1/17/08

Wake Up Call

from: rethink
Can man save himself?
Just what exactly are the re-thinkers at the "Rethink Conference", starting today (see post below) thinking anyway? It might be a good idea to try to find out since this is the direction that these future-architects are designing for all of us. One of these is a co-host of this conference, emerging church 'guru' Erwin McManus. A look at his website/s yields up some interesting insights into the man: (very briefly)

e.g. from personal site/bio: here

"Erwin Raphael McManus is a husband, father, writer, futurist, activist, artist and spiritual and cultural leader.

He also serves as the lead pastor and Cultural Architect of Mosaic in Los Angeles. Known around the world for its spiritual creativity and cosmopolitan diversity, Mosaic is a community of followers of Jesus Christ committed to live by faith, to be known by love, and to be a voice of hope."

This says lead pastor and Cultural Architect (?) and a claim to be followers of Jesus Christ... well, let's keep going....

"Erwin is the catalyst behind Awaken, a collaboration of dreamers committed to creating environments that expand imagination and unleash creativity. Convinced that the world is changed by dreamers and visionaries, Awaken serves the purpose of history by maximizing the divine potential in every human being."

There are a number of problems with this statement but they are all irrelevant when we come to this phrase: "divine potential in every human being". Besides being flat out false, it is absolutely antithetical to all true Christian doctrine.
We also read that Erwin is the catalyst behind "Awaken". What is "Awaken"?

Go here to have a look. Be forewarned though, there is nothing here even remotely biblical.

from Awaken website page titled: "Imagination"

"(Imagination) ­ the ability to form images in one’s mind of songs or stories or events that do not yet exist. Through various expressions of artistry such as film, music, art, dance, and poetry, Awaken Imagination unleashes the creativity inside the human spirit to change the world. Through gifted song writers and epic film makers, Awaken Imagination seeks to inspire the next generation of people to believe in the power of mankind and the power of love."

Here then is the issue, as clear as can be. Through the "power of mankind" and with our "divine potential", etc., McManus is basically saying that we humans can 'save' ourselves. Problem though, and the truth of the matter is that mankind has no power or divine potential in himself whatsoever, and cannot save or change this world or himself. Man is dead in his sin and trespasses (Eph 2:1), and needs the salvation provided through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Nothing really new here though, this old lie has been around since the dawn of time. That was when Satan said the same thing to Eve....all you have to do is get that fruit, i.e. tap into the true source, your own "divine potential", because:

".....in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods" (Gen. 3:5)

While the 'old lie' may be 'nothing new', it is nothing to be overlooked when those who would 'lead' the church are going down this dark path. Here is further evidence of the delusion that is falling upon the professing church. They are being sold a 'bill of goods' by all the glad talk of "building the kingdom", which is the false hope of "dominion eschatology". It's a false hope and the globalists are using it to manipulate people to achieve their goals. This is by design people!
The Word of God shows us that at the end of this 'church age' we should expect to see a world-wide rebellion.....mankind uniting with the Antichrist in an effort to de-throne God (Ps. 2:1-6), in essence making himself his own god. This interpretation is what is known as the "dispensational" view of eschatology (study of the last things), as opposed to the emergent (dominionism) "preterist" view, which makes all prophecy a thing of the past. It's all up to us, in other words.
Do not be deceived into believing that the things foretold in the book of Revelation have been fulfilled, on the contrary, they may be on the very threshold, as the tremendous falling away (apostasy) of our day gives testimony.
Christian...you do 'need to heed' on the one point though and 'awaken', because you cannot escape the fact that this is where the emerging church is going....and Erwin McManus is leading you there!
---------------------------------------------------------
"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen. 6:5)

No comments :