Posted on 04/18/2008 6:40:59 AM PDT by Terriergal
Emergent Church Spreading Spiritual Cancer
Marsha West
In the Sixties the counterculture rejected consumerism, individualism, traditional values and ideas, and protested against their parent’s middle class values. Thus began an all out assault on what had made America prosperous for two centuries.
Now a similar assault on historic orthodox Christianity is underway that’s gaining momentum. Some Christians believe a paradigm shift is taking place in the Church and as a consequence “everything must change.” This is anything but good news for Christendom, my friends. In a radio interview with Worldview Network’s Brannon Howse, Professor Peter Jones of Westminster Seminary warned listeners that the Christian theistic West has been turning back to pagan, pantheistic monism. Many in contemporary western culture now hold to a pantheistic belief in the unity of nature and God, of body and spirit -- all is One.
Pantheism is a major tenet of the New Spirituality movement (NSM), once called the New Age movement. Other names used are Self-spirituality and Mind-body-spirit. The movement is largly eclectic with inspiration drawn from all the major world religions, which include Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Shamanism, Wicca, the metaphysical New Thought movement, and Neo-Paganism, to name a few. The goal of NSM is a shift in “planetary consciousness.” Their focus is not only on the West but also on the entire planet!
NSM is producing a movie to promote the new paradigm. In an article on Christian Worldview Weekend [1], Brannon Howse gives details: “New Spirituality gurus like Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson, alongside leftist environmentalists like Al Gore and religious figures such as Archbishop Desmond TuTu. Their message is the same, as though it was taken from the same script. ‘A massive worldwide phenomenon is in progress, offering seeds of great hope for the future…We are in the middle of the biggest social transformation in history, THE SHIFT.’”
In order to move the West away from theism, the shifters must first reinvent biblical Christianity. Enter Oprah Winfrey. It would seem Oprah has been planning The Shift for many years. In 1987 she read the late Eric Butterworth’s book “Discover the Power Within You.” His book changed how Oprah looked at life and religion. She was convinced that Jesus didn’t come to teach us about His divinity, as the Bible teaches, but to teach us about our divinity! (Oprah’s code word is “Christ consciousness.”) She recommended Butterworth’s book to her audience and sales soon skyrocketed.
(read more at OpinionEditorials.com)
It’s true. Its taking all the most appealing parts of environmentalism and charity, and wrapping under the guise of Christianity and religion. And it has mass appeal to Gen Y-ers and younger.
So this is where the cafeteria went.
Emergent Church...
Won’t a little “Round-Up” take care of that?
Roger Oakland’s book (http://www.lighthousetrails.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LTP&Product_Code=FA) is a great Biblical examination of the dangers of this cancer - another progression in the man-centered theology of Rome and Robert Schuller.
Just another iteration of multifarious Protestantism.
I think this is the reason for the recent publication, TV specials and movies made about writings like the Gospels of Thomas, Mary and Judas.
Thanks - between your blog, and FREEPville, you are providing a valuable service!
"You will surely not die," the serpent said to the woman. For God knows that when you eat of it [the forbidden fruit], you shall be like God, knowing good from evil."
Genesis 3:4-5
Now, now, there is no need to create yet more division among the Churches known to God. Even His Holiness of Rome acknowledges that there are valid Churches who do not recognize his authority.
Rather, test each the beliefs of each Church against the declarations of faith and beliefs put forward by the Church Fathers. The Nicean Creed, for instance, and the prayer of Saint Patrick.
Protestants aren’t the problem-it’s those from any denomination that deviate from the Biblical Truth (Standard)!
The theology of the Emergent “Movement” is New Agey Neo-Orthodoxy. According to it’s leaders (such as Erwin McManus, Brian McClaren, Rob Bell, Tony Jones, and Leonard Sweet) people help God “create” or “dream”. There teaching focuses on whatever makes us “feel” close to God. They do not teach the Gospel once and for all delivered to the Saints. They teach a form of Universalism and they mock the traditional Christian Church. They also question the Word of God.
Two great articles I have found on this heresy are:
http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue87.htm
by Bob Deway, who has spent the last couple years studying this movement.
and
“Rethinking Robert Schuller”
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/smith-rethink.htm
Ping.
Bump for later
Just another iteration of the false religion of Roman Catholicisim.
When are true followers of Christ going to denounce this apostate RC abomination for what it really is.
I read nice little homilies of how this pop pope is a “healer” and juxtiposed with this is stories of how the “mother of God” interceeds for us.
Shullbit, call a spade a spade. These people are apostate.
I want to thank you for all of the articles concerning the emerging church that you have posted lately.
It is amazing the amount of ignorance that is rampant among our Southern Baptist members.
Maria
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