It’s April so I want to begin building a list of some good posts I’ve been reading.
Speaking of separateness in Leviticus.…as you know this is one area I chose to separate from beginning about 10 years ago.
This is a good short article, which ends with this thought.
How could this mystical revolution have come about? How could this perspective have become so widespread? The answer is that over the last thirty or forty years, a number of authors have struck a deep chord with millions of readers and seekers within Christianity. These writers have presented and promoted the contemplative view to the extent that many now see it as the only way to “go deeper” in the Christian life. They are the ones who prompt men and women to plunge into contemplative practice. It is their message that leads people to experience the “lights” and the “inner adviser!”
If it was as clear as the text makes it, it might be easy.
Lev 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
Lev 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
But like Star Wars sometimes the Dark Side is not so obvious. Certainly not a comfortable area to talk about, with so many, Pastors, seminaries, popular writers carrying forth the message. Just where the line gets drawn between Biblical Christianity and the World’s “faith” practices is really fuzzy. I’ve read many articles on this over the years, but have yet to be an effective witness in passing on the message. Maybe I just got it wrong.
What Christian Leaders Need to Know – The Final Outcome of Practicing Contemplative PrayerApril 17, 2018 by Lighthouse Trails author
There is a good post stream over at Possessing the Treasure.
I wrote this comment on the article the other day.
I was curious when you used the term visible: “Currently, the visible church seems split…..” one doesn’t hear that often. Yet you didn’t give the explanation, so even more curious, I decided to check back and found two great posts on this…
The Visible vs the Invisible Church Posted on February 28, 2011 by Mike Ratliff
Let Us Reason Together Part 26 – Wheat and Tares Posted on May 24, 2006 by Mike Ratliff
The last one from 2006, that’s a pretty long stretch of presenting sound doctrine on a difficult subject. Two thumbs up!
Another good post…
This is much along the lines of the old “Are you a good person” thinking. Of course we are.
APRIL 17, 2018
What Scale Will God use on Judgment Day?
by Jordan Standridge
And don’t miss the John Bunyan posts.
Friday, April 6, 2018
The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan, and Helpful Resources
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Sunday Encouragement: The Celestial City!
Here is one more…I’ve been reading of Bethel and the NAR, for years.
It’s a different spin on the whole mystically focused area…and certainly more radical.
Overall, mentioning that there might be broad ways and narrow ways in faith is a touchy topic. There were a few other references on the source site I found this on.
BETHEL SCHOOL OF SUPERNATURAL MINISTRY – NORMALIZING MYSTICISM
POSTED BY MARSHA WEST ∙ 16 APRIL 2018 ∙ IN OPINION ∙ MYSTICISM, NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION, BETHEL REDDING, JOHNSON BILL ∙ BOOKMARK PERMALINK
Article is a bit long….but makes the point. The way the author ends it with this quote makes his point.
Let me conclude with this quote from B B Warfield:
“This Christian mysticism, now, obviously differs in no essential respect from the parallel phenomena which are observable in other religions. It is only general mysticism manifesting itself on Christian ground and interpreting itself accordingly in the forms of Christian thought. It is mysticism which has learned to speak in Christian language.
We may be mystics, or we may be Christians. We cannot be both. And the pretension of being both usually merely veils defection from Christianity. Mysticism baptized with the name of Christianity is not thereby made Christianity. A rose by any other name will smell as sweet. But it does not follow that whatever we choose to call a rose will possess the rose’s fragrance.” – B B Warfield – Mysticism and Christianity,The Biblical Review (vol. 2 ,1917, pp. 169-191)
Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry – Normalizing Mysticism
Posted on April 12, 2018 by Rick Becker
Posted on the more classical reformed charismatic side of the church.
It wasn’t that long ago my Bible reading program covered the Strange Fire incident.
Monday, April 16, 2018
Matt Chandler as a Charismatic prophet
What offering strange fire leads to
Rainbow Trout 