HAS THIS HELPED the DECEPTION?
-by A. Brother.
Why do these thousands of young people (and even some older) flock to these men and women?
Simple–but overlooked.
This generation has been raised on complete “self-focus”. It is all about feeling good, all about self. These movements all share one thing in common. It is all about "Us" at the center. They are not worshiping God, they are worshiping at the shrine of self-fulfillment and practicing the same religion as those who are addicted to alcohol, drugs, or sex.
When I speak with our younger generation, this is what comes across all the time–their need and desire to fulfill all their dreams and goals and inner urges.
Why are we surprised, brethren, when most of us were raised in selfishness? When we were taught that worship is for us – to make us feel good. Our self- focused worship is what I experienced growing up as a young man in pentecostal churches. We began the practices, and now this self-absorbed generation, which we raised!–is off seeking even more and higher levels of addiction to feelings! Why are we surprised?
And when they come out of the other side of the churches–the high liturgy group–they have the same urge. They see these movements as a “happy pill” that will deliver them from dead religion.
The Scripture tells us that religion, in all its forms, whether the “ecstasy movements” such as the eastern mystics practice, where they seek higher levels of consciousness–in other words, they focus again on “self” – or the esoteric brands, which by self-denial focus again on self (and Paul warns us about these), is dead and worthless and of no account to the Kingdom of God and Christ... It has been our ground laying of self-focused religious fervor that has enabled this generation to seek these terrible, satanic routes to personal ecstasy.
Let’s remember, though, that Christ is all for His people. He gives us joy in our trials, and strength and power by His Spirit to live, not through our worship experiences, but through His presence. He is with us at all times, not just when we “feel good”.
[QUESTION: Could this incredible "self" focus be something that only a "Great Depression" might cure?]
-by A. Brother.
Why do these thousands of young people (and even some older) flock to these men and women?
Simple–but overlooked.
This generation has been raised on complete “self-focus”. It is all about feeling good, all about self. These movements all share one thing in common. It is all about "Us" at the center. They are not worshiping God, they are worshiping at the shrine of self-fulfillment and practicing the same religion as those who are addicted to alcohol, drugs, or sex.
When I speak with our younger generation, this is what comes across all the time–their need and desire to fulfill all their dreams and goals and inner urges.
Why are we surprised, brethren, when most of us were raised in selfishness? When we were taught that worship is for us – to make us feel good. Our self- focused worship is what I experienced growing up as a young man in pentecostal churches. We began the practices, and now this self-absorbed generation, which we raised!–is off seeking even more and higher levels of addiction to feelings! Why are we surprised?
And when they come out of the other side of the churches–the high liturgy group–they have the same urge. They see these movements as a “happy pill” that will deliver them from dead religion.
The Scripture tells us that religion, in all its forms, whether the “ecstasy movements” such as the eastern mystics practice, where they seek higher levels of consciousness–in other words, they focus again on “self” – or the esoteric brands, which by self-denial focus again on self (and Paul warns us about these), is dead and worthless and of no account to the Kingdom of God and Christ... It has been our ground laying of self-focused religious fervor that has enabled this generation to seek these terrible, satanic routes to personal ecstasy.
Let’s remember, though, that Christ is all for His people. He gives us joy in our trials, and strength and power by His Spirit to live, not through our worship experiences, but through His presence. He is with us at all times, not just when we “feel good”.
[QUESTION: Could this incredible "self" focus be something that only a "Great Depression" might cure?]
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