With a heavy heart...

Greetings fellow believers and curiousity seekers...first, allow me to aplogize for the lengthiness of this article...but, it is of utmost importance.

Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again. Because a vision softly in creeping, left its seeds while I was sleeping, and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams, I walked alone narrow streets of cobblestone. 'Neath the halo of an East street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp, when my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light that split the night and touched the sound of silence.

And, in the naked light, I saw ten thousand people, maybe more. People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening, people writing songs that voices never share and no one dare disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools" said I, "You do not know…Silence like a cancer grows. Hear my words that I might teach you, take my arms that I might reach you!" But my words like silent raindrops fell, and echoed in the wells of silence.

And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made. And the sign flashed out its warning, in the words that it was forming. And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls." And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to you today. Our founding fathers from some of our most devoted (to fundamentalist Christian belief) congregations are quickly being removed from office to make room for the Emerging Church of Mystic Comtemplation and the New Age Spirituality Movement. It saddens me greatly to see church after church turn to this occultism as the world is quickly being consumed by the teachings of the antichrist. All I can do is continue to publish articles and talk about how our basic truths found in scripture are being replaced by such things as "Oneness", the belief in "As Above, So Below" or an immanent God, fractals, Chaos Theory, and Quantum Spirituality.

This past weekend, Rick Warren and Saddleback Ministries held their Summit 2009 meeting. I have not heard the details as of yet...but, I am most interested to see how many of the New Age/New Spirituality proponents were present and who gave speeches at this huge convention. Twitter was all a-Twitter with many comments about how moving an experience it was. Too bad that the movement that is moving people is into a false christianity hosted by a false prophet. Now, I hope I don't lose you folks here that are fans of Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven drive to world PEACE...because the segment that follows from Lighthouse Trails Publishing is all about Rick Warren, the Calvary Chapel movement, contemplative worship, and too many other important things to list. Anyone who does not read it...well, let's just say that Satan has a way of keeping his followers from hearing the Truth...and here follows the honest to God truth about what is happening in our churches today and what every Christian should know.
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SPECIAL REPORT: Calvary Chapel Termination Has Profound Implications

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

For some time now Paul Smith, who has been in full-time ministry since 1951, has been putting forth tireless efforts to help keep contemplative and emerging spirituality out of the Calvary Chapel movement. At times, this caused conflict with other Calvary Chapel figures who did not resonate with these efforts. This Lighthouse Trails report is being presented because of recent statements such as the following that give a biased view of Paul Smith's role at Calvary Chapel:

Smith's desire to codify and enforce not only the "Distinctives," but positions on such matters as "The Shack" and secondary doctrinal issues was at odds with other people in leadership and that eventually cost him his job. Smith was working out of a deep desire to see his brothers legacy remain intact and define what was and wasn't "Calvary Chapel." While I think his motives were pure they also brought a sense of restriction and censorship to many in the movement. (from a Reformed Calvinist pastor, formerly a Calvary Chapel pastor, who runs a blog called Phoenix Preacher)

Comments made on that site suggesting that Paul Smith's firing was warranted have prompted this Lighthouse Trails report. This is the story behind the story.

On May 2nd of 2006, Lighthouse Trails was contacted by someone who wishes to remain anonymous who explained that a book written by Chuck Smith Senior contained quotes by and references to contemplative and emerging figures. In our efforts to expose the contemplative/emerging movement, Lighthouse Trails reviewed the book then issued an article titled, "What Happened to the Calvary Chapel Book, When Storms Come?." The article stated that Chuck Smith's book When Storms Come contained quotes by and references to contemplative Catholic mystic Anthony DeMello, for one. DeMello is discussed in Ray Yungen's book, A Time of Departing. De Mello wrote the contemplative classic called Sadhana: A Way to God and in that book he says:

To silence the mind is an extremely difficult task. How hard it is to keep the mind from thinking, thinking, thinking, forever thinking, forever producing thoughts in a never-ending stream. Our Hindu masters in India have a saying: one thorn is removed by another. By this they mean that you will be wise to use one thought to rid yourself of all the other thoughts that crowd into your mind. One thought, one image, one phrase or sentence or word that your mind can be made to fasten on. (A Time of Departing, p. 75).

Prior to this first article, Lighthouse Trails had begun a working relationship with Roger Oakland who had been involved with the Calvary Chapel movement (teaching and evangelizing) for about twenty five years. We were in the early stages of contracting with Roger Oakland for a book on the emerging church.

On May 18th, Chuck Smith emailed Lighthouse Trails and stated:

[I have] prepared a position paper to be distributed to the Calvary Chapel pastors on the subject of the Emergent Church and its many divergent and unscriptural theological positions that trouble me greatly.

Chuck Smith also thanked Lighthouse Trails for sending him a copy of A Time of Departing, which he said he "read with interest," then added "[A Time of Departing] resonates with the concerns that I personally have concerning the direction that many ministries seem to be taking in their endeavor to unify all faiths. I do believe that straight is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and as Jesus said, He is that way, He is the truth, and the life, and no man can come to the Father but by Him."

Three days later, we reported that Calvary Chapel released a Position Paper, denouncing mystical practices (i.e., contemplative prayer) and the emerging church. A second Lighthouse Trails article discussed this move initiated by Chuck Smith Sr:

This weekend, a position paper addressed to pastors was posted on the Calvary Chapel website. The paper indicates that Calvary Chapel is taking a stand against contemplative spirituality and the emerging church and decrees that the title Calvary Chapel not be attached to such movements.

In the Position Paper, Calvary Chapel pastors were told not to use the Calvary Chapel title on their church name if they were going to go in the contemplative/emerging direction. On May 25, 2006, Lighthouse Trails released a follow-up article titled, "Calvary Chapel May Face Challenge in Upholding Position Paper". In the article, we quoted Roger Oakland regarding the Position Paper:

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

On June 3, 2006, in our article titled, "Calvary Chapel May Set Precedent at This Week's Pastors Conference", we reported that Chuck Smith Jr, then pastor of Calvary Chapel Capo Beach, was officially no longer part of the Calvary Chapel movement because of his contemplative/emerging affinities. It appeared that Calvary Chapel was going to stand strong on their commitment to maintain biblical integrity, even though this was a very painful situation for family members. At that time, Paul Smith expressed his deep sadness at his nephew's decision to embrace contemplative/emerging spirituality. Our article also stated:

Calvary Chapel may be the first large ministry that has been directly influenced to actually denounce the false teachings of these movements. If Calvary Chapel stands firm on defending the gospel message and rejecting these heretical doctrines, it may be setting a precedent for other Christian ministries to do likewise. With organizations such as Purpose Driven, Zondervan, NavPress publishers, Willow Creek and Renovare all promoting contemplative spirituality and with many other ministries appearing to head that way, it is becoming less and less popular to do what Calvary Chapel has done. But it is a time in history when compromising the integrity of the gospel could actually help to unfold the greatest spiritual deception Christianity has ever seen.

Then on June 16, 2006, we issued a short notice titled "Calvary Chapel Rejects Purpose Driven and Emerging Spirituality". In an unexpected move, Calvary Chapel came out publicly against the Purpose Driven movement. Our posting stated:

This week a notice was placed on the Calvary Chapel Distribution website recalling Chuck Smith Sr's book, When Storms Come (which had been tampered with). The notice (no longer online) also stated: "The teaching and positions of Rick Warren have come into conflict with us at Calvary Chapel. Pastor Chuck has directed us to discontinue this product effective immediately."

Shortly thereafter, Calvary Distribution (the resource arm of Calvary Chapel) removed all Purpose Driven materials from their resource database. In the meantime, Roger Oakland was beginning to receive increased criticism for his stand against Purpose Driven and the emerging church. In a July 2006 article, he explained some of his concerns in an article titled, "Calvary Chapel and Purpose Driven". He told what he believed to be the main reasons why Calvary Chapel and Purpose Driven do not resonate with each other:

Why did Calvary Distribution remove Rick Warren's Purpose Driven books and related materials from their distribution? I believe these four reasons I have discussed are reasonable and a valid answer to that question:

Differences in Eschatology

Differences with regard to the Emerging Church

Differences with regard to contemplative prayer and mysticism

Differences with regard to church growth principles and beliefs.

Christianity has always been made up of strong leaders who take different positions. In this case, we see two well-known contemporary leaders going in two different directions. I also know that many Calvary Chapel pastors approved the decision and applauded Calvary Distribution when the Rick Warren materials were no longer being distributed.

Because there are some Calvary pastors who strongly disagree with this decision, it is very possible that in the future there will be a split of the Calvary Chapel movement. The pressures on young pastors today to conform to the current trends for the sake of having a successful big church are ever increasing.

Over the next several months, Roger Oakland wrote Faith Undone: the emerging church--a new reformation or an end-time deception. The book was released in the summer of 2007 and documents many irrefutable connections between some of today's most popular and influential proclaiming-Christian leaders: Rick Warren, Brian McLaren, Bob Buford, Peter Drucker, Richard Foster, Bill Hybels, Leith Anderson, and others. It also reveals the financial backing that was behind the birth of the current emerging church movement, showing that the movement wasn't just the "discontent grumblings of young people looking for answers" (back cover) but entailed a far more structured effort to bring about a new mystical spirituality that would ultimately reject the very core of the Bible's main tenets. Because the book connected dots between the emerging church and highly regarded leaders, needless to say it rocked the boat.

Over the next few months after Faith Undone was released, Roger Oakland spoke in different locations around the world, warning believers about the new spirituality that had entered the Christian church. Then two days after he posted an article called Icabod, Roger was promptly removed from Calvary Chapel's radio network/station, KWVE. In our article "Roger Oakland Removed from Calvary Chapel Radio", we stated:

Lighthouse Trails contacted KWVE on November 19th [2007] to confirm the removal [of Roger Oakland] and to find out the reason this took place. Richard McIntosh, KWVE station manager, confirmed the removal and told Lighthouse Trails that while he knew the reason, he would not comment.

During this time period, Roger Oakland and Lighthouse Trails were receiving angry and threatening phone calls and emails by unidentified persons. Nevertheless, we knew we must stay the course.

While the long-time relationship between Roger Oakland and Calvary Chapel became highly strained, in a meeting between Roger Oakland and Chuck Smith, Pastor Smith affirmed his support of Roger Oakland and his ministry. It should be noted too that on a number of occasions, Chuck Smith has expressed his support for the work at Lighthouse Trails. And to our knowledge, he has never reneged on his original statements to keep contemplative/emerging/Purpose Driven out of the Calvary Chapel movement. In fact, Chuck Smith invited former New Age follower-turned-Christian Warren Smith to speak at the 2008 Calvary Chapel Senior Pastors Conference in Murrieta, California. Warren Smith delivered a powerful exhortation to pastors on June 5th, 2008, encouraging Calvary Chapel pastors to stand during these times of great spiritual deception that the Bible warns will take place in the last days.1 A large number of the 800 pastors in attendance gave Warren Smith a standing ovation, indicating that many Calvary Chapel pastors resonate with Warren Smith's message, which is the same message as Roger Oakland, Ray Yungen, and Lighthouse Trails.

But as with most denominations and Christian organizations, there are indications that contemplative/emergent/Purpose Driven is continuing to influence the Calvary Chapel movement contrary to the efforts and statements of Chuck Smith in 2006. For instance, Calvary Chapel speaker Gayle Erwin has come out strong in support of the New Age sympathizing book, The Shack. Erwin's endorsement for William Paul Young's New York Times best-seller sits on The Shack website, and says:

Riveting, with twists that defy your expectations while teaching powerful theological lessons without patronizing. I was crying by page 100. You cannot read it without your heart becoming involved. [emphasis added]

Even though a statement was issued by Calvary Chapel denouncing The Shack, which is reported in our article "New Age Similarities, Popularity Continues, and Calvary Chapel Gives Official Statement" , Gayle Erwin continues speaking at Calvary Chapel churches today.

In the summer of 2008, Lighthouse Trails issued a controversial article titled, "Greg Laurie Connects Purpose Driven to a Move of God - Gives Financial Support". Laurie, one of the most popular Calvary Chapel pastors had given financial support to Rick Warren's New York crusade, and at the same time, called the Purpose Driven movement a move of God. This was disheartening for those who hoped that Calvary Chapel was truly going to stand strong against the heretical teachings of the day. Later, Greg Laurie's ministry issued a statement denying that they had financially supported the crusade, but Lighthouse Trails spoke with crusade organizers who had not only placed the information on their website but confirmed it to us over the phone. In September 2008, we issued a follow-up report: Warren, Blanchard, Hybels, Laurie, Buford - Launching New York Leadership Center.

Concerns over the direction that the Calvary Chapel movement may go after Chuck Smith is no longer heading the organization have continued to grow. And now with Paul Smith, who strongly advocated and supported his brother's hopes of having a NON-contemplative/emerging/Purpose Driven movement, those concerns are mounting. Just two weeks ago, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (home church of Chuck Smith Sr.) hosted a Pure Worship Conference, which included worship leaders from the nearby Rock Harbor church. Rock Harbor has shown signs that it is being significantly influenced by the emerging church, including having had their youth group study New Age sympathizer Rob Bell's book, Velvet Elvis , for three weeks. A few months ago, Rock Harbor held a meeting due to concerns by congregants as to whether they were going emergent or not. Approximately 700 people showed up!

A second event is scheduled between Rock Harbor and Calvary Chapel at the end of May, Movement 2009. The conference will take place at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and will feature Rock Harbor's teaching pastor Mike Erre and worship team. Mike Erre is the author of a new book, Death by Church: Rescuing Jesus from His Followers; Recapturing God's Hope for His People. The book is filled with kingdom-now theology and numerous favorable references to and quotes by people like Brian McLaren, Dallas Willard, and other contemplative, emerging figures. Based on this book alone, it is accurate to say that Erre has all the earmarks of an emerging church pastor. In Erre's 2008 book, Why Guys Need God, he quotes and references a number of contemplative mystic-proponents: Richard Rohr, Larry Crabb, Pete Scazzero, Rob Bell, and others. It is very clear by Erre's remarks about Richard Rohr (whom he references over a half a dozen times in the book) that he esteems him highly. And yet Rohr's spirituality would be in the same camp as someone like Matthew Fox (author of The Coming of the Cosmic Christ) who believes in pantheism and panentheism. Rohr wrote the foreword to a 2007 book called How Big is Your God? by Jesuit priest (from India) Paul Coutinho. In Coutinho's book, he describes an interspiritual community where people of all religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity) worship the same God. How ironic that Paul Smith's firing is sandwiched between two Rock Harbor events at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Members at that church should be very, very concerned.

Recently we reported on Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa's high school in which a teacher there asked his class to read, review, and study How to Stay Christian in College written by Protestant-turned-Catholic J. Budziszewski . The book has references in the back of some editions to mystic emergent Tony Jones, and Budziszewski himself is a proponent of contemplative prayer practices. Our article "Concerned Family Asks Legitimate Questions of Christian Leaders" illustrates what many families are going through in trying to protect their children and teens from spiritual deception. Christian parents must realize that the souls of their youth are at stake.

Paul Smith came on board to Calvary Chapel about four years ago to help with what could possibly be a sinking ship. Paul believed that the only answer for the movement was to hold to the basic tenets of biblical Christianity. As he learned of the various emerging/contemplative/Purpose Driven influences pouring into Calvary Chapel, he often spoke up but was also often received with resistance--until last Tuesday, when an impromptu meeting in the middle of the day brought his efforts to a halt.

When we spoke with Paul Smith this week, he was packing his things, preparing to leave Calvary Chapel. At approximately 80 years old, his mind sharp and his focus straightforward, Paul isn't sure where he will go from here. He isn't sure of the future of Calvary Chapel anymore either. But he is sure of this - the One whom He seeks to serve is faithful and will in these last days draw a line in the sand and ask every true believer to step on the side of biblical truth. Paul sent us an email a few days after his dismissal. We asked him if we could post part of it, and he agreed:

I have enjoyed serving our Calvary Chapel pastors through Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship. Calvary Chapel is a wonderful and surprising work of God. It has been used by God to hold fast to simply teaching the Word of God, book-by-book and verse-by-verse, the whole counsel of God.... It is my prayer that we hold fast to the sufficiency of the Word of God and the sufficiency of the Holy Spirit to guide this blessed ministry of God. My heart's desire is to follow the way of my Lord Jesus Christ. I like what the prophet Isaiah and David have to say about the true Judge who would come and dwell among us and His method and His heart in righteous judgment.

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

This situation with Calvary Chapel is not isolated. Nearly every evangelical denomination and organization of any size in North America is going in this same direction to one degree or another. One key factor in why this is happening so rapidly is that Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries are heavily saturated with contemplative/emerging spirituality. Biola University, for instance, where many Calvary Chapel pastors have attended and graduated, is deeply involved in this "new spirituality."

The spirituality of the desert fathers has gotten a grip on the current theological thought and practice like no one could have predicted just a few years ago, thanks largely in part to the emerging church and the work of Rick Warren and Bill Hybels. Remember, mysticism is what gives the emerging church its momentum. Holistic doctor and author Dr. Rick Levy revealed that in 2008 17 million Americans were practicing meditation (eastern-style). That number is up from 10 million in 2003. At that rate, in another five years it will probably be somewhere between 20 and 25 million. There is no doubt that this surge of mysticism will have a profound effect on virtually every North American family. This statistic is sobering when you consider what Richard Kirby observed:

The meditation of advanced occultists is identical with the prayer of advanced mystics; it is no accident that both traditions use the same word for the highest reaches of their respective activities: contemplation. (Mission of Mysticism, p. 7)

Our prayer at Lighthouse Trails is that everyone involved in this issue would take that statement seriously. Mysticism (i.e., the occult) is overtaking all segments of society, and this means that the world is falling under the spell of sorceries (magical arts) that according to the book of Revelation will deceive all nations (Revelation 18:23).

We close with this: In Alan Jones' book, Reimagining Christianity, he talks about a mystical spirituality in which not only all the world's religions will be united but all humanity will be united whether religious or not. On the back cover of Jones' book, Brian McLaren claims that this view "stimulates" and "encourages" him "deeply" and that Christianity is moving away from "dogma" (doctrine) toward "authentic spirituality" (mysticism).

With the termination of Paul Smith and the embracing of and teaming up with an emerging church, is this "authentic spirituality" the direction that Calvary Chapel is going to go? The answer to that question is becoming clearer all the time.



In His grace,

Editors at Lighthouse Trails Research


www.lighthousetrails.com


www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com


www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog

If you haven't already taken the time to read all the articles presented in the form of "Links" above, you should do so now. They are of great importance to your understanding the Truth behind this movement that is taking over all our churches, our schools, our government, OUR CHILDREN, our society, our news, and our very lives. I am sure that is not too late for Rick Warren to change and thereby save millions of people from being deceived...but, I am not very hopeful that, without some divine intervention (and God seems to be allowing Satan a free hand in these end times as predicted in the Bible), he will turn back from broad path he has chosen, which leads nowhere.

Yours in Christ, friendship, and LOVE...

David K. Irwin

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Under Attack...!

Good day & good health...

I am going to start each post from here on with the words from Simon & Garfunkel's song "Sound of Silence" because I have found them to be profoundly accurate to the apathy in today's Christian world. We are living in the sound of silence...here they are...

Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again. Because a vision softly in creeping, left its seeds while I was sleeping, and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams, I walked alone narrow streets of cobblestone. 'Neath the halo of an East street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp, when my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light that split the night and touched the sound of silence.

And, in the naked light, I saw ten thousand people, maybe more. People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening, people writing songs that voices never share and no one dare disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools" said I, "You do not know…Silence like a cancer grows. Hear my words that I might teach you, take my arms that I might reach you!" But my words like silent raindrops fell, and echoed in the wells of silence.

And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made. And the sign flashed out its warning, in the words that it was forming. And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls." And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.

Since I have openly admitted that I am committed to battling Satan and his followers, I have been under attack from all directions...even in my sleep. I expected no less from Satan...however, I was somewhat amazed and caught off guard by the rapidity of his attack. It flatters me that Satan should think that what I have to say is so damaging to his task that he take a personal interest in knocking me down. As far as I know, he may be the only one paying attention to my posts. Oh well, my Grandfather, John Capps Irwin, a methodist minister, writer, and theology teacher at Northwestern University in Illinois, used to say, "Any audience on a rainy day is better than none at all." I have been able to fend Satan off by hunkering down and putting on the Full Armor of God. I call on Jesus Christ and His Holy Blood to protect myself and my home against Satan's onslaught. As I mentioned, Satan has even infiltrated my dreams with cocaine nightmares that I have not experienced in many years since quitting that drug. I do not fear anything that Satan throws at me...not one bit! I am fully protected by the Lord Jesus Christ and, even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil! For Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me all the days of my life.

Also under attack is Saddleback Church and Rick Warren...and they ought to be! Warren is turning his fellowship into a fiasco of Catholicism. I cannot put this any clearer than the article by Ken Silva that I have copied for you below. If you have had any doubts about the misdirection of Rick Warren and his Saddleback ministry, this article should clear them up for you. PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AND RESEARCH THE LINKS.
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SOUTHERN BAPTIST PASTOR RICK WARREN AND SADDLEBACK CHURCH OPENLY RECOMMEND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Nov 30, 2008 in AM Missives, Current Issues, Features, Rick Warren, Southern Baptist Convention


Saddleback Church Pastors Using Rob Bell Teachings here at Apprising Ministries clearly showed thatEmerging Church icon and teacher of corrupt Contemplative Sprituality/Mysticism (CSM) Rob Bell has penetrated deeply into the mainstream of the evangelical community. So far so that Bell’s weekly sermons are recommended, and his Nooma DVDs sold, by pastors of the highly influential Saddleback Church (SC) of Rick Warren, which is aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention.

But you must understand that it’s really not all that surprising because we’ve already pointed out in Rick Warren and Saddleback Church: Prayer Is Not For The Novice one can purchase books e.g. by Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker “Roshi” Richard Foster, as well as titles by Roman Catholic universalistHenri Nouwen, right in the SC bookstore itself. Little wonder because these books are themselves featured in “The Spiritual Growth Center” online at the Saddleback Family (SF) website. In fact, Nouwen is even listed among books “that shaped” the life of Kay Warren (Online source) in addition to Nouwen’sSeeds of Hope being recommended in the “Spiritual Formation” section as well (Online source).

Well, below follows some of the false hope in the rancid seeds of universalism that Nouwen offered readers foolish enough to grab his non-existent lifeline made of contemplative myth.

Nouwen said:
Today I personally believe that Jesus came to open the door to God’s house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her way to God. (Sabbatical Journey, 51)

Now, the last time I checked that message wasn’t compatible with the historic orthodox Christian faith. Why for that matter, it isn’t even in accord with the much vaunted Baptist, Faith & Message of the spiritually squishy SBC either. And in addition there’s also a ”Must Read Books” section at SF. As expected from Warren’s Saddleback we first find his The Purpose Driven Life; but here we wish to bring to your attention that among these “must read” recommendations from SF we see what they call the “now-classic meditation on grace” Ragamuffin Gospel by teacher of Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP) mystic Brennan Manning (Online source).

For those who don’t know much about Brennan Manning Christian researcher Ray Yungen fills you in:

In The Signature of Jesus, Manning teaches how to suspend thought. He instructs his readers methodically:

[T]he first step in faith is to stop thinking about God at the time of prayer. [C]ontemplative spirituality tends to emphasize the need for a change in consciousness � we must come to see reality differently. Choose a single, sacred word - repeat the sacred word inwardly, slowly, and often. [E]nter into the great silence of God. Alone in that silence, the noise within will subside and the Voice of Love will be heard.

If one could draw a spiritual tree of both Manning’s and Foster’s mystical heritage it would look like this: from India, to Alexandria, to the Desert Fathers, to Thomas Merton, to them; and now, through them and others like them, to you. (Online source)

So far Saddleback is very SBC alright; Slowly Becoming Catholic. As I mentioned above the SF website even has ”The Spiritual Growth Center” (SGC); If there was any doubt left that Saddleback Church, aligned with the largest allegedly ”Protestant” denomination in the country, is seriously off the rails having fallen deeply into the spurious spirituality of the Counter Reformation of apostate Roman Catholicism then the following ought to drive away the murky mystic fog from your eyes. The second book we find in the SGC is by Richard Foster’s spiritual twin and SBC minister Dallas Willard, whom SF says is:

one of today’s most brilliant Christian thinkers and author of The Divine Conspiracy(Christianity Today’s 1999 Book of the Year), presents a way of living that enables ordinary men and women to enjoy the fruit of the Christian life. He reveals how the key to self-transformation resides in the practice of the spiritual disciplines, and how their practice affirms human life to the fullest. The Spirit of the Disciplines is for everyone who strives to be a disciple of Jesus in thought and action as well as intention. (Online source)

You can read more concerning Willard in the AM piece Delusions of Dallas Willard so here I will simply point you to an excellent review and refutation of Willard’s book of begging the question by Bob DeWaay who is dead on target when he says:

The spiritual disciplines that are supposedly necessary for spiritual formation are not defined in the Bible. If they were, there would be a clear description of them and concrete list. But since spiritual disciplines vary, and have been invented by spiritual pioneers in church history, no one can be sure which ones are valid. Willard says, [W]e need not try to come up with a complete list of disciplines. Nor should we assume that our particular list will be right for others.” The practices are gleaned from various sources and the individual has to decide which ones work the best…

Willard offers a discussion of each of these, citing people like Thomas Merton, Thomas a Kempis, Henri Nouwen, and other mystics. We are told that practices like solitude and silence are going to change us, even though the Bible does not prescribe them… Willard had admitted that there is no clear list of the disciplines and that each person might choose different practices through pragmatic means… Had he been willing to submit to the authority of Scripture, Willard could have refuted these practices based on Colossians 2:21-23. (Online source)

But of course wise advice never stops disobedient children bent of having their own way now, does it. Our SCG also recommends Celebration of Discipline (CoD) by Richard Foster. As I stated previously, in my estimation, CoD is the textbook for a growing Cult of Richard Foster within evangelicalism as it continues its repudiation of Sola Scripture in favor of highly subjective experience; i.e. a spiritual “buzz.” And the truth is Dr. Gary Gilley was dead on target when he said of Foster’s magnum opus:

Celebration of Discipline alone, not even referencing Foster’s other writings and teachings and ministries, is a virtual encyclopedia of theological error. We would be hard pressed to find in one so-called evangelical volume such a composite of false teaching. These include faulty views on the subjective leading of God (pp. 10, 16-17, 18, 50, 95, 98, 108-109, 128, 139-140, 149-150, 162, 167, 182); approval of New Age teachers (see Thomas Merton below); occultic use of imagination (pp. 25-26, 40-43, 163, 198); open theism (p. 35); misunderstanding of the will of God in prayer (p. 37); promotion of visions, revelations and charismatic gifts (pp. 108, 165, 168-169, 171, 193); endorsement of rosary and prayer wheel use (p. 64); misunderstanding of the Old Testament Law for today (pp. 82, 87); mystical journaling (p. 108); embracing pop-psychology (pp. 113-120); promoting Roman Catholic practices such as use of “spiritual directors,” confession and penance (pp. 146-150, 156, 185); and affirming of aberrant charismatic practices (pp. 158-174, 198). (Online source)

Finally, there’s the Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (SDH) by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun who is:
currently copastor, with her husband, Doug, of Redeemer Community in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She was formerly pastor of spiritual formation at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois. A trained spiritual director, she has taught courses at Wheaton College and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. (Online source)

Interesting that SC promotes Calhoun who in violation of God’s Word is allegedly a pastor; but at the same time, fortunately for Rick Warren with the Idol of Autonomy in the SBC he and his church can actually do and recommend whatever they jolly well wish to. And right on the backcover Calhoun tells us this handbook of heresy features how to information on CCP and Lectio Divina. O yes, as I peruse my personal copy of SDH I’m informed I can learn to “open myself to God” through the Examen of Counter Reformation figure Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the spiritual Gestapo Unit aka the Jesuits.

I’m also told I will learn the ways I can “reliquish the false self” through mantric meditation ala John Main that originated in pagan Eastern religions:

Go into silence, placing yourself in the presence of God with the words “Here I am.” As distractions come to mind, let them go by imagining they are boats floating down a river. Let the current take the distractions away. Don’t follow the distractions. Gently return to God repeating “Here I am.” Let the current of God’s Spirit carry you. What is this like for you? (110)

Big surprise; one of the “Resources on Silence” Calhoun recommends is another book on CCP by Ruth Haley Barton. Actually the list of “Pastor” Calhoun’s acknowledgements is a veritable who’s who of spurious spirituality including Ignatius of Loyola, Willard, Foster, Phyllis Tickle, Richard Rohr, Teresa of Avila “and many more.” Calhoun then informs us that, “Their ideas, voices and examples have shaped my own words and experiences of the disciplines” (10). A sad roll call indeed.

And the evangelical drift right back into the spiritual bondage which brought about the Protestant Reformation to begin with continues its accelerating into apostasy.

See also:
SOUTHERN BAPTIST PASTOR RICK WARREN CORRECTS MARTIN LUTHER
TODD FRIEL: A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ROB BELL SAYS PUBLICLY PRACTICING HOMOSEXUALITY IS OK FOR CHRISTIANS
DR. ROD ROSENBLADT CALLS RICK WARREN’S MAN-CENTERED THEOLOGY “ROMAN CATHOLIC”
CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY OF RICHARD FOSTER ROOTED IN THE EASTERN DESERT AND THOMAS MERTON
SO YOU WANT TO BE LIKE CHRIST… DITCH THE DISCIPLINES OF DALLAS WILLARD
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I will leave you here for this week as there is a good deal of information to be found in the many links associated with this article and, hopefully, you will take advantage of them. I am happy to say that my church, Countryside Community Church, has removed Rick Warren from its list of suggested books to read. Actually, they removed all suggested readings. I do not know if this is a result of my writing about Rick Warren or their own experiences with Saddleback. In either case, I am glad to see they no longer endorse his material on their website...at least, I couldn't find it. I feel that the reading of Rick Warren's material and other authors like him that endorse this New Spirituality concept of "Oneness" with God should be left to those who are aware of the pitfalls associated with reading material laced with arsenic. Even the discerned reader can find his/herself getting led down the wrong path at times. Some of Satan's authors write with a very sweet and attractive voice even though they speak with a forked tongue!

My best advice...DO NOT TAKE ANYONE'S WORD FOR GOSPEL!!!! Do your own research and find out for yourself the truth behind the hype. The Interent is only a source of literature and thought...not Gospel Truth. Anyone can write and author anything on the Internet...truth and lies. Be wary and be wise! Ask God for His Knowledge and He will give it gladly...and that you can rely on! But, most of all...BEWARE THE SOUND OF SILENCE!!!! If your church is not speaking about the movements of Satan, they are not doing their job! God made it quite clear in the bible that ours is the Good fight against evil in this world. That Satan comes like a thief in the night...silently. If your church is being silent on this topic, they are aiding Satan...not fighting him!

Yours in Christ, freindship, and LOVE...

David

Maitreya and the Disciples of Wisdom (The Watchers).

Hello again fellow believers or non-believers...

I am going to open this post with a letter I wrote to a dear friend who is in prison. He got involved with the New Age group and they quickly took him from 13 years of sobriety/not smoking, a healthy family, and an excellent job to drunkenness/smoking, divorce, and into prison for embezzlement. His new "New Spirituality" advisor told him that his soul was one with god and therefore he need not fear judgement...that his life was pre-ordained and without sin. He had read most of the books written by new age authors, had several personal life-readings, visited with shodowing spirits (Watchers), bought a Taro deck of cards, and much more. Since he has been in prison, he has sobered up, quit smoking, and is, once again, on the path to Jesus Christ. He has managed to overcome and rid himself of the demon that possessed him for several years. I could only watch as my best friend went from a true believer to a truly lost soul as the overpowering strength of his new spiritual friend destroyed his marriage and life. I thought to myself, "If this can happen to Gary, one of the strongest Christians I have ever known, it can happen to anyone!" What is this power? Who are these spirits?

Before I copy the letter into this post, I will tell you a bit of what Jesus has had me reading about lately. He (Jesus) sent me to a site run by Thomas Horn called "APOLLYON RISING 2012: The Lost Symbol Found And The Final Mystery Of The Great Seal Revealed. A Terrifying And Prophetic Cipher, Hidden From The World By The U.S. Government For Over 200 Years Is Here." There are 15 posts so far in this series and I was amazed to find many of the same players mentioned here (such as Maitreya and Disciples of Wisdom in Part Fourteen) as I have been reading about in Warren Smith's books. It was amazing because Tom Horn's writings are basically about the history of Freemasonry, Greek Mythology, and the Roman Empire. To find spirits from both ages with the same name is beyond coincidence...don't you think? Well, here is my letter to Gary...

I am about done with Warren Smith’s newest book, A “Wonderful” Deception: The Further New Age Implications of the Purpose Driven Movement. It seems that Rick Warren got so many emails and letters from parishioners around the world that he had to hire two “damage control” people to deal with the dissension. The first one did not do too good a job…he mostly just dodged the real problems and associations by trying to shift the blame. The second one, although more aggressive, did not do a much better job. He too had a very difficult time explaining away Rick Warren’s multiple uses of “New Age” terminology along with his extensive associations with “New Age” authors of all sorts. The first few chapters of Smith’s new book were totally dedicated to reproving, with fervor, what he had already proved. I also read the pdf file, which is free online, of Warren Smith’s called Reinventing Jesus Christ, which was the “who’s who” of New Age terminology, books, and other literature.

My new blog, For Heaven’s Sake, is dedicated to fighting the good fight against our adversary, Satan. I am now reading a 15 article blog by Tom Horn called Apollyon Rising 2012. It is dedicated to his forthcoming book of the same title and entails a history of the ancient gods of Greeks and Romans, Freemasons (such as Roosevelt, Franklin, Wallace), and the ideology found on the dollar bill (the pyramid, all-seeing eye, Latin literature, etc.). This new direction the Lord has taken me in is vastly interesting and I am finding common ties to what is happening in the New Spirituality (New Age) Movement today. Such things as “The Watchers” who are Maitreya’s helpers and who were prominent in Greek idol worship. It also has a great deal to do with the fact that there might have been what some have termed “Adomic” intellect that has been forgotten and diluted over the centuries since Adam and Eve and the Fall. It seems Adam may have had a knowledge of the stars that recorded the history of God, Creation, man’s creation, earth’s creation, the angels, and the Universe. In other words, the stars may actually hold the true and first recorded history of Creation (or the first bible). This star-intellect was forgotten with all the other godly knowledge that Adam and Eve had but lost when they chose to be gods themselves (The Fall). God then forbade astrology, since it was no longer blessed by His intellect, and the knowledge became diluted. Now, astrology, as a link or modem to life, death, the past and the future, is to be forsaken and shunned because it is not of godly content and can never be until God himself reveals the true tale. This is important because the fallen angels are the ones that are found throughout Greek and Roman history and may well have had their true pasts diluted in the same manner as the star-intellect. Apollo (Apollyon), or the sun god, may well be the number one angel under Satan who is Saturn in Greek mythology. Do you see where this is headed?

All these old mythological gods are the thousands of angels that followed Satan to earth. The Greeks had gods for everything from earth, wind, and fire to disease, health, and marriage. They had a freakin’ god for everything they did. It may well be that these gods/angels came to earth after/before(?) the fall and explained away their appearance as being truly good and beneficial gods…not fallen gods following Satan (I always wondered why the gods messed with Homer’s characters so much…now it makes sense). These are the same gods the Greeks called “The Watchers” because they watched over all matters of life concerning man (inherent evil?). Now, Maitreya says he is bringing back “The Watchers” or, as they have also been called, “The Disciples of Wisdom”. They are already channeling through people worldwide. So, are we headed into a new Roman revival…YES…only now it is called “America’s New Spirituality” whereas it was then called Rome or Babylon under the rule of Nimrod…the most decadent of all historical times when evil ruled the world. Only, this time Jesus will end Satan’s short rule by His return. Satan will move fast during this revival because he knows his reign is limited to a very short time. I look for world peace to happen soon…how?...I don’t know for sure. Will Warren do it? Will Obama do it? It’s not important who gets the credit for the beginning to the end…there won’t be enough history afterwards to make a difference one way or the other.

If I have enough money to order Smith’s new book for you this next week, I surely will. In the meantime, be careful what you read. The written word is God’s tool of conveyance to us mortels and is extremely volatile. It can do as much damage as it can good. Joyce Meyer is not an author I would encourage anyone to read. She is more new ager than anything close to our Christ. Her “feel good” Christianity is just the steppingstone to the dilution needed to weaken our armor. Remember your bible Gary…”a little leaven leaveneth the whole loaf.”

Until next time my good friend…

Tom Horn's posts are impelling proof that these very same "Spiritual Guides" that are now organizing, enhancing, and directing the "New Spirituality Movement" are the very same fallen angels that destroyed the great Roman Empire. They were also the ones responsible for the evil that brought God's wrath to Nimrod (great grandson of Noah) and his empire of Babylon. They have been around forever and they seem to cycle reigns of terror. I fear we are headed into a "New Age" of people who are being led by these very same evil angels that have ruled Earth since the beginning of history and the new fall will be "Babylon The Great is Falling" (or America) as Jack Hook explains on his website so thoroughly (a must read!).

I will leave you here while I do some more reading and exploring of all these new posts. As I have said before, I would not be doing this at all if it were not for the leading hands of Jesus. He leads me to read what is important and necessary for discerning Christian to know. I never proof read my posts as Jesus leads me to write as I work and His work is impeccable! Often, I will pause during a sentence and the words just seem to suddenly come upon me. This whole post came to me last night before falling asleep and is virtually, word for word, what I visualized last night. My mission from Jesus? To enlighten people...all people...as to the workings of our Adversary...Satan. To keep folks informed as to his movements and his intentions for the souls of as many people as he can fool. Satan is extremely wise (being an angel of highest rank) and extremely evil. He has thousands of angels in his ranks and they are called such names as; Maitreya, The Watchers, The Disciples of Wisdom, Legion, Greek/Roman gods, helpers, channelers, shadowers, and the Antichrist (may be here already in Maitreya). They have to be invited into your life to have any power over you (however, they can have power over other people that have power over you...like government people!) and are much, much harder to get rid of than to allow in. They fool us now in the very same way they fooled Adam and Eve...by saying we can be gods.

Be warned...they are after your soul...your very life...and they will not quit or give up. Satan's plans are for the fall of mankind in its entirety and, whether you like it or not, you are part of that plan. So, whose side are you playing on?

Until next time...God's love and good health to you my friends.

Maitreya and other "Players" in New Age Religion.

These things have I spoken unto you,
that ye should not be offended. They
shall put you out of the synagogues: yea,
the time cometh, that whosoever killeth
you will think that he doeth God service.
And these things will they do unto
you, because they have not known the
Father, nor me. But these things have I
told you, that when the time shall come,
ye may remember that I told you of
them. (John 16:1–4)

I am come in my Father’s name, and ye
receive me not: if another shall come in his
own name, him ye will receive.
(John 5:43)

There is come upon the earth a self-proclaimed Christ figure called Maitreya. He flew down from the mountains so as to fulfil the prophecy of appearing in the heavens. In February of 1982, Wayne Peterson was watching Merv Griffin on television when Merv introduced a new book and its author, The Reappearance of the Christ and The Masters of Wisdom, by Benjamin Creme. This is a paraphrase of Creme speaking to Griffin:

During this discussion, Creme said that
the one Christians call the Christ had re-
appeared and was living in a major industrial
city in the Western world. This
time his name was Maitreya and he was
bringing with him a large group of his
disciples, highly advanced, spiritual
men called the Masters of Wisdom. He
said we could expect to hear more about
Maitreya on local and international
news programs very soon.
Maitreya’s purpose, Creme indicated,
was to help us realize our innate divinity
through learning to live in right relationship
as brothers and sisters of one
great family. The first step was to establish
sharing as the way to eliminate the
poverty and starvation that caused millions
around the world to die daily in
the midst of plenty. Maitreya was
emerging in time to help us save ourselves
and the planet, and would make
himself known to all in a televised ‘Day
of Declaration’ soon to come.

He ordered Creme's book, read it, and came to believe that his "Masters of Wisdom" were what we commonly call angels and that they were here to herald the coming of their Christ...Maitreya. He also claimed that as a child he had been visited by Mary, the mother of Jesus, who, during a time of grave illness, said to him in a dream, " I am going to tell you a secret that few now know. If you stay with your family, you will see the Christ because he will come to live with the people of the world." Now, with the appearance of Maitreya, Peterson began to believe this dream to be prophecy.


As I read Creme’s book, I learned more
about the Christ, or World Teacher,
whose personal name is Maitreya. He
is the one awaited by all the major religions
albeit unknown to them. The
Christians wait for the return of the
Christ, Buddhists for the next Buddha,
Muslims for the Imam Mahdi, Hindus
for a reincarnation of Krishna, and the
Jews for the Messiah. These are all different
names for one individual,
Maitreya, who is here not as a religious
leader but as a teacher for all humanity.

Benjamin Creme, in The Reappearance
of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom, said:
In the esoteric tradition, the Christ is not
the name of an individual but of an Office
in the Hierarchy. The present holder
of that Office, the Lord Maitreya, has
held it for 2,600 years, and manifested
in Palestine through His Disciple, Jesus,
by the occult method of overshadowing,
the most frequent form used for the
manifestation of Avatars. He has never
left the world, but for 2,000 years has
waited and planned for this immediate
future time, training His Disciples, and
preparing Himself for the awesome task
which awaits Him. He has made it
known that this time, He Himself will
come.

Soon after reading about Maitreya, Peterson was given the opportunity to meet with Benjamin Creme and Maitreya in person in Washington, D.C.. During this visit, Peterson was invited to join a "Transmission Meditation" that he describes as:

Called Transmission Meditation, it was
a service activity in which energy from
the Masters was ‘stepped down’ by the
meditators and made available to the
world. In the process the meditators’
own spiritual development was enhanced
manifold. I understood that it
was another way to help Maitreya and
the Masters emerge as soon as possible.

If this has peaked your interest, you should definitely read Warren Smith's book, "Reinventing Jesus Christ." You can access the pdf file by clicking on the title to this article. Most of what I have written comes directly from his text in chapter 4 titled, "Wayne Peterson and Maitreya." The chapter goes on to tell how Maitreya and his Masters of Wisdom have channeled their powers through such leaders as Mikhail Gorbachev and many of our nations most prestigious senators and congressmen. He explains how just being in the presence of Maitreya one can feel his spiritual energy surging into your body. To me, this makes perfect sense. If indeed Maitreya is the Antichrist of biblical prophecy, he would have extremely strong spiritual powers...after all, he is a demon of the highest order. Not only good angels have masterful spiritual powers. The fallen angels of Satan also have these powers...as Peterson goes on to explain:

As we stood there with spiritual energy
flowing freely, I told Maitreya that, if
people could experience this energy,
they would discard all their earthly notions
of ‘paradise'. Gradually over
time he was able to meet others in positions
of responsibility who had met privately
with Maitreya and the Masters of Wisdom
and were now actively working with them.
What I did not initially know was that
many of my colleagues in government
and diplomatic circles had had similar
experiences and had also been contacted
by members of a group of extraordinary
beings, who might be called the elder
brothers of humanity, custodians of the
Divine Plan for our evolution. World
leaders who are household names have
privately confirmed their knowledge of
and cooperation with this unfolding
plan.

This "unfolding plan" that Peterson speaks of is the same plan that Jesus Christ warned us about in the Bible. Time and time again, Jesus spoke of our adversary and how he would come 'as a thief in the night' and that we must be constantly on the defense against false prophets. However, our churches seem to be more concerned about "Revival" and "New Spirituality" and a renewed interest by the public in a new form of religion. Our church leaders have been lulled into a false sense of security by larger and larger numbers of people coming to hear the gospel and "The Good News". The problem is that "The Good News" is not gospel. It is not even close to the spoken Word of God found in biblical Scripture.

As you will find out if you continue to read my articles, Maitreya and his following are not about Jesus Christ whatsoever. As a matter of fact, Maitreya claims that "...Christ is not a person, it is an office...a position held by the man called Jesus whom I shadowed during his lifetime." He claims to be the true Christ. Sound outlandish? Even scary? Well, grab your shirttails because he has millions of followers...many of which are very influential and famous including...are you ready for this...Oprah Winfrey.

Some of the other players and their books are: Alice A. Bailey, "The Reappearance of the Christ" and other books; Benjamin Creme, "The Reappearance of the Christ and The Masters Of Wisdom" and other books; Wayne W. Dyer, "There's a Spiritual Solotion to Every Problem"; Barbara Marx Hubbard author of many books; Neale Donald Walsch, "Conversations With God: an uncommon dialogue, books I, II, III"; Gerald Jampolsky, "Love is Letting Go of Fear"; and, of course, Wayne Peterson, "Extroardinary Times, Extroadinary Beings: Experiences of an American Diplomat with Maitreya and the Masters of Wisdom." Many of these authors and their books have been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey on her show. If you watch Oprah, you are undoubtedly familiar with their names. However, you may not be familiar with their agenda.

In the weeks to come, I will try to introduce each one of these players individually and allow you to see their true colors. They all have the same agenda...to bring about "Oneness" of all people on earth, to engage "Atonement" , which is really pronounced "at-one-ment", to bring about world peace (a pre-cursor to Revelations), and to make us understand that we all have God in us and therefore are all gods (Oneness and at-one-ment concept) and have no need of redemption of sin. What a wonderful concept...no sin, no guilt, no need to change...all we have to do is admit our "Oneness" with God and all is good. The perfect solution to a "hurry-up" world's understanding of Christianity. An "easy to do", "in and out quickly", "one stop" cure to sin. And, after all, if Oprah endorses it (and she does), how could it possibly be wrong?

What would you say if a person came before you and you immediately felt his supernatural spirituality surge through you and he said he could cure cancer and other diseases (of course Satan can cure these because he made them and, as I will show you later, he is already doing this in hospitals today), could bring about world peace (he creates the atmosphere for war and quit at any time), and could absolve you of all culpability of past iniquities if you simply admit you are at one with him and God? Would you follow such a person? Would you call him Christ?

I will leave you with this by Warren Smith as he sums up what is happening in our world today, quite clearly, in his book, "Reinventing Jesus Christ":

And the Lord is saying the same thing
now to those in the Church who refuse to
see what is going on in the world today.
God is not in the process of giving the
Church “new revelation” that will supercede
what He has already given us in His
holy Word. He is not in the process of bringing
a “new thing” into the Church. He is
not in the process of taking His Church to a
“new place” or to a “new dimension” or to
a “new level.” He is not in the process of
bringing in a “new dispensation.” And He
most certainly is not in the process of introducing
a “new gospel” that contradicts in
word and spirit everything He has ever
taught us about our life in Christ. No, these
are the plans of antichrist, and the Church
had better beware.

In The Beginning...

In the beginning, God set up a few rules...nothing difficult...just guidelines to preserve the Garden of Eden and humankinds virtue. However, Satan had a plan of his own and he used man's weakness to exploit his intentions. This weakness was the very same weakness that got him thrown out of heaven...a desire to be God-like. It appears that the Devil became the prince of this world when he led man (Adam and Eve) to sins against God and thus brought the ruler of earth under his domination (Genesis 1:26:3:1-6; John 12:31; Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18). Thus was the beginning of man's long ordeal with original sin.

It wasn't until the Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to earth and died on the cross for the propitiation of our sins that we realized a way out of sin...or, should I say...a way in...to heaven. "That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:18) We are given the ability to overcome our sinful nature by accepting that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, is our Savior, and is the only means by which we can enter into Heaven or have a conversation with The Father. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (John 11:25) "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:5–6) "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of
the whole world." (1 John 2:2)

Now we have a new standard to live and die by and remember, the scriptures are the inerrant and inspired word of God that have withstood thousands of years of debate and distortion. I have copied (with permission) the basic teachings of the Holy Bible and God's spoken Truth. Do not "...get caught up in the numbers game of six, seven, or eight teachings. The numbers and the fact they all begin with the letter "S" are to make it easier to read and remember. You can rest your eternal soul, spirit, and body upon the truth revealed in the scriptures." (By Jack Hook, Babylon The Great Is Falling)

-----------------------------------------------

(1) Son of God

The fundamental doctrines of Christ begin with the truth of the trinity or one God in three persons, Father, Word (Son), and Holy Spirit. The Jewish prophet, Isaiah, saw the person of the Son and said unto a rebellious Israel..."For unto us a child is born (in Bethlehem), unto us a Son is given (in Jerusalem), and the government shall be upon his shoulder" (on Earth during the millennial kingdom)..., Isaiah 9:6. Daniel spoke of the same Son and his mission when he said the Messiah would be "cut off" or given for the people of Israel, Daniel 9:26.

The apostle John's very first words given to him by the Holy Spirit, as he described this Son who the small remnant of Israel was looking for, were..."In the beginning was the Word (Son), and the Word (Son) was with God (Father), and the Word (Son) was God. The same was in the beginning with God (Father)...and the Word (Son) was made flesh, and dwelt among us", John 1:1-2,14. When the Word or Son came to this Earth through the virgin birth of Mary, God and man were forever linked in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus, the eternal Word and Son, said to the Father..."a body thou hast prepared me", Hebrews 10:5. God the Word (Son) was now wearing the fleshly body of a man, yet without sin as all others possessed from the fall of Adam and Eve.

Many who read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John become confused by false teachers who deny that Jesus was God, the second member of the eternal Godhead. They will cut and paste the words of Jesus out of context to prove their point. When you read the words of Jesus written in the four gospels he seems to be talking to his followers one time as the Son of Man, like when he says..."the Father is greater than I". These false teachers will use this verse to say Jesus was only a man. But they quickly forget that another time Jesus says.."before Abraham was, I am", which identifies the Word (Son) of God inside the body of the Lord doing the speaking, for Jesus the man had not yet been born when Abraham lived. Remember, the Lord Jesus was both a man and God and could speak from either position or nature. We must know also that the triune Godhead had planned before the worlds were created for the Word to also become the Son, which John so clearly alluded to in his gospel account.

(2) Satan's Rebellion

The next thing we must understand is the fall of Lucifer, who was created as one of God's archangels, Isaiah 14:12-14. He was created with a pure and perfect heart, just as Adam and Eve much later in time. Both angels and men were created to live forever like their creator. God created multiple millions, some say billions, of other angels that administered the Kingdom of God that flourished throughout the universe. Everything was filled with love, light, and life that worshipped the triune Godhead. According to Ezekiel's account of Lucifer's rebellion, he was perfect in his ways until the day sin was found in him. For pride filled his heart as he desired to not only be a creation of God, but attain the place and position of being God himself, Ezekiel 28:11-19. He managed to convince one-third of all the angels to join him in this attempt to be like God, Revelation 12:3-4. He now became known as Satan.

Luke records the Lord Jesus himself declaring how he was there when God banished Lucifer and his rebellious friends from Heaven..."I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven", Luke 10:18. That statement confirms the truth that Jesus was both the eternal God and a man in perfect flesh when he spoke those words to his disciples. The light and life that filled the universe through the hearts of holy angels was now cursed with the darkness by the fall of Lucifer and his friends The apostle John plots the course of this vital and foundational teaching of Lucifer/Satan's fall in the Revelation with the glorious and ultimate political-religious defeat of Satan and the fallen angels.

(3) Sin Nature

When Adam and Eve fell into rebellion against God through the crafty lies of Satan, all future generations were now under a curse. Satan now had dominion over humanity, and ultimately the various nations or kingdoms that would arise from a divided world after the flood of Noah's day, including America. Satan even offered the nations to Jesus if he would worship him as God, Luke 4:5-8.

We all inherited the sin nature of Adam and Eve which consists of many elements and characteristics, all flowing from the self-exalting pride of this life (militant national patriotism a manifestation), and the love of self and money, 1 John 2:16. It consumes and controls our entire tri-part being comprised of body, soul, and spirit. This nature of pride within us all was the root cause of Esau's (Edomites) hatred toward Israel just as the Old Testament prophet Obadiah declared..."the pride of your heart (spirit) has deceived you", Obadiah 3. The Islamic neighbors of Israel today are no different than their Edomite ancestors, as they are totally consumed by their desire to destroy the Jewish people.

(4) Sacrifice of Blood

According to the scriptures, this evil sin nature can only be removed by the blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. This removal is likened unto the circumcision of a male child, but this one is of our heart or spirit wherein dwells the control room of our entire being. Hebrews 9:22 says it plainly..."without shedding of blood is no remission (of sin)," It is that simple my friends We have no power or ability within ourselves to remove the dominance this nature has over our entire being. All we can do is come to the bloody cross of Israel's Messiah. This sacrificial death on the cross to pay for our sins, to offer us mercy and forgiveness is why he came from Heaven in the first place. How can anyone not love him and unashamedly proclaim his name for what he did?

The scriptures teach that Jesus came once to die in the end of the ages, appearing unto man to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, Hebrews 9:26. But properly understanding the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ must include the truth of his glorious bodily resurrection. As Paul taught the Corinthians, if Jesus did not rise bodily from the dead then he is not our Savior and Lord, and we are yet in our sins, 1 Corinthian 15. This resurrection truth must be included with the cross to be the cornerstone of our faith. They are inseparable.

The next two foundational doctrines describe the part we must play in order to be freed from the sin nature within us, but as I just said, the sacrificial death and glorious bodily resurrection of our Lord which our brothers, Peter, James, and John, witnessed first hand and so testified before a doubting world, remains the heart and soul of the gospel message.

(5) Sorrow

This might shock some of you, but it is not enough to just give mental assent to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The fallen angels and their leader, Satan, do this every day. They know this all happened, they saw it with their very own eyes, they were there. You must take this knowledge and apply it to your own life. His death is your death and his resurrection is your resurrection and freedom from the sin nature, like Paul taught in Romans 6-8. This application of Godly knowledge then becomes wisdom, and wisdom changes our lives. But you might be asking, what does it mean...his death is my death? Great question!

First of all, we must humbly confess from our hearts that we are indeed sinners before a holy and majestic God, and rightfully deserve to be judged and sent to an eternal Hell in the Lake of Fire. At the same time we must do what Paul taught the Corinthians, when he told them Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, 2 Corinthians 7:10. This sorrow can only come when we realize that all of our sins are not just against other people, but against God. Our sins are the very nails that punctured the skin of the Son of God when evil men crucified him over two-thousand years ago. I was one of those evil men and still am in my carnal flesh! We were all there in a spiritual sense, my friends, and all of us stand guilty before him. After thirty plus years of knowing this fundamental truth about myself and the bloody cross of our Savior, I continue to stand in awe of the incredible love the Son of God has toward all men, in that while we were yet sinners and his enemies, he died for us.

Sorrow of a Godly kind instinctively produces repentance and must be included when placing or applying our God-given faith upon the person of Jesus Christ and his teachings. Then his death becomes the death of your old life as a practicing sinner. For the Lord Jesus teaches us that if we repent and put our trust and faith in him he will freely give us "the gift" that brings salvation. Regrettably, many in Christendom today want a free gift of salvation "only" to escape being thrown into the Lake of Fire, when the truth is our Lord gives this free gift to save us from our sin nature and the fallen angels who stir it up to do their bidding.

Many are traveling upon a dark and wide religious road leading to an eternal Hell, while at the same time thinking they have Jesus as Savior, when he is not the Lord of their lives. I was once one of them before becoming an atheist after my experiences in the Vietnam war. I was a believer in name only, even having the name "Protestant" engraved on my Army dog tags. Like all false believers, I had no desire to understand the spiritual components of my sin nature which poured out of me naturally, let alone be free from its power. In fact, I didn't think for a second I was a false believer, and would look down on anyone who would even suggest such a thing. After all, I was serving God and country, just like other Christian Americans have since 1776.

So just what is this free gift that we "receive by faith" when Godly sorrow has worked repentance within our hearts?

(6) Salvation

Salvation is not a reality in our lives unless we believe the Word of God when he says the Holy Spirit will enter into our bodies instantly upon our true Godly repentance and expression of faith in the bloody cross and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. As Peter cried out to his Jewish audience on the Day of Pentecost..."Therefore, let all of the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom "ye have crucified", both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were "pricked" in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit", Acts 2:36-38. Do you see how this Jewish audience was told they killed the Messiah? How did they respond when their hearts were pricked or convicted by the Holy Spirit using the mouth and words of Peter?

You can clearly see now that the ultimate free gift of God is not just escaping the Lake of Fire, but receiving the Holy Spirit, the third member of the triune Godhead. He is a person, God himself, who enters into our sinful bodies, washes away the sin nature controlling our heart or spirit, and recreates a new heart now surrounded by the Holy Spirit. Our bodies and old minds have yet to be saved and contain the remnants of the sin nature that tempt us, but the dominant power of sin was located in our spirit or heart. This evil nature has been crucified on the cross and our new heart lives in the love, life, and teachings of Jesus Christ while our minds are renewed daily waiting for the final salvation or glorification of our sinful bodies on the day of resurrection. This what Paul meant when he cried out..."Christ in you the hope of glory", Colossians 1:20-29

But false Christian teachers inspired by fallen angels have always twisted or redefined this indwelling miracle in order to keep men trapped in the self-exaltation of themselves (self-love, self-image, self-esteem) that comes naturally from the religious pride of our sin nature. Men like Robert Schuller, Bennie Hinn, Joel Osteen, and their friends on television, have redefined the elements of the sin nature and are trumpeting "another" Holy Spirit that is deceiving millions in Christendom. There is only one true Holy Spirit and Paul said to the Christians in Rome if any man has not this Spirit of Christ, he is not yet saved and part of the Body of Christ, Romans 8:9.

The fallen angels that guide false teachers, like Schuller, hate the truth of the bloody cross and will do anything they can to keep men from the power of the cross that produces Godly sorrow and true repentance. Moreover, these unseen haters of God do not want anyone to understand the spiritual components of our sin nature, and the power of the Lord's blood to wash it away.

Know this my friends, when a man has the true Spirit of God within him he will not contradict or re-interpret these fundamental teachings of Jesus Christ. Neither will the true Spirit condone any notion that in any way suggests we can have Jesus as our Savior, but not the Lord of our daily lives. Like I said, there are many false Christians who want only to escape Hell, but not the sin that sends us there. Remember this, he will not be our Savior from Hell if we have no desire for him to be our Lord to give us his power to walk in his commandments no matter what the cost. This indwelling of God within us is the power that also brings a great love for all people, including the worst of our enemies, whereby we can then obey the two greatest commandments of God, loving him and our neighbors. All other commandments hang upon these two, just as Jesus said.

Paul wrote to his friend, Titus, instructing him to remind the followers of Jesus, now being seduced by false Christian teachers, that we were saved not by offering our own good works unto God that he might then forgive us. Men who teach these things only keep men in the carnal pleasures of their sin nature, while convincing their followers they have the innate ability within themselves to please God by good deeds or works. Paul was astonished at how these false teachers would twist the Word of God around trying to convince people they needed to do good works in themselves before God would forgive and save them. He carefully told Titus..."Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit", Titus 3:5. Both Peter and Paul understood and taught this fundamental teaching of regeneration or being born again in one's heart, and the work of the Holy Spirit in renewing our minds with the teachings of Jesus.

(7) Second Coming

The cross and resurrection are inseparable teachings, as I wrote earlier. There is one more doctrine that must be connected to them in order to have complete understanding of the gospel message. And that is the doctrine of the physical and pre-millennial second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to establish his rule and reign from Jerusalem over the nations for one-thousand years, Revelation 19-20. If any of these three teachings are redefined or omitted from the proclamation of the gospel, confusion will rule in the hearts of those who profess to be Christians, the followers of Jesus Christ. If this confusion or distortion is not corrected the gospel proclaimed by these deceived brethren then becomes as Paul said to the Corinthians and Galatians, "another" gospel preaching "another" Jesus.

Do you now believe that he is alive, risen from the dead, and your sin nature has been washed away by his blood? If you do, then where is he now and is he coming back as he promised his amazed followers who watched him as he ascended into the heavens, leaving them with his promise to someday return in like manner, Acts 1:9-11? Our Lord will return to and for his faithful followers in his glorious risen body before he unleashes his militant judgment upon the nations for rejecting him and his message. These are the Christians who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and walking in his power to continue in the faith concerning these seven pillars of sound doctrine.

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If you wish to read Jack's entire email, you can visit his site, Babylon The Great Is Falling, and join his email list or read his recommended articles: "I invite you to once again read the two-part article "The Fundamentalist" which details and defines these foundational doctrines or teachings in the holy scriptures. Just click on "Articles" on the left side of our website homepage and scroll down to the article. Please let me know if you have any comments, criticisms, or questions by visiting our website and signing the "guestbook" or sending an email. Thank you for reading this and I hope to hear from you soon. I hope you will also consider reading the articles "Then Comes the Fire", and “The Judgment Chronicles” posted on our web site. For details concerning my military background during the Vietnam era, please read the articles "Vietnam: The Manchus of Charlie Company", "Pacifist, Patriot, or Pilgrim" and “Moved with Compassion”. Just click on the web site link below and click on “Articles”. The radio interviews I have been part of can be listened to by clicking on this link: http://www.thebyteshow.com/JackHook.html " (excerpt from email by Jack Hook)

Now that we have a good foundation of solid truths, we can go ahead and get into the meat of what is happening in the world today concerning scripture, Jesus Christ, the Holy Bible, God's Word, and the controversial and often misdirected proclamations put forth by such authors as Robert Schuller, Marianne Williamson, Wayne Dyer, Gary Zukav, Barbara Marx Hubbard, James Redfield, Deepak Chopra, Rick Warren, and yes, believe it or not, Oprah Winfrey. It's going to be an eye-opening, mind-boggling (at times), mind-clearing (at times) event that you won't want to miss. So, stay tuned...

Yours in Christ Jesus (everlasting), friendship (eternal), and Love (enduring & unconditional)...

David K. Irwin