New Study Suggests "Born Again Christians" Have Smaller Brains?

Thank you to Brannon Howse for his show today which discusses a newly released study that makes the startling claim that born again Christians have "smaller brains" than their Protestant counterparts who do not claim to have had this spiritual experience. The study, which was conducted by Duke University Medical Center, ruled out depression as a contributing factor and assessed 268 adults over an 11-year period. According to the USA Today article which ran this story on 5/27/11, the study:

"found an association between participants’ professed religious affiliation and the physical structure of their brain. Specifically, those identified as Protestant who did not have a religious conversion or born-again experience — more common among their evangelical brethren — had a bigger hippocampus.”

Christians today seem to be the last group that it is acceptable to demonize, but articles such as the one cited above are not new strategies. Margaret Sanger of Planned Parenthood, widely known for championing women's rights, was also a racist who advocated that blacks ought to be sterilized for the "purity" of the Caucasion race.  Hitler despised the Jewish race to the extent that he came up with the "Final Solution" which he implemented in his attempt to exterminate them from the earth.

Click here to listen to Brannon's show about this latest tactic to demonize conservative, Bible-believing Christians.


 Additional Resources 

Worldview Matters Radio Show

American Idol Gives Back....To Pro-Abortion Group?

Paradise Lost......Paradise Regained

by Ansley Mathews, 10 years old (Honorary Sola Sister)

In the beginning,
God created it all;
Here's the story of how it went,
From "very good" to "the Fall."

First the heavens and then the earth,
Then the Garden God did create,
A home for Adam,
And Eve his mate.

God said to Adam and Eve,
Do not eat of this special tree,
There is only one rule in this garden....
You must obey Me.

God provided everything they needed:
Life, love, his presence, and peace;
God said, But if you sin....
Then all of this will cease.

But Satan came along,
And sweetly tempted Eve:
Eat of this fruit and be wise...
Your God you should not believe.

Eve took the fruit:
Tastes good to me.
She offered it to Adam:
It's delicious, you'll see.

Adam took the fruit;
And tragically had a bite;
They realized they were naked;
Then tried to hide from God's sight.

God was very angry;
For Adam turned on Eve;
But then Eve blamed the Serpent;
Oh, how Satan does deceive.

God kicked them out of the garden -
Guarding the entrance with cherubim;
At this sad moment;
They realized the gravity of their sin.

But all was not lost,
For God had a plan.
Even in the curse;
He promised a way to save man.

God would one day
Send his only Son;
For the redemption of man,
He was the only One.

He died on the Cross,
For the forgiveness of sin;
But you must repent and believe,
And then you'll be born again.

Once again God and man,
Are fully reconciled,
As God's plan of redemption,
Came through the death of his Child.

What Is The Enneagram?

by Marcia Montenegro, Christian Answers for the New Age

"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority." Colossians 2:8-10 (NASB)

What is your number? the Enneagram asks. What is the Enneagram? you may ask back. For those who aren't aware of this fast-growing phenomenon, the Enneagram is a diagram depicting numbers one through nine, with lines connecting each number to two other numbers, and is promoted by its adherents as a tool to use for personality analysis. But the Enneagram, despite being endorsed as an aid for psychological assessment, actually has its roots in the occult, as this article will show. More disturbing than that, in recent years the Enneagram - along with so many other occultic practices - has crept into the Christian church. This is even more startling than seeing it used in the secular world. Not only is it being used and promoted by some Christians, but it is even being defended as a tool based on biblical principles.

 A Little Background on the Enneagram 

The Enneagram was promoted by mystic George Gurdjieff (1866?-1949) and by his followers, P. D. Ouspensky (1878-1947) and Oscar Ichazo (b. 1931). Gurdjieff claimed to have learned the Enneagram from the Sufis (a mystical spin-off sect of Islam), though many dispute this.

Psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo (b. 1932), a pioneer of New Age related psychological theories, breathed new life into the Enneagram by refining it as a tool of psychological assessment in which a person discovers his number in the chart, and then studies the best and worst traits of that number via the diagram. Each number represents a particular personality type, and is connected to two other numbers, one which supposedly highlights the worst traits, and the other representing the best.

 Meet the Teachers 

Gurdjieff was an Armenian teacher of esoteric spiritual philosophies based on knowledge he allegedly garnered during travels and contacts with secret groups, which are recounted in his book, Meetings with Remarkable Men (in the beginning years of her New Age journey, the writer of this article saw a movie based on this book and was strongly influenced by it). However, these accounts were never verified. Gurdjieff held that man is not aware of true reality and needs an awakening of consciousness. He is widely credited as the first person to make the Enneagram publicly known.

Ouspensky, Gurdjieff's pupil, presented Gurdjieff's ideas as the Fourth Way. Ouspensky's teachings on the Enneagram appear in his books, In Search of the Miraculous and The Fourth Way. Like Gurdjieff, Ouspensky wrote about the Enneagram in terms of the "law of seven" and the "law of three," based on Gurdjieff's view of the esoteric laws by which the cosmos operated.

Oscar Ichazo, heavily involved in psychedelic drugs and shamanism,* asserted that he had "received instructions from a higher entity called Metatron" and that his group "was guided by an interior master."

Naranjo, the psychiatrist who studied with Ichazo in Chile, passed on the Enneagram teachings to Jesuit Bob Ochs, who then brought it into Roman Catholic circles at the New Age Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, where Naranjo taught ("A Closer Look at the Enneagram," Dorothy Garrity Ranaghan [South Bend, Indiana: Greenlawn Press, 1989], 9).

Gurdjieff's legacy lives on today in many facets of the New Age Movement. The New Age has inserted itself so subtly into mainstream culture, including the health field (as well as hospitals), education, psychology, business, and sports, that people no longer perceive it as alien. Indeed, some of these areas have been willing, if not eager, vehicles through which New Age concepts have entered society.

 The Enneagram's True Essence 

In the 1990s, the Enneagram star rose in the secular world, and several business companies began to use it as a tool for personality analysis. At the time, this writer found this odd since the Enneagram, technically speaking, is an occult tool. There is no objective basis for the nine numbers, their categories (such as Reformer, Helper, Achiever, Individualist, etc), or the alleged relationships between the numbers. Most importantly, the Enneagram has as its purpose a spiritual awakening.

The Enneagram purports to lead a person to not only self-understanding, but to an integration of all aspects of the self and, ultimately, to an awakening to the true Self. "Self" is capitalized because the Self is considered by the original (and most contemporary) Enneagram teachers to be divine. The nine numbers most likely originate with Ichazo's belief in the "nine divine forms" of Self, a Self which supposedly has been subverted by ego distortions. There are also the "triads," which is how "your" number is related both positively and negatively through two other numbers. The philosophy for this is directly derived from the esoteric values of Sacred Geometry and from Gnostic views of the self as sacred and pure in essence.

The website for The Enneagram Institute openly refers to concepts from Gurdjieff and company, such as "the Work" and "inner work," to refer to mystical work on the inner self. This "Work," as expressed by Ichazo, involves transcending one's ego in order to find one's "Essence." This is fundamental in Gnostic-based, Eastern, and New Age views.

In this paradigm, one's true self is divine and perfect, but through confusion from wrong beliefs and misperceptions, one has identified with the ego, which is the false self. Thus, there is the "true Self" versus the "false self," a concept familiar to anyone who has studied Eastern religions or New Age teachings. The Enneagram Institute claims that the Enneagram will uncover the wrong view of self and lead one to realize the true Self and thus "live in Essence;" that is, to live fully in the reality of the true divine Self.

The Enneagram Institute itself admits that "the philosophy behind the Enneagram contains components from mystical Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Buddhism, and ancient Greek philosophy (particularly Socrates, Plato, and the Neo-Platonists)."

The reference to Christianity undoubtedly refers to what is sometimes called "mystical" or "esoteric Christianity." This type of Christianity was often claimed by Gurdjieff and other forerunners of the New Age, and in actuality is a Gnostic (neo-Platonic) distortion of Christianity, not authentic historic Christianity. Gurdjieff, his predecessors in Theosophy,** and those who followed the various offshoots of Theosophy and related groups usually referred to themselves as Christians and believed they had discovered the "true" Christianity. Many today who follow New Age and other arcane philosophies will claim to be mystical or esoteric Christians.

The fact that the origin of the Enneagram is spiritual, that its purpose is spiritual, and that it was passed down through teachers of cryptic spiritualities, should clearly indicate that its validity as any sort of tool to understand self or truth is questionable at best.

 The Enneagram's Penetration into the Church 

As mentioned previously, the Enneagram has crept into the Christian church in recent years. This is even more disturbing than seeing it taught in the secular world, where one might naturally expect it to be. But not only is the Enneagram being used and promoted by some Christians, it is also being defended as a tool based on biblical principles.

One Christian, Alice Fryling, who promotes and teaches the Enneagram, admits that the roots of the Enneagram and most of the material on it is not Christian, yet she advises people to do a lot of reading "about the Enneagram paradigm" (page 5) to discover their type. She considers the Enneagram to be a "very deep and complex system." This is hardly a recommendation since this describes all occult and New Age systems. Indeed, it is the complexity of such spiritualities that often makes them seductive.

Fryling also claims that the Enneagram can "lead us to a self-awareness that brings us to our knees before the God of grace" (page 2). However, from a Christian standpoint, it is only God's word that gives true self-awareness -- the awareness of man's essential sin nature and need for redemption, as well as convicting and shaping a Christian believer (credit for this point goes to Viola Larson of Naming the Grace Blogspot). It is God's word and the Holy Spirit that convict, teach, and correct man through God's truth (Psalm 119; John 16:8; James 2:9; 2 Timothy 3:16).

It should be noted that Fryling approvingly refers to Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar who runs the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At his conferences, Rohr promotes not only the Enneagram, but panentheism (God is in everything, i.e., the earth as God's "body"), Buddhism, and New Ager Marianne Williamson.  Fryling's apparent admiration of Rohr is seriously unsettling.

Another well-known Christian advocate of the Enneagram, Suzanne Stabile, promotes Richard Rohr and has taught the Enneagram at his Conferences. She describes the Enneagram as "primarily a spiritual tool."

 The Heretical Monk 

Fryling asserts that Christian origins of the Enneagram go back to a 4th century "desert monk," Evagrius Ponticus, who wrote on "life patterns" discovered by the "ancient spiritual teachers" (non-Christians) who originated the Enneagram and passed it on via "oral tradition." However, she gives no historical references or explanation for the origin or validity of these "life patterns." One must wonder if these so-called "life patterns" are the occult paradigms derived from Sufis or other similar groups referred to by Gurdjieff. The "ancient spiritual teachers" are pagan, not Christian.

Furthermore, Ponticus was influenced and inspired by the esoteric philosophy of Neo-Platonism, a deadly mixture of Gnosticism and Christianity. Ponticus was also a student of the heretical teachings of Origen of Alexandria. Ponticus himself was later condemned for his teachings in 400 and 533.

Ponticus held that Jesus was not the incarnated Son of God, but rather a sinless "intellect" who assumed a body to show humanity the way back to its "original union" with God. This is a Gnostic teaching. Through Ponticus, these false teachings spread to monastic leaders and theologians (http://www.kalvesmaki.com/evagpont/ ; http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/byzantine_theology_j_meyendorf.htm; http://www.theandros.com/evagrius.html; http://www.john-uebersax.com/plato/routes.htm).

It is mystifying as to why Fryling would use Ponticus as a Christian rationale for the Enneagram. It seems that referencing this monk in a positive way would be an embarrassment to any Christian, and, if anything, it gives evidence for the non-Christian nature of the Enneagram.

 Sacred Geometry and Physics 

The reason given by the Enneagram Institute for the nine types is a Gnostic idea of the "nine divine forms," and a presumption that man's natural essence is perfect and in union with Divinity.

Advocates of the Enneagram point to the geometric proportions in the diagram that illustrate the relationship of the numbers to each other as support for their view that there is a special meaning and purpose to the diagram. This is sacred geometry, an occult belief that shapes, patterns, or certain proportions have special inner meaning. Sacred geometry is central to Feng Shui as well as being found in a number of other occult arts.

Sacred Geometry most closely relates to occult divination, which in this case is interpreting hidden meaning in shapes or patterns.*** Divination is the belief that an image, number, or pattern conceals a hidden meaning or message and, if properly interpreted, provides information or guidance outside any objective support for this interpretation. The fact that there are recurring geometric shapes and patterns in the natural world actually reveals that there is an Intelligence as the source of creation -- the Creator God who by His power created the world from nothing. Geometric patterns are evidence for God, not harbingers of hidden messages that must be divined.

There is no objective basis for dividing personality types into nine types. Astrology has twelve personality distinctions. Why nine? Why not twelve, seven, or five? Re-tooling occult arts with psychology for contemporary times is an ongoing process to gain credibility (and possibly to market new products and practices). Mixing in a so-called psychological assessment does not validate either the tool -- whether it be astrology or the Enneagram -- or the psychological analysis itself. Psychology is rife with competing theories; one can hardly claim any objective basis for a particular psychological approach or analysis of personality.

The interview with Fryling cited above offers a list of books on the Enneagram, including The Enneagram in Love and Work by Helen Palmer, an influential proponent in the modern use of the Enneagram. Palmer is also a psychic. On her website, she calls herself "an internationally recognized teacher of intuition and psychology." The website states that Palmer is "a teacher of intuition, psychology and a point of contact between them, the Enneagram, a matrix of personality structures that recognizes nine observable points of view." Whenever someone is described as an "intuitive" or a "teacher of intuition," you can be sure the person is a psychic (even though the person may reject this term), and is also likely a follower of New Age and/or occult philosophies.

Palmer's online course, "Using the Enneagram In Psychological Assessment and Practice," has been approved by the American Psychological Association, and taking the course earns the graduate and doctoral student 15 hours or credits of Continuing Education credit.

Credit is offered despite the fact that the course's page openly states that one of the objectives is for the student to "understand the spiritual significance of the Enneagram." Though not surprising, it is a sad commentary on our society that the theories and advice of a psychic are taken seriously by psychologists. It only further confirms the infiltration of New Age philosophy into the mainstream.

 Self-Absorption 

As a former professional astrologer, one objection this writer has for finding "one's type," is that our nature is such that we too easily revel in a label that we can use as an identity, and then continue to view ourselves through that filter. A Christian should strive to view himself through God's word; man-based categories detract from and may blur or negate that perspective.

Focusing on the self easily leads to self-absorption. It is fine to know one's strengths and weaknesses, but the Enneagram is not needed for this, especially because 1) there is no objective basis for the Enneagram, and 2) the Enneagram claims to offer solutions via an "awakening" to the "True Self." Using the Enneagram to identify one's type too easily becomes a pathway to its prescribed solution.

Indeed, the Enneagram claims to be "a map of wholeness" and "a tool and guide for exploring the depths of the human soul" that leads us "toward a deeper realization of our True Nature," the "True Nature" being, of course, a divine "Essence."

According to Palmer (the psychic), "The ultimate vocation of the Enneagram is to awaken the 'Inner Observer' in service to psychological wholeness, authentic spirituality and ultimately compassion for ourselves and each other." In contrast, Christians are being made whole and complete in Christ (Philippians 1:6; Colossians 2:10; 2 Timothy 3:17) through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

 Occult Initiation 

A simple investigation into the Enneagram reveals that its theories of personality are based on esoteric teachings and an occult worldview. The clear origin and purpose of the Enneagram is to initiate a Gnostic spiritual awakening to one's alleged true divine Self, which is in itself an occult initiation. This is the claim and goal of virtually all occult and New Age teachings. The purpose of such initiation is a shift in consciousness, a change in the way one views reality -- God, the world, others, and self.

Occult initiation can be found in many non-Christian systems, desired or not. In Yoga and certain forms of meditation, it is the awakening of the Kundalini, the alleged serpent-like power at the base of the spine; in Reiki, the teacher "awakens" or "activates" the purported healing energy within the student; in Eastern meditation, it involves being given a mantra (a word or phrase to be repeated in meditation); Eastern gurus give their followers shaktipat, which supposedly confers grace and arouses the Kundalini; and the altered states of Eastern and New Age based meditations will certainly lead to occult awakening.

Occult initiations also occur spontaneously -- and unbidden -- if the person is involved in Eastern, New Age, or occult practices. An occult initiation may culminate in meeting one's "spirit guide," a disembodied being who is supposedly one's spiritual teacher. ****

The Gnostic initiation or awakening is the occult counterfeit of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and His regeneration of the believer upon faith in Christ. This regeneration, called by Jesus being "born from above" (John 3:3; see also 2 Corinthians 5:17), is supernatural, life-giving, and from God. Gnostic or occult awakening is the kiss of death. Though it appears to open a door onto a shining vista, its light is artificial and it brings the person only into bondage. The true light is Jesus Christ: "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46, KJV).


 Notes 

*Shamanism is primarily healing via contact with and aid from spirit beings; incantations and rituals are used to concoct remedies. For sources on Ichazo and Metatron, see Craig Branch, "Profile of The Enneagram," Watchman Fellowship; see also, John C. Lilly and Joseph E. Hart, "The Arica Training," in Transpersonal Psychologies, ed. Charles T. Hart (Harper & Row, 1975, p. 342), from footnote 16 in Dorothy Garrity Ranaghan, "A Closer Look at the Enneagram," (South Bend, IN: Greenlawn Press, 1975), p. 9.

** The Theosophical Society, founded in New York in 1875 by Madame Helena Blavatsky, includes Hindu-based beliefs combined with a belief that humanity is guided by disembodied, enlightened "Masters" and other esoteric teachings whose messages can only be interpreted by a few. Theosophy greatly influenced early thinkers of the New Age movement. For the fascinating story of Theosophy, see Peter Washington's Madame Blavatsky's Baboon (Schocken, 1996, paperback edition)

***Divination is also attributing hidden meaning to images such as with Tarot cards; to numbers, as in numerology, also called arithmancy; or to patterns in the natural world, as in astrology or palmistry; as well as seeking information via occult supernatural means or sources .

****The writer of this article had spirit guides, the first one being introduced via a guided meditation.

 Sources & Links to More Information 

Excellent Christian analysis of the Enneagram 

Donald Miller, Enneagram and Who "Feels" Closer to God

Christian response from Viola Larson to the use of the Enneagram in the church (see also Larson's responses to comments below the article)

Christian resource with more information on Ichazo and Naranjo

A brief Christian evaluation

Assessment and critique from a Roman Catholic viewpoint

Excellent booklet with overview of the Enneagram and why it is incompatible with Christianity:
"A Closer Look at the Enneagram," Dorothy Garrity Ranaghan (South Bend, Indiana: Greenlawn Press, 1989).

Excellent and entertaining resource on the history, beliefs, and personalities of the influential Theosophical Society, including Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, and others: Madame Blavatsky's Baboon, Peter Washington (Schocken, 1996).

 Pro-Enneagram Links 

History of the modern Enneagram's use

From the website of The Enneagram Institute, a page revealing the occult spirituality behind the Enneagram

 Other Links 

Video of guru giving shaktipat (an occult initiation)

How Trials Separate True Converts From False Converts

by J.C. Ryle

“A person’s religion may look well for a season. An ignorant eye may detect no difference between the possessor of such a religion, and a true Christian. Both may worship in the same Church. Both may use the same ordinances. Both may profess the same faith. The outward appearance of the house built on the rock, and the house without any solid foundation, may be much the same. But the day of trial and affliction is the test which the religion of the mere outward professor cannot stand. When storm and tempest beat on the house which has no foundation, the walls which looked well in sunshine and fair weather, are sure to come to the ground. The Christianity which consists of merely hearing religion taught, without doing anything, is a building which must finally fall. Great indeed will be the ruin! There is no loss like the loss of a soul.”

Emergent Author Donald Miller, Enneagram, and Who "Feels" Closer To God

Posted by Christine Pack

In a recent article, popular emergent author Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz) pondered who feels closer to God: liberal theologians or conservative theologians.  In this article, Miller also deconstructed the personality traits of both liberals v. conservatives through the use of something known as the Enneagram in an effort to answer this question.  What in the world is the Enneagram? I'm so glad you asked, because it is something that is rapidly gaining popularity in Christian circles, but it is far from Christian in its beliefs. The Enneagram is something that is promoted as a tool for assessing one's personality traits. More insidiously, however, it has at its root some very troubling New Age theology; chiefly, the idea that all people are born with a Divine inner spark. Rather than being Christian in nature, this view of the Divine inner spark is distinctly eastern and panentheistic:

"Our true nature is Essence. Essence and personality are not separate: personality exists in, and is made out of Essence. While we have a personality, it is only a part of the totality of our true Self. Most of the time we are entranced by our personality and do not remember our Essential nature, or who we really are." (online source)

Also, in Enneagram teachings, there does not seem to be a concept of personal sin:

"Remember that all negative behavior is the result of unprocessed pain. In the course of our work, we uncover difficult feelings, powerful Essential states, and many qualities of emptiness. The more we can learn to tolerate these different aspects of ourselves, the more quickly and smoothly our work will progress." (online source)

The closest thing the Enneagram has to the Christian concept of sin is that "unprocessed pain" (not sin) results in one's life not running as smoothly as one wishes. This is in distinct contrast to the biblical understanding of sin, and is actually more Buddhist in theology than Christian. This belief also diminishes one's personal responsibility for sinful behavior toward others. Indeed, there does not even seem to be an understanding of sin according to the Enneagram construct. Now, as a former New Ager, I can bear witness that this idea of there not being a concept or even an understanding of sin is extremely New Age.  What biblical Christians would regard as sin that needs to be repented of and turned from is, according to the Enneagram, merely "unprocessed pain" that gets in the way of one's desired life:

"Remember that it is our birthright and our natural state to be wise and noble, to be loving and generous, to esteem ourselves and others, to be creative and constantly renewing ourselves, to be engaged in the world in awe and wonder and in depth, to have courage and to be able to rely on ourselves, to be joyous and effortlessly accomplished, to be strong and effective, to be self-possessed and enjoy an unshakable peace of mind—and above all, to be present to the unfolding mystery of our lives." (online source)

The above ideas, too, are far more New Age than they are Christian. While a born again Christian is given the right to be called a child of God, and given a new heart and new desires, it is no-one's "birthright" to have the gifts listed by the Enneagram Institute:

- to be wise
- to be loving
- to esteem others
- to have peace of mind
- etc.

In fact, we know from Scripture that we are born sinful, and that our only "birthright" is rightful condemnation:

"Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place." Psalm 51:5-6

"The wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Not only are we born into sin, but it is God alone who is able to free us from the bondage of sin through Christ's atoning death which we access by repentance and faith. And it is God alone who grants gifts such as wisdom, a loving heart, the ability to supernaturally and selflessly love others, etc. In fact, it is not even within anyone's ability to have any of these gifts without the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit. We know from Scripture that these are gifts that only come from being born again. Without regeneration, we are wretched creatures: self-seeking, vain, prideful and unable to have peace of mind about the most important thing a human could possibly contemplate.....whether or not one is right with God.

But back to the question in Donald Miller's article: who "feels" more at home with God.....conservative theologians or liberal theologians?

I would submit that the real issue is not whether or not people "feel" at home with God, but whether or not they are actually, positionally, right with God. And this actually being right with God only comes through faith in Christ's atoning death. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Jews often "feel at home" with God....only, they're not. ONLY true, born again Christians will actually be near to God. And yet, as a practicing Hindu before becoming a born again Christian, I "felt" very near to God. Such is the deceptive nature of false religion.  In fact, when Christians would witness to me, I would laugh at them. I just knew they were wrong because my mystical experiences of "god" were so powerful and profound and spiritual that it never even occurred to me that I could be the one who was in the wrong. So what we "feel" can never be our guide about whether or not something is true. The Bible tells us that the heart (feelings), absent the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit, is deceitful, and is not to be trusted.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

So again, back to Miller's article. Liberal/emergent theologians (like the ones mentioned in his article) do not hold to orthodox Christianity: their views of God are decidedly panentheistic/mystical in nature, and the leaders of this movement outright deny the essentials of the faith. I'm not saying people under the teachings of this movement can't ever be saved.....in fact, I believe that many of them are confused. But IF in fact they do hold to emergent theology, they are not saved. So whether or not they "feel" close to God is irrelevant. The fact would remain that, regardless of their deceitful feelings, they would be far from God because they are in rebellion to how he has revealed himself in his Word.

"We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will." John 9:31

"The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous." Proverbs 15:29 

We are living in a very feelings-oriented culture in which people divorce and remarry based on how they feel or don't feel about their spouses. People leave their jobs, move hundreds of miles away, end relationships, buy houses, etc., often on just a whim or a feeling. We can see all around us the effects of people being driven by their fickle feelings. But as for Christians, we know that the only sure foundation for our lives is studying, knowing and obeying God's word. In fact, I can attest for myself that studying and knowing God's Word has had a profoundly steadying influence on my life. As a feelings-driven, New Age mystic, I was the epitome of the James 1:8 person: double-minded and unstable in all my ways. And it wasn't until I began to rely solely on God's Word (the Reformation principle known as "Sola Scriptura") as a Christian, that my Christian walk actually began to be fruitful.

One of the best compliments I ever received as a Christian was from a girlfriend who was having marriage problems, and who was seeking my counsel, as her friend. After some discussion, I circled back to something I had previously commented on, and said, "You know, let me revise what I just said there. I would like to take some more time to think this through and make sure that my counsel to you lines up with God's Word." My friend got tears in her eyes and said, "This is why I came to you: I knew you wouldn't give me your thoughts and worldly wisdom. I knew you would give me truth."

I knew what she meant, and it has nothing to do with me being so smart or a good counselor or anything like that. It meant that she knows me well enough to know that I have a very high view of God's Word, and that to the best of my ability and aided by the Holy Spirit, I would attempt to give her counsel that was in alignment with what God desired of her in this matter.

Friends, we don't possess truth. But God does, and we can find it in his Word, which He divinely wrote and protected for millenium so that we might know who He is, and what He requires of us. May we hold fast to God's Word and encourage each other.....not with worldly wisdom, pop psychlogy or fickle feelings, but with real truth...God's Word.

photo credit: Wicker Park Grace via photopin cc

 Additional Resources 

The Enneagram GPS: The Gnostic Path To Self

What Are the Essentials of the Faith?

John MacArthur on Sola Scriptura

The Reformation: Post Tenebras Lux

How Can I Recognize A False Teacher / False Prophet?

 Question of the Week 
GotQuestions.org

Question: "How can I recognize a false teacher / false prophet?"

Answer: Jesus warned us that “false Christs and false prophets” will come and will attempt to deceive even God’s elect (Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18). The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth. To spot a counterfeit, study the real thing. Any believer who “correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and who makes a careful study of the Bible can identify false doctrine. For example, a believer who has read the activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:16-17 will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity. Therefore, step one is to study the Bible and judge all teaching by what the Scripture says.

Jesus said “a tree is recognized by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). When looking for “fruit,” here are three specific tests to apply to any teacher to determine the accuracy of his or her teaching:

1) What does this teacher say about Jesus? In Matthew 16:15-16, Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and for this answer Peter is called “blessed.” In 2 John 9, we read, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” In other words, Jesus Christ and His work of redemption is of utmost importance; beware of anyone who denies that Jesus is equal with God, who downplays Jesus’ sacrificial death, or who rejects Jesus’ humanity. First John 2:22 says, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.”

2) Does this teacher preach the gospel? The gospel is defined as the good news concerning Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). As nice as they sound, the statements “God loves you,” “God wants us to feed the hungry,” and “God wants you to be wealthy” are not the complete message of the gospel. As Paul warns in Galatians 1:7, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” No one, not even a great preacher, has the right to change the message that God gave us. “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:9).

3) Does this teacher exhibit character qualities that glorify the Lord? Speaking of false teachers, Jude 11 says, “They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” In other words, a false teacher can be known by his pride (Cain’s rejection of God’s plan), greed (Balaam’s prophesying for money), and rebellion (Korah’s promotion of himself over Moses). Jesus said to beware of such people and that we would know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).

For further study, review those books of the Bible that were written specifically to combat false teaching within the church: Galatians, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, and Jude. It is often difficult to spot a false teacher/false prophet. Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15). Only by being thoroughly familiar with the truth will we be able to recognize a counterfeit.

A Christian Woman and Her Frightening Experience With Yoga

Eyewitness Account of the Devastating Power of Yoga

By: Dr. John Ankerberg & Dr. John Weldon

We first met Carole as a result of exchanging information on the famous Indian guru Swami Rama. The following information is taken from material sent to us.

Carole was very sick, and the doctors were unable to find the cause of her illness. She decided to go to a physician-nutritionist recommended by a friend. In his office she found some literature about the Himalayan Institute, of which the doctor was a staff member. The institute was founded by Indian Swami Rama, one of the most scientifically studied of the gurus, beginning with famous biofeedback researcher Dr. Elmer Green. Carole decided to attend the institute and began lessons in hatha yoga. Eventually she was initiated and received her mantra, or word of power, from Swami Rama. As he laid his hands upon her head, the typical transfer of occult energy began (termed shaktipat diksha). Carole was in heaven:

"Currents of electrical energy began to permeate my head and went down into my body.... It was as if a spell had come over me, the bliss that I felt was as if I had been touched by God. The power that had come from his hand, and simply being in his presence, drew me to him irresistibly."

The night after receiving her mantra, Carole was actually visited by a living spirit being who claimed to be the spirit of Swami Rama himself. Although no one had ever mentioned the spirit world in her church (they did not believe in such things), Carole felt that this was the means of directly communing with God. She proceeded to experience wonderful, powerful forces and energies, while thoughts were impelled into her consciousness with a magnetic-like force.

"Electrical currents were pulsating around my body and then moved into my hand, the currents were shaking my hand and strong, almost entrancing thoughts were being impressed into my mind, "Meditate, meditate. I want to speak with you." It was a miracle. I was communicating with the spirit world. I had found God. Sitting in the darkness of my living room I began to repeat my mantra. A presence seemed to fill the room. I began to see visions of being one with the universe and the magnetic thoughts were now leaving and I was hearing a voice, which identified itself as Swami Rama, saying he was communicating with me through astral travel. 

Within one week, after meditating many hours each day and still in constant communication with this spirit, forces began to come upon me and gave me powers to do yoga postures; I was floating through them, the forces giving me added breath even... postures that before would be very painful to do."

However, after two weeks of daily meditation, Carole became engulfed in a nightmare of utter dread and terror. Voices which once claimed they were angelic turned threatening, even demonic. She was brutally assaulted, both physically and spiritually. During meditation, in the midst of being violently shaken, she could sense that the very same energy received at initiation, energy which was now felt to be personal, was attempting to remove her life-essence from her physical body-in her words, "to literally pull the life from my shell of a body." She sensed an overwhelming and implacable hatred directed toward her, as if "monstrosities of another world were trying to take my very soul from me, inflicting pain beyond endurance, ripping and tearing into the very depths of my being."

The intermittent suffocation and torment seemed to be interminable; her fears only increased as she realized there was no one to help her. Finally the attack subsided. But unfortunately, it was merely the first of many to come.

It seems that nothing could stop the assaults. Her agonized pleas to the spirits were ignored; her husband was powerless. Her father wanted her to see a psychiatrist; others also doubted her sanity. In desperation, her mother contacted psychic friends from a local church of the Unity School of Christianity. They laid hands on Carole and commanded that "the divinity within" deliver her, but to no avail.

Dr. G. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D., entered the picture. He is a noted neurosurgeon, a former professor at Harvard University, past president of the American Holistic Medical Association, and the author of Occult Medicine Can Save Your Life. Dr. Shealy also works in conjunction with psychics and spiritists such as Carolyn Myss. Dr. Shealy was unable to help and referred Carole to Dr. Robert Leichtman, M.D., a spiritist who is coauthor of several dozen books received by revelation from the spirits.[1]

Leichtraan admitted that Carole's situation was not uncommon among followers of Eastern gurus. In fact, he told her some have died as a result of similar psychic attacks. But he, too, was unable to help. His instructions, such as visualizing herself in the white "Christ light" of protection were useless. By this time, Carole was near the end:

I had to endure the torture, unable to free myself. To those around me I was insane. No one believed me and no one could free me. The hopelessness I felt was unbearable. No one believed me except the psychics... and they could do nothing. 

I was defenseless against these never-ending attacks... hundreds of presences filling my room, which itself would be filled with thick, ice cold air, my body drenched with perspiration as my whole being fought against them. 

After spending several weeks at my parents' we decided perhaps I could try returning home. But that night the spirits started to exert their full power. 

First, against my skull. It felt as if they were trying to crack it open, like the air was being cut off to my brain. Incredible pressure was exerted upon my back and chest, pulling with a wrench-like grip. It felt like they were trying to pull my shoulder from its socket, pressing on my eyes trying to blind me, pushing on my throat trying to choke me. Filled with fear and exhaustion, on the brink of death I screamed to my husband, "I'm dying; I can't take it anymore. Get me to the hospital." 

I was taken to the hospital where I laid like a scared dog cowering on a cart. I could hardly speak but at least the spirits were gone-temporarily.... The doctor on duty recommended a psychiatrist who saw me the next morning. He told me I was covering up some deep problems with this "talk of evil spirits." 

"There is no such thing as the devil," he said coldly.

Carole admitted herself to the hospital, but once more no one could help. The attacks finally subsided and she was released.

Upon returning home, the attacks began again. More unimaginable torment. Although she was terrified of death, death was now her desire. Wishing to take her life but too fearful of dying, in desperation she readmitted herself to the hospital. Once again, she was placed in a locked ward. She felt that here she would die-alone and in torment.

But today, Carole is alive and well. Even her psychiatrist was amazed at the miraculous transformation. She was now in perfect health, both mentally and physically.

Carole knew she was free from the spirits. But how? Carole was unable to help herself. Her best friends could not help her, nor her parents or husband. Neither the medication nor the medical profession could do anything. The psychics were the most powerless of all. Today, Carole attributes both her health and her life to a living Jesus Christ who delivered her from a desperate plight.

Reflecting today on her predicament, she is awed that such terrible destruction could be purchased at the price of a simple, supposedly harmless form of meditation.[2]

- Excerpt from The Coming Darkness

Notes:

↑ E.g., the 24-volume "From Heaven to Earth" series with medium D. Kendrick Johnson (Columbus, OH: Ariel Press).
↑ Condensed and edited from material sent May 28, 1981.
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photo credit: lululemon athletica via photopin cc

 Additional Resources 

"Christian" Yoga?

Should Christian Practice Yoga? by Dr. Al Mohler

Julia Roberts: "I'm Definitely A Practicing Hindu"

The Yoga Deception