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Regarding the Jesus Culture Awakening 2011 video provided below. Although this content is mild in comparison to some available, this is only provided as an example to consider the topic addressed.
There are indeed remnants seeking the Christ life in Spirit and Truth, even if temporary dislocated by occasional error. There is also a clear distinction between discernment & judgment when surveying the spiritual landscape. Being judgmental comes from an emotion-based, negative opinion that we tend to form with the “I’m right and your wrong mindset.” As for discernment: this developed skill is used when you choose to make an informed decision from an observer’s point of view, with no need to cast stones at those of opposing opinions.
In my years of ministry, I find more seek the excitement of the physiological experience over the labor of the praying closet intercessor. A respected teacher stated "the Charismatic’s have introduced more error into mainstream Christianity than any other movement in church history...." When emotions replace Spirit, error abounds because it springs from the fallen nature. Reflect on 1 Kings 19:12, the mountains shook, the fire fell, but God dwells in a whisper, not in chaos.
I dislike lowering myself, to express my qualifications to comment. I am 50 plus, ordained and pastored two church full time starting in 1988, author of expository commentary, write for Christian publications as an alias, current director of a international missions www.messiahmissions.org, and the accolades continue... As Paul lamented, must I brag about my credentials as a fool does to be considered? No... the truth is only attainable to those who can hear, credentials mean nothing.
It is impossible to express the full dimension of concern as YouTube doesn't allow long comments. I wanted to comment on the strobing lights which are commonly used in mind conditioning, beating drums to stimulate eurhythmics, crowd chants with repetitious words to enter into a trance, stirred mass energy transmission like Shaman’s use in crowd seduction. The Holy Spirit doesn’t require technology and methods on a sensory level to generate His presence. He moves unexpectedly on His own, often ushered from lips of praying Saints.
So few who call Christ their master, take time to dig deep into their hearts, to seek God’s touch for foundational change… the essential regeneration, as only He can create a new creature. Instead, it is easier to trust ecstatic experiences as a witness to our spirituality. I have been there, done that and it is a dead end.
Attaining a trance-like or ecstatic state as many do at these entertainment revivals, doesn't immediately reveal anything about the origin of the manifestation. Every spiritual manifestation can have one of three different origins (divine, demonic or human). The discerning of spirits is necessary to identify the origin. Because the same manifestation, like the ecstatic dancing, falling down and shaking violently or tongues for example, can be caused either by God's Spirit, by a demonic influence or merely by the person's own propagations.
Much of what is touted as Spiritual anointing by the charismatic’s is merely the awakening of the Kundalini by means of occult methods. Kundalini is a well known occult practice, deriving its origin from India. It involves bodily manifestations as a consequence to the ‘Awakening of the Kundalini.’ This is not a mystical fabrication or belief system, but a practice that is strongly promoted by the New Age Movement. The Kundalini awakening does contain the most unbelievable expanded states of reality, enlightenment, and absolute ecstasy and it is extremely contagious. However, like crack stimulates dopamine, a Kundalini awakening opens wide a person's spiritual core, removing safeguards placed by the Creator. The end results can traumatize one's spiritual fabric, leaving a soul damaged. Having worked decades in deliverance, it is impossible to relay every case directly associated with charismatic folly, but it is immense.
The meetings which mystic Hindu gurus hold are called ‘Darshan’. At these meetings devotees go forward to receive spiritual experience from a touch by the open palm of the hand, often to the forehead, by the guru in what is known as the Shakti Pat or divine touch. Sometimes touch is not used, but sensory stimuli like this group is doing in the video. In a group setting, the transfer of this power will spread like fire to all in attendance who are mentally open and receive the touch which results in all manner of physical manifestations. Involuntary bodily movements; jerking, tremors, shaking; spontaneous vocalizations; burning sensation; sounds in the head; confusion and stupor; gyrating and pulsating; or when slain, unable to move. These manifestations are called 'Kriyas' by the Hindus. Often devotees move on to higher states of spiritual consciousness and become inert physically and appear to slip into unconscious stupor. This state is called 'Samadhi' and it leads to a deeper spiritual experience. The Buddhist suttas mention that samadhi practitioners may develop supernormal powers that can lead to very uncomfortable occult manifestations.
The Hindus are not the only culture to master the techniques that weave the psyche with the pneuma. The techniques are as old as humanity itself, a spiritual doorway if you must. What we often see lauded as revival amidst these emotional displays, are nothing more than occult methodologies branded as spiritually aware Christians. Spiritually aware indeed, but of what spirit?
"Real Eyes Realize Real Lies."
I see today’s youth cast under a spell into this pseudo experiential phenomenon, they last for a time, ever seeking another emotional high, only to burn out in time, usually falling hard due to no spiritual substance in the heart. Johanna, my wife, said she saw young person after young person in her church in Chile, traveling this road, but later falling out disillusioned, more enraptured in sin than even before. Satan is aggressive after those who are truly seeking in truth, holiness, humility. But for those seeking an experience, like today’s zealous emotionalism, they are their own written demise without his assistance.
Praying the Lord to lift up earnest prophets of Truth, unafraid of those who are seduced by arguments unto their own delusion. May the Lord lift up those who will be ever instilled with a clarity of discernment, able to clearly see the narrow chasm between truth and error. I pray the Spirit grant the seduced, those subdued by the powers of the air, held captive unto error, deliverance as only the Spirit of Yahweh can provide.
There are indeed remnants seeking the Christ life in Spirit and Truth, even if temporary dislocated by occasional error. There is also a clear distinction between discernment & judgment when surveying the spiritual landscape. Being judgmental comes from an emotion-based, negative opinion that we tend to form with the “I’m right and your wrong mindset.” As for discernment: this developed skill is used when you choose to make an informed decision from an observer’s point of view, with no need to cast stones at those of opposing opinions.
In my years of ministry, I find more seek the excitement of the physiological experience over the labor of the praying closet intercessor. A respected teacher stated "the Charismatic’s have introduced more error into mainstream Christianity than any other movement in church history...." When emotions replace Spirit, error abounds because it springs from the fallen nature. Reflect on 1 Kings 19:12, the mountains shook, the fire fell, but God dwells in a whisper, not in chaos.
I dislike lowering myself, to express my qualifications to comment. I am 50 plus, ordained and pastored two church full time starting in 1988, author of expository commentary, write for Christian publications as an alias, current director of a international missions www.messiahmissions.org, and the accolades continue... As Paul lamented, must I brag about my credentials as a fool does to be considered? No... the truth is only attainable to those who can hear, credentials mean nothing.
It is impossible to express the full dimension of concern as YouTube doesn't allow long comments. I wanted to comment on the strobing lights which are commonly used in mind conditioning, beating drums to stimulate eurhythmics, crowd chants with repetitious words to enter into a trance, stirred mass energy transmission like Shaman’s use in crowd seduction. The Holy Spirit doesn’t require technology and methods on a sensory level to generate His presence. He moves unexpectedly on His own, often ushered from lips of praying Saints.
So few who call Christ their master, take time to dig deep into their hearts, to seek God’s touch for foundational change… the essential regeneration, as only He can create a new creature. Instead, it is easier to trust ecstatic experiences as a witness to our spirituality. I have been there, done that and it is a dead end.
Attaining a trance-like or ecstatic state as many do at these entertainment revivals, doesn't immediately reveal anything about the origin of the manifestation. Every spiritual manifestation can have one of three different origins (divine, demonic or human). The discerning of spirits is necessary to identify the origin. Because the same manifestation, like the ecstatic dancing, falling down and shaking violently or tongues for example, can be caused either by God's Spirit, by a demonic influence or merely by the person's own propagations.
Much of what is touted as Spiritual anointing by the charismatic’s is merely the awakening of the Kundalini by means of occult methods. Kundalini is a well known occult practice, deriving its origin from India. It involves bodily manifestations as a consequence to the ‘Awakening of the Kundalini.’ This is not a mystical fabrication or belief system, but a practice that is strongly promoted by the New Age Movement. The Kundalini awakening does contain the most unbelievable expanded states of reality, enlightenment, and absolute ecstasy and it is extremely contagious. However, like crack stimulates dopamine, a Kundalini awakening opens wide a person's spiritual core, removing safeguards placed by the Creator. The end results can traumatize one's spiritual fabric, leaving a soul damaged. Having worked decades in deliverance, it is impossible to relay every case directly associated with charismatic folly, but it is immense.
The meetings which mystic Hindu gurus hold are called ‘Darshan’. At these meetings devotees go forward to receive spiritual experience from a touch by the open palm of the hand, often to the forehead, by the guru in what is known as the Shakti Pat or divine touch. Sometimes touch is not used, but sensory stimuli like this group is doing in the video. In a group setting, the transfer of this power will spread like fire to all in attendance who are mentally open and receive the touch which results in all manner of physical manifestations. Involuntary bodily movements; jerking, tremors, shaking; spontaneous vocalizations; burning sensation; sounds in the head; confusion and stupor; gyrating and pulsating; or when slain, unable to move. These manifestations are called 'Kriyas' by the Hindus. Often devotees move on to higher states of spiritual consciousness and become inert physically and appear to slip into unconscious stupor. This state is called 'Samadhi' and it leads to a deeper spiritual experience. The Buddhist suttas mention that samadhi practitioners may develop supernormal powers that can lead to very uncomfortable occult manifestations.
The Hindus are not the only culture to master the techniques that weave the psyche with the pneuma. The techniques are as old as humanity itself, a spiritual doorway if you must. What we often see lauded as revival amidst these emotional displays, are nothing more than occult methodologies branded as spiritually aware Christians. Spiritually aware indeed, but of what spirit?
"Real Eyes Realize Real Lies."
I see today’s youth cast under a spell into this pseudo experiential phenomenon, they last for a time, ever seeking another emotional high, only to burn out in time, usually falling hard due to no spiritual substance in the heart. Johanna, my wife, said she saw young person after young person in her church in Chile, traveling this road, but later falling out disillusioned, more enraptured in sin than even before. Satan is aggressive after those who are truly seeking in truth, holiness, humility. But for those seeking an experience, like today’s zealous emotionalism, they are their own written demise without his assistance.
Praying the Lord to lift up earnest prophets of Truth, unafraid of those who are seduced by arguments unto their own delusion. May the Lord lift up those who will be ever instilled with a clarity of discernment, able to clearly see the narrow chasm between truth and error. I pray the Spirit grant the seduced, those subdued by the powers of the air, held captive unto error, deliverance as only the Spirit of Yahweh can provide.
May God bless you all.
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