King Of The Jews - Part 18In a definite echo of The Screw-tape Letters, I feel that the god of this world has made a course correction and begun to peddle a much better counterfeit of the truth; Dr. Wayne is preaching a "new" message, the "Tao", and the wonderful benefits of adhering to its amazing life transforming powers through "transforming one's mind". Apparently, if one repeats the "Tao" 81 times, all ones problems will be solved. This will unleash the "natural" wisdom within each person and the limitless powers everyone possesses that lie dormant within each of us. Dr. Wayne pointed out that his god, whose title he invoked frequently, cannot be named or he becomes moot. Dr. Wayne mentioned the Old Testament and almost sounded like a good old-fashioned Bible thumper. But my God does have a name; many names. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus". Matthew 1:21 Poor Dr. Wayne is calling upon an impersonal force, "The Source", as he often calls it. He says you can call it god if you want, but don't give your "god" a name. The enemy is terrified of the name of Jesus. The great "I AM". Jesus means "Jehovah Salvation". Salvation is not SOMETHING, but SOMEONE. Bible scholar Arthur E. Glass points out that the name Jesus is actually hidden in the Old Testament, being found about one hundred times from Genesis to Habakkuk. The author affirms that,
Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua. Just as Joshua brought the children of Israel into the Promised Land, so would Jesus/Joshua bring mankind into the Promised Land of Salvation through his work on the cross. Jesus came as "the Star out of Jacob". Numbers 24:17. He is "The Lion of the tribe of Judah". Revelation 5:5. "Shiloh" has ever been taken to be a name of the Messiah. Isaiah has a constellation of appellations for our Blessed Lord, "…his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace". Isaiah 9:6. He is also called "Emmanuel" meaning "God with Us". Isaiah 7:14 Even the name "Christ" is a name, meaning in Greek, "The Anointed One". He was called the "Nazarene", a word derived from Natzri meaning "pain". This prophetically signified his "Suffering Servant" nature as did his name "Son of Man". However, on the flip side His name, "Son of God, shows His Divinity. Matthew said he was "Born King of the Jews". History records only one other royal birth and that was certainly not a divine birth, but that of Alfonso XIII of Spain. But Jesus, "Born King of the Jews" will come again and inherit His throne and ultimate title as "King of Kings". Yes, God has names, many, many names. He is not an impersonal force, to be manipulated by endless repetitions of prayers or mantras. As Jesus Himself instructed us, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as do the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking". Matthew 6:7 Dr. Wayne is now preaching against the evils of consumerism run rampant. He's telling folks to give away what they don't need. Apparently everyone only uses 20% of what they have so he suggests giving the unused stuff to the needy. It's a nice sentiment. He even urges giving away a few of the things you do use. Again, a nice concept. It's amazing how closely this "new" way of thinking comes to the Bible. But close is only good in horseshoes and hand-grenades. There's nothing wrong with doing good works, but according to God, people's good works without Christ, just won't cut the mustard with Him concerning our eternal standing. As Isaiah confessed of mankind, "…all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;" Isaiah 64:6 The "Tao" is of course not new, but supposed "Ancient Wisdom". It's like a dozen other work-based religions, ascribing the spark of divinity as being ever-present within man, describing very nice attitudes and homilies, but as the saying goes, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". I am led to dwell on this subject because the seductive spirit that emanates from Dr. Dyer and the rest of the other New Age teachers is becoming more and more powerful and prevalent. Believers in Christ must be ever-vigilant against these seducing spirits and doctrines of devils that are "pushing" their way into the Church and leading millions of lost people down the broad road to destruction. Whereas in his previous "sermons" Dr. Dyer, in my opinion, presented some relatively incomprehensible concepts, this latest tack incorporates just enough truth to be really deceptive. The concept of changing one's life through changing one's mind is taken right from Jesus own lips. "…be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind". Romans 12:2 The type of mind Jesus is speaking of is described by Paul in his letter to the Philippians, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus". 2:5. When one is born again by the Spirit of God, saved by the blood of the Lamb of God, then they can truly have a new mind and be transformed. Like Paul they can loudly and proudly claim, "But we have the mind of Christ". I Corinthians 2:16 New Agers even speak of "Christ-Consciousness", but they regard Jesus as just one of many "ascended masters" who possessed such, including Avatars, Shamans, Gurus, Buddha and highly evolved meditators or "Taters" as they're called here in the Heartland. |
