Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
If you haven’t noticed, the film “Son of God” is coming to a theater near you. It is the product of “new agers” Roma Downey and Mark Burnett devotees of false teacher Eckart Tolle. Tolle is also highly regarded and promoted by Oprah Winfrey. In his book, A New Earth (page 13), he writes: "You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you, and allowing that goodness to emerge." With this kind of belief system, there is no need for forgiveness of sin, the substitutionary death of Christ or the gospel to save sinners. Yet, this movie is being touted as evangelistic! By the way, Downey also appeared on the Sci-Fi channel with psychic John Edwards seeking to make contact with her dead mother (a demonic practice called “necromancy” and strongly condemned in the Bible).
These are not credentials for producing a true to Scripture, God honoring and evangelistic film, but they are good enough for Hollywood and for the evangelical community today! This film seems to be endorsed by everyone, from Rick Warren, to Calvary Chapel, from the Catholic Church to Liberty University.
One blogger wrote: “This is huge. It is Ecumenical. Interdenominational. It is drawing the Olsteens, the Catholic Archbishops, the Warren camp. T.D. Jakes, etc. So many BIG NAME religious leaders (and false teachers) are putting money into it, and probably making a lot money out of it.”
Why is it that Christians are so easily taken in by this error? I think the problem lies in our desire for acceptance by the world, the longing for an easy way to witness, a lack of discernment, ignorance of Scripture, wanting to feel good and be entertained, etc… We want people to be saved, but unfortunately, that is not going to happen without the truth of the gospel being given; truth that people do not want to hear and truth that Hollywood will never give out in clarity!
Witnessing is the true believer’s responsibility (Matthew 28:18-20) and that is what we need to be doing because: “How shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14).
…because of false brethren secretly brought in… to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Galatians 2:4-5
If you haven’t noticed, the film “Son of God” is coming to a theater near you. It is the product of “new agers” Roma Downey and Mark Burnett devotees of false teacher Eckart Tolle. Tolle is also highly regarded and promoted by Oprah Winfrey. In his book, A New Earth (page 13), he writes: "You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you, and allowing that goodness to emerge." With this kind of belief system, there is no need for forgiveness of sin, the substitutionary death of Christ or the gospel to save sinners. Yet, this movie is being touted as evangelistic! By the way, Downey also appeared on the Sci-Fi channel with psychic John Edwards seeking to make contact with her dead mother (a demonic practice called “necromancy” and strongly condemned in the Bible).
These are not credentials for producing a true to Scripture, God honoring and evangelistic film, but they are good enough for Hollywood and for the evangelical community today! This film seems to be endorsed by everyone, from Rick Warren, to Calvary Chapel, from the Catholic Church to Liberty University.
One blogger wrote: “This is huge. It is Ecumenical. Interdenominational. It is drawing the Olsteens, the Catholic Archbishops, the Warren camp. T.D. Jakes, etc. So many BIG NAME religious leaders (and false teachers) are putting money into it, and probably making a lot money out of it.”
Why is it that Christians are so easily taken in by this error? I think the problem lies in our desire for acceptance by the world, the longing for an easy way to witness, a lack of discernment, ignorance of Scripture, wanting to feel good and be entertained, etc… We want people to be saved, but unfortunately, that is not going to happen without the truth of the gospel being given; truth that people do not want to hear and truth that Hollywood will never give out in clarity!
Witnessing is the true believer’s responsibility (Matthew 28:18-20) and that is what we need to be doing because: “How shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14).
…because of false brethren secretly brought in… to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Galatians 2:4-5