The Need to Address Alternative and New Religious Movements

How is it that people can see different things the Bible? It is based upon a person's cultural bringing? Or is it a way to see things they are but yet seek to distort what people see? Most of the times when people begin to read the Bible they bring along with them such cultural baggage and bias by which they deny the authority of the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16). What is the meaning of the authority of the Bible? The authority of what the church ought to believe and how God's people are to live their lives according to God's Word (2 Tim. 3:15).  When it comes to the authority of the Bible as it relates to what the Church ought to believe is that people choose to believe differently then what the Bible teach (Rom. 16:17-18). For example when it comes to the biblical teaching of salvation is that many professing Christian teachers teach salvation is a means of works; not grace.  In so many words that in order for a person to be saved is to work out their salvation with fear and tr...

The Church have greatly misunderstood the doctrine of salvation! Salvation is a work of God; not man saving himself (Eph. 2:8-9). The problem with many Bible-based sects is the attempt to earn that of the gift of salvation with conjunction with works.  Such grace-works basis of many legalistic churches today is that of the subsequential work of salvation according to Acts 2:4; 19:1. In so many words according to the theology of many Charismatic and Pentecostal churches and denominations is that even though a person may be saved but they must seek to tarry for the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4; 19:1). As the leadership invite people to receive Christ in order to be saved is that they are taken to the back of the church or the "mourners" bench to seek that of the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues (Gal. 3:1; 2-4). There is what my wife shared with me as a former member of a Bible-based sect that of many of the evan...

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...