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2 February 2012

NEW BOOK: HOW THE EMERGING CHURCH IS BRINGING BACK GNOSTIC BELIEFS

http://emergingthreat.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-book-way-of-balaam-how-emergi
ng.html

The Way of Balaam: False teachers and the re-appearance of ancient Gnostic
beliefs

Why do some Christians pray to God as 'mother'? Why do some Christians use
labyrinths and mandalas? Why do some believe that different religions are
all part of 'one truth'? What do actively homosexual Bishops have in common
with militant feminism, 'interfaith' worship, and the watering down of core
doctrines of the faith? Are these trends mere signs of an aberrant but
harmless spirituality or are they sinister and toxic to orthodox Christian
faith and practice?

It has been said that Christian orthodoxy (correct belief and behaviour) is
never more than one generation from extinction. In other words, as is
emphasized many times in the New Testament, we must be on our guard against
false teaching. This is because false teaching is a poison to the Christian
Church. It undermines the true Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, thereby
bringing spiritual death to people in need of salvation. It subverts the
truth revealed to us, and promotes 'the lie' - thereby colluding with the
'father of lies' himself.

Not least, false teaching brings the judgement of God upon Churches who
allow it. I believe that the precipitous decline over the last 40 or 50
years in many of the Protestant denominations of North America and Britain
is the direct result of the infiltration of unbiblical and in some cases
outright heretical teachings. As an example, the Anglican Church of Canada
declined 75% in attendance figures from 1961 to 2009; this is a church
which embraces the belief that homosexual unions are good and normal, and
perform ceremonies blessing them.

But what are these false teachings, and how do we recognize them? This is
the main concern of my book, and I have tried to write it in language that
everyone will understand. The issues are complex, but I believe they can be
set out in a way that clarifies them. We need to know how to counter these
false doctrines - it is not enough to quote a verse or two of the bible
(correct though it is to base our responses on the Word) , we need to have a
thorough and sound doctrinal understanding of what the Bible teaches.

Readers will perhaps have a question mark in their minds as to what Gnostic
belief is and what it has to do with Christians today. As I explain in the
book, Gnostic sects were among the first groups to twist the Christian
gospel - they had a huge influence and led many astray into darkness in the
times of the early church. They were groups that mixed Christian belief with
the pagan religions of the Roman Empire, and eastern philosophies. Their
teachings have reappeared from time to time in the history of the Christian
church, but are reasserting their influence in our day and age, especially
because of the impact of eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism in the
West. They are subtle and once again will deceive many - but they can be
recognized, and they can be countered.

The book chapter headings give an idea of the book contents, and so I list
them below:

Introduction: The Way of Balaam and the implosion of the Western Church
1. The Quest.
2. Enter the goddess.
3. Gnostic Doctrines I: The primacy of experience; the nature of
humankind; the problem with the world; the person of Jesus; the place of
Holy Scripture.
4. Gnostic Doctrines II: Salvation through altered consciousness; the
Resurrection; Mysteries that transform; Time and History.
5. The Coming Chaos.
6. Called to shine as lights in the darkness.

Many of the examples that I use in the book are taken from events that are
occurring in mainline denominations, such as Anglican, Baptist, Reformed and
Lutheran churches. However these false teachings are beginning to infiltrate
large Free Evangelical and Charismatic/Pentecostal churches through the very
influential leaders of the "Emergent Church" movement. Western culture has
long abandoned its mooring in Christian thought and belief and the effect of
this will be felt not only in North America, Britain and Europe, but
throughout the world. Many prominent and respected Christian thinkers are
warning us that we face the rise of a new world order that is totally pagan
in its foundations and which will threaten the Christian Church in a way
that has not been seen since the days of the Roman Empire. Not only is this
new world order post- Christian, it is anti-Christian. Frederick Baue the
Lutheran theologian tells us that what is coming is "a phase of western or
world civilization that is innately religious but hostile to
Christianity....or worse, a dominant but false church that brings all of its
forces to bear against the truth of God's Word". If we are not prepared, if
we do equip ourselves by seeking a deeper understanding of Christian truth
and a deeper knowledge of our faith, we will be swept away by what is coming
on the world. I hope that my book will go some way in helping people to gain
that deeper understanding and so stand strong and be able to offer a sound
and clear defence of their faith.

I believe that the Christian church today as never before needs believers
that love the Lord Jesus and are committed to standing for the truth. My
prayer is that my book will ignite a spark of renewed passion for the Lord
among believers and a clearer understanding of His glorious Gospel.

"The Way of Balaam" is available from the following Bookshops:


Christian Connexion

and
Christian
Book Discounters,

Or directly from the author: davedoveton@... price R120 + R10
postage


Rev Dave Doveton is an Anglican Priest, and serves in the Diocese of Port
Elizabeth. He is the rector of the parishes of St Barnabas and St Philips,
and also serves as the Anglican Dean of Studies of Stellenbosch Theological
Seminary.

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