are in danger of becoming demon possessed. Many of the regulars who go to their meetings display manifestations of occult demon possession. They are not of sound mind. Neither Jesus Christ, nor the Holy Spirit is in the tabernacle.

If you are following these people run! You are playing with fire.

Bible Prophecy Today | Bible Prophecy News and Commentary by Today’s Leading Bible Prophecy Scholars | News and Commentary from a Biblical Perspective

Will the Church soon be showered with the wealth of the unrighteous, thus being able to fund the last, great global harvest of souls? Again quoting C. Peter Wagner, “I think the time is ripe for those of us who are apostles to begin to understand the crucial role we have in God’s plan to release the wealth of the wicked for the advance of the kingdom of God.”[2]

But what does the Bible say? Pursuing a historical-grammatical interpretation—in other words, interpreting the Bible as it reads—try as one might, one cannot find this view supported in the Bible.

Dealing first with the “wealth transfer” notion, indeed, we do find that there is a great wealth transfer prophesied in Scripture. However, it has nothing to do with the Church, but rather applies to Israel and the Millennial period.

There are many other problems with the last-day wealth transfer notion applying to the Church. For example, it is claimed that there will yet be a last-day global harvest before the Lord returns, and that the Church will need great wealth to fund this objective as well as eradicating poverty in the world. Says Wagner, “In order to possess the gate of wealth to, among other things, develop plans to eradicate systemic poverty, we need to develop new structures of intercession to do the spiritual warfare necessary to transfer wealth.[3]”

However, the Bible says directly otherwise. Clearly implying that there would be little faith upon earth when He returns,

So is there a great, last-day wealth transfer to the Church? Scripture easily and clearly settles this question. Yet, theologians who should have sufficient knowledge of what the Bible says[4] instead prefer to trust their own intuitions and prophecies. This recent statement from Apostle Peter (also known as C. Peter Wagner) provides an example of such vanity, in which he appears to make his own decrees supersede Scripture. Spoken on the great reverential authority of the claimed office of an early New Testament apostle, he literally commands the earth’s obedience. Not even the first Apostle Peter spoke with such licence. (One also wonders why the foundations of the New Jerusalem will be named after the original 12 apostles and not more? —See Revelation 21:14.)

“I hereby take the apostolic authority that I have been given by God. I decree that vast amounts of wealth will be released supernaturally, even from godless and pagan sources. I decree that large numbers of God’s chosen people will be empowered in fresh and creative ways to gain wealth according to Deuteronomy 8:18. New inventions will multiply. Disruptive technologies will change the life patterns of the whole human race. The earth will disgorge vast riches of hidden resources. These will be entrusted to God’s agents. Profits will increase exponentially. It is spoken. So may it come to pass! Amen and amen!”[5]

Today, as all too frequently with other Third Wave Christian movements supposedly marked by “fresh moves of the Spirit,” new or revised theologies have been revealed on the strength of new prophecies uttered by their own prophets. The serious issue here is that these prophecies serve to revise what God originally said through his prophets and Scripture. Indeed, such revisions are not a new phenomenon, having been the mark of many if not all apostate movements or beliefs.

The true Church of the last days, if anything, is more of a remnant than it is resplendent with wealth. Revelation 3:8 says that the church of the “open door” is weak and feeble; far from being imbued with worldly power and wealth. It is this little Philadelphian band of believers, to which is promised, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth” (Revelation 3:10). If the Third Wave movements are correct, one wonders why it is the rich Laodicean church that is being reprimanded by Christ.

Peter Jones has it right in this article. Pseudo Christianity will again be going to war again against those true Christians who actually believe the Bible. When the youth of those going to the churches of today grow up (many of them already have) will those four percent that still believe the Bible actually be tolerated by Christianity? Of course not. Pseudo Christianity has persecuted the Church before in history and it will do it again. Christianity is now progressing to enable the coming postmodern inquisitions.

The persecution at the fifth seal of Revelation comes from the religious Harlot not the Antichrist because at this point he has not even arrived on the scene. I believe the Trumpet Judgments are the Lamb’s response to a world that persecuted His Saints. Then the religious Harlot in turn will be destroyed by the Beast she rode.

The ostracizing of Bible believing Christians has already started with “Christian” leaders calling believers that hold to the fundamentals of the faith dangerous and biblical doctrine divisive. In the “tolerant” “politically correct” world of the next decade the Bible will be rewritten, and redefined to accommodate sinful lifestyles. They will outlaw uncensored literal interpretations of the Bible that might offend anyone.

At that point those who speak against politically correct sins of society will be charged with hate speech. The truths of the Bible and true Christianity will be replaced with a world harlot religion where everyone is free do what is right in their own eyes as long as they do not offend or proselytize someone else. All world beliefs including paganism will have equal standing but any religion that claims some exclusive way to God or that offends someone’s self esteem will be called intolerant and will be outlawed.

At that point, which is not that far off, there will be no more reason for the true Church to be here on earth.

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - New “Progressive Christianity”: An Old Liberal Swindle

Much of what Progressive Christians believe fits with the principles of the radical Emergent Village, emerging from Evangelicalism. Indeed, Liberal Progressives intentionally include “the more progressive evangelicals” in their ranks. In their descriptions of a “generous way” of “following Jesus” (not Christ, for Christ is far too “Christian”), the “progressives” echo Brian McLaren’s A Generous Orthodoxy, in which he calls himself “a Jesus follower.” They focus on Jesus as a mystical human being for all the religions. This is not Jesus, the God/man and Savior, for their “progressive” religion denies sin, claims no unique means of salvation, and, like McLaren, accepts all: “believers, agnostics, atheists and all sexual orientations and gender identities.”

Though “all-inclusive,” Progressives abhor the “modern heresy of fundamentalist Christianity.” Though rejecting absolute truth, they define their “god” as “absolute love, justice, and peace,” rejoicing to find their new absolutism in the “godless European Union with its insistence on equal justice for women and gay people.” The absolute mess which is present-day Europe, held up as the ideal for the future of America and the planet, ought to fill us with despair!

Progressives are euphoric as they ride a new social wave of all-inclusive social justice globalism, for it provides a timely pretext to justify their basic unbelief about the Christian Gospel. With undisguised optimism they believe their time has come, in two ways:

1. they rejoice in the theological implosion of historic Christianity, and, for the good of the planet, you understand, salivate over the fact that only “four percent of Bible believing teenagers will be Bible-believing Christians as adults”;

2. they are eager to capitalize on, and I quote, “a historic opportunity to seize the country’s foundational narratives about itself, and recast them in a way that opens doors to the [global] future we seek.” Is this what the political Left, which also now describes itself as “progressive” and claims to be “Christian,” really means by “change”?

As the third millennium began, Frederic Baue (The Spiritual Society) predicted the coming of “a phase of Western or world civilization that is innately religious but hostile to Christianity…or worse, a dominant but false church that brings all of its forces to bear against the truth of God’s Word.”

Is “Christian” liberalism beginning to join with spiritual pagans and activist courts, to demonize, marginalize, and ultimately silence the biblical message by defining the Gospel as a global hate crime?

Is America now under judgment? When are acts of God acts of God? Has America done anything worthy of judgment? You be the judge.

• So far this year we are involved in two foreign wars with another war being a distinct possibility.
• We have had unprecedented numbers of tornadoes.
• The Mid-West floods have been catastrophic.
• More of California has burned this year then in any year in history and the fires are still burning with a fire season that still has a long way to go

On the Economic Front.

• Falling Real estate values have caused the greatest financial crises since the great depression.
• Tens of millions are losing equity in there homes, millions are losing their homes.
• The stock market is down 20 percent and pension funds and insurance will also lose at least that much value.
• Banks, brokerage firms and corporations are failing and need to be bailed out by the government.
• The U.S. dollar is the weakest it has been in modern times.
• Gasoline prices are four times what they were a few years ago.
• Heating bills will be much higher this winter.
• All electric bills are about to shoot up about twenty percent in one year.
• Food prices are up 10 to 20 percent this year.
• Inflation across the board is the worst in years and most of the costs have not even been passed through yet.
• Services in the U.S. are becoming unreliable.
• Unemployment is on the rise and it is going to get much higher.
• Due to falling revenues state and local governments are going to run into major deficit problems

Crime and amorality

• Gangs have taken over much of our inner cities.
• Drug trafficking is epidemic.
• Illegal drugs are used by a very large percentage of our population.
• 2.2 million people are in prison in this nation. This is the highest incarceration rate in the world.
• There are 10 to 20 million people in this country illegally.
• One in four adults in the U.S. has a VD. Homosexual males have a ten year shorter life span, yet, the pushing of homosexuality and sexual promiscuity is all over the media and sexual perversion is taught in our schools as normal healthy lifestyles and this is forced on suggestible children.
• Homosexual marriage is now legal in two states.
• There have been 50 million abortions in the U.S. and taxpayers in one way or another are paying much of the cost. Much of the black population in the U.S. is being aborted but most black leaders keep promoting it.
• Scams and rip-off schemes are epidemic especially on the Internet.

Politics.

• Congress has a nine percent approval rating.
• Judges are legislating law from the bench contrary to the Constitution.
• Special interest groups control almost all politicians and it is now almost impossible to get incumbents out of office.
• Thanks to the voters we have two choices for the President that want more globalism and more socialism. Both will bring in a liberal supreme court. Both will pass hate speech laws that will negatively impact Christians.

Religion.

• A generation of seeker friendly services has watered down much of what is left of Evangelical Christianity.
• The Emergent movement is redefining biblical truths and downplaying biblical doctrine.
• Most claiming to be Christians are biblically illiterate not having read through the Bible even once in their lives, far less have understanding of the passages in context.
• People flaunting their sins are put in church leadership roles.
• Psychology theories originated from the occult have corrupted much Christian counseling and other programs.
• New Age pagan thought is now all over the media and is being accepted by many claiming to be Christians.
• Much of the youth is leaving Christianity for postmodern relativism

If God were to continue judging this nation what might our immediate future hold?

• The economy would continue to decline.
• Hyperinflation is a very real possibility.
• Unemployment may become a very serious issue.
• There could be much greater weather related storms, droughts and crop failures.
• Major earthquakes would become likely.
• Major volcanic activity is certainly possible.
• Leadership in government could continue to get worse (even lower then scraping the bottom).
• Terrorist attacks would become likely.
• Hate speech laws will be passed and constitutional freedoms will be redefined by the courts. Government tyranny will become a major issue.
• A nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack may happen. It would leave the nation helpless without electric for months or years. (This would be the ultimate judgment it would most likely bring the complete collapse of our society).
• The complete collapse of our economic system is possible.
• Collapse of our social system and declining into anarchy is possible.
• The break up of the Union is possible.

The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Don’t you think it would be wise for people in this nation to fear the Lord instead of Him having to send correction because we will not do what is right?

Due to overwhelming interest on my Oprah and Tolle Blog post I am posting another opinion of Tolle’s “A New Earth” book.
The teaser quotes that I am putting below is just a small sample of the articles. I cannot do justice to Debra Rae’s article here you have to read the full articles.

I just want to make it clear to everyone that Tolle’s teaching in ” A New Earth” is totally contrary to the fundamental truths of Christianity and Christian Orthodoxy. It is Old Age and New Age paganism originated with the lie of the Serpent and man’s rebellion. It first reared its ugly head in force at Babylon. Those that embrace and promote Tolle’s satanic views are certainly in danger of eternal damnation.

If you have a problem with my statement read this article because Debra Rae will clearly tell you what is wrong with Tolle’s message so there is no need for me to repeat it.

If you actually read the article and you still have a problem with what I said. It just shows that you are still dead in your sins, not knowing Christ. You therefore need to get saved. Here is everything you need to know about how to be saved.  So there is no need for me to repeat the salvation message to any Tolle supporters who read this post either. Just read my article.

If you respond making it clear to me they you did not even read Debra Ray’s articles (or my article if you support Tolle) your comment will be deleted.

If you respond by attacking me for presenting this article or for what I said in this comment. I now give you fair warning that your comment will be deleted and you will be banned from this Blog. If you have a problem with what Ray said contact Debra Ray. If you have a problem with what I said even after you read my salvation article. Tough!

This post is here for Christian eduction purposes. It is not to start a debate with every New Age believer in the Internet Universe. That will also shortly stop on other such posts.

Debra Rae — Only Imagine Tolle’s New Earth, Part 1
Debra Rae — Only Imagine Tolle’s New Earth, Part 2

In A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle contends that “no situation or event is ever really finished,” and the “only place of power” is the present moment. By avowing “no heaven, no hell, just now,” purportedly enlightened folks, as he, presume to wriggle free from accountability to a righteous God. In effect, these become self-proclaimed laws unto themselves.

This mindset is not new. Humanist Manifestos assert that false hope of “heaven hereafter” is unreasonable and, therefore, harmful.

Notwithstanding, secular and cosmic humanists alike actively reject and attempt to eradicate traditional theism. To Tolle, the sacred Name of God is attributed to a company of highly evolved masters (Jesus among them), each of whom claims transcendent consciousness and common divinity with all life—in Motulsky’s words, “fallible humans with total power.”

To dispute this fallacy, one need only recall the burning bush, through which YHWH revealed to Moses His Name, I AM that I AM. When Jesus ascribed to himself equal I-AM status, his captors fell backward under its power. It stands to reason that Jesus was either God Incarnate—the way, truth and life, as he claimed to be—or he was an unsurpassed liar. In either case, Jesus was not merely “a good man” or, as the case may be, “an ascended master” (Tolle’s assertion).

Not only does he demote the one whose name is above all names, Tolle promotes Self to “Godhood”—namely, the Source, Divine Life Essence, “formlessness” (or spirit). Unbeknownst to many New-Earth enthusiasts, his creed rehashes a spirit-channeled revelation of Theosophist-medium Alice Bailey, probably the most notable founder of contemporary New Age mysticism.

In Tolle’s misguided view, Christ is every man and woman. True, he references “universal law,” but Tolle ascribes the Ten Commandments as necessary only for those cut off from their own “I AM”-ness. Note that it was not Tolle, but rather co-Masonic Hierarch Alice Bailey who conceptualized and coined the term for this—namely, “Christhood.” This, my friend, exceeds folly. It is blasphemy. For such arrogance, even the angel Lucifer was cast in shame from heaven!

The Gospel according to Tolle further asserts that belief in Christianity as ultimate Truth serves ego by creating “an illusory sense of superiority.” Never mind that self-proclaimed “spiritual leader” Eckhart Tolle boasts his own pantheistic Self-deification! Although both opposing worldviews presuppose “union with the divine,” Christians alone bow the knee, acknowledge their sin and accept unmerited favor from a merciful, personal God to whom they remain accountable. In contrast, Tolle and followers grasp for themselves Godhood itself.

One of these two mindsets most certainly creates the “illusory sense of superiority,” but it’s plainly not the way of the Cross.

In Tolle’s world, when advanced, highly evolved humans seize “Presence power,” their consciousness shifts from the illusory “sweet by and by” to power-packed Presence. No longer are they hindered by the “mental idolatry” of blissful eternity with “our God.” They have instead come to accept their common divinity with all of Life. Having triumphed over matter by self-mastery, the fully “conscious” trade their tradition-bound “phantom selves” for their purported “I AM”-ness.

Achieving mastery qualifies awakened adepts to act as “Custodians of the Plan” and to watch over and even guide all of humanity’s spiritual progress. In so doing, these work hard to extinguish forces of darkness/evil—i.e., Jews and Christians. The desired outcome is for the old “Piscean Age” with its obsolete traditionalism to give way to an anticipated “Age of Aquarius,” marked by promises of peace, harmony and brotherhood.

Debra Rae — Only Imagine Tolle’s New Earth, Part 2
Regretfully, “A New Earth” à la Tolle counterfeits the “real deal”—that being, the impending Millennial Rule of Christ on earth. In effect, Tolle’s “New Earth” exchanges the closest thing to utopia since the Garden of Eden for what the apostle Paul has aptly labeled an outright lie.

Then again, Tolle has his own take on sanity and wellness: To resist evolutionary emerging consciousness is plain-and-simple insanity, and to embrace traditional belief systems is to be unwell. Proclaiming “My God” or “our God” is what he demeans as “a mental idol,” thus making oneself “right” and others “wrong.”

In fact, Tolle predicts that rigid belief structures like biblical Christianity are destined to collapse.

In Tolle’s world, global unity is perceived as imperative to proper flow of the god-force. Once humanity takes a “quantum leap” to its higher destiny, mystical powers and psychic ability will flourish; however, the reluctant may need to be removed to a nonphysical dimension, where their karma can catch up before they are allowed back to the physical plane!

Tolle characterizes Christianity as divisive and prohibitive. This, he claims, creates “an illusory sense of superiority” not to be found in New-Earth consciousness, but then Tolle clearly distinguishes between the “conscious” and the “unconscious,” “the perfect” and the “not-so-perfect.”

Bottom line: There’s no need for pie-in-the-sky imaginings when biblical Christianity outright delivers in the here-and-now and also throughout eternity. The redeemed in Christ can bank on it, and “whosoever will” are invited