Rev. Robert Kelley
JN 10-10 Abundant Life Ministry (apologetics)
57 Ryan's Way Lane
Henderson, NC 27537
252-425-7163
https://jn1010.angelfire.com/
jn1010@embarqmail.com
Welcome to Jn1010 Ministries Website. Humble though it is, may it stir you to seek the Face of God and enjoy searching for His truth to live and share it.
About this site: I am Robert Kelley, husband of Peggy and 3 children, Bob, Billy & Sharon. I live in Henderson,NC. I went to school at NC State (go Pack!) & graduated with an Master of Divinity and Masters of Religious Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I am still taking courses at Southeastern, Biola Seminary & Southern Evangelical Seminary.
After 30 years of pastoring churches, chaplain work in hospitals and correctional centers, mission work in various states and countries, I am available to speak, teach and preach on various types of missions and ministries but especially apologetics. Apologetics is a discipline within Christianity that both defends the faith of Christ against other worldviews and teaches the background of many points of scripture so as to encourage beleivers to confidently share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others.
I would be glad to speak on Christian doctrines and theology that enhances witnessing, non-Christian worldviews or post-modern thoughts which need to be refuted and cultural movements that are effecting the church and our society.
If you are looking for a few books to begin a study of apologetics, here are some that are very popular:
Lewis, C. S. [1952] 1955. Mere Christianity. Harper.
Little, Paul E. 1968. Know What\Why You Believe. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove.
McDowell, Josh. 1979. Evidence That Demands A Verdict. Revised Edition. Here's Life Publishers, San Bernadino, California
Sire, James W. The Universe Next Door: A Guide Book to World Views, 4th edition
Books on WHY Christians believe WHAT they believe
Faith & Reason by Ronald H. Nash (Zondervan)
How Now Shall We Live ? by Francis Schaffer (Crossway Books)
Jesus Under Fire edited by Michael J. Wilkins & J.P. Moreland (Zondervan)
Knowing God by J.I. Packer (IVP)
No Doubt About It - Case for Christianity by Winfried Corduan (Broadman & Holman)
Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig 3rd Ed. (Crossway Books)
The Attributes of God by Arthur W. Pink (Wilder Pub)
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel (Zondervan)
The Consequence of Ideas by R.C. Sproul (Crossway Books)
The Davinci Code- Answers by Josh McDowell (Green Key Books)
The Forgotten Trinity by James R. White (Bethany House Pub)
The Historical Jesus-Ancient Evidence by Gary Habermas (College Press, Joplin, Mo)
The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul (Living Books)
The Knowledge of Holiness by A.W. Tozer (Harper One)
The Origin of Modern Science by Herbert Butterfield (Free Press )
The Soul of Science by Nancy Pearcey & Charles Thaxton (Crossway Books)
Who Made God? - 100 Q&A Edited by Ravi Zacharias & Norman Geisler (Zondervan)
I am now reading:
Jonah Speaks Again by Don Hillis (Baker)
Preaching to a Shifting Culture edited by Scott M. Gibson (Baker)
Christianizing the Roman Empire by Ramsay MacMullen (Yale U)
Capturing the Pagan Mind by Peter Jones (Broadman & Holman)His series is excellent!
Fiction
This Present Darkness - Frank Peretti
More later.
God questions on the Bible or theology? You can write to me & I will answer as soon as possible, but I am out often on speaking engagments & mission trips.
In case I am out to lunch, try "GotQuestions.org"
Speaking Engagements
Missions trip to Mexico to preach & build a church: May
Possible evangelistic trip to India in Nov.
I would appreciate your prayers.
This page contains: 1) Report on Indian mission trip 2) 10 Objections to Christianity & answers 3) New Age theology MUMBAI!! You probably know it as Bombay. I have been to various mission fields in the last 20 years but when I heard 2 friends of mine speak about an Indian mission, I felt spiritual shivers within. My brother, Abidon Shah & his associate, Steve Andrews are from India and began to prepare a mission trip. (If you live in the central NC area, Dr.Alan Outhouse [ago@hughes.com] is the man to contact about missions planning. ) Abidon, Alan & I had been to "the ends of the earth" at the very bottom of Mexico in March, 2008. There were no churches in the village we stayed & some people had never heard of Jesus. Quite a few came to know Christ as Saviour! God is GOOD!
But India was different. There was some apprehension as our team prepared for spiritual warfare in the land of 330 million gods [that would be 1 billion 'gods' now]. India has managed to reject the Gospel message for millennia. Only 2-4% of the 1+ billion Indian population are born again.
In the 2 weeks before our trip, I taught on New Age Theology and the Influence of the Church of Oprah (Course of miracles, The Secret, Eckhart Tolle, etc. Notes at bottom of this page).
It was chilling to see the consequences of Hinduism and Buddhism (some sources of Americanized New Age religions) as our team of 22 members entered Mumbai late Friday night, Oct.17.
Having packed our baggage, people and supplies (water for the 110+degree temperatures), our small caravan slowly traversed the still crowded streets of the city (one of the 2 largest in the world). The streets were twinkling with different kinds of lights as the first day of Dawali, the Festival of Lights, had begun. Not only were Hindus, Jains & Sikhs celebrating, but our team was excited about sharing The Light of the World to Mumbai residents. We began to smell the city in the cool (82 degrees)night air. The open air food stands, the spicy fragrance of curry, the aroma of fresh chaptis (like a soft taco) and the stench of many sewer lines. Even the dump trucks get decorated for festivals.
Mumbai is a city of many faces. It is the financial capital of India, capital of the state of Maharashtra and the home of 'Bollywood', the Indian film industry. The new sections of Mumbai are very secular with familiar skyscrapers and bright billboards calling you to spend your hard earned rupees (about 53 to a dollar Oct. 2008)on movies, computers & other technology. Downtown is estimated to be about 13 million & the surrounding areas add to about 40 million residents. The wealthy tend to live on the outskirts of Mumbai. The occasional human powered cart was seen making its was in the crowded British style streets, surrounded by hustling black & yellow cabs driven with one hand while the other was constantly on the horn.
Most of our time was spent in the older part of the city with narrower streets and more individuals tending their streetside or pavement 'stores'. In the daytime, our mission team from 5 local Henderson-Oxford churches assisted the ministry of Timothy Gaikwad of InterMission CARES ministries. Connected with street ministries in Germany(imcares.org), Timothy continues to reach out to the impoverished, HIV patients, orphaned, educational needs & child needs on the streets of Mumbai as the ministry enters its 26th year of serving Our Lord Jesus. Our team split into smaller groups to help with orphans in Pune, about 3 hours north of Mumbai, a boys ministy in Palghar, preaching in various churches, walking the streets and aiding the needy, finding those who were open to the Gospel of Christ, helping with day cares centers.
The consequences of Hinduism & Buddhism were revealed in human lives as we walked the streets. People going to work with no joy showing in their eyes. Store attendents calling to people to buy wares so the employees would have a meal to eat that night. Small huts & homes of cardboard or plywood in which a family of 10-15 lived. Individuals passed out on streets and pedestrians walking over or around them taking no notice of their plight. The steets,yards and alleys of all but the most plush homes were filled with the trash of the city. WHY??
Hinduism & Buddhism teach that life on earth is basically an illusion with pain & agonies to be ignored. Reincarnation is one of the prime motives for living, one reincarnating upwards with a well lived existence or downward (maybe a beetle or dog) if one had lived a bad life. {Even good & bad are relative terms for many Asian religions since each person is seen to be a god or have a spark of divinity within. If you are a god, & you do not life a 'righteous'life, who is to account for such?) You would think that someone would care more for their fellow man or stranger if their quality of reincarnation depended upon it, but, as in the atheist or pagan world, since the 'god' we all worship is man, then we hit an immovable obstacle when want to live a better life. If All is One and god is All, then we are all part of the problem & the solution. This is strange when one hears Eckhart Tolle speaking on Oprah Winfrey's show about speaking to god or praying to god for self enhancement or enlightening when we realize the Hindu, Buddhist or New Age god is an impersonal, transcendant force that cannot be reasoned with.
Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living GOD, God Incarnate, God in the Flesh & Come to Earth, is not only God who is reason, Love, grace, mercy and power, He is GOD who walked the Earth experiencing as a human all the fears & hopes & disillusions we encounter. Jesus, being man, placed Himself under the Father during the years of teaching and caring to the residents of Palestine and rulers of Rome. Jesus, as GOD, placed Himself on the sacrificial cross to pay for our rebellion, to exchange our guilt & fear & dispair for resurrected hope & love & purpose. Christ is the Person we need to Honor in our daily life as His Spirit guides us to sanctification & mission & communion with the Father & the members of the Body of Christ. .....to be continued If you are interested in me speaking about mission trips, evangelism workshops or various cultural groups to whom Christians should reach out, contact me at jn1010@embarqmail.com or jn.1010.life@gmail.com
In John 10:10b, Jesus says I have come that you may have life and may have it abundantly! Why don't all Born again Christians experience the abundant life promised by Christ? Lack of devotion by reading the Word of God or communicating with Our Father by prayer is a start. We know what we believe but not WHY! JN 10-10 is a apologetics ministry that teaches abundant life by 'understanding the times'!
Knowing how our society has arrived at the mess it's in is helpful in knowing how to answer questions about our faith in Christ. Having been a pastor, a student of God's Word, a teacher and disciple for 30 years, I enjoy sharing ways in which members can become more confident in living and sharing the Good News about Jesus Christ. If you are interested in an apologetics (defense of the faith) workshop, a revival speaker, a men's or marriage or witnessing conference in your church or area, please email or call me at the above address for more information.
It was good to meet many of you at the National Conference on Christian Apologetics and the NC Baptist Convention. If you are looking for a speaker you can reach me at jn1010life@yahoo.com or click the email address on page 1 upper left hand section- jn1010life@yahoo.com.
Recently someone approached me with the following problem: "Nobody can talk me out of being a Christian, but I can't talk anyone else into it. Can you help me?" Perhaps she thought she was the only one struggling with this, but I've been asked this question hundreds of times. You see, I was once an atheist who set out to prove Christianity was untrue. But during my investigation, I discovered overwhelming evidence that demonstrates the validity of Christianity. And because of a dedicated Christian who was prepared to answer my questions, my heart was reached. Are you prepared to answer the spiritual seekers in your world? Are you wondering if Christianity's really true? Here's a look at 10 objections skeptics pose toward Christianity—and how to respond.
1. Christians are hypocrites. A hypocrite is an actor, a person who pretends to be something she isn't. Jesus' harshest words were reserved for hypocrites. The reality is, there always have been and always will be some hypocrites in the Church. But Jesus doesn't ask us to follow others; he asks us to follow him. Although Christians can represent Jesus either poorly or well, the real question isn't whether there are hypocrites in the Church, but whether Jesus is a hypocrite. If someone can prove that Jesus was a hypocrite, then the whole structure of Christianity falls into ruin. The Bible, God's Word, presents Jesus as nothing less than perfect. Jesus' disciples testified that Jesus was without sin (1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5). Even Jesus himself challenged others to prove that he'd ever sinned (John 8:46).
2. What about the atrocities Christians have committed? Some blame Christianity for religious wars, the Crusades, burning witches, the Inquisition, slavery, even the Holocaust. The issue of atrocities is simply an extension of the question of hypocrites. So-called believers who didn't practice true Christianity have perpetrated evil. In reality, these people were Christian in name only. Focusing on their atrocities is a smoke screen to avoid the real issue. Christianity has far more positive achievements than negative influences. It's been instrumental in the formation of countless hospitals, schools, colleges, orphanages, relief agencies, and charity agencies. No other religion in history can compare.
3. Christianity is a crutch. Karl Marx, author of The Communist Manifesto, said, "Religion is the opiate of the masses." Critics such as Marx have charged that religion is an invention designed for people incapable of coping with life's pressures. Some critics respond that they don't need this type of emotional comfort, as though that fact falsifies Christianity. Such individuals often claim to be "stronger" because they're brave enough to face life without a "crutch." To imply non-religious people don't need a crutch is misleading. Dependence on drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sex, money, power, other people, and material possessions demonstrates some people's need for a crutch. Atheists: the belief that "there is no God”can become a crutch for those addicted to a lifestyle contrary to God's standards of morality. Rather than being weak, Christians are strong, not because they depend on themselves, but because they depend on Jesus. Everyone needs assistance. The question is, what will you lean on? Christianity provides what atheism or other religions never can: spiritual fulfillment, peace, and forgiveness.
4. It's narrow-minded to think Jesus is the only way to God. Jesus claimed he was the only way to God (John 14:6). Such a claim is either totally true or totally false. Some people claim to be Christians, yet ignore Jesus' claim to be the only Savior. Critics argue this view is exclusory. But if Christianity is true, then we must accept Jesus' own teachings. If one believes Jesus' assertions to be true, then the issue is settled. 5. Being a good person is all that really matters. Some argue that even if a person's religion is false, what really matters is that she's sincere about being a good person. This notion is based on the mistaken belief that God is pleased by "religion." Sincerity doesn't determine truth, however. One can be sincerely convinced of the truth—and be sincerely wrong. For example, many evil men such as Hitler were very sincere in their beliefs. God judges people based on truth, not opinions and that truth is Jesus Christ.
6. What about those who've never heard about Jesus? Such a question implies that God lacks compassion because he's imposed his plan of salvation on us. Often such inquirers seem to imply that they're more compassionate than God! An important biblical principle to understand is that no one has ever remained lost who wanted to be found. Just as God sent the apostle Philip to the seeking Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-39), Jesus promises all who seek will find (Matthew 7:7-8).
7. The Bible is filled with errors. Because the Bible is God's Word and God cannot lie (Isaiah 55:10-11; John 17:17; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 4:12), it's totally trustworthy, free from any error. God's Word is described as "the word of truth" (2 Corinthians 6:7; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18). Inerrancy isn't a theory about the Bible; it's the teaching of the Bible itself. What most people claim as errors in the Bible aren't errors but difficulties. People think they've stumbled upon apparent inconsistencies when they haven't taken the time to find out all the facts, or made an in-depth study of the passage. Many Bible questions have been answered as new discoveries have been made in fields such as language, history, archeology, and other sciences. Regardless of the kind of difficulty found, not a single irreconcilable error can be found in the Bible's pages.
8. If God is so good, why is there evil? The thrust of this charge is that evil's presence disproves God's power. But is the presence of evil consistent with the God of the Bible? Consider: * God didn't create evil. Sin entered the world through Adam's disobedience (Genesis 3). * Evil is necessary for a free world. Freedom, or free will, gives humans the opportunity to make wrong choices. * God hesitates to stop evil for an important reason. Just as parents often allow their children to make mistakes and suffer the consequences, God acts in a parental fashion with his creation. * God has the solution for evil. Jesus accomplished the ultimate defeat of evil on the cross. But just as we don't yet have eternal bodies, evil has yet to be removed from the world.
9. Why is there suffering? Many hold that pain is evidence against God's concern for humankind. However, pain can be used for good and bad purposes. Not all pain is bad. Pain is an essential mechanism for survival. Without pain, the body is stripped of vital protection. Pain is an important signal to warn of even greater danger. Suffering is a signal. It also can be a spiritual signal that reminds us of the fragile balance of life and our mortality. In The Problem of Pain, Christian apologist C.S. Lewis writes, "God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pain; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Some suffering actually helps to bring greater good. This is best seen in Jesus' own suffering. Jesus traveled down the road of pain, loneliness, and death—a road that led to the cross. Jesus isn't just a Savior, he's our suffering Savior. The cross is the ultimate example of innocent suffering. At the heart of this issue is the underlying challenge that God isn't fair. The problem is, society holds pleasure as its chief goal in life. This philosophy is known as hedonism, and those who live by this philosophy find any form of suffering offensive. To say God isn't fair is an extremely dangerous charge. If God gave us what we deserve, we'd be in trouble. It would be foolish to ask God for justice; what we need is mercy. God's mercy and grace are so taken for granted that suffering and pain shock us.
10. If there's a hell, why would a loving God send people there? God hates evil, and one day, evil will cease. While evil and suffering and pain are very real, they are also very temporary.
The day God deals with evil, he will deal with all evil. In the meantime, God strives for as many people as possible to accept Jesus' death and resurrection as payment for their sins, so they can live eternally with him. The sad fact is, many will make the decision not to be a part of God's heaven. God won't send them to hell; they'll send themselves.
For God to force people to go to heaven against their wishes wouldn't be heaven—it would be hell. Atheist author Jean-Paul Sarte noted that the gates of hell are locked from the inside by the free choice of men and women.
First appeared in On Mission (September/October 1999).
New Age or New Spiritualities
Definitions (some from The Counterfeit Christ of the New Age Movement, by Ron Rhodes)
A Course in Miracles A textbook written via automatic writing [guided by spirits] by Helen Schucman now promoted by Marianne Williamson
Age of Aquarius Astrologers believe that man’s evolution goes through progressive cycles corresponding to the signs of the zodiac which last about 2 millennium. Man is moving from the Pisces era {the 2 fish point to reason of either–or] to the Aquarius era when man will become one through spirituality.
Channeling When one volunteers to yield to control of a spiritual entity with the intent of receiving paranormal information.
Cosmic Christ The goal of much NA religion is to evolve mankind into the universal consciousness of God that Jesus obtained. Jesus was not the incarnate Son of God but just a human who experienced the cosmic spirit (all is one) that is available to all people who seek it.
End Times [eschatology] NA believers are expecting a great change of humanity. Some see a Christ-like figure or that everyone will reach fullest human potential all at once & will use corporate powers to change the world & universe &/or be at one with the universe.
Esoteric Describes knowledge that is possessed or understood by only a few but a leader or guru will teach it if you follow him/her.
Gaia Religious/philosophical belief that the earth is a living organism which relates all living things to each other & thus we are one.
Gnostics Second century groups held that soul salvation is by possessing special knowledge (gnosis). Modern gnostic believers hold platonic ideas that matter is a deterioration of spirit & the whole universe a depravation of the Deity. All people have a spark of divinity.
Monism A metaphysical theory that sees all of reality as a unified whole. Everything in the universe is seen as being composed of the same substance. Basically, All is One.
New Thought A variety of cults & sects that pretend Chrisitainity but believe in a pantheistic, transcendent, unconscious mind. Includes New Thought, Christian Science, Unity, Religious Science, Theosophy, Deepak Chopra, Transcendental Meditation, Eckhart Tolle.
Pantheism A religious doctrine with beginnings in Eastern & platonic writings. The belief that god is one with all the earth & all molecules, etc, are god. God is everything and everything is god, not a personal, conscious entity. [Panentheism = god is all but has a mind above matter.]
Worldview is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart that can be expressed as a story or assumptions which we unconsciously/consciously or inconsisently/consistently hold about the basic constitution of reality & which provides the foundation on which we live & move & have our being. Too often we can profess one Worldview & ,yet, daily live by another one. (see John Sire, "Universe Next Door" 4th ed) Thus we need to know our Bible
History of the New Age
Like Hinduism and Buddhism, the history of NA beginning is an enigma. Some of NA originates from the Gnostic heresy of the 2nd century which said humans are divine but the problem is that we are ignorant of it. (Thus the enlightenment that so many have tried to make adherents understand. And the term esoteric, basically saying, "I have the secret, follow me and I will teach you". Eastern religions introduced concepts of oneness both in god and man. In the middle 1800’s, the fear of civil war in the U.S., and expected second coming of Christ, led many people to seek spirituality in a way that was pleasing & personal to them. Many New Thought sects (group adhering to a distinctive doctrine or to a leader) & cults (religious group which may resemble a major religion but has different methods of worship &/or doctrine)arose in these times.
Philosophically, the concepts of relativism and individualism began to develop in the 1700’s and Christianity was opposed by educational, scientific and philosophical theorists. Many people wanted Christianity to reflect their personal theologies & some called themselves Christian but were embracing eastern thoughts, transcendentalism, etc for a syncretistic religion that only resembled Christianity. [Thus the accompanying rise of Christian apologetics(defense of the faith, 1 Pet.3:15) to defend the Biblical faith or/and challenge new worldviews.] Liberal Christian theologians taught a diluted scripture (no incarnate, resurrected Christ) which invited personal interpretation of truth & addition of themes from different religions. With the addition of Darwinism in the mid 1800's, the truth of Christ began to be doubted and science, along with help from popular media, seemed to have become a new religion also. By the mid-1960’s, the teaching of enlightenment era philosophy had influenced some of the younger generation to distrust Christian & U.S. social tradition and, eventually, science(postmodernism). New spiritualities arose in social, denominational & national revolutions. The Enlightenment philosophy and New Thought thinking of the 1800’s melded with 20th century philosophy to introduce a “New Age”.
Why these new spiritualities? Go back to the very first Satanic lies recorded in Gen. 3:1-5. ‘Has God said not to eat of other fruit/thinking? God won’t judge you. You can be as gods!’ Adam & Eve’s sin was breaking away from the authority & leadership of God. Devising a religion in our own image is a not new, but certainly is an excepted way of practicing one’s spirituality.
Gretchen Passintino states several reasons for new religions: A) Individualism- Don't tell me how to worship, I’ll figure it out myself.
B) Supposing that god is a force, not an omnipotent creator, judge or savior, gives one the thrill of an experience without accountability or relationship. Experience is more important than relationship. Ideas are less threatening that standards.
C) A third commonality is the requirement for New Age religions is to meet spiritual needs that cannot be met by strict atheistic materialism (there is only the physical world, no spiritual dimension). Materialism leaves something undiscovered in us. Our necessity of relationship, order, accountability & the questions of origins cannot be answered by stating we are mere molecules & here by chance.
d) NA rejects the past religious dogma, tradition & historical evidence and superstitions. Yet paganism, gods & goddesses and even worldviews about UFO’s are now acceptable. Once an absolute approach toward the monotheistic (only 1) God of the Bible is rejected, the door is open to any or all other alternative approaches. [Gretchen on Issues, Etc. mp3; “The Spirituality of Oprah Winfrey”] http://www.issuesetc.org/junejuly08.html
Last, humans, especially Westerners, have historically enjoyed the new, the novel, the modern, the fresh in most new thoughts, movements and material goods. So the 'new age' is well accepted among many who do not know Jesus as Lord and are ready to cast off the old traditions.
Doctrines of New Age The New Age god is typically a variation on Hinduism’s Brahma- an impersonal, transcendent (above our consciousness & reason) force, not a personal being. Because there is no united NA theology, the NA god varies according to which group you are study but almost all groups see god as monistic & pantheistic, saying that God is all & all is god. Various names for personal enlightment are: The I AM, Universal Love, Self-realization, Higher Self, etc. Since all is one, the doctrine of man is basically every person is part of the god consciousness. Gurus teach that the biggest difference being most people have not realized their human potential or Christ-consciousness as Jesus, Buddha & others did, so they need a guide, a teacher.
Jesus Many NA groups state that Jesus Christ was a man who realized that he is god. Some say he learned this in India, others say Jesus was an ascended master because of his 7th, 11th or 30th reincarnation (life & death that can take one closer or farther away from nirvana, Brahman, or other names for full human completeness according to karma[how good or evil one’s life was]).
Salvation NA teaches that Man’s destiny is usually not hindered by ‘sin’, which is seen as a Judeo-Christian misconception. Sin & evil are simply part of the cosmic law of cause & effect, karma. Since there is no salvation, as the Bible calls rebellion to Our Father & each other, enlightenment & reincarnation become the 2 basic principles on which NA members focus. Humans are ignorant of their essential divinity. Various practices of creative visualization, past-life therapy, meditation, etc., are used to aid the NA member to attainment of her/his divinity. Once enlightenment is complete, a person has no problem with the worldly illusions (Maya) that separates them from their god characteristics. Reincarnation is the main means by which NA members wipe out evil karma by good actions until enough positive energy has accumulated to enable attainment. Some NA groups teach that the early church taught reincarnation until the Council of Nicaea, 335AD, when scriptures were removed that supported the doctrine.
Christian History The misapplication or reinterpretation of scripture and/or history is an ongoing new thought, new age conflict with Christian theology. Most Christian churches and members are not bothered by NA teachings. But weak members or those who are just beginning to inspect Christianity can be fooled by NA ability to reinterpret Christian teachings and percieve that NA seems easier or more exciting than following Christ.
The "Da Vinci Code" book by Dan Brown made a big impact as it claimed that the Gnostic teachings were the initial teachings of Christ but were changed by the apostles and Paul. The truth is that Gnostic thought was heretical in the early church but Gnostic writing was not present until the middle 2nd century, 100 years after Paul wrote. The Gnostics taught that matter was evil so the holy Jesus was not flesh but only ‘appeared’ to be. (This may have been a teaching that influenced Muhammed to state that Jesus did not die on the cross but someone else did.)
Divine Books Due to the diversity of NA roots, there is no one basic NA document but some of the authoritative developmental NA writings include: 'Science & Health with Key to Scriptures' by Mary Baker Eddy –1876; 'Isis Revealed' by Helena Blavatsky-1875; 'Science of Mind' by Ernst Holmes-1917; 'A Course of Miracles' by Helen Schucman-1972; 'Transcendental Meditation' by Marharishi Mehesh Yogi-1973, 'Out on a Limb' by Shirley MacLaine-1983; 'Conversations with God' by Donald Walsch-1996; 'A Spritiual Guide to Enlightenment' by Eckhart Tolle-2004
Results of NA theology Most NA groups are:
- open to a one world government-religion,
- looking for a unified higher consciousness,
- open to many different ways in which this Christ consciousness can be achieved (crystals, mediums, holistic medicine, yoga, gurus, other religions, mind control.
- indifferent or hostile toward the Scriptures
- misled in their view of the Person, Work & Redemption of Jesus Christ
Scriptures about NA: Who do men say that the Son of Man is? Mt.16:13ff. In General: Mt.7:21-25; Rom.1:18-20; Gal.1:8-9;1 Jn.1:5-6,8 2: 3-4, 5:10-12 Witnessing: Col.4:5-6; 2 Tim.2:10, 15,25-26; 1 Pet.3:15-16 Satan 2 Cor 4:4; Eph.6 :11-13; 2 Thess 2:9-10; 1 Jn.5:8-9, 19-20 False Prophets: Deut.13:1-5; Jer.14:14, 29:9; Mt.24:4,24; Acts 20:28-31; 2 Cor.11:13-15; 1 Tim.6:3; 2 Tim.3:6-8; 2 Pet.2:1-3 ; 1 Jn.4:1, 4; Jude 3-4, 12 Spiritual Discernment: Job 28:12-28; Proverbs 15:14,33; Lk.6:46 Acts 17:11; Col.2:2-4; 1 Thess 5:21-22; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; I Jn. 2:26, 3:7, 4:15, 5:1-5; 2 Jn 7-8
