As I observe Christians in daily life or on social networks I am amazed how fast they are deserting their once cherished belief in Christ for another gospel which is really not another gospel but the false teachings of men or women in places of authority and respect. I have observed those who are smart, educated, years of ministry experience yet have accepted false doctrines and practices as truth.
They post comments of specific authors which can be seen as an endorsement of the author and their beliefs. Those in leadership especially must exercise caution as ones who will give an account for those they are entrusted with and for every word spoken in haste.
I must take issue with some beliefs promoted of false teachers on subjects such as the following. Seeking God ‘within’ through silence, centering prayer, yoga, contemplative prayer, prayer mazes, spirals, practicing the presence and more. These beliefs are so blatantly ungodly that any individual steeped in the word of God would be expected to know better. I can only conclude leaders are ignorant of the word or deceived. These false teachings and practices are not of God. It is earthly and demonic and dangerous. Christians should wake up and due their homework. We should not except statements because they were spoken by a favorite teacher or pastor. We should search the scriptures to see if what is said true.
“And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” Acts 17:11 NLT
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” Galatians 1:6-10 NASB
How is a Christian to know of deception unless they read the word or are taught by their leaders? We are encourage to know the word of God by reading the scriptures and not to follow men or women leaders who promote false doctrine or false teachers. We were never called to blindly follow men rather Christ and Him alone. The endorsements or postings of the famous or evangelicals personalities lend credibly to these dangerous beliefs. So I beg those seeking truth don’t accept messages of well meaning men or women because of who they are, including my words. Search the scriptures to see if what is being stated is of God. Research the one making the statement or promoting the teaching.
It is easy to google Merton, Manning, Keating, Nouwen and others to quickly see that their beliefs and doctrines are an ungodly deception regardless of their intent.
Mystics who seek God through false methods is a doctrinal lie. Have we not read in Genesis where satan told eve that if they eat of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil their eye would be open and they would be as God. These teachings seek to open that third eye, enlightenment, an awareness knowing the deeper knowledge of good and evil which is forbidden by God.
We are never encourage in scriptures to seek opening the third eye through various occult methods rather quite the opposite being commanded by God not to. Yet many willfully ignorant of scripture embrace such false doctrines which in reality are doctrines of demons and exercise no wisdom or knowledge of truth they blindly follow the dangers of these practices.
~ Michael Smith
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