It's pretty apparent how this whole concept fits in with the Replacement Theology that is so prevalent within the NAR. They certainly love to take DEscriptive narrative accounts from the OT that were applicable to Israel and stretch them into PREscriptive commands for the Church Age, which is terrible hermeneutics and will always lead to bad theology since it permits false teachers to layer their false teachings over the biblical text (i.e., eisegesis rather than exegesis). They also fail to understand that in Scripture "intimacy with God" is not found in chasing down supernatural experiences but in abiding in Christ and that involves far more than prayer and worship. It involves coming to love Him more and more through the knowledge that is gained by the study of theology. It also involves yielding to the Holy Spirit in obedience as He seeks to conform us to Christ's image. The NAR, however, frequently eschews the study of theology and considers it to be subpar to emotional experiences. Themes like sin and repentance are glossed over while the Holy Spirit is sought after merely for the acquisition of spiritual gifts. They fail to grasp that the work of the Holy Spirit goes far beyond the dispensing of spiritual gifts which are given for the edification of the church. In the life of the individual believer, the focus is on conforming us more and more to Christ's image (i.e., sanctification), but you will never hear anything like that from any NAR pulpit.
Concerning what the NAR believes regarding intimacy with God, I would hold up as Exhibit A the book "The Physics of Heaven" by Judy Franklin (former assistant to Bethel's Bill Johnson). I delved deeply into the false theology presented in that book in my new book that came out in the spring entitled, Departure from the Faith. It would be putting it mildly to refer to Franklin's book as a "hot mess" that has more to do with New Age beliefs and practices than it does with anything remotely biblical.
Mine is under the name Dr. Candy Gwen Lopitz. Full title: Departure from the Faith - Seducing Spirits and the End Times Church. It is all about the false teachings that have been seeping into the church in the past couple of decades and 2/3 or so concerns the Prosperity Gospel and the NAR. While I was writing the chapter on the NAR, I found your blog and I believe I quoted you a couple of times, with full credit, of course.
Greetings, Fr. Buffer, on this 16th Sunday Post Pentecost and Feast of King Saint Wenceslaus.
Who gives an example to us of perfect worship:
“Saint Wenceslaus was killed before the Blessed Sacrament at midnight by his brutal brother, Boleslas.”
I’m also a fan of the Laus Perennis of certain great orders of women and men religious in times (long) past, who nevertheless did not let the greater thing of charity pass them by.
It's pretty apparent how this whole concept fits in with the Replacement Theology that is so prevalent within the NAR. They certainly love to take DEscriptive narrative accounts from the OT that were applicable to Israel and stretch them into PREscriptive commands for the Church Age, which is terrible hermeneutics and will always lead to bad theology since it permits false teachers to layer their false teachings over the biblical text (i.e., eisegesis rather than exegesis). They also fail to understand that in Scripture "intimacy with God" is not found in chasing down supernatural experiences but in abiding in Christ and that involves far more than prayer and worship. It involves coming to love Him more and more through the knowledge that is gained by the study of theology. It also involves yielding to the Holy Spirit in obedience as He seeks to conform us to Christ's image. The NAR, however, frequently eschews the study of theology and considers it to be subpar to emotional experiences. Themes like sin and repentance are glossed over while the Holy Spirit is sought after merely for the acquisition of spiritual gifts. They fail to grasp that the work of the Holy Spirit goes far beyond the dispensing of spiritual gifts which are given for the edification of the church. In the life of the individual believer, the focus is on conforming us more and more to Christ's image (i.e., sanctification), but you will never hear anything like that from any NAR pulpit.
Excellent points. The NAR teaching on "intimacy with God" deserves its own post.
Concerning what the NAR believes regarding intimacy with God, I would hold up as Exhibit A the book "The Physics of Heaven" by Judy Franklin (former assistant to Bethel's Bill Johnson). I delved deeply into the false theology presented in that book in my new book that came out in the spring entitled, Departure from the Faith. It would be putting it mildly to refer to Franklin's book as a "hot mess" that has more to do with New Age beliefs and practices than it does with anything remotely biblical.
Thank you I will look at your book as well as Franklin's.
Mine is under the name Dr. Candy Gwen Lopitz. Full title: Departure from the Faith - Seducing Spirits and the End Times Church. It is all about the false teachings that have been seeping into the church in the past couple of decades and 2/3 or so concerns the Prosperity Gospel and the NAR. While I was writing the chapter on the NAR, I found your blog and I believe I quoted you a couple of times, with full credit, of course.
Very insightful post as always. Many thanks
Greetings, Fr. Buffer, on this 16th Sunday Post Pentecost and Feast of King Saint Wenceslaus.
Who gives an example to us of perfect worship:
“Saint Wenceslaus was killed before the Blessed Sacrament at midnight by his brutal brother, Boleslas.”
I’m also a fan of the Laus Perennis of certain great orders of women and men religious in times (long) past, who nevertheless did not let the greater thing of charity pass them by.