Kids, Cartoons & the Occult

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

Thirteen years ago, my kids and I moved into a rental house after my ex-wife and I separated. The landlord informed me that my children (8, 10, 12 at the time) could paint their walls any way they wished--just so it was covered when we moved. One day I came home and my eldest had some friends over who were signing their names on the wall. It looked pretty cool to me...especially with all the flourishes here and there connected with some of the signatures.Perhaps you may be questioning the wisdom of my actions--all I can say is that they were hurting (as was I) and at the moment it seemed okay

Fast forward a few months, and the deputy with the Sheriff's Dept.exiting my house looked at me as if I was some moron for allowing "gang graffiti" to be plastered on my daughter's wall. It turns out that some of her friends were into the "blood" and "crip" mega-gangs, but I was totally in the dark as to the significance of the "creative expression" I had allowed. It was a horribly difficult time for my family, and I had not been discerning enough. If only I had recognized the significance of these symbols, I could have protected my daughter from the thuggish peer pressure she came under, which caused her (and the whole family) much anguish.

Similarly, many kids' TV  programs or cartoons, have the signature of Satan written all over them--but like me, most parents are blissfully unaware of the danger. Many even approve of the shows because of their intelligence and creativity. They have not been trained by their pastors to know what to look for. I dearly want to save parents from the anguish...to equip you to know what to look for, without being legalistic or reactionary to everything that expresses imagination.

With Christmas coming, If you were to tour the aisle of any toy store, the occult is ubiquitous....and the same holds true in children's TV programming. In the past, I have not addressed children's issues much, but I need to.

Let me state at the outset that imagination is one of God's most wonderful gifts to us as His image bearers. So, I do not wince at every funny looking creature on animated cartoons. However,what I saw, and heard, on the Legend of Korra on Nickelodeon the other day was truly expressive of a hellish, demonic, and New Age-ish worldview, being thrust upon our unsuspecting and non-discerning kids/parents. I hope that by analyzing it, then it will give you the tools to analyze/discern other kids shows.

The Legend of Korra has been hailed as a critical and commercial success. In 2012 it had the highest number of viewers, and  Scott Thill stated that it "is the smartest cartoon on TV."  It has been praised for how it deals with difficult sociopolitical issues--like social unrest and terrorism.The reason I chose "Legend.." is because it's intelligence and impressive animation (Japanese), expands its appeal to a large age span. From 7--17 (at least) young folks are drawn to this show like bees to honey.

Remember, worldviews are formed by watching such shows.

Set in a fictional universe, some people can manipulate/bend either fire, earth, water, or air.Only the Avatar can bend all four elements, as well as maintain peace and balance in the world. There are four kingdoms which express one of these four elements, and the Avatar cyclically reincarnates  in each of the four kingdoms. Korra, the current Avatar, is a 17-year-old young woman from the Southern Water Tribe. She has the spunk and all the issues that come with being 17 that enhance her appeal and make her "totally awesome."

Without going into the whole plot--there are 52 episodes planned for this year--let me mention some occultic principles that I picked up on in watching just one episode.

1. Avatars --rooted in Hindu mythology, the meaning of the word avatar is "the descent of a deity to the earth in an incarnate form or some manifest shape...the incarnation of a god or wise person who possess psychic powers to defeat their enemies. In New Age thinking, Jesus is usually thought of being just one of many avatars that have visited us.
2. Portal--Korra decides to keep the portal between the human and spirit realm open so that they (we) can co-exist and learn from each other. Being able to open and close this other dimensional door--and encouraging contact between respective residents-- was particularly disturbing to me.
3. Spirit guides-- are seen as benevolent spirit creatures who guide humans when they enter the spirit realm. Looked like flying puppy dogs....
4. Earth, air, fire, and water are the 4 elements which comprise reality and are subject to human and spirit manipulation. In the paranormal community there is much discussion of "elementals"...an alleged form of spirit force/entity, usually connected with nature.Wicca, witchcraft, and other occult systems often appeal to these four elements in their incantations or rituals, which are nature focused.
5. Cosmic consciousness or collective unconsciousness-- was mentioned in the show as the Ultimate Reality which all things participate in (do you see the intelligence level?!) This notion was popularized by Freud's successor, Carl Jung, who espoused occultic beliefs. Tapping into this source will empower avatar and us....usually via mind-emptying meditation.
6. Dualism or yin/yang --in this episode, mention was made that neither light nor dark, good or bad, could be banished forever...both are equally ultimate.
7. Reincarnation--Korra is yet another reincarnation of the avatar.
8. Spirit communication--spirit realm is populated by a multiplicity of good and bad, positive and negative beings....which humans can communicate with.
9. Harmonic convergence-- (again, see what I mean re intelligence level?)...explicitly mentioned in show, where the animation "showed" the earth reaching this new evolutionary advance in which energies are set in balance, "so that a New Age is evolved."

Gone is the majestic, holy Creator.....gone is a definitive defeat of evil, sin, and Satan on the cross......gone is the distinction between Creator and His creation.....gone are all seven aspects of a biblical worldview. This is a thoroughgoing, comprehensive pagan worldview served up in animated wonderment  for our children to feast on the beast....all in the comfort of home.

The Legend of Korra is an intelligent and visually stimulating TV cartoon that is destroying our young people. It has become an integral part of the spiritual pandemic of fascination with the paranormal. In a sense, it is worse than the ghost-hunting shows because it is: specifically targeting the most defenseless (our children); and it presents a "total pagan package", as every aspect of a biblical worldview is blatantly denied and it's pagan antithesis is affirmed. And all of this in a very appealing presentation/medium.

Let me remind you that there is no such thing as an "innocent interest in the occult", even if it is not acted out in behavior. From my observation, our country has become so overrun with demonized darkness, that mere fascination MAY cause one to become demonically oppressed. You no longer have to trek into the jungles of Africa to experience wholesale spiritual darkness. Just in my lifetime, we have cast off the common grace spiritual restraints (which made overt demonic activity rare),  and are rushing headlong into the abyss--which has caused overt demonic activity to explode.

Please do not allow the tyranny of the urgent to crowd out the massively important...the protection of our children and grandchildren. God knows the "me generation" has done enough damage already. That you are reading this, is a sign that you care. Please let us all lovingly communicate this danger in the spheres in which God has placed us.

ps...as a voluntary "homework assignment", please take a pad of paper and write vertically the seven components of a biblical worldview. Then pray and get comfy, and watch one of these cartoons. Be on the lookout for comments or images that indicate what their reply would be to all 7 questions of a worldview, and compare it with the biblical worldview.
(ultimate reality?, nature of reality?, what makes us human?, nature of history, source/nature of ethics? purpose of life?, afterlife?)

Issue 142 – Fake Para-Celebs Not in the Christmas Spirit

By Kirby Robinson

Due to a scheduling difficulty, tonight's Eye on the Paranormal Radio Show has been changed to Wednesday, December 11.

Tony Spera Proves Our Point: Fake Para-Celebs Will Do Anything to Keep You from the Truth

On November 20, 2013, we broke the story due to the fine work Chris Baricko on the matter of the Night of the Conjuring and how it was a big rip off. Here's the link, just scroll down to More Lorraine Warren & Tony Spera Highjinks: http://eyeontheparanormal.blogspot.com/2013/11/issue-141-cycle-numbers-of-jfk.html

Then the Examiner picked up the story, without giving the Eye on the Paranormal any credit. Here's the link:

http://www.examiner.com/article/lorraine-warren-s-the-conjuring-screening-leaves-fans-upset-connecticut

It seems that Tony and his group of paranormal hoods took it on themselves and began attacking Chris due to the fact that he dared tell the truth. We all know the paranormal community doesn't want that.

To Heaven and Back & More New Age Deceptions

On Sunday night while the nation dealt with the death of Paul Walker and the wreck of the commuter train crash in New York, CNN ran a repeat of the program To Heaven and Back. This show details stories of individuals who experience of NDE [Near Death Experiences]. Every event shared happened the way the survivors claimed. No one questioned the stories. No opposing viewpoint was share. All the experiences "proved" the existence of some type of new age heaven.

CNN usually bashes religion and tells us God isn't real…unless it gets ratings and is on their terms.

In the weeks to come we'll take a further look into these claims and find out they have more in common with hell.

Paul Crouch and Paul Walker Die on the Same Day. What About Their Numbers?

I doubt if Paul Crouch and Paul Walker ever met, but they have some interesting similarities. Both have the number 5 in common.

Paul Walker was born 9/12/73 = 5

He was on his 9/12/2013 to 9/12/2018 just a little bit over 100 days into his new cycle. 100 days of a start or end of cycle means a time of great change.

Paul Crouch was born 3/30/34 = 5. He was on his 03/30/2009 to 03/30/2014, meaning he was in his last year of his current cycle. This stage often means being prepared for things to come.

They both died on 11/30/2013 = 11. 11 days represent people jumping from one thing to another.

May they both be at peace.

Chip Coffey Jumps on Paul Walker's Death!

Hey Chip, give the family a break. It seems as though most psychics can't pass up a chance to insert themselves into the news. Moments after the news broke of Mr. Walker's death, Mr. Coffey had to stick his 2 cents in. He pondered on the fact that a few weeks ago a false story broke on the web that Mr. Walker died in a car crash. Chip wondered if the prankster caused the death? Did they see the death take place as a psychic premonition?

Well, since Chip asked the question I feel up to responding.

The answer is neither. The person that posted the hoax was big jerk. It was nothing but a mere coincidence that a few weeks later Mr. Walker died in that manner. But what is the outcome of Mr. Walker's death?

- His 15-year-old daughter that he leaves behind.

- His mom and dad who had to see one of their kids die before them.

- His brothers and sisters who had to bury one of their own.

- Friends and loved ones who now must fill a hole in their life they may never fill.

- His fans that will miss him.

Dead is dead. How and why at the moments after the death are not important. What is important is the healing process.

Now go and sit in a corner.  

Chip Coffey's Complains of a 1-Star Book Review

Chip spends his time reading reviews of Theresa Caputo's book. My 1-star review for her book made him lose his pumpkin pie and turkey.

I wonder if all psychics /mediums sleep with a poster of Theresa Caputo and Pat Longo over their beds? Do they fantasize that they have a hit TLC program? They're in front of thousands of audience members packing the house? Not the one or two hundred or gallery readings the small fry get. Do they do something naughty when they gaze at the chubby medium in stiletto heels?

In my book, I've exposed Theresa Caputo for what she is. A complete fake. She is leading many down a dark path [concealed with fake white light] "teaching" the grieving and the hurting a false truth. When the deluded Caputo believer dies and finds out it's all a lie, it'll be too late.

I'm not afraid to speak and write about the truth. If Theresa Caputo would dare to debate what I have to say, I'd be glad to debate with her.

But Chip Coffey is of the pack mentality. If someone should attack one fake psychic/medium and expose how the cold readings work, then the rest of the pack is threatened. Chip posted the following to his Facebook page.

I just read a review about a book on spirituality and communicating with spirits. And it really pissed me off!

The review -- which was really more of a bashing of the book than a review -- was written by someone who is quite obviously a fundamental, perhaps even literalist, Christian. In the review, he stated that the author of the book offers no proof that any of her claims are real because there is no proof.

News flash for the "reviewer" -- There is no "proof" that your beliefs are correct or valid either! Belief and faith are mostly based on things unseen and unproven.

I am always quite disgusted and often angry whenever I hear or read about one person (or a group of people) denouncing the beliefs of another individual (or group of individuals). Just because I do not believe the same things as someone else doesn't make me wrong and them right.

I was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, but as I grew older, I combined my spiritual beliefs with Catholicism. I have a very personal and profound relationship with God. That's what I choose to call my Higher Power. Feel free to choose your own name. Or not. I believe what I choose to believe, what feels right to me and makes me feel close to The Divine.

I NEVER try to convince or convert others to my ways of thinking or believing. Those who try to impose their personal religious or spiritual beliefs on others are zealots and bullies. NEVER ALLOW ANYONE TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BELIEVE BECAUSE IT IS NONE OF THEIR DAMNED BUSINESS!

Rant over.........

I guess this is the reason that no one on my side of Chip's bloodline got an invite for turkey day. No one in my family ever got an invitation to visit a Coffey home.

But you see Chip doesn't tell the whole story.

Chippie's spirit guides failed him yet again. I'm not a fundamentalist or a literalist [Chip you better get those guides under control].

When I talk about proof, if you bother to read the book, There's More to Life Than This: Healing Messages, Remarkable Stories, and Insight About the Other Side from the Long Island Medium, she spends much time talking about angels. Actually, she knows virtually nothing about angelology. She talks about life on the Other Side that contradicts the Catholic point of view. Nor does she offer any proof about being a psychic medium, or just a medium.

Mr. Coffey claims any spiritual path is good and legit and no one can say anything bad about them. Well, let's put Mr. Coffey's words to a test.

- In the Middle East many nations fall under the Muslim faith. The Muslim Religious Police root out non-Muslims and put them on trial. Women have no value. In the UK: "1/3 of young UK Muslims believe a Muslim who converts to another religion should be executed." See and read about what's going on over there. http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/muslim-religious-police-begin-enforcing-islamic-law-in-london-video/

- Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Homophobic to the extreme.

- Christian Identity. These conservative American Protestants teach that whites are closer to God. The darker your skin, the more likely you are to go to hell.

- In Utah, Arizona and parts of Texas, there are conclaves that fall under the influence of a so-called prophet named Warren Jeffs. He's now a long-term guest at the Louis C. Powledge Unit in Texas, due to his belief that men should marry little girls. The man's not a prophet, he's a pedophile and a polygamist who had 78 wives.

The concept that Mr. Coffey preaches sounds nice. But like most paths of darkness, they are dressed up to look nice and pleasant. In fact, they lead to a very bad place, one filled with pain and suffering. Theresa Caputo and all the rest tell lie after lie, and by the time you discover the truth, it's way too late.

Next week -- More truth they want hidden.

Keep current and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/eyeonparanormal

EARN EXTRA MONEY! If you have a website, forum or blog you can set up an Amazon Associates Affiliate Program link and sell the Kindle version of our books. "Is the Long Island Medium the Real Deal?" [Now in Paperback!], "Never Mock God: An Unauthorized Investigation into Paranormal State's 'I Am Six' Case" [also in paperback!], "Investigating Paranormal State," "Paranormal State Exposed" and "Paranormal Teachings: The Best of Shedding Some Light" and earn money. You can also sell other books and products that Amazon offers. Here's the link: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/

The Dangers of the New Age -- Wednesday, December 4, 2013

By Kirby Robinson

After a week away from the airwaves, we return with what might be our most controversial show yet.

Showtime begins at 7 PM [PST] or 10 PM [EST]. Please see this page for more information:

http://www.goddiscussion.net/2013/02/05/meet-the-hosts-kirby-robinson-eye-on-the-paranormal/

This week we uncover the truth behind some of the new age's greatest lies. We'll delve into:

1 What is karma and how does it work? How the new age presents it is only the tip of the iceberg. The common phrase "karma is a b&$ch" doesn't do it justice.

2 What is reincarnation and how does it work? Do we always come back as human beings?

3 The "Law of Attraction" is no secret. In fact, it's a bunch of…tune in and find out!

Also, don't miss our show because…

- For the first time anywhere, the spirit of Sylvia Browne will be channeled over the air. You'll be shocked at what her spirit has to say!

 - Chip Coffey loses his turkey and pumpkin pie over an Amazon book review!

- Wacky paranormal news.

It will be a full show with news and views you won't hear anywhere but on THE EYE ON THE PARANORMAL!

Keep current and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/eyeonparanormal

EARN EXTRA MONEY! If you have a website, forum or blog you can set up an Amazon Associates Affiliate Program link and sell the Kindle version of our books. "Is the Long Island Medium the Real Deal?" [Now in paperback], "Never Mock God: An Unauthorized Investigation into Paranormal State's 'I Am Six' Case" [also in paperback!], "Investigating Paranormal State," "Paranormal State Exposed" and "Paranormal Teachings: The Best of Shedding Some Light" and earn money. You can also sell other books and products that Amazon offers. Here's the link: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/

The Clash of Two Worldviews: Christianity and Paganism

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

"Do not forget that the fundamental contrast has always been, is still, and always will be until the end: Christianity and Paganism, the Living God or the idols." (Abraham Kuyper, 1898)

I believe the Lord has called me to focus on shining the Light of truth on the the diabolical nature of the paranormal craze. However, this is not an isolated phenomenon, and this series is designed to help us to not miss the Pagan forest for the paranormal trees--even though I believe the paranormal is the chief culprit in the spiritual pollution of our land...by opening doors to the demonic in larger numbers than any other aspect of this large New Age umbrella. The more fascinated we become with the spirit realm, the more we open the floodgates to the influx of unclean spirits.

At 57 years old, I am a baby boomer, and our generation which jettisoned the God of our fathers at Woodstock, is hungry for spiritual reality. The pagan baby was conceived in the mid-sixties but was not born until the 1990's. We are possibly in the midst of the greatest threat ever to the Christian Church. As Dr. Peter Jones, professor of New Testament at Westminster Seminary said, "Does the average Christian know what is going on in our ostensibly  civilized society? Pagan ideology, sometimes of the most radical and anti-Christian nature, is taught in university departments of religion, theological seminaries, mainline church agencies, feminist networks and wicca covens across the land. It adopts the name of Christianity, but will render our world unrecognizable. ...if you doubt the success of this revolution (1960's), note the following statistic: in 1994, seventy-one percent of Americans and forty percent of those calling themselves "evangelicals" no longer believed in absolute truth." (Spirit Wars, pg. 35)

The Aquarian nightmare is here, and as Os Guinness said, we are weak at the very points needed to withstand this onslaught from the East. (The Dust of Death ) With absolute truth obliterated for so many Christians, where else can we turn for truth (eg. ethics) except inwards to ourselves and intuition, as ultimate reference points for reality/truth? So, we find ourselves and the Bride of Christ in severe crisis--many of those who say they are bible believing Christians, do not really believe in divinely revealed truth. If anything, the statistics are worse in 2013. If the bible is not really true, then why follow its ethical mandates? Do we have the backbone to discern or disarm the gnostic revival?

Christianity or Paganism.... the Creator and Redeemer of mankind, or goddess spirituality in which  meditation will usher in the dawning of a new era of realizing our inner divinity and a quantum leap in consciousness. This is much deeper than Culture Wars...it is spirit wars, and though we know that Christ will ultimately prevail in the war, He has not promised victory in every battle. American Christians need to wake up. It is time to take what we have learned about worldviews and examine this arch-enemy....which is creeping into our churches. What follows is what might be called the "Creed of the Religious Left." To understand what is happening in our culture, and by God's grace make a difference, we must grasp this occult worldview (Pagan goddess, New Age, Neo-gnostic).

There are numerous anti-Christian worldviews, for example, the old, atheistic and materialistic humanism--but it is moribund. The failure of atheistic Marxism is a classic example of what happens when we do not take into account our incurably spiritual nature as humans....we wither. Religious Liberalism has recognized this....  it realized that it had no satisfactory spirituality, and so shed its old anti-supernaturalism. We all long for some "sacred canopy" which provides a framework for understanding the world as well as a vibrant spirituality.  Liberalism, or the Religious Left, has seized upon this new, occult pagan spirituality. Hence, Religious Liberalism has become intensely spiritual almost overnight...but not everything spiritual is holy. Let us take what we have learned re worldviews and analyze the primary worldview challenge to classical Christianity....and see how they clash.

1. Ultimate Reality--God is not outside the universe; She IS the universe. Instead of two kinds of reality--Creator and creation--there is only one (the creator IS the creation and vice versa). Mass and energy is what it all reduces to. The universe is expanding in consciousness as we evolve.Ultimate reality is poised for a quantum leap forward to utopia. Some form of goddess worship is at the heart of this worldview.

.Eastern thought must be made palatable to western sensibilities, so the radical monism (all is one) of eastern thought has given way to a "soft" monism. The Creator/creature distinction has been obliterated since the creator is co-extensive with the "creation".A pagan goddess spirituality is at the heart of ultimate reality.Lucifer is seen by many as the good force of creation. I have been hammering home the paramount importance in one's worldview regarding what Ultimate Reality is. Two radically opposed ways of understanding God are vying for the soul of America...indeed the world. One defends the truth, and the other a diabolical lie. Genesis 1-3...the cast of characters are reversed. In seminaries feminist theologians (men and women) are consciously re-interpreting the biblical narrative so that it is no longer "patriarchal" in its view of God.

I want to make a paranormal observation here--it is no coincidence that the notion of "residual energy/haunts" originated and flourishes after the collapse of the Christian worldview, and the adoption of an energy-centric worldview. The language we currently use re reality and energy, has made plausible that which is really utterly implausible. Simply put, NOTHING occurs in nature that even remotely resembles what is said to be happening routinely in the paranormal realm--intelligent storing of non-intelligent energy, which then self-summons itself to replay "memories"....acting like an audio and/ or video recorder. The book of Proverbs speaks of the foolishness of autonomous human thought. But such is the power of worldview assumptions, especially when there is a group dynamic.                                                                                                                                                                                          .
2. The nature of reality is not illusory, as in hard-core eastern monism. Rather, the physical universe is real, as is its mirror spiritual realm...both are eternal. The latter is populated with an endless assortment of spirit entities, which are vital to our gaining cosmic consciousness. Getting in tune with the vibrations of the universe (actually infinite universes) is the key to living "in reality." I got an email today inviting me to a mass meditation exercise of 20,000+ folks determined to ushering in a new phase of cosmic evolution for reality. Reality is not created and sustained by an infinite and personal God.
3. The purpose of life is planetary oneness achieved via vibrational changes and visualized meditation. Loving God with all of our being is seen as anachronistic and patriarchal...anathema!!. Rationality is downplayed and true meaning can only be achieved by mystical experience. Gnosis or knowledge of the self as divine is the highest goal or "salvation".
4. Humans are essentially good since there was no Fall in space and time.No original sin. Indeed, understanding our inner divinity is the main hallmark of this pagan spirituality (same old lie as in Eden)Spiritual understanding through meditation and intuition is the only means to "salvation."... Humans beings are divine, as is the rest of the universe. Creational distinctions between male and female are intentionally abolished. "Patriarchy", or male headship in home and church, is replaced with androgyny. Humans are a breed of animal.
5. The source of ethics--is our autonomous mind.(no objective truth revealed from an infinite personal God) Spirit guides play a significant role here as well, as they are said to be the voices of the goddess and the unfolding universe. The notion of absolute truth is denied absolutely in this system...which is self-refuting.
The primacy of experience and intuition in determining right and wrong has displaced the use of reason in studying the word of God. One's mystical experience has become the arbiter of each persons own ethical truth/s. Alternate expressions of sexuality are preferred to heterosexuality.
6. Human beings are seen as divine (instead of made in God's image). We are essentially good with no need of redemption, other than freedom from ignorance of our divinity. Deep differences between male and female are denied.
7. Regarding the afterlife there are some differences...some believe in  reincarnation and others do not. But the consensus is that we are poised to usher in an era on earth that is a veritable garden of Eden. Gnosis (knowledge) of one's divinity is the key to eternal bliss. When we die our souls are freed from the confines of our bodies and we many get "stuck" here...at least for awhile. There is no personal God before whom we stand for judgement.

Observation...emphasis on occult knowledge and experience, naturally leads to interest in necromancy....communication with the dead. EVP solicitation is necromancy and is substantially no different than using a  Ouija board, and just as dangerous. I mentioned this on Facebook the other day and one person tried  to show how they were different. However, they missed my main point--both address the spirit realm and inquire of it. Both give demons the "legal right" to attach and oppress.

Has the CLASH of worldviews become clearer? Not everyone who has, consciously or unconsciously, adopted a New Age worldview embraces all seven of its contents mentioned above. We all have inconsistencies in our worldview (I certainly have). However, in order to make a difference for Christ in our generation, we need to understand this mindset as a coherent system, diabolically empowered for the destruction of humanity. God help us to awaken!  May the Lord renew our minds that we may love Him more deeply and be more effective witnesses for Him in a lost, dark world.

The Nag Hammadi gnostic texts discovered in 1945 in Egypt (not to be confused with the Dead Sea scrolls) have become the sacred texts for this new spirituality.Perhaps we will discuss that next time and why these texts were NOT included in the bible....many are confused regarding this issue. May the Lord bless you!

The Nature of God and the Greatest Question of All

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor. 5:21)

I have been accenting the paramount importance of the doctrine of God in our worldviews...how it effects everything. How we view Ultimate Reality has a domino effect on the other six worldview issues. There are several worldviews in our culture, but the one gaining ascendancy is New Age or Neo-gnostic/occult, which we will look at perhaps next time. Obviously, the concept of Ultimate Reality in this pagan goddess spirituality differs significantly from biblical Christianity.

Let me briefly show how the primacy of what God is like effects the other issues, and then I want too camp on what is the most important issue of all--how can I be saved?

1. Ultimate Reality in the bible is the infinite personal God who is really there, and who has spoken to us Person to person in the bible. God is good--meaning He is holy and loving.
2. Since God is both infinite and Personal He took great delight in creating the heavens and the earth, the visible and invisible. (Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16)
3. Since God is personal, He loves us and desires to be our primary love...He does not leave it to guesswork as to what our purpose in life is--it is stated in His communication to us.
4. The text above speaks of Jesus' sinlessness. Since God is really THERE, and spoken truth to us, we have an adequate basis for ethics. "Be holy because I am holy". (1 Peter 1:16)
5. God is infinite and personal and He made us finite and personal--that is, IN HIS IMAGE. Again, no guesswork as to what humans ARE, because of who God IS! (Gen.1:26ff)
6. We spoke of the three Lordship attributes of God last time (control, authority, and presence) This assures us that the flow of history (and our own personal history) is moving in a meaningful, linear fashion to it's culmination in the Second Coming/restoration. History is the stage upon which God is driving the drama of redemption.
7. The afterlife is, yet again, not a matter of speculation because God/heaven is really THERE. "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ...",   "...it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement." The moment we die we appear before the Lord's throne, and are sent to heaven or hell for all eternity. (2 Cor. 5:!0; Heb. 9:27) The greatest argument against the notion of trapped spirits is the nature of God (and His perfect atonement). His nature will also reveal in technicolor how we MUST be saved and enter His perfectly holy heaven.

Do you see how the existence and nature of God effects EVERYTHING? If we had the time, I would like to show how Ultimate Reality as energy/matter would "answer" these worldview questions. We would see that it, and all non-biblical worldviews, are utterly bankrupt to provide adequate answers to our deepest questions.

But what of the greatest question of all: how can I know I am going to heaven after death? Though it is not listed as a worldview component, it underlies and is implied in all of seven components--especially the nature of God. Once again, when we ponder our eternal destiny, the nature of what Ultimate Reality is will guide our thinking. For example, in the history of humanity there are three basic answers to that question. Though details may vary in a multitude of ways, we can accurately summarize three basic views of salvation--which (not surprisingly!) flow from one's view of Ultimate Reality. Let's look at these now.

1. Auto-soterism or self-salvation...otherwise known as Pelagianism (named after the heresiarch, Pelagius). Whether New Age, humanism, atheism, deism or theological liberalism (and scores of others), we either save ourselves by being good or we essentially "save ourselves" by denying that we even need salvation. The details vary from one belief to the next in auto-soterism (e.g. annihilation vs continued conscious existence), but the defining feature is that we don't need a Savior....we will earn or merit our way to our next incarnation or heaven. Perhaps the most common view of salvation is, "Justification by death alone." All we have to do is die, and we fly off to paradise.

The only way one can subscribe to Pelagianism is by having a seriously defective or deficient view of God's nature. Theological liberalism often states that the essence of Christianity is" living the Sermon on the Mount". Hmmm.....I wonder if they have ever carefully read this lofty sermon by Jesus? There is a spiritual logic to the beatitudes, which are the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, and the first is, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:3) That is, blessed (well being in one's relationship with God) are those who recognize they are desperately in need of divine grace and mercy, for they are spiritually bankrupt in themselves. A deficient view of God's holiness will lead to a deficient view of our true spiritual condition. In other words, self-salvation is the noxious fruit of having a distorted view of Ultimate Reality in our worldviews.

2. Semi-pelagianism or Arminianism (named after Jacob Arminius) is a half-way house between self-salvation and salvation by grace alone. Stated another way--we are saved by faith in Christ plus.... (fill in the blank). My intent is not to offend anyone, but to state things accurately and urge us to think (Berean style). I was raised in a devout Christian home, but the gospel was, "We are saved by faith in Jesus, plus doing certain things...but if you do other certain sins, that will kill the grace of God in your soul. You will lose your state of salvation until you do x, y, and z." I am intentionally being vague. However, regarding the view itself--we are saved by faith in Christ AND good work/s-I will NOT be vague. As Paul said to the "Arminians" of his day, "As we have said before, so now I say again:If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal. 1:9-10) The heresy Paul was eternally condemning to hell was the notion that we are saved by faith in Christ plus being circumcised. That was the Galatian heresy which so agitated Paul and the Lord.

There always has been, and always will be, differences amongst Christians this side of heaven. However, the essence of the gospel must be protected, regardless of what people say. The folks in Galatia were not pelagianists, or believers in self-salvation. However, they did add to the finished work of Christ on the cross by saying,"In order to be saved, you must believe in Christ and be circumcised." Today, that same sort of belief is alive and well in America, and globally. Only the Lord knows the true state of a person's soul and many folks raised in these traditions are truly born again, but it must be due to some happy inconsistency. Only the Lord knows when the line is crossed in practice--all I can do is state the biblical principle, for which I do not care what man thinks. What I plead for you to consider is that many professing Christians--either because they hold to a "easy-believism" or a version of faith plus works heresy--are not really saved and will spend eternit y in hell. That grieves me...and it certainly grieves the Lord.

The issue again is the nature of God. If we have depth view of God's holiness, then we will have a depth view of our sinfullness. With a deep awareness of our radical corruption comes a vision of the glorious beauty of grace. A deep appreciation of God's utter, burning holiness will reveal the utter futility and madness of adding anything to the finished work of Christ on the cross. A person on this faith and works treadmill can never enjoy (if they are consistent) an abiding joyful assurance of salvation. There will always be the insecurity of, "Did I do enough, or did I do TOO much sin today..did I get kicked out of God's family?" Listen, I lived this way  growing up and it was horrible, even as a child.

The third way of salvation is the biblical way...the true way of salvation. GRACE. We are saved by faith alone in the finished work of Christ on the cross. (Romans 3 & 4;Eph. 2:8-10...Gen--Rev) "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it s the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." I included v. 10 because it is often left out when these verses are quoted and it addresses a significant issue--what is the role of works, if we are saved by grace alone? Concern regarding "cheap grace" or easy believism is valid, but is no reason to throw the "grace baby" out with the dirty water. Luther re-discovered the pure gospel in 1517 after it had languished under severe legalism for 1, 000 years or more. He put it this way, "We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." The book of James is about the evidence of true faith. Good works have no meritorious value but they have immense evidential value. As the text in Ephesians states, we were saved in order to be pleasing to the Lord.

This is not a systematic theology, so I need to wrap up. We come finally, again, to Ultimate Reality--the nature of the biblical God--which reveals the sovereign grace of God Almighty. All this talk of worldviews is foolish and empty if we ourselves are not reconciled with our Creator. 2 Cor 5:21 is one of the most important verses in all of Scripture  for understanding the meaning of the atonement and justification. The sinless Son of God became a substitute for us...substitutionary atonement. We are justified by faith alone. To say that are saved by faith or grace alone is to say we are saved by Christ alone (and His finished work on the cross) Justification involves a double transfer. Christ became sin "for us"--and was punished "for us"--but His 33 years of righteous living (the righteousness of God) is imputed or counted to us as well. It pleased the Father to transfer our sins to Jesus, and to transfer Jesus' perfect life to us. We are declared eternally "Not Guilt y!" and the Father sees us "IN HIM".

The only way we can stand before the holy Father is due the robe of righteousness wrapped around us. Though it may not make sense to the world, we must be saved by grace alone because of how absolutely just, holy and righteous God is. Every sin is an act of cosmic treason against a thrice holy God and deserves eternal punishment. However, since we are in union with Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension..God not only accepts us, He absolutely delights in us! (Isaiah 62:3-5) He delights and rejoices over us...may we relish this, and dance for joy because salvation is of the Lord....from beginning to end. For all eternity we will sing the praises of the King of Grace! Amen.

Letter to the New Agers

By Stephen Piersall, God’s Preservation Ministry, http://sfprs.org/

The New-Age movement is running rampant across our country and has over 20 million enthusiastic members with focus and importance on individual personal holiness and its effects and principles on society. YOU the new agers would rather live without God, Bible, of the truth. Remember we reap what we sow. I remember going through school and always hearing “learn from our mistakes, learn from our past, and things will turn out to be a better life for you. Hmmmm

Let me give you a wake-up call from the past. How about Germany, in how Hitler’s Nazi regime disguised its eventual immoral objectives from most of humanity. This only validates how endangered we all are to the impulses of Satan. There is a thin obscure boundary between good and evil, and that is why we are in danger to false doctrines and will continue to live in and practice deception through Satan, Demons (ghosts), spirit guides, witches, psychics, mediums, ghost hunting, EVP's, spirit boxes, divination, etc. 

 

One thing about the new-age leaders is that they preach about awareness of self-deity. People do not even realize that they are performing the exact same worship to their “Gods" as what the real God has demanded for thousands of years. They instead embrace a theology of live for today. There is no Heaven or Hell, and these spirit guides come to him or her with messages. Only they don’t realize that it all is coming from Satan, which when he got kicked out of Heaven with 1/3^rd of the Angels, promised to wreak havoc and do what he could to turn people’s lives away from God. That is why you always hear how Satan, and His demons are a master of disguises.

Hey You, Ghost Hunter! Do you honestly believe if you were in a tragic accident, and your spouse and 5-year-old daughter died; some future ghost hunting team will find them stuck here on earth, and their spirit needs someone to pray for them to cross over? On the other hand, that your spouse who was a mean person, and mistreated you and your child and smoked, drank and used drugs, is still around to haunt people. Seriously?! 

 

My God is full of love and forgiveness, and not cruel and unjust like Satan. When a crisis occurs, the unbelievers fall apart, cry, and blame God for everything. Even in their own self-righteous minds, they still remain confused, angry, and troubled and blame everyone or anything. Where was your spirit guide, psychic medium, self-serving attitudes that you have to prevent this from happening?

All these unbelievers agree that the solution for everything is in their control. The arrogant mindset will not let them fall down on their knees and ask God for forgiveness. God instructs us to be humble and meek, love one another, and repent of our sinful ways, as well for us to forgive others of any infractions against you.

Recite the following out loud and slowly, and think about what these words mean:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

That is one powerful prayer, and it is short, straight to the point, and inspired by God himself. We all have to "report" to somebody for our actions, whether at work, parents, school, driving along the road. Why is it so hard to turn from your selfish ways and report to God? Some say we are at the beginning of “End of Days." Whether we are or not, I for one will continue to do what I can to walk the straight and narrow that God’s plan for my life dictates.

It is not too late to allow God into your life. Just read four books of the Bible to add to your New Year’s resolutions; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The four Gospels that give witness to Jesus in how he loved, forgave, healed, cast out demons, and to give us all an example, of how we should live. 

 

On a side note, one of my pet peeves on blogs is when I read comments of gossip and bickering. It makes me wonder if it is children, or adults acting as children behind the “anonymous” name. Debating a point is a fair game. However, does it have to get so ridiculous and slam each other? Grow up, act responsible, be respectful, and stop hiding behind a fake name. Rodney King once said, “Can we all get along?”

First Visit During Deliverance

By Stephen Piersall,
God’s Preservation Ministry, http://sfprs.org/

Because of the last three Deliverance’s, I have been involved with I decided to write this particular blog. There may be a right way (through God) and a wrong way (scientific, New Age) of doing a first visit to the client’s home. However, I want to give a particular scenario that I believe could be used or tailored to fit your needs accordingly.

“A WOMAN CALLS YOU SAYS SHE HAS SOMETHING DEMONIC IN HER HOME, AND IT HAS SCRATCHED HER AND HER 4-YEAR-OLD SON. SHE EXPLAINS THAT WALLS ARE KNOCKING AND THERE ARE THINGS MOVING AROUND IN THE HOME BUILT IN 1834. SHE ALSO TELLS YOU THAT THERE WAS WITCHCRAFT AND OTHER OCCULT ACTIVITY AND SUPPOSEDLY SACRIFICED A CHILD THERE. HOW WOULD YOU PROCEED FROM THERE?”

First thing on the phone before going to see her, I would advise her to have someone watch her son at a different location so we may conduct the interview in privacy and no distractions. I would encourage her to have anyone to be there with her to provide support or can relate with the findings that she has reported. I also would not go alone, as to make sure it never could get legal because she could accuse me of anything and I would have no witnesses for myself. The person coming with me would be someone I trust and know is a Christian. We would pray before knocking on the door and make sure all my senses are in alert mode.

I would introduce ourselves and turn on my digital recorder for the duration. We will sit with them and have them complete the consent form, and obtain the questionnaire that I had previously sent them so I can review their responses. I will use all my senses and listen to them tell their story. I would also have a discussion regarding fear to get their perspective, and would advise them of what I know of fear and the demonic. After reviewing the questionnaire, it will reveal all background information I need. I will take notes to document everything necessary.

I will ask permission to take a tour of the home, inside (Attic – Basement) and outside and surrounding area. I would also ask about the neighbors, and neighborhood. We would turn on EMF meter as we do the walk through. If they point out activity at a certain area, we will set the digital video camera in a spot that would be able to capture anything while I am there. My assistant would be taking random temperature, pictures, and EMF readings accordingly as well as humming christian songs throughout the process.

I will always try to debunk things accordingly, but will not tell them straight out that is what I am doing. I will always treat them with professionalism and respect, and accept any answers or comments “their truth” as they show me around and explain what goes on there.

After the walk through, we would sit and discuss the answers on the questionnaire. If they were not Christians, I would witness to them and at least plant the seed of salvation through Jesus Christ. I then would ask their permission to bind any demonic spirits present. If allowed, I would pray for the binding of the demonic spirits. I would also pray the Lord’s Prayer. I would discuss with them about releasing any Legal Rights or attachments and how they can free themselves through praying to God and asking for forgiveness and repent for any sins in their life. If they accept Jesus as their Savior, I would recommend they attend a local church of their choosing and be baptized.

I then would let her know that we will come back for a 2nd interview, which would give us time to go over the information collected and review anything the electronic equipment may have picked up. Once back to our vehicle, I would pray for continued protection and that no evil follow us back in to our lives.

Fully Energized

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. (Gen.1:1)         

 IN THE BEGINNING, ENERGY EVOLVED INTO THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH…

                                    

 Our country has become fully energized…our mascot is now the Energizer Bunny, but the shades he wears are to cover his coal black eyes. Like the BEK phenomenon (black eyed kid), there is definitely a demonic thing going on. The two phrases above capture in essence the worldview shift that has occurred in our country. From the outset our country was founded on the notion that there is a Creator God—who gave us inalienable rights. Until about 80 years ago, there was a Christian consensus in our country—a biblical worldview was presupposed (often unconsciously), and at the heart of any worldview is the nature of God or ultimate reality. It was simply understood that a Creator God made the world and He is distinct from it. However, in the 1960’s, an eastern monistic worldview (all is one) began to gestate…after 30 years this monistic worldview was given birth in the 1990’s. While the term New Age may be passe’, the reality it pointed to is not. The prevailing worldview today is that Energy is ultimate reality. Someone wisely suggested that I write on examples of this worldview shift. We shall see how this new notion of ultimate reality has radically altered the spiritual landscape and made plausible a whole host of beliefs which were once unthinkable within a biblical worldview. It has trickled down from academia into mainstream, which is how ideas usually get changed.

BOOKS…The self-help books (still very much alive and kicking) have given way to a new genre known as self-empowerment—the topics are frequently the same as before, but with a focus on tapping into the energy source to attain this goal. Whereas a book may have been entitled 10 Steps to a Strong Self-Image, now it may be called Empowering Your Self Image. Of course, the divine within is not the Holy Spirit but the strand of cosmic energy that allegedly undulates through the entire cosmos. We made reference to the Energizer Bunny---keeps going, going, going…It is pretty electrifying and tantalizing to realize that we already have all it takes to live a completely fulfilled, successful, and integrated life by simply recognizing the inexhaustible resources at our disposal, which keep going-- you have infinite Energy at your disposal! Behold, Energy stands at the door and knocks….Reading books changes one’s worldview, and that is precisely what is occurring.

Please note this: Energy may be referred to in different ways: cosmic consciousness, Christ consciousness, universal awareness, cosmic spirit and so on. The danger of these books is twofold: the obliteration of the Creator/creature distinction—a monist worldview; and the inevitable invitation for you to merge with this Energy by tapping into it. Lurking and leering behind this worldview shift is the Prince of darkness and his minions, who are quite happy to empower you in an extraordinary way for a time, only to sink their claws deep within your psyche—and leading you away from the biblical Jesus/gospel. The autonomous self-help books are bad enough, but actively seeking to be empowered by what is in reality a demonic entity is a horse of a different color.  Demons are lawless and perverse—seeking the minimum it would take to have “permission” to creatively be invited to be a resident guest. Seeking a power source other than the Holy Spirit is taken as an engraved invitation by unclean spirits.

Reincarnation—I only mention this in passing here, but it is a logical extension of a monistic worldview, and is becoming increasingly popular here. In his best-selling books Conversations with God, Neale D Walsch said that god told him this was his 247^threincarnation. The monistic worldview is what gave rise to the notion of reincarnation, and reincarnation gave rise to many modern techniques, such as past life regression. What troubles me is that during these sessions, WHO is revealing to this client their identities in the past? I saw on TV the other day a sliver of a show that featured an obese man, who had finally (after all else failed) found victory after tapping into the energy of a former self who had been a warrior centuries ago. This was discovered via past life-regression, and he adopted this warrior persona, which motivated him to lose weight and get in fighting shape. If he was NOT anyone else in the past, then who or what was he seeing during the regression? From my work with individuals who are under demonic attack, it is manifestly evident that unclean spirits may access our dream states. In the bible we see holy angels doing the same (eg both Josephs). It has become apparent that certain brain states make one more receptive to demonic influence. Past-life regression is merely one of many expressions of this worldview with Energy as ultimate reality…and tied into reincarnation.

Spiritism or the belief in ghosts or trapped spirits makes perfect sense within this Energy-centric worldview…all the ingredients were there (mainly a truncated worldview) for this to take off like a rocket. Since earthbound spirits are allegedly comprised of energy, then the notion of ghosts fits had-in-glove with this energy as ultimate reality worldview. All of the ghost-hunting equipment—EMF detector, Mel Meter, full-spectrum and thermal recorders and so on—are designed to detect energy emissions. Language in the supernatural community has jettisoned evil and good, and speaks of spirits that are negative or positive energy…as if they were batteries and not humans. While trapped spirits may be at home in this false worldview, they 100 percent implausible in a biblical worldview—they are antithetical to it. The flow of recent history bears this out; it was not until after this Energy worldview had 30 years to trickle down to the mainstream that the notion of ghosts exploded overnight. That is why it is so important that we learn to think worldviewishly (which I teach in my book Seeing Ghosts through God’s Eyes)

HEALING—whether spiritual, physical, or emotional, it has become a common theme of this Energy--centric worldview to focus on healing. Acupuncture, Reiki…any method that seeks energy transfer from this cosmic energy to heal. As we noted last time, often there is dramatic healing—at a very high cost. There are simply too many to mention here.

Achievement. There are techniques designed to tap into this Energy in order to help you attain or achieve your desire, dream, or goals. Meditation, monistic style, has become perhaps the most common means of overcoming limitations and manifesting one’s dreams. Quantum jumping caught my eye awhile back. The belief is that, by meditative techniques one can visit your doppelganger in any of the infinite universes there are. Burt Goldman, the guru of all this, relies heavily on recent advances in physics which state that there exists an infinite number of universes. Shining bright with a veneer of scientific support, he makes the most extraordinary claims. We can go to whatever universe in which there is a me that excels at the thing we desire. Once we find this doppelganger, we then tap into their unique energy vibrations and sort of siphon some off. There is an actual conversation in which we express desire to merge with them. This is a horrible scenario for possession—which usually requires an invitation for a being outside of us to enter. We mistakenly think that it needs to be a conscious invitation to that which is demonic, but that is not the case.  Astral travel is similar in some respects.. So, what is happening and what are they seeing? Demons have the ability to project vivid, full-color movies into our minds which play out our fantasizes. Energy is at the heart of it all. 

THE AFTERLIFE--many of these beliefs and methods have ramifications in many areas, and not just one, so it was hard to categorize them. However, I think most would agree that the afterlife is perhaps the most important issue at stake, simply due to its eternal nature. The bible unequivocally teaches that physical death is determinative of eternal destiny—heaven or hell, depending upon our response to the gospel of Christ.

This is where the true evil of an Energy-centric worldview is most manifest. Remember, within this system there is no Creator/creature distinction—hence, there is NO place for a holy judge or an eternal judgment. The Day of Judgment has been replaced by energy returning to Energy (as in classical monism) or our pure energy selves continue on here, there, or somewhere…forever. Yes, we have become fully and eternally energized…or so we have deluded ourselves. 

Need to know it emerged out of a context…and unless we see that, then we won’t have a proper understanding of it nor will we be able to effectively persuade others of is falsity. My approach to issues has always been a presuppositional analysis—if we leave this out of the discussion then there is little hope of connecting on any deep level. Have you ever had the sense that you were talking past each other when in dialogue? As it stands now, with the prevailing worldview (which is unconscious in most people), the notion of ghosts makes perfect sense. I watch over and over and over again how the death of “so and so” has led to a haunting”.

The Problems With Believing That Energy Is Ultimate

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

“Come this way, please.” The life coach and wellness expert pleasantly coaxed his client into his office. “Our goal today is to teach you how to raise your vibrational levels…this will relieve stress, enhance overall health, build confidence, and make you more successful in every area of your life. Just think, you will be tapping into the same cosmic energy that surges through our galaxy —synchronicity! I can guarantee you that your public speaking as well as your love life will take a quantum leap forward!” Sounds enticing, does it not? And no holy God that we have to be accountable to…yeeaay!

Energy…our country has become fixated with it. The scene above, with ten-thousand variations, is played out in similar fashion everyday across our country. We saw last time that the notion of ghosts did not just pop out of thin air; it is no coincidence that the birth of the New Age (around 1990) occurred at generally the same time that the notion of ghosts started taking off in popularity—moving from a few fringe groups to where CBS says that now one-half of Americans believe in trapped spirits. I personally do not know of another significant belief that has grown this quickly in such a short period of time. The point is that the belief in ghosts is under the extensive umbrella of what we call New Age…or occult/pagan. First is the worldview shift—energy displaces God as ultimate reality—then aberrant beliefs (such as trapped spirits) start mushrooming across the landscape of our culture. Very few in the supernatural community seem to be aware of the causal connection between the two. And frankly, many don’t want to know because they simply have too much personally vested in the notion of ghosts.

The energy worldview is monism or one-ism. We saw last time that Energy has displaced the infinite/personal God of the bible as our concept of ultimate reality. Dr. Peter Jones has suggested that we think in terms of One-ism and Two-ism to describe the two fundamentally opposed worldviews. There is such a bewildering array of different beliefs and techniques that express this shift, that it is helpful to have some way of organizing all the data. (Peter was desk-mates for several years with John Lennon in Liverpool). John went on to be one of the most influential one-ist proponents ever, and his pal Peter one its biggest opponents.

One-ism is the belief that all reality is one…in this case, there is a divine energy that undulates throughout all the cosmos—making everything an expression of Energy—and by raising our energy vibrations to match that of the world around us, we begin to fire on all cylinders. You should note that, at the very heart of one-ism, is the obliteration of the distinction between Creator and creature. Energy is ultimate reality, but since everything is infused with this energy, then everything is one—all we have to do is have a spiritual chiropractic adjustment in order to maximally experience this divine energy. Sin and salvation take on an entirely different meaning in this worldview. Instead of us being saved from the clear and present danger of God’s holy wrath due to our trespasses against Him, instead our basic need is to be released from our ignorance regarding our divine nature and this is achieved via enlightened teaching or direct experience.

Two-ism is shorthand for designating the biblical worldview…there are two kind of reality: primary (the Creator) and derived (the creation).The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is primary or ultimate reality, and He is distinct from His creation, which derives its very existence from Him. He created it out of nothing (ex nihilo…Gen.1:1), and He continues to sustain and uphold its existence (Col.1:16). The two-ist or biblical worldview upholds the Creator/creature distinction…two utterly distinct kinds of reality. (Do you see why a depth awareness of God’s holiness is so crucial?).

The one-ist worldview, (New Age or pagan/occult Energy) overhaul of our culture is so comprehensive and diverse, that it is easy to miss the forest for all the trees…the forest being a one-ist worldview, and the trees being the innumerable beliefs, methods, and techniques that are expressive of a one-ist paradigm.Whether it be Reiki, incarnation, astral travel, quantum jumping, acupuncture, the chakras in yoga, and so on—all are one-ist trees—that comprise the one-ist forest or mindset/worldview. That is what drew me to Dr. Jones simplified means of making sense of all this mind-boggling variety…it explains so much: Energy as ultimate reality is the one-ist worldview which is in vogue today. But as I mentioned last time, it is not without its problems..

In classical philosophy there is epistemology (theory of knowledge), metaphysics, ethics, logic, and aesthetics. Few of us are philosophers in the technical sense of that being our academic specialty. However, we are all philosophers in the sense that we all have a worldview (albeit usually unconscious) through which we interpret the world. In this series, I wish to show the epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical necessity of the infinite/personal God really being there and having spoken to us. Often, Christian leaders despise philosophy and discourage any interaction with it. This is sad because the questions philosophers have asked for millennia, can only be answered satisfactorily by biblical Christianity—philosophy and biblical theology fit like hand in glove—and for this, I bow before the Lord in worship. It isn’t just that biblical Christianity has the best answers; it has the ONLY satisfactory answer.

Today there is not so much a generation gap, as there is an epistemological gap…we view truth differently... Epistemology is that branch of philosophy that deals with how we acquire knowledge, whether it is of the natural or the supernatural. This where we must start, especially when it comes to this notion of Energy as ultimate reality.  I would gently insist that without the God of the bible, and the bible of God, we have no sufficient basis for knowing anything. I have a friend (call her Laura) who is well known in paranormal (whoops…I said it!) circles, she has written a book and has been investigating the supernatural for over 35 years…specializing in what she refers to as hostile haunts. Laura was deeply angered at me after reading my book and told me so. Thought I was too narrow…siiigh. She explicitly states that she does not believe in religious absolutes, and incredibly, after many hundreds of investigations of active houses, she says that she has never run into a demon! Never…

I mention this as an illustration of the paramount importance of epistemology. The starting point for her in analyzing the supernatural is, well, herself…not any beliefs external to her. The fact that she is convinced she has never once happened upon a demon is terrifying to me, and it surely shows that 35 years of operating on a false presupposition, will only lead one ever deeper into darkness and folly (Rom.1:18ff). Consider this verse I happened upon in my quiet time yesterday, “And the angel…who swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay.” (Rev.10:6 emph. added) The Greek word for heavens (ouranos) can mean the sky, the place where God dwells, and the supernatural realm. Regardless, John is emphatic and explicit in noting that it is the Lord who created the different realms and (this is key) what is in them. Since God is the Creator of the inhabitants of the supernatural realm, we must see reality through His eyes if we are to identify His creation accurately. His word is the necessary epistemological foundation for gaining true and accurate knowledge of the supernatural realm and its inhabitants… as they really are. On the contrary, the more experience and time one has spent analyzing the supernatural without reference to He who created it, will only lead to an intensification of ignorance and foolish conjecture.

The one-ist worldview states: In the beginning, there has always been impersonal energy, and this impersonal energy + time + chance = the current complexity of the heavens and the earth. That has many ramifications, but the epistemological are most fundamental. How do we acquire knowledge of the world?  Now, please consider this: suppose you are doing your thing (which is not God’s thing) and investigating the supernatural. You are observing with your five senses, while also using instruments…the observer and the thing being observed. If ultimate reality is impersonal energy, then you as observer are the result of: impersonal beginning billions of years ago + time + chance. Specifically, your eyes and your brain are the result of an impersonal beginning, plus time, plus chance (that is how evolution rolls). I gently insist that you do not import any notion of intentionality or design because that is being inconsistent (You can’t have your autonomous cake and eat it too).

In this scheme, you have no intellectual basis for claiming that what is coming to you is data. Call it blah, blah, but you have no epistemological basis for saying that you are receiving data. Why do I say that? How can you trust your brain which is a bunch of chemicals and billions of firing synapses? How can this process kick up a brain which conveniently has categories which corresponds with external reality? Your eyes…again, nothing but energy in motion, configured by chance. How do you know that what you perceive as a red apple is really red in color, and is really shaped as you perceive it? It was Immanuel Kant who dropped this bombshell on the philosophical playground about 200 years ago. To make matters more complex, in this scheme (impersonal energy is ultimate reality) how can you trust the information transfer from eyes to brain? How can we be sure that we are acquiring accurate knowledge regarding anything? What is the basis for believing in the basic reliability of our senses?

I have briefly sketched the epistemological problem of the one-ist worldview of Energy, which is the root of this explosive rise of interest in spirit beings/ghosts.I want to close with showing how biblical Christianity alone supplies the answer to the epistemological problem. God is infinite and personal, and we are finite and personal. When it comes to His infinity, God is utterly dissimilar to us…and all of creation (this is the essence of two-ist thinking), but when it comes to God being personal, then we are similar to God—we are made in His image. The same God who formed the external world for our enjoyment, also created our five senses to operate or function in this environment: do you see how massive this is epistemologically? A personal God of reason made our reason; a God who hears prayer made our ears to hear; the Creator who sees all and knows all created both our eyes and our minds—with categories which correspond to what is out there. We have a sufficient basis for knowing that what appears to be a red apple is precisely that. We have a sufficient basis for trusting in the basic reliability of our five senses. When it comes to the problems of this worldview now in vogue (energy is ultimate reality), we see that only the God of the bible, and the bible of God, provide the only solution.