And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
(2 Corinthians 11:14)
I belong to an online Bible study and networking group. Each of us loves the Lord Jesus Christ. Although we belong to varying denominations, each of us is committed to study God's word and gain a deeper understanding of His will. A few months ago, a group member posted an inspirational poem to the message board titled, Acts of Faith.
Acts of Faith is a simple, poem filled with scripture imagery- "Your crown," "children of the King," "live by grace." What could be the problem?
The author of the poem is Ilyana Vanzant. Ms Vanzant is a motivational speaker, author of 18 books, has been an Oprah Winfrey regular guest, and co-host of the network television show, Starting Over. Ms Vanzant is not a Christian; she is an ordained Yorba priestess steeped in new-age mysticism.
If a committed Christian could be deceived by New-Age wordplay, how much more easily deceived are the unsaved? Don't be surprised with your unsaved co-worker's version of "god-talk." New Age teachings mimic Christian concepts and language. New-agers will even quote scripture to bolster their case.
Esther and Jerry Hicks are early proponents of the Law of Attraction principles found in the blockbuster book, The Secret. The Law of Attraction is a philosophy that corrupts Biblical principles to obtain the benefits of God without repentance and submission to God. According to her website, Esther Hicks receives her insights by talking to a group of spirits who call themselves, "Abraham." The Hicks website is loaded with scripturesque quotations complete with King James English.
· "That which is like unto itself is drawn."
· "It is done unto you as you believe"
· "Ask, and it is given,"
This new-age philosophy promotes the Law of Attraction as the omnipotent, omnipresent force that controls everything in the universe. It is god-talk without God. In fact, it may even take a while to recognize that the new-ager is not a fellow Christian. After all, not only do they use "almost" scripture phrases, many Law of Attraction websites actually quote the Bible. They prominently feature Proverbs 23:7 NKJV. "As a man thinks in his heart, so he is."
Why worry about a few new-age people?
A Google search of the phrase "Law of Attraction" produces over two million websites dedicated to propagating the philosophy. The Law of Attraction book "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne was released in November 2006. According to Simon & Schuster, public demand was for more than four million print and audio copies in the first five months. In less than one year, The Secret has sold over six million copies and Law of Attraction has become one of the fastest growing movements in the Western world.
This new-age philosophy creates a theological swamp. New-agers actually talk like we talk. Most people who have adopted these teachings don't even recognize that they do not follow the same God you do. They believe in god. They believe in god as a spiritual force of the universe- not the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These people will insist that it is perfectly acceptable and allowable to refer to God as the "universe," or "the force of nature."
Introducing Christ to the person who has fallen into this philosophy is particularly difficult. You will not typically be able to shake this believe system through scripture reference or verbal argument. The first critical step is to separate your evangelistic speech from their god-talk. While not diminishing the Trinity, you will have to differentiate your God from their word-clutter. New-agers frequently use the terms: god, father, and spirit. They never refer to Jesus Christ. I suggest you emphasize the name of Jesus in all your evangelistic conversation.
Law of Attraction stresses physical-life benefits. Health, prosperity, peace, etc. Your evangelism will have to center on relationship with Christ and eternal-life benefits. Health, prosperity, peace are natural side benefits of being a Christian. But if you focus on these benefits, the new-agers will think that you are only talking about two different ways to get to the same destination. Your verbal testimony will have to elaborate the intimacy of knowing God. Law of Attraction can counterfeit rules, laws, and benefits- not relationship. Your witness- your observable testament, will have to evidence your relationship with Christ. These new-agers will come to Christ when you can show them the God they can't know through the Law of Attraction.
In Isaiah 1:18 NKJV, the Lord says, "Come now, and let us reason together…" We commune with our God. We abide in Him. We talk to Him and He talks back to us. By our words and our conduct, millions who seek God's stuff through the Law of Attraction, can learn instead…
"Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33 NKJV
Be Blessed and Fruitful,
Yvonne
SeedTime & Harvest
http://www.SeedistheWord.com/
You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney…
I think everyone in American over the age of five can recite those familiar dictates of Miranda. And anyone over forty-years old can't help but remember Jack Webb's dry recitation of Miranda rights or remember that Mirandizing starts right after "Book 'em Danno."
Of course, the Miranda ruling was designed to protect the rights of the criminal defendant. But, we thank God that we have spiritual Miranda Rights. We have the right to remain silent. We have the right to an attorney. In fact, we have the finest Advocate. (1 John 2:1) And He's working pro bono because he paid our price over two thousand years ago. On judgment day, we can sit silently while our Advocate argues the case before His Father.
Talk about slam-dunk cases! By the Blood of Christ, we already know the verdict. The defendant is Not Guilty.
"… You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth..." Acts 1:8 NKJV
Today is not judgment day. You are not the defendant. You are a witness- a witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Waynesville, and Chicago, and all ends of the earth. And in the spiritual world- just like the natural world, witnesses do not have the right to remain silent. A witness is subject to subpoena power. A subpoena is a legal order to testify. In the natural world, the judge can demand you appear in court as a witness. If you still choose to remain silent- if you refuse to be a witness, you are guilty of the crime of contempt.
The Word of God exhorts Christians to be witnesses and evangelist in all four Gospels and Acts. We are people under subpoena. The Bible is very clear; we are ordered to testify. If you choose to remain silent, you are guilty of contempt.
"… You confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. "(Romans 10:9 NKJV)
Answering the summons to court is easy. Be who you confess. Be Christ-like when you think no one is watching. The jury is not out yet. They are still in the jury box, watching. And there is no greater evidence for the cause of Christ than this- be who you confess to be.
The jury is waiting. Don't be silent. Confess Jesus Christ.
Do you ask yourself often, what can "just one person" do? Can one person really make a difference? Before you answer, remember with God ...
...anything is possible.
Yvonne Reeves-Chong,
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