Deception within the church. The prosperity gospel and New Thought. Pt.4

Deception within the church. The prosperity gospel and New Thought. Pt.4

At the beginning of this section we discovered this New Thought teaching really took a stronghold from the writings of Quimby. This is a great point in which we discuss these and other writings. God warns us “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” 1 Timothy 4:1.

The word ‘seducing’ used here is the Greek word ‘planos’ which means leading astray (adjective), a deceiver or deceitful. The massive library of the Universalist and New Truth movement has been produced with the intent to seduce believers.

Quimby writes based on Plato, Socrates and Aristotle and Greek polytheism. Mary Baker Eddy writes based on Quimby and current era science. And the list goes on. Here we play connect the dots.

• Elizabeth Towne (May 11, 1865 – 1960) “Practical Methods for Self-Development: Spiritual, Mental, Physical” influences Wallace Wattles.
• Wallace Delois Wattles (1860–1911) “A New Christ”, “Financial Success Through Creative Thought” influences Rhonda Byrne
• Rhonda Byrne (born 1945) writes “The Secret”

This philosophy crosses over into the business world as well.

• Charles Francis Haanel (May 22, 1866 – November 27, 1949) “The Master Key System in 24 Parts” influences Napoleon Hill
• Napoleon Hill (born October 26, 1883 – November 8, 1970) “Think and Grow Rich” influences Dale Carnegie, Andrew Carnegie, Norman Vincent Peale, Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, Elmer Gates, F.W. Woolworth, Theodore Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller, John Maxwell and many others.
• John Maxwell (born 1947) After serving as senior pastor for 14 years, he left Skyline Church in 1995 to devote himself full-time to speaking and writing.

The dangerous impact of New Thought theology has entwined itself, like the serpent, into the modern-day Christian church. The name it and claim it or prosperity gospel entraps the believers into a false gospel directly from the pulpit.

Norman Vincent Peale influences Robert Shuller as well as presidents (Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush. Even our current president Donald Trump has sat under the teachings of New Thought via Mr. Peale.

Where one man leaves off in his popularity, or maybe better said, in his polarity another is ready and able to fill his shoes. Kenneth Hagin to Kenneth Copeland, Copeland to Robert Tilton, Tilton to Creflo Dollar. People hop around the pep talk circuit until they find the one that suits their self-help needs.

“It has sort of a drug effect on people to be told they need not worry. They keep coming back for more. It keeps their minds on a superficial level and encourages emotional dependency. It is an escape from reality. People under stress do one of two things; seek shelter or respond to harsh reality by a deeper recognition of what they are up against. The people who flock to the ‘peace of mind’ preachers are seeking shelter. They don’t want to face reality” A. Powell Davies

The man at the top of the false gospel food chain today? Joel Osteen. His book list is a monument to the New Thought Movement.

• The Power of “I am”.
• Think better Live better
• I Declare
• Your best life now.

Bishop Carlton Pearson says, “There is a global shift in the spiritual sense and Joel Osteen is an integral part of that.” Pearson’s contemporary at the Unity Church of Hawaii, Rev. Sky St. John echoes with, “Joel Osteen teaches a lot of Unity/New Thought principles. He just makes sure to wave his Bible to hold the conservatives attention.”

The ‘planos’ of seducing books are in a never-ending supply. The Greco-Roman based seminary system is pumping out self-help ministers that bolster the sales. The pulpit has become a combination of cheerleading and fundraising. The goal? To build a city and name for themselves.

This plan doesn’t take a television broadcast or a city with a million people. My own city is a mere 22,000 and we have 2 churches claiming membership in excess of 10,000. This to go along with 14 claiming 800+, 25-30 with 250+, and several others in the 100 member range. The top 16 in attendance all preach a form of New Thought which draws people from neighboring communities.

I wonder if any of these ‘sunshine & rainbow’ philosophers has read Ezekiel chapter 13. It has a very detailed penalty for this behavior. God help us.

I also am curious if these pandering prophets know they are worshipping the Hindu god Ganesha. Ganesha also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, Pillaiyar and Binayak, is one of the best-known and most worshiped deities in the Hindu pantheon. He is the god of “new beginnings, success and the remover of obstacles.” Upon Ganesha’s forehead will be a third eye or the sectarian mark to affirm secret knowledge and self-illumination.

Hinduism has adopted a polytheistic pantheon far beyond that of Egypt or Rome combined. The last known count holds 330 million deities worshiped. That is one god for every American. It is the perfect storm of Individualism, Humanism, and Hedonism.