According to this Christian Post article, thousands of people heard the "good news" of Jesus Christ in Jamica this past weekend from American evangelist Luis Palau.
Luis Palau Hits Jamaica with Good News, Fun American evangelist Luis Palau preached the Good News of Jesus Christ to an estimated 150,000 people in Jamica's capital city of Kingston this past weekend.
I have never heard of this person, so I decided to check hom out for myself. After reviewing Palau's teachings, I wondered just what "good news" he delivered to those thousands upon thousands of people (?), as he fits in very well with Rk Warren, Ecumenism, Robert Schuller, and the emergent church false teachings deceiving the masses around the world today. Take a look for yourself:
Palau is a graduate and member of the Trustee Board at the neo-evangelical psychologically oriented Mulnomash School of the Bible in Portland, Oregon (now Multnomah Biblical Seminary) He is commonly called "the Billy Graham of South America." The title is fitting, for he has followed Graham's new evangelical policies in his crusades and has been willing to join hands with liberals, charismatics, and Roman Catholics. His ministry has not been confined to South America, however. He has had crusades in such diverse places as Aberdeen, Scotland, New Zealand, Managua, Nicaragua, and Peoria, Illinois (New Neutralism II, p.67).
Palau's message was peppered with "the Bible says" this/"the Bible says" that, but Palau never quoted a Bible passage. For example, "The Bible says the Lord saves us from the pit-- the pit of despair, the pit of low self-esteem ... the Bible says He redeems your life from the pit." Palau, of course, didn't give the passage from the Bible to document that the Bible actually says God saves us from low self esteem, probably because there is no such passage (Chuck Swindoll, Josh McDowell, R.C. Sproul, Clyde Narramore and other "Christian" psychologizers say the Lord saves us from low self esteem, but the Bible certainly doesn't say that.
The salvation of sinners depends upon the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to show sinners that they are lost and guilty before God, so that they might repent and place their trust in Christ for salvation. What does this have to do with helping the sinner enjoy feelings of greater self esteem?
CONTINUED
Monday, May 05, 2008
Messianic Jew Bible Quiz Finalist Bat El Levy
Israel's Messianic Jew Bible Quiz finalist, Bat El Levy, along with the Messianics of Israel, are beginning to capture the attention of people all over the world as viewers from America, Australia, Austria, Germany, Canada, Chile, China, England, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and The Netherlands read about the persecution of the Messianic Jews in Israel from the ultra orthodox Jewish state sponsored discrimination and persecution from Files From Toni, pj miller's Sola Del Gloria and Daniel's Place and now another excellent article about the Plight of the Messianic Jew in Israel, written by Roi Bei Yehuda, has com to my attention. Read about it here :
Related Stories: Messianic Jews Attacked By Orthodox JewsMessianic Jews Claim Victory in Supreme CourtMessianic Jews Under FireRabbis Call For Boycott of Int'l. Bible Quiz Because Messianic Jew A FinalistOrthodox Sect Still Argues Messianics Are Not JewsIsrael's Finalist in Bible Quiz Contest Bat El Levy PictureCalls Increase For Bible Quiz Boycott
Related Stories: Messianic Jews Attacked By Orthodox JewsMessianic Jews Claim Victory in Supreme CourtMessianic Jews Under FireRabbis Call For Boycott of Int'l. Bible Quiz Because Messianic Jew A FinalistOrthodox Sect Still Argues Messianics Are Not JewsIsrael's Finalist in Bible Quiz Contest Bat El Levy PictureCalls Increase For Bible Quiz Boycott
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Here She Is Folks.. Bat El Levy-Israel's Messianic Bible Quiz Finalist
Bat El Levy...This is the Jewish princess the orthodox rabbis of Israel have called a boycott against in the International Bible Quiz Contest because she is a Messianic Jew and believes Jesus is the Messiah of Israel.
Israel: Calls Increase For Bible Quiz Boycott
More calls from the ultra orthodox rabbis are coming out of Israel to boycott the International Bible Quiz.
From IsraelNational News; today it is reported that calls increase for Bible quiz boycott. For those who are unaware, Israel National News or Arutz Sheva is an ultra orthodox media out of Israel, and this story reflects a small taste of the kind of public verbal humiliation, discrimination, harassment, threats and persecution our Messianic brothers and sisters have to endure on a regular basis living in Israel.
This is a spiritual battle going on in Israel and the spiritual forces of darkness are once again attempting to shut out the light of the Gospel of Christ in Israel, and again a call is made for all Christian bloggers to unite in prayer and keep our persecuted Messianic family in Israel lifted up to God. As Daniel's Place (Reformanta Et Semper Reformanda) has written on his blog, "As whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it." I Corinth. 12:26
[quote]"In a letter to Education Minister Yuli Tamir, MK Meir Porush (UTJ) said that if Levi were to actually win the contest, it would be a “tremendous propaganda victory for this cult, and greatly aid their attempts to push Jews to convert to Christianity, both in Israel and abroad.”
Calls Increase for Bible Quiz Boycott
(IsraelNN.com) There is a strong possibility that at least some rabbis and Orthodox candidates will skip the International Bible Quiz, which takes place on Israel Independence Day, this Thursday. Several Rabbis, including Rabbi Shlomo Aviner of Bet El, have called for a boycott of the event because of the inclusion of a candidate whose family is said to have close ties to the Christian missionaries.
Other rabbis who have called for a boycott of the event include Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, chief rabbi of Safed and son of former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, and Rabbi Ya'acov Yosef, son of former Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.In response to a question from a resident, Ramat Gan Chief Rabbi Yaakov Ariel said that Bat-El Levi, the candidate representing the state secular schools, cannot be considered Jewish.
"A messianic Jew cannot be considered Jewish because he or she believes in founder of Christianity and has passed the dividing line between Jew and non-Jew They cannot be considered our brothers and sisters." he wrote“.
In a letter to Education Minister Yuli Tamir, MK Meir Porush (UTJ) said that if Levi were to actually win the contest, it would be a “tremendous propaganda victory for this cult, and greatly aid their attempts to push Jews to convert to Christianity, both in Israel and abroad.”
If the candidate was not Jewish, he wrote, she had no business being in the Bible Quiz, which “ is supposed to encourage the connection of Jewish students to the Tanach as the wellspring of Jewish observance and belief,” he wrote. Porush attached documentation to his letter supplied by director of anti-missionary group Yad L'Achim, which indicates that the Levi family are members of a “messianic Jewish church” in their hometown of Adam (Geva Binyamin). According to the documentation, the group holds its meetings in the Levi house, and the leader of the congregation is the candidate's grandfather.
From IsraelNational News; today it is reported that calls increase for Bible quiz boycott. For those who are unaware, Israel National News or Arutz Sheva is an ultra orthodox media out of Israel, and this story reflects a small taste of the kind of public verbal humiliation, discrimination, harassment, threats and persecution our Messianic brothers and sisters have to endure on a regular basis living in Israel.
This is a spiritual battle going on in Israel and the spiritual forces of darkness are once again attempting to shut out the light of the Gospel of Christ in Israel, and again a call is made for all Christian bloggers to unite in prayer and keep our persecuted Messianic family in Israel lifted up to God. As Daniel's Place (Reformanta Et Semper Reformanda) has written on his blog, "As whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it." I Corinth. 12:26
Calls Increase for Bible Quiz Boycott
(IsraelNN.com) There is a strong possibility that at least some rabbis and Orthodox candidates will skip the International Bible Quiz, which takes place on Israel Independence Day, this Thursday. Several Rabbis, including Rabbi Shlomo Aviner of Bet El, have called for a boycott of the event because of the inclusion of a candidate whose family is said to have close ties to the Christian missionaries.
Other rabbis who have called for a boycott of the event include Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, chief rabbi of Safed and son of former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, and Rabbi Ya'acov Yosef, son of former Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.In response to a question from a resident, Ramat Gan Chief Rabbi Yaakov Ariel said that Bat-El Levi, the candidate representing the state secular schools, cannot be considered Jewish.
"A messianic Jew cannot be considered Jewish because he or she believes in founder of Christianity and has passed the dividing line between Jew and non-Jew They cannot be considered our brothers and sisters." he wrote“.
In a letter to Education Minister Yuli Tamir, MK Meir Porush (UTJ) said that if Levi were to actually win the contest, it would be a “tremendous propaganda victory for this cult, and greatly aid their attempts to push Jews to convert to Christianity, both in Israel and abroad.”
If the candidate was not Jewish, he wrote, she had no business being in the Bible Quiz, which “ is supposed to encourage the connection of Jewish students to the Tanach as the wellspring of Jewish observance and belief,” he wrote. Porush attached documentation to his letter supplied by director of anti-missionary group Yad L'Achim, which indicates that the Levi family are members of a “messianic Jewish church” in their hometown of Adam (Geva Binyamin). According to the documentation, the group holds its meetings in the Levi house, and the leader of the congregation is the candidate's grandfather.
ISRAEL FEAST DAYS, BLOOD RED MOON, AND THE COMING OF THE LORD
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation 22:12
SCROLL DOWN TO VIDEO
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. Joel 2:31
Here's a prophetic look into the coming Solar/Lunar eclipses and Blood Red Moon as it relates to the High Holy or Feast Days of the Lord as it relates to Israel and the Coming of the Lord from Prophecy In The News. Remember, at the time of the first coming of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Matthew 2nd chapter records the occurrence of a star, or signs in the heavens:
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. vs. 10
And in Luke's Gospel just before His return, Jesus said: "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;" Luke 21:25
Jesus constantly was confronted by the pharisees or religious leaders of His day, and He constantly rebuked them. In Matthew's Gospel, when the pharisees and sadducees tried to tempt him when they wanted Jesus to show them a sign from heaven, Jesus replied:
Signs In The Heavens Video-Must See Video
Related Story: Giganic Solar Tornado Discovered Five Times The Size Of Earth
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To share this post, click the "share icon" at the end of the post.
SCROLL DOWN TO VIDEO
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. Joel 2:31Here's a prophetic look into the coming Solar/Lunar eclipses and Blood Red Moon as it relates to the High Holy or Feast Days of the Lord as it relates to Israel and the Coming of the Lord from Prophecy In The News. Remember, at the time of the first coming of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Matthew 2nd chapter records the occurrence of a star, or signs in the heavens:
- there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,vs 1 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 2
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared and vs. 7
When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was vs 9
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. vs. 10
And in Luke's Gospel just before His return, Jesus said: "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;" Luke 21:25
Jesus constantly was confronted by the pharisees or religious leaders of His day, and He constantly rebuked them. In Matthew's Gospel, when the pharisees and sadducees tried to tempt him when they wanted Jesus to show them a sign from heaven, Jesus replied:
- When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but ye are not discern the signs of the times? 16:2,3
Signs In The Heavens Video-Must See Video
Related Story: Giganic Solar Tornado Discovered Five Times The Size Of Earth
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Saturday, May 03, 2008
Israel: OrthodoxI Sect (Still) Argues Messianics Are Not Jews
This story appeared in JTA out of Jerusalem, which is really uplifting; but it also shows how the orthodox Yad LeAhim persistantly make life difficult for the Messianics of Israel.
Here we have ultra orthodox Yad LeAhim arguing that the female contestant in the Bible Quiz contest, even though she is Jewish, but believes in Jesus as Messiah, should not be considered Jewish; and even after this was settled in the Israeli Supreme Court April 17th of this year in favor of the Messianic Jews. Let's all hope and pray Bat El Levy comes out as number one in the Bible Quiz Contest!
What if a 'messianic Jew' wins Israel's annual Bible quiz?
JERUSALEM - Should Bat El Levy be asked at Israel's international youth Bible quiz next week about the messiah's coming, she may find herself in a bind.
The 17-year-old Jerusalem girl is a world-class scriptural scholar who, as it happens, believes in Jesus.
might never have been an issue, were it not for the sleuthing of an Israeli anti-missionary group, Yad LeAhim, which sees in Levy's participation in the annual Jewish Bible contest a threat to Judaism.
Yad LeAhim director Shlomo Dov Lipschitz circulated a letter to Israel's top rabbis this week calling for pressure on the Education Ministry to disqualify Levy from the quiz, which takes place every year on Israeli Independence Day. This year it will be held May 8 under the auspices of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Lipschitz argued that Levy, who comes from a family of messianic Jews--who believes Jesus is the messiah--should not be considered Jewish. There also was an apparent appeal to prestige: the fear of traditional Jews being shown up in Bible knowledge by someone who has mastered the New Testament as well.
Lipschitz wrote a letter that was leaked to Israel’s daily Ma’ariv in which he says Levy "has a chance of becoming the world Bible champion," and this could "greatly encourage" the spread of Christianity among Jews.
Several leading sages signed on, threatening a boycott of the quiz. Levy is slated to face off with 15 other young biblical scholars from Israel and the Diaspora in this year’s annual Bible contest.
“Once they used to wage crusades in order to bring us closer to Christianity," warned Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, a leader of the national-religious movement. "Now they work by other means.”
But the Education Ministry refused to bar Levy. A ministry spokesman said that issues of personal belief were not the organizers' concern and that because Levy "is Jewish according to her Israeli identity cards and school registration," she can take part in the contest.
Levy, who already has been crowned the Bible quiz champion for the Jerusalem district, was unavailable for comment. Relatives said she was too busy studying for the competition to meddle in the media uproar.
One confidant of the family, who declined to be identified, confirmed to JTA that the Levys are followers of Jesus -- or, as they would put it, "Yeshua Ben-David of Nazareth.”
But the confidant denied that Levy or her kin were involved in proselytizing other Jews -- a crime in Israel, where many blame church dogma for centuries of European anti-Semitism and persecution.
"This is a matter of private religious beliefs,” the confidant said. “Yad LeAhim and their ilk simply don't like Jews who practice a different version of Judaism.”
Israel has an estimated 8,000 so-called messianic Jews. They are, in effect, crypto-Christians, practicing their faith discreetly for fear of stoking hostility among mainstream Jews.
Reprisals can sometimes be violent. Police suspect that, in March, anti-missionary vigilantes planted a bomb outside a building in Ariel believed to house messianic Jews. A boy set off the device and suffered serious wounds. Last October, arsonists attacked a Baptist church in Jerusalem that offers services in Hebrew.
The Levy family confidant gave no indication that Bat El might shy away from the competition. One of her immediate relatives, the confidant said, is a career officer in the Israeli military and is open about the religious issue.
"We trust in God, and that those seeking to harm Bat El will get what they deserve," the confidant said.
Here we have ultra orthodox Yad LeAhim arguing that the female contestant in the Bible Quiz contest, even though she is Jewish, but believes in Jesus as Messiah, should not be considered Jewish; and even after this was settled in the Israeli Supreme Court April 17th of this year in favor of the Messianic Jews. Let's all hope and pray Bat El Levy comes out as number one in the Bible Quiz Contest!
What if a 'messianic Jew' wins Israel's annual Bible quiz?
JERUSALEM - Should Bat El Levy be asked at Israel's international youth Bible quiz next week about the messiah's coming, she may find herself in a bind.
The 17-year-old Jerusalem girl is a world-class scriptural scholar who, as it happens, believes in Jesus.
might never have been an issue, were it not for the sleuthing of an Israeli anti-missionary group, Yad LeAhim, which sees in Levy's participation in the annual Jewish Bible contest a threat to Judaism.
Yad LeAhim director Shlomo Dov Lipschitz circulated a letter to Israel's top rabbis this week calling for pressure on the Education Ministry to disqualify Levy from the quiz, which takes place every year on Israeli Independence Day. This year it will be held May 8 under the auspices of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Lipschitz argued that Levy, who comes from a family of messianic Jews--who believes Jesus is the messiah--should not be considered Jewish. There also was an apparent appeal to prestige: the fear of traditional Jews being shown up in Bible knowledge by someone who has mastered the New Testament as well.
Lipschitz wrote a letter that was leaked to Israel’s daily Ma’ariv in which he says Levy "has a chance of becoming the world Bible champion," and this could "greatly encourage" the spread of Christianity among Jews.
Several leading sages signed on, threatening a boycott of the quiz. Levy is slated to face off with 15 other young biblical scholars from Israel and the Diaspora in this year’s annual Bible contest.
“Once they used to wage crusades in order to bring us closer to Christianity," warned Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, a leader of the national-religious movement. "Now they work by other means.”
But the Education Ministry refused to bar Levy. A ministry spokesman said that issues of personal belief were not the organizers' concern and that because Levy "is Jewish according to her Israeli identity cards and school registration," she can take part in the contest.
Levy, who already has been crowned the Bible quiz champion for the Jerusalem district, was unavailable for comment. Relatives said she was too busy studying for the competition to meddle in the media uproar.
One confidant of the family, who declined to be identified, confirmed to JTA that the Levys are followers of Jesus -- or, as they would put it, "Yeshua Ben-David of Nazareth.”
But the confidant denied that Levy or her kin were involved in proselytizing other Jews -- a crime in Israel, where many blame church dogma for centuries of European anti-Semitism and persecution.
"This is a matter of private religious beliefs,” the confidant said. “Yad LeAhim and their ilk simply don't like Jews who practice a different version of Judaism.”
Israel has an estimated 8,000 so-called messianic Jews. They are, in effect, crypto-Christians, practicing their faith discreetly for fear of stoking hostility among mainstream Jews.
Reprisals can sometimes be violent. Police suspect that, in March, anti-missionary vigilantes planted a bomb outside a building in Ariel believed to house messianic Jews. A boy set off the device and suffered serious wounds. Last October, arsonists attacked a Baptist church in Jerusalem that offers services in Hebrew.
The Levy family confidant gave no indication that Bat El might shy away from the competition. One of her immediate relatives, the confidant said, is a career officer in the Israeli military and is open about the religious issue.
"We trust in God, and that those seeking to harm Bat El will get what they deserve," the confidant said.
SCANDAL AT ORU CAUSING STUDENTS TO LEAVE
Technorati Tags: ORU, Prosperity Gospel, Word of Faith Movement
Another mega televangelist, and institutional church falling, blasphemous WORD OF FAITH teacher and prosperity gospel promoter Richard Roberts and Oral Roberts University is now reaping what they have sown, as God stays true to His Word: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galations 6:7
From The Christian Post
Another mega televangelist, and institutional church falling, blasphemous WORD OF FAITH teacher and prosperity gospel promoter Richard Roberts and Oral Roberts University is now reaping what they have sown, as God stays true to His Word: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galations 6:7
From The Christian Post
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - As Oral Roberts University prepares to hand out diplomas to its Class of 2008, Anna Siebring, a junior, will be mailing out applications to transfer to another school. Siebring, a government major, is among many students having second thoughts about staying at Oral Roberts after six months of scandal at the evangelical Christian university.
She and others fear the furor will reduce the value of any degree they earn there. Some graduates worry that they will have to try twice as hard to market themselves to potential employers after Saturday's commencement.
"The reputation of the school means a lot," Siebring said. "I want to be proud of the school that I went to, but I could definitely not say that about the school right now."
During the past school year, TV evangelist Richard Roberts, son of school founder Oral Roberts, resigned as president after being accused of misspending university funds to live in style. Also, it was disclosed that the school was more than $50 million in debt.
Among other things, Roberts and his wife were accused of spending school money on shopping sprees, home improvements and a stable of horses for their daughters. They are also alleged to have sent a daughter and her friends on a Bahamas vacation aboard a university jet. continued here
EVANGELICAL MANIFESTO CRITIZES POLITICS AND FAITH
Technorati Tag: Evangelical Manifesto, Evangelicals, Christianity, CUFI, Faith Based Initiative
This is what you get when the religious right leaves the true Gospel message of Jesus Christ behind and unites with the government. The new government sponsored religion of Caesar, we are now reaping the bad fruit given to us by political organizations such as Christians United For Israel who operate under the front of "Christian" evangelicals, known as CUFI and your Faith Based Initiative government sponsored religious programs that the religious right and now left have bought into. And why now do we need a "Manifesto" when we already have the Bible to go by?
From CNN:AN EVANGELICAL MANIFESTO CRITIZES POLITICS AND FAITH
(AP) -- Conservative Christian leaders who believe the word "evangelical" has lost its religious meaning plan to release a starkly self-critical document saying the movement has become too political and has diminished the Gospel through its approach to the culture wars.
The declaration encourages Christians to uphold traditional marriage, as in this Massachusetts protest.
The statement, called "An Evangelical Manifesto," condemns Christians on the right and left for using faith to express political views without regard to the truth of the Bible, according to a draft of the document obtained Friday by The Associated Press.
"That way faith loses its independence, Christians become 'useful idiots' for one political party or another, and the Christian faith becomes an ideology," according to the draft.
The declaration, scheduled to be released Wednesday in Washington, encourages Christians to be politically engaged and uphold teachings such as traditional marriage. But the drafters say evangelicals have often expressed "truth without love," helping create a backlash against religion during a "generation of culture warring." CONTINUED
Thursday, May 01, 2008
POPE: QUR'AN A PRECIOUS BOOK
Technorati Tags: Pope Benedict , Ecumenism , Roman Catholic Church
Millions of Roman Catholic Church members die without ever hearing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially in Europe, where in some European countries Roman Catholics are forbidden to read the Bible for themselves; but instead are instructed by their RCC mentors that through all of their indulgences, saints, rosery citations, and sacrifices, this will eventually get them out of purgatory and into heaven. To all of our European Roman Catholic friends, please read this .
Here we have the leader of this massive institutional church, the pope, telling the world's Roman Catholics, and evangelicals, that are merging with Roman Catholicism, that the Qu'ran is a precious book. I can see where this is going and it amounts to ecumenism, and the uniting of the world's religious systems under one that the Bible speaks of in Revelation 13:4 and 14:9-11
Pope: Qur'an a precious book Thu, 01 May 2008 18:00:43
Pope Benedict XVI Spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has paid reverence to the holy book of Qur'an and termed it as precious.
Issues discussed about faith and reason in Christianity and Islam were very important and need consideration, said the Pope in a meeting with Mahdi Mostafavi, the head of Iran's high-ranking visiting delegation to the Vatican.
Stressing the importance of faith and reason in today's world, he said no effort should be spared in this regard. Continued at link
DOCTOR CONFIRMS MEDITATION EXPLOSION
Technorati Tags: Meditation Contemplative Prayer, Emergent Church, Purpose Driven Movement, Mysticism , Occult
The numbers are staggering. Seventeen million people in the United States alone are embracing meditation or eastern mysticism or divination that is intended to put them in direct contact with spirit guides or familiar spirits, taking them into a spiritual realm that is strongly warned against in the Bible. Leviticus 19:31
The Purpose Driven Movement and the Emergent Church Movement both strongly embrace this practice through "contemplative prayer." In conjunction with this, Lighthouse Trails has reported that:
Doctor Confirms Meditation Explosion
By Ray Yungen and the editors at Lighthouse Trails
In 2003, Time magazine reported (in a feature article on meditation) that 10 million Americans practiced meditation. Now, four years later, Dr. Rick Levy, in his book Miraculous Health, claims that number is now 17 million in the United States alone. This means that since A Time of Departing came out, 7 million people in this country have embraced the practice of meditation. Dr. Levy makes it clear that the type of mediation of which he speaks is the eastern-New Age kind as the essence of his book is that meditation is a door way to the "superconscious.
This is a very significant revelation to us at Lighthouse Trails because in the Time magazine article it revealed that meditation had grown by about 1/2 million people a year between 1993 and 2003. Now, it appears to be growing at three and a half times that rate at about 1.7 million people a year.
Keep in mind that we are not talking about people that have just embraced a particular belief system intellectually or rationally. We are talking about mystics, people who are in touch with the supernatural realm on a continous basis. We believe this remarkable acceleration is due to two factors.
First is the tremendous explosion of the interest in Yoga. Yoga, for those that don't know, means union, as in the mystical sense, the union with the divine or the Hindu concept of the divine. Most people may think it is just stretching and a form of calisthenics but Yoga and meditation are supposed to go together. You can't really have one without the other and still call it Yoga. Secondly, and more important from the perspective of Lighthouse Trails is the explosion of the interest in "contemplative prayer," which is a westernized form of meditation. We believe this can be contributed to the rise of the Purpose Driven movement and the emerging church movement. The emerging church movement seeks to jettison the traditional doctrinal expressions of Christianity and replace it with a more mystical experiential type of Christianity, one that fits in well with the philosophy of interspirituality. Continued at Lighthouse Trails
The Bible tells us there is one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ. I Timothy 2:5; yet we have millions of people, professed Christians and otherwise, in the United States alone who are being deceived by false teachers. The Lord Jesus Christ taught us to pray in a very simple fashion in His name only and with no mystical or hidden practices to get through to God the Father. In the Book of Deuteronomy in the Bible, Chapter 29:29, God told the Israelites through Moses "that the secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
The word "occult", of which "contemplative prayer" has its origins, along with your other New Age mystic practices, means secret or hidden or mysterious knowledge, and also referred to as divination in the Bible and this we are to stay away from.
Related Story: National Day of Prayer Endorses Contemplative Prayer
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