Showing posts with label Humanism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humanism. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Speech and Reach

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
(1 John 3:16-18 – ESV)

As Christians we are to demonstrate sacrificial love for those of the household of faith, but also to those who are not (Galatians 6:10). As we lay down our lives in service, we are doing so as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23), knowing that our labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). This is the driving force behind our benevolence, and the truth is that Christians have shined as lights in the world (Matthew 5:16 / Philippians 2:15), and as showers of blessing upon mankind (Ezekiel 34:26).

Now it is also certainly true that many horrible things have been done in the name of Christianity. However, for all of our many problems, it is the church that has maintained the moral standards that are the fabric of our society. The church has built the hospitals, the schools, the orphanages, and was the backbone behind the civil organizations as they were born. The church fed the poor, and ministered to those whom the world forgot. It is the church that is the first to respond to disasters, personal, regional, and national, giving sacrificially and giving when no one is looking.

Yes there are humanitarian and other religious efforts not associated with Christianity that reveal God’s love in an indirect way by their sacrifices to help other people, and these give glory to God even if they do not subjectively do so, because objectively speaking, they show forth the fact that God shows mercy through other people and that the Christian ideals are the right ones. But this does not constitute saving faith or Christianity. It is not Jesus teachings, but Jesus Himself that makes Christianity what it is.

Now as Christians, when we do these things, but also by our words and hearts give glory where it really belongs, to God, and do so proclaiming the gospel while we do it, then we subjectively and objectively give glory to God, and not only are people helped, God is praised and pleased as we rightly give Him what He is due in a conscious fashion. It is not merely social action; it is spiritual action. We speak of Christ, and His sacrifice, as the ultimate demonstration of God’s love, which is why we reach out to others.

It is not that these things aren’t good, in many cases they are, but the fact is that as non-Christians they are not thanking God for them, and God is the source of all that is good. It is good that they do civil good, but it is God that has made them do any good at all. This speaks of common grace, but as Christians we must speak of saving grace as we reach out to help. Let us thank God that we can do any good at all.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Obama the New Age Messiah?

First, we will take a look at a recent letter that was sent out. It was not approved by the Obama campaign, and actually has less to do with him, and more to do with the belief system of the people who sent it. In effect, it does point the way to discernment, as we see how any cause can be rallied around so as to introduce the New Age agenda.

The sentiment described in this correspondence is typical of the humanistic, feel good spirituality so prevalent and pervasive in the world culture today. It may seem humble and holy, in a sense, but it is not a new or novel idea, it is an old tool of the Enemy of our souls.

After the letter, we will then give a response…

Hi all of you beautiful people here, there, and everywhere...

From California, New Mexico, and Peru, there are several of us who are making the commitment to join together Thursday evening at Sunset (October 9th) in Prayer to send loving energy, positive intentions, and courageous support to Barack Obama as he steps forward at this heightened, crucial time just before the Presidential Elections. He needs all of our loving support right now, through action and prayer. We would like to ask You to join us Thursday evening in creating a beautiful, synergistic, healing, and powerful circle around Barack Obama and his team and, of course, for all of the world. How we respond to the world's many dire problems and needs right now, in this moment, will decide the very fate and health of our planet. Let's come together!

So here what it looks like... Around sunset, please engage in any form of prayer that feels good to you, in any way that prayer manifests for you... whether it be through song, mantra, the drum, a walk in the woods, or silence... anything will do. Through our prayer, we can collectively envision Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Then, at 9:00pm California time (8:00 New Mexico time, 7:00 Florida, 7:00 Peru time) we will engage in silent meditation for one half hour to an hour in prayer for the good of the planet in the hope that with these new elections comes the necessary changes to facilitate the rapid healing for ourselves, our families, our communities, our children, and the animals, which all embody our very sacred Earth Mama.

This is all so very very important. Please feel free to take it to any level you like... you can use this time to be alone and go deep, or have a party with your neighbors and community in celebration of life and Obama and all good things to come, celebrate the last day of Durga Puja (the Hindu holiday for the 9 nights of the Goddess), which is Thursday, with Kirtan and food and good prayer (like we are!), or celebrate the first day of Yom Kippur which also begins at sundown (which is the Jewish holiday of reconciliation). However you do it, please pass this on to everyone you know so that they, too, can participate and be a part of the magic and help us circulate this energy to the four directions of the globe.

This is not just an issue that affects the people of our country; this affects the whole world. We are a global community, and likewise, the people of the world are looking at us wondering what is going to happen next. We should call on our friends from all over the Earth to join us at this special time. Thursday Night at Sunset, music, dance, prayer, voice, togetherness in Celebration Thursday at either 7, 8, or 9 at night (depending on time zone so we can all be in silence and prayer TOGETHER) in an effort to build more vibrant energy and support for the efforts of Barack Obama and all who are behind him.

In love and in light,
In goodness and in Prayer,
In Joy and in Celebration,

Now in light of that letter, we offer up a measure of discernment, from a Christian perspective…

It does seem wonderful, doesn’t it? But now is where we “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1ff). What is the reasoning behind this sort of appeal? What beliefs and belief systems inform this type of thinking? Is this something Christians can be involved in, just because this sounds so loving, so wonderful, so worshipful, so willing to be inclusive and helpful?

The problem, among many, is that while it seems so "nice", like you can just choose your own path to celebrate and help, that is where it is sinister at heart. The reason things like this can be so inclusive, you know, celebrate Yom Kippur, we include you Jews, and celebrate the 9 nights of the goddess or whatever, we celebrate any expression, is because none really matter in that type of system. All things are God, it is pantheism, or it doesn't matter because all things have God in them, all part of one energy force, which is panentheism. It can be all-inclusive because God is all or is in all, so it seems so very tolerant and nice, but it is actually the very opposite, that we celebrate nothing as holy above all the rest, and therefore you cannot tell me that I or anyone or anything else is not God!

They might not say it like that but it filters down and out to the truth that if everything is God, then nothing is. When I say nothing is, I mean that the God they worship is nothingness. It is not simply that this God doesn’t exist, but that what is worshipped is actually the concept of nothingness.

It is a denial of Christ, His deity as compared to our humanity, sin, the need for atonement, the inspiration, inerrancy and sufficiency of the Bible, the realities of heaven and hell, and it makes man God and God man, or birds, or rocks, or rats, or everything or in everything. There is no separation between God and man or anything else, and we then become the arbiters of what path we choose, and we cannot, ultimately lose. Of course, that IS true in Christ, but not in and of ourselves; this letter is denying the exclusive claims and atoning work of Christ. Humanity in union becomes the savior instead of Christ as all in all.

Also we can clearly see the old heresy of earth worship repackaged in a new age, hippie hairdo. Romans 1:25, and of course hundreds of texts speak against this very type of EVIL. We need to tear down this arrogance disguised as love which exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). We are not God; we don’t get to define the terms. This evil mess may be seductive and seem so very loving, but it is not love at all. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10).

Of course, this may seem to make us the enemy of everyone else, but it isn’t true. We are the enemies of the Evil One who spawned this evil message, not the person who wrote it, but the spirit behind it. Those that are attaching themselves to it are attaching themselves to eternal death, and we are not against people, we are for the Truth. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). They are not the enemy but they ARE victims of the enemy (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

We must hope that some will realize that it is “no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15), and pray, not for some energy field or unknown prayer force to help their deception and demonic dreams, but for the glory of Christ to shine upon them that they might repent and be saved, to the praise of His glory.

This message really isn’t about Obama, or whether or not you should vote for him. Obama and the election is just the instrument to introduce the idea of the God of our collective consciousness. This is about people who have been deceived with darkness posing as light.

Can we bring the Light of Truth and the knowledge of True Grace to this darkness?

Yes we can.

In His grace, and for His glory,
J.D. Hatfield
Pastor, Riverside Christian Fellowship
Voiceofvision.org