Satan, Demons and Spiritism
Occult Names, Work and Forbidden Reality
Most people know that the Bible Talks primarily of God, His Nature, work and purpose. It glorifies His Son Jesus Christ and the story of Salvation History and the work and person of the Holy Spirit. However, do you realize that the Bible tells us a great deal about the persona and work of Satan, his demonic hoards and the way we are respond to them. Below are some of these aspects with Biblical reference for your information.
Satan
Adversary 1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
The Destroyer Rev 9:11
They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.
Liar and Father of it. John 8:44-45
44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45
A Lying Spirit 1 Kings 22:20-22
"One suggested this, and another that. 21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, 'I will entice him.' 22 " 'By what means?' the Lord asked." 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he said." 'You will succeed in enticing him,' said the Lord. 'Go and do it.'
Leads the whole world astray Rev 12:9
9 The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.
Prince and Power of the Air Eph 2:1-2
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
Hiegharchy of demons Eph 6:12-13
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13
god of this World 2 Cor 4:3-5
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Demons
Don't Participate with Demons 1 Cor 10:20-22
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Deceiving Spirits 1 Tim 4:1-2
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Spirits Deny Christ - spirit of Anti-Christ (1 John 4:3).
Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world
Doctrine Of 1 Tim 4:1-3
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
Spiritism Forbidden
Forbidden Lev 19:26
"'Do not practice divination or sorcery.
Spiritism Forbidden Lev. 19:31
'Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord
Mediums Forbidden Lev 20:6
'I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people.
Occult Practices Forbidden Deut 18:9-13
9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord, your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
Consulting the Dead Isa 8:19-20
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20
False Visions Ezek 12:23-25
Say to them, 'The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. 24 For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. 25 But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.'"
Ezek 13:23
Therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.'"
No Longer Bow Down to the Work of your Hands Mic 5:12-13
I will destroy your witchcraft
and you will no longer cast spells.
13 I will destroy your carved images
and your sacred stones from among you;
you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands.
Put to Death Lev 20:27
"'A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.'"
Lev 20:27
"'A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.'"
Animism Forbidden Hos 4:12
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak, poplar and terebinth,
where the shade is pleasant.
Burn Books of Acts 19:18-20
Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
This information on the Kingdom of the Occult is not all-inclusive but merely gives a brief scriptural outline of what the Bible says concerning the realm of the devil. Christians need to beware of Stan's kingdom so "that they may withstand the wiles of the devil". Continue to read this blog for more incredible information. Our next blog will focus on the Kingdom of the Occult in the Media.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Catch Me If You Can
Satan’s Counterfeits
Counterfeiting is a fascinating subject. Throughout history men and women have attempted to counterfeit everything from $100.00 bills to credit cards and identity theft. One of the most famous American counterfeiters was Frank Abangale Jr. Frank Abagnale Jr. worked under 8 identities during the 1960s, including his first as Pan American Airlines Pilot Frank Williams, in over 5 years, passing over $2.5 million in counterfeit checks in over 26 countries and all 50 states. He was arrested in France at an Air France ticket counter when an agent recognized his face from a wanted poster. In the movie based on his life, 'Catch Me if You Can', Abagnale made a cameo appearance as a French policeman. Although this movies glamorized the life of Abangale as a world-class counterfeiter, the message was still there that a counterfeit does not have the same value as the real thing.
Satan is the master counterfeiter. He is a liar and has been a liar since the beginning (John 8:44). One thing that Satan imitates are the gifts on God. We can think back to the time of Moses when he withstood Jannes and Jambrees, the magicians in Pharaoh’s court (2 Timothy 3:8) by changing their rods into snakes. Satan imitated the power of God.
“The Occult Invasion of Health Care” , plainly shows how Satan is attempting to counterfeit one of God’s greatest gifts to the church, the laying on of hands. All three therapies mentioned in my book are called “Touch Therapies” and attempt to imitate, mimic, and serve as impostors to the reality of the gift of laying on of hands through the person of the Holy Spirit. Here’s what the Bible says about Satan’s counterfeits: “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10.
Let us not fall for a cheap trick, let us not be seduced by a lie. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “Be sober, be vigilant for your enemy walks to and fro like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” Today, Satan is attempting to counterfeit the miraculous power of God is dozens of ways and we see it every day in our media . . . books, movies and television. Christian, don’t be duped, don’t believe a lie. God’s gift is reality that will powerfully change your life.
Satan’s Counterfeits
Counterfeiting is a fascinating subject. Throughout history men and women have attempted to counterfeit everything from $100.00 bills to credit cards and identity theft. One of the most famous American counterfeiters was Frank Abangale Jr. Frank Abagnale Jr. worked under 8 identities during the 1960s, including his first as Pan American Airlines Pilot Frank Williams, in over 5 years, passing over $2.5 million in counterfeit checks in over 26 countries and all 50 states. He was arrested in France at an Air France ticket counter when an agent recognized his face from a wanted poster. In the movie based on his life, 'Catch Me if You Can', Abagnale made a cameo appearance as a French policeman. Although this movies glamorized the life of Abangale as a world-class counterfeiter, the message was still there that a counterfeit does not have the same value as the real thing.
Satan is the master counterfeiter. He is a liar and has been a liar since the beginning (John 8:44). One thing that Satan imitates are the gifts on God. We can think back to the time of Moses when he withstood Jannes and Jambrees, the magicians in Pharaoh’s court (2 Timothy 3:8) by changing their rods into snakes. Satan imitated the power of God.
“The Occult Invasion of Health Care” , plainly shows how Satan is attempting to counterfeit one of God’s greatest gifts to the church, the laying on of hands. All three therapies mentioned in my book are called “Touch Therapies” and attempt to imitate, mimic, and serve as impostors to the reality of the gift of laying on of hands through the person of the Holy Spirit. Here’s what the Bible says about Satan’s counterfeits: “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10.
Let us not fall for a cheap trick, let us not be seduced by a lie. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “Be sober, be vigilant for your enemy walks to and fro like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” Today, Satan is attempting to counterfeit the miraculous power of God is dozens of ways and we see it every day in our media . . . books, movies and television. Christian, don’t be duped, don’t believe a lie. God’s gift is reality that will powerfully change your life.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Buddhism
The Absence of GodThere are many central doctrines representing the core of Buddhist teaching. Some of these are the belief in reincarnation, the necessity of continual growth in karma ( good works ) in order to nullify the inherent evil present within each person. There is the ceaseless need to meditate in order to find Enlightenment and become one with the Buddha and finally, the promise to reach Nirvana (nothingness) and the annihilation of the soul.
There is no God in Buddhism, He is absent. There is no hope in Buddhism for there is no future to look forward to. There is only the unending cycle of death and rebirth and the self-effort of karma that wearies the soul. Buddhism speaks of Enlightenment, speaks of an inner sense of peace, offers ritual, exercises, and philosophy which proposes its ultimate goal of personal extinction.
Only Christianity offers a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Only Christianity offers a future to look forward to. Only Christianity offers grace void of self-effort giving rest to the weary soul. Only Christianity offers true insight, the reality of inner peace, and a theology whose goal is eternity with Christ.
Buddhism is an empty, hopeless religion based on a philosophy that panders to an ethical morality void of its reality. The readings of the Dharma (right teaching), the Sutras ( divine reading ) and personal meditation are focused on the self and forgets there is a world to save.
This is why the West with its commitment to the Christian faith provided the outward focus of serving and helping others resulting in social improvement in the name of Christ. The East on the other hand, lacked the motivation to help its fellow man and the altruism necessary for the common good because it could not see beyond its own navel. Its focus on the inward quest is the result of a belief in the absence of God and fails to motivate its adherents to show mercy, or have compassion on others.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Healing - Is There Another Way?
Scriptural Methods for Healing
Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch all offer alternative ways to experience healing. What does the Bible say are God's method's for healing?
It has been noticed, in relation to other spiritual experiences, that God is a God of variety. His methods are not stereotyped by any means. This is true also in relation to the manner in which Divine Healing is administered. The following are six different ways in which people receive healing from the Lord.
A. Pray for Yourself.
James 5:13 says: “Is any among you afflicted, let him pray.” Apparently, it is scriptural to pray for yourself when afflicted.
B. Ask Someone Else to Pray for you.
James 5:16 instructs: “… pray one for another that ye may be healed.” Any sincere Christian who believes can pray for another. No ministerial credentials nor special gifts of the Spirit are necessary.
C. Call for the Elders of the Church. James 5:14-16 has often been called the New Testament Healing Covenant.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for an other, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
This should be the regular procedure for those in fellowship with a local church. These verses clearly teach that God is no respecter of persons, but that all may be healed. The promise stipulates “Is any sick among you?” There is no discrimination whatever. It is God's Will to heal any and all who will call. “The prayer of faith” would be that prayer offered by the elders. There is a responsibility resting upon them. The sick exercises his faith when he calls for the elders. The elders pray the prayer of faith. Some have gone so far as to say that the elders were supposed to “massage” the sick person with oil, and this was the cause of his recovery. There certainly is no oil known to medical science which can guarantee healing, regardless of what the affliction is.
The text does not say that the oil healed the sick; it was “the prayer of faith,” “and the Lord will raise him.” We believe the oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, Who quickens our mortal body (Rom 8:11). Some associate the oil, as the means of healing, with Hezekiah's poultice of figs (2 Kings 20:7). It is amazing how people can have more faith in a little oil, or in a bunch of figs, than they do in the Power of God!
D. By Laying On of Hands.
“These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name … they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17,18). It should be carefully noted here, that no mention is made of anointing with oil, or of praying for the sick. All that is said is that those who believe shall lay their hands on the sick in the name of Jesus. This is the method which Jesus used on a number of occasions. In the following scriptures Jesus is said to have touched the sick, or laid His hand or hands upon them: Matt 8:15; Mark 6:5; 8:23,25; Luke 4:40; 5:13; 13:13. Today, when the believing one lays his hands on the sick in the name of Jesus, it is as though the hands of Jesus were laid thereon.
E. Special Miracles Through Handkerchiefs and Aprons.
“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11,12). These were “special miracles” in that there were no scriptural instructions concerning them. Paul must have simply been guided by the Holy Spirit in this matter. Many churches have followed a similar pattern and have given out small pieces of cloth, over which prayer has been made, and sometimes they have been anointed with oil. Some most remarkable miracles have been reported from the use of this method. It is understood that the “prayer cloth” has no virtue in itself, but provides an act of faith by which one's attention is directed to the Lord Who is the Great Physician.
F. Spiritual Gifts of Healing.
“For to one is given by the Spirit … to another the gifts of healing …” (1 Cor 12:9). “God hath set some in the church … then gifts of healings …” (1 Cor 12:28). Inasmuch as this subject is covered thoroughly under the Gifts of the Spirit, it will not be elaborated on here. Two things are of special interest. First, this is the only gift of the Spirit which is in the plural. Suggested reasons for this are given in the study of the gifts. Second, in the list of healings wrought through the Apostles as recorded in the book of Acts, previously listed in this chapter, it is of interest that in no case did the apostles pray for the sick to be healed. In several cases, there was prayer about the sick person; but, the healing seemed to be administered by the power which had been given them for this ministry. They probably had the “gifts of healing.”
Scriptural Methods for Healing
Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch all offer alternative ways to experience healing. What does the Bible say are God's method's for healing?
It has been noticed, in relation to other spiritual experiences, that God is a God of variety. His methods are not stereotyped by any means. This is true also in relation to the manner in which Divine Healing is administered. The following are six different ways in which people receive healing from the Lord.
A. Pray for Yourself.
James 5:13 says: “Is any among you afflicted, let him pray.” Apparently, it is scriptural to pray for yourself when afflicted.
B. Ask Someone Else to Pray for you.
James 5:16 instructs: “… pray one for another that ye may be healed.” Any sincere Christian who believes can pray for another. No ministerial credentials nor special gifts of the Spirit are necessary.
C. Call for the Elders of the Church. James 5:14-16 has often been called the New Testament Healing Covenant.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for an other, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
This should be the regular procedure for those in fellowship with a local church. These verses clearly teach that God is no respecter of persons, but that all may be healed. The promise stipulates “Is any sick among you?” There is no discrimination whatever. It is God's Will to heal any and all who will call. “The prayer of faith” would be that prayer offered by the elders. There is a responsibility resting upon them. The sick exercises his faith when he calls for the elders. The elders pray the prayer of faith. Some have gone so far as to say that the elders were supposed to “massage” the sick person with oil, and this was the cause of his recovery. There certainly is no oil known to medical science which can guarantee healing, regardless of what the affliction is.
The text does not say that the oil healed the sick; it was “the prayer of faith,” “and the Lord will raise him.” We believe the oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, Who quickens our mortal body (Rom 8:11). Some associate the oil, as the means of healing, with Hezekiah's poultice of figs (2 Kings 20:7). It is amazing how people can have more faith in a little oil, or in a bunch of figs, than they do in the Power of God!
D. By Laying On of Hands.
“These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name … they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17,18). It should be carefully noted here, that no mention is made of anointing with oil, or of praying for the sick. All that is said is that those who believe shall lay their hands on the sick in the name of Jesus. This is the method which Jesus used on a number of occasions. In the following scriptures Jesus is said to have touched the sick, or laid His hand or hands upon them: Matt 8:15; Mark 6:5; 8:23,25; Luke 4:40; 5:13; 13:13. Today, when the believing one lays his hands on the sick in the name of Jesus, it is as though the hands of Jesus were laid thereon.
E. Special Miracles Through Handkerchiefs and Aprons.
“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11,12). These were “special miracles” in that there were no scriptural instructions concerning them. Paul must have simply been guided by the Holy Spirit in this matter. Many churches have followed a similar pattern and have given out small pieces of cloth, over which prayer has been made, and sometimes they have been anointed with oil. Some most remarkable miracles have been reported from the use of this method. It is understood that the “prayer cloth” has no virtue in itself, but provides an act of faith by which one's attention is directed to the Lord Who is the Great Physician.
F. Spiritual Gifts of Healing.
“For to one is given by the Spirit … to another the gifts of healing …” (1 Cor 12:9). “God hath set some in the church … then gifts of healings …” (1 Cor 12:28). Inasmuch as this subject is covered thoroughly under the Gifts of the Spirit, it will not be elaborated on here. Two things are of special interest. First, this is the only gift of the Spirit which is in the plural. Suggested reasons for this are given in the study of the gifts. Second, in the list of healings wrought through the Apostles as recorded in the book of Acts, previously listed in this chapter, it is of interest that in no case did the apostles pray for the sick to be healed. In several cases, there was prayer about the sick person; but, the healing seemed to be administered by the power which had been given them for this ministry. They probably had the “gifts of healing.”
Friday, May 28, 2010
Growth of the Occult
Health Care, the Growing Edge of the Occult
You may ask “How did you happen to write a book on “The Occult Invasion of Health Care?
a. My Experience. I worked as a pastor for 20 years and 9 years as a health care chaplain. My supervisor practiced Wicca/Reiki Master and subtly pressured the entire nursing staff to take training in Reiki. * Except for me because she knew that I was a born again Christian and Reiki would have no effect on me. In fact I would serve as a barrier to her success in training the rest of the staff.
b. Because I taught Parish Nursing classes. All of these nurses were Christians who wanted to work in the framework of the church. My subject matter was “Touch Therapies” Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch. (Which I will talk about more later.)
Most of these nurses were aware of touch therapies and many had received training from their jobs at the hospital or hospice in them. However, no one had made them aware of the spirituality connected with touch therapies and when I was finished with the class; they were in a quandary as to how they could respond in their jobs where they were expected to practice Reiki Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch.
c. I wrote this book because touch therapies are growing at a rapid pace in our hospital(25%) and hospice environments and by and large people are unaware of their diabolical nature.
The occult is comng to our health care system. No longer is it relegated to books, movies and television genres. The occult is stepping out of the celluoid shadows into the daylight of our society. Christians have a responsibility to do as I have done and make others aware of the growing edge of the occult, not only in health care but in every area of society in which it makes its advance.
Health Care, the Growing Edge of the Occult
You may ask “How did you happen to write a book on “The Occult Invasion of Health Care?
a. My Experience. I worked as a pastor for 20 years and 9 years as a health care chaplain. My supervisor practiced Wicca/Reiki Master and subtly pressured the entire nursing staff to take training in Reiki. * Except for me because she knew that I was a born again Christian and Reiki would have no effect on me. In fact I would serve as a barrier to her success in training the rest of the staff.
b. Because I taught Parish Nursing classes. All of these nurses were Christians who wanted to work in the framework of the church. My subject matter was “Touch Therapies” Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch. (Which I will talk about more later.)
Most of these nurses were aware of touch therapies and many had received training from their jobs at the hospital or hospice in them. However, no one had made them aware of the spirituality connected with touch therapies and when I was finished with the class; they were in a quandary as to how they could respond in their jobs where they were expected to practice Reiki Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch.
c. I wrote this book because touch therapies are growing at a rapid pace in our hospital(25%) and hospice environments and by and large people are unaware of their diabolical nature.
The occult is comng to our health care system. No longer is it relegated to books, movies and television genres. The occult is stepping out of the celluoid shadows into the daylight of our society. Christians have a responsibility to do as I have done and make others aware of the growing edge of the occult, not only in health care but in every area of society in which it makes its advance.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Spiritual Autopsy
The Death of Chaplaincy in Health CareYou may have ask yourself, don't hospitals and hospices hire Chaplains. Aren't they providing pastoral care?
The role of Chaplain has been emasculated, become impotent.
- Pastoral care has become "spiritual care".
- Differentiates religion from spirituality. Religion = practices and rituals. Spirituality = emotional well-being,
devotion to nature, family and whatever else brings peace and freedom from anxiety.
- I call it "the cult of spiritual care" because it is based on a belief system with its own clergy. It is very
controlling and manipulates others.
- Cannot share their personal faith in Christ
- Must support all faiths or lack of faith and reassure people.
- Cannot use their theological training.
- Have become "spiritual social workers".
- Have to embrace alternative care!
**My testimony. One man cursed me when I walked in the door and yelled for sometime. His wife was embarrassed. I ended up talking with him about a mutual interest – fishing – he died two days later and I never had the chance to tell him about Christ.
Christian, chaplaincy is no longer about pastoral care, its about calming and comforting agitated , depressed or anxious patients. This is a sad state because the spiritual power of the ministry has been ripped away from the powerful role of the chaplain and they have been stripped of their former efficacy. I know this because of my work as a chaplain for over nine years. We must pray that the chaplains who do know Christ will once again find the place to reclaim the ministry of Jesus Christ in our health care system.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Chakras
Center of the Soul
Within the context of all Touch Therapies: Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch is the common belief in imaginary structures within the body called Chakras, Meridian Line and Marma Points. What are these structures exactly and why are they called imaginary?
Practioner’s of Touch Therapies borrow this terminology heavily from Eastern Religion and philosophy. It is primarily rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and its influence from Taoism as well as Buddhism and Hinduism. The theory goes something like this:
• Chakras: Within the body are seven energy vortexes or ports that receive energy from the Universal life force. These ports begin with the crown of the head, the neck, the solar plexus, the genitalia and so forth down the body. The idea of a Universal Life Force is primarily a Buddhist idea based on the Pantheistic idea that ‘god is all and all is god’ This force is radiated from all living things and empowered by the life force of all living elements together. As the flood of Buddhism conquered the East, the idea of the chakra system became of common feature of Hinduism and folk religion as well.
• Meridian Lines: Meridian lines evolved largely from Traditional Chinese Medicine and practices such as Chinese massage, acupuncture and acupressure. The idea is that there are 12 primary and 2 secondary energy lines that connect with the chakra system and act as conduits to move the Universal Life Force energy from the chakras throughout the human body to each of the major organ systems in order to effect their healing power. Of course there is absolutely no medical evidence that chakras or meridian lines even exist.
• Marma Points: Meridian lines are the 450 where the power of the Universal Life Force is directly absorbed from the Meridian Lines into specific points needing the efficacy of healing power. This is a major concept behind the ideas expressed in acupuncture, Chinese Massage and even many Chiropractic techniques.
There is absolutely no medical information to support the theory of the Chakra System and continues at best to be a religious belief based on Pantheism and its concept of the Universal Life Force.
The only life force that we as Christians are to be connected to is the life force as found in the saving work of Christ on the Cross. His resurrection is the life force which promises us complete healing and guarantees our resurrection as well. Christian understand their relationship to their Creator . . . He is God and beside Him there is no other. We also understand that the Universal Life Force is under the supervision of Satan, after all, he is the “Prince and Power of the Air”.
Millions involved in Hinduism, Buddhism and Traditional Chinese medicine have been blinded by the “god of this world”. They desperately need Christ and we have a responsibility to help them find Him.
Center of the Soul
Within the context of all Touch Therapies: Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch is the common belief in imaginary structures within the body called Chakras, Meridian Line and Marma Points. What are these structures exactly and why are they called imaginary?
Practioner’s of Touch Therapies borrow this terminology heavily from Eastern Religion and philosophy. It is primarily rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and its influence from Taoism as well as Buddhism and Hinduism. The theory goes something like this:
• Chakras: Within the body are seven energy vortexes or ports that receive energy from the Universal life force. These ports begin with the crown of the head, the neck, the solar plexus, the genitalia and so forth down the body. The idea of a Universal Life Force is primarily a Buddhist idea based on the Pantheistic idea that ‘god is all and all is god’ This force is radiated from all living things and empowered by the life force of all living elements together. As the flood of Buddhism conquered the East, the idea of the chakra system became of common feature of Hinduism and folk religion as well.
• Meridian Lines: Meridian lines evolved largely from Traditional Chinese Medicine and practices such as Chinese massage, acupuncture and acupressure. The idea is that there are 12 primary and 2 secondary energy lines that connect with the chakra system and act as conduits to move the Universal Life Force energy from the chakras throughout the human body to each of the major organ systems in order to effect their healing power. Of course there is absolutely no medical evidence that chakras or meridian lines even exist.
• Marma Points: Meridian lines are the 450 where the power of the Universal Life Force is directly absorbed from the Meridian Lines into specific points needing the efficacy of healing power. This is a major concept behind the ideas expressed in acupuncture, Chinese Massage and even many Chiropractic techniques.
There is absolutely no medical information to support the theory of the Chakra System and continues at best to be a religious belief based on Pantheism and its concept of the Universal Life Force.
The only life force that we as Christians are to be connected to is the life force as found in the saving work of Christ on the Cross. His resurrection is the life force which promises us complete healing and guarantees our resurrection as well. Christian understand their relationship to their Creator . . . He is God and beside Him there is no other. We also understand that the Universal Life Force is under the supervision of Satan, after all, he is the “Prince and Power of the Air”.
Millions involved in Hinduism, Buddhism and Traditional Chinese medicine have been blinded by the “god of this world”. They desperately need Christ and we have a responsibility to help them find Him.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Spread of the Occult
Media Spearheads Occult Influx
A plethora of Occult themes is being spearheaded by the multi-media. For instance: our movie theaters have led the charge of the occult invasion for years. Who can forget the lines of people who stood outside theaters to watch the 70’s movie the Exorcist? Yes, there have been fright flicks before has for years among these being hoax films such as various films about Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, the mummy and other cult movies. However, these were poorly done and did not carry the same weight of demonic presence as those films that followed from the 70’s to the present. Some of these satanically devised films that followed were:
• Children of the Corn
• Rosemary’s Baby
• Halloween
• Amityville Horror
• Pet Cemetery
• Nightmare On Elm Street
• The Shinning
• Salem’s Lot
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre
• Last House on the Left
• Ghost
• Twilight
• Eclipse
• New Moon
• Paranormal Activity
Just to name a few:
Television started off with some rather cute shows like:
• Bewitched
• I Dream of Jeannie
• The Munsters
• The Adams Family
But then moved on to:
• Dark Shadows
• The Mentalist
• Medium
• Ghost Whisperer
• Paranormal
• Most Haunted
• The Haunting
• Supernatural
• Charmed
To Name a Few.
Why do people flock to these films and television shows? Some say that its because people like to be scared. However, I say that its more than that. People are curious about the occult. Each of us has a longing for spiritual things. Unfortunately, those without Christ flock to spiritualistic entertainment because it fills void in their lives. Descartes, the French mathematician said “that in every man is a God shaped void that can only be filled by God Himself.” How true. But I believe that if people do not turn to God to fill this void, they often turn to the occult to find its fullness.
The Bible is explicit in its condemnation of involvement with the occult or playing around its fringes, Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states “There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God will drive them out from before you.
Television and movies may seem harmless but they are not. The multi-media exposes all of us to the occult and creates a desensitization within our psyche as to its dangers. They mollify us and put us to sleep. May Christians everywhere wake from its trance-like induced state and make other choices in the field of entertainment. May unbelievers realize the futileness of turning to false spirituality to fill their God-shaped void.
Media Spearheads Occult Influx
A plethora of Occult themes is being spearheaded by the multi-media. For instance: our movie theaters have led the charge of the occult invasion for years. Who can forget the lines of people who stood outside theaters to watch the 70’s movie the Exorcist? Yes, there have been fright flicks before has for years among these being hoax films such as various films about Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, the mummy and other cult movies. However, these were poorly done and did not carry the same weight of demonic presence as those films that followed from the 70’s to the present. Some of these satanically devised films that followed were:
• Children of the Corn
• Rosemary’s Baby
• Halloween
• Amityville Horror
• Pet Cemetery
• Nightmare On Elm Street
• The Shinning
• Salem’s Lot
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre
• Last House on the Left
• Ghost
• Twilight
• Eclipse
• New Moon
• Paranormal Activity
Just to name a few:
Television started off with some rather cute shows like:
• Bewitched
• I Dream of Jeannie
• The Munsters
• The Adams Family
But then moved on to:
• Dark Shadows
• The Mentalist
• Medium
• Ghost Whisperer
• Paranormal
• Most Haunted
• The Haunting
• Supernatural
• Charmed
To Name a Few.
Why do people flock to these films and television shows? Some say that its because people like to be scared. However, I say that its more than that. People are curious about the occult. Each of us has a longing for spiritual things. Unfortunately, those without Christ flock to spiritualistic entertainment because it fills void in their lives. Descartes, the French mathematician said “that in every man is a God shaped void that can only be filled by God Himself.” How true. But I believe that if people do not turn to God to fill this void, they often turn to the occult to find its fullness.
The Bible is explicit in its condemnation of involvement with the occult or playing around its fringes, Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states “There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God will drive them out from before you.
Television and movies may seem harmless but they are not. The multi-media exposes all of us to the occult and creates a desensitization within our psyche as to its dangers. They mollify us and put us to sleep. May Christians everywhere wake from its trance-like induced state and make other choices in the field of entertainment. May unbelievers realize the futileness of turning to false spirituality to fill their God-shaped void.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Demons and the Occult
The Doctrine of Demons
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 1:4)
"In the last days people will depart from the faith". Faith here is either Christian doctrine or the Christian faith as a religious movement. For discussion see 1 Tim 1:2 and 3:9. As in those two passages it is more likely that Christian doctrine (or, teachings) is meant here in 4:1, too. Depart comes from a Greek verb from which is derived the word "apostasy" and which literally means "to stand off from." It refers primarily to the act of turning away from what is accepted by the community as true belief, hence "abandon" (TEV), "turn from" (CEV), "renounce" (NRSV), "desert" (NJB), "forsake" (REB). An alternative translation model for depart from the faith is "stop believing in (or, renounce) the Christian teachings."
The cause of their apostasy is that they "will obey" deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. Giving heed translates a participle that means "pay attention to" (NRSV), both in terms of mental assent (for example REB "surrender their minds") and of action (hence TEV "obey . . . follow"). Deceitful comes from a word that means "erroneous," "wrong," "misleading," hence TEV "lying." These spirits are contrasted with the Spirit, who is the source of true teaching. See 1 Tim 3:16 for a discussion of "Spirit" and "spirits."
The two expressions deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons are obviously related, but the relationship is not all that clear. Ways of defining their relationship are as follows:
(1) The spirits and demons may be taken as parallel and as referring to evil spirits. The whole expression can then be restructured as "the teachings of deceitful demonic (or evil) spirits," or "deceitful demonic spirits and their doctrines," or even "deceitful evil spirits and their demonic doctrines."
(2) The spirits may refer to the false teachers, and their teachings are described as doctrines of demons. In this sense the spirits are identical with the liars in verse 2. No translation has chosen this alternative, however.
(3) The spirits may refer to evil spirits, while doctrines of demons can be taken as human teachings that are inspired by demonic forces. The translation that comes closest to this position is REB: "subversive spirits and demon-inspired doctrines." It is recommended by this Handbook that translators follow this interpretation.
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
God's Spirit clearly says (or, states) that in these last days some people will stop believing the Christian teachings; they will instead obey false teachings inspired by lying evil (or, dirty) spirits (or, demons).
The way that the doctrine of demons is taught is through people who have sold themselves to their false belief systems. Some of these teachers are found among the cults such as: Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science and hosts of others. Some teach the doctrine of demons among occult practices like: Satanism, Spiritism, Witchcraft and the New Age Movement. Still others teach the doctrine of demons through alternative medicine like Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch.
Christians, wherever you are it is certain that many will attempt to seduce you into abandoning your faith. Be warned, these are nothing more than evil, lying, deceitful spirits who goal is to entrap you into abandoning the faith.
The Doctrine of Demons
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 1:4)
"In the last days people will depart from the faith". Faith here is either Christian doctrine or the Christian faith as a religious movement. For discussion see 1 Tim 1:2 and 3:9. As in those two passages it is more likely that Christian doctrine (or, teachings) is meant here in 4:1, too. Depart comes from a Greek verb from which is derived the word "apostasy" and which literally means "to stand off from." It refers primarily to the act of turning away from what is accepted by the community as true belief, hence "abandon" (TEV), "turn from" (CEV), "renounce" (NRSV), "desert" (NJB), "forsake" (REB). An alternative translation model for depart from the faith is "stop believing in (or, renounce) the Christian teachings."
The cause of their apostasy is that they "will obey" deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. Giving heed translates a participle that means "pay attention to" (NRSV), both in terms of mental assent (for example REB "surrender their minds") and of action (hence TEV "obey . . . follow"). Deceitful comes from a word that means "erroneous," "wrong," "misleading," hence TEV "lying." These spirits are contrasted with the Spirit, who is the source of true teaching. See 1 Tim 3:16 for a discussion of "Spirit" and "spirits."
The two expressions deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons are obviously related, but the relationship is not all that clear. Ways of defining their relationship are as follows:
(1) The spirits and demons may be taken as parallel and as referring to evil spirits. The whole expression can then be restructured as "the teachings of deceitful demonic (or evil) spirits," or "deceitful demonic spirits and their doctrines," or even "deceitful evil spirits and their demonic doctrines."
(2) The spirits may refer to the false teachers, and their teachings are described as doctrines of demons. In this sense the spirits are identical with the liars in verse 2. No translation has chosen this alternative, however.
(3) The spirits may refer to evil spirits, while doctrines of demons can be taken as human teachings that are inspired by demonic forces. The translation that comes closest to this position is REB: "subversive spirits and demon-inspired doctrines." It is recommended by this Handbook that translators follow this interpretation.
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
God's Spirit clearly says (or, states) that in these last days some people will stop believing the Christian teachings; they will instead obey false teachings inspired by lying evil (or, dirty) spirits (or, demons).
The way that the doctrine of demons is taught is through people who have sold themselves to their false belief systems. Some of these teachers are found among the cults such as: Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science and hosts of others. Some teach the doctrine of demons among occult practices like: Satanism, Spiritism, Witchcraft and the New Age Movement. Still others teach the doctrine of demons through alternative medicine like Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch.
Christians, wherever you are it is certain that many will attempt to seduce you into abandoning your faith. Be warned, these are nothing more than evil, lying, deceitful spirits who goal is to entrap you into abandoning the faith.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Embracing the Darkness
A Personal Testimony
I was barely aware of touch therapies before I became a chaplain. I had heard of Healing Touch and knew there was something wrong with it innately. But it was only when I became a chaplain that I began to see the emergence of a new kind of spirituality creeping into chaplaincy which was traditionally a Christian vocation.
I began working in hospice where for the first time I encountered a new "medical modality" or alternative therapy called "Reiki". Reiki, I discovered, was founded by a Japanese man who had been a former Bible College professor, forsook his Christian faith and returned to Buddhism. In that context, he received a vision that gave him the power to heal.
Hospice not only encouraged the practice of Reiki, but the supervisory staff strongly encouraged all disciplines to take Reiki training and use it in the treatment of their patients. As a chaplain, I was also encouraged to take Reiki training but decided not to participate. I knew that the practice of Reiki encouraged contact with "spirit guides", energy therapy, and a Buddhist world view which I wanted nothing to do with as a believer in Christ Jesus. As a believer in Christ, I knew that Reiki stood in opposition to my faith.
The horrible difficulty that I encountered was with was when the organization I worked for differentiated between the "pastoral care" and "spiritual care". Pastoral care they said, "included all the rite, rituals and practices of organized religion (or the church). Spiritual Care on the other hand was "tolerant" of all faith and appealed to the spirit of the individual through the means of stressing the blessing of family, the transcendence of nature, the values and particular path one took to God (all being equally valid), or in not being religious at all one could still be spiritual.
It was my duty as a chaplain to leave the premises of ante-dated pastoral care and embrace the practice of the new spirituality. In fact, the new spirituality was valued so greatly by management that I was prohibited to share my faith in Christ upon pains of being called "judgmental" and being fired from my job. I knew that by doing so, I was embracing the darkness of Eastern religion, a religion whose goal is annihilation and a religion without hope and without Christ. I found that in good conscience I could not embrace the new spirituality.
As my workplace got deeper into the realms of the new spirituality they introduced other alternative therapies such as Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch, both branches of Eastern Religion and a nice mix of cult and occult practices. I found that I could no longer work in such an environment. Daily, I felt "pricked in my heart" by the voice of the Holy Spirit that I needed leave this environment. Not only did my job environment require me to embrace the new spirituality but it forced me to deny my faith in Christ and embrace a spirituality that was contradictory to the integrity of my own beliefs. It also forced me to mislead and misguide those who were near death with a gospel other than the gospel of Christ. I found this intolerable and am happy to day to be able to declare the name of our Living Lord, Jesus Christ without impunity.
A Personal Testimony
I was barely aware of touch therapies before I became a chaplain. I had heard of Healing Touch and knew there was something wrong with it innately. But it was only when I became a chaplain that I began to see the emergence of a new kind of spirituality creeping into chaplaincy which was traditionally a Christian vocation.
I began working in hospice where for the first time I encountered a new "medical modality" or alternative therapy called "Reiki". Reiki, I discovered, was founded by a Japanese man who had been a former Bible College professor, forsook his Christian faith and returned to Buddhism. In that context, he received a vision that gave him the power to heal.
Hospice not only encouraged the practice of Reiki, but the supervisory staff strongly encouraged all disciplines to take Reiki training and use it in the treatment of their patients. As a chaplain, I was also encouraged to take Reiki training but decided not to participate. I knew that the practice of Reiki encouraged contact with "spirit guides", energy therapy, and a Buddhist world view which I wanted nothing to do with as a believer in Christ Jesus. As a believer in Christ, I knew that Reiki stood in opposition to my faith.
The horrible difficulty that I encountered was with was when the organization I worked for differentiated between the "pastoral care" and "spiritual care". Pastoral care they said, "included all the rite, rituals and practices of organized religion (or the church). Spiritual Care on the other hand was "tolerant" of all faith and appealed to the spirit of the individual through the means of stressing the blessing of family, the transcendence of nature, the values and particular path one took to God (all being equally valid), or in not being religious at all one could still be spiritual.
It was my duty as a chaplain to leave the premises of ante-dated pastoral care and embrace the practice of the new spirituality. In fact, the new spirituality was valued so greatly by management that I was prohibited to share my faith in Christ upon pains of being called "judgmental" and being fired from my job. I knew that by doing so, I was embracing the darkness of Eastern religion, a religion whose goal is annihilation and a religion without hope and without Christ. I found that in good conscience I could not embrace the new spirituality.
As my workplace got deeper into the realms of the new spirituality they introduced other alternative therapies such as Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch, both branches of Eastern Religion and a nice mix of cult and occult practices. I found that I could no longer work in such an environment. Daily, I felt "pricked in my heart" by the voice of the Holy Spirit that I needed leave this environment. Not only did my job environment require me to embrace the new spirituality but it forced me to deny my faith in Christ and embrace a spirituality that was contradictory to the integrity of my own beliefs. It also forced me to mislead and misguide those who were near death with a gospel other than the gospel of Christ. I found this intolerable and am happy to day to be able to declare the name of our Living Lord, Jesus Christ without impunity.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Housewife Who
Confounded Two Countries Mrs. Lenora Piper
In the city of Boston in 1885, Mrs. Leonora E. Piper, wife of a Boston merchant, and possessed of but limited education, began what was to be a 40 year career as a spiritualistic medium, a career which was to be confounded the best minds in psychic research in both the United States and Europe with scientifically validated evidence which has never been refuted. Mrs. Piper became interested in spiritism after visiting a clairvoyant for the relief of severe pain after the birth of her first child. It was during sessions with and she lapsed into trances during which. She could answer with amazing accuracy questions concerning persons who had died.
For some 26 years she continued under the various spirits controls that possessed her during her trances as a medium and stopped only 1911 when the spirits suggested that her health would not bear the strain of their manifestation. In 1924 Mrs. Piper conducted a special series of séances and the records of these séances run more than 3000 pages in length with a fantastic score for accuracy.
Mrs. Piper gave some 88 sittings, for example, carefully observed at all times by members of the British Society for psychic research. Prof. Oliver Lodge, later Sir Oliver Lodge, one of England's most brilliant scientist and a careful psychic investigator, complied a checklist complied a checklist compiled a checklist of some 41 specific incidences were in Mrs. Piper stated facts and general information concerning those who attended her séances, facts which were unknown to those persons at the very time the séances were in session! This was carefully verified in his beyond reputation.
Mrs. Piper also had the amazing capacity to find lost objects and to relate incidents which were taking place menu hundreds of miles away from where she was in a trance. Prof. William James testified to this when Mrs. Piper informed him that his handsome living over 200 miles away in New York had died earlier that very morning. According to James: "On reaching home an hour later I found a telegram reading as follows: aunt Kate passed away a few minutes after midnight."
Dr. James, undaunted by Mrs. Piper's capabilities, went so far as to bring visiting professors from foreign universities with the Mrs. Piper was not acquainted only to have her give the correct names of the professors, some of their parents, from which they died. James once wrote of her:
I now believe her to be in possession of the power as yet unexplained.
The British Society for psychic research enlisted the aid of detectives and investigators who observed Mrs. Piper under all conditions while she was in England, and Dr. Richard Hodgson, during the course of three months of exhaustive investigation. During the course of that investigation she told them the exact movements of persons in distant cities, and at another time under the control of the Spirit who identified himself as George Pelleuw, Mrs. Piper informed Dr. Hodgson of events and facts which were subsequently verified by more than 30 of Pelleuw's friends. Pelleuw correctly rejected more than 100 persons claiming to have known him in life and showed only those whom he had known!
Under the control of Pelleuw, Mrs. Piper translated perfectly a Greek phrase composed on the spur of the moment by classical Greek scholar. Mrs. Piper knew no Greek whatever, but George Pelleuw did. She also reported under Pelleuw's control with complete accuracy what Pelleuw's father, who lived in another city, was doing at that moment.
Prof. James Hyslop of Columbia University was totally the world are by Mrs. Piper win with the cooperation of Dr. Hodgson, he interviewed Mrs. Piper in science 17 times, only to be told by her his correct name in perfect answers to the questions which he addressed to her though she could not possibly have an access to the answers. Dr. Hyslop ended up believing that through Mrs. Piper he had actually communicated with the spirit of his department father!
Mrs. Piper herself believed that the powers which he possessed were not supernatural. In fact, she stated:
"I never heard of anything being said by myself during the trance which might not have been latent in my own mind or in the mind of the sitters or in the mind of some absent person alive somewhere else in the world. The theory of telepathy strongly appeals to me as the most plausible solution of the problem."
Despite this modest statement Mrs. Piper convinced Sir Oliver Lodge, Sir William crooks, Dr. William James, Dr. Hodgson and Dr. Hyslop , after more than fit $150,000 was spent on the most prolonged investigation in the history of psychic research, that she was indeed possessed of supernatural capacities and as the American Mercury pointed out, "Mrs. Piper is the only famous medium against whom no charger fraud was ever brought."
Conclusion
Evidence such as this cannot be dismissed but must indeed be studied carefully and will, I believe, demonstrate beyond the question of the doubt not only the existence of a spiritual dimension of reality of which the Bible speaks consistently but other capacity of some to penetrate this dimension. In the terms of Scripture such penetration can only culminate in a liaison with the forces of darkness of whom, in the light of Scripture, Mrs. Piper was a vehicle of communication.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Spirit Guides
Angels or Demonic Visitors?
Some mediums claim a spirit guide is a highly evolved spirit with the sole purpose of helping the medium develop and use their skills. The mediums claim they assist in following their spiritual path. Other mediums claim a spirit guide is one who brings other spirits to a medium's attention or carries communications between a medium and the spirits of the dead. Many mediums claim to have specific guides who regularly work with them and "bring in" spirits of the dead. Some mediums claim that spirits of the dead will communicate with them directly without the use of a spirit guide .
The relationship between the medium and the guide may be providential, or it may be based on family ties. In 1958, the English-born Spiritualist C. Dorreen Phillips wrote of her experiences with a medium at Camp Chesterfield, Indiana: "In Rev. James Laughton's seances there are many Indians. They are very noisy and appear to have great power. The little guides, or doorkeepers, are usually Indian boys and girls who act as messengers who help to locate the spirit friends who wish to speak with you." Then, describing the mediumship of Rev. Lillian Dee Johnson of Saint Petersburg, Florida, she noted, "Mandy Lou is Rev. Johnson's guide. She was, on earth, a slave to Rev. Johnson's grandmother."
Many practitioners of touch therapies such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch often claim that their spirit guides are angels in attempt to make their clients feel more comfortable. However, as believers in Christ Jesus we know that the only angel they are contacting are "fallen angels" or demonic spirit guides. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
Peter and Jude discuss the reality of these angels. 1 Peter 2:4 reminds us about the reality of such angels, "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment". Jude 6 repeats the reality of such demonic visitors. He refers to those same demonic familiars that 1 Peter warns about, "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
We need to be aware that when touch therapists talk about spirit guides they are instead talking about fallen angels who are in fact nothing more than demonic spirits. I leave you with this admonition, "Be sober, be vigilant. . . " (1 Peter 5:8).
Angels or Demonic Visitors?
Some mediums claim a spirit guide is a highly evolved spirit with the sole purpose of helping the medium develop and use their skills. The mediums claim they assist in following their spiritual path. Other mediums claim a spirit guide is one who brings other spirits to a medium's attention or carries communications between a medium and the spirits of the dead. Many mediums claim to have specific guides who regularly work with them and "bring in" spirits of the dead. Some mediums claim that spirits of the dead will communicate with them directly without the use of a spirit guide .
The relationship between the medium and the guide may be providential, or it may be based on family ties. In 1958, the English-born Spiritualist C. Dorreen Phillips wrote of her experiences with a medium at Camp Chesterfield, Indiana: "In Rev. James Laughton's seances there are many Indians. They are very noisy and appear to have great power. The little guides, or doorkeepers, are usually Indian boys and girls who act as messengers who help to locate the spirit friends who wish to speak with you." Then, describing the mediumship of Rev. Lillian Dee Johnson of Saint Petersburg, Florida, she noted, "Mandy Lou is Rev. Johnson's guide. She was, on earth, a slave to Rev. Johnson's grandmother."
Many practitioners of touch therapies such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch often claim that their spirit guides are angels in attempt to make their clients feel more comfortable. However, as believers in Christ Jesus we know that the only angel they are contacting are "fallen angels" or demonic spirit guides. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
Peter and Jude discuss the reality of these angels. 1 Peter 2:4 reminds us about the reality of such angels, "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment". Jude 6 repeats the reality of such demonic visitors. He refers to those same demonic familiars that 1 Peter warns about, "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
We need to be aware that when touch therapists talk about spirit guides they are instead talking about fallen angels who are in fact nothing more than demonic spirits. I leave you with this admonition, "Be sober, be vigilant. . . " (1 Peter 5:8).
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
What's Behind All the
Crystal and Aroma Therapies?Crystal Reiki
The use of stones, minerals, and crystals in the arts of healing date tackle literally to the Stone Age. Evidence of such healing is found in the traditions of shamanism as well as in documents dating back to ancient Egypt, Sumer, and Greece, which list different stones and their metaphysical properties when carried or worn. These cultures all had traditions of Magick, crafting talismans, and charms from the stones and empowering them with divine blessings to catalyze their natural spiritual properties .The art of Crystal healing found his way into the New Age movement and eventually into the healing traditions of Reiki. I'm not surprised, as the two systems are very complementary and compatible.
Plant Reiki
Reiki is compatible with our allies from the mineral world, and it is equally helpful with our green allies in the plant world. The Magic of herbs and trees is powerful for healing and transformation. The first healers were the medicine folk who knew the herbs, medically and spiritually. Some Reiki treatments from the green world involve herbal medicine, aroma therapy, and the essential oils which are made from the base of flower essences.
Both of these therapies are widely used throughout Hospice and in many hospitals. Its easy to get "sucked in" to crystal Reiki because the stones are so beautiful. Its equally as easy to get involved in the pleasing scents of aroma therapy and essential oils. On the surface, nothing may seem wrong with enjoying these elements of nature but if we understand the spiritual origins of these therapies we will want to be very careful as believers how we participate in them. I Peter 5:8 reminds us, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Friday, April 23, 2010
Reiki and Ghosts
What Reiki Practitioners Believe
Reiki can give the practitioner a greater awareness of the spirit world, but it can also be used to heal those trapped between worlds without physical bodies to touch. More and more we hear about people using Reiki for exorcisms, house protection, cleansing, and banishing unwanted spirits. This is a natural extension of the healing process of Reiki.
Most cultures have a concept of ghosts, or unsettled spirits, the souls of the living who resist crossing to the next existence when the physical body dies. Sometimes these souls are obsessed with something, and are trying to finish it but can't with the body. Usually, ghosts are simply stuck and most often times need help to continue on to the next world war return to its source.
Increased Awareness
Once you start contacting spirits your awareness will keep increasing and expanding in all levels of your life. On occasion, you will discover spirits are sending you messages in your everyday life.
Your Connection in A Different Place
Sometimes when you have a spiritual connection you will be taken to a different place other than the room you are in. It could be an out of the body experience or you will, sense, or see yourself in this different place. Don't be alarmed. Just flow with it and receive the information and messages sent. Most of the time you will be contacted where you are.
What to Do During a Spiritual Connection
During a session, when you are receiving information in messages sent from spirits, it is extremely important never to analyze or judge. Just witness and experience it. If you start analyzer judges information arrives, you will soon get stuck in miss the rest of the information and message. Or it will still stop flowing altogether.
Step By Step
I always recommend if possible for those wishing to contact spirits, to take a psychic Attunements sometime in your life though not mandatory, it will help you with your connections.
What Reiki Practitioners Believe
Reiki can give the practitioner a greater awareness of the spirit world, but it can also be used to heal those trapped between worlds without physical bodies to touch. More and more we hear about people using Reiki for exorcisms, house protection, cleansing, and banishing unwanted spirits. This is a natural extension of the healing process of Reiki.
Most cultures have a concept of ghosts, or unsettled spirits, the souls of the living who resist crossing to the next existence when the physical body dies. Sometimes these souls are obsessed with something, and are trying to finish it but can't with the body. Usually, ghosts are simply stuck and most often times need help to continue on to the next world war return to its source.
Increased Awareness
Once you start contacting spirits your awareness will keep increasing and expanding in all levels of your life. On occasion, you will discover spirits are sending you messages in your everyday life.
Your Connection in A Different Place
Sometimes when you have a spiritual connection you will be taken to a different place other than the room you are in. It could be an out of the body experience or you will, sense, or see yourself in this different place. Don't be alarmed. Just flow with it and receive the information and messages sent. Most of the time you will be contacted where you are.
What to Do During a Spiritual Connection
During a session, when you are receiving information in messages sent from spirits, it is extremely important never to analyze or judge. Just witness and experience it. If you start analyzer judges information arrives, you will soon get stuck in miss the rest of the information and message. Or it will still stop flowing altogether.
Step By Step
I always recommend if possible for those wishing to contact spirits, to take a psychic Attunements sometime in your life though not mandatory, it will help you with your connections.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Reiki Belief System
Reiki Spirit Guides
Identifying Spirit Guides
Another popular concept in new age lower is the idea of Ascension. The session material is often tied into the Reiki world, and although they are complementary in many ways, they are not the same. The word ascension means different things to different people. In its more basic interpretation, it means that the consciousness of sense to a higher level of spirituality and love, or one achieves what other cultures would call enlightenment, Nirvana, Buddhahood, Christ-Consciousness, sainthood, or personal Mastery.
Reiki Psychic Communication
The occult is used in many ways in Reiki. Reiki communication comes in many forms, because we all receive information differently. Some people are audio-oriented, hearing things. This is called Clairaudience. Other people are visually oriented, and those with visual psychic skills are called clairvoyant. Others input information by simply knowing, without a real sense of words or visions. They are called Clairsentient. People can have endless variations of these gifts. In fact, we all have these gifts, but have simply forgotten how to use them.
Reiki Spirit Guides
In Reiki Two, the recipient is introduced to the concept of Reiki “spirit guides”. Those who use Reiki spirit guides believe that there is a group of spiritual beings who were once human, who now reside in the non-physical realm, but can interact with, and to assert and extends influence, in the physical world. They are said to be Reiki practitioners from the past ages, not simply Usui Reiki practitioners who have crossed, but those from the ancient origins of Reiki. Once attuned to Reiki, you are part of a vast network, and when you are attuned, the Universal Life Force assigns to you a Reiki guide to help you with your Reiki healing experiences.
As with all spiritual work, some people believe that they are just talking to an aspect of their own consciousness and giving it a shape, form, voice, and personality. That could be true. Many, however, truly believe that they are spirits from the past guiding the future, like spiritual ancestor spirits. In either case, the practitioner gets a sense of guidance, of not being alone in a situation, of having a spiritual support person or, in some cases an entire team to guide the
Identifying Spirit Guides
Who are all the guides? Space some believe they are the spirits of Hayashi, Acosta, and Usui , like a divining Trinity, to guide their sessions and classes. We can also look to the Reiki Masters of the modern era who have passed from this world as potential spirit guides, as well of the souls of ancient Reiki practitioners from Lemuria, Atlantis, and other mystical lands.
Another popular concept in new age lower is the idea of Ascension. The session material is often tied into the Reiki world, and although they are complementary in many ways, they are not the same. The word ascension means different things to different people. In its more basic interpretation, it means that the consciousness of sense to a higher level of spirituality and love, or one achieves what other cultures would call enlightenment, Nirvana, Buddhahood, Christ-Consciousness, sainthood, or personal Mastery.
The most popular form of guide for those in the general public is the angel. Practitioners call upon Guardian Angels, Archangels, and the like to aid in the healing work. Angels are not considered Reiki guides, specifically, but many who are involved in Reiki are also involved in angelic lore. Although they seem to be specifically from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, the concepts of angels can be found in the texts of Sumer, Egypt, and India. We are most familiar with the Angels Hebrew names and Judeo-Christian lore the best-known Angels are the archangels Michael, Rafael, Gabriel, and Uriel.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Famous Personalities
Celebrities and the Occult
We don't want to ever put ourselves in the position of becoming too enamored with celebrities and other well-known individual. Sometimes we discover that although they are popular individuals with people we know and even the rest of the general public, they may support views quite contrary to the Word of God.
One such individual was Katherine Kubler Ross, the renowned psychologist who wrote the book, "On Death and Dying: the Four Stages of Grief". Ross was a brilliant researcher and writer. Most people don't realize that in writing her book, she worked with many chaplains and ministers in the Chicago area as she interacted with terminal patients and made her observations. Nevertheless, Ross was deeply involved in Spiritism, the world of the occult.
Kubler Ross was a friend of Dora Kunz, the co-founder of Therapeutic Touch and at one point, offered her some spiritual advice. Ross advised Kunz that she should contact a medium and attempt to connect with a spiritual source to help her gain additional insight when using Therapeutic Touch with her clients. According to Kunz, she took Ross's advice. She writes, that at the seance she attended, she was introduced to a spirit named "George". George was to become her spirit guide and befriend her for life. In return for this relationship, "George" aided Kunz in many of her client sessions.
Other celebrities have been fans of the occult as well: writer James Fennimore Cooper, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer of many early science fiction books, Thomas Alva Edison the inventor, Mary Todd Lincoln, Nancy Reagan and Madonna. Spiritism is very popular among the elite celebrities of past days and today.
As Christians, we must be careful of who we let influence our lives. Some individuals who are constantly in the spotlight are often involved in practices that oppose Christ. Imagine the impact that their writings or lyrics have had on untold thousands of people. Some of that impact has paranormal fallout and has affected people negatively in a spiritual sense. We must be careful to watch the things we read, the music we hear and the movies we watch. Many media choices may be popular, but like the apostle Paul wrote, "Not all things are expedient".
Celebrities and the Occult
We don't want to ever put ourselves in the position of becoming too enamored with celebrities and other well-known individual. Sometimes we discover that although they are popular individuals with people we know and even the rest of the general public, they may support views quite contrary to the Word of God.
One such individual was Katherine Kubler Ross, the renowned psychologist who wrote the book, "On Death and Dying: the Four Stages of Grief". Ross was a brilliant researcher and writer. Most people don't realize that in writing her book, she worked with many chaplains and ministers in the Chicago area as she interacted with terminal patients and made her observations. Nevertheless, Ross was deeply involved in Spiritism, the world of the occult.
Kubler Ross was a friend of Dora Kunz, the co-founder of Therapeutic Touch and at one point, offered her some spiritual advice. Ross advised Kunz that she should contact a medium and attempt to connect with a spiritual source to help her gain additional insight when using Therapeutic Touch with her clients. According to Kunz, she took Ross's advice. She writes, that at the seance she attended, she was introduced to a spirit named "George". George was to become her spirit guide and befriend her for life. In return for this relationship, "George" aided Kunz in many of her client sessions.
Other celebrities have been fans of the occult as well: writer James Fennimore Cooper, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer of many early science fiction books, Thomas Alva Edison the inventor, Mary Todd Lincoln, Nancy Reagan and Madonna. Spiritism is very popular among the elite celebrities of past days and today.
As Christians, we must be careful of who we let influence our lives. Some individuals who are constantly in the spotlight are often involved in practices that oppose Christ. Imagine the impact that their writings or lyrics have had on untold thousands of people. Some of that impact has paranormal fallout and has affected people negatively in a spiritual sense. We must be careful to watch the things we read, the music we hear and the movies we watch. Many media choices may be popular, but like the apostle Paul wrote, "Not all things are expedient".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
