"God is birthing
the greatest spiritual awakening in the history of the church." ...
"Reinvent yourself for the 21st century or die."
[1] Pastor Leonard
Sweet, Soul Tsunami
| Resources
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”A new civilization is emerging in our lives, and blind
men everywhere are trying to suppress it. This new civilization brings with
it new family styles, changed ways of working, loving, and living, a new
economy, new political conflicts, and beyond all this an altered
consciousness..." [2]Alvin and Heidi
Toffler, Creating a New Civilization
"By deliberately changing the internal image
of reality, people can change the world." [3, p.
157] Dr. Willis Harman, Global Mind Change
CHANGE! However hollow its promises, this
common catchword does bring an illusion of unity. For even the most diverse politicians, pastors, managers and
media masters across America seem to agree on this point: Change is essential
to their own success.
"It's
about change!" proclaims the Obama for Change
website!
"It's not [just] about change,"
said pollster Frank
Luntz. "
It's about a new beginning."[4]
"This is not yesterday's world; this world is now
-- and now just changed,"[5] declares the "Rethink"
website. Featuring speakers
from diverse cultural arenas, it has joined Pastor Robert Schuller
and Erwin McManus, former President George H.W. Bush, Larry King, Kay Warren,
Rupert Murdoch and many others in collective dialogues that envision the
future and propose the "needed" change.
"Do you need to change your life," asks
Oprah Winfrey. "Do you feel STUCK? Are you UNHAPPY with your
life?"[6] Her fans answer "yes" -- and Oprah guides the way.
One of her solutions is the occult bestseller, The
Secret.
Since most people are dissatisfied with something
-- war, finances, migration or globalization -- change sounds good. And if the
masses are not yet dissatisfied
enough to flow with the transformational agenda, today's change agents
will soon find a new convenient
crisis. Meanwhile, get ready. As The Aquarian
Conspiracy warned us in back in 1980, a groundswell is
rising:
"A leaderless but
powerful network is working to bring about radical change in the United
States.... Broader than reform, deeper than revolution, this benign
conspiracy for a new human agenda has triggered the most rapid
cultural realignment in history. The great shuddering, irrevocable shift
overtaking us is not a new political, religious, or philosophical system. It
is a new mind....
"There are legions of
conspirators. They are in corporations, universities and hospitals, on the
faculties of public schools, in factories and doctors' offices, in state and
federal agencies, on city councils and the White House staff, in state
legislatures, in volunteer organizations, in virtually all arenas of
policy-making in the country...."[7]
But what does this change imply? Where are we
headed? What are the social and personal costs?
For a quick answer, see our chart: Paradigm Shift: Total
Transformation. But a more revealing outline is shown in Spiritual
Politics: Changing the World from the Inside Out. I met its
co-author, Theosophist
leader Corinne McLaughlin at a 1995 UN Conference where she lectured. The
cofounder of The Center for Visionary Leadership in Washington, she had taught
her meditation strategies at the Pentagon, Department of Education and
the EPA. During the Clinton administration, she chaired a national task force
for the President's Council on Sustainable Development. And like Robert Pastor
(called "Father of the North American Union") she has taught politics at American
University.
"As we worked together [in our groups], we began to
think as a whole system," she explained. "We would ask, 'What is the
highest good for all of us?' ... We also learned Native American and
Tibetan timing... waiting for the right timing."
Her book was endorsed by Dr. Willis
Harman, former director of policy research at Stanford Research Institute,
founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences and a consultant to Fortune 500
corporations. Though immersed in mystical evolutionary
metaphysics, he was invited to speak at the 1979 Evangelical Consultation
on the Future . There he
shared his New Age views with some of the most influential church leaders
in America.
Now, as you read McLaughlin's examples of
the new collective thinking, remember that these transformed mindsets
already permeate churches, schools, governments and corporations
around the world.
1. Separative Thinking / Community
Thinking
"Seeing ourselves as separate is the central
problem in our political thinking," said Vice President Al Gore during a 1991
Communitarian conference.[8,
p.147]
"...there really is only one sin--separateness,"
wrote McLaughlin. "...the persistence of war is more likely to spring from
rampant nationalism, ethnocentrism, and intolerant religious fundamentalism --
all extreme and separative attitudes.... The primary cause of the earth's
suffering is that humanity is caught in the illusion of separation....
What is needed as a cure for separateness is a deep sense of community....
This false sense of separateness is the root of all our
fears."[8,
p.147-148]
Her statement turns both fear and freedom upside
down! What's actually false is the rising illusion of politically
correct unity, not the choice to separate from the crowd in order to follow
one's conscience.
To quench separateness, a rising body of "hate
crime" laws is spreading fear over Europe. Even in Canada, facts and truths
that might offend powerful "minority groups" such as Muslims or homosexuals
are outlawed. In an article titled "The Right not to be
Offended," popular author Mark Steyn illustrates the threat:
"The Canadian Islamic Congress... [has]
complained to three of Canada's many 'human rights'
commissions, two of which have agreed to hear the 'case.'... The
'plaintiffs' are not complaining that [my] article is false, or libelous, or
seditious, for all of which there would be appropriate legal remedy. Their
complaint is essentially emotional: it 'offended'
them."
Churches seem just as eager to ban offensive truths. Many have adopted new
social rules
that suggest hiding the "offense of the cross" and denying God's call for
Biblical separation!
The true Gospel is simply too "divisive!" (See Dealing
with Resisters)
"...because you are not of
the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates
you.... If they persecuted Me they will persecute you... for they do not
know the One who sent Me." John 15:19-21
2. Linear Thinking / Wholistic
Thinking
Unlike "the prevailing linear
paradigm, the New Paradigm sees everything as interconnected and
interdependent through complex patterns of relationships, flows, and feedback
loops," wrote McLaughlin. "...Hindus and Buddhists have long used circular
mandalas to teach about wholeness."[8,
p.150]
Pointing to contemporary "science," she tries to
validate her mystical wholism:
"...the prestigious Club of Rome, as well
as studies by the Stanford Research Institute, concluded that the many
problems constituting the planetary crisis today are in fact one vast
interrelated systemic problem...."[8,
p.150]
That "prestigious Club" -- an elite
globalist think tank founded by the Rockefellers
-- does indeed promote wholistic systems
thinking. So when it prepared its 1991 report titled "The First Global
Revolution," it used blatant propaganda to win the masses to its
cause:
"In searching for a new enemy to unite us,
we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water
shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill..."[9]
The strategy worked! By trading linear and factual thinking for
wholistic visionary thinking, these "conspirators" changed public
consciousness. With help from the like-minded media,
Americans were soon immersed in new "facts" and memorable images. Before long,
the new view of "reality" seemed more normal than true reality.
Stanford Professor Stephen Schneider helped speed
this process. As a member of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, he shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore and won worldwide
praise. But back in 1989 he shamelessly described the manipulation behind both
"system thinking" and social change:
"...we need to get some broad based
support, to capture the public's imagination.... So we have to
offer up scary scenarios, make simplified, dramatic statements and
make little mention of any doubts.... Each of us has to decide what
the right balance is between being effective and being honest."[10]
The world consists of complex systems! The entire
cosmos, as well as a single leaf on the ground, illustrate the vastness of the
interconnected
universe God created. But to understand such complexities, we need to use
factual, logical and linear thinking -- not subjective circular and wholistic
thinking that rejects unwanted facts, silences dissenters, and builds social
consensus on the shaky ground of imagined
"science."
3. Polarized Thinking / Unitive
Thinking
"The most profound truths always contain the
opposites in a higher unity," wrote McLaughlin, reminding us of the Yin Yang of ancient
Taoism.
"The ancients knew the important catalyzing quality of this opposite, chaotic
element in creating a pattern of wholeness and an openness to change in
order to prevent crystallization."[8,
p.154]
She's referring to the dialectic
process! Week after week, small groups everywhere use this process to
blend opposites into an ever evolving new synthesis. Each new synthesis
becomes tomorrow's "truth," which must soon merge with new "information" to
shape the next unifying "truth" or synthesis. The process goes on and on.
Crystallization -- holding on to a fundamental
unchanging truth -- is incompatible with this dialectic process. That's one
reason why change agents in churches everywhere are rewriting or
ignoring large portions of God's unchanging Word. Julian
Huxley, the brother of Aldous and the first Director-General of UNESCO
explained it well in his 1947 book, UNESCO: Its
purpose and Its Philosophy. His socialist philosophy laid the
foundation for today's worldwide education systems:
"The task before UNESCO... is to help the
emergence of a single world culture.... You may categorize the two
philosophies as ... individualism versus collectivism... or as
capitalism versus communism, or as Christianity versus
Marxism. Can these opposites be reconciled, this antithesis be
resolved in a higher synthesis? ...through the inexorable dialectic of
evolution, it must happen....
"...we must eschew [shun] dogma.... East and West
will not agree on a basis of the future if they merely hurl at each other
the fixed ideas of the past. For that is what dogmas are -- the
crystallizations of some dominant system of thought.... If we are to achieve
progress, we must learn to uncrystalize our dogmas."[11]
Communism views humanity as a vast
collective to be manipulated. But God sees us as responsible,
individual human beings. If we know,
trust
and follow
Him, we are one with Him. He calls us to love and serve one another -- and to
resist compromise. "Abhor what is
evil," He warned us. "Cling to what is good." Romans
12:9
“Blessed is the man who walks not
in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits
in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord..."
Psalm 1:1-3
4. Crystallized Thinking / Expanded
Thinking
The Rethink
conference mentioned earlier fits right into this plan. Its website tells us
that--
"Rethink... is
about being on the cutting edge of ideas about our ever-changing
world.... Participate in Rethink TanksTM, where these prominent thought
leaders [Colson, Schuller,
Murdoch, Warren, Strobel, Larry King, Barna, McManus,
Bush,
etc.] become your thought partners. You'll process what
you've learned and discuss it in small groups
led by presenters and other facilitators. Wrestle with it, dialogue about
it, agree or disagree with it -- then take it a step further and make it
your own. Determine how it applies to you -- your work, your ministry,
and your life."[5]
This transformational
dialogue blends the "Christian" views of compromising pastors with the
secular views of Larry King and others. Will these "thought leaders" modify
their convictions in order to build high-powered relationships? Will they "go
along to get along?" If so, this synthesis will surely "expand"
their thinking![12]
Such compromise parallels Oprah's ideology. Already
uncrystallized and "expanded," it serves the transformation well. Not only did
Oprah make The
Secret a bestselling phenomenon, she's now immersing a self-focused world
in the occult teachings of A Course in
Miracles. If anything could uncrystallize the old Biblical truths, its
seductive Theosophical suggestions would! Channeled through Helen Schucman
from her demonic spirit guide who claimed to be "Jesus," its "positive"
message twists every Biblical truth into a lie.
This occult "revelation" denies the need for the
cross or a Savior, for "there is no sin." Its narrator claims to be "Jesus" --
an enticing amoral counterfeit of our Lord. As Warren Smith points out in his
"Update
on Oprah Winfrey, Marianne Williamson and A Course in
Miracles,"
"As Marianne Williamson uses A Course in Miracles to teach her Oprah & Friends listeners how to systematically
dismantle the supposedly fear-based worldview of biblical
Christianity in 2008, the big question is this: will Christian leaders
contend for their faith as passionately as Marianne Williamson, Oprah Winfrey, and other New Age leaders are contending
for their New Age beliefs?"[12]
Unless the answer is "Yes," we are not prepared for
the spiritual battles ahead. The Bible tells us that
"...the whole world is under the sway of the evil one." (1 John 5:19)
Will we choose to resist the deception, or will we simply flow with the crowd
and culture?
"For though we walk in the
flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling
down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God..." 2 Corinthians
10:2-6
5. Misunderstanding of Timing / Right
Timing
McLaughlin tells us that "the communist ideal of
sharing all resources was admirable, one that humanity may someday achieve,
but most people at our current level of evolution aren't ready to do so
voluntarily.... An appreciation of the timing principle would allow a gradual
education into ever greater degrees of voluntary sharing among peoples
everywhere."[8,
p.157]
For President Clinton, that "right" moment happened
in 1998. While Americans focused on more scintillating news, President Clinton
quietly signed a new executive order titled "The
Implementation of Human Rights Treaties." The media ignored
it.
His timing was perfect. An attack on Iraq had been
planned. And after December's impeachment proceedings, Congress would adjourn
for the holidays. Without its objection, the executive order would prevail.
Few would notice its threat to freedom. After all, its foundational document
-- the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- sounded so good. Article 18
promised "the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion..." Article
19 affirmed "the right to freedom of opinion and expression."
But Article 29 states that "these rights and
freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles
of the United Nations." The promised freedoms don't apply to those who
criticize the steps to the new world
order.
God's unchanging Truth
True freedom and unity come only through Jesus
Christ. But that's not what today's leaders and followers want to hear!
Seeking convenient "truths" that affirm their visions, they shun the cross.
Long ago, God described our folly and gave us the solution:
"'Woe to the rebellious children,' says the Lord, 'who
take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit.'"
Is 30:1
"My people have... forsaken Me, the fountain of living
waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no
water." Jeremiah 2:11-13
“In returning and rest you
shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
Isaiah 30:15
Upcoming articles: 1. A review of a disturbing
book titled The Shack
2. The next part in this series.
Endnotes:
1.
Leonard Sweet, Soul Tsunami, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing
House, 1999), pages 17, 34, 75.
2.
Alvin and Heidi Toffler, Creating a New Civilization (Atlanta: Turner
Publishing, 1994), page 19.
3.
Willis Harman, Global Mind Change: The New Age Revolution in the Way we
Think (Warner Books, 1988).
4. http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1701506,00.html
5. http://www.rethinkconference.com/content/view/1/2/
6. https://www.oprah.com/plugger/templates/BeOnTheShow.jhtml?action=respond&plugId=302200005
7.
Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian
Conspiracy, page 23-24
8.
Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson, Spiritual Politics (New York:
Ballantine Books, 1994). [ Page 331
lists Harman's credentials]
9. Alexander King & Bertrand
Schneider, The First Global Revolution (New York: Pantheon Books,
1991), 115.
10. Jonathan Schell, "Our Fragile
Earth," Discover (October 1989); 44.
11. Julian Huxley, UNESCO: Its
purpose and Its Philosophy (Washington DC: Public Affairs Press, 1947).
61
12. This video illustrates the compromise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypGJRiVNiHQ&feature=user
13. Warren Smith, "Update on
Oprah Winfrey, Marianne Williamson and A Course in Miracles," www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/discernment/oprah.htm
Provided
by Berit Kjos
If
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Then, you need to begin a daily walk of prayer and personal Bible
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