For the past two decades, the popularity of what are called the “spiritual disciplines” has grown at a breathless rate. Some in-depth responses are already on this website, so this […]
This article is based on an audio discussion about violence in the Old Testament and the book of Revelation found here and here. JOHN MARK COMER, former pastor of Bridgetown […]
The article by Marcia Montenegro, “Did They Go to Heaven? Red Flags on “After Death” Film from Angel Studios, is hosted by Midwest Christian Outreach.
Heiser avers that Gen. 1:26 means that man is made not only in God’s image but also in the image of the beings of the divine council. This is why, asserts Heiser, it says “Let us.” The “us” includes the spiritual heavenly residents who are also made in God’s image.
Heiser states in a footnote that the Israelites believed that the stars were “animate divine beings” (24), who are the beings of the divine council. This view is promoted in Bible Project videos Spiritual Beings and The Divine Council done with Dr. Heiser. In the video, Heiser states that the biblical authors see these stars as spiritual beings who are “images of God.” This links with Heiser’s teaching that man is made in the image of the Divine Council (52) because the gods of the Divine Council also are image-bearers of God.
This renders humans less than a unique creation, whereas scripture strongly emphasizes the unique status of man. It would also affect man’s relationship with God because it would denote that man has or should have some kind of relationship with the spiritual beings in heaven as we do with God.
Ezekiel had a “severe alteration of consciousness” when he had his vision in Ezekiel 8. This explains, according to Mackie, the alleged different views of reality Ezekiel and other biblical characters had, and their other “states of consciousness” (starting around 49 min.). This did not need to be spelled out to anyone when the Bible was written, claims Mackie, because they all “took it for granted.” I do not think there is evidence for this in the text; furthermore, I think that seeking such states as well as the belief in “different levels of reality” is contra God and the Bible. A forthcoming article will address this issue and attempt to explain why this is not compatible with Scripture.
Our reality, claims Mackie, is constructed from our experiences (starting around 50 min.) in which we develop “coping mechanisms” and so “what we experience as reality is a result of these shields we build up for years and years.” Whereas we take our dreams as fantasy and what happens during the day as reality, the biblical authors have “the opposite view,” asserts Mackie.
More exposure is needed of the teachings behind the Contemplative practices surging through the church, an area I have researched and written on since the late 1990s. The first part […]
This article includes concerns with Michael Heiser, John Mark Comer, and Gregory Boyd, all influences on Bible Project’s Tim Mackie (posted in August, 2023) Five […]
After someone sent me the Renovare Bible (now called the Life With God Bible) several years ago, I looked through it and made notes of troubling things I came across. […]
*Marcia Montenegro is a former professional certified astrologer and astrology teacher, former chairperson of the Atlanta Board of Astrology Examiners, and former President of the Atlanta Astrological Society […]
Richard Foster’s book, “Celebration of Discipline,” has been influencing the church for decades. Why is it that pastors have promoted this book or taught it instead of calling out the blatant unbiblical teachings found in it? This book is full of New Thought concepts and techniques that Foster learned from his mentor, the infamous Agnes Sanford. Sanford was a former New Thought follower and never left those beliefs behind — they are in all her books. Sanford was also the “mother of inner healing,” a New Thought practice. Visualization and using the imagination to heal are not biblical, but Foster teaches them in this book. This is in addition to his unbiblical promotion of contemplative practices.