Worship in Spirit and Truth

My father grew up in a little log cabin in Kentucky. He was a country boy who went to a little country church. There were only a couple of churches where he lived. One, his mother took him to. The other, a holy-roller church, as he called it. His mother was a godly woman, who read her children scripture every night by the light from a lantern. Dad told me once he managed to skip church in order to go fishing. On his way home, he passed by the holy -roller church. He peeked in the window and ran home to tell his mother what he witnessed. He hit the porch laughing, barged in and said, “Ma, guess what I saw?”  She asked him what and he went on to tell her he saw the congregation standing up, hooping and hollering, one woman looked over at the woman next to her and said, “Hold my baby! I gotta shout!” The other woman said, “Hold your own baby, I gotta shout too!” Dad thought that was hilarious. His mother did not find it amusing and told him, “Son, never make fun of how someone worships God.”

Worship to her could be sitting on her front porch, stringing beans or shucking corn while singing the Old Rugged Cross. Simple and pure. I believe if my grandmother were alive today, she would be aghast at what is called “worship” today.

What are we to think about some of the so-called worship of the God we serve? Where do we draw the line and how?

Jesus has this to say:

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. — John 4:23,24 –

Spirit and truth are the two priorities.

I am reminded of how we have been taught how “David danced naked before the Lord.” But unless someone is using a different Bible than the one I use, I do not see the word “naked” anywhere in that part of scripture.

Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. — 2 Samuel6:14 –

From what I gather after reading the whole chapter, it appears his wife Michal who happened to be the daughter of Saul was put out with him. Perhaps it had more to do with jealousy on her part, than it did with his dancing.

We (women especially) have been taught not to judge worship or else we will be cursed in one way or the other. Even to the point of … Shock … not having children, such in Michal’s case. Too many times in the past when my dear sweet balanced stable husband was not acting the dancing fool in church, or allowing himself to be thrown about like a sack of potatos by manipulating over-zealous preachers, while other men were (who I happened to know some treated their wives like dirt) being tossed to – and fro, running around, my husband stood quietly, his hands clasped before him, eyes closed, worshipping God just as my grandmother did. As his wife (me) stood next to him judging him, wondering why he would not worship like the other men. After all, didn’t David dance naked? Is it a little too much to ask that your husband get with the program? It is a good thing that I was the one in the wrong, or else I still would be waiting for my husband to be some kind of dancing machine.

Was I cursed for judging my husband? No. In Michal’s case, it was her husband who decided not to allow her to have children. But I had not known that, because we women were taught differently. Talk about a spirit of control. It is becasue of this spirit now, that any and all things are called worship.

I — thank — God that he finally was able to get through to me that my husband was not a puppet. Yet, there are women all throughout the church who look upon other men and wish their husbands could be just like them. This is idolatry. Such as was in my case.

The video below is one of a Jesuit dancing. I find it wrong on many accounts. He mixes Hinduism with the Gospel. Is this not leaven that Jesus warned us about?

The church needs to be very careful what we call worship. I don’t like to take scripture out of context, but the message is still clear:

They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; they have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols…. — Deuteronomy 32:21 –

Satan is a thief. He comes to steal. When he can not completely steal something, he hangs around and corrupts things is his image. This is done in the video below.

Exactly what is spirit and truth? I am far from a Bible scholar, I’m not some great theologian, but shouldn’t worship point straight to Jesus? Some would say the below does. Really? What kind of Jesus?

I know for a fact it is not the Jesus I worship.

I do not believe it is the same Jesus my grandmother worshipped, nor do I believe it is the same Jesus I have seen my husband worship.

God does not need worship so badly that He would allow incorporation of false religions to muck up His purity and His Truth! That would make Him a harlot!

NationalJesuitNews:

A Partial List of the False Teachers who endorse the heretical, “The Bible” TV series

List gotten here: http://beginningandend.com/the-bible-miniseries-hollywood-heresy/

The miniseries has also received a number of strong endorsements from Pastors:

“I’ve probably seen most, if not all, of the films about the Bible produced in the past 50 years. This one stands alone, in a class by itself, as the best I’ve ever seen. .. The key to its effectiveness is that it lets the Bible speak for itself, without commentary, excuse or qualification, which makes it unique. This is living history at its best!” – Dr. Rick Warren.

“Unlike any other film or miniseries I’ve ever encountered, The Bible brings the Word of God to life in the full richness of its scope, diversity, power, and magnificence. History and mystery collide as Mark Burnett and Roma Downey infuse every scene with their divinely inspired vision for sharing the poetic beauty and timeless wisdom of Scripture. – Bishop T.D. Jakes.

“I’m convinced that The Bible represents a unique opportunity to convey God’s redemptive message to a broad audience-many of whom may be unfamiliar with the narrative of Scripture. My prayer is that many lives will be impacted not only by the beauty and quality of the production, but by the Truth that lies at the center of the story.” – Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family

“It’s impossible to put into words the awe-inspiring emotions I felt watching the Bible stories come to life on the screen. The attention to detail is impeccable.” – Craig Groeschel, Pastor, Lifechurch.tv.

“We have read all the scripts, spent time on the set and viewed some remarkable footage. The World Evangelical Alliance stands fully behind this incredible Bible project.” – r. Geoff Tunnicliffe, Chief Executive Officer/Secretary General, World Evangelical Alliance.

Joel Osteen has also put his seal of approval on it. This should open the eyes of anyone who even remotely know their Bible. If you call yourself a Christian and could follow this, there is a huge problem. Jesus warned us about leaven. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A LITTLE LEAVEN. It is out right in your face gospel – denying, New Age lies and deceptions! If you have been a follower of those who endorse this, then it only seems right that now you have to contend with this deception from your beloved teachers. You were warned many times by many of us over the years about your beloved social justice, all is well, bless me — get a miracle, have your best life now, sugar coated teachers. It is written if you do not love the truth, God will send a delusion. You were warned, but you would not hear. IF you still dare to follow these men, then YOU are no longer just part of the deceived, but you have become part of the deceivers. You become so everytime you open your mouth in defense of these heretics.  Come out from among them! Or else greater deception come to you!

For those who are whining right now because they do not like my tone: Tough beans. I am offended that these heretics can take the Word of God and twist it, deceiving thousands and having that endorsed by so-called “teachers” and “leaders.” You were told, you were warned over and over and over, and you would not listen. Instead you have attaacked truth speakers in the Remnant of God all over the internet as being divisive when your own “gospels” come straight from hell.  Now the time has come for you to choose. What is it going to be? 

Part 1: Heresies in “The Bible” TV series

This will be part one of the heresies that will be covered in the “The Bible” series. I am just not able to focus on the entirety of it, right now. It has a very dark feel and makes me kind of ill to think so many people, including those within the Church are esteeming this as some great work. However, if you wish you can go one and read the rest of the article here.

Excerpt gotten here: http://beginningandend.com/the-bible-miniseries-hollywood-heresy/

100huntley:

Here is that same account in the actual Bible:

And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.                – Luke 5:1-11 –

Notice Peter’s reaction to the miracle that Jesus had performed. He and his men were fishing all night and caught nothing. There was seemingly, no way to catch any. Yet Peter believed Jesus’ words and obeyed him. And after the miracle, Peter dropped to a position of worship and said “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Recognizing one’s own sin before the morally perfect God and Lord that is Jesus Christ, is key to going to Heaven. This is again a critical aspect of how a person is saved from the wrath of God and the lake of fire. Peter understood he was in the presence of Divine Power and did not feel worthy. Yet Jesus encourages him by inviting him to come with him to “catch men”, meaning bringing more people to believe in Christ. And Peter “forsook all”, meaning he gave up everything he was doing with his life on the spot, to follow Jesus. All of this is what a person has to do in order to go to Heaven. Acknowledging your sin, confessing it to God, believing in Jesus Christ and giving up your past life of sinful ways and letting your own heart rule, in order to follow Jesus and let Him be Lord of your life, is all a part of being a born again Christian.

Does The Bible Miniseries illustrate these powerful points? Not at all. Instead of being astonished and worshiping at the feet of Jesus, Peter asks him “How did this happen? What did you do?” as if he had no idea what was going on. The Jesus character (who looked like the renaissance era/Catholic depictions of Jesus) responds: “I am giving you the chance to change your life..giving up catching fish and I will make you a fisher of men.” Peter answers “What are we going to do?” showing he still does not really understand if Jesus is divine or why it would be necessary for people to know Jesus. And the Jesus character’s answer is “Change the world.”

Change the world how? I suspect it has more to do with bringing everybody together under the guise of peace and love, than actual repentence. Typical New Age thought.

No mention of sin, acknowledging of Jesus as God in the flesh or a real salvation message. Instead it is almost a social justice message. Jesus Christ did not come to change the world, He came to save it from its sin. Without understanding that sin is the greatest problem the world is facing, Jesus’ message could be changed to just helping the poor, or providing water wells to communities in drought or working in a homeless shelter. All these actions, while noble, will not get you to Heaven or make one right before God. This is the problem with many churches as they put overemphasis on “changing the world” without first changing the sinful heart that has led a person into sin and damnation, lest they believe the Gospel. And the false doctrines being preach today, while exciting are not Biblical. Do not be deceived.

An Answer to Choo Thomas Defenders

Dale Schauer has written another article in response to Choo Thomas. Once again, please do not leave me comments in trying to uphold her. Brother Dale has done an exhaustive work in explaining the truth and I refuse to keep going around the same old mountain. Many people have been able to see the truth and have ran from her heresy. As for those who still want to cling to her delusions as THE truth, you are free to leave this place and believe what you will. But know this: you have been told the truth.

http://annointing.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/balaams-in-the-end-times/

Let’s review some grounded facts. First, the Lord God of Israel is sovereign and supreme over all. He can take the bad and can take unclean vessels and turn it around and use it for good (Romans 8:28). Second, His written Word the Bible is infallible and is to be our only true guide on how to live our lives. Third, we are living in the very last days where it is prophesied in the Bible that many false prophets will arise who will deceive even the most discerning if the days are not shortened. Fourth, Born Again Christians are to test everything and hold onto only those things that are totally true and good. With those four facts to stand on, we can now move on.

I received a comment from someone who supports the book ‘Heaven Is So Real’ by Choo Thomas. They stated that they were brought closer to God and repented of their sins after reading the book. I would now like to state some further facts. First, Choo claims that it is Jesus’ end time book and that it is a book of truth. Second, Choo’s book is filled from one end to the other with deception that is in direct opposition to what the Bible teaches (see PDF at at http://annointing.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/concerns-about-heaven-is-so-real.pdf

). Third, my Christian walk has been inspired by many secular books and movies. They have a way of pricking my conscience that the Holy Spirit then takes and uses it for good in my life. What makes these sources different is that they do not claim truth like Choo does for her book.

Now to get down to the bare bones of how we should treat Choo’s book as Christians. Because Choo’s book claims to be fact and in reality it is filled with deception, we are to stay clear of it and point out its deception to other believers. To promote it is sin.

Do you realize that God can use anyone for His glory? Remember Balaam? God used Balaam, a pagan prophet who was hired by Balak, to share with Balak the blessings that He intended for Israel. Balaam had just seen God speak through his donkey. After hearing the donkey speak, God opened Balaam’s eyes (Numbers 22:31) and effectively made Balaam understand that God and God alone would give him the words to speak to Balak. There were 7 prophecies Balaam gave to Balak in Numbers 23-24. Remember that Balak had offered to pay Balaam to contact the gods and curse Israel. After all, that was what Balaam was known for in all the land. However, Balaam did nothing of the sort this time as he allowed God to speak through him 7 different times, all of which were blessings rather than curses on the nation of Israel. After Balak realized he wasn’t getting what he wanted he sent Balaam on his way without paying him (Numbers 24:11). Later Balaam caused the Israelites to sin through his counsel (Numbers 31:16). These exploits later cost him his life (Joshua 13:22). We are warned three times throughout the New Testament to stay away from the errors of Balaam.

Judas Iscariot was a New Testament Balaam. There are many preachers in Hell right now who have led many souls to Christ during their time on earth. Paul warns, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (I Corinthians 9:27)”

Choo Thomas has gone the way of Balaam. She has placed a stumbling block before the children of God (Revelation 2:14). The book she wrote, “Heaven Is So Real’ clearly was not given to her by The Lord Jesus Christ. 100% proof of this is that it does not line up with the Word of God (see the PDF). As to being brought closer to God, and repenting of one’s sins after reading the book, as one commenter to my post wrote me, is just simply testimony that God can turn Satan’s devices around and use it for His glory. Remember, it all boils down to Jesus, and not to Choo Thomas or her book.

Unfortunately there are many Balaams that have infiltrated Christianity in the age we are living. Do not forget that we are accountable to use discernment. All things that claim to line up with the Word of God and fall short by even 1 percent we are to turn away from. Satan misused Scripture when tempting Jesus. Even though Satan quoted the Scripture correctly, he was rebuked because he twisted it. The commenter needs to give glory to Jesus and not support the book in any way. It does not get any clearer than 1 Thessalonians 5:21 that says, “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

Numerous testimonies abound from Christians who suffered depression and confusion after reading ‘Heaven is so Real’. James 3:17 clearly states, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

To those who may have been touched by Choo’s book, a message of warning: let’s never get caught up in the worldly concept ‘The End Justifies The Means’ as far as it pertains to human efforts. Our job as Christians is to seek for Holy Spirit discernment on how to witness to people. Jude verses 22-23 says, “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”

Believing the Devils lies more than God’s Truth

Following article gotten here:

http://www.letusreason.org/bookR19.htm

RedeemedHippie: Please be aware I will not be allowing comments who still want to defend Choo Thomas. If you need further explanation, find the sidebar on the right that addresses this issue.

What’s it like to go to heaven? Paul an apostle went and gave no description to the church. John was there and gave but a few details. Apparently these were not enough for a people that are supposed to be trained to walk by faith on earth; that is why Jesus chose new believer Choo Thomas to write her “NEW book” on going to heaven.

Choo claims that she became a Christian in 1992, “I literally fell in love with Jesus after I went to church a few times and I wanted to give every area of my being to Him the rest of my life.”

Two years later, she saw Jesus’ visible presence at a Neighborhood Assembly of God in Tacoma, Washington and in 1995, she began having physical manifestations from the Holy Spirit. In 1996, the Lord Jesus escorted Choo into heaven and told her to record what she has seen and heard, bringing forth the book, “Heaven is so Real”.

This book was published in October, 2003. The forward is by the “REV. DR.” Yonggi Cho of Korea (this presents a problem immediately to anyone aware of Cho’s teachings- he mixes Christianity with Buddhism and new age concepts). Dr. Yonggi Cho translated her book over two months. “So, the day the book was printed, and it exploded in Korea and is number one bestseller there. And almighty God using Dr. Youggi Cho such awesome way. He has almost 800, 000 members in his church, so God is using him for this book, he chose him for this book.”

This book has found itself in the top 10 of Christian charismatic books. It is an international bestseller in the year it was published. On her website – the September issue of Charisma and Christian life magazine the book “Heaven is so real” is listed as #7 in the top 10 sellers of Christian Charismatic books.

This is very disappointing to hear how gullible and naïve charismatics can be. To buy this book and believe its content is outrageous because it’s an obvious fraud. What alarms me is how one can present a truth from the bible and call their experience the word from Jesus and make their experience the superior truth.

Choo Thomas also sings Holy Songs (Heavenly songs) Choo Thomas’ spirital song, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is now available for download. The song is 1 hour long.

The singing sounds like some new age mantra. I’m not sure what language this is in, if it is a language or just eerie sounds –in some ways it is reminiscent of Yoko Ono. Listen to this for an a hour and you will have entered a altered state. She also has holy dancing after her trips to Heaven and Hell

Her website links and promotes Rick Joyner’s book the Final Quest; Mary Baxter’s book the Divine Revelation of Hell; 23 minutes in Hell by Bill Wiese as well as others of this sort. What is also linked to Choo Thomas’ website is Dr. Aiko who is pictured with Yonngi Cho and Jack Hayford. What she has to say is also a blend of new age concepts, other religious ideas with Christianity (i.e. laser prayers).

From the start, none of this is healthy for someone who wants the truth found in God’s word from His mouth. We are in an outbreak of new age assaults and lying signs and wonders- people are going to heaven more often than the space shuttle goes to space. It is all very Unbelievable- and I will prove it.

A Vision And the Fire of God

She says “I received the fire of the Holy Spirit while I was praying at home in January 1994. About a month later, I saw the Lord’s presence while I was worshiping at the Neighborhood Assembly of God in Tacoma,

Washington. He was sitting by the pulpit. His legs were crossed, and I could see Him as clearly as a real person, except I couldn’t see His face. As I perceived Him, He had silky white hair and was wearing a pure white robe. His person was visible to me for almost five minutes. After seeing Him my body was on fire with unspeakable joy, and I became wholeheartedly committed to Jesus. Soon after this life-changing experience, my family and I began attending Puget Sound Christian Center in Tacoma, Washington.

The Lord sitting at the pulpit with his legs crossed? She is the only one to see him in his special appearance!

Her testimony is revealing because she describes herself “watching a Benny Hinn crusade on television, I stood up and lifted my hands in prayer. Then I fell on the floor for almost three hours. The anointing of God’s Holy Spirit was so strong that I couldn’t get up, and all I could do was sing and talk in tongues and laugh”

It is Benny Hinn who continually talks about seeing the Lord when he prays, and he has appeared in his room. So it is not surprising to see the affect of his influence on those who adore him.

Hinn says: I really believe it was the moment that God began moving in my life….I saw Jesus walk into my bedroom.  He was wearing a robe that was whiter than white and a deep red mantle was draped over the robe.”

“When I talk to the Lord, He comes, … most times, I see Him wearing a blue, beautiful, almost like a – like a silkish looking garment. And under it would be a white garment. Sometimes I’d see Him wear white and a scarlet garment…”

Those who follow mystics like Hinn can certainly have the same spiritual delusion operating in their lives, it is catchy.

Choo tells us, through a prophetic utterance given by a pastor named Larry Randolph, God spoke directly to me on December 3, 1995. Pastor Randolph prophesied:

I saw the blessing of the Lord in the realm of prophetic ministry and the Lord opening your spirit in a great way to prophetic ministry, dreams and words of knowledge . . . I saw the Lord speaking to you in the night seasons, between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. . . . [He will] begin to awaken you and visit you, give you dreams, visions and insight . . . God told me that you’re one of the daughters that He’s put His Spirit upon to prophesy.

(Pastor Randolph at Puget Sound Christian Center in Tacoma, Washington)

She states as he spoke “my body began to shiver and quake under the power of God. she then says I was reminded of the words of the prophet Joel: Joel 2:28–30 she wondered, if she was to be one of the Lord’s special maidservants who would see wonders in heaven and earth? What an honor to be selected as a vessel of the Lord’s love, grace and power in these last days.”

She explains Pastor Randolph: It’s not showing off what God gives you; it’s keeping secrets. God’s going to tell you things about people that you’ll never tell people. You’ll pray for and intercede [for them], and hold them up in prayer because you’re going to be a friend of God—and that’s a true prophet. It’s just a friend of God. A friend of God. He’s going to tell you secrets about other people’s lives and about things He’s doing in the earth. So, get ready in 1996 for a fresh anointing of the prophetic to come upon your life. And in the new year, as you wait before the Lord, God’s going to put a fresh Spirit upon you, an anointing of prophecy is going to come upon you.”

By this prophecy and other events she is being led into an area she is unable to cope with correctly. Instead of the secrets of people being revealed, which would be overwhelming enough, she is given something far more grave – going to heaven. Not once but 17 times.

She admits “I didn’t do any full-time church work or know many of God’s words, but He chose me for His special work anyway. By showing me heaven and all the other visions I have been privileged to experience, He began to prepare me for the ministry He has called me to” (p.3 On Heaven’s Road)

Convinced she is chosen to have a special work before she is grounded in God’s word does present an immediate problem. The stage is set for her to be used by a supernatural experience that will not coincide with the Bible at all but will become an influence to other non-grounded people in the church.

A message from Choo Thomas regarding “Heaven is so Real” she writes:

Dear Pastor and Readers,
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus.
Heaven is so Real is our Lord’s end time book. He only used my body to write this book. He wants all believers and unbelievers to read it and prepare for His coming.”

She goes on to say He also said, that any pastor who reads this book, must share it with their congregations. He wants all the church body to see His face when we get to heaven.” Are we to be depenedent on her book to have people get to heaven? What happened to reading the Bible. It seems that every person who supposedly goes to heaven (or hell) has the same statments – read my words. As if their new revelation supercedes the one Jesus gave his appointed apostles. Who of his church body is not going to heaven? This makes no sense for Jesus to say this.

She also says “and showed me hell twice. He also showed me things during the time of the tribulation, after He took His people to heaven.” After the end of all these visions, He showed me the rapturing. …When you read this book you will see how the Lord took care of this book from the beginning to end of publishing.
I only wrote down what He showed me and told me. This book is a great tool for the salvation of souls.”

Again, what about using the Bible? She also gives testimony of all the people being brought to the Lord from her book. This is self- engratiating. She talks about her nine year old granddaughter who read this book and is continually talking about this book to others. … “She is so anointed by this book that she started with Genesis and is reading the whole Bible. “

Maybe she should have started with the Bible before this book! By the way how do you get anointed from a book? I wonder if she even understands what the anointing is.

In her epilogue she states: “I believe so many readers have felt that they have been with Jesus in heaven and had seen the things the Lord showed me with this book. That is why they received an anointing from this book.”We receive the Holy Spirit from a book! Especially one other than the Bible- the Bible says Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit and wants us to believe and live the words He gave through His apostles. I don’t see any statement from Jesus about others coiming with more revelation from Him for the church at the end of time. What I do read is his warning, that many will come in his name- to decieve, because they are deceived.

She describes supernatural events from reading her book. “Some say strange things happen to their bodies like their stomach getting tight and some received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. All these things are happening to people because it is our Lord Jesus’ book. As He has said this from the beginning, He has put a special anointing on this book so that people will be convicted and transform and He will be everything to them.”

please read this book more than once! If you don’t have a desire to read it, please put your hands on the book and pray in the name of Jesus for His understanding. The devil hates this book because it is Jesus’. I have heard that some people are so hungry for this book, even after they read it several times, they carry it wherever they go. Some, even after reading it, don’t have much to say about it. The reason this really bothers me is because the Lord told me that the only people who will love this book are those who love Him and are ready and waiting for His coming.”

Well I have to say that is is pure intimidation to accept her book and I’m going on record calling this fraud. Jesus did not pick this woman and dozens of others who are all essentially saying the same things ABOUT THEIR BOOK) That if you don’t love her words you don’t love Jesus and are not waiting for his coming. That is disgusting to me.

“Our Lord Jesus loves each and every one of us so much that He chose me for this book to give His people one last chance to prepare before He comes for us. For those who don’t know much about the bible, some things are not that clear in the bible; (remember John 14:3) “and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am”. That is the reason He chose me for His end time work.” (end of epilogue quotes).

So in essence she is going to make things clearer with her experience and new revelation that goes beyond the pages of Holy Writ. And we have no choice but accept it or we are not loving the Lord.

This is not even presenting an equality with Scripture but a superiority because Jesus chose her to write it.  In her book she writes “My daughter, you are an End-Times prophetess,’ the Lord told me, “and you are living proof of My Word and My prophecies…” (p. 168). “He wants me to serve as living proof of the Bible and His prophecies, because many people do not believe what they read in the Bible, nor do they believe He is coming soon for His people” (p. 177). “He had shown me how desperate many people are to know the truth about heaven, and I realized emphatically that my book would be the means whereby they could really know” (p.124).

Her book will be the vehicle God will tell people the truth about heaven, is not the Bible able to do this? Of course it is; it has been doing this for thousands of years long before her book came to print.

Here’s more: “Every word in this book is true.  The words of Jesus have been transcribed exactly as He said them to me” (p. 153). Then this should be added to the Bible because it is a direct revelation like John the apostle wrote in the book of Revelation on Jesus. In fact she says this: “Like John, I had been called to write, and my mission was the same as his-to let people know that the marriage supper of the Lamb has already been prepared, and blessed are those who are invited to be there on the last day”  (p.129).

If one is claiming that new truth had been communicated by inspiration or experience, they are adding to god’s word. Here, the true Jesus tells us about His final revelation- Revelation 22:18: “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.”

Her message continues:

“When you read this book, you will know that it is not easy to see our Lord’s face.
“I know how hard it is to enter His Kingdom. Pastors, please read each and every page of this book very seriously for you and your loved ones and believe everything in this book, as it is written, and as you prepare for our Lord’s soon coming and also please promote this book for our Lord’s glory. He spent countless hours with me for this book.”
”Remember, none of our salvations are secure until the end. (“A message from Choo Thomas regarding “Heaven is so Real”)

Now that we understand how this book is being lifted up as God’s new word to us, it is implied that we are unable to question its veracity. This is quite arrogant. Your salvation is not secure because she does not see it as being by grace through faith.  She explains “Innocence, trust, purity of heart, fascination, a sense of wonder, belief, joy, happiness, present-moment living-all these are some of the magical qualities of childhood that God wants us to exhibit to GET TO HEAVEN” (p. 133).

You may have thought it was by grace and faith through the work of Jesus, but according to the Jesus she met, you are wrong. This is all tied to the new words Jesus gave her about heaven; it’s a catch 22. If you don’t believe her book then you do not have the qualities of a child and are unfit for heaven.

This transcript is of Choo Thomas to heaven is from a video (this needs to be seen to understand her mannerisms and speech) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8642465773795515476&q=Choo+Thomas

“The Lord Jesus Himself took me to heaven seventeen times with my transformed body, like when I was 15 or 16 years old. Before this, He prepared everything step-by-step. 1994 He anointed me my entire body with Holy Fire, then a month later, He showed me with His visual presence at the church during worship service. Then 1995, Easter Sunday, He anointed me with shaking body and ever since, my body shakes at the church, during my prayer time. You see, my body is moving back and forth right now, if I don’t do this, my stomach get very tight and it feel like exploding; that’s why I’m moving back and forth. So please don’t think anything wrong with my body. That’s the Holy Spirit doing this because I’m talking about Jesus, that’s why. And then, after this, He baptized me with Holy Spirit, with new tongues, Heavenly songs, Holy Laughter and I was so anointed for three hours and I was on the floor, I couldn’t get up because it was too powerful. After that, few months later, pastor Larry Randolf, he prophesized for me that he told me that the God wants to use me in such a special way. And all his prophecy was come true , thousand times, more. And after this, January, 1996 , Lord Jesus, He was visiting me with His visual presence. And He visited me for 10 times to tell me how He going to use, and the all the things, His plans and He was telling me about it, as in the book. But He didn’t tell me He was going to take me to Heaven. So, after 10 times, February 19, 96, He began to take me to Heaven with my transformed body, like His Spirit body, my body. Each time, before He took me to Heaven, He brought me to the beach, earthly beach. The very first time before he took me Heaven, He took me to one side of the beach He showed me small body of water crystal clear then He showed me huge shiny tunnel. So after that he took me to heaven.”

First she claims Jesus was visiting her with His visual presence 10 times. This is disturbing to hear what she is encountering because it certainly is not Jesus Christ who is at the right hand of the Father.

She commuted to heaven 17 times with her transformed body (but its reversed back each time on earth). I don’t think so! A transformed body means a resurrected body that makes one immortal. According to the Bible all believers get this body at the same time. Even those who are in heaven do not have their transformed body. We have to wait for the resurrection and rapture for the glorified body.

She says of this holy Fire “I received the fire of the Holy Spirit while I was praying at home in January 1994” (A Vision And the Fire of God).

There is no such thing as a holy fire anointing- in fact when one looks this reference up they find the disciples only experienced one baptism (the Bible tells us only one baptism- Spirit Eph.4:5). There is only one mention of this baptism of fire and it is not for believers Matt 3:11-12: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (also Luke 3:16-17) certainly a reference to Mt.25:41 ( also Mt.3:10; Rev.14:10).

We know this means judgment because John and Jesus explain it: He gathers “the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Luke 3:9, 17: “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” V.17 “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Jesus said Acts 1:5 “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Only the Holy Spirit is for believers, not the Holy Spirit plus fire. No believer was ever baptized in fire according to the Bible. God can purge things from our live and there are fiery trials but not a baptism of fire sent from heaven.

“the shaking body” she describes corresponds to the Toronto church manifestations that were taking place at this time (which Yonggi Cho prophesied about). “Ever since my body shakes at the church during prayer time”

She tells us that it is moving back and forth as seen on the video, if she does not do this her stomach gets very tight and it feel like it will explode, so she must move. This sounds demonically dictated- not a property of the Holy Spirit. Yet she assures people that there is nothing wrong- it is the Holy Spirit doing it because she is talking about Jesus” Yet no one through history ever had this effect from the Holy Spirit when they talk about Jesus (especially in the Bible). The Lord does not make you feel bad in the body to make you move like this. This is a Toronto experience. Each of her visits to heaven are acompanied by violent manifestations in which Choo loses control of her body.

On Easter Sunday 1995 while attending services at Puget Sound Christian Center, my body began to shake violently, and we had to stay for second service. I was experiencing the same phenomenon known among Quakers, Shakers and early Pentecostals. Since then, my body never stops shaking in church or during my prayer time at home.” (this is beginning to sound like Brownsville as well as Toronto)

Here are quotes from the book:

“On the night of January 19, the Lord’s presence was so intense in my bedroom that I shook, perspired and felt very weak for more than an hour”  (p. 7) “Because of the trembling of my body that always accompanied the Lord’s visits, Roger was now sleeping in the guest bedroom”  (p. 14) “During the night of February 12, my body shook more violently than it ever had.  I was almost hurled from the bed because it was so forceful.  I tried to grab the sheet to steady myself, but I couldn’t because I had no control over my body.  The shaking was unremittingly forceful, and I grew afraid.” (p. 17)

Her comment of being afraid is astute. She is so convinced this is the Lord that she cannot enetrtain any doubts despite the demonic nature of her exerience. To be hurled from the bed has much to do with the manifestations of the false revivals that have taken place and reminiscient of aka ‘the exorcist’ movie. This loss of control is the opposite effect of what the Holy Spirit does. “Sometimes the power of His anointing on my hands and arms is so strong that I feel as if my hands are actually breaking apart.  One Sunday morning my hand touched my eyes thirty-six times, and before each of these touches, my hands made seven different strange movements” (p. 205).

This is showing that she has a serious spiritual problem. Again, this is founded in the Toronto experience (Vineyard of John Arnott). It comes to no surprise to find out that she visited there and probably got the anointing that was passed on by the laying on hands of one of the leaders. Toronto Vineyard is a church where people were encouraged to act like animals, bark, roar, roll on the floor, cluck like chickens, pretend to fly- besides acting drunk. Not by any means a healthy atmosphere to grow in the truth of God’s word.

She mentions Larry Randolf- he is a Toronto Airport Vineyard leader who is totally involved in the Toronto church – “The thing he (Satan) is threatened by is what we’re carrying in the womb of our spirit: the seed of God… When God processes this thing and we come out the other end, we are going to be a people, one new man in the earth, that are going to exhibit and showcase the Kingdom of God in such a degree that the nations, kings are going to come to our feet and ask of us the things of God” (at the Toronto church, Nov. 18, 1994).

Typical statement from those in Kingdom Now theology. The context of Randolf’s teaching is that this process is taking place now, and the nations will submit to the church.

Maybe Randolph’s prophecy went something like this one “…You haven’t seen anything. God’s women are rising. The spirit of Debra’s falling on the women. The spirit of prophecy is coming upon the women. Signs and wonders and miracles…” (Larry Randolph, Renewal and Revival Today, Toronto Airport Vineyard, November 18, 1994).

She says she was later baptized with the Holy Spirit –having tongues and holy laughter. Again this laughter is not a Bible experience and was a manifestation from the false anointing at Toronto and from Rodney Howard Browne. There is no question there is something else operating here that is NOT the Holy Spirit.

After going through the tunnel, Choo writes:

“The Lord and I walked along the road that came down from the top of the hill. Eventually we reached a huge white gate that stood in front of a large white building. We walked through the gate and proceeded towards the white building. We entered and walked down a long corridor that led to a very large room. Which we entered . As I looked down, I realized for the first time that I was wearing a different robe than I had on at the beach, and I could feel something heavy was resting on my head. I reached up and discovered a beautiful crown had been placed there without my realizing it. Then I looked directly at the Lord. He was sitting on a throne, and He wore a radiant gown and golden crown. Others were there with me, kneeling on the floor and prostrating themselves before Him. The walls of the room were made of large shiny stones that glowed. The multicolored rocks provided an effect that made the room seem warm and happy, as well as mysterious. Then, just as quickly as I had been transported up the mountain and into the white building, I found myself on the beach again”.

This is nothing like what the Bible describes. While others are bowed in adoration she is not. She is able to look the Lord in the face. There is a problem with people who go to heaven have an unveiling of Jesus before the church does. We wait to see him face to face together. Notice that Paul does not say he saw the Lord in heaven, he was not greeted by him or given a tour like so many are today. 2 Cor 12:4: “how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” In fact, He says it is illegal to tell people. He was an apostle, Choo is not.

Choo Thomas: “Very first time He only showed me His throne room. Then after that we came down from heaven and the, we were sitting on the sand on earthly beach. And then He began to talk. He say, We just went to Kingdom of Heaven. The only one who will come there are obedient and pure hearted and He say preaching gospel is very important and He waited for awhile and He say those who don’t tithe, they are disobedient Christians. That was the last word He say the first trip.”

Is this what he tells her after she goes to heaven and sees the throne room!-(is there a throne room?). That one must be obedient to get to heaven and tithing is part of this obedience. This does not sound like the Jesus we know in the bible but parroting a tele-evangelist. Of all the things Jesus would say to the church on disobedience this would hardly be priority, since he does not command us to tithe in the New Testament. So he is contradicting Himself.

Not only do I disbelieve this story but I call it an outright fraud.

“After that, He took me to heaven 16 more times. Each time He took me there, He showed me different things.”

From Choo’s own words Jesus does not teach His own gospel of grace. Thomas tells us a completely new revelation from her journies to heaven. Not every Christian goes to heaven.  “When we got to the top, I looked over a brown and lifeless valley.  Everywhere there was brown.  The whole region seemed to be filled with dead grass.”I noticed multitudes of people who were wearing sand-colored robes roaming aimlessly in the vicinity of the pit’s yawning mouth.   Their heads were hanging low, and they looked very dejected and hopeless. “Who are these people, Lord?” I asked.

“They are disobedient ‘Christians” “How long will they have to stay in this barren, lifeless place?”Forever, My daughter.  The only ones who will enter My kingdom are the pure of heart-My obedient children.”

(p. 46 also p.249)

These people that are lost and are not cast into hell.  Thomas has discovered a third place where people will spend eternity. Like the Roman Catholic purgatory, those who are not obedient and pure enough spend eternity wandering in a desert like place. this makes salvation by works not by grace through faith.

Elsewhere, Thomas tells us some of the conditions for actually getting inside heaven. Over and over again Choo tells us that Jesus told her; that she is His special daughter; to accept these extra biblical revelations.

HOST SPEAKING “Besides experiencing heaven, Choo was also show hell twice.

She described hell vision as follows: I could see fumes and dark smoke rising from a deep pit. It was like the crater of a volcano, and inside I could see flames scorching a multitude of people who were screaming and crying in the kind of agony that only the severely burned truly know.

The people were naked, without hair, and standing close to one another, moving like worms, and the flames were scorching their bodies. There was no escape for those who were captured in the pit-its walls were too deep for them to climb, and hot coals of fire were all around the edges.

The flames would leap out unexpectedly from all directions. People would move away, and then as soon as they seemed to think that they were safe, another fire would burst forth. There was no rest for these unfortunate victims of sin; they were doomed to spend all eternity being scorched and burned as they endeavored to escape the flames of hell. “Who are these people?” I asked. “My daughter, these people did not know Me.”

She then describes another visit, “then, next visiting he showed me another sad thing. It was aborted babies. He took me to this one place it was a huge building. They looked like warehouse. When we walked in it, all I see was babies, tiny, tiny naked babies. And they were lying side by side. Humm, and I began to cry. Lord, why is so many babies. He say, they aborted babies. I said what are you going to do with them. He say If their mother be saved and they come to heaven, they will have their baby back. That was it. “

A warehouse full of babies! Now we have God depending on the belief of the mother to save a child who has no say in this. Not a hopeful scenario to something the bible is mostly silent on.

“… He showed me beach, you see daughter how beautiful this beach is, I know my children like this beach and when He took me to fishing, I know my children like fishing, that’s

why I prepare so many things what they like and I realized in heaven is well a thousand times beautiful than on Earth, but a lot of things like on Earth like roads, buildings, trees, bushes, rocks, flowers, rough places outside the kingdom; there are so many things there; but that they are thousand times beautiful on Earthly things, just beautiful. …. That is why He took me there to show what He prepared for His children, so let each and everyone know what heaven is waiting for us, so before He comes, He want all the Christians to know this things, so they can be excited and go there. That is why I believe He showed me these things. He doesn’t tell me everything, you know, thoroughly, He just show me some certain things, just say very few words, necessary words He tells me.

So heaven is just like earth, roads, bushes, beaches, fish. Too bad the Bible mentions none of this. God wrote the Bible and tells us the book of Revelation closes God’s revelation to man.

Choo is tampering with the revelation that specifically reveals Jesus, she puts her book on an equal status.

One must settle the question of who is telling the truth? Jesus of the Bible or the Jesus of Choo Thomas.

She even posted — Dear Readers,

I am forwarding Sister Shelby Corbitt’s book link about the rapture for 2007.  I know we are not supposed to say the exact year or day or hour, but please don’t judge it too quickly.

There is a housewife who claims that the Rapture will take place this summer.

You might want to read it via the URL below. http://www.2007rapture.com/about/

I don’t have to read it, I already know she is wrong- for the Bible says no man knows the day or hour.

But then she also claimsthe Lord showed me almost countless times visions of the rapture since October 2006 until January 2007.”Then she contradicts this in the next paragraph saying“He hasn’t showed me the rapture vision since May 13th, 1996”

“Well, the end of the visitation was after I took care of the manuscript of the book. Then He brought me to the earthly beach. And we spend about a couple of hours. He told me He will bring me there every Monday. That was May 27, 1996. Ever since, He never missed once, He bring me there every Monday with my transformed body. He wake me up about a few minutes after 12 o-clock every Monday Morning. He shakes my body for 30 minutes, exactly 30 minutes; never less, never more, and His presence shows and His spirit body, my spirit body and we go to the beach. And the, when we go there, you know, He talks mostly, I listen. Then I sing, I dance with my spirit body and this is the best time of my life right now.”

People can choose what to believe, but I can honestly say that if they believe any of her testimony they are not believing what the Bible teaches.

Creation House should be ashamed of promoting such nonsense through a book, is there no discernment left with book publishers?

Choo Thomas tells us “On January 19, 1996, I woke up at 3:00 in the morning. My body was shaking… I turned my head on the pillow to look in the direction of the sound, and there, all aglow, was a figure dressed in white garments. IT WAS THE LORD…”

Going back to the beginning- she has no testing of who this being of light is. From her own words that contradict the Bible it cannot be the Jesus of the Bible. I recommend for people to stop trying to scratch their itching ears for something new and learn directly from the Bible what God has said about these subjects, because this is what Jesus called the truth. Lest they find themselves in the same condition as Choo who has been visited by another Jesus and fulfill what Jesus warned in Matt 24:4: “Take heed that no one deceives you.”

© 2009 No portion of this site is to be copied or used unless kept in its original format- the way it appears. Articles can be reproduced in portions for ones personal use. Any other use is to have the permission of  Let Us Reason Ministriesfirst. Thank You.We always appreciate hearing  from those of you that have benefited by the articles on our website. We love hearing the testimonies and praise reports. We are here to help those who have questions on Bible doctrine, new teachings and movements.  Unfortunately we cannot answer every email. Our time is valuable just as yours is, please keep in mind, we only have time to answer sincere inquiries from those who need help. For those who have another point of view, we will answer emails that want to engage in authentic dialogue, not in arguments. We will use discretion in answering any letters.Let Us Reason Ministries

A Visit to Rick Warren’s Health Seminar

Unless he repent, men like Rick Warren will actually help set up the anti-christ. He is already doing it! Rick Warren worshippers, do not come here trying to defend him. Time is short and I am not going to waste time trying to convince you of the truth. You have a duty, an obligation, a command to TEST ALL THINGS. I have pointed you to the truth. What you do with it, is your buisness.

Following article gotten here: http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/011/lighthousetrails/warren-seminar.htm

I first arrived to Saddleback’s campus only to be told that “all parking lots were full.” I drove across the street to see if there were any spots available in the business lots, and they were full too. I ended up parking in a housing tract and walked a mile or two back to Saddleback’s campus. As I arrived, I overheard a parking lot attendant say they estimated about 6,000 people had come to the seminar.
I was a little late, so I was grateful to my nephew who went online and began to relay what was being said in the opening comments, as I didn’t want to miss what was to be the foundation of the talks that day. I was a little taken aback when my nephew told me the first speaker, Dr. Amen, made reference to the Egyptian pyramids and how they were built upon an “idea,” and if man could build something like that all those thousands of years ago, what could he do today if he put his mind to it? I found that to be somewhat disturbing, as the pyramids, no matter how impressive they were, represent the ancient pagan religions which got their start in Babylon when Nimrod gathered men (the community) together to commit idolatry by building a tower to honor themselves as gods (Gen. Ch. 11).[1]

And yet here it was, the analogy that was chosen to illustrate this new “idea” Saddleback would launch their 52 week program with. No matter what Dr. Amen’s intent was, I believe the analogy was appropriate, and the subtle message is telling…”MAN CAN DO ANYTHING HE PUTS HIS MIND TO.” Sound familiar? (Read Gen. 3:4-5).[2]

As I began to head up the hill toward the main sanctuary, a Saddleback tram pulled up and the driver asked if I wanted a lift. I said I preferred to walk, but thanks. The driver yelled, “Let’s all give her a hand folks, she’s started the Daniel Plan already!” And the people on the tram cheered. Never mind the fact that I have been walking my entire life because I enjoy doing so, not because of some health and fitness campaign. I sensed I was entering a nightmare.

The main sanctuary was full, & it was standing room only. They told me the overflow areas were full too. So I found a spot on the patio outside the main sanctuary looking in. I had a good view and could see the stage perfectly. Their outdoor sound system made it so I could roam around, observe the audience, continue to listen to the guest speakers, and take notes.

To begin, I’d like to state that Saturday Jan. 15th, 2011 will go down in the history books as the day Saddleback Church was sold a bill of goods. The masses had come out in droves for answers to their weight loss difficulties & health problems, but unbeknownst to them, they were being given a prescription for restructuring society & population control.

The prescription goes by the name Agenda 21, a.k.a. “Sustainable Development” or “Smart Growth.” Agenda 21 is a published document put out by the United Nations with the intent to put limits on population and to restructure nation-states into a global society.[3] Rick Warren’s “new friends” had dubbed it, “The Daniel Plan – God’s Prescription For Your Health.” A more appropriate title would’ve been, “Sustainable Living – Destroying Inalienable Rights, One Community at a Time.”

By the time I settled into listening more intently, the second speaker, Mark Hyman, began. It didn’t take too long to figure out what the basis of his message was: We “need to heal with community” (he termed this “accompaniment”), “we’re here for the sake of each other,” this plan “is our way out,” this plan “saved me,” and in fact will “change the world.”

Saddleback was being told they were a “test community” to show the world how to live “healthy and sustainably.” When I heard these words, my heart sank. It was as I’d feared. I knew which buzzwords to listen for, and he was hitting them all. The audience was told they would be champions in health to show the world what “living sustainably” was all about, but Dr. Hyman is a leftist who is more than a champion in health, he’s a change agent for the global elite, as is Dr. Oz & Dr. Amen. Dr. Hyman is the founder and medical director of the Ultra Wellness Center, he advises Dr. Oz’s healthcore group, and he’s a nominee to President Obama’s advisory group on prevention, health promotion, and integrative and public health. [4] Hmmmmmm. I smell an agenda.

Dr. Hyman practices what’s known as “functional medicine,” which means he uses a “whole systems” approach to medicine; in other words, he practices medicine “wholistically,” This is also known as “Mind Body” medicine. At Saddleback’s seminar, “mind body” or “functional” medicine was presented as if it’s completely scientific. Any scientist worth his salt will tell you that yes, the body can be measured scientifically, but the mind falls into an entirely different category which can never be measured by science. As stated by Dave Hunt in his book Occult Invasion – The Subtle Seduction of the World and Church, “Physical science, by very definition, can make no judgments concerning a nonphysical realm” as is the mind & the soul.[5] In other words, the mind and the soul are scientifically immeasurable.

It’s the same with the religions of “Mind Science.” Calling a religion “Mind Science” or “Scientology,” when there’s nothing scientific about it, is the same as calling a cereal “Grapenuts” when it contains no grapes or nuts. But we live in an era when the masses have been sufficiently dumbed down, and all it takes to impress is clever packaging and branding. If “they” say it’s science, then dog-gone-it, it’s science! After all, “these doctors are on television.”

As I sat through all 3 presentations by Dr.’s Hyman, Amen, & Oz, what came to mind were the traveling salesmen of the 1800s. They talk fast, so fast that the message that’s really being given, goes right over people’s heads. They used tactics to tug at the heart strings such as videos of sick little girls who suddenly got well from being on “the program” and have been “set free” from relying on medications. Then they flooded the audience with “facts” and “statistics” to scare any grandmother, such as “a tsunami of disease is hitting us,” “life expectancy is going down,” “1 out of 2 people are diabetic or pre-diabetic,” “70% of all agricultural land is taken up by growing animals to feed all the people,” “the bigger your body gets, the more your brain shrinks,” etc.

I about fell off my chair when Dr. Hyman stated, “The key to the success of the “Daniel Plan” is “group living” … “individuals” will not succeed, our only hope lies in “community.” [LT Note:This is exactly what the emerging church is teaching.] And with that, it was announced that the “Saddleback community” would be an example of “sustainable living” and would set the course to “change this world” … and the crowd went wild! [LT Note: Remember, when we reported how Rick Warren talked glowingly about a critical mass needed to change our world?]

Dr. Hyman said that he is a Jew, Dr. Amen said he is a Christian, and Dr. Oz said he is a Muslim. And doesn’t that represent the demographic of “most of the population of the world”? But then he said, “we’re all the same underneath.” True to his salesman fashion, Dr. Hyman didn’t define his terms. What in the world does he mean “we’re all the same underneath”? That can mean a number of things. Since he was speaking to a religious crowd, I’d venture to say some of the folks present took that to mean we’re all children of God (Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.), which is patently false according to the Bible. The Bible says there are only two groups, children of wrath and children of God. You’re either one or the other, a believer in Christ Jesus, or a non-believer. We aren’t “all the same underneath.” (Ephesians Ch. 2).[6]

The only way in which we’re “all the same underneath” is we’re all sinners in need of a Savior; and the Savior isn’t “sustainable living.” [LT Note: Remember, the New Age says the era of the single savior is OVER!] The Savior is Jesus Christ, and He is the only way unto salvation (John 14:6).[7] And to become a child of God, Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John Ch. 3). [8] The tragic thing about this day at Saddleback is, Jesus was never mentioned … and I mean NEVER. There were a few passing references to God; Daniel Amen mentioned that our bodies were “a temple of the Holy Spirit and the brain is the inner sanctum” [Amen means that all humans are the temple of the Holy Spirit], but Jesus never made the cut – ”sustainable lifestyles” and “group living” did.

Following Dr. Hyman’s talk, my best friend arrived to observe the day with me, only to hear Dr. Amen mention in his presentation that he did a brain scan on one of his clients who had a habit of cheating on his wife. The brain scan showed that there were “holes in the pre-frontal cortex of his brain” which controls the impulses. In other words, this man wasn’t sinful, he was “mentally ill.” All he needed was to get on the “Change Your Brain, Change Your Body” program, and his personal struggles with sin were remedied. Once again, Jesus was removed from the equation. My friend and I were dumbfounded when we listened to the Saddleback crowd cheer. My best friend couldn’t contain it any longer and let out a, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” My thoughts exactly!

Dr. Hyman recommended Yoga and meditation to the crowd. Dr. Amen gave a diplomatic denunciation of Yoga (which is contradictory since he has recommended it himself), but about 5 sentences later mentioned a study done by a friend of his named Andy Newberg who did brain scans on Tibetan nuns and Franciscan priests while in “prayer and contemplation” and the study showed that “spiritual connection” is healthy. Dr. Amen has been an advocate of “Sa Ta Na Ma” meditation.[9]

If by chance any attendees of the Saddleback “Health and Fitness Seminar” read this blog post, I encourage you to educate yourself about what globalism truly is. You also need to research Agenda 21. As stated earlier, the purpose of Agenda 21 is to restructure society. Sounds conspiratorial, I know. But it isn’t a conspiracy; it’s a published document of the United Nations that’s in full swing. Anywhere you hear the terms, “Sustainable Development,” ”sustainable living,” “smart growth,” ”going green,” etc., rest assured you’ve just been exposed to the U.N.’s Agenda 21. [10]

It shouldn’t surprise us that Rick Warren would allow a seminar of this nature at Saddleback; after all, he himself has “GONE GREEN.” [11] He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.[12] This illustrates the natural progression of one being unequally yoked with non-believers & buying into heresies such as “Kingdom Now,” “Dominionism,” or “Restoration Theology.” Where these heresies reign, as they do at Saddleback, you will find that the focus subtly shifts from salvation in Christ alone, through faith alone, to misguided efforts to restore mankind & the earth through “community” works, sustainable living, and social justice. How convenient that these just happen to be the vehicles which the United Nations is using to further it’s own agenda to restructure society & unite the world under its governing body of global elites.

TRUE TRUTH: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

(I found it to be slightly humorous that, on page 9 of the booklet which Saddleback passed out to attendees, the symptom of “itchy ears” was listed in the “Medical Symptom/Toxicity Questionnaire”…oh, the irony!) (source: Ponderings from Patmos)

——————————————————————————–

Endnotes:
1. Genesis 11:4 – “Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’”

2. Genesis 3:4-5 – “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

3. Agenda 21 – http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21

4. Mark Hyman’s presentation at “Authors @ Google” titled, The UltraMind Solution: Healthy Body, Powerful Mind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAZVpsd2Nao

5. Occult Invasion – The Subtle Seduction of the World and the Church, Dave Hunt, Harvest House Publishers 1998, pg. 61

6. Ephesians Ch. 2:1-5 – And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

7. John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

8. John 3:3 – “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

9. Dr. Amen recommends “Sa Ta Na Ma” meditation a form of Kirtin Kriya yoga. http://richardeward.com/kirtin-kriya-sa-ta-na-ma-meditation/

10. Agenda 21 – “The U.N. Plan for Your Sustainable Community. ” http://www.crossroad.to/text/articles/la21_198.html

11. A Greener Spirit: Evangelicals Embrace “Creation Care”. http://environment.change.org/blog/view/a_greener_spirit_evangelicals_embrace_creation_care

12. Council on Foreign Relations Membership Roster. http://www.cfr.org/about/membership/roster.html?letter=W

For more information on Reiki and the New Age plan, read For Many Shall Come in My Name.

Glenn Beck’s New Book Reveals He Embraces New Age Theology

I know there are a lot of Glen Beck fans out there. Just the same, I will speak the truth regarding this man. Following article gotten here: http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-times/article.php?articleid=6809

Glenn Beck’s New Book Reveals He Embraces New Age Theology, Is a Knowledgeable Mormon, and a Universalist

By Brannon S. Howse

In August of 2010, I predicted on my national radio program that it was only a matter of time before Glenn Beck would release a distinctively religious book that would promote his New Age Mormonism and universalism. I sensed that Glenn was setting himself up to be the politically conservative alternative to Oprah. His new book, “7 Wonders That Will Change Your Life”, could have been written by Oprah for sure.

This reminds me of the 7 Mountains mandate that the apostates within the church have set up. Why the number 7 in both cases? I’m almost certain it has something to do with numerology, but since coming out of the occult, I have no longer been able to remember a lot of the things I once studied. (Thank God)

Many self-professing Christians cannot see what Beck is up to but there are those in the unsaved world that seem to be exhibiting more worldview understanding than some in the Christian community. The Business Insider published an article on January 4, 2011 entitled, Glenn Beck’s New Year’s Plan Sounds A Lot Like Oprah’s New Network.

Last week (second week of January 2011) Beck released his latest book entitled The Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life. The book is co-authored by psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow.

Beck’s new book is nothing less than the promotion of universalism, postmodernism, and pagan spirituality, also known as the New Age Movement.

I tried to warn America’s pastors and Christian leaders in early August of 2010, not to unite with Glenn Beck in his spiritual rally that sought to unite all faiths and look to one God. I gave these Christian leaders plenty of evidence that Glenn Beck was a practicing Mormon that was also embracing New Age paganism.

Some of these Christian leaders said that Beck was a “new Christian”, “a baby Christian”, “new brother”, a “little lamb”, or “very close to becoming a Christian.” If they think Glenn Beck meets the Biblical descriptions of a Christian then they have no clue what the book of I John says are the Biblical hallmarks of a true follower of Jesus Christ.

A friend of mine even e-mailed a mega pastor that was publically supporting Glenn Beck’s 8-28 rally to ask him to be careful about embracing Beck and his black robe regiment because of some of the false theology Glenn was espousing. The pastor replied:

Glenn Beck is a new brother and he is learning and growing and coming to the light day by day as he is being discipled by [name of Christian leader removed]. There was once a day when you and I were in the same place he is now. Be careful that you don’t place a yoke on a little lamb rather than an ox.

Would this pastor say Oprah Winfrey is a Christian?

According to Christian Post, another Mega Church pastor said:

I have interviewed persons who have talked specifically with Glenn about his personal salvation – persons extremely well known in Christianity – and they have affirmed (using language evangelicals understand), ‘Glenn is saved’…He understands receiving Christ as savior.

How confusing to the unsaved world and to baby Christians it must be to have Christian leaders make this claim about being a Christian in light of Beck’s latest book. Many now believe what Beck is promoting in his book is Christianity because Pastors and Christian leaders have announced that “Glenn is saved.” I have had teenagers e-mail me and come up to me at our conferences and express how confused they are by what Christian leaders have said about Beck being saved when they have heard Beck promote New Age heresy.

In light of Beck’s religious and spiritual proclamations in his new book, this would be the week for the Christian leaders and pastors that embraced Beck on the national stage, and proclaimed Beck’s salvation, to release a press release and post a statement on their website that they disagree with Beck’s pagan spirituality and that indeed Beck is not demonstrating theology and doctrine consist with what the Bible says are the hallmarks of a Christian. These Christian leaders need to apologize for leading people to believe that Beck was a Christian or to believe that Beck held and promoted religious views that were compatible with Biblical Christianity. Dr. Erwin Lutzer, of the historic Moody Church in Chicago, correctly declared in August of 2010 on my radio program that any pastor or Christian leader involved in Beck’s rally would be involved in heresy. I agree 100% with that statement.

In his new book Beck and Dr. Ablow promote psychologist Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, New Age authors Robert Pirsig and James Redfied, Buddha, Buddhist teacher Sogyal Rinpoche, Gandhi, The Bible and the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas. Sadly, Glenn is confused and all Christians should pray that he will come to salvation in the Jesus of the Bible through faith and repentance.

On page 56 Beck says he read A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman which is the Bible of the New Age Movement. I wrote and entire chapter in my book Grave Influence on Helen Schucman and the demon she channeled that helped her write the book.

I have several friends who were Mormons for many years before accepting the Jesus Christ of the Bible as their Lord and Savior through faith and repentance. Tracy was a Mormon for 26 years and e-mailed me to explain why many Mormons are open to New Age Spirituality:

It’s not surprising how easy it is for many LDS to get involved in occult practices based on the “power of the priesthood.” For example, energy healing (chakras), cloud-busting, and other mind-power things. My LDS friends and I were always interested in books like The Magic of Believing, Embraced by the Light, and other New Agey kinds of books. I remember seeing Star Wars when I was Mormon and how many of us in the ward (LDS congregation) were comparing The Force to the priesthood power.

Since we believed we were on the godhood track, using the phrase “I AM” in the context Glenn uses it, fits in neatly with the power of the priesthood through which worlds are created (according to Mormon doctrine). In fact, Mormonism teaches that God did NOT create the universe exnihlo, because God can only manipulate and arrange existing matter; he cannot create it. Thus we see, from the LDS perspective, we too can become I AM, through the divine nature within us.

Is this not the same as the apostate teaching that has invaded the church through such men as Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland; all those within the charasmatic movement of positive confession? This also is heresy, because if all you have to do is speak to something, then when are you actually asking God for anything? You aren’t. Instead you have put your faith in your words, in yourself. This is the same as humanism; a belief in one’s self other than trusting in God.

On page 79 Beck and Dr. Ablow promote transcendental meditation and Eastern Mysticism. On 85 we read, “As you commit to unlocking and bringing forth the truth inside you, don’t be afraid to pray for help. Don’t be reticent to sit with yourself in silence and meditate. Connect with the miracle of spirit, of God, that has lived inside you from long before you were born.”

Christian mediation is not about “bringing forth the truth inside of you” nor is it about contacting God that has “lived inside you from long before you were born.” This is not Biblical and any Christian that thinks otherwise is either a false convert or is Biblically illiterate. Click here to hear a short video clip by Dr. Ron Carlson on the dangers of New Age meditation.

On page 132 Beck and Ablow proclaim, “Pray to whatever higher power you believe in…Praying that God or Nature or the Cosmos or your own internal, immeasurable reservoir of spirit allows you the courage and faith to find and then face the truth…”

In several places readers are told it really does not matter what religion or religious leader they follow. On page 157 Beck writes, “Finding what worked for me made all the difference. Finding what works for you will do the same.”

On page 74 the reader is instructed “Just be sure you visit with a minister or therapist from a religion or healing discipline you actually have affinity for, or suspect you might.”

On page 236, reincarnation is promoted through the writings of Robert Pirsig’s book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, “…the ‘spirit’ of Chris or the ‘ghost’ of Chris, then you can say without further translation that the spirit or ghost of Chris is looking for a new body to enter.”

Beck is a very committed and knowledgeable Mormon:

I have had several Christians tell me that Beck does not really know much about the Mormon faith. That is not what Beck writes in his new book.

“I questioned everything I could think to question about the faith. I went over my doubts again and again with the church bishop. I read everything there was to read on their website and every word of Mormon Doctrine…I went to anti-Mormon literature for hints, but I found most of it to be unfair or just plain wrong. I tried every trick I could think of to find a contradiction. The problem was that I couldn’t. Mormonism seemed to explain the world and my place in it better than any other faith I had looked at.” (Page 149-150)

Beck does not believe in Hell, original sin or that Jesus in the only way:

“Latter-day Saints do not believe that your chances ever cease, even with death. They end only with the full understanding and denial of truth by your own exercise of real free will. And even then there is no ‘lake of fire.’ (Page 149)

“As Keith likes to say, ‘There’s no original sin left in the world. Everyone’s just recycling pain now.’ “(Page 154.)

“There is no infant delivered evil, out of the womb. There never has been. Not even one…Charles Manson was not born evil. Ted Bundy wasn’t. The BTK killer wasn’t. Hitler wasn’t.” (Page 162)

The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible says that even babies are born with a sin nature and that we are all conceived in sin. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5)

“People are inherently good.” (Page 165).

The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9, The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Beck’s book uses the phrase “Your truth” or “your true path” or “my truth” at least 23 times. Here are a few examples:

“It is never too late to embrace your truth.” (Page 124)

“What is your truth whispering?” (Page 130)

“Use compassion to stay on the path to your own truth… (Page 161)

“…determination to unearth and embrace my truth.” (Page 215)

“The fact that I am always attempting to honor my truth… (Page 216)

“There is only your truth.” (Page 220)

“You must use courage and faith to empty the hard drive of your soul and then fill it with your truth.” (Page 288)

Beck’s book promotes the New Age that God dwells within all:

“The third chapter of Exodus helped me start to understand how crucial it was that my focus be on finding God not just in the seas or the cosmos, but in myself.” (Page 57)

If God is everything and everywhere and inside everyone, then I figured He had to be inside me, too… (Page 58)

This is the promotion of pantheism and panentheism.

“Divine power is still inside you.” (Page 71)

“Reach out to people to steady them and enrich them and reflect back to them the light that comes from God inside them. (Page 283)

“You won’t doubt your ability to achieve what you want to achieve in this life because you won’t doubt that God is not only by your side, but inside you.” (Page 254)

Beck’s book promotes the New Age idea that you need to tap into a positive energy for a successful and happy life: (Ten times). Some examples include:

You have a polestar inside you. It is connected with all the energy in the universe. When you begin to follow that star you align yourself with immeasurable, inexplicable forces that will actually help you manifest your best intentions. (Page 79)

The current energy that flows in your favor when you stop denying what you have lived through and how it has shaped you and how you must change is the immeasurable force that you can tap into to dramatically improve your existence.” (Page 113)

…you will elicit the same positive energy from others. When you stop pretending to be just fine and start admitting that you have struggled, just as we all have, then spiritual energy will fill you.” (Page 117)

I wrote this article because I want discerning Christians to have the information they need to refute unbiblical teaching. I want Christians to be watchmen who warn their Christian family and friends about the spiritual deception of people like Glenn Beck, Oprah Winfrey, and a host of other individuals that are promoting another Jesus and another gospel.

Christians also need to be ready to explain to their unsaved family and friends why Glenn Beck’s worldview will not lead them to God as their savior but as their judge. Nowhere in Beck’s new book does he mention the Biblical gospel. What Glenn is promoting is the same lie promoted by Satan in Genesis 3:1-5. I am fearful that the spiritual poison Beck is promoting is not seven wonders that will change your life but in fact, lies that will condemn the souls of millions for eternity.

Last Days: False Christs, Occult Invasion & Sexual Perversion

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, — 1 Timothy 4:1 –

“There are so many today in the New Age movement who are claiming to be the messiahs, claiming to be channeling the wisdom of the messiahs…”

“…the lies men will believe once they have rejected the truth.”

“One of the greatest deceptions occuring in our time, is happening in the name of Christianity, as people are embracing a form of Christianity based on extra-biblical experiences.”

“We see the rise of satanic worship.”

ProclaimHisWord:

Embraced by the Light of Deception

http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/eadie.html

Green emphasis mine – red, the Word of God

For the record, I have read Betty Eadie’s book. Years ago. Something about it didn’t sit right with me back then and still doesn’t. If after reading the following, you feel the need to defend this book, don’t. At least not here. The writer of the article has given us more than enough to see the deception in her book and I will not get off on a bunch of rabbit trails with those who choose not to love the truth.

By Russ Wise

The Popularity of Betty Eadie’s Book

A growing number of Christians are embracing the light of Betty Eadie, the author of Embraced by the Light. Ms. Eadie’s book, along with several other new-age bestsellers, are influencing the Christian church in a negative way.

The bestseller, Embraced by the Light, is one that needs to be dealt with. It has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for over a year now and has sold more than two million copies thus far.Betty Eadie is a woman on a mission and her mission is to introduce the “Jesus” she met in her near-death experience to as many people as she can. She has been on a variety of national television programs and hundreds of local programs. According to her publicist she has spoken in a significant number of churches, and Christians make up a large portion of those who purchase the book. That is scary.Ms. Eadie has become somewhat of a guru for many. When she was in Dallas in February, 1994, the Dallas Morning News carried a lead story expressing the adoration of her new-found followers. One woman said that Ms. Eadie gave her a kind of inner peace and that without it she would have lost her mind. Another woman said that she cried all the way through the book the first time she read it. A man said that the book validated a lot of things he had believed and that he now looks at things differently.According to the Dallas Morning News article the book’s greatest appeal “stems from the description of eternal life, a comforting notion for people who have survived a loved one or for those pondering their own fate.”The popularity of Betty Eadie and her book Embraced by the Light in Christians’ lives raises some important questions for us to ask ourselves. Why is her message so readily accepted by Christians? How has the church failed in its mission, thereby creating an atmosphere where such heresy could flourish?

Answer: The church has  failed because there is no fear of God or love for the truth — The Truth of God.

Ms. Eadie says that she was shown in the spirit world that we were with God in the beginning and that we helped him to create the earth. She tells us that Eve’s “initiative” made it possible for mankind to have children, that sin is not our true nature, and that we are inherently divine.She continues by saying that we are all God’s children and that we are here on earth to learn the lessons we need for our own spiritual evolution. Our key lesson is to remember our divinity and return to heaven. Eadie embraces the idea that all religions and faiths are equal in God’s sight and that they are essential in our development. Likewise, spirits from the other side will also help us learn the lessons of life and aid in our progress.Ms. Eadie says that death is a spiritual “rebirth” as we simply make a “transition” to another state of being. There will be no judgement day and we will judge ourselves regarding our spiritual evolution.

This is what God says:

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. — Hebrews 9:27,28 –

Mormonism and Magic

She also teaches that we choose the illnesses that we would suffer and that some would choose the illness that would end their lives.

This sounds too much like the modern day heresies being taught by Kenneth Copeland, the late Kenneth Hagin, etc.

She further teaches that hell is not forever and that because of “love,” in the end, all will be saved.

“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! JESUS — Luke 12:4,5 –

Before we can fully understand Ms. Eadie’s world view and theology it is important for us to recognize that she is a Mormon and has been exposed to new age paganism. She has, in fact, been a member in good standing of the Mormon Church for the past fifteen years or more.Betty Eadie’s background is a mixture of native American Indian spirituality, Catholicism, and Mormonism. Her mother was a full- blooded Sioux Indian and as a young child Betty attended a Catholic boarding school.This spiritual syncretism helps us recognize the source of her close encounter with “the Light.” As we take a closer look at her new-found belief system we are able to not only see Mormon ideas but beliefs that are found in the occult.On page 57 of her book Betty tells the reader, “within our universe are both positive and negative energies, and both types of energies are essential to creation and growth. These energies have intelligence–they do our will. They are willing servants.”You may remember “The Force” of Star Wars and its “light” and “dark” side. The Force was both “good” and “evil”. One simply chose which side of “The Force” one wanted to utilize for his evolutionary development. There was no “right” or “wrong” choice; it was a matter of personal preference.The Force is similar to “magic.” In the occult world magic has a “good” side and an “evil” side. It is also considered to have a “light” side and a “dark” side.Magic is an attempt by man to gain equality with God. To become a part of the creative process. God spoke the universe into existence by His word. The magician, sorcerer, or witch attempts to speak things into existence by words based on their occult knowledge.The Christian desires to obey the will of God, not to force God to do his bidding. This is the essential difference between occult practice, magic, and Christianity.

An example of this is the Charasmatic movement who believe “speak to your need.” Think about this: There is no need for God if all one has to do, is “speak to the need.” When do charasmatics actually pray or ask God for anything if they are so busy creating their reality? This is nothing but witchcraft in and of itself.

Another example of Ms. Eadie’s new age belief is the account of her being in a garden while she had her out-of-body experience (OBE). She saw a rose and was struck by its beauty and as she looked at it she felt that she had become “one” with it.

Yeah right. I remember having experiences like that under the influence of LSD. Once my guitar had become an extension of myself. This was not God. But a delusion, a lie, a result of my sin.

She states on page 81 of her book, “I felt God in the plant, in me, his love pouring into us. We were all one!”"At-one-ment” or the interconnectedness of all things is a primary tenet of new age thought and philosophy. Betty Eadie, through her OBE, experienced the greatest deception Lucifer plays on humanity– that we are a part of the divine, that we are indeed deity. The idea that we are divine beings opens our understanding that we have all that we need “within” us to progress toward our full potential as a god or goddess.Our “looking” or “going” within is an attempt to discover our inner allies and gain “deep” learning so we further evolve mentally and spiritually. These allies or inner teachers, helpers, or guides are available to all of us, according to the new age mystics.This inner teacher is also known as the “Higher Self” or the “True Self” and is in constant battle with our cognitive or conscious self.

These entities are demons.

The focus of knowledge is transferred from the objective and cognitive to the subjective and intuitive or experiential. It is my contention that the greatest danger Betty Eadie represents for the Christian is that Truth is based on or in experience rather than the Word of God.

Just like today’s followers of the charasmatic movements.

Betty Eadie’s View of Jesus

Ms. Eadie believes that the “Jesus” she met during her OBE was the “real” word of God and not a book that has been corrupted over the millennia. Perhaps some of the most disturbing aspects of her book is what is left out rather than the deception within.Betty Eadie never mentions the crucifixion or the atonement for sin. In her worldview they simply are not needed. According to her belief we are at-one with God. Likewise, she never mentions the cross of Christ; evidently her “Jesus” is too positive to mention something as negative as the cross or the need of redemption.There is no mention of evil or victory over sin. There is no resurrection. Ms. Eadie is almost evangelistic in her declaration that “all religions upon the earth are necessary because there are people who need what they teach. People in one religion may not have a complete understanding of the Lord’s gospel and never will have while in that religion.” (see Gal. 1:8 and 2 Cor. 11:13 along with Matt. 24:24)Eadie continues by saying “as an individual raises his level of understanding about God and his own eternal progress, he might feel disconnected with the teachings of his present church and seek a different philosophy or religion to fill that void. When this occurs he has reached another level of understanding and will long for further truth and knowledge.”She says, “Having received this knowledge, I knew that we have no right to criticize any church or religion in any way. They are all precious and important in his sight.”

This is a lie. There is only one way to the Father and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ. How could God say that all religions are valid? He can not, does not and will not. He would have to deny the truth. This truth alone makes Betty Eadie a liar.

 Another concern of Ms. Eadie’s is her unbiblical teaching regarding the person of Jesus. On page 44 of her book Ms. Eadie recounts her meeting the Jesus of her out-of-body-experience:

I understood that he was the Son of God, though he himself was also a God, and that he had chosen from before the creation of the world to be our Savior.

Ms. Eadie’s statement regarding the person of Jesus is legitimate with the exception of one word that causes us to think of how the Jehovah Witnesses translate John 1:1. The article “a” becomes very important when it precedes “God.” However, for Ms. Eadie the use of the article “a” indicates that she views Jesus as another distinct deity rather than the second person of a triune god–thereby exposing her Mormon understanding of the trinity. The Mormons believe in three separate beings who are each divine rather than three persons comprising one God as the Bible indicates.The Bible is explicit in its affirmation of the Trinity. Deuteronomy 6:4 is clear in its declaration of one God. Elsewhere in Scripture we see God the Father (Matthew 6:9), God the Son (John 1:1), and God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4) as three distinct Persons who are equal in every aspect of their being.In John 10:30 Jesus says that He is one with the Father, thereby leaving no doubt of their oneness regarding their essence and that they are not two separate beings or gods as Ms. Eadie would have us believe. Ms. Eadie refers to “the Spirit of God,” although she does not mention the Holy Spirit as the third Person of the Trinity by name. The Bible, likewise, is clear regarding the stature of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26 the Holy Spirit is seen as the enabler in helping God’s people understand divine truth.Betty Eadie’s view of Jesus comes into focus once Biblical light is shed upon it. It becomes perfectly clear that she does not hold a trinitarian view of God.

Deception of New Age Religion

The unsettling message that Betty Eadie offers in her book is that we are not sinners needing redemption, but that we are spiritual beings who have lost our way. We have forgotten our divinity. Spiritual growth is a progressive process toward self-realization and at-one-ment.The new-age world view of Betty Eadie is evident:

• All is One

• All is God

• Man is God

• All is changing

• Man is changing

• All is relative

• Self is the Judge

• The gospel is unnecessary

Ms. Eadie sounds like Shirley MacLaine, the popular new age entertainer and author, when she says that her prior existence “had been purposely blocked from me by a `veil’ of forgetfulness at my birth.” Ms. MacLaine had previously made the same statement in her popular book Out on a Limb.

In other words, we were with our heavenly Father in the spirit world and eventually came to the point where we were spiritually dry and realized that the only way to get beyond our dryness was to jump start our spirituality. Thereby, we chose to leave our heavenly home and incarnate on this earth where we might further develop our spiritual essence and advance our possibilities in the spirit world.Ms. Eadie states that prior to our leaving our spiritual home and incarnating in this world we perfected a plan for growth before we took on this physical shell. She says on page 47 of her book that “the Father explained that coming to earth for a time would further our spiritual growth. Each spirit who was to come to earth assisted in planning the conditions on earth, including the laws of mortality which would govern us.”In the spirit world Ms. Eadie was told “that we had all desired to come here, that we had actually chosen many of our weaknesses and dificult situations in our lives so that we could grow.” She continues by saying, “to my surprise I saw that most of us had selected the illnesses we would suffer, and for some, the illness that would end our lives . . . we were very willing, even anxious, as spirits to accept all of our ailments, illnesses, and accidents here to help better ourselves spiritually.”According to Betty Eadie we are basically good. On page 49 of her book Ms. Eadie says “that sin is not our true nature. Spiritually, we are at various degrees of light–which is knowledge–and because of our divine spiritual nature we are filled with the desire to do good.” She continues by saying “that there is a vital, dynamic link between the spirit world and mortality, and that we need the spirits on the other side for our progression.”In the above statement Ms. Eadie is allowing her god’s eclectic world view show. The idea that man is basically “good” is commonly held in the field of humanistic psychology rather than in Christian Scripture. The Bible indicates that man is in need of redemption and forgiveness. Her belief that we, in the mortal world, are in need of the spirits from the other side to aid us in our spiritual progression is taken directly from her Mormon background. We find this teaching in the Doctrine and Covenants (128:15), one of the Standard Works of the Mormon Church.The Biblical indication is that in the last days many will be deceived. The gospel writer of Matthew seems to agree. Not only will unbelievers be deceived but also those who have trusted Jesus for their salvation may be equally deceived. The Scripture says, “For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” The problem that many have in our day is that they seek “signs” and “wonders” rather than Jesus. Experience has become their teacher rather than the Word. Our response is simply, Jesus–the only begotten Son of God. There is salvation in no other. Our hope is not in our experiences, but in a person.

 

Testingthe Bookby The Bible

Betty Eadie exposes more of her Mormon world view with her belief in a pre-mortal existence. When Ms. Eadie first speaks of “Jesus” in her book she said “I knew that I had known him from the beginning, from long before my earth life, because my spirit remembered him.” Another example of her “new found” belief in a pre-existence was when “Jesus” allowed her to recall her feelings when creation occurred. She says that “all people as spirits in the pre-mortal world took part in the creation of the earth.”Ms. Eadie offers another example. She relates an experience during her heavenly visitation where she “traveled to many other worlds- earths like our own but more glorious, and always filled with loving, intelligent people.” She continues by saying, “I knew that I had been to these places before.” She had an experience that she could not deny.Some have said that a man with an argument is always at the mercy of a man with an experience. A growing problem in our society is the willingness to accept one’s experience over the protestation of the facts. As Christians we need to be careful that we do not fall into this trap. Our responsibility is to consider the Word of God and allow it to validate the experience or not. We must be extremely careful not to allow our or anyone else’s experience to mold our belief system.Another example of Ms. Eadie’s pre-mortal experience was an encounter with those in the spirit world. She said, “I saw again the spirits who had not yet come to earth, and I saw some of them hovering over people in mortality. I saw one male spirit trying to get a mortal man and woman together on earth–his future parents.” (I had a brief moment of deja vu and thought of Marty McFly in Back to the Future).A growing number of Christians are accepting Ms. Eadie’s account of the after-life, and the church is allowing her beliefs to take root by their lack of biblical teaching. The Bible is very clear regarding the individual’s moment of existence (Psalm 139:13-16). Nowhere in Scripture does our Lord offer a possibility that we pre- existed with Him in the spirit world. The burden of proof is on the one with the experience and not the objective Word of God.What can we learn from Betty Eadie and her near-death experience? First and foremost is that near-death experiences tend to alter one’s world view. Raymond Moody in his book The Light Beyond offers evidence for such a concern. He states that those who experience a near-death episode

…emerge with an appreciation of religion that is different from the narrowly defined one established by most churches. They come to realize through this experience that religion is not a matter of one ‘right’ group versus several ‘wrong’ groups. People who undergo an NDE come out of it saying that religion concerns your ability to love–not doctrine and denominations. In short, they think that God is a much more magnanimous being than they previously thought, and that denominations don’t count.

This idea, that doctrine is of no importance but we should only be concerned about love, is parallel to the teachings found in the New Age world view. Ms. Eadie is in agreement with Dr. Moody’s statement that “love” is our ultimate goal and that religion is simply a vehicle to get us to the party. It makes little or no difference whether we get there in a Ford or a Chevrolet. As warm and cozy as this idea sounds, it does not take into account the words of our Lord in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus was very clear that He wasn’t offering one of many ways, but that He was The Way and The Truth. He was very confident that salvation was found in no other.