Introduction to reviews:
These book and movie reviews are written from a Faith Alone Christianity and Biblical perspective. They'll mainly be from books and movies I've personally either read or seen. If they're not, I'll try to state differently. These reviews are not an invitation for others to voice their view in debate although pleasant comments are welcome even if differing in view. Please check back often for new and updated reviews or replies to comments.

My Sincere Desires
My first desire in creating these reviews is my own personal pursuit of Truth combined with highlighting points of interest and concerns, or even possibly confirming questioning thoughts for fellow Believers. To give any form of a noncommital review would deviate from my goal. I have very little desire to be a 'Spiritual Mug Wump' (a believer who sits on the fence with their mug on one side and their wump on the other, never holding to solid conviction for fear of offending or being thought unloving, arrogant, a heresy hunter, or D all the above) Secondly, I would like to bring to attention just plain and descent entertainment or reading enjoyments through these book and movie reviews for the believer.

Holding to what is Fair
Someone once remarked to me in discussion that they couldn't comment because they hadn't either read a certain book or seen a particular movie. In translation: It wasn't fair to comment without knowing the content personally. However, we need not drink poison to know it will either kill or seriously harm us. Warning labels will do just as well so we cannot and should not always hold to the sentiment of 'what is fair'. With a good healthy dose of Biblical Discernment, we can know, through what we might consider trusted evidence offered, whether to venture particular avenues. Hence, these reviews.

TITLE: The Fool's Tale
AUTHOR: Nicole Galland

I originally saw this book at Barnes and Nobles with its great cover having caught my eye. After reading the backcover, I wrote the title and author down and later purchased it cheaper through Amazon. A plot of castles, Knights and Ladies, Kings and Queens are a major theme that always interest to me. I'm glad I was foolish enough to waste too much money on this story because halfway through this book I decided just to skip to the back in order to see how it ended. This sort of reading proved to me, once again, that you can't judge a book by its cover.

To say the least about the most, this author creates her characters being intimate with whomever and however they wish for whatever fulfills their lustful desire. I was hoping that the plot would gather some merit of edification but even the main female character, while proclaiming to be Christian, compromises her convictions after condemning others for the very same thing. I've heard the thin argument against reader's conclusions that the bible has similar narratives. While that's slightly true, the Lord never permitted His human writers to give in depth details that distracted from His glory and purposed plans. For the most part, I can easily tolerate many secular books without difficulty, while sidestepping the worldly hogwash, because they bring history to the picture and teach us lessons in life about other cultures but this book offers almost no redeeming substance.

I do not recommend this book for Christians because it doesn't embrace or encourage good character, ethics, or morals. The plot is pretty much worthless. In fact, I'll be tearing the pages out and tossing it away. Some may say that I should sell it but I cannot in all good conscious promote this less than admirable story line.

Rating:

The Fools Tale

SERIES: The Highland Hills
AUTHOR: Kathleen Morgan

Child of the Mist: In the first book of the Series, 'Child of the Mist', The main character, Anne MacGregor, is forced into her culture's tradition of hand fasting to the opposing clan Chief's son to save the Scottish clans from war over land. Throughout the book she constantly trusts in the Lord while tempted but never compromising her moral convictions of physical intimacy only within the bounds of marriage.

Wings of Morning: Book 2 - The main character, Regan MacLaren, loses her memory in a fall from a horse while in search of her lost husband of one day. Believing him to have been murdered, she then seeks revenge but love takes her by surprise through the very one who she accuses to have murdered her husband.

A Fire Within: Book 3 - Caitlin Campbell, the sister of Niall Campbell head of their clan, finds her life and heart torn between her allegiance to her clan and attraction for a man who has been cast out from his family through deception.

All the experiences of These Highland Hills characters point back to God as their source of life and destiny in a manner that will bring edification to the reader. I highly recommend this series of godly principles with its delightful woven storyline of another time and place.

Rating:
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The Highland Hills

As High as the Heavens:
AUTHOR: Kathleen Morgan

If memory serves me correctly, I once read where this book was inspired through a visitation from Queen of Scots, before her unwilling abdication, in the 2nd book of These Highland Hills series. In 'As High as the Heavens' the plot centers around a scheme to free the Queen from her prison in Lochleven Castle. Duncan Mackensie is the key to her escape as the plan unfolds more than he imagined concerning his heritage while finding himself the innocent pawn in the selfish ambitions of another. Despite her better judgment, Heather Gordon, agrees to help him towards achieving success as she tries to obey her father's wishes in the matter. As history tells us, no such fictitiously woven plan to free the Queen ever succeeded but a true God's weaving of hearts always wins out in the end whether in reality or imagination.

Rating:
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As High as the Heavens

Faith Undone
the emerging church...a new reformation or an end-time deception
by Roger Oakland
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This book examines the emerging church movement while challenging their claim to offer humanity an authentic, organic, and real faith, since what we now know as Christianity, in their opinion, is outdated, irrelevant, and ineffective. The author of this book states that with obscure language, a seemingly noble cause, and evasive conversations, the emerging church is mesmerizing many people while leaving a trail of confusion and disarray in its path in striving to bring about a New Reformation. This book sometimes refers to the Emergent church as a movement instead of a church because many say the emerging church is only a dialogue or conversation. It is a constantly changing post modern movement to remodel our ideas about truth and certainty of the Christian gospel. The movement questions whether we can truly know truth at all calling it arrogant to lay claim in having arrived at Truth. However, this is the seed of unbelief and rebellion which is always due to rejecting God's Word because individuals feel that their own way appeals to them much more. The Bible states there is nothing new under the sun and this movement is hardly any different. It is but an old card, shuffled from the deck of rebellion, and shown to a new generation.

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pg 12-13 "The Bible warns that in the days before Jesus Christ returns, truth will be abandoned for a wider spiritual road that gives 'heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1) A new form of Christianity will replace biblical faith with a faith that says man can find his own path to God and create a perfect kingdom of God here on earth. The Word will become secondary to a system of works and rituals driven by ancient mystical experiences.

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An ecumenical pattern toward unity with other religions has already become quite apparent. Many people will consider those who refuse to embrace this direction as spiritual oddballs who need to be reprimanded. These resisters who stand up for biblical faith will be seen as obstructions to the one-world spirituality and global peace."

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The author explains that while God has provided a way for us to seek after Him and to know Him, our adversary, the devil, has a plan of his own. As from the time in the Garden, the last thing the enemy would like is for people to obey what God has said. The enemy's objective is to lead humanity astray by stirring up doubt as he did in the garden with Eve having asked, "Hath God said?" For those wrong choices of both Eve and Adam, mankind has been in a fallen state ever since forever searching but floundering for a way to worship outside of God's direction.
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Emergent leaders say the Christian faith needs to be reinvented or reimagined for the 21st century. They insist that because the present faith and church is not authentic, a new faith and a new kind of church must be established to reach the world or this post modern generation.

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pg 16 When we embrace ideas and philosophies of men rather than the inspired Word of God, it does not take long to be led astray. Following men and their methods can be dangerous if these people are not following Jesus and His Word.

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Matthew 15:8-9(KJV)
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

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And while Emergent members dialoque about what truth actually is we find that the beautiful thing about the Bible is the gospel message, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was woven very easily for everyone to understand a basic foundation of salvation and right living. God declares that we have been given the answer to the mystery of life through Jesus Christ who came in the flesh, died, rose again, and then inhabits the faith believer through His Holy Spirit, while giving us eternal life through Himself who is the Resurrection and the Life. The Emerging message is not found in biblical doctrine but rather in dialogue and not in truth but in discussion. Which brings to my mind this scripture, 2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. There is no security in never making a commitment to Christ. To reject the doctrine of Christ is to have neither the Father nor the Son (2 John 1:9-11). Such an individual is still lost in their sin. Jesus declares that if we do not believe Him, His doctrine, then we would die in our sin. (John 8:24) When we embrace anything besides the one true God of the Bible, we then worship a god of our own imagination and in doing so find a salvation that doesn't save.

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pg 19 Behind all this is a reconstructed view (dialoguing and discussion) of God that obliterates the God of the Bible. Laying the revelation of Scripture aside, human understanding much perfers a God too loving to create a place like hell for anyone, particularly for those who are searching. Hence it follows, one can find safety in a congregation of seekers; some emerging church leaders have already said the God who judges and requires penal substitution for sin (the Cross) does not exist.
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pg 52 ...the emergents are leading followers in the opposite direction, teaching that the Word of God needs to be conformed to people and cultures instead of allowing it to conform lives through Jesus Christ.

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Being a Christ Follower verses being a Christian:

Understanding definitions is the key to more thoroughly understanding a mind set. As the author explains it, the term 'Follower of Jesus' or 'Christ Follower' is used frequently within the scope of those promoting the Emerging spirituality. A Christ Follower need only to practice certain disciplines to be like Christ. However, and unlike a Christian, being born again, receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, and Master is not a prerequisite to being a Christ Follower. It is said that anyone, not just believers, can practice these spiritual disciplines and become like Christ. But a Christian who is born again, or regenerated, has by faith Jesus Christ indwelling inside. It is His life in a person that gives the power to become progressively more like Him (sanctification). So in other words, it is not a work on our part to be Christ-like but a super natural work on God's part to transform us into the image of His Son. For the Christian, Christ is a living presence within and not a merely a meditation Christ consciousness one discovers within. According to the Bible, to become a Christian, one must start at the Cross and the hearing of the gospel message where God regenerates our hearts to the desire of Him and then implants faith to believe that we might be Justified, Santified, and ultimately glorified in His image. However, in today's progressive, emerging church/movement, Jesus is seen as a model or an example who can be followed and mimicked, along with the plurality for interpretations of doctrine.

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pg 169 The reason meditation has to play such an important role in the emerging church is because without the true Gospel message being preached (faith comes by hearing the Word) so many within the movement do not have the indwelling Christ, but they sincerely long to be like Him and to feel His presence.
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So anyone at all, from any walk of life, from any religion, can be a Christ Follower practicing Spiritual formation. They may come to believe they have a Christ consciousness and are Christ-like, yet they do no thave the actual power of Christ within, that can only come from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

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John 1:12(KJV)
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
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Romans 1:16(KJV)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
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I Corinthians 1:18
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God"

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Without trying to detemine the motives of the Emerging Leaders, ...
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1. the author of this book examines who the obvious leaders and emerging sympathizers are and what energy or force moves them. To explain their 'paradigm shift' --a new way of looking at something, such a shift will allow us to view our changing world with new perspective. A new philosophical or theoretical framework.

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2. the author of this book explains the emerging spiritually itself, a cosmic Christ, a Christ-consciousness, and a Mysticism and its relationship to the Emerging movement. This books seeks to expose their belief system rather than attack individuals; to bring to light the truth about the spirituality behind the teachings.

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3. the author of this book seeks to rescue those involved with the emerging church movement, and countless others headed in that direction, by offering the Truth of God instead.

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4. The author points out other areas connected to, within or as interests by the Emerging Church movement or members. Among those are-
- disregard for biblical authority and doctrine, generous orthodoxy, contextual theology, a second reformation or new reformation, ritual experiences as a means to approach and reach God, the choosing of experience over doctrine, making a Vintage Christianity more effective for believers and unbelievers, liturgical recitations and contemplative worship, mystical encounters, sensory engagements, the Word of God replaced with sensual spirituality, learning from works and teachings by religious mystics, multi-sensory mystical worship and stimulating church services replace the preaching and teaching of the Word, Labyrinths, centering and breath prayers, contemplative prayer or meditation practices, mantra-style meditation, Shamanistic type drumming, Yoga, alpha state, Reiki (link), Mystic Oneness with God verses being biblically born again, spiritual formation, Eucharistic reign of Jesus, the theology called Kingdom Now or Dominionism, the Purpose Driven Inclusive church and P.E.A.C.E. plan, the ecumenical inter-faith army and spiritual body, Christian verses Christ Follower, inclusive gospel, rejecting the message of Christ's atonement through His blood.

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pg 80 When doctrines of men (enlightenment) replace the doctrines of Scripture (Truth), many are led astray. It has happened in the past, and it is happening now. Following doctrine not based on the Word of God always results in the undoing of faith.
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pg 92 We are reconciled to God only through His 'death' (the atonement for sin) and we are presented 'holy and unblameable and unreproveable' when we belong to Him through rebirth. It has nothing to do with works, rituals, or mystical experiences. It is Christ's life in the converted believer that transforms him.

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pg 20 ...if I did not believe that what we are witnessing with this emerging spirituality lines up with biblical end-time prophecy, you would not be reading these pages. But sad to say, the emerging church is far more than a fleeting fad and much more than the complaints of a group of young leaders. It is indeed a 'new way of being Christians' and in every conceivable manner, it is striving to bring about a 'new reformation'....For behind this new kind of church is a well designed strategy and maneuver by the prince of this world, the enemy of our souls, to literally take apart the faith of millions--it will be nothing less than faith undone.

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The author's conclusion is that there are some fruitful works coming out of this emerging movement, as well as having some sincere and truth-seeking people within its confines. However, he has had to examine whether the good that might be found could outweigh the harmful, and if it doesn't, then does the harmful negate the good. He finds sour fruits to include teachings contrary to biblical Christianity, creating a hostility towards bible-believing Christians, and reconstructing missions and evangelism so that converts can remain in their own religion by adding a Christ figure without ever having to submit to the Lordship of Christ and authority of His Word.
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Rating:

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'Faith Undone'

The Final Inquiry
one truth could destroy an empire
Starring: Daniele Liotti (Titos Tauros), Monica Cruz (Tabitha), Dolph Lundgren (Brixos), Max von Sydow (Emperor Tiberius), F. Murray Abraham (Father, Pharisee, Nathan)
Director: Giulio Base
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This movie takes place in the Roman Empire, three years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A Roman General, Titos Valerius Tauros, is given a special secret assignment from the Emperor Tiberius for traveling to the city of Jerusalem in order to investigate the recent death and possible resurrection of Jesus Christ. There Tauros encounters momentary and faint conversations with the disciples, who seem to be detached from preaching the Gospel. He inquires concerning detailed information surrounding those questionable circumstances of why this so-called prophet Jesus, even after his supposed death, incites the people to rebel against their Roman rulers. Along the way, Tauros, falls in love (at first sight) with an young Israeli woman named Tabitha, who is the only daughter of a Pharisee.

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Though we might expect that a film about seeking Christ would include the wonder of finding Him, and lifting Him up, it disappoints the viewer instead for being centered mainly on romance, mechanical play fighting and violence, along with the murderous nature for which Rome is so famous. At one point, and as a final twist to the plot, the audience witnesses the suffocation of the emperor by his nephew, Caligula, as it shockingly bears with it silent instructions to impressionable young persons on how to easily kill someone.

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Other Areas of Question:
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1. During a flashback at the foot of the Cross, Mary Magneline is seen as smiling and almost laughing as she stands with the mourning mother of Jesus and Apostle John.
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2. Stephen is portrayed as a martyred weakling under the foot stomping of Saul of Tarsus.
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3. In Acts 9:39-41 we find Peter entering in to call forth a young woman, by the name of Tabitha, who had died. She is biblically famous for making coats and garments as gifts as well as a life involved in other acts of charity. However, in this film the Pharisee's daughter, a believer in the teachings of Jesus, is superimposed as a similar Tabitha in name only, and Peter comes to raise her from the dead after being put to shame by the Roman General Tauros who is romantically involved with the then dying woman. However, this is only after her father, a harsh and legalistic Pharisee, beats his rebellious daughter to near death in a drunken rage with his walking staff directly after he has come from stoning Stephen.
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4. Tauros, upon finding the group of Christians by the sea shore, kneels before Mary, the mother of Jesus, to honor her. To have ever found a Roman officer kneeling before anyone other than a superior official would be highly unlikely. This submissive act not only distracts from the authority of the Roman General but also smacks of overly religious indulgence and exaltation towards Mary other than her role as biblically outlined.
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5. The Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God but somehow this film forgot to include the gospel message that transforms lives. Any supposed change of heart on Tauros' part gets lost in translation to the viewing audience and comes across conveyed more as simply changing his mind.

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The all too few flashbacks to Christ are done disjointly and sporadically without any real bearing on the heart's transformation for the Roman General or for delivering the Gospel message of Salvation. It was as if the spiritual aspect of the plot was written stemming from a life of one completely unfamiliar with the supernatural transforming power of the Holy Ghost and bold apostolic witness as narrated in the Bible but is instead gleaned from facts of biblical history and religious hearsay. This film falls drastically short from being any type of edifying Christian family entertainment.

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Rating:

extremely poor or unsatisfactory

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'The Final Inquiry'

Becoming Jane
based on an incident in the life of the beloved writer Jane Austen
Starring: Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy
Director: Julian Jarrold
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This film is based on the happenings in the young life of the beloved romantic and emerging novelist Jane Austen who is vastly intelligent but very strong-willed. The real Jane Austen, although well aware that her family is struggling financially, refuses to marry simply for convenient sake and the security that money can bring. She falls for Tom Lefroy, a handsome Irish rogue, who is solely depended upon the good graces and kindness of his legalistic Lawyer Uncle for any monetary means. As Mr. Lefroy, played by James McAvoy, attempts to ask his Uncle to consent to their marriage, all hopes are dashed, through the lies of another, before they are even barely embraced. And though Jane may try to be reasonable in getting on with life and with what marriage offers do present themselves, such as the previous proposal from the nephew of a wealthy noble, she finds that she must be true to her heart and convictions above the demands of others. Unfortunately, scandalous news and gossip can ruin the future dreams for a young woman who does not bend to the strict traditional rules of society in her era of the 1790s. Jane then turns to the one solace that has never betrayed her heart; her writing, while forever refusing even a sensible marriage arrangement that might help her family's social and financial needs in the future. These real life situations inspire her toward writing classic novels for which she is so very famous and admired.
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Jane, played by Anne Hathaway, is portrayed as a very likable, deep loving, and chaste screen character. Her struggles in longing to have her desires and dreams fulfilled verses sacrificing for the benefit of others echoes those similar oppositions of every woman from any era. This film contains breathtaking country scenery with a mixture between quaint and exquisite home dwellings as well as an array of beautifully designed and detailed vintage costume.
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This movie contains a very, very brief glimpse of backside nudity in same gender skinny dipping and one or two later movie suggestive moments. All done, if must be done, in good taste.

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Jane Austen played by Anne Hathaway

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tensions increase

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LeFroy and Jane accidently meet in the woods

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sweethearts whisper their plans

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heart broken Jane

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an emerging writer/novelist

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Click HERE to see a you-tube video of 'Becoming Jane'.
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Rating:


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All photos along this post are final property of Miramax Films and not for reposting or sale. My mark is there only to discourage the taking for personal gain in the protecting of Miramax Film rights to ownership.
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'Becoming Jane'

The Seduction of Chrisitianity
spiritual discernment in the the last days
by Dave Hunt and T.A. McMahon
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According to the Bible, before Christ's Second coming there will occur a great apostasy and the 'falling away' from the Faith through a strong yet subtle worldly deception. These authors take a look at the latest 'fashionable philosophies' offered to make us happier, healthier, more well educated, and possibility more spiritual as a catalyst for that delusion. In this day and age, the believer must choose between Truth and Counterfeit in order to escape such an entrapment but to do that we need to be informed of these errors gathering momentum that have now crept into the Body of Christ.
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(page 9) "To avoid the seduction that is at the heart of apostasy, we must be able to distinguish the voice of Christ through His Word from the confusion mixture of truth and error that is spoken in His name.
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New Age in the Body of Christ:
The increasing controversy among believers concerning criticism of the New Age movement shouldn't surprise us as many believers are embracing supposely scientific methodologies such as positive or possiblity thinking, hypnosis, psychotherapy, yoga, visualization, meditation, biofeedback, Holistic medicines, and a large list of self-improvement including building self-esteem, successful Christian living and motivation techniques.
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(page 14) "...we are being told that our problem is not that we think too highly of ourselves, but too lowly, that we all have a bad self-image, and that our greatest need is to build up our self esteem. Though Peter wrote, "Humble yourselves, there, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time" we are being urged to 'viualize' ourselves into success."
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It's tragic that not all believers take the time to check the Scriptures through on such issues. Many passive thinkers are too easily persuaded that the latest and greatest is biblically sound just because something has a spiritual ring to it. It isn't judging just because someone may verbally disagree with methods that are undermining the faith of so many people but rather it is our responsibility to know and expose that which is contrary to biblical Truths. Believers should be walking out their faith according to God's standard and not one they have created for themselves. When we start leaning to our own understanding, we are open to error and more importantly delusion.
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(page 9) "It is is every Christian's responsibility, however, to judge teachings and fruit and to accept and follow only that which is clearly according to the Word of God."
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(page 22) "... God will not abdicate His lordship to the power of our minds, negative or positive. We are to seek only the mind of Christ, and His mind is not materialistic: it is not focused on success or wealth. Christ's mind is focused only on the glory of God and obedience to His Word."
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Other Areas of Concern:
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1. Mind Science: Linking Christianity and Sorcery
(page 23) "SCIENCE OF THE MIND teaches that the originating, supreme, creaive Power of the Universe, the source of all substance, the Life in all living things, is a cosmic Reality Principle which is present thoughout the Universe and in every one of us. Science of the Mind teaches that Man controls the course of his life...by mental processes which function according to the Universal Law...that we are all creating our own day-to-day experiences...by the form and procession of our thoughts. Man, by thinking, can bring into his experience the whatsoever he desires..."
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Some confused believers imagine that 'faith' is a force that makes things happen because they believe. Such a faith is not one based in God but rather directed at God as if He were a cosmic genie in the sky under the power of some universal law to which even He must bend. Unfortunately what we find are preachers mingling a biblical teaching with occult ideas of mind-power and visualization. If we can get God to do our bidding, then we can become masters of our fate as we create our own reality.
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(page 25) "Robert Schuller:
You don't know what power you have within you! You make the world into anything you choose. Yes, you can make your world into whatever you want it to be."
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Kenneth Copeland (see pg84) declares that "You don't have a God living in you; you are one!" And if we are gods, then we have the power to create our own fate. The name it and claim, or the positive confession (as his wife, Gloria Copeland teaches, see pg 101), is the power of our belief in action. We call it as it will be, not as it is because we are believing it to come to pass with even the power to command angels to do our bidding. According to the authors, confession used to be defined as confessing ones sins and repenting but that is considered a 'negative confession' and since they believe words are power, then we must never speak anything other than what we want to come to pass. Positive Confession, confess your healing, confess your prosperity, confess your dominion over this earth, confess your divine right; command God to heal and bless, all of which is a renewed desire for the same godhood Satan offered Eve. This is truly error if ever there was any.
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2. Psychological Seduction. Linking secular psychology and christianity.
(page 191) "The basic problem with the 'all truth is God's truth' approach lies in the fact that psychology pretends to offer answers which, even if it were a science, it could never give. We have no quarrel...but with psychology's pretense to scientifically understand and deal with the heart of man, who is a spiritual being made in the image God. To attempt to deal with human behavior 'scientifically' denies man's free will and spiritual nature."
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"Psychology, in contrast to biblical counseling by very definition, can neither explain nor adequately deal with man as God created him, much less as the redeemed man is intended to be through Christ living in him. ...psychology ... claims to meet needs that the Bible says it alone can provide. Thus psychology is in the fullest sense a rival religion that can never be wedded to Christianity."
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(page 195) "Once psychology is presumed to contain parts of God's truth that are missing from the Bible, its pronouncements must be accepted as equally authoritative. The practical effect is to give psychology the final word, for those who understand only the Bible but not psychology are unqualified to judge this new truth. Those who have degrees in psychology can therefore make pronouncements that cannot be challenged on any other basis inside or outside the church."
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3. Evangelical Humanism: building healthy self-esteem, personal acceptance, selfism, self-love. The unholy trinity of Me, Myself and I. Human potential movement (pg214) is to turn this world into a paradise through the restoration of everyone's self-esteem.
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(page 193) "This seductive gospel of selfism is now preached by prominent pastors and proclaimed by well-known conference speakers. This selfist psychology dressed up in Christian terminology would be easily recognized for the obvious fraud it is, were it not for the fact that what is allededly 'God's truth' in psychology has been granted authority at least equal to the Bible."
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(page 194) "Today we are being robbed of the presence and power of God by being told that the lack of joy and power in our lives is due to a poor self-image. The only correct self-image comes from viewing God, not ourselves, and it isn't flattering-but it changes lives and turns us from self to Him."
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"Self-love, self-esteem, and self-seeking are the esence and the life of pride; and the Devil, the father of pride, is never absent from these passions, nor without an influence in them. Without a death to self, there is no escape from Satan's power over us...Imagination, as the last and truest support of self, lays unseen worlds at his (man) feet, and crowns him with secret revenges and fanced honors. ... This is that satanic natural self that must be denied and crucified, or there can be no disciple of Christ. ...the words of Jesus, "Except a man deny self, and take up the cross and follow me, he cannot be my disciple."
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(page 200) "The person who is always putting himself down doesn't really hate himself or have a bad self-image; he is simply letting others know that his performance is not up to the standard he has set for himself. This not a symptom of low self-esteem, but the flip side of pride."]
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(page 200) A.W. Tozer quote:
"Boasting is an evidence that we are pleased with self; belittling, that we are disappointed in it. Either way we reveal that we have a high opinion of ourselves..."
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(page 209) "What we really need is to turn from any preoccupation with self to Christ. God redeemed us because of who He is, not because of we are or even what He could make us become. God loves us because He is love, not because we are lovable or lovely. Here is a solid basis for deep confidence. But the new teaching that God valued me so highly that Christ died for me may make me initially feel more secure, but that feeling will last only so long as I can continue to have this sense of self-worth."
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4. Signs of the end times, including false Christs and other Gospels, and the unfolding of these today.

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5. The coming One World Religion and the Divine Mind present in each individual. New Religious Science.
(page 52) "The new world religion of Antichrist will be thought of as scientific. This new religious science will promise to lead humanity into the experience of its own divinity, that each of us is 'God'."
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6. Self-realization (through Yoga, meditation, visualization, etc.) to find the 'true Self' or the 'Higher Self' and there to declare oneself attaining godhood. Isn't that the lie sold to Adam and Eve in the garden; to become a god?
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7. Occult, Shamanism Techniques and New Thought, New Age. Power of the imagination with techniques of visualizing and spiritual guides (Also see listed book review 'Contemplating The Cross').
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(page 76-77) "There is a deep need in the humanheart for purpose and meaning. If this is not satisfied in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the soul will seemingly grasp at any straw, no mater how flimsey or bizarre."
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CONCLUSION:
The authors have attempted to present some understanding of the ways under which the same delusion that is preparing the world for the Antichrist is now seducing the Christian community. What they hope to expose is not just a handful of questionable teachings but a rising and return of ancient occultism. They encourage the believer to get back to the simplicity that is in Christ and earnestly begin to follow the Good Shepherd rather than the many who claim to speak for Him. Start by searching the scriptures and learning to discern according to God's standard.
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(page 212) " Our concern has been to show that there is a growing pattern of seduction pointing in a particular direction prophesied in the Scriptures, and that none of us is immune from being deceived and deceiving others."

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Rating:

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'The Seduction of Chrisitianity'

Contemplating the Cross
by Tricia McCary Rhodes
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In this book, the author encourages the reader to create their own journey in self-conjured visions of imagining the path to the cross and a Jesus of their very own. At one point, while envisioning their own Jesus, the author then instructs the reader to worship him.
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(page 19) "See Jesus with an ardent, fervent, fiery commitment to go to the cross. Worship Him."
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However, the Bible instructs us to worship the true Jesus in spirit and truth; His truth and not a false reality we create for ourselves (John 4:24).
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The reader is also encouraged to allow their conjured Jesus to be a companion and guide on the spiritual journey of imagined images and emotions or whatever else floats through in the moment. This is a very shaky ground for a Christian to enter upon because they are opening themselves toward spirit realm suggestions or to perhaps more than what they bargained for when they create 'another Jesus'. The bible instructs us to walk by faith and not by sight. Nor can we walk by imagination and certainly not by emotions and yet many are deceived into believing any spiritual experience can be an addition to truth and revelation.
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(introduction page -x-) "As you bring yourself to gaze at Christ's face hanging before you, you will begin to grasp that He died - not merely for the world - but for you. And along the way you will be changed"
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Using a method of meditation, breathing exercises, imagination, and the author's narrative portions, that launch each chapter through her poetic license of possible happenings, you can embrace for yourself sights, sounds smells, and emotional weights of the events that may or may not have taken place surrounding the cross. However, in this form of spiritual contemplation, that won't matter as long as you make a way to God for yourself. This form of so-called truth becomes relative for the person in the moment. However, Jesus tells us that He is the only Way to the Father and no one comes to Father except through Him (John 14:6). Any path that we create on our own will always fall short of reaching and pleasing God. Consider Cain, who knowing what sacrifice would please God, decided for himself through pride what he would offer and in what way, thus in the end displeased God greatly. When we come to God, we must come on His terms alone and not one we create for ourselves expecting God to receive it just because it echoes religious tones.
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As it is true the Word speaks for the sufferings of a Christian Life as one means of a spiritual transformation into the image of Christ, I would highly hesitate to embrace a conjured suffering of Christ in the form of an imagination to promote a self suffering that is not ordained in our life by God. We can do nothing except we do it through Christ and abiding in Him (John 15:5). The Bible never encourages believers to conjure a change for themselves or self-work their own walks as if we were under the Law to purchase our own salvation. Though the Apostle Paul instructs us to walk out our salvation in reverence and trembling with watching against temptations, he continues on to inform us that it is God who works in us both to will and to do his good pleasure and not a salvation and spiritual growth earned of our own strength (Philippians 2:11-13). God is the author and the finisher of our faith and will perform the good work in us that He has begun until either we go to Him or He comes to us. (Philippians 1:5-7).
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Where as Christ seeks to bind up the broken hearted hurts of our past life and give us that abundant and victorious life through Himself, this book encourages the reader to recite a written prayer (pg79), requesting God to reopen the wounds of our sinful hearts for the purpose of suffering while proclaiming through prayer that Christ's blood is on the reader, and their children, in shame. Though this method might sound sacrificial and humble, it is not biblically founded. Why continue to beat ourselves up when the enemy has been doing a really good job of that most of our lives. Condemnation is not from the Lord because it brings shame while leading us away from God but conviction is most certainly from the Spirit because it leads us toward God and repentance. There is no shame when we come to God because He is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we confess (1 John 1:9). There is no need to pay in self-inflicted agony for our sins when Jesus has already suffered to bear our shame and sin willingly on the Cross. There is thanksgiving and tears of joy as we wholeheartedly repent while receiving His free gift of Love and salvation.
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In another author lead prayer, it's stated,
(pg 89) "Lord Jesus, You walk today and every day to Calvary, while I make beds and drive carpools. You bleed, wounds festering, body failing while I pay bills and play tennis. You trudge along, one lonely step after another while I make phone calls and go shopping. Lord Jesus, You walk today and every day to Calvary for me..."
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In contrast, the Bible states that Jesus died once (1 Peter 3:18), arose, and then sat down at the right hand of the Father (1 Peter 3:22). He will come again to judge the living and dead. He is a victorious KING! The Bible never tells us that He dies again and again and again as we go about our everyday tasks. That is a religious notion. But the Bible does tell us that after He ascended into heaven, Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within the believer to empower us to live a victorious life over sin which is on going process and battle throughout our lives. While it is true that only when we come to a point of brokenness before God for our sins that He can then begin or continue His good work in fullness in us, it is also true that we should not and cannot sacrifice Christ anew for our sins in our imaginations outside what Bible has instructed. Just as Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow His blood and sacrifice is sufficient to cover all our sins both past, present, and future. We keep in fellowship with Jesus, who is our only mediator to the Father, when we confess through Him directly and repent.
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It is excellent to consider the cost of the Cross which will keep us refreshed in an attitude of thanksgiving as long as that consideration is biblically based without wandering into additional imaginings and worship of a created Christ of our own imagination. To do otherwise is to wander from the path that God has ordained within the boundaries of His instruction and Word. If we are not worshipping in the manner in which He has set forth, then we are not worshipping in Spirit and in Truth.
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Rating:

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'Contemplating The Cross'

A Divine Revelation of Heaven
by Mary K. Baxter
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After 30 nights of an envisioned Jesus who takes the author, Mary Baxter, to hell, she now proclaims to take a journey into heaven with this same Jesus and writes about extra biblical related experiences and sights there. Strangely this book is a combination of quoted Holy Scripture, fairy tale and myth laced notions, and quoted dialogue between herself and a manifested Jesus or angels all of which point toward her presumed authenticity of being named a chosen one by Jesus. pg 16, The author quotes Jesus as saying, "My child, I will manifest Myself to you to bring people out of darkness into the light. I have chosen you for a purpose." Every believer is given the task in bringing the light of God's Word to the the lost so that He may lead them out of darkness into His Light. Christ need not manifest Himself physically to the believer in order for us to bring His Word out to a dying world. We need only the presence of His Spirit, whom was promised and who lives within the redeemed child of God, and the WRITTEN WORD to guide us.
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Even the apostle Paul, an established biblical Apostle, whom the Bible clearly testifies of having a personal revelation from Christ, clearly hesitates to even boast of his own person for being caught up into the heavens in a possible vision. While Paul proclaims such things heard there should not to be uttered, Baxter has no problem clearly proclaiming she has been chosen through the personal words of Christ and gives no hesitation in describing details of all the many sights and sounds she experienced in her supposed ventures to heaven. And although the Bible states that no one has seen the face (manifested essence ) of God and lived, she declares to not only having seen Jesus but talked and walked with him personally, as well as seeing God upon His throne, and returned to tell us about it in riveting detail complete with the worship of spinning and prancing horses before the throne of God.
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2 Corinthians 12:2-5 (NKJV)
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows-such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows- 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
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It never ceases to amaze me the christian spiritual propaganda that people will rush to embrace. The lack of discernment in the body of Christ has come to an all time high. Just because a book quotes pieces of scripture and talks about Christ does not mean that it from Christ or is authentically of Him. To write a book with the suggestions that experiences were dreams might have much more believable and understandable than to proclaim they truly had came from God Himself. Sadly, the author teeters on the mystic edge with visions invoked through meditation (see New Age).
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pg 111 and 121. "I was just thinking about how His Word proves things over and over. But when a revelation is given to someone, it just sheds more light on it."
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There are no new revelations from God. However, it is true that we may receive through the Holy Spirit, not through a physical manifestation of Christ, an illumination of the existing Biblical revelations given to us through the Apostles. Anything in addition or imagined, that is not included in His Word, is a subjective interpretation.
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Pg 131. "He (Jesus) said to me, "Child, God has allowed you to see these things...Revelations and visions and dreams are given to you to let the on earth know." pg 160"
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The author states,"There are many scriptural examples about God wanting to reveal things to us through His appointed representatives." and pg 161 "God, in His infinite mercy, has seen fit to choose me and show me visions from Himself. When I am in prayer and meditation, seeking God on certain matters, I am allowed to see into mysteries by the Spirit. He reveals certain things to me."
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There is a lot of emphasis in both this book and the author's book on 'A Divine Revelation of Hell' surrounding the importance of God giving her this special consideration for reporting such valuable information as if that alone gave credibility to her writings. And though every true believer longs to see heaven and a glimpse of God Himself, how can we embrace as full truth what is not fully outline in His Word. Just because she's a nice lady who cares about others does not mean we should take her word for it. It is difficult, and often times social spiritual suicide, to refute a personal testimony that is seemingly laced with good intentions. To avoid seemingly unloving, many will embrace her word in addition to God's Truth because it doesn't seem to be doing any harm. Subjective revelation is not God's truth if it does not line up with His Word. The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to 'Teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables' (1 Timothy 1:3-4). To move away from clear and precise teachings found in the Word of God is to move on to our own shaky ground of human imagination leaving ourselves open to all forms of distorted interpretations and false ideas. Who among the self-proclaimed seers should we believe if they their information is not uniformed one with another? Our only conclusion left would be that God is confused and contradicts Himself. And is that is so, then maybe the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ has some unfinished twist that was left out and no one can be absolutely sure they are going to heaven...or hell?
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pg 147. "As you read this book, remember that heaven is a place God has prepared for those who love Him. Someday I am going there."
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Oops. But the book declares that she's already been there and several times. Doesn't the author mean instead that she's going back or returning?
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pg 133. The author states, "This is a true account of an experience that happened to me."
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As a real experience of some sort I have little doubt but through whom is the question. Was it from God or through self? Were these visions, dreams, imaginations, or even delusions? Since much of what the author proclaims is not outlined in the Bible, it should be clearly understood that these so-called visions are of the authors own private interpretations. However the Word of God declares, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." 2 Peter 1:20 The Word of God declares for itselft that it is strictly inspired by God and not man. Nothing that the Word gives us can be laced with self interpretations and additions and still remain as His Truth. It therefore becomes another truth, if that were possible to have another truth, and in addition another Jesus encountered. It is greatly important to consider that with more wanderings from the absolutely given information of the scriptures, the more possibility there is to wander off into heresy and serious error. And although the author may mean well in her attempt to bring some sort of salvation message, she is treading on dangerous ground to take such literary liberties outside the Word of God and proclaim her experiences are directly given by revelation of Jesus Christ.
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pg 164 "The Spirit of the Lord spoke to me. He said to me in a a clear way: "Child, when prayer time comes for the people, I want to heal certain physical problems. I want this to be a sign in your ministry that the testimony of hell is true. I have give My word that I will give signs and wonders and work miracles as the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is preached."
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A believer will know if a testimony is true when it lines up with the Word of God and not through signs, wonders, and miracles all of which can and have been counterfeited by the enemy or faked through tv evangelist shaman.
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Craig Branch, a well known Christian apologist and counter cult expert states:
"And finally, the Christian must not neglect to consider what are the implications for individual Christians, and for the Body of Christ. Christians should ask what is going wrong in the culture when there is rampant interest in, and gullibility toward, occult and metaphysical teaching and phenomena." (Article: Conversations with the Counterfeit/ http://www.watchman.org/na/conversationswithgod.htm )
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From the Article 'What is Christian Gnosticism?' (http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-gnosticism.html):
"Gnosticism is linked to much New Age heresy. It is based on a mystical, intuitive, subjective, inward, emotional approach to truth which isn't new at all....He still calls God and the Bible into question and catches in his web those who are either naive and scripturally uninformed or who are seeking some personal revelation to make them feel special, unique, and superior to others. But extra-biblical revelations always lead to error. Let us follow the Apostle Paul who said to "Test everything. Hold on to the good"(1 Thessalonians 5:21) and this we do by comparing everything to the Word of God, the only Truth."
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Subjectivity and feelings are dangerous ground for any true believer to tread especially when proclaiming to speak for God. Many are led astray through personal revelation, which is common in the church today, rather than general revelation which has already been given by God through His Apostles and recorded in the Bible. Christianity asserts that the Bible is the one source of Truth. It is never to be superseded or combined with man's thoughts, ideas, writings, or visions. The Apostle John encourages and instructs the believer to test the spirits to see whether they are of God or from another source.
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Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
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Rating:

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'A Divine Revelation of Heaven'

A Divine Revelation of Hell
by Mary K. Baxter
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Besides the fact that this book seems poorly written, it's laced with error and bazaar imaginative visions that are not biblically founded. The author's only method of believing the visiting Jesus was the possible biblical Jesus was by what she felt. Emotions are unreliable as sinking sand. And somehow the author is wondrously able to stand in the presence of her envisioned Jesus where as the Apostle John, who physically walked with Christ, and who wrote by Divine inspiration the Book of Revelation, could not stand before Him but rather fell at His feet as if dead. I have no doubt that she had these experiences but through whom is the question. Her foundation reference for this writing is through visions, dreams, and experience all of which cannot be refuted because they are subjective and personally received. The readers is left to take her word for it all.
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Besides a few quoted Scriptures, the book is highly contrary to what the Word teaches. Is there a hell? Yes. Is it as she claims? The Bible speaks otherwise at several points. Anyone with half a spiritually discerning spirit will know at first reading there is something greatly amiss with her writings. Mary Baxter's book is given credit for turning hearts around where as the Bible seems to have now taken a seat for convicting Truth.
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Pg174, "What you are about to read will frighten you. I pray it will frighten you enough to make you a believer."
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Fear may change minds but it will never, ever change our hearts nor make us believers. Only through the gift of Faith, that the Father gives us, can we believe on His Son's sacrifice unto Life.
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Pg 198, "Believe this report and live."
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No human testimony alone can bring Life. Only the written Word and Christ Himself have such power. Any guarantee of a life turning around after reading this book is as weak as Rick Warren's claims of a 40 days reading transformation from his works. This writing is woven with much focus on self importance and charismatic subjective interpretation both of which concern me greatly when individuals hold this writing in such exalted esteem with its additions to what the Word instructs us concerning hell. We cannot 'add to' God's already given revelation and call it His Truth without having ventured in audaciously prideful territory.
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Although I have no doubt of the author's possible heart felt concern for people to be saved through Jesus Christ as Savior, I do however question whether the author understands that by writing this book she has unwittingly expressed that Holy Scripture, all of which is God breathed, is ineffective in its ability to communicate a thorough warning by its established authority alone.
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Rating:

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'A Divine Revelation of Hell'

Who Are You to Judge?
Learning to Ditinguish Between Truths, Half-Truths, and Lies
by Erwin W. Lutzer
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The ability to recognize truth and distinguish it from error is contrary to the spirit of our age. Secular values have slowly crept in to corrode the Chrisitan mind set much like a fire gradually turned up under a frog in a pot of water which leads to a blind acceptance of death through accepting subtly changed surroundings as the norm. Likewise, we hardly notice these compromises while a slumbering conscious accepts them as ways that seem right to us. When doctrinal differences arise, we opt to tolerate error rather than appear unloving by offering a challenge toward Truth.
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(pg 10) "In our day, we have drifted to the opposite extreme. Love has replaced truth, and as for unity, it is more important than any doctrine-- including the gospel. Better to tolerate heresy, the argument goes, than to risk looking unloving to the world. Thus, under the banner of unity, almost any doctrinal deviations tolerated..."
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(pg 13) "We have also bought into its tolerance, its insistence that we should never challenge the private beliefs of individual. In the face of cultural pressures, we have found ourselves confused, hesitant to act, unable to give a loving but convincing witness to the world."
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(pg 16) "Many believe that we have no right to judge anyone's lifestyle or beliefs. Our commitment to radical individualism and the privatization of faith has made us willing to 'live and let live' without discussion, evaluation, or rebuke. We have lost the ability to judge the world because we have lost the ability to judge ourselves. We affirm certain beliefs and then act as if they don't matter."
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Lutzer argues misguided tolerance plagues the Christian church today. I would agree that it's frustrating to witness among believers the sentimental notion that we no longer have the right to challenge secular trends and decisions, in or out of the church. In his book, the author, desires to instruct the believer in how to lovingly take up the task of warning, rebuking, and instructing one another with the hope that we might reclaim precious ground that has been lost. He says that few are willing to sound the alarm; fewer yet are willing to identify the false prophets that abound.
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(pg 28)"The fact remains that we have the responsibility of making judgments. We are to represent Christ in an age that pays Him lip service but endears its heart to other lovers."
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(pg 29) "Since He (Jesus) prayed for unity, some people have understood His words to mean that unity must supersede truth. They have argued that since doctrine divides, it should be minimized for the greater good of reaching the world."
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Hence the seeker sensitive movement for reaching the world by stroking them with pleasantries instead of pointing them to the Cross and a need for a Savior. There is a growing refusal to speak out against error in the body in order to obtain or secure a false sense of harmony or unity.
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Purposes of His writing:
1. To redraw some blurred lines between the church and the world.
2. To shed some light on neglected topics of discernment.
3. How to lovingly speak truth to this generation.
4. How to model discernment and jealously guard the truth.
5. To understand our rights and responsibilities as believers in judging according to God's standard and method.
6. To learn to judge, or discern, in humility and not in superiority, through
first examining oneself before examining another.
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(pg42) "Keep in mind that the word judge means to exercise discernment; at the other times it can mean to condemn; and sometimes both ideas are present. But clearly Jesus is not teaching that all judging is wrong. Judging, or discernment, lies at the heart of Christian living."
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We are commanded to critique doctrine, sinful attitudes, legalism, and rotten fruits, methods and lifestyle. However, we are not qualified to judge the secrets motives of the soul because only God sees to the heart of the matter. Loving the sinner and hating the sin can and must be done. Although we can't know the motives of another, we shouldn't allow that to hinder our own evaluation of inner motives before God.
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(pg 52) But let this not deter us from making necessary biblical judgment in a day when discernment is vilified as the enemy of love. We might not agree on the details, but the Bible is certainly clear enough to help us stay within divinely ordered parameters. Nor should we back away from discernment, even though we know that only God knows all the facts.
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(pg 55) Unless we are able to judge doctrine, lifestyles, and entertainment; unless we are able to distinguish between outer appearances and inner character, we just might miss the purpose for which God placed us on this earth. We might end up accepting a stone for bread and a snake for a fish.
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(pg 55) Discernment, determines our destiny.
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The Holy Living line drawn between the church and the world used to be so evident that the separation was without question but now we see the worldly mind set creeping in to 'blur' the lines, as the author points out. Christian witnesses cannot become as the world to win the world. We must become like Christ and then when lifting Him, He will draw all people to Himself.
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Rating:

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'Who Are You to Judge?'

The DaVinci Code
by Dan Brown
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Taking place in Paris and London, this fast pace work of detailed murder suspense fiction suggests hidden codes incorporated within the works of Leonardo Da Vinci may unravel the mystery surrounding the secret life and identity of Jesus Christ that the Catholic Church would rather keep hidden. Racing all over hill and dale to search for meaning behind a final message, Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor, along with Sophie Neveu, a cryptographer and the secret estranged granddaughter of the murder victim, avoid the law and uncover clues that lead them to the most guarded farce, er, I mean, secret in history.
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Among the uncovered theories they find, revealed is Jesus supposedly married to Mary Magdalene who bore His child. Evidence of their marriage is said to be found in the Gnostic gospels. She was of royal blood, of the tribe of Benjamin. Then escaping to France, she became the root of the Merovingian royal family. From the desire to eliminate the 'Sacred Feminine' goddess aspect of early Christianity, these theories further declare Mary Magdalene was originally to head the church but that Peter and the other disciples chauvinistically suppressed evidence in order to take over contrary to the wishes of Jesus.
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If that isn't bazaar enough, more accusations encompass the Catholic Church, along with the whole of Christianity, having worked together to maintain a 2000 year cover up that they had crowned Jesus as God. A secret group, known as Priory of Sion, founded in 1099, was formed solely to protect the so-called secret identity that Jesus Christ was merely a man. Sir Isaac Newton and Leonardo Da Vinci were Grand Masters in this group. The Jesus of the Da Vinci Code novel has been reduced to the role of a man instead of celebrated as mankind's Savior.
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But wait, it gets better!! In 1099, the Holy Grail documents, or the Sangreal, were founded when the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem. The documents were said to reveal the Holy Grail was not a chalice cup at the last Supper but rather it was symbolic of Mary Magdalene herself, having preserved the royal blood line of Christ through their child before He went to the cross. Succeeding knights founded an organization known as the Knights Templar. In exchange for continued guarding of this secret, they were given unlimited power by the Popes. These papers have escaped being destroyed and the location of them is only known by the Priory of Sion. Oh how the plot does thicken!
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The Da Vinci Code has caused many to rethink their whole concept of Christianity based on these thin conspiracy theories, misquoted facts, and other hog washes. But if we understand where the author is coming from, we'll find within his acknowledgements page, he gives mention of thanks to the Gnostic Society Library. Dating back as early from the 2nd and 3rd century, Gnostics writings view Christianity as having stole Jesus from them. Their Gnostic Gospels reject the Genesis account of creation while making the Creator God out to be an evil fool and the lesser of their two Gods. Their additional writings include secret gospels, poems, myths, mysticism and numerous contradictions of both Old and New Testament scriptures. And while these Gnostic Gospels often quote the Apostles writings by the weaving of them within their false teachings, the Apostles never quote the Gnostics. A Christian, saved by grace and washed in the blood, would never promote material that would hinder the glory of Jesus Christ. That form of defacing the precious, Holy name of Christ is clearly the work of Satan.
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Strange and Far Fetched Notions in Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper

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A: There is a knife coming directly out of Judas' back, twisted so as if to hide it. There is Andrew, looking with horror, with his hands straight up. This painting was a 4 year work of art with every thing put into a deliberate design and execution. This hand and knife were not some random accident.
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B: The figure reputed to be Mary Magdalene is actually the beloved disciple John, who is usually depicted young and clean-shaven. Brown, the author of The Da Vinci Code, declares that this is Mary and her presence in the painting represents the sacred feminine and the goddess. The author explains further that we see Peter, again, with a chopping motion at Mary's neck symbolizing a threat. Others debate that it's John and the hand is resting, or a sign of affection, at his shoulder rather than giving a chopping motion. Who knows!
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C: In this portion of the painting, Brown, the author of The Da Vinci Code, writes Da Vinci is telling us that the figure always identified as John the Evangelist is really Mary Magdalene, and that these two figures together (Jesus and Mary) form an "M," and that, because there is no grail in the picture, Da Vinci is telling us the "grail" is the sacred feminine of Mary Magdalene.
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With all this aside, historians agreed that the traditional Florentine depictions of the Last Supper stress the betrayal and sacrifice rather than the sacrament of communion. Furthermore, John, not Mary, sitting to the right of Jesus, may look effeminate but such a depiction was consistent with other portraits of him during the Da Vinci era. It should also be added that the figure has no hint of breasts.
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The Bible never states Jesus ever being married neither does it ever mention that He had intimate relationship with a woman outside of marriage as if to produce a heir. To do so would be contrary to biblical teachings against fornication which would cast Him ineligible as the sinless Lamb of God offered as the final sacrifice for the sins of the world. Jesus didn't marry while on earth because He was already betrothed. His bride is to be the body of Christ, which is the Church.
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Ephesians 5:25-27 (KJV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish"
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2Cor 11:2 "...I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."
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Rom 7:4...."ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead..."
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Rating:

'The Davinci Code'