Let us begin with sincere repentance before our GOD, in Jesus’ name….
One of our LORD’s dear disciples told me they were dreading finding out how that Charles Spurgeon was a Calvinist and a Mason…. because they had lifted him up so high in their hearts and minds. My reply was as follows….
Whew been there many times…. you are a true disciple of our LORD Jesus apparently… honest….. Isaiah 2:22 right? Our LORD is slaying all the idols of our hearts because He loves us.
“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?” Ezekiel 14:3
“O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” Hosea 14:1-2
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, I come to You through Christ alone, and certainly not in my own filthy rag righteousness! LORD, I here and now repent of idolatry, of the sin of spiritual adultery as and when I dared put any man, any woman, or any ministry above that which is written of men – that they, we have all sinned against You. Please forgive and wash me clean in Thy precious blood LORD Jesus here and now. Please take away the stony places of my heart and grant this, Your vessel, to have an heart of flesh. I love You dear Father and LORD Jesus. Have Your way in my life. I lay my life in Thy hands. In Jesus’ name.
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From Deborah at discerningtheworld.com
“Charles Spurgeon inconspicuously included Luciferian terms in many of his sermons. These occult words and phrases have been ignored by Calvinists who to this day hail Spurgeon as the Prince of Preachers. Listed below are 7 pages of quotes from Charles Spurgeon’s sermons containing occult terms.
Many of these terms are found in Masonic works such as “Morals and Dogma” by Albert Pike, “Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry” by Albert Mackey, “The Secret Teachings of All Ages” by Manly P. Hall and Theosophical works such as “The Secret Doctrine” and “The Externalisation of the Hierarchy” by Helena Blavatsky and many others.
The occult terms Charles Spurgeon used in his sermons are used across a wide spectrum of occult/esoteric belief systems such as in witchcraft, Satanism, the Kabbalah, Alchemy, Gnosticism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Zoroastrianism, the New Age Movement, Latter Rain/New Apostolic Reformation/Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement and more.
The demonic doctrine of Calvinism is a Masonic Luciferian invention to trap the masses into what appears to be solid Christian teaching when in fact it is sending people directly to hell via the doctrine of T.U.L.I.P. Please see this article that proves John Calvin was a Freemason: Huguenots, John Calvin and Freemasonry.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was not the Prince of Preachers, he was the Prince of Predators.
Spiritual Freemasonry (Spurgeon uses holy grip and sacred passwords)
Charles Spurgeon: “I pray that the members of this church may always act toward each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. I wish that among all the saints there might be a sort of spiritual Freemasonry so that whenever we might meet, we should recognize one another by the holy grip of Christian love. There are certain sacred passwords that are common to all the saints and I will defy the hypocrite or the worldling to pronounce them aright—but if he should be able to utter them with his lips—he can never really know their meaning in his heart.”
Freemasonry: “Shekinah, or Logos, 8 which our ancient Brethren, with all humility and reverence, have ventured to introduce into the system of spiritual Freemasonry ; that emanation of the Deity was the irresistible agent in the creation of the world.” — Historical Landmarks of Freemasonry
The Golden Light (Occultism, Hinduism, Witchcraft)
Charles Spurgeon: “You can see Him as the dove, full of innocence. You can see Him in the blood sprinkled, in the incense burning, in the laver filled with water, in Aaron’s rod that budded, in the golden pot that was full of manna, in the ark. You can see Him having the law within His heart and over the ark. You can see the golden light of the Shekinah above the mercy seat, and say, ‘Christ is here.’” (The Dew of Christ’s Youth #2724,)
Occult Meditations: “Man has to recollect his original state of perfection and rise like the Sun who rises and transmits golden light. He is light; he is life. Man also has to rise to his east, which is his Ajna centre, where he experiences himself as I AM. He then experiences the golden life, the golden light and the golden temple.”— Occult Meditations by K. Parvati Kumar
Hinduism: “Technically, miracles are reserved for outwardly verifiable events and thus do not include the subjective world of visions or mystical experience. That aside, we suggest that the most worthy miracle of all is the alchemical transformation of the mind from leaden sloth, delusions and desires to the golden light of cosmic energy, love, freedom, charity and self-knowing.”
Witchcraft: “Open your crown chakra…….”
Golden Fire (the “flame of Prana” believed by Luciferians to be Lucifer’s life force):
Charles Spurgeon: “As ‘I AM’ was in the bush, and made it glow with golden fire, transforming it from a despicable bush to become a throne for Deity, so shall it be with you. ‘I am with you, poor bush that might readily be burned; I will fill you with Myself, and make you radiant with glory, for I have set My love upon you from of old.’” — The Sweet Harp of Consolation #760
Theosophy: “Reading jñāna in stead of dhyāna in the text, the directly following text would be understandable and satisfactory. This idea that we should read jñāna is also supported by the fact that later onshe says: ‘Henceforth thy way is clear right through the Vīrya gate, the fifth one of the Seven Portals. Thou art now on the way that leadeth to the Dhyāna haven, the sixth, the Bodhi Portal. The Dhyāna gate is like an alabaster vase, white and transparent; within there burns a steady golden fire, the flame of Prajñā that radiates from Ātman’ – what seems to indicate that only then she begins to speak about the sixth pāramitā, which is Dhyāna.” — Glossary to the Voice of Silence
Mystic Letters (Kabbalah)
Charles Spurgeon: “As for the ungodly world, it concerns them not whether there is a God or not! And as to the excellence of His character, they do not regard it. But those whom He loves and whom He will set on high, delight to know the name of God and to spell out its mystic letters as they are painted on His works, unfolded in His ways and revealed in His Word! They make it their study to know what can be known of Him.” Love’s Reward #3433
Kabbalah: “What Dee seems to have done is to take the geometrical argument to its logical conclusion. He announced in his dedicatory letter that “this alphabetic literature contains great mysteries,” continuing that “the first Mystic letters of Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans were formed by God and transmitted to mortals [ . . . ] so that all the signs used to represent them were produced by points, straight lines, and circumferences of circles arranged by an art most marvelous and wise.” — Samizdat
Creative Energy of the Spirit (Occult, Hinduism)
Charles Spurgeon: “That fabric, in all its beauty and perfection, was modeled by the Spirit. In His book were all the members written when as yet there were none of them. He fashioned and formed Him and here again we have another instance of the creative energy of the Spirit.”
Occult Pictograms: “The sacral messages continue. At even a higher level here we can find information about the creation of the figures 1 to 10, the seven charkas and the evolution of the races. And at that, the Glagolic Alphabet is not just a chronological transition between the old cosmic and the contemporary pictogramic cosmic language Senzar – it imposes their logical and mutual relation (especially between the letters in which the light creative energy of the Spirit touches the Initial Circle) and the creation of the figures 1 to 10, the seven charkas and the evolution of the races.”
Hinduism: “In Hindu philosophy, the creative energy of the spirit, the principle of becoming, is described metaphorically as the feminine principle, whereas the principle of being (sattd,)which is the basis and support of the creative flow of becoming, is characterized metaphorically as the male principle.”
Moral Ruler of the Universe (Freemasonry, Hindusim)
Charles Spurgeon: “Furthermore, remember the perfection of the character of God as the moral Ruler of the Universe. He is the Judge of all, and He must do right.” — Pleading and Encouragement #1795
Freemasonry: “Freemasonry not only teaches the existence of a Divine Moral Ruler of the Universe and enjoins the duty of reverence to Him but recognizes the various relations which he has established and the duties which those relations i pose.” — National Freemason, Vol. 8 1867 pg. 94
Energy of the Spiritual Life (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “Let a man be troubled with doubts as to the religion which he has espoused, or concerning his own interest in the privileges which that religion bestows, and you will soon find that all the energy of his spiritual life is gone—he will have little more than a name to live, practically he will be powerless.” — Life by Faith 814
Theosophy: “You Occidentals have been thinking for too long a time that the only power of thought resides in your own Occidental brains. Too long a time have you disregarded nature’s outstanding fact that consciousness and the energy of the spiritual life in here in all human beings. Why does this kind questioner call this idea a pagan idea, if not from this Occidental egoism which qualifies its own small portion of learning as the standard by which all the rest of mankind shall be judged? Yes, it is a pagan idea, because it is a true idea.” — Gods, Men and Atoms
Healing Energy (Kabbalah, Witchcraft/Reiki)
Charles Spurgeon: “For she said, ‘If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.’ Not ‘If I may but touch His clothes,’ as if she meant to lay stress on the mere touch. The translators were wise to place the ‘but’ after the ‘touch,’ for there the emphasis rests. The woman believed that Jesus was full of healing energy everywhere even in His garments, and therefore she felt— ‘If I may touch but His clothes, I shall thus come into contact with Him and I shall be whole.’” — The Touch #1640
Kabbalah: “Kabbalistic healing combines the principles of the Tree of Life with the divine healing energy of Universal Light. Putting these two systems together creates a powerful vessel for healing.” — Kabbalistic Healing
Witchcraft/Reiki: “It helps when you are receiving reiki healing for you to believe in the healing power of the universe, this allows you to gain the most out of your treatment, when having a treatment you are opening yourself up to the healing energy of the universe.” — from witches lore
The Infinite – Spurgeon Regarded “The Infinite” as an “It” (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “I am conscious that all I can say concerning the sufferings of Jesus this morning will be but as a drop in the bucket. None of us know the half of the agony which He endured. None of us have ever fully comprehended the love of Christ which passes knowledge! Philosophers have probed the earth to its very center; threaded the spheres; measured the skies, weighed the hills—no, weighed the world itself—but this is one of those vast, boundless things which to measure surpasses all but the Infinite itself!” — The Shameful Sufferer #236
Theosophy: “[Theosophy] is belief in the Deity as the ALL, the source of all existence, the infinite that cannot be either comprehended or known, the universe alone revealing IT … (page 91)” — Theosophy Defined
Infinite Energy (Occult)
Charles Spurgeon: “When the fire of conversion has kindled the fire of persecution, it proves its own infinite energy by subjecting even persecution to itself.” — Fire-The Want of the Times #854
Occult: “There is Unity. Unity is All there is. Infinite Intelligence, and Infinite Energy. The two are One, and within them, is the potential for all Creation. This state of Consciousness could be termed as ‘Being’.” 5 — The Lucifer and Yahweh Creation Story
Living Energy (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “You profess to ‘love your God with zeal so great that you could give Him all, and what, after all, do you give Him? Oh, how much outward religion is nothing but inward hypocrisy! How much of our talk about religion is mere gossip! God save us from vain talk and impart to us a living energy, so that our deeds may proclaim our faith!” — Blessings Manifold and Marvelous No. 3474
Theosophy: “Love, then—or, if you prefer, compassion—is the living energy that unites us with the ultimate, by whatever name we may call it—God, Brahma, the One, the Vastness, the realm of the gods. It is the same energy that connects us with everything and everyone in the universe—with the distant stars as with the blade of grass and the pebbles beneath our feet, with those we call our friends as with those we may think of as our enemies.” — The Vitality of Living Truth by Joy Mills
Master Science (Freemasonry)
Charles Spurgeon: “But when we come to this master science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought, that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass’s colt; and with the solemn exclamation, “I am but of yesterday, and know nothing.” — The Immutability of God #1
Freemasonry: “The advantages which mankind in genera! reap from this master Science are beyond calculation. Its blessings are confined to no country, but are diffused with the Institution throughout the world. Men of all languages, of all religions, of the remotest nations, and of every habit and opinion, are united in a bond of brotherly affection.” — Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry
Holy Spirits (Freemasonry)
Charles Spurgeon: “The cherubim and seraphim continually bound forth His praise. At His behest, the mightiest spirit delights to fly and carry His commands to the most distant world. He has but to speak and it is done! Cheerfully is He obeyed and majestically does He reign. His high courts are thronged with holy spirits who live upon His smile, who drink light from His eyes, who borrow glory from His Majesty.” — The Savior’s Many Crowns #281
Freemasonry: “. . . but another word for Seraphim, or angels of light–the true Freemasons in the sky–ministering spirits, continually ascending and descending from earth to heaven, and from heaven to earth, to receive and disseminate divine commissions for the benefit of man; and serving on great occasions as the chariot of the Deity.” — On Cherubim and Seraphim, full royalty he rode. Sternhold
These holy spirits were symbolized in the seven lamps, or Inferior Shekinah, mentioned by Zechariah.” — Universal Masonic Library, Volume 10, edited by Robert Macoy, 1855, Lecture 1 pg. 10
The Promised One (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “THIS is spoken of as one of the results of the coming of the Lord: he would test and try all things, destroy the false and the evil, and make those pure whom he permitted to remain. Behold, the Promised One has come!” — The Sifting of the Refiner #1575
Theosophy: “Baha Ulah, his life thus spared, was exiled with his family and some of his followers to the Turkish dominions. There is Bagdad he declared to his followers, what they had already suspected, that he was the Promised One, foretold by the Bab, the great Manifestation of God come for all the religions of the world.” — The Theosophical Review, Vol. 39 1906 pg. 416
The One (a title of the Antichrist (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “It is the same Person who speaks in each case, and He is speaking concerning Himself in both instances, so it is very remarkable that He should first say ‘Me,’ and then say ‘Him.’ What is this but another illustration of the Unity of the Godhead, and yet the Trinity of the adorable Persons in it? Notice that the One who, in this chapter, speaks of Himself as ‘Me’ and ‘Him,’ is none other than Jehovah who made the heavens and the earth.” — Mourning at the Cross #2901
Theosophy: “Another great Approach of divinity and another spiritual revelation are now possible. A new revelation is hovering over mankind, and the One Who will bring it and implement it is drawing steadily nearer to us. What this great approach will bring to mankind, we do not yet know. It will surely bring us as definite results as did all the earlier revelations, and the missions of Those Who came in response to humanity’s earlier demands.” — Lucis Trust The New World Religion 124
The Presence of Deity (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “God was here Himself—the All-worker, the King of kings, the Lord of lords? Speak with bated breath; hush, and be silent; you are in the presence of Majesty! Let us think of national calamities or of private ills with that reverence which should be inspired by a consciousness of the presence of Deity.” — The Royal Deathbed #426
Theo —sophy: “Heavenly Adam. The synthesis of the Sephirothal Tree, or of all the Forces in Nature and their informing deific essence. In the diagrams, the Seventh of the lower Sephiroth, Sephira Malkhooth — the Kingdom of Harmony — represents the feet of the ideal ^Macrocosm, whose head reaches to the first manifested Head. This Heavenly Adam is the natnra natnrans, the abstract world, while the Adam of Earth (Humanity) is the natura naturata or the material universe. The former is the presence of Deity in its universal essence ; the latter the manifestation of the intelligence of that essence.” — The Theosophical Glossary, pg. 245
Holy Fire (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “The church needs fire to quicken her ministers, to give zeal and energy to all her members. Having this fire, she burns her way to success! The world meets her with the fire of firewood, but she confronts the world with the fire of kindling spirits, and of souls aglow with the love of Jesus Christ. She trusts not to the wit, and eloquence, and wisdom of her preachers, but to the divine fire which clothes them with energy! She knows that men are irresistible when they are filled with hallowed enthusiasm sent from God. She trusts therefore in this, and her cry is, ‘Come, Holy Fire, abide upon our pastors and teachers! Rest upon every one of us!'” — The Superlative Excellence of the Holy Spirit
Theosophy: “In a certain sense, the task before the disciple is the evocation of the “divine fire”, Kundalini, and the infusion of the principle of Will in him by that divine fire; the golden light mingling with the red flame, to produce the colour of the mystic rose. The fiery aspiration of the disciple evokes the higher celestial fire, and the two blend in one, the holy fire which shall thereafter illumine and enkindle that disciple’s heart and life and every act.” — The Theosophical Quarterly Volumes 17-18, 1919, edited by Clement Acton Griscom pg. 226
Divine Fire (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “Brothers, I beseech you keep to the old gospel, and let your souls be filled with it, and then may you be set on fire with it! When the wick is saturated, let the flame be applied. Fire from Heaven is still the necessity of the age. They call it ‘go’, and there is nothing which goes like it; for when fire once starts upon a vast prairie or forest, all that is dry and withered must disappear before its terrible advance. May God Himself, who is a consuming fire, ever burn in you as in the bush at Horeb! All other things being equal, that man will do most who has most of the Divine fire.” — How to Meet the Evils of the Age, Chapter 4
Theosophy: “In a certain sense, the task before the disciple is the evocation of the “divine fire”, Kundalini, and the infusion of the principle of Will in him by that divine fire; the golden light mingling with the red flame, to produce the colour of the mystic rose. The fiery aspiration of the disciple evokes the higher celestial fire, and the two blend in one, the holy fire which shall thereafter illumine and enkindle that disciple’s heart and life and every act.” — The Theosophical Quarterly, Volumes 17-18, 1919, edited by Clement Acton Griscom pg. 226
Heart of Flame (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “But we bless God that there are not so many of that sort, now, and we pray that the race may become quite extinct—and that every pulpit may be filled with a man who has a tongue of fire and a heart of flame and who shuns not to declare the whole counsel of God, neither seeking the smiles of men nor dreading their frowns!” — The Dumb Singing #2625
Universal Brotherhood (Theosophical teachings):”Then One spoke – He of the mighty arm – He of the eye of power. And He inquired (speaking calm and low, and looking round on all the gathered throng) who would willing go into the world of flesh – to waken all the souls that now could hear, and teach to them the meaning high, sublime, of life; show them the Movement – flowing onward like a river vast, with but one source and end; teach them how to enter on that tide, and moving with Love – and for this Fire Divine in thee thou hast been called ‘The Heart of Flame.'” — UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD, Volume 15, #7-12,
The Science of Christ (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “But oh, take care that this most excellent science, the science of Christ crucified, is not made to take a second place with you! Always put this science first—try to understand the glory of your Lord’s person—without beginning of days or end of years! Search into the purity of His character in all that He was, here below, from His birth to His death. Be conversant with Christ in all His sacred offices.” — Christ’s Perfection and Precedence #2478,
Theosophy: “FOR the information of the reader, who, after the perusal of the preceding work, may desire to investigate the subject of Theosophy, — into which, as it appears, Saint-Martin, after passing through an other philosophical and theological studies, mystical and phenomenal, of his day, finally settled down; it having been apprehended by him to contain the true science of God and Nature, the science of Man, the science of Christ, of the Gospel, of salvation, and therefore the science of all sciences, — in order we say, to enable the reader to investigate the subject fundamentally, and that without difficulty of research for the proper books and authors for such end, we here annex the following particulars on that head, being extracted from the several publications named in connection therewith, and with the concurrence of the author, inserted in this place.” — Theosophic Correspondence, Saint Martin
Fire of God (in the Holy Bible, the “fire of God” means literal fire sent down from God)
Charles Spurgeon: “Go thou with the fire of God in thy hand and fling it among the stubble, and the stubble will burn. Be thou sure of that. Go thou and scatter the good seed: it may not all fall in fruitful places, but some of it will.” — How To Become Fishers of Men Sermon #1906,
Kundalini Serpent Fire: Fire of god, sacred fire, sacred white fire, and kundalini fire are all terms used for adamantine particles of light, the fuel of life breathed forth from the heart core of the supreme Creator. — Kundalini Serpent Fire
Magic: The fire of God, otherwise known as the “Father begotten Light” (44) is linked to the fire of soul: “Who first sprang from Mind, clothing the one Fire with the other Fire, binding them together, that he might mingle the fountainous craters while prepserving unsullied the brilliance of his own Fire.” — Three Books of OCCULT PHILOSOPHY OR MAGIC, Henry Cornelius Agrippa
Throws Energy (witchcraft)
Charles Spurgeon: “The force which draws us home lies in the word, ‘I will.’ Jesus Christ, our most true God, veiled in human form, bows His knee and prays, and throws His divine energy into the prayer for the bringing home of His redeemed.” — Why They Leave Us No. 1892)
Magick: “Where the two lines cross is the only point where the sigil can ever be broken. Once the sigil is broken the binding is broken. Since Saturn’s power is only where the lines cross, the rest of the sigil will seem weak to an experienced adept who can identify it for what it is. The first instinct of the adept will be to just throw energy at the sigil until the binding is overcome and broken. However this will do nothing as throwing energy at any point other than where the lines cross won’t break the sigil, and where the lines cross are empowered by Saturn, and cannot be broken except by divine power.” — Rob’s Magick Blog
Secret Energy (Freemasonry, Witchcraft)
Charles Spurgeon: “Lastly, does your religion spring up within your soul by the secret energy of the Spirit of God? Do you feel emotions, longings, regrets and desires arising in you without any outward prompting? You do not pray by order, but because you cannot help it—you are in need, and must pray.” — Holy Water #1202
Freemasonry: “But from which of them would he have learned those details of the Morgan trials that go to show, in the words of his excellent letter, that masonic oaths “are not considered by those who impose and take them as mere idle and unmeaning words, but as solid obligations to be practically enforced;” that the audacious conspiracy against the life of a citizen “was not, as has been commonly supposed, the act of a few ignorant men alone, but was engendered in the lodges themselves enforced under their direction and supported at their expense; the conspiracy embracing within its sweet, men of all degrees, with too much reason to believe that the secret energy of the masonic spirit had entered and polluted even the temple of Justice; and with the most demonstrative proof that the person who had entered into these unhallowed oaths; considered their allegiance to the Lodges as of higher obligation than the allegiance to the laws of their own country,” from which of them could he have learned these things, or any of them?” — A collection of letters in Freemasonry, in chronological order 1849; pg. 57.
Witchcraft: “A Witch knows that the sacred & secret energy which flows in our body can be directed in a better way with a more balanced diet, as Chi – the vital energy – hides in our food. Eating healthy meals can provide your body, mind and aura with more energy.”
Spiritual Energy (Theosophy, Witchcraft/Magic)
Charles Spurgeon: “Were the sham taken away, they might cry out for a real ministry. God would bestow on them one taught of the Holy Ghost, who would speak with a tongue of fire, with inward witness and with spiritual energy, resting his confidence in Gods promises and His Word.” Compassion for the Multitude #453,
Theosophy: “When a spiritual energy is set free, it works down through the other planes of being, giving rise on each plane to a liberation of energy, and bringing about results great in proportion to the nature of the spiritual force. So that it is true in history, as you may find by study, that where spiritual forces are liberated, the intellectual life of the nation will also leap forward with tremendous energy, the emotional life of the nation will show fresh development, and even on the lowest plane of all – the physical, results will be brought about entirely beyond anything that could have been achieved by the energies of the physical plane which are set to work and which apparently cause these results.” — Occultism, Semi-Occultism, and Pseudo-Occultism by Annie Besant
Witchcraft/Magic: “Magic spells are a way to communicate with and influence the spiritual energy that exists all around us. This same spiritual energy is the blueprint for the physical world that we live in, and when we affect the spiritual, we will soon see changes in the physical. (46b) “
Light Ineffable (Masonic)
Charles Spurgeon: “In that time before all time, when there was no day but ‘The Ancient of Days,’ when matter and created mind were alike unborn, and even space was not, God, the great I Am, was as perfect, glorious, and blessed as he is now. There was no sun, and yet Jehovah dwelt in light ineffable; there was no earth, and yet his throne stood fast and firm; there were no heavens, and yet his glory was unbounded.”Laus Deo #572
Freemasonry: “May all Elect Masons, like the Elect of God, put on charity, which is the bond of perfection. May our loins be girt about with the girdle of truth ; and finally, having been faithful in all our course, may we be brought to behold the light ineffable, and admitted into that sacred place where the sun shall no more give light by day ; neither for brightness shall the moon give light, but the Lord, our Adonai, shall be with us an everlasting light, and our God our glory. Bless us, and bless the work in which we are engaged ; and may the alliance we are about to perfect be eternal. Amen ! So mote it be!” —The book of the ancient and accepted Scottish rite of freemasonry, containing instructions in all the degrees from the third to the thirty-third, and last degree of the rite, together with ceremonies of inauguration, etc.
Ineffable Light (Masonic)
Charles Spurgeon: “This blessed hope makes us feel that it is a shame for us to sin, a shame that princes of the blood imperial of the skies should dabble in the mire like children of the gutter! We would gladly live as those who are destined to dwell in the blaze of the ineffable light of God. We cannot walk in darkness, for we are to dwell in a splendor before which the sun grows pale—in the very Godhead, itself, are we to baptize ourselves in fellowship!” — Saved in Hope, 1616, h
Freemasonry: “I like to believe that, at some day, in some manner, perhaps this Mason who received light by following the long road trod by Albert Pike might in turn pass on a ray of that light to some other seeker after the Ineffable Light, the Light of Masonic Truth.” — LeRoy V. Brant, 32 degree,
Freemasonry: “For Hiram there was Dionysus, for the acacia the myrtle, but there were the same mourning, the same discovery, the same rejoicing, because what had been lost was found, and then the same ineffable light, and the same sacred teaching of the name of God and the soul’s immortality.” —
Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Albert Mackey, pg. 619
Sacred Harmony (Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “’The Lord God walked in the garden in the cool of the day,’” and Adam was privileged to hold fellowship with God, closer, perhaps, than even the angels had in heaven. But the spell of that sacred harmony was rudely broken by man’s disobedience and his dreadful fall!” — The Fainting Soul Revived #3510,
Theosophy: “It is because the Spirit must never be without Religion, because, when the Spirit is coming towards its human birth, it is necessary that these forces of Religion should surround it, and help in the building of its earthly home. And so also with sacred Sound the new-born life is welcomed in its very incoming into this world of manifestation; that the sacred harmony may surround it, and give it the impulse in the birth hour, which shall send it on towards harmonious development.” — Building of the Cosmos, Annie Besant
Lord of the Universe (Freemasonry, Buddhism, Islam, Kabbalah)
Charles Spurgeon: “True Christian worship addresses God, not merely as Creator and Preserver, or as the great Lord of the Universe, but as one who is very near of kin to us, our Father, beloved of our souls.”
THE AXE AT THE ROOT – A TESTIMONY AGAINST PUSEYITE IDOLATRY #695, https://www.spurgeongems.org/vols10-12/chs695.pdf
Freemasonry; “Indeed, Osiris is the Jesus of our Christian doctrine, the supreme Initiate or ‘Captain of Salvation’; He is the reflection and counterpart in Man of the supreme Lord of the Universe (Greek – Dionysos, Hebrew – Adonai), the ideal type of humanity.” — Freemasonry and the Doctrine of Reincarnation
Buddhism: “O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari who have assumed the form of a fish! All glories to You! You easily acted as a boat in the form of a giant fish to give protection to the Vedas, which had sunk in the turbulent sea of devastation.” — Buddha and Vishnu,
Islamic title for Allah (the Quran): “All praise belongs to God, Lord of the Universe, the Beneficent, the Merciful and Master of the Day of Judgment, You alone We do worship and from You alone we do seek assistance, guide us to the right path, the path of those to whom You have granted blessings, those who are neither subject to Your anger nor have gone astray.” — 9 things you should know about Islam,
Qabbalah: “10. When the Patriarch Abraham had comprehended the great truths, meditated upon them, and understood them perfectly, the Lord of the Universe (the Tetragrammaton) appeared to him, called him His friend, kissed him upon the head, and made with him a covenant. “
Divine Science (Magic/Theosophy)
Charles Spurgeon: “Dear young people, if you never read a sing le book of romance, you will lose nothing; but if you do not read your Bibles you will lose everything! This is the age of fiction, and therefore the age of speculation and error—leave fiction and give yourself wholly to the truth of God! Eat that which is good, and spend not your money on that which is not bread. The Bible is the thesaurus of heavenly knowledge, the encyclopedia of divine science—read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the same, and then you will be keeping the sayings of God!” — The Warnings and the Rewards of the Word of God #2135
Theosophy: “Magic was considered a divine science which led to a participation in the attributes of Divinity itself. ‘It unveils the operations of nature,’ says Philo Judaeus, ‘and leads to the contemplation of celestial powers.’ ” — THEOSOPHY, Vol. 52, No. 10.
Theosophy: “‘Ancient Wisdom’ is only one name which has been applied to the Great Knowledge. It has also been called Ageless Wisdom, Divine Wisdom, Divine Science, Gnosis, Atma-Vidya, Brahma-Vidya, Gupta-Vidya, Sanatana Dharma, Esoteric Philosophy, Esoteric Science, Occult Philosophy, Sacred Science, the Wisdom-Religion, and the Secret Doctrine. It is the Esoteric Teaching which underlies all the world’s religions.” — Theosophy – An Explanation and Overview,
The Magic Circle (used in witchcraft and Masonic rituals)
Charles Spurgeon: “Carrying the text beyond its original position, we may say that over the head of all infirmities, ignorances, selfishnesses, desertions, and denials, Jesus Christ, who had loved his own that were in the world, loved them to the end. It was not possible for them, with all their follies, failings, and sins, to break through the magic circle of his affection; he had hedged them in once for all, bad bound them to himself with bonds firmer than brass, and stronger than triple steel, and neither could the temptations of hell, nor the suggestions of their own corruptions tear them from his heart.” — The Faithfulness of Jesus #810
Witchcraft: “A ritual circle (or magic circle) is a circle of space marked out by practitioners of many branches of witchcraft and ritual magic, either to contain energy and form a sacred space, or as a form of magical protection, or both.”
Rituals of Freemasonry: “In these symbols, the below left-hand Pentagram surrounded by the magic circle is Lucifer — the good god — with the one point upward and two down; the below right-hand Pentagram, again surrounded by the magic circle, is Satan — the evil god — with the two points up and the one down. These symbols depict exactly what Albert Pike is talking about in the paragraph above. He says that the evil god, whom he calls Seth or Typhon [Typhon is listed in The Satanic Bible as Infernal Names for Satan] is the adversary of the good god, Osiris; therefore, Pike is saying Osiris is Lucifer, a finding consistent with the rest of the Occult realm.” — Rituals of Freemasonry The Worship of Lucifer
Apostasy
The Audacity of Defending the New Versions
The Promise of Divine Condemnation
for all who Dare Add to Or
Take Away from His Word
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (including the lake of fire).” Revelation 22:18-19
If you defend the new versions by attempting to detract from the King James Bible, please answer these simple questions:
4 SILENCING VERSES AND QUESTIONS – Here are the 5 verses I compare with people. There is rarely an argument when a King James and a new version are laid open and compared side by side. Watch this:
Matthew 17:21
(KJB) “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.“
(NIV) (whole verse omitted)
Removed in new versions because Satan didn’t want God’s people to know how to cast him out. And you agree with this?
Acts 8:37
(KJB) “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
(NIV) Removed in new versions because Satan didn’t want God’s people to know that water baptism doesn’t save anyone. One must first repent and believe on the LORD Jesus to be saved. Satan tries to confuse the salvation issue but “God …. is not the author of confusion.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
Romans 8:1
(KJB) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
(NIV) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
What’s missing? Half the verse is missing which is in the original Greek. Verses chopped in half because Satan wants believers to believe his ‘once saved always saved’ lie. And this is okay with you?
Colossians 1:14
(KJB) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
(NIV) “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.“
“Through his BLOOD” removed because the LORD Jesus is Satan’s enemy. And you side with Satan who’s removing Christ’s very blood from redemption and forgiveness of sins? Are you saying the LORD is a liar by agreeing that there is redemption outside of Christ’s blood? (Hebrews 9:22)
1 John 5:7-8
(KJB) “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. {8} And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.“
(NIV) “For there are three that testify: {8} the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.“
This is the clearest verse in the Bible on the triune nature of God. It’s all but removed from the new versions or neutered to mean nothing because Satan didn’t want God’s people to understand the nature of the Godhead. And you agree with Christ’s enemy on this?
Saints, never argue this topic, just show them. Write these verses above on a sticky and put them in your Bible. Memorize and cross-reference these references so you can be ready always to give an answer (1 Peter. 3:15). If someone can’t see the hand of the enemy here it’s due to their walking in darkness. This is why some don’t fear God and can’t see Christ’s truth and value it. Darkness due to sin is the root reason a person could crassly dismiss this diabolical travesty. You can’t argue someone into the truth. They must choose to repent – otherwise you will be talking to a brick wall of antichrist unbelief.
So Let’s Review:
Let’s see… How can you possibly justify “the blood” being removed from Colossians 1:14? How about the fact that the new versions chopped Romans 8:1 in half? That okay? Not with God (Revelation 22:18-19). How about the butchering of 1 John 5:7? You okay with the fact that Matthew 17:21 has been removed?
ANY person who has the ignorance and audacity to go so far as to defend the new per-versions of the “Bible,” is utterly in need of repentance.
Do the new versions not come from the same manuscripts as did the Jehovah’s Witness corrupted “bible”?
If you are reading a new version, you have a Vatican Bible. So sorry if this offends you friend …. it’s the undeniable historical fact. God bless us to know the LORD and to have His discernment lest we unknowingly walk in darkness.
“The Alexandrian minds believe the Bible is not perfect and can be improved by their great scholarship, but this is actually a spiritual illness of Egypt (Ex. 15:26). This terrible spiritual illness is called A.I.D.S. (Alexandrian Idiots Degrading Scripture). The Antiochan mentality believes the Bible is perfect and cannot be improved. God promised to preserve His inspired word (Ps. 12:6-7; Jer. 32:36) and the humble mind of the common man simply believes God (1 Thess. 2:13). Faith is simply believing what God says (Isa. 66:2; Acts 27:25; Rom. 10:17; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 11:1-6). THE ALEXANDRIAN CULT is ALL people who REJECT the FACT of the KJB being “THE” FINAL AUTHORITY; which means there is only “ONE” OBJECTIVE STANDARD OF TRUTH, NOT many! Because these people are afraid of there being an absolute TRUTH that will judge them. That means no loopholes, only conviction. This cult is people who use and support the new modern PERversions of the (b)ible (NIV, NASV, NKJV, TNIV,… ESV, and all others etc…)! THE ALEXANDRIAN CULT is anyone that doesn’t believe that the KJB is Inherent, Inerrant, Infallible, PERFECT, INSPIRED WORD OF GOD WITHOUT “ERRORS”! Brian Sirois
THE CREED OF THE ALEXANDRIAN CULT: (by Brian Sirois)
1. There is NO FINAL AUTHORITY but God.
2. Since God is a SPIRIT, there is NO FINAL AUTHORITY that can be seen, heard, read, felt or handled. …
3. Since all books are MATERIAL, there is NO BOOK ON THIS EARTH THAT IS THE FINAL AND ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY on what is right and what is wrong; what constitutes TRUTH and what constitutes ERROR.
4. There WAS a series of writings one time which, IF they had all been put into a BOOK as soon as they were written the first time, WOULD HAVE constituted an infallible and final authority by which to judge truth and error.
5. However, this series of writings was LOST, and the God Who inspired them was UNABLE TO PRESERVE THEIR CONTENT through Bible-believing Christians at Antioch (Syria), where the first Bible teachers were (Acts 13:1), and where the first missionary trip originated (Acts 13:1-6), and where the word “CHRISTIAN” originated (Acts 11:26).
6. So, God chose to ALMOST preserve them through Gnostics and philosophers from Alexandria, Egypt, even though God called HIS SON OUT of Egypt (Mat. 2), JACOB OUT of Egypt (Gen. 49), ISRAEL OUT of Egypt (Exod. 15), and JOSEPH’S BONES OUT of Egypt (Exod. 13).
7. So, there are two streams of Bibles: the most accurate – though, of course, there is NO FINAL, ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY FOR DETERMINING TRUTH AND ERROR: it is a matter of “preference” – are the Egyptian translations from Alexandria, Egypt, which are “almost the originals,” although NOT QUITE.
8. The most INACCURATE TRANSLATIONS were those that brought about the GERMAN REFORMATION (Luther, Zwingli, Boehler, Zinzendorf, Spener, etc.) and the worldwide MISSIONARY MOVEMENT of the English speaking people: the Bible that Sunday, Torrey, Moody, Finney, Spurgeon, Whitfield, Wesley, and Chapman used.
9. But we can “tolerate” these if those who believe in them will tolerate US. After all, since THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE AND FINAL AUTHORITY THAT ANYONE CAN READ, TEACH, PREACH, OR HANDLE, the whole thing is a matter of “PREFERENCE.” You may prefer what you prefer, and we will prefer what WE prefer: let us live in peace, and if we cannot agree on anything or everything, let us all agree on one thing: THERE IS NO FINAL, ABSOLUTE, WRITTEN AUTHORITY OF GOD ANYWHERE ON THIS EARTH.
That is the creed of the Alexandrian Cult.^^^ Brian S.
“KJB Only-ist” OR Honest Bible Student?
Most who read the KJB only do so out of conviction based on personal comparison and not out of preference or to belong to a certain group. Antagonists attempt to ridicule those Bible believers who have discernment and conviction and therefore read the KJB. Mock on.
People have become so delusional that they mock those who see the obvious, major doctrinal differences in the versions and read the KJB only. This alone demonstrates the impact of the new versions. In other words, just because you see the corruptions in the new versions and so read the real English Bible, you are mocked. Rejoice.
Since they have no other leg to stand on, some unrepentant defenders of the new versions want to try to demonize those who can see clearly enough to see that the new versions are corrupt.
To see the purity of the KJB and the corruptions of the new versions is simply being an astute, honest student of the LORD…. whereby the enemy and his works are discerned. That makes you Christ’s disciple not a “KJB onlyist.” Let’s just talk the truth instead of trying to classify people who see these things.
The unfathomable audacity of those who defend the corrupt new versions is mind boggling until you realize that it’s a spiritual matter. They are walking in darkness, blinded by “the god of this world” who is Satan himself, the author of those new versions they defend (2 Corinthians 4:4). I’m speaking of those who still defend the new versions after being clearly shown that 1) It’s okay to remove the very “blood” of Jesus from salvation (Col. 1:14), to 2) remove the clearest verse in God’s Word testifying to His triune nature (1 John 5:7), 3) to say that it’s just important to be in Christ once and no need to continue in the spirit and not the flesh (Rom. 8:1), and 4) that fasting and prayer are not important even though Jesus says they are (Matt. 17:21).
COMMON EXCUSE FROM SKEPTICS:
QUESTION RECEIVED:
“Most KJB Only Christians appear to be legalistic. Explain?”
REPLY:
Hi David. Some of those who use the new versions are rabid fanatics about them and appear legalistic also. In the opinion of many, some of the new version readers simply are what Jude calls lascivious – they like fables – stories, fairytales (Jude 3-4). Many KJB-only folk are simply God-fearing, have looked into this matter, and therefore have His discernment to see the hand of the enemy in the new versions …. which is more than obvious. Those who insist upon the King James Bible and have no respect for the perversion counterfeits only appear to be legalistic due to the lack of understanding of those who would surmise such and due to Satan’s impressions upon their own darkened minds. A simple comparison of verses between the KJB and the new versions leaves no question of the diabolical origins of the new versions … nothing else needed except a truly repentant heart for God …..
The fact that there are significant doctrinal differences in the King James Bible and the new versions is what’s at question. The scapegoat of some is to try to stereotype those who have a bit of discernment and therefore see these differences. Of course, many have not looked into the matter enough to see the blaring differences. This is something one should do before weighing in on this important matter. | Compare This!
EXCUSE:
“Oh but the Bible was originally written in Greek and Hebrew.”
REPLY:
Yes and God has kept His Word to translate it into our language (Ps. 12:6-7). The idea that God somehow dropped the ball after the original manuscripts borders on a blasphemous indictment against the Almighty and seems to make excuse for us to live any way we wish since the insinuation is that we really don’t have His pure Word. Nonsense. If such were the case that makes Jesus’ words null and void when He said “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”(Matthew 4:4) And “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luke 4:4) After all, how are we supposed to live according to “every word of God” if we really don’t have God’s pure Word? Did the LORD lie to us when He promised to “preserve” His Word to us? (Psalms 12:6-7) Will you call the LORD a liar? The devil himself has done a number on many. There was only the need for one English Bible and that was complete in the KJB. The new versions are a greed-driven, money-making scam and those peddling their poisonous wares have duped many and made a fortune doing so. Was this not foretold? – “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (secretly) shall bring (slip) in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And MANY shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (2 Peter 2:1-3)
SOME SPOUT:
“Well the KJB wasn’t the first English Bible:
REPLY:
True. There were 6 English versions leading up to the 7th (which means completion), the KJB. This fulfills Psalms 12:6-7 which states “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” …… “tried” and “purified” (perfected) how many times? – “seven times.”
ANOTHER ERRONEOUS IDEA:
“But you have to learn Hebrew and Greek and have a Greek and Hebrew Bible.”
REPLY:
I have a Greek Interlinear Bible. Yet we have God’s Word in our own language and Jesus says that the divine Person of the Holy Spirit is our teacher, not the original language. See John 14:26; 16:13; 1 John 2:20, 27.
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“But my child can’t learn the KJB.”
REPLY:
Hi. I taught my son the KJB from birth and he had no problem at all understanding it because of the Holy Spirit and the self-interpretive nature of the King James Bible. Memorize and believe Psalms 119:105 and Isaiah 55:11. Gail Riplinger’s book titled “In Awe of Thy Word” is a masterpiece on this topic and much more.
SMOKESCREENS:
To cover for your favorite little fairy tale “bible,” you cast doubt on the preserved word of God by pretending to correct it? Where is the fear of God in your heart?
Wescott and Hort
If you are reading a fake “bible” ….
2 Wicked Ungodly men – Wescott and Hort – participated in the corrupting of those manuscripts from which those new “bibles” come.
Without the slightest apology to anyone, I, with hundreds of thousands of Christ’s disciples today, have no respect for the NIV, NASB, ESV, or any other Wescott and Hort perversion of Satan that charlatans have sought to pawn off on the gullible. If you read a new version of the Bible, consider this:
***WOULD YOU read a “bible” by men who said this concerning the Scriptures?:
“I reject the word infallibility of Holy Scriptures overwhelmingly.” (Westcott, The Life and Letters of Brook Foss Westcott, Vol. I, p.207).
“Our Bible as well as our Faith is a mere compromise.” (Westcott, On the Canon of the New Testament, p. vii).
“Evangelicals seem to me perverted. . .There are, I fear, still more serious differences between us on the subject of authority, especially the authority of the Bible.” (Hort, The Life and Letters of Fenton John Anthony Hort, Vol. I, p.400)
“Dr. Wilbur Pickering writes that, Hort did not hold to a high view of inspiration.” (The Identity of the New Testament Text, p.212)
Perhaps this is why both the RV (which Westcott and Hort helped to translate) and the American edition of it, the ASV, translated 2nd Timothy 3:16 as, “Every scripture inspired of God” instead of “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (KJB).
If you are reading a new version “bible” it came directly from the work of these wicked, unsaved men.
ALL new “bible” versions come from the corrupted manuscripts which were perverted by these two evil men, Wescott and Hort.
To realize through simple, personal comparison that the new versions are perverted and the KJB is God’s pure Word is not arrogance. It’s actually arrogance to READ the very significant differences, to see the removal and twisting of cardinal divine truth and then try to defend it.
Don’t Like Talking About This? Why Not?
—-IS THERE NOT A CAUSE? My big QUESTION is how in the world can a true follower of Christ not stand and condemn these perversions???? Forget how pure the King James Bible is or is not …. these new per-versions are nothing less than diabolically inspired. I am amazed at how some subtly attempt to cast doubt on the real Bible and simultaneously defend the new versions of the Bible. It’s certainly not the divine Person of the Holy Spirit inspiring someone to cast doubt on His Word (KJB) and defend satanic corruptions. Shannon Cook notes: “They have bought into this lie: “Yea, hath God said?” (Gen 3:1) And this one: “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be [like] the most High.” (Isaiah 14:14) Wanting to be gods themselves, therefore ignorant of the salvation unto Christ alone.”
Satan is still doing the same thing and using “Christians” to help his cause. Find out here why so many remnant believers are trashing their new versions for the real Bible.
Shannon Cook aptly exposes the work of Satan:
“John 1:14 tells us “And the Word (capital letter W) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Now, remove words, (modern translations) and the serpent attempts to remove the very deity of Jesus Christ. HELLO!
“How does a man live not on bread alone, but by [every word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4), when devils, through modern translations and versions are working overtime to blind and bind the bride of Christ, through these modern (per)versions?
Perhaps the main reason many members of the body of Christ have not a love for the truth is because so much has been removed?
And they know not the truth because they don’t study to show themselves approved unto God.
How is it that the bride shall live by [every word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of God when they’ve embraced doctrines of devils? (1 Timothy 4:1)” Shannon Cook
Note:
God’s Word is “quick (alive, living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword” … “For the word of God is quick (alive, living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Satan’s little plastic butter knives (NIV, NASB, ESV, etc.) are fairytale, mythical stories basically …. neutered of divine potency …. why do you think that the witches, warlocks and all satanists hate the KJB? Is that a clue as to who the father/author of the new versions is?
This is a fascinating topic. Are There Significant Differences in the Bible Versions?
Personally, I don’t want to waste time on folks that are going to argue to defend the very work of Satan and then try to turn it around on those who believe God kept His Word to preserve His Word (Psalms 12-6-7). If after being shown the clear and large, significant differences in the version and still arguing to defend them, I am done … with folk like that. Those who defend the work of Satan obviously belong to him. Of these religiously cloaked devils, Jesus says “Ye are of your father the devil.” (John 8:44)
Speaking to the religious leaders of His day and our day, Jesus says:
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44
Shannon Cook notes:
“The KJB is the inerrant Word of God. God preserves His Word. Psalms 12:6,7; Deuteronomy 4:1,2; Proverbs 30:5,6; Mark 13:31; Revelation 22:18,19. Man however, and modern “translations” are fallible. We believe that the writers of the KJB (not version) were in fact carried along by the Holy Ghost.
We’re also inspired to believe this way. No righteousness of ours, but of the Christ.
Look at the Bible boom just within the last few decades. Amazing! Just in time for the end of the age. The deception age that we’ve been warned about!” Shannon Cook
This is a fascinating topic. Are There Significant Differences in the Bible Versions? << This is SafeGuardYourSoul’s main page on Bible Versions.
Lineage of the Modern Corrupt Versions
The Message “Bible” Exposed | Bible Versions Category
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Abiding
The LORD Desires to Completely CLEAR You!
The LORD Desires to Completely CLEAR You!
The reason God gave His only begotten Son was to clear you of all your sin in His regeneration, to bring you into His eternal family for fellowship with Him.
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3
When God clears a man at the moment of salvation or thereafter, so should we! When any man truly repents there will be definite fruit to prove it. When one obeys sound biblical doctrine the result will always be that he will bring forth fruit to demonstrate he truly repented, and is cleared by the LORD and must be cleared by us. After the fornicator in the church of Corinth repented, he was cleared and the LORD, through Paul, instructed the believers in that assembly to forgive, clear, and love him.
“So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.” 2 Corinthians 2:7-8
Remember this from the prodigal son parable our LORD taught us?
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance … 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:7, 10
When someone returns to the LORD from sin, regardless of their past, with or without Christ, there is great celebration in Heaven and should be also among the saints of Christ on the earth.
A fresh reading of Luke 15 is highly recommended where Jesus gives us 3 parables to teach the restorative love of God!
WATCH THIS: When we repent we openly renounce and are clear…. God is good.
Godly Sorrow brings the blessings of God and a clearing of past sin.
“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what CLEARING OF YOURSELVES, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be CLEAR in this matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:11
Example: Remember how the fornicator in 1 Corinthians 5 was turned over to Satan and then repented and God cleared Him? Read 2 Corinthians 2 for the “CLEARING.” In this verse above, Paul is addressing this very issue and the sorrow, diligent obedience, and consequent “CLEARING” the Corinthian saints experienced. First they allowed the fornicator to function in their midst whereas Paul had to come in and instruct them to turn the transgressor over to Satan (1 Corinthians 5). Then, as a result, the backslider repented.
“He says, what clearing of yourselves. This does not mean that they tried to justify or excuse themselves, but rather that by taking resolute action, they tried to clear themselves of any further guilt or blame in the matter. Their change in attitude led to this change in action. What indignation may refer to their attitude toward the sinner because of the reproach he brought on the name of Christ. But more probably it refers to their attitude toward themselves for ever having allowed such a thing to go on for so long without taking action on it. Paul then adds: In all things you ‘ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.’ Of course, we are not to understand by this that they were never to blame, but simply that they had done everything they could to take the proper action and to act as they should have acted in the first place.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
“Clearing of yourselves – From either sharing in, or approving of, his sin. Indignation – That ye had not immediately corrected the offender. Fear – Of God’s displeasure, or lest I should come with a rod. Vehement desire – To see me again. Zeal – For the glory of God, and the soul of that sinner. Yea, revenge – Ye took a kind of holy revenge upon yourselves, being scarce able to forgive yourselves. In all things ye – As a church. Have approved yourselves to be pure – That is, free from blame, since ye received my letter.” John Wesley
“In all things, etc. – In the whole of your conduct in this affair since ye have received my letter, ye have approved yourselves to be clear, ἁγνους; not only to be clear of contumacy and obstinate persistence in your former conduct, but to have done all in the compass of your power to rectify the abuses which had crept in among you. The Corinthians were not clear, i.e. innocent or void of blame in the fact, but they were clear of all blame in their endeavors to remove the evil.” Adam Clarke
The Corinthian saints repented, obeyed God by turning the unrepentant sinner in their midst over to Satan, and were then forgiven and cleared of their sin of allowing the un-repentant fornicator to remain in their company (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2 and 7).
Today, is the LORD showing you something in your life that you must turn back over to Satan where it came from – to rid your heart, your life of a sin?
Interestingly, this 2 Corinthians 7 chapter begins with this:
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
When we simply agree with the LORD, His Word, and turn to Him afresh and away from what He calls sin, confessing it to Him for what it is, He will immediately forgive us and promises to grant us a clearing, a clear conscience.
“Now the end (chief purpose) of the commandment (written Word) is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” 1 Timothy 1:5
The LORD made it clear that He intends for His children to be possessed with a clear conscience which is a gift He alone provided through the perfect sacrifice of His only begotten Son.
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14
“A disciplined conscience is a man’s best friend. It may not be his most amiable, but it is his most faithful monitor.” Austin Phelps
Have you ever had a past sin nag you for many years after you committed and even confessed and were forgiven for it?
WHEN we DO what is right, then and only then do we have the bless-ed confirmation of a clear conscience. AND, doing what’s right begins with re-turning, turning afresh to our LORD and confessing all sin.
“God is greater than our heart”
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” 1 John 3:18-21
In fellowshipping with other men who serve our LORD, I’ve often heard them say how that sins they committed in the past still bother them in a hindering way. Yet, we know that God knows all these things and “is greater than our heart” and provided a complete salvation through the blood of His only begotten Son!
“WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3
Even though 90% of today’s pastors prove themselves to be false by never mentioning this, we must never ever lose sight of the truth that God is “Holy, holy, holy” and He commands us to “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8).
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Are we presently allowing sin in our own lives, including keeping company with someone who claims to be Christ’s and yet is living in sin? Are you in need of doing an inventory check on your current friends – namely those who name Jesus as their Savior? Read this unchanging divine truth and note the many specific sins listed here:
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
When we truly repent and obey the counsel, the Word of God, only then will we be cleared in conscience and before God and His people. True repentance always, without exception, brings forth a changed life – a life set apart to the LORD (Matthew 3:7-10; Luke 19:1-10).
The fact that our LORD is correcting us today clearly proves how much He loves us. When the LORD points out our sin, it’s because He loves us, He wants us to repent, to return to Him, agree with Him, and depart from that sin. This is all so He can clear us!
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19
Refreshing Always Follows Fresh Repentance
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Read 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Corinthians 2 and 7.
Yes, we’ve all been hurt by others and we have also hurt others, right? Let’s take accountability for our own evil and watch what God does. Blaming others without taking the blame due to us is a deep, endless ditch.
This morning I prayed “LORD, if I have angered or hurt someone, anyone, please let it be revealed so that amends can be made, in Jesus’ name, amen Father.”
In this passage below, our LORD is addressing being easily angered as well as making amends when we intentionally or unintentionally have harmed another.
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly…” Matthew 5:22-25
PRAYER: My Father in Heaven, I come to You now on the sole basis of the holy name and blood of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Here and now I ask You LORD to convict, grant repentance, and complete clearing of any and all sin in my life. Please sanctify my life dear LORD. LORD Jesus thank You for dying on that cross, shedding Your precious blood for all my sins. Please bless me with a oneness with You and the Father and a clear conscience. Be glorified in my life dear LORD. I love You LORD Jesus. Amen.
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Apostasy
Richard Foster Exposed
Wait, WHAT, WHO are Christ’s disciples to celebrate?
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14
A Biblically based commentary on current issues that impact you
Richard Foster—Celebration of Deception
by Bob DeWaay
Christianity Today ran a glowing cover story about Evangelicalism’s recent embrace of medieval Roman Catholic mysticism entitled The Future lies in the Past.1 The article traced the beginning of the movement as follows: “The movement seems to have exploded in a 24-month period in 1977-1978, which saw the publication of Richard Foster’s bestselling Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth and Robert Webber’s Common Roots: A Call to Evangelical Maturity.”2
The article views Foster as one who continues to guide the movement: “From Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, and living practicing monks and nuns, they [those going back to Roman Catholic mysticism] must learn both the strengths and the limits of the historical ascetic disciplines.”3 So Foster was instrumental in starting a movement that is still growing 30-plus years later.
The irony about this particular CIC regarding Foster’s 1978 book is that in 1978 I myself was living in a Christian community committed to practicing much of what he promotes in Celebration of Discipline (even though we had not learned it from him directly). So I am not criticizing a practice about which I know nothing (or one in which I have no experience). I am criticizing a practice I foolishly allowed to deceive me for a significant portion of my early Christian life. When it comes to being deceived by mysticism, I have had abundant involvement. The only way I escaped it was through discovering and adopting the Reformation principle of sola scriptura.
In this article I will show that Foster’s “journey inward” is unbiblical and dangerous. I will show that most of the spiritual disciplines that he calls “means of grace” are no means of grace at all—but a means of putting oneself under spiritual deception.
The Journey Inward
The Bible nowhere describes an inward journey to explore the realm of the spirit. God chose to reveal the truth about spiritual reality through His ordained, Spirit-inspired, biblical writers. What is spiritual and not revealed by God is of the occult and, therefore, forbidden. We have discussed this in many articles and have produced DVD seminars on the topic. But the concept of sola scriptura is totally lost on mystics such as Richard Foster. They, like the enthusiasts that Calvin and Luther warned against, believe they can gain valid and useful knowledge of spiritual things through direct, personal inspiration.
Foster describes the idea of the disciplines that are the topic of his book: “The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths. They invite us to explore the inner caverns of the spiritual realm.”4 So Foster has conceptually repudiated sola scriptura on page one to replace it with a journey inward to explore the realm of spirits. Something must have been seriously amiss in evangelicalism already in 1978 to render this book a bestseller! It ought to have been repudiated on the spot. In a footnote to that statement Foster writes, “In one form or another all of the devotional masters have affirmed the necessity of the Disciplines” (Foster: 1). The devotional “masters,” by the way, are mostly Roman Catholics who never were committed to the principle of sola scriptura. It is not surprising that they looked for spirituality through experimentation. But as an “inner light” Quaker, Foster never was committed to sola scriptura either.
Forgetting that the Bible forbids divination, Foster explains what he is after:
[W]e must be willing to go down into the recreating silences, into the inner world of contemplation. In their writings, all of the masters of meditation strive to awaken us to the fact that the universe is much larger than we know, that there are vast unexplored inner regions that are just as real as the physical world we know so well. . . . They call us to the adventure, to be pioneers in this frontier of the Spirit. (Foster: 13)
Realizing that his readers would likely take this as an endorsement of Eastern religions, he makes a disclaimer that it is not Transcendental Meditation (TM) or something of that ilk: “Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind; Christian meditation is an attempt to empty the mind in order to fill it” (Foster: 15). But what Foster wishes us to fill our minds with are personal revelations from the spirit realm that we naively are to think are the voice of God. This sort of meditation is not meditating on what God has said, but uses a technique to explore the spirit world. In other words, it is divination.
What we learn about the spirit realm either is revealed by God (once for all in Scripture) or gleaned by man-made techniques. That distinction is the difference between Christianity and paganism. Only Bible believers know what God has said about Himself and what He wishes to reveal about the unseen spirit world. Foster’s material continues to be popular because we live in an age where being spiritual pioneers on a journey into the unseen realm of the spirits is the essence of popular piety. It is the spirituality of secular talk shows.
To fully understand the degree of Foster’s deception, he even calls these techniques to the inner journey “means of grace”: “They [the Disciplines] are God’s means of grace” (Foster: 6). As with all who teach spiritual disciplines, there are no boundaries to these false “means.” For example, consider this recommended practice: “After you have gained some proficiency in centering down, add a five- to ten-minute meditation on some aspect of the creation. Choose something in the created order: tree, plant, bird, leaf, cloud, and each day ponder it carefully and prayerfully” (Foster 25). This after he had just taught breathing exercises (a means of “centering down”). Then he makes a startling claim: “We should not bypass this means of God’s grace” (Foster: 25). And there we have it: meditating of a leaf can be a means of grace!
Foster’s journey inward is to discover a spirit world that is available for any who search for it: “How then do we come to believe in a world of the spirit? Is it by blind faith? Not at all. The inner reality of the spiritual world is available to all who are willing to search for it” (Foster: 18). He claims that this spiritual search is analogous to scientific experimentation. Never mind that every pagan culture that has existed has believed in the “spiritual world.”
Spirituality of the Imagination
The Bible does not have anything good so say about the imagination. For example: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the Lord'” (Jeremiah 23:16). A search of the KJV for “imagination” yields 14 verses, and in each case it is a bad thing. According to the Bible, the imagination is where people go when they do not want to listen to God.
However, for Foster the imagination is central: “The inner world of meditation is most easily entered through the door of the imagination. We fail today to appreciate its tremendous power. The imagination is stronger than conceptual thought and stronger than the will” (Foster: 22). Some of the authorities he cites on this point are C. G. Jung, Ignatius of Loyola, and Morton Kelsey. Jung is famous for his concept of the collective unconscious, and Kelsey was an Episcopal priest committed to Jungian principles. Kelsey wrote many books promoting mysticism. The advice Foster gleans from these teachers is that we must learn to think in images and take our dreams to be a possible doorway into the spirit world. Foster claims that dreams are something we already have and can help us develop the use of the imagination. He says, “Keeping a journal of our dreams is a way of taking them seriously” (Foster: 23).
There is, Foster warns, a danger to this process: “At the same time [that we ask for dreams to be God speaking to us], it is wise to pray a prayer of protection, since to open ourselves to spiritual influence can be dangerous as well as profitable” (Foster: 23). I would say that is asking God to protect us as we use various techniques to go where He does not want us to go (into the world of the spirits to gain information). The danger he warns of is far greater than Foster imagines. Those who take the journey inward will be deceived—every time! We are not equipped to gain spiritual information from that realm. That is why God speaks to us through His ordained mediators (the inspired Biblical writers); otherwise we would be fishing in the dark in a medium we are not suited for.
Foster teaches his readers to use their imaginations to experience Biblical stories with the five physical senses. Here is what he claims will happen:
As you enter the story, not as a passive observer but as an active participant, remember that since Jesus lives in the Eternal Now and is not bound by time, this event in the past is a living present-tense experience for Him. Hence, you can actually encounter the living Christ in the event, be addressed by His voice and be touched by His healing power. It can be more than an exercise of the imagination; it can be a genuine confrontation. Jesus Christ will actually come to you. (Foster: 26)
Showing that Foster’s ideas are still influential in our day, Greg Boyd cites some of Foster’s words here to support what he calls “cataphatic prayer” which uses the imagination and images as a means to contact God and gain spiritual information.5 Those who endorse this practice assume they are not being deceived by spirits, but I cannot see on what grounds.
Foster prescribes a practice using one’s imagination that mimics astral projection to the degree that he actually includes a footnote disclaimer stating that it is not astral projection (Foster 28). It begins by telling his readers to imagine themselves going out into nature into a beautiful place (Boyd describes how he practices this, as well as its results6). After enjoying the sights and smells (in your imagination) these are the next steps:
In your imagination allow your spiritual body, shining with light, to rise out of your physical body. Look back so that you can see yourself lying in the grass and reassure your body that you will return momentarily. Imagine your spiritual self, alive and vibrant, rising up through the clouds and into the stratosphere. . . Go deeper and deeper into outer space until there is nothing except the warm presence of the eternal Creator. Rest in His presence. Listen quietly, anticipating the unanticipated. Note carefully any instruction given. With time and experience you will be able to distinguish readily between mere human thought that may bubble up to the conscious mind and the True Spirit which inwardly moves upon the heart. (Foster: 27, 28)
I must ask how one knows whether “True Spirit” is not a deceiving one? Mysticism’s fatal flaw is that it naively assumes that Christians having subjective religious experiences must therefore be having Christian experiences that are truly from God—even if the experiences were provoked through unbiblical practices similar to those used by pagans.
Mental Alchemy
Foster’s approach to prayer is laced with mysticism as well. He claims that prayer needs to be learned from people who have the right experiences and are “masters” who know what they are doing. Foster does not teach ordinary prayer, whereby we bring our needs and requests to the Lord and know that He hears us (because He promised that He does). Here is why he thinks such prayer fails:
Often people will pray and pray with all the faith in the world, but nothing happens. Naturally, they were not contacting the channel. We begin praying for others by first centering down and listening to the quiet thunder of the Lord of hosts. Attuning ourselves to divine breathings is spiritual work, but without it our praying is vain repetition (Mt. 6:7). Listening to the Lord is the first thing, the second thing, and the third thing necessary for successful intercession. (Foster: 34)
Of course this means we have to become mystics if we want to pray.
He teaches that we first must hear personal revelations from God, using meditation techniques such as he teaches, before we pray. He says: “The beginning point, then, in learning to pray for others is to listen for guidance . . . This inner “yes” is the divine authorization for you to pray for the person or situation” (Foster: 35). No! Foster is wrong! The only authorization we need to pray is the Biblical command to pray—not personal revelations.
For Foster, meditation (mystical style) is necessary but not sufficient. He also brings the imagination into the process: “As with meditation, the imagination is a powerful tool in the work of prayer” (Foster: 36). He credits Agnes Sanford7 for helping him see the value of using the imagination in praying. Foster writes, “Imagination opens the door to faith. If we can ‘see’ in our mind’s eye a shattered marriage whole or a sick person well, it is only a short step to believing it will be so” (Foster: 36). Sanford got her ideas from Theosophy, New Thought, Jung, and Emmet Fox. These ideas, echoed by Foster, come from the unbiblical “mind over matter” thinking of that era. That kind of thinking uses creative visualization to change reality or channel spiritual power. Foster suggests, “Imagine the light of Christ flowing through your hands and healing every emotional trauma and hurt feeling your child experienced that day” (Foster: 39).
In his 1985 book, The Seduction of Christianity, Dave Hunt labeled creative visualization such as what Foster promotes, “mental alchemy.”8 Hunt warned the church that Foster promoted such mental alchemy in Celebration of Discipline, and as we have shown, he, in fact, does. So how is it that 24 years after Hunt’s warning Foster is more popular than ever with Evangelicals? The answer is end times deception. Now, a huge movement that claims to be a reformation promoting Foster, Willard and their versions of mysticism does exist (i.e., The Emergent Church). Things have gotten so very much worse.
Spiritual Directors
Once mysticism and the supposed need to gain personal revelations from God are embraced, there arises a need for new “masters” who are better at navigating the spirit world. Pagan societies have always had such persons. They are called “shamans.” Eastern religion calls them “gurus.” Deceived Christians call them “spiritual directors.” Foster explains, “In the Middle Ages not even the greatest saints attempted the depths of the inward journey without the help of a spiritual director” (Foster: 159). The problem, according to Foster, is that the churches (in 1978) lacked “living masters”:
No doubt part of the surge of interest in Eastern meditation is because the churches have abrogated the field. How depressing for a university student, seeking to know the Christian teaching on meditation, to discover that there are so few living masters of contemplative prayer and that nearly all of the serious writings on the subject are seven or more centuries old. No wonder he or she turns to Zen, Yoga, or TM. (Foster: 14)
Foster’s dream has come true. Today people can even practice Yoga in a Christian church. We have Christian TM; it is called contemplative prayer. Yes, Eastern religion has come right into the church, and Foster has helped usher it in.
But what about “living masters” or spiritual directors? In 1972 Morton Kelsey lamented their lack: “Indeed I would suggest that everyone who is serious about relating to the spiritual realm find himself a spiritual director, if there were more men trained and experienced in this way.”9 That “problem” has been solved in a huge way. Evangelical theology schools are now offering masters degrees in “spiritual formation” in order to equip people to be “spiritual directors.” Here is what Biola University says about its program: “This degree is designed to equip men and women for the ministry of spiritual direction, discipleship, formation and soul care in the local church and for further academic training in spiritual formation.”10 Spiritual Directors International will help you find a spiritual director regardless of your religion.11 Richard Foster’s own Renovare, which purports to “encourage renewal in the Christian church,” has a list of spiritual direction programs.12
Foster explains the purpose of the spiritual director: “He is the means of God to open the path to the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit” (Foster: 160). Apparently, in a full-blown rejection of sola scriptura where the Holy Spirit’s teaching is mediated to the church through the Biblical writers only, we need mediators for personal revelations beyond scripture.
Foster explains how spiritual directors lead: “He leads only by the force of his own personal holiness” (Foster: 160). In Roman Catholicism the Pope is called “his holiness” and in Tibetan Buddhism the Dalai Lama is called “his holiness” but now evangelicals are developing a class of people who evidently deserve the title. How exactly are we to judge when someone has gained “personal holiness” sufficient to be a spiritual director and mediate spirituality to others? Foster says, “Though the director has obviously advanced further into the inner depths, the two [master and disciple] are together learning and growing in the realm of the Spirit” (Foster: 160). Foster cites Roman Catholic mystic Thomas Merton about how this works: “The spiritual director was something of a ‘spiritual father who begot the perfect life in the soul of his disciple by his instructions first of all, but also by his prayer, his sanctity and his example. He was . . . a kind of ‘sacrament’ of the Lord’s presence in the ecclesiastical community” (Foster: 161).
End Times Delusion
When it comes to end times deception, Foster is on the cutting edge of embracing it. Consider what he wrote: “In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emerging of a Spirit-led, Spirit-intoxicated, Spirit-empowered people. . . . Individuals can be found here and there whose hearts burn with divine fire” (Foster: 150). Such inclinations have led to massive deception. They smack of the Latter Rain deception, now embodied in such false teachers as Rick Joyner and Mike Bickle. They are elitist. They are in line with the beliefs of the Emergent Church as well. He also says: “Our century has yet to see the breaking forth of the apostolic church of the Spirit” (Foster: 150). Now we have the New Apostolic Reformation claiming to be just that. Foster’s ideas now embody the massive apostasy and end times deception that characterize our age.
Foster’s teachings have taken the church as far away from the Reformation principle of sola scriptura as the Roman Catholic Church ever was. The only thing left is for them to bring us all the way back to Rome. Christianity Today praises Foster for pointing us in that direction.
In early 2008 I wrote a CIC article about how abandoning the principle of sola scriptura would lead evangelicals back to Rome.13 It was partly a response to the CT article praising mysticism. The response I received was rather unexpected. I was contacted by former evangelicals who had rejected sola scriptura and had gone back to Rome! They wanted to debate me about sola scriptura. Sadly, my point was proven. As a response to their misguided challenge our church hosted a seminar on sola scriptura, called Faith at Risk 4.14 In the seminar Gary Gilley and I defended the scriptures as the sole authority for the church.
The aforementioned CT article discusses a new monasticism, former evangelical leaders converting to Roman Catholicism, and mystical practices like lectio divina—and they call all of it a good and hopeful thing. Chris Armstrong, the author of the article, concluded, “That they [evangelicals] are receiving good guidance on this road from wise teachers [Foster and Willard] is reason to believe that Christ is guiding the process. And that they are meeting and learning from fellow Christians in the other two great confessions, Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox, is reason to rejoice in the power of love.”15
Who is left to defend the principles of the Reformation? One would think Reformed theologians are, but they aren’t doing their job. In the last CIC article we mentioned Reformed theologian Donald Whitney who wrote: “Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline has been the most popular book on the subject of the Spiritual Disciplines in the last half of the twentieth century. The great contribution of this work is the reminder that the Spiritual Disciplines, which many see as restrictive and binding, are actually means to spiritual freedom.”16 That from a teacher in a Reformed seminary?
If a book that teaches Christian TM, Christian astral projection and mental alchemy by means of the imagination is a “great contribution,” then something is seriously wrong here. The delusion is so widespread that I see no other explanation for it than the end time deception predicted by Paul: “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,” (1Timothy 4:1). Another passage warns: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2Timothy 4:3, 4).
That time now is here. We are accountable to God for what we believe and practice. Those who wish to persevere in the faith in this age of delusion must base their beliefs and practices only on the truths found in Scripture. Foster’s journey into the world of the spirits will deceive all who enter it.
Issue 112 – May / June 2009
End Notes
- Chris Armstrong, “The Future lies in the Past” in Christianity Today, February 2008.
- Ibid. 24.
- Ibid. 29.
- Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (New York: Harper & Row, 1978) 1. All subsequent citations from this book will be bracketed within the text in this fashion: (Foster: 1).
- Greg Boyd, Seeing is Believing, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004). Boyd cites Foster to prove that the Lord will actually come to us through our use of “imaginative meditation.” I deal with this issue more fully in CIC issue 83 July/August, 2003: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE83.HTM
- Ibid. 111-125.
- I write about Sanford’s inner healing theories in CIC Issue 96: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE96.HTM
- Dave Hunt and T. A. McMahon, The Seduction of Christianity (Eugene: Harvest House, 1985) 138.
- Morton Kelsey, Encounter With God, (Bethany Fellowship: Minneapolis, 1972) 179.
- http://www.biola.edu/spiritualformation/programs/ SEE PDF
- HTTP://WWW.SDIWORLD.ORG
- HTTP://WWW.RENOVARE.ORG/JOURNEY_TRAINING_DIRECTION.HTM
- CIC Issue 105; March/April 2008: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE105.HTM
- Watch this seminar HERE
- Armstrong, Future
- DONALD S. WHITNEY, SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (COLORADO SPRINGS: NAVPRESS, 1991) 23.
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