The Need to Address Alternative and New Religious Movements

There is a necessity to define what is New Thought metaphysics!  It is also important to know how "New Thought" metaphysics is associated with contemporary African American "Word of Faith" religion in light of New Thought historical background (1 Tim. 6:20).  There are millions of people today especially within that of the church who are unaware of the influence of New Thought within the corridors of many evangelical churches and its own leadership today (2 Tim. 2:17, 18). I find it quite disheartened and appalling that people today are not interested in sound biblical doctrine but are so preoccupied with fads and trends of today.  Trends only appears for a moment but then there are other trends that substitute many of the culture trends of today (Col. 2:4, 6, 8).  The influence of New Thought has in fact greatly influence that of the Church today by which it is a cosmetic Christianity that does not reflect that of true biblical C...

There is a necessity to address the "distinctive" doctrines of New Thought metaphysics as it relates to contemporary African American "Word of Faith" religion.  It is a "religion" simply because many of its predecessors have attempt to create their own brand of religion by borrowing "heavily" from various religious traditions and philosophical ideology (1 Tim. 6:20). The foundation from which many New Thought teachers and leaders derived that of their own particular brand of religion is from a "Gnostic" source: that of what is revelatory knowledge (2 Pet. 1:20).  Most Gnostics throughout the first and second century church claim to receive such "secret" knowledge that are veiled from the spiritual immature or the "unenlightened."  In so many words such knowledge ("gnosis") are accessible to the spiritually elite; not to ordinary people who are spiritually "unenlightened."  Such knowledge ("...

There is a need to address the issue of the influence of New Thought within contemporary African American religion especially that of the prosperity-faith movement (Acts 5:35, 37).  During the early days of the prosperity message that herald, "It Is God's Will for His People to Prosper" by which proponents of the prosperity gospel utilize the biblical text of 3 John 2 where it says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospers."  Many African American Faith leaders are convinced by convincing that of members of their congregation that to experience "total" life prosperity is God's will for every believer.  They have also convince themselves by convincing others that this is the story of what the apostle John meant in this particular portion of the Bible (3 Jn. 2).  Even though there are other passages of scripture like Matthew 6:33 and John 10:10 that appears to collaborate many prosperity ...

When you hear the word "saved" what will be the first thing that comes to people's mind?  There are some who will ask the question, "Saved from what?" In so many words what are we being "saved" from? There are also some religious people in the church who believe that to be saved is that of deliverance.  Deliverance from what? Deliverance in the sense that salvation is involved being saved from demonic possession?  They believe that Christians can be "demon" possession by which in reality believers can be oppressed of the devil. So many Pentecostal evangelists conduct camp meetings and revivals for the sole purpose of having such a deliverance ministry.  They have greatly misunderstood that of deliverance when it comes to that of the believer's salvation experience.  Even though deliverance involved salvation but it is God rescuing sinners from the guilt and penalty of sin (Rom. 6:23).  The word "saved" implies that of delivera...

There are people across this country who attend church for different reasons.  Some of the reasons why people attend a "particular" church range from social gathering, music, single/marriage ministry even down to "kind" of message that is being preached the leadership of the church today.  It is quite unfortunate that some people attend church for all the wrong reasons. They prematurely attend a particular church or denomination without probing into what is most important: that of where that particular church or denomination stand on "key" biblical issues at it relates to the essential of the Christian faith (Jud. 3).  We live in a time where the truth of God's Word is no longer front and center of people looking for a good healthy church to attend. It is always based upon the charismatic personality of a given leadership, the size of church attendance, popularity, and showmanship.  Popularity cults holds sway within that of many evangelical churches...

The prosperity gospel and that of its proponents believe that the Bible is God's Success Book (Joshua 1:8).  Their are principles within God's Word by which many Faith believers can claim prosperity, healing, and deliverance based upon them "meditating" upon scripture by an act faith (Rom. 10:17). Meditating upon God's Word is within a person's [human] spirit;  devoid of studying the Bible (2 Tim. 2:15).  In so many words meditation is not study nor is study meditation. To meditate upon God's Word is the reading of scripture by which the Holy Spirit bring to remembrance those things that are written within the revelation of the Bible (Jn. 14:26).  It is not hearing audibly God's voice nor "private" "spiritual" revelation or revelation of the Spirit (2 Pet. 1:19-21).      As believers we must become students of the Bible by studying God's Word (2 Tim. 2:15).  In order to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ is to have a ...

In my book, "The Prosperity Gospel: What It Believe, What It Teach, What It Practice " will examine the history, beliefs, and practice known as the prosperity-faith movement.  There are people who attend regularly "Word of Faith" service across this country that are not unaware of the particular doctrines and practice of this sub-Christian group that disguises itself as being apart of the Charismatic/Pentecostal circle by which it is a "metaphysical" wolf in sheep's clothing (Matt. 7:15ff).  The prosperity gospel and those who are advocates of this heretical movement utilize that of the language of the Bible, the church, and historic biblical Christianity by which it has systematically distort the truth of scripture.  For example: When it comes to the biblical concept of faith that many prosperity "theologians" resort to numerous biblical passages of scripture in support of their understanding of the doctrine of Faith (Heb. 11:1, 3, 6).  It...

The doctrine of faith is centered upon the Bible, God, Jesus, and the promises that are involved in scripture.  Quite unfortunately that many Faith leaders begin to misread the scripture through the eyes of faith so as to deny the true faith (1 Tim. 4:1).  The true faith is that essential of the Christian faith by which it is non-negotiable (1 Jn. 4:1, 2-3).  When it comes to that of the periphery of spiritual gifts, pre-trib, post-trib, and end-time prophecy that we as evangelicals should not allow them to separate that of the Body of Christ.  Many Charismatics and Pentecostal major on minors; not what is essential Christian doctrine by which it is the "litmus" test by drawing the sand in the lines between what is the true genuine fellowship of believers as opposed to many of the cults and heresies of today (Acts 20:28-30; Rom. 16:17-18).     Throughout this short article by which it is entitled, "Misreading the Scripture Through the Eyes of Faith...