Sunday, November 22, 2015

Repost: "What Is Contemplative Spirituality and Why Is It Dangerous?"




Al Sabado

Shared publicly  -  9:07 PM


The person I referred to in one of my blogs (http://alsabado.blogspot.com/2015/09/updated-lists-of-false-christian.html) is a committed member of the Baptist Church. He told me he hasn't heard of "contemplative spirituality" and I suppose many others haven't heard of the same either.

Brennan Manning, a contemplative proponent, became a familiar name to me, in over a decade that I attended Bread of Life Ministries (BOL). The BOL pastors are probably among the most vocal when it comes to promoting (and practicing) such spirituality. Some who left BOL, aren't much aware (or they probably are) of such dangers lurking in this spirituality that they've brought it with them upon transferring to other churches, such as CCF.

If you haven't heard of contemplative spirituality and its dangers, please continue reading by visiting the link below. Good evening.

DISCLAIMER: I am posting the following link for information only and not for endorsing any affiliations of the author.
Return to Journal Index Menu | Go to Main Menu. Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Autumn 1997 -- Volume 10:19. What is Contemplative Spirituality and Why is It 

If your church leaders fail to warn you of doctrinal errors . . . beware






Al Sabado

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What do supposedly Bible-believing churches teach these days? I look back and find traces of danger, which many church leaders now embrace and feed the flock. Following are just a few examples:

1. Recently, upon reading Ray Yungen's "A Time of Departing" (pp. 190-1), I learned that Chuck Swindoll is now into contemplative spirituality (see the dangers thereof, http://www.faithalone.org/journal/1997ii/Caddock.html). 

In Philippine setting:

2. "Practicing the presence" was a subject matter of Bible study when I was still attending Bread of Life Ministries, an evangelical church with numerous outreaches locally and abroad. Who would think that such practice is a "dangerous" discipline of the New Age Movement, and probably other groups that do not (and refuse to) recognize Jesus Christ as the Lord.

3. "Cultural redemption" is also a hot topic of Ed Lapiz in his congregation, Day By Day Ministries, which I also attended for some time. But what does God intend to redeem: the human soul, or the culture that we can't even bring with us to the grave?

4. A "package full of assorted candies that give you cavities" was what I found at the Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF) church program menu. CCF hasn't denounced to this day its adherence to Rick Warren/purpose-driven life/church, and its leadership seems to be "content" using The Message in teaching God's Word. The Message, by Eugene Peterson, is a Bible translation that fails to address Jesus Christ as the Lord, but master (the same title that Judas used prior to betraying the Lord Jesus), among other serious doctrinal issues.

What does your church teach? If your church leaders fail to warn you of doctrinal errors, but promote ecumenism, feel-good gospel, and the like, beware . . .

The Message Bible: A Mystic Mess




Turn from weak and beggarly elements



Al Sabado
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I was a college freshman in 1989, and a devout Catholic at the time, when our theology professor in Miriam College assigned our class to read the Ten Commandments and to bring to class our Bibles. Our family has a super huge and heavy Bible at home, so I thought I'd drop by National Bookstore and buy something handy (a King James version, which I still use to this day, now with its brown and crumbling pages).

Little did I know that homework would turn my life around, as I first read through Exodus 20, verses 4 and 5:

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;" (Exodus 20:4-5, http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-Chapter-20/#4)

My eyes were opened, because nearly all my younger years, I prayed and bowed down to the images in our home and everywhere else I found them. I've stopped doing all that.

I've also stopped praying novenas and the rosary, because God's Word says, we should not use vain repetitions in prayer:

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

"Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6:7-8, http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-6/#7)

I've also stopped praying for, and to, the dead, such as Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the countless saints that the Roman Catholic church has taught its followers to venerate. For the Lord Jesus has said,

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6, http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-14/#6)

The Lord Jesus is the only way. And if all that is what God's Word says, then

"... We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29, http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-Chapter-5/#29)

I've also stopped celebrating Christmas. My reason for that is similar to why I'm no longer celebrating birthdays and other similar occasions ("Un-celebrating birthdays, a liberating experience," http://alsabado.blogspot.com/2014/04/un-celebrating-birthdays-liberating.html). God's Word says,

"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." (Galatians 4:9-11, http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Galatians-Chapter-4/#9)

Note in that passage a stress on "weak and beggarly elements."

Some people say it's wrong to read the Bible as it is written, literally. But if God means something else other than what He says in His Word, then what a mean God could He be! But no, God is not mean, for us to misunderstand His Word. God has freely given us the Bible so that we may understand Him, His will, His promises, for all who hear and abide by Him.

The God of the Holy Bible is the Living God, who created life and all that is in it (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-God-Creating-The-World/). He hears us. He loves us so much that He doesn't even make us guess where we go once we die. Our eternal destiny has an ultimate security, if we choose to trust in His Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you made that choice? If you haven't, I pray that you will ...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16, http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-3/#16)
Evaluation of Christmas Selections in the LIVING HYMNS Hymnal ...The LIVING HYMNS Hymnal was used as a base for this evaluation because it is the one used by the church 


We can choose to be lonely, or rejoice in the Lord Jesus always (Philippians 4:4)




Al Sabado

Shared publicly  -  10:29 AM
When I stopped attending a physical church in 2009, loneliness was evident. But I discovered it's a choice to dwell in such a state, and it's a choice to rejoice in the Lord Jesus always (Philippians 4:4, http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Philippians-Chapter-4/#4). I've chosen the latter.

Why leave church? Perhaps, a more appropriate question is, "Why become part of a church whose errors unfold brazenly and contradict fearlessly what God's Word firmly teaches and commands us to do, and not what to do?" Think about it. If you're too comfortable in your church, beware...

Let's read God's Word and know what God's will is. But I hope you and I know by now that the Bible translation, "The Message," is such a mystic mess,http://www.av1611.org/kjv/mess_bible.html. Let's read the King James Bible version instead,http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1611-Bible/.

A blessed stay-at-home Sunday to you and your loved ones! :)

Dear Lighthouse Trails Editors: I live in the Midwest, and one would think that the apostate church has not infiltrated us here. Nothing could be further from the truth. My 

Should Christians expose error? Definitely, yes.


Al Sabado


Shared publicly  -  10:00 AM
Definitely, yes! A lovely stay-at-home Sunday to all! :)

By Harry Ironside Objection is often raised—even by some sound in the faith—regarding the exposure of error as being entirely negative and of no real edification. Of late, the hue and cry has been against any and all negative teaching. But 

Monday, November 2, 2015

If a deceased neighbor shows up, beware! That’s a demon in disguise.



Are ghosts any of the people who died? No, they’re not. Contrary to popular belief, dead people, including our deceased relatives, neighbors, and friends can no longer come back, even in ghostly form, and roam around earth to visit or guard us. Our appointment, as humans, is to die once
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27)
Then what are those “ghosts”? Such apparitions are demons or familiar spirits. In verse 27 of Hebrews 9 we can note that no activity transpires between death and the judgment. Did you notice that too? But Satan must be pleased to assume the exact appearances of dead people and make us believe we can still talk to our deceased loved ones, when God forbids us from doing such an abominable thing (see Deuteronomy 18:11).
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11)
Satan will do everything in his power to fabricate lies and distract us from knowing God’s truth. He’s out there to deceive humans. As it is written,
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12:9)
Satan, whose name is a Hebrew word meaning “enemy,”1 is capable of transforming into something else with his ministers, to appear as good entities despite being evil to the core. We can confirm this by reading God’s Word:
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)
God forbids us to consult or commune with familiar spirits. For this reason, we must have nothing to do with familiar spirits or demons and we must not consult those who communicate with such evil spirits; they are not of God but of Satan. So to the “experts” out there performing these exact activities and those consulting such experts, listen to what God’s Word says:
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:31)
“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth 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 doth drive them out from before thee.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)
When we die, we’re dead. We’re no immortal beings who stay on earth earth after death—even in spirit form—to deal with unfinished business whatsoever. We won’t even know anything once we’re dead. God’s Word says,
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5)
And so the idea of purgatory or the reincarnation is also a lie of all time. These two man-made concepts—that is, purgatory and reincarnation—are not God’s design, but among the greatest lies of Satan. Once we’re dead, we can’t correct our wrongs in some midair and we can’t be re-created to take another form of life (e.g., bird, tree, etc.). God gave His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for all our sins so that instead of perishing in the fires of hell, we may live an eternal life in heaven. It’s our choice—NOW that we’re still alive—to accept or reject the reason behind the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. None of our good works will change that.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
The Lord Jesus Christ is the only way.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
So, are heaven and hell real? Upon reading the Bible we can note that they are. They’re not just a state of the mind or fictional places we replicate on earth. God’s Word describes that an immense gulf separates these two eternal places, so that those who go to heaven can’t cross paths to reach hell, and vice versa. As it is written, during the conversation of Abraham and a dead man,
“And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” (Luke 16:19, read also following verses 20-31)
Do we then go to heaven, or hell, when we die? The condition God has set for us to enter heaven is in verse 16 of John 3: believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Not our good works. Not our church affiliations, rituals, or practices. Now, let me ask you, do you believe in God’s only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ? “Yes,” you say. That’s good. Let me ask you another question, if you die this very minute, do you go to heaven? Is your answer

a. “I’m not sure I know.”
b. “It’s up to God, really.”
c. “I believe so. I’ve done many good things in life.”
d. “I have no idea.”
e. “Yes, because I’m saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Is your answer the last one? Praise God! Or is your answer any one from “a” to “d”?

Dear friend, we ought not be uncertain about this important matter. We don’t guess where we go when we die. God has made that one thing, our eternal security, certain for us: do read John 3:16 again. I won’t tell you to say a sinner’s prayer. (I thought that’s the one thing to do to be saved from eternal damnation.) Just remember, nothing in what we do can change or add to the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, for us. Our salvation is a gift from God. But a gift can’t be ours unless we accept it.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)
Repent. Some people say that once we're saved, we're always saved. But if we don't repent of our sins and continue sinning, then that makes us disobedient, just like King Saul who'd lost the favor of God, right? Believing in the Lord Jesus means doing the will of God and refraining from sinning.
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:11-13)
Fear no one and nothing but God. Years ago I had to stay overnight in a two-story office building to finish editorial work. The following day the security guard asked, “Ma’am, hindi po ba kayo natakot (Ma’am weren’t you scared),” because the building was known to have familiar spirits. I smiled at him and said, “Hindi po, meron po tayong Panginoon (No, we have God).” And God is greater than he who is in this world (1 John 4:4).
“But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” (Luke 12:5)
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Updated: 4 November 2015
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1 Holy Bible. Authorized or King James Version. Red Letter Edition. Wichita, Kansas: Fireside Bible Publishers, 1970.


Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No,' 'No'...