Sola Sisters

Friday, February 24, 2012

Religion and Its Victims

Additional Resources

Contrast the Above Biblical Message to T.D. Jakes' $hakedown Me$$age Here

Grace To You - Recent Messages

Grace To You - Blog

If Your Pastor Ever Does A Video Like This (Or You Can Imagine That He Might Do a Video Like This), Grab Your Kids and Run For The Door

Posted by Christine Pack

Pastor Ed Young: "Not that we become fashion crazy, but people definitely look at what people wear, and you are what you wear, and who are you wearing? Obviously, we're clothed in Christ, but we should do the best with what we have. (Unbuttoning shirt) You know, I have worn today Spanx, that's right, Spanx for men, and (continuing to unbutton shirt) let me show them to you. They're really cool, they're a kind of uh, compression, and they keep everything in, those muffin tops, et cetra. Yeah guys, we even wear them. I've only worn them twice, and they're good, but when you sit down, it does kind of (pantomimes sitting motion and grimaces) give you, it kind of compresses, and you have a lot of gas."

Additional Resources

Ed Young, to his congregation: "Routing number and account number...write that down"

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Pyromaniacs...A Recommended Resource

Article by Christine Pack and Cathy Mathews

Just a short post to encourage our readers to check out the very excellent Pyromaniacs blog (a.k.a., Team Pyro). For any of our readers who aren't familiar with Pyromaniacs, Team Pyro is a blog that features posts on a wide array of issues in today's church. They have been an invaluable resource to us as well as to many Christians seeking to grow in discernment.

Team Pyro was founded by Phil Johnson, who serves as executive director of the media ministry of Grace To You. In addition to Phil Johnson's articles, Pyromaniacs also features posts by writers Frank Turk and Dan Phillips, author of God's Wisdom in Proverbs and the newly released The World-Tilting Gospel (book review on this to be forthcoming).

Many thanks also to Pyromaniacs for recently adding Sola Sisters to their blog roll.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Demystifying Symbols

Article by Marcia Montenegro (Christians Answers For The New Age)
Expanded and Adapted from Marcia’s book, SpellBound: The Paranormal Seduction of Today’s Kids

NOTE: I wrote the following post partly as a reaction to the over-reaction to Madonna's half-time show at the 2012 Super Bowl. Some of the stuff I read went overboard trying to link in all kinds of evil stuff due to her costume, which I'm sure she wore just because she's a diva and wanted to outdo anyone else who's done a half-time show. She probably copied some of it from previous designs and wanted to look outrageous, but that does not mean we should take it seriously. ~Marcia Montenegro

Symbols are sometimes viewed by Christians as evil in and of themselves, but a symbol is just that – a symbol. A symbol represents something and cannot in itself be evil. Also, it is often the case that an occult meaning is read into an innocent design. Without proper context or further information, it is wise not to declare symbols as representative of anything evil or occultic.

Rather, Christians should be prudent and controlled in their approach to symbols; such a posture is more in keeping with a Christlike character than are alarm or panic. The following points on symbols may be helpful.

Symbols fluctuate in their use and meaning

The meaning of symbols depends on the culture and time in which they exist, and on the meaning ascribed to them by the group using the symbol. The backgrounds of many symbols are murky and disputed, and often the use of a symbol changes or crosses over from one culture or belief to another.

For example, the pentagram or pentacle, which is widely used by witches/Wiccans today once represented the five wounds of Christ.

The swastika of Nazism comes from many ancient cultures, including Hindu beliefs, and stood for various things—the motion of the sun through the sky, the four directions, the sun’s rays, and so on. No one is sure of its true origins.

Animals have been used as symbols in many ways. The phoenix, stag, and unicorn have all been used as symbols in the occult practice of alchemy, and also became Christian symbols. It is impossible to say, for example, that the unicorn or the phoenix always symbolizes the same thing. Symbols must be taken in context of time, culture, and use.

There is disagreement on the occultic nature of some symbols as well as their meaning

For example, the ankh was depicted in Egypt with gods and goddesses and was thought to represent immortal life and the union of male and female. Today it is used by those in the New Age and Witchcraft and in the vampire subculture. Its original meaning may not be known, and even now it might have different meanings depending on the beliefs of those who use it.

Religious symbols can be used by any culture and are sometimes misinterpreted by those cultures

The yin-yang black and white symbol comes from the Chinese religion of Taoism and signifies the Taoist views on the two opposing but complementary forces of the universe, from which everything is composed. But this symbol is often misused in the Western culture to represent balance or harmony.

The original meaning of any symbol may or may not be retained. Therefore, it is wise to be careful with any symbol and not assume anything without first looking at the history, cultural context, and present use of that symbol.

Symbols are used by some in pop culture in order to be provocative

Many performers wear jewelry with certain symbols or singers may place symbols on their album covers. Sometimes this reflects their true beliefs. But many times, they do this is to be provocative, merely indicating a rebellious attitude toward society, which is typical of many artists and performers. Before we label any of these people, more information is needed about their beliefs and philosophy. It is better to investigate than to over-react without substantiation.

Performers will often use symbols or costume that do not necessarily indicate their true beliefs, but are merely expressing a grandiose and flamboyant persona.

A symbol by itself is merely a symbol

What matters is what it signifies and how it is being interpreted in the present culture. A five-pointed star, a pentacle, is merely a geometric shape and is not inherently evil or dangerous. It is one of many geometric shapes created by God. This shape is also used for stars or snowflakes as Christmas decor or even a sheriff’s badge. When it is a snowflake or star or sheriff’s badge, however, it is clearly different from the pentacles worn as jewelry by a Wiccan.

Since most symbols originated in the pagan world, then most symbols will have a history of pagan associations. There are a limited number of possible shapes and geometric figures; therefore, many times innocent logos or designs are unfairly linked with occult or pagan systems or beliefs.

Being wise about symbols

In no way am I saying that symbols are meaningless or that it’s okay for a Christian to wear an identifiable non-Christian symbol like a pentagram or Yin-Yang emblem. On the other hand, let us keep our heads and not misinterpret certain shapes or designs.

What is more significant is how and where a symbol is being used, and if it has a meaning in the present time and culture. Unless it is widely recognized, a symbol does not have much meaning. And if it is a symbol being used now by occult or non-Christian groups, then we need to focus on the message or content of beliefs represented by the symbol.

Additional Resources

Myths about Christmas and Easter: A Critique of Alexander Hislop (Marcia Montenegro)

Sola Sisters Facebook discussion re: symbols - Sept 30, 2013

Sola Sisters Facebook discussion re: symbols, freemasonry - Oct 4, 2013

Sola Sisters Facebook discussion re: symbols,conspiracy theories - Dec 2, 2013

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

False Teachings About Hearing Audible Words From God Taking Even Deeper Root in Today's Church

Article by Amanda Bowers (Hears His Voice blog)

I received the following comment from a reader on my recent Note of Repentance:

"At the Passion 2012 conference, Beth Moore, John Piper, Louie Giglio and company taught/led an entire sports arena (45,000 college aged students) in (attempting to 'hear' God's voice). My son's friends in attendance of this conference told of a young girl standing outside the arena crying her eyes out because she had not heard the audible voice of God as they had instructed. Others tried to comfort her but were also distraught at not hearing a thing.

This is what Louie Giglio announced during a session that had them upset:

“How many of you heard the voice of God speak specifically, clearly, directly, and personally, to you? Can you just put a hand up? I’d like you to share it. Can you put a hand up for a minute?

Just want you to look around; that’s people saying, “God Almighty (pause) the Maker of heaven (pause) the one Who’s sitting on the only throne (pause) that’s not under threat (long pause, audience cheers)—He spoke to me. He spoke to me.”

“God spoke to me.” (long pause) Don’t let the voice of the darkness, tell you that you are not (pause) worth (pause) that God would not speak to you. (pause) Don’t let him tell you, you don’t matter. (pause) God spoke to you.”

They felt they must not be "good enough Christians" for God to speak to them. Thank you for warning others of this heresy. These children are diligently opening themselves to a potentially demonic spirit to hear God's audible voice. Please pray for them and for all the others who raised their hands..."

Pietism

The issue at hand with the current push to "hear God speak" outside of His already revealed, complete, and written Word is that it creates confusion, hurt, and sets up a system of pietism within the body of Christ. This idea that Christians can and should hear "audible words from God" is a dangerous teaching that has become deeply rooted in evangelicalism. And unfortunately, it is through books like Experiencing God and Hearing God's Voice, authored by widely respected Southern Baptist pastor Henry Blackaby, that these false and dangerous teachings have entered into the church. Please understand this is precisely why I am repenting from endorsing the teachings of Beth Moore and Henry Blackaby. As well intentioned as they might be, they are leading people down a dangerous path of subjectivity and confusion. When in fact, in the gospel of Luke we read:

"Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught." (Luke 1: 1-2, my emphasis)

Clearly, Luke is telling Theophilus, it seemed good to him, just as the patriarchs wrote down the eyewitness accounts of the events from the beginning of time, and just as they were ministers of the word and delivered them to the Israelites, that he also desired to write down the things they witnessed about Christ in an orderly account. Why? So that Theophilus may have certainty concerning the things that he was taught. Doesn't it seem to you, that God has done a most gracious thing in giving us the Holy Scriptures? Giving us a more sure account of His progressive revelation that was final and complete in His Son, Jesus Christ, as it plainly states in Hebrews 1:1-2:

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." (my emphasis)

Peter admonishes us to understand that the things they have written are not mere men's thoughts or cleverly devised fables when he sates:

"And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:19-21

This begs the question, if the prophecies of Scripture that the apostles wrote and spoke about were not "produced by the will of man" but were spoken "from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit", what exactly is it that we are listening for from God today? Are we listening for prophecy? If so, are we claiming to be on the same ground as the apostles and are these prophecies occurring as we are carried along by the Spirit? Shouldn't someone be writing them down in the back of their Bibles? Wouldn't God want the entire body of Christ to know when He speaks? Are there things missing from the Word that we must have in order to live a godly life? The Scriptures answer that question too:

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

More specifically, I want to know how Mr. Giglio, et al. would counsel this young lady and her friends? What are your answers to her distraught feeling that she is, in fact, not worthy of hearing God's voice? What Biblical ground and by what authority do you make the claims to these young people that God will speak to them in such a fashion?

Here is what Mr. Blackaby's says to those who do not hear God's voice:

"There is nothing more important in life than understanding when God is speaking to you. If you are disoriented to God's voice, your life is dangerously vulnerable. The Bible indicates conclusively that God does speak to people and that he does guide them to his will. The problem of not hearing from God never lies with God. He does communicate his will. It is not a matter of us searching in vain for God's hidden will. He readily reveals it to those who show themselves obedient to do it. If you do not hear God's voice, could it be your heart is not ready to respond to what he says? Are you clinging to sin or holding out against what you already know of his will? No matter what the reason for the silence, there is a remedy: repent and return to God. Allow God to soften your heart so you are ready to hear his voice and to respond in obedience. Continue seeking and listening until you have heard him speak to you in his unmistakable voice. When he does, it will change your life." Henry T. Blackaby; Richard Blackaby. Hearing God's Voice (Kindle Locations 3100-3104). Kindle Edition, (my emphasis)

Mr. Blackaby, the question one has to ask is this: does this mean that you are sinless? Does this now mean that since you are regularly and actively hearing God speak, you have special access to God that His other children don't have because of sin in their life? I understand that Scripture does teach that sin and rebellion will bring chastisement to God's children. We all understand that. Scripture says that God doesn't hear our prayers when we sin and rebel, but where does it "indicate conclusively" that we won't "hear God speak"? A true child of God abhors sin in their life and will respond under the heavy burden of conviction and chastisement. Torturing God's little ones by teaching them that if they aren't "hearing Gods voice" it is because their "heart is not ready to respond" and that they need to "repent and return to God" is not Biblical.

Just to be clear that Mr. Blackaby is not talking only about the illumination of the Word by the Spirit of God, but is actually encouraging us that if we aren't actually hearing God's voice speaking to us, then it is perhaps because we are in sin and need to repent, read what he says in response to the following question:

Question: "When you talk about "hearing from God," I picture God speaking in an audible voice. Does that ever happen?

Answer: When we talk about God speaking in this book, we are referring to any way God communicates with people. Neither of us has ever heard God speak audibly. However, God has clearly communicated his will to us many, many times. God is sovereign. He can choose to speak to us any way he chooses, and that includes speaking audibly. However, God also relates to us in ways that build our faith. If God spoke out loud every time he wanted our attention, we would not need to concentrate on him, nor would we require faith. Just as we are forced to listen carefully when someone speaks softly, so by God speaking to us in many ways, we are forced to pay close attention to what he is communicating. People are usually fascinated by the spectacular. They seek the miraculous. We ought not to seek the spectacular when we listen to God. Rather, we should be pleased that God communicates with us in any way he chooses'.Keep your heart open to all the ways God wants to communicate with you.

Henry T. Blackaby; Richard Blackaby. Hearing God's Voice (Kindle Locations 3044-3050). Kindle Edition (my emphasis).

Let me clarify that, while I agree with Mr. Blackaby that God is sovereign and He can choose to speak to us "any way he chooses," it is clear from His Word that in these latter days He has chosen to reveal Himself through the written Word:

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4

I'm all for rightly dividing the Word of truth and calling men to repent and receive the grace of God for forgiveness of sins. That is a call that will "change your life." There is an inner call to repentance that all God's children hear when the Word of God is rightly preached, but that call is mediated through the preaching and teaching of the Word and it is conviction of sin and the revealing of Christ in a manner that opens the eyes of the blind to understand the Word of truth. This is a miracle of the Spirit. God does mediate His truth to us via the teaching and preaching and study of His Word and we who "hear His voice" understand and respond to His Word.

"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?' So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10: 16-17

If that were all that is being taught here, then I could understand it, but it is not. This is going beyond the understanding of Biblical truth and the application of it to our lives. This is the seeking of revelations for specific directions to our lives. This is an encouragement to empty and/or quiet (be still) your mind in order to receive or hear "His voice." God gives us wisdom via the study of His Word and He gives us guidelines and principles and He does lead us providentially, but He is not a magic eight ball that we can ask a question, shake, and get an answer if we are "still" and "listen" in "silence."

Below is the Passion 2012 clip where Louie Giglio is exhorting the audience to "listen" for God's voice:

(NOTE: The video above has been pulled from YouTube, but if you click this link to an article by Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries and go to the last video in the post, you will see the exercise in which Louie Giglio exhorted the crowd to hear audible words from God.)

And in the clip below, Todd Friel of Wretched Radio does an excellent job helping us better understand why this whole event was, at best, a big confusing mess, and at worst, flat out wrong! I will note, that he references that Desiring God ministries did have an article with instructions on the practice of Lectio Divina at the Desiring God website, but that article has since been removed and you can read the reason why by going here.

Additional Resources

A Note of Repentance For Those To Whom I Taught or Endorsed Henry Blackaby and Beth Moore

Hello, My Name Is Amanda, and I Was a False Teacher

How Pietism Deceives Christians (The Errors of Elitist Teachings in the Church)

We're Really Not Out To "Get" John Piper and Beth Moore

John Piper Encouraging Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina and "Hearing God's Voice"

John Piper's Bethlehem Baptist Church Endorsing Books by Contemplative Spirituality Mystics Dallas Willard and Richard Foster

Beth Moore and John Piper Lead "Lectio Divina Lite" Prayer at Passion 2012 Conference

Just Do Something: How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Open Doors, Random Bible Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, etc. - by Kevin DeYoung

Just Do Something - by Kevin DeYoung (audio)

On John Piper and Lectio Divina

Biblical Silence vs. Mystical Silence

Secular Interview About What Mysticism Is - BBC Radio Program

What Is Mysticism? (Sola Sisters Article)

What Is Mysticism? (3-Part Series by Dr. Gary Gilley) - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5

Testimony of a Former Mystic

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

"People don’t often go heretical all at once....."

Posted by Christine Pack

“People don’t often go heretical all at once. It is gradual. And they do not do so intentionally most of the time. They slip into it through shoddiness and laziness in handling the word of truth.… All it takes to start the road to heresy is a craving for something new and different, a flashy new idea, along with a little laziness or carelessness or lack of precision in handling the truth of God. All around us today are startling reminders of doctrinal slippage and outright failure. In case after case someone who should have known the truth of God better failed in upholding that truth.”

- Robert Thomas, Precision as God’s Will for My Life
Pamphlet, The Master’s Seminary, 1989.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

An Open Letter of Repentance To All Whom I Have Taught or Endorsed The Teachings of Henry Blackaby or Beth Moore

Article by Amanda Bowers (Hears His Voice blog)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. James 3:1

Dear Sisters in Christ,

It is with regret and repentance in my heart that I am sending this letter to you. As you know over the past four years I participated in leading and facilitating several Bible studies including specifically authors Beth Moore and Henry Blackaby. This was a great privilege and opportunity, and it was something I enjoyed greatly as I fellowshipped with each of you desired to grow together in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ by the study of His Word.

However, as it has pleased our Lord to reveal to me over the past six months and while I never intended to ever misuse the Word or take it out of context in any way so as to mislead or harm anyone, and while I am not saying that was the intent of the above teachers I mentioned, I have come to realize that my lack of full understanding of God’s Word, in particular with regard to the closure of the Canon of Scripture and also my irresponsibility in not fully evaluating the above teachers before agreeing to promote or endorse them by leading studies, it is quite possible that I have misled some of you. For this I sincerely ask your forgiveness and I repent. I have stepped down from teaching at this time as I desire to not take lightly the great privilege and honor it is to teach the Word of God and I recognize that I have much more to learn.

Now as to specifics for what I am referring to, it has come to my knowledge that the above teachers, while I have no intention of judging their hearts or motives, have misused God’s Word and/or aligned themselves up with others who have done so.

Regarding Beth Moore, through a series of circumstances this summer (you can read about it here), I became acquainted with a movement known as, “Spiritual Formation” and in this movement in particular I became aware of a type of prayer being promoted known as “Contemplative Prayer” (also goes by the title “listening prayer” and “centering prayer” also may hear the term “God’s whispers” or listening for that “still small voice”) This type of prayer is touted as being handed down to us by what are known as the “Desert Fathers” which is used to describe many of the monks and priests of the first centuries. While on the surface this prayer seems to be about contemplating our Lord as we pray which would be Biblical, it is in fact a prayer that endorses the notion that in order to really “connect with God’ one must “empty or quiet their minds of all thought” in order to “hear God speak to us”. Many of the proponents of Contemplative prayer go so far as to say that we should learn from those who practice this type of prayer in the eastern religions, such as Hindus and Zen Buddhists. Well, sadly, NO WHERE in Scripture are we ever taught to “empty our minds”. Sure, we are told to “Be still and know that I am God” which is the most popular verse of Scripture used to endorse this prayer, a careful study of Psalm 46:10 reveals that the psalmist is referring to our anxiety and not being anxious about our lives as God is in charge. This passage is not an instruction in prayer at all. In fact, if we study scripture we know that Jesus told us numerous times to be watchful in prayer because we have an enemy that seeks to destroy us. We are told to “renew our minds” by the Word of God, not to empty them.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. Luke 12:37

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

One of the leading proponents of Contemplative prayer is a man named Richard Foster. The most dangerous aspect of this teaching and the movement known as “Spiritual Formation” is that there is a blurring of lines between Christianity and other religions. In fact, Mr. Foster, makes no apologies on his ministry website, Renovare, he states the following:

“Renovaré is a nonprofit Christian organization headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, and active worldwide. We seek to resource, fuel, model, and advocate more intentional living and spiritual formation among Christians and those wanting a deeper connection with God. A foundational presence in the spiritual formation movement for over 20 years, Renovaré is Christian in commitment, ecumenical in breadth, and international in scope.

In his very popular book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster describes an experience of “contemplative prayer” in this way:

“In your imagination allow your spiritual body, shining with light, to rise out of your physical body. Look back so that you can see yourself lying in the grass and reassure your body that you will return momentarily. Imagine your spiritual self, alive and vibrant, rising up through the clouds and into the stratosphere. . . Go deeper and deeper into outer space until there is nothing except the warm presence of the eternal Creator. Rest in His presence. Listen quietly, anticipating the unanticipated. Note carefully any instruction given. With time and experience you will be able to distinguish readily between mere human thought that may bubble up to the conscious mind and the True Spirit which inwardly moves upon the heart. (Foster: 27, 28)”

Sisters, that is NOT biblical prayer! That is called Astral Projection by the New Age movement.
I hope you notice right away that no one but Christians who have been born again by the Spirit can have a “deeper connection with God”. Mr. Foster is endorsing that ANYONE who desires a deeper connection with God can achieve this connection practicing the many “spiritual disciplines” he endorses which include “contemplative prayer” and other extra biblical means.

What does this have to do with Beth Moore? Ms. Moore participated in and endorsed contemplative prayer with Richard Foster in a 2006 video called “Be Still,” (and yes, I viewed it myself). She unashamedly endorsed contemplative prayer as a means by which we can hear God in our lives and have a deeper connection to God. She also quotes other contemplatives in many of her studies (including one I taught some of you called, “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things”), including Roman Catholic mystics Basil Pennington and Brennan Manning.

Here are some online references that speak more about Beth’s participation and endorsement in this unbiblical form of prayer.

A Word on Beth Moore

Breaking Free From Beth Moore

A Beth Moore Exposé

And here are articles explaining the dangers of mysticism, and why mysticism is unbiblical:

What Is Mysticism?

Are You Bowing To the Golden Calf of Mysticism?

I also highly recommend this video done by former Roman Catholic Priest Richard Bennett who was born again years ago and is warning people about this very type of teaching.

I can provide you much more evidence that Richard Foster who is a Quaker and sadly he is widely accepted as offering Christians much to learn regarding prayer, is not handling the Word of God correctly and in fact, promotes that ANYONE desiring a closer relationship with God can have it. ANYONE: regardless if they are Christian or not. (In fact, I began writing a blog to share what God has shown me over the past few months, and you are welcome to go there for more information.)

There is a dangerous movement coming into many evangelical churches and if I were to write to you all that I have learned this past six months, this letter would be even longer. But I am happy to share more with any of you who desire to know and I sincerely hope you will at least consider giving an ear to what I have to say as one who loves the Lord and loves you as my sisters. You can email me at jcdisciple07@gmail.com. I will send you as much material as you want documenting my concerns over Richard Foster and the endorsement of him by Beth Moore and others in the evangelical world. And again, I sincerely ask your forgiveness for my not being more cautious myself as to who I endorse or align myself with in teaching. We are told in the Word several times that when false teachers, as Foster is one, are discovered we are not to promote them, but to flee from their teaching and expose them. By endorsing him and being in his video, Beth Moore is lending a full endorsement to him.

Just so you know, I did contact Living Proof Ministries with my concerns, but received no reply. Several others online have indicated that she has been contacted and either has not contacted them back or has maintained that she stands behind her promotion and participation in the Be Still video of 2006.

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Romans 16:17-18, my emphasis

I want to also thank a few of you who, during the time that I was leading “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things,” were alert that something wasn’t quite right and came to me about Beth Moore and her teachings. At that time my discernment skills were not as sharp as they should have been, but your questioning planted a seed that the Lord later used to deliver me from her bad teaching and I hope now to set that straight for you and any others who may have been led astray by me. Again, I am truly sorry.

Now, as to Mr. Blackaby, my concern with him is similar but hinges more on the endorsement that God is still speaking to us and giving us revelations today. Let me be clear here that, while I do not disagree that the Holy Spirit guides us by conviction of sin, bringing to our remembrance passages of Scripture that we have studied, and pointing always to Jesus, I do not believe that the prophetic gifts and visions are still occurring today, Scripture and church history has taught and confirmed via numerous trials over various heresies that these gifts were poured out during the days of the Apostles to verify they were from God and for the writing down of the canon of Scripture, but as the canon was closed, these charismatic gifts ceased. Again we are not taught in scripture to sit in silence and empty our minds in an attempt to “listen to God”

In his book, Hearing God’s Voice, Mr. Blackaby even states this,

“There is nothing more important in life than understanding when God is speaking to you. If you are disoriented to God’s voice, your life is dangerously vulnerable. The Bible indicates conclusively that God does speak to people and that he does guide them in his will. The problem of not hearing from God never lies with God. He does communicate his will. It is not a matter of us searching in vain for God’s hidden will. He readily reveals it to those who show themselves obedient to do it. If you do not hear God’s voice, could it be your heart is not ready to respond to what he says?”

This is pretty typical of Blackaby’s teaching. Indicating that if you don’t “hear God speaking to you” it is a problem with you and probably because you are sinning or unwilling to obey. Well, what if you have searched and confessed every sin you know to do so, and still don’t “hear” God? Who of us is ever completely free from sin? Why do we continue to seek to “hear God” when He has already given us a written revelation for our lives.

It was this teaching that tormented my soul, kept me paralyzed as to how to serve God many times, and caused a class system in thinking that some Christians are just more “holy” than others. Friends, this is simply NOT TRUE. Your heavenly Father loves You dearly and He has given you a closed cannon of Scripture to study and obey. We pray to God using words as He instructed in the Lord’s Prayer, then by the Holy Spirit, does answer our prayers and providentially does guide us, but He uses the Word to do so and He never instructs us that if we aren’t “hearing Him speak” it is because we aren’t righteous enough or haven’t learned the proper techniques to sit in silence and “hear Him”.

Again, I reiterate, I am not at all saying that Ms. Moore or Mr. Blackaby are intentionally misleading folks any more than I was intentionally misleading you. I believe they have the best of intentions in their teaching, but the bottom line is we are instructed in scripture to test everything and to be Bereans and take it back to scripture to see if it is so.

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. Acts 17:10-12

For some other references to help you understand my concerns over Mr. Blackaby I refer you here:

Experiencing God Book Review (Gary Gilley)

Unbiblical Teachings on Prayer and Experiencing God (Bob DeWaay)

When Ms. Moore promotes contemplative prayer and silence which is akin to eastern mystical mediation and when Mr. Blackaby threatens Christians that if they aren’t “hearing God” it is because they don’t have a right relationship with God and haven’t rightly learned how to read the signs of circumstances, people, and random Bible reading, they both mislead Christians into a more mystical experiential driven walk with God rather than one built upon solid Bible understanding an Biblical decision making.

I offer a few more articles and videos at the end of this letter for you to read to understand more than I can express in this short letter. If you do not use the internet or have access, please contact me. I am happy to print out these articles and mail them to you. Essentially, this is an issue over what was termed by the Reformers of the protestant Reformation, Sola Scriptura. It means Scripture Alone. It was a fundamental issue that the Reformers stood upon when protesting the Roman Catholic Teaching that men need additional teaching and experiences outside of Scripture in order to fully know how to be saved, how to know Christ, and how to know what He wants for their lives. The Reformers staunchly defended the idea that Scripture is all that is necessary for faith and living. Basing this upon the Scriptures that tell us,

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, my emphasis

I want to add that, historically, Baptists have been the ones to stand firmly against the charismatic false teachings that tried to enter the church. I really don’t know what is happening today, but many have sadly been led astray from this foundational truth and are compromising the Word by promoting eastern mysticism as a valuable tool for Christians.

Again, I want to say. I am NOT SAYING the Holy Spirit doesn’t lead us and guide us into God’s providential will. Not at all! In fact, I truly believe that God is Sovereign and nothing happens that isn’t according to His decree and Sovereign will. What I am saying, however, is that in our prayer life we are never taught to sit in silence to "summon" God to reveal to us through inner hunches His will for our lives. We are never taught that we can’t make decisions until we know what God is “saying to us” or “revealing” to us. God has already “revealed” His will for every believer in His written Word. The canon has been closed and all we need is to study it in context, obey what we are told which includes renewing our minds and not being conformed to this world, so that by this renewal of our mind and knowledge of the Word, as we go through our lives, the Holy Spirit will guide us and bring to our remembrance Scripture in order to enable us to make wise decisions. But to seek to “hear Him” in some mystical fashion, and worse, to threaten Christians that if they aren’t “experiencing God” in this manner it is likely because of sin or unwillingness to obey, is at best a misrepresentation of the correct way to pray, and at worse tormenting to the soul of a genuine believer longing to follow Christ.

I love you, dear sisters, and I hope you understand my heart is only to warn you and apologize for not being more discerning in the past. I recognize these are heavy topics and may take you completely by surprise. I only pray, that you will understand my heart is only desirous of honoring our Lord and His Word and in loving my sisters by not refraining to speak the truth in love.