That grave errors are discovered on its page?
Will it save the sinful soul? Will it make the wounded whole?
Will its glorious truth abide from age to age?
Will its message still abide, when the scientists decide
That its record of Creation is untrue?
Tell us the ascent of man is by evolution's plan;
Will its principles the sinful heart renew?
When in language wondrous fair, "Christian Scientists" declare
That there is no evil, only mortal mind.
When mental treatment fails, and seeming death prevails,
May we in the Bible consolation find?
When infidels parade the mistakes which Moses made,
When the truth of Revelation they deny,
Will the Ten Commandments still the demands of justice fill?
Will its word support us when we come to die?
Yes, the Word of God shall stand, though assailed on every hand,
Its foundations are eternally secure;
It will bear the critic's test, and the idle scoffer's jest,
Its saving truth forever shall endure.
Author Unknown
Is it me, or does it seem as though there are very few faithful stewards of God’s WORD today? The world’s scorn of the Bible, though unbearable, is not at all surprising. What is surprising is the scorn that’s coming from Christian leadership. Pastors and theologians, who have supposedly dedicated their lives to the study of the Bible, are now criticizing its complete authority in the spiritual lives of the Christian believer. Many of these leaders are embracing outside sources of knowledge and experience, and placing them on equal ground with the authority that God alone has placed upon His word. I’ll just say this, when we disagree with the Bible, we are making God a liar!
Romans 3:4 says this, “Let God be true, and every man a liar.” It does not say, let every man be true and God a liar. This is one scripture that every child of God should commit to memory. It will keep them safe from every deception, and every wile of the devil.
In an article published by Christianity Today, some stunning comments were made by J.P. Moreland at a meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. I realize that this is an old article dating back to 2007, but I have a good reason for bringing it to our attention. His comments are very telling of just what happens when we start building faulty truths upon the foundation that has already be laid. These faulty truths have a great impact upon a believer’s understanding of truth and a grave influence upon the Church.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 warns us about this very thing. It says, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
In other words, no true church can be established without embracing the doctrinal truths as it is in Jesus Christ -- those which pertain to his incarnation, his Divine nature, his instructions, his example, his atonement, his resurrection, and his ascension. Why, because it was laid by Him. He has established it…it cannot be changed. The fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith must be embraced, or a church cannot exist; and where those doctrines are denied, the church can no longer be recognized as the Church of God. Nor can the foundation be modified or shaped to suit the wishes of men. It must be laid as it is in the Scriptures; and the superstructure must be reared on that alone.
This brings us to where we find ourselves today. We are drowning in a pool of “New Age Spirituality” because many professing Christian leaders have denied, or modified the foundational truths of the Bible. The “new” paradigm is really a conglomerate of New Age thought, Kingdom Dominionism, Pagan and Eastern Religions and Catholicism all wrapped up in one big ugly and confusing package. This Spiritual Evolution; or Evolutionary Christianity is also known as the Emergent Church.
With regard to the Emergent Church, there seems to be a lot of confusion in defining exactly what this is. The simple definition is this, the Emergent Church is really a belief that goodness will emerge through people of understanding; or a higher spirituality; or “Christ Consciousness.” Many believe that this emerging goodness will allow for a “new creation” or “new society” in which we will become co-creators spiritually. It could be described as a utopia, a “heaven on earth” scenario, one that doesn’t include the Gospel, or the need of a Savior. Its roots run deep into the New Age ideology and the combining of all the worlds religions “creating this heaven on earth”…as we all wait for the appearing of the “Christ”. Which Christ?
Let me just note here and clarify that this “Christ” is not the Jesus Christ of the Bible. Too many “believers” are buying into this grand deception because pastors and Christian leaders of the church are teaching a false gospel. Like any cult, or secular movement, words that are defined one way scripturally, are hijacked and used another way to fit the narrative a particular group or cult wants to promote. New Agers will talk about "Christ", but it is not the Lord Jesus Christ. This little tool of deception has been going on since the dawn of time.
WHO IS THE CHRIST OF THE NEW AGE
Walter Martin, The Christ of the New Age (p. 17-18)
In 1982, newspapers across the country displayed full-page advertisements boldly stating: "The world has had enough . . . of hunger, injustice, and war. There is an answer to our call for help, a world teacher for all humanity. THE CHRIST IS NOW HERE."The attack upon the person of Jesus Christ concentrates on Christ's unique claim to deity (John 1:1,14,18; 3:16). Jesus does not share His throne with Buddha, Mohammed, or the thousands of other false gods of Satan's kingdom. Jesus, the Son of God became flesh and dwelt among us. His life, ministry, miracles, death, and resurrection have never been duplicated by anyone, ever! He is more than unique, He is exactly who He says He is.
This was sponsored by the Tara Foundation under the leadership of Benjamin Crème, and asked such interesting questions as Who Is the Christ?, What Is He Saying?, and When Wil We See Him? The ad ended in a call for peace: "Without sharing there can be no justice, without justice there can be no peace, without peace tghere can be no future."
Three other New Age groups joined the Tara Foundation, but the nebulous ad inevitably failed to attract the kind of attention Crème had anticipated. The "christ' of whom the Tara Foundation was speaking was not the Christ of biblical revelation, but an Indian guru who had flown to England (thus fulfilling Rev. 1:7), and now lives in London. Mr. Crème state that this Christ would meet the press, but the press conference was later postponed.
Mr. Crème, in his book The Reappearance of the Christ, ran true to New Age thought when describing the relationship of Jesus Christ to the New Age:
The Christ is not God, he is not coming as God. He is an embodiment of an aspect of God, the love aspect of God. He is the embodied soul of all creation. He embodies the energy which is a consciousness aspect of the Being we call God . . . He would rather that you didn't pray to him, but to God within you, which is also within him . . . He said it himself. "The kingdom of God is within you" (p.135).
THE NEW AGE OCCULT TEACHINGS OF ALICE BAILEY
To this end, the Lucis Trust, under the leadership of Foster and Alice Bailey, started a group called 'World Goodwill' - an official non-governmental organization within the United Nations. The stated aim of this group is "to cooperate in the world of preparation for the reappearance of the "christ" [One Earth, the magazine of the Findhorn Foundation, October/November 1986, Vol. 6, Issue 6, p.24.] This "christ" is not Jesus Christ. Those who deny Jesus, are not looking for Jesus. This "christ" is the Antichrist, and his world religious system.
New Age Occult espouses a higher spirituality. Just how does one attain this higher spirituality? Methods of contemplative prayer and spiritual formation are the supposed path in which this “christ consciousness” will come….and folks it is sweeping the nation...and the church! Those who hold “high positions” in Evangelical circles, who have rejected the authority of scripture are culpable. They have confused scores of professed believers, and have but have put the Church and Orthodox Christianity in GRAVE DANGER. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew 7:15
J.P. Moreland’s list of credentials is as long as my driveway, we have a long driveway. Although very impressive, I must ask myself this one question, just whose word am I to place my faith and trust in? Highly esteemed individuals, such as J.P. Moreland would like us to believe that they have the word of authority over the Scriptures. Yet, if what they are saying is contrary to scripture, it is the listener’s responsibility to weigh it against the Word of Truth. This is precisely the problem in the Church today.
In this message, J.P. Moreland spoke about the Bible and the Christian. The title of his message, “How Evangelicals Became Over-Committed to the Bible and What Can Be Done About It.” My first thought was, “WHAT!?!” I was outraged, and still am at those who would de-emphasize the importance of Scripture, its inspiration, its authority and our faithfulness to the study and teach it. I hope that you are too. J.P. Moreland is a Professor of Theology and an Apologist…he is also a contributor to the Christian Worldview Curriculum which is being taught and distributed to Adults, Students and Homeschoolers.
In his address, Mr. Moreland stated the following:
“In the actual practices of the Evangelical community in North America, there is an over-commitment to Scripture in a way that is false, irrational, and harmful to the cause of Christ," he said. "And it has produced a mean-spiritedness among the over-committed that is a grotesque and often ignorant distortion of discipleship unto the Lord Jesus."
“The problem,” he said, is "the idea that the Bible is the sole source of knowledge of God, morality, and a host of related important items. Accordingly, the Bible is taken to be the sole authority for faith and practice."
In a “let’s suppose” scenario…Suppose an archaeologist discovered a portion of the ancient city of Jerusalem that was specifically described in the Old Testament, Moreland said:
"Could the archaeologist have discovered the site without the use of the Old Testament? Once discovered, could the archaeologist learn things about the site that went beyond what was in the Old Testament? Clearly the answer is yes to both questions. Why? Because the site actually exists in the real world. It does not exist in the Bible. It is only described in the Bible and the biblical description in partial."
Likewise, Moreland argued, "because the human soul/spirit and demons/angels are real, it is possible, and, in fact, actual that extra-biblical knowledge can be gained about these spiritual entities. Demons do not exist in the Bible. They exist in reality."
Moreland continued, "By not researching how demons work, how to fight them, and other such issues by, for example, working with exorcists, Christian scholars are harming the church."Is there one place in the Bible that instructs the believer to research the way demons work so that we can learn how to fight them? Do we seek out Exorcists as the authority over such matters in order to gain a better understanding rather than what God has already instructed us in His Word? Spiritual matters are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED. If Mr. Moreland placed his confidence in Scripture, he would know the schemes of the devil and the Lord’s instruction on how to resist.
James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Ephesians 6:10-18, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."
1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
There is much more to this address, but I wanted to focus on the key issue here, as well as, present a couple of examples of the mindset behind some of these false teachings. Mr. Moreland is not alone in his beliefs, in fact today this mindset has spread throughout the Church, a great achievement in Morelands opinion, a tragedy in mine.
At the end of his address, Mr. Moreland states two suggestions for correcting the problem, as follows:
“First, that in dispatching our pastoral and teaching duties, we must teach people how to avail themselves appropriately of the extra-biblical knowledge available in these areas.”
After claiming that great harm has been done to the cause of Jesus Christ by “over-commitment” to the Bible, Mr. Moreland’s suggestions are to instruct the believer with ideas found in places other than the Word of God.
He says, “To correct this problem, we must instruct those under our care about the availability of this knowledge and helpful ways to use it."To what is he referring? Well, he wrote a book about it. J.P. Moreland authored a book titled, “Kingdom Triangle” published in 2007, in which he claims that there are three components or elements needed in Christianity, both collectively and individually. These three “essential ingredients” are for the “maturation of the Evangelical community” (p. 13).
It shouldn’t surprise you that one of the elements Mr. Moreland is referring to is “Spiritual Formation” which he accredits John Coe (Director for Biola’s Institute for Spiritual Formation) in guiding him.
[Mr. Coe has many publications which include: Intentional Spiritual Formation in the Classroom, Musings on the Dark Night of the Soul: Insights from St. John of the Cross on a Developmental Spirituality, Beyond Relationality to Union: A Pneumadynamic Approach to Personality and Psychopathology, and Redeeming Psychology: A Spiritual Formation Approach to Christianity and Psychology (IVP). He is also editor of the Institute's Journal for Spiritual Formation and Soul Care.]
For those who are not yet educated on the topic, a few definitions are in order.
Contemplative Spirituality
A belief system that uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence) and is rooted in mysticism and the occult but often wrapped in Christian terminology. The premise of contemplative spirituality is pantheistic (God is all) and panentheistic (God is in all). Common terms used for this movement are "spiritual formation," "the silence," "the stillness," "ancient-wisdom," "spiritual disciplines," and many others.
Spiritual Formation: From Got Questions
The spiritual formation movement is very popular today. It is, however, in many ways a move away from the truth of God's Word to a mystical form of Christianity, and it has infiltrated, to some degree, nearly all evangelical denominations. This idea of spiritual formation is based on the premise that if we do certain practices, we can be more like Jesus. Proponents of spiritual formation erroneously teach that anyone can practice these mystical rituals and find God within themselves.
Too often, adherents of the current spiritual formation movement believe the spiritual disciplines transform the seeker by his or her entering an altered realm of consciousness. The spiritual formation movement is characterized by such things as contemplative prayer, contemplative spirituality, and Christian mysticism.
True biblical spiritual formation, or spiritual transformation, begins with the understanding that we are sinners living apart from God. Our faculties have been corrupted by sin so that we cannot please God. True spiritual transformation occurs as we yield ourselves to God so that He may transform us by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. At least half of every New Testament epistle is geared toward how to live a life well pleasing to God—by obedience and submission to the Holy Spirit in all things. Scripture does not only call us the redeemed, saved, saints, sheep, soldiers, and servants, but teaches us that only through the power of the Spirit we can live up to what the names mean.
The following passages address various aspects of spiritual formation, the work of God in the life of the believer.
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29). Here is the aim of transformation: that we may be like Christ.
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). This is part of a passage that teaches that we are changed into the image of Christ not by following rules and laws, but by following the leading of the Spirit by faith.
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:3-7).
Here, Paul reminds us of our before-and-after life. We have responded to the "kindness and love of God" shown to us by the death of Christ for our sins, repented of our sins, and now respond to the Spirit’s continual prompting and empowerment to live differently as God's children. As a result, we have been transformed by the "rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (v. 5). This, then, is true spiritual formation—the reforming of our spirits by His Spirit into the image of Christ.
Lighthouse Trails Research Ministry wrote the following book review of J. P. Moreland’s ‘Kingdom Triangle’ which is published on their website and viewed at the following link: Kingdom Triangle by J.P. Moreland
“In chapter 6 of 'Kingdom Triangle', Moreland plunges into discussion about the "true self" and the "false self." He echoes Thomas Merton and Martin Buber, both who had strong mystical propensities, and who believed we could attain to our true self (a perfect self) through mystical practices. Moreland encourages the writings (and practices) of St. Ignatius Loyola, (p. 156), saying such practices will help us to "cultivate the ability to discern the divine components" within us. This follows the course of thinking that Thomas Merton had - that divinity is already within, and mystical practices help us to realize what is already there. That is why Merton said,
"It is a glorious destiny to be a member of the human race… now I realize what we all are ... If only they [people] could all see themselves as they really are. I suppose the big problem would be that we would bow down and worship each other.... At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusion, a point of pure truth....This little point ... is the pure glory of God in us. It is in everybody." (Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, pp. 157-158)I’ll interject here - he says, “At the center of our being is nothingness which is untouched by sin…a pure point of truth” WRONG! The Bible does not say this at all. The Bible clearly teaches that we are all born of sin, and we are all given a conscience (guilt and condemnation). Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The glory of God in any of us would be the work of atonement through the blood of Jesus Christ…not some little point of sinless truth.
Romans 3:10 - “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.”
Isaiah 64:6 - “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
James Fire, Co-founder of T.T.U.F., made the following observation with regards to this scripture:
What I find interesting is that “righteousness” is in the plural form “righteousnessES” which to me suggests that there are many forms of attainment to righteousness, but all of them prove false and unable to meet the Divine standard of holiness – whether one is talking about contemplative prayer, or karma, or the Five Pillars of Islam, or the Seven Sacraments, or the keeping of the Ten Commandments by one’s own effort, Transcendental Meditation, social justice, etc.1 Corinthians 1:30-31 - “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 331That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
Moreland tells the readers that a "treasure of deep, rich knowledge of the soul" can be found in the writings of the Desert Fathers, Henri Nouwen, and Richard Foster, (p. 153).
He is blatantly promoting the teaching of the New Age Movement. All three of these guys promote the meditation practices of the Hindus, Buddhists and the occult.
"The Desert Fathers believed as long as the desire for God was sincere--anything could be utilized to reach God. If a method worked for the Hindus to reach their gods, then Christian mantras could be used to reach Jesus." ATOD , p. 43, 2nd ed. [Sheer lunacy!]
Quote from Henri Nouwen (New Age Mystic, One of the Desert Fathers) :
"Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God's house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God."
-From Sabbatical Journey, Henri Nouwen's last book page 51, 1998 Hardcover Edition
Nouwen’s endorsement of a book by Hindu spiritual teacher Eknath Easwaran, teaching mantra meditation, further illustrates his universalistic sympathies. On the back cover, Nouwen stated, "This book has helped me a great deal."
The Richard Foster Bible, called the Renovare Study Bible, was released by Harper SF in 2004. The Renovare "Bible" focuses on Foster's six disciplines (from his book Streams of Living Waters), one of which is the contemplative practice. Thomas Kelly is quoted in that book as saying: "Deep within us all [all human beings] there is an amazing inner sanctuary of the soul, a holy place, a Divine Center"
Further, Moreland suggests to his readers that “Catholic retreat centers are usually ideal for solitude retreats."
The coming together of world religions to form this one religion is called a “Christ Consciousness”. Again, this is not the Lord Jesus Christ, but those that exalt ‘self’, believing we are all gods and are working together to bring about this "Christ Consciousness" united world religious system as they wait for the appearing of the false Christ, the Antichrist.
As we continue with the Lighthouse Trails book review, we have to wonder just what Mr. Moreland’s goal really is. We will see that here, found in his third element.
Moreland states that this is the time in history where evangelicals can "show our culture the way forward" and that prior to now, Christians were not ready to "lead our culture to higher ground" (p. 12). He continues: "Signs indicate we are gaining momentum and may well be ready to manifest our Lord's true character [through spiritual formation] in a way appropriate to the crisis of our age... Tools for spiritual formation are available as never before in my lifetime."
In my opinion, he is promoting the goals of the last day’s apostate church.
Moreland says that the Kingdom of God or "gospel of the Kingdom" (p. 172) can only come about on the earth through signs, wonders, and miracles - thus his title: "Restoration of the Kingdom's Miraculous Power."
Signs, wonders and miracles? Matthew 24:24 tells us, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
Is the power of Jesus Christ that brings us new birth something that is now old, dead or in need of restoration? Where does it say that? God's design in sending his Son into the world was that the world through him might be saved.
Sin must be pardoned, and the impurity of the heart washed away, before any soul can possibly enter into the kingdom of God. It is the new birth that Christ spoke to Nicodemus about. This new birth implies the renewing of the whole soul in righteousness and true holiness. God is a holy God and nothing can stand in His presence which is unclean.
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
John 1:12-13 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Is he now implying that we are to somehow restore the Kingdom of God on earth? What about the coming judgment? God will restore His own Kingdom…when Satan and his minions, and those sinful souls who have rejected Him are judged and tossed into the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:9-14; 21).
Moreland wraps up his book by stating that many believers (whom he refers to as "sojourner[s] in the Way of Jesus]" are bored and do not sense God's presence in their lives. He says the answer to this is to have the 'Kingdom Triangle' "at the very heart of the new revolutionary movement gaining momentum day by day" (p. 196).
Moreland concludes: “As you enter more and more deeply into progress in the way of Jesus, the Kingdom Triangle must be at the core of your life and (your church's) strategy. The first leg provides a thoughtful sense of truth, knowledge, and direction to this approach to life; the second leg gives passion to the journey and allows one to lay aside baggage that gets in the way; the third leg provides the faith and confidence to risk more and more for God and expect him to actually be a coworker in the only sensible life plan available. This is what our culture needs... Don't waste your life being preoccupied with things that don't really matter. Join me in the revolution. This is your opportunity. Seize it and rejoice in it (p. 199).” The whole message can be found online in a pdf: How Evangelicals Became Over-committed to the Bible and What Can Be Done About It (no longer available online, but if anyone finds it let me know.)
-- The Kingdom Triangle must be the core of your life???? Your church’s strategy???? What about the BIBLE?! Folks, these are some of the doctrines of demons that Jesus warned us about before his second coming would take place.
John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
I like what Dr. Ian Richard Kyle Paisley had to say about the Bible; he said, “THE BIBLE IS the Grand Charter of Christianity. To undermine, discredit and reject the Bible is to undermine, discredit and reject Christianity. Christianity is rooted and grounded upon the Bible and if the foundations be destroyed what will Christians do?”
He goes on to say,
“The Bible claims to be the Word of God and by staking this claim the Bible simply but plainly declares its divine authority, complete infallibility and absolute sufficiency.
Its Divine Authority. Its authority is grounded upon God Himself. 1 Thessalonians 2:13-- "Ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."Mr. Moreland should heed the warning in Revelation 22:18: "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book."
The Bible's authority is not derived from reason. The Bible does not appeal to reason and demand obedience because our reason sanctions its teachings. Its authority is not rational in that sense, although we believe the Bible to be reasonable ultimately, because it is the Word of Him Who is the source of all reason. Our reason needs to be approved by the Bible and not the Bible by our reason.
The Bible's authority is not derived from the emotions. The Bible does not appeal to our feelings and demand obedience because our feelings acquiesce in its teachings. Its authority is not emotional, and our feelings need to be approved by the Bible and not the Bible by our feelings.
The Bible's authority is not derived from the Church. The Bible does not appeal to the Church and demand obedience because the Church decrees its teachings. Its authority is not ecclesiastical and the Church needs to be approved by the Bible, and not the Bible by the Church.
The Bible claims that its authority is derived from the God Who breathed it. Its authority is divine.”
1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."
There is one last observation that I wanted to point to in the Lighthouse Trails review of this book as I believe it to be profoundly important. They offer this point:
"Knowing that Moreland's 2nd leg in his three-legged triangle is encapsulated with contemplative spirituality, which would empower these signs and wonders, the Kingdom he describes is more than alarming. If indeed the realm that contemplative meditators enter is one filled with familiar (demonic) spirits, then signs and wonders that follow these excursions, would be on the same plane."Mr. Moreland is indeed leading his readers to lying signs and wonders and to doctrines of demons for one reason alone, because he does not highly esteem God’s Word, nor His authority in the life of the believer. Mr. Moreland simply believes that at the core of every human is some purity, a point of real truth and a higher spirituality which can be obtained from the ability of men finding their own path through ‘Spiritual Formation’.
In closing, there is one scripture that every Christian should commit to memory and that is II Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
These verses tell us what is inspired, why it is inspired, and how inspiration impacts our lives. God did not reveal His Word to us just set it aside as some secondary source of knowledge of Him. The Scriptures are God's dynamic that transform lives. The Bible is the instruction manual to Christian living. What greater source can there possibly be into the heart of God?
Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
There is a wonderful article written by Dr. Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, called Seven Reasons Why I Believe THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD in which I have included the following excerpts:
WHAT INSPIRATION IS NOT
Inspiration is not a high level of human achievement by the genius of man. In fact, no man, especially a genius, would write a book that condemns himself.
Inspiration of God isn’t limited to the thoughts of the writer. The Bible is 100% inspired by God…in thought and in word…no errors!
1 Corinthians 2:13 - Paul said, "We speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth." Paul claimed it was the words, not just the thoughts that are inspired.
John 17:8 - Jesus said to the Father, "I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me." In the Old Testament phrases such as "thus saith the Lord," "the word of the Lord came," and "God said" are repeated over 3800 times. Clearly God communicates by words.
Galatians 1:11-12 - Paul said, "I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Paul got the gospel from God, not men.
Exodus 4:12 - God said to Moses, "I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say." Forty years later Moses said to Israel, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I commanded you, neither shall ye diminish anything from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you" (Deut. 4:2). Words spoken by God are not to be taken away from or added to.
1 Peter 1:10-11 - Peter wrote that "the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ who was in them did signify." This verse is a powerful argument against ‘thought inspiration’. The Holy Spirit gave the prophets a message about the Messiah, which they recorded. Then they sought to understand the meaning of their own proclamations. So there were times when the prophets received and recorded words that they did not fully understand. So it was words, not thoughts that they pondered on, which again is evidence that inspiration is verbal.
Matthew 24:35 - Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." It is the words in the Bible that God has given. Every pronoun, preposition, and conjunction...every jot and tittle are important.
THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF THE FACT OF THE BIBLE
The greatest fact of all time is the Bible. How a book which has been so universally attacked could survive and attain to such a place of eminence is a miracle eloquently testifying to its supernatural origin.
Because the Bible forthrightly condemns sin, the hatred of sinners has been hurled against it. Because the Bible in plain and unmistakable language debases the pride of man, proud man has set himself the task to discredit it. Because the Bible uncovers the satanic underworld it is the object of the diabolical attacks of hell. Because the Bible declares that salvation is by grace alone all false religions have sought to extinguish it.
The Bible condemns every man and condones no man; it accuses every man and excuses no man; it abases human reason and exalts revelation; it repudiates the natural and rejoices in the spiritual, glorying not in flesh but in faith.
Attacked from all quarters and giving no quarter, the Bible has an Ishmaelite experience, its hand is against every man and every man's hand is against it, but wonder of wonders, it continues to dwell in the midst of the brethren.
Princes, philosophers, prelates, politicians and poets have all conspired against it. It has been insulted by the scorn of fools. It has become the jest of infidels and the joke of skeptics. It has been assailed consistently and persistently by professed scholars and has been made the butt of the critic. Assaulted by every known plan of hell, it has come forth unscathed from the inferno. Like the three Hebrew children it has been in the fire and like them it has been wonderfully preserved and there is not a smell of burning upon it.
The fire has yet to be lit that can destroy it. The steel has yet to be forged that can scar it. The weapon has yet to be devised that can overthrow it. The scholarship has yet to be developed that can discredit it. The science has yet to be created that can demolish it. The plan has yet to be devised that can annihilate it.
The cunning of hell and the craft of earth have combined against the Bible but it stands unmoved, for it is as W. E. Gladstone, one of England's greatest Premiers has described it, the impregnable rock of Holy Scripture.
As the Bible has stood the hottest broadsides of hell it will not be affected by the popguns of modernism.
In the past century Voltaire thought he had demolished it and boasted that in one hundred years Christianity would be a museum piece. As a result, infidelity ran riot in France. Voltaire, however, passed screaming into eternity, but the Bible has not passed away. Moreover, Voltaire's printing press was used to print the very Scriptures which he boasted he had demolished and his house became a depot for the Geneva Bible Society.
So I believe the Bible is the Word of God because it remains with the passing and injuries of time, a temple unprofaned by the foot of the enemy, a building of God, amidst the crumbling ruins of the centuries.
Let us then let the Bible rule our hearts and homes and refuse to support those who dare to trifle with it in the pulpit. Above all things, let us seize the unfailing promises of the Book and never rest night nor day from prayer until the God of the Bible visits us with a gracious revival.
"Go, search the Scriptures," saith our Lord, "They testify of Me";
"Tis truth's eternal, great record, From every error free.
There my eternal Godhead shines, With bright, refulgent rays;
There beam Jehovah"s great designs, From everlasting days.
There the great gospel scheme behold, Chief of the works of God,
Replete with grace and love untold, And pardon, bought with blood.
There's armour for the trying day, Both shield and helmet too;
And grace, the fainting soul to stay, And always something new.
There's balm to heal the wounds of sin, On life's fair tree it grows;
And blood to wash your garments in, From Jesus' side it flows."
O may the Spirit's influence sweet, Shine on the glorious whole,
Its precepts guide my roving feet, And promise feast my soul.
Let Revelation's glories shine, And spread from sea to sea;
Till reason stoops to faith divine, And owns her sovereign sway.
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