Atheists Meet to Celebrate Lack of Faith!

Atheists meet in Melbourne to celebrate lack of faith

Melbourne attracted more believers to a convention last year

More than 2,000 atheists from around the world are gathering in Melbourne, Australia, to celebrate their lack of religious belief.

It is thought to be the world's largest gathering of atheist thinkers.

They plan to issue a statement on what they say are the negative effects of religion on society.

BBC News - Atheists meet in Melbourne to celebrate lack of faith

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This is ridiculous. Celebrating what they don't believe in?  They have created their own "religion." But they've been warned not to show any "zeal," least they be confused with their religious counterparts.


Atheism and The Cross
This is a previous article about atheism.

Leviticus? Wait, I'd Rather Clean toilets!

The title wasn't meant to be offensive, just how I feel when it's time to read Leviticus.

And it was time as part of my project with a buddy to read through the Bible together in a year. The Lord seems like one angry, demanding dude in this book. But the more I read, the more certain messages became clear. "I am the Lord your God." "Be holy people. Be holy because I am the Lord your God."

I remember when I wasn't a Christian. I used to believe that the God of Christians was in the business of shame and blame. Looking back, I understand why, because I hadn't read the Bible, nor done research into the historical facts around it, nor let God minster to my study. Instead, I was very busy trying to "do it myself" with long and intenstive meditations, that "felt good" but never answered a prayer.

As you plod through Leviticus, you wonder, can I read another word about offerings? Can I stomach another animal being scraficed? How does this relate to my life in 2010? This stuff is so...., well, "Biblical Times," and surely not meant for this age.

Satan would like you to believe that, eh? If we think that "modern times" supersedes the truth behind Scripture, then we're ripe for "New Age" and other "modern thought. Scripture is as alive today in 2010 as it was in the time of Moses.

A human life is always about sacrifice. We may not be delivering a lamb for slaughter (we'll let the slaughter houses do that), but we're relinquishing a important thing for someone, or for something else. Most of us by the time we reach midlife know exactly what we've sacrificed and why. It's not always for altruist reasons, so let's not get confused about what we're willing to give up to get something else.

Leviticus is what we sacrifice for God. What are we willing to give up and turn over to God? As much as we love the Lord, it's not easy to give him our time or money. In the perspective of Biblical Times, would we drive our new car, the one we need to get to work and back, to the altar of God and watch it burn to ash? But that is what God demanded of those that lived in sin. They had to give up something that was going to cost them. If you were guilty, and to absolve that guilt, you had to give up something that was important to you. The best of the animal stock was extremely important to the people of that time. To lose a producing animal that would guarantee income, now that was devastating. Yes, there was a lot of blood, and our cars don't bleed, but life is about blood.

But even knowing what kind of sacrifice was required, people sinned anyways. People live in sin, then and now. It's in our makeup, it's in our DNA, it's how were made.

The details of Leviticus, how to build the Temple Tent, rules about Sabbath, the Table, the Lampstands, is tedious and hard to read, and sometimes boring. Yet life is tedious, and at times boring, but the foundations we set in the beginning of our lifes, dictate our entire life. It's very difficult to change.

Leviticus also assures us we're the right person for the job. Whatever God has done for us, wherever we are, is where he wants us to be. We have a purpose, and we can't cheat God.

A few pointers about Leviticus. The Holy Lord is among and present with His people. When we come to God, we should bring honest devotion. Our spiritual leaders, pastors, bear a heavier responsibility than do lay-people. It's impossible to be pure on our own. Only the Lord can offer atonement.

I'm not a Republician and I Follow Christ

I'm a Democrat but when I became a Christian it was "assumed" I was a Republican. Suddenly I was on the list of Republican propaganda Fwd emails.

I finished a book titled: They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations, and it falls into line with the theme of this situation I find myself: presumptions about Christians. Christians are now automatically "radical" fundamentalists. Sadly, the word fundamental has also been hijacked by a weird sub-culture to mean a four letter word.

Being somewhat moderately liberal all my life, being a yogi fit the bill, so my political and moral leanings were never in question. But being a Christian has cast me in a weird bizzaro world. Suddenly complete strangers think they know me, and label me judgmental, negative, homophobic, hater of all religion, sans Christianity, and take the Bible literally, especially Leviticus!

My commenter said I was ignorant, had a narrow belief system, stuck in dogma, and that my point of view is "what's wrong with Christianity." I got no props for the 30 years I was involved in eastern religion and happen to see things on both sides of the fence. He went on to say that Christians were responsible for all the wars, hate, prejudices and world woes. The article in question wasn't about Christian churches, but deceptive gurus, and the freedom found in Jesus Christ.

He said Jesus was my new guru, but Jesus can't be a guru. A guru is only a spiritual guide. Jesus is the Son of God, and our Savior, but today's current American culture doesn't think believing that is tolerant. The word tolerant has also been hijacked.

Though he was a registered Blogger, his blogs were pathetically void of any content, nor did they identify him, other than he's been to India a bunch of times, so his comment went into the trash.

Cult? Who, me? No way!

A cult is any group that holds you mentally and spiritually hostage and lies to you about truth. That truth doesn't just mean spiritual Truths. It can be anything, from diet, to marriage to how you raise your children.



The first sign you’re in a cult is when you’re told (quite often) you’re not part of a cult, and they usually have a darn good argument to prove their point. Cults work hard to debunk the theory that they aren't a cult or a sect. Since there are so many kinds of cults out there, I'm not going to start a list. There are many websites out there with suspected cult lists. The religion I belonged to for many years fell beneath that radar. You can dig deeper into this blog for more about that experience. A cult does not have to be media mainstream consciousness to be a cult.

Ironically, even after you leave a cult, you might continue to deny you were ever in a cult. Admitting the "cult" part is really, really hard to accept. Especially if you’ve defended your cult for years, lost friends, family members over it, created strife for your children who were marginalized for being “different, or even satanic for your beliefs,” and the list goes on. It’s hard to reconcile one had a serious relationship with a cult and their cannons. That’s scary stuff. Of course, it's scary, or it wouldn't be a cult.

Frankly I’m surprised there aren’t more suicides by people who leave cults. When you leave you leave community. You leave the fabric of your life. It’s an isolating experience because you have no where to go, no one to talk to, no one who'll understand the gravity of your situation. The last thing many ex-cult members can accept is another teaching, church or philosophy. Everyone becomes suspect. They can roam around for years in a state of denial. Some people might become atheists because they just don’t want to take a chance that they’ll get it wrong again.

You have to understand that part of being in a cult is watching out for the kooks in Christianity who come around with their Bibles. You also know, and sometimes memorize all the gruesome suffering that’s come in the name of Jesus Christ. Christians call it apologetics, cults call it TRUTH, and they are masters of it because it's part of the brainwashing.

Their ego is always gigantic, but they deny the ego in their teachings. They think they're God, and well, what can you do with that?

The minute someone utters the word "cult" people in them tend to shut down, turn off, walk out and disassociate with the word. They can't hear CULT. Part of the brainwashing is to block that word from their minds. You might stop reading right HERE. That’s because the word CULT immediately brings to mind Charlie Manson and Jones Town, and, well, you’re certainly are not part of something so evil. That’s front page news evil. That kind of evil isn’t so insidious. It takes out a few people and it’s over.

Savvy cults aren’t run by psychotics; they’re run by ordinary folks. Nice folks. Good looking people with pleasant homes and nice cars. They live next door. They take care of your cat when you’re on vacation and bring you casseroles when you’re sick. They’re your friend, your brother, your mother. They could be just about anyone, and that’s really daunting.

Being a writer, I've never had a problem telling my stories, but this wasn't something I could so easily write about. I had to face some truths that were painful. One doesn’t just walk away from a belief system without some serious scars. When you’re taught something, study, mediate, focus on something for years, it takes root. You might cut the weeds by no longer attending, but the roots are still down in the dirt and it doesn’t take much water to sprout doubts.

Cult members are brainwashed into thinking they're special and chosen. That's a powerful, euphoric emotion. The road to Damascus for cult members isn't usually a revelation through Jesus Christ.

(Reprint from original TD 2007)

The Godly are Not Crazy (And other hype you’ll find on the Internet)

Sometimes I’m cruising around the internet doing research and I come across Blogs lambasting Christians and they make me want to pull my eyeballs out and wipe them off and stick them back in for better focus.

Case in point, the article, The Godly Must Be Crazy.

For the record, there are crazy Christians, just like there are crazy “name your religion” or person. Craziness is not reserved for anyone in particular, but too often there’s an accepted license to drag Christians through the mud, laugh at them, and kick them, too.

Just turn the other cheek and everything will be fine. Right? Wrong.

Christians should ban together, wake up, shake up, and defend our Lord. It says in the Bible that “Anyone who knows the right thing (to do), but does not do it, is sinning.” (James 4:17) Apathy sleeps with the devil. But we’re afraid, especially of the faceless-nameless internet dweebs, and where immorality is rampant. People are basically evil (Roman’s 3:23), especially behind their keyboards where many are exhibiting unrestrained forms of evil. I've personally received vile messages from strangers, all because I believe in Christ.

Though the article I'm referring to was written in June of 04, comments are as recent as June 08, meaning, browsers are reading this writer’s opinion of Christians, and believing it, without stepping away from their web browsers to really search for the truth--which they can find in a good Life-Application Bible. One commenter stated:

Well at least the religious right buffoons must be (Crazy). If they believe in such a dismal future, why do they still have children, do these people know what kind of message they are sending to the younger generation?... we as human beings do alot [sic] to help mold and shape circumstances, so we have alot of power to turn things around for the better if we make that commitment and want to change things and have things turn out diffrently, [sic] but it takes the village, but of course not a village of fantical [sic] religious idiots. What a shame that they don't care enough to want to make a better future for their own children ... They are just selfish, self centered and nihilistic

Sometimes I don’t know where to begin to witness my faith when many who attack Christians are Bible illiterate! It’s vogue to attack Christians, and not only on the Internet. Christians are still being persecuted all over the world, including in this country, and while this is happening the ACLU is helping to tear down our Christian imagines one cross at a time.

I might as well unpack this article I stumbled upon to better explain my irk. What I want you to do is notice a few things about these statements that are stated as factual instead of opinion. So, here we go…

Forty-five senators and 186 representatives in 2003 earned 80- to 100-percent approval ratings from the nation's three most influential Christian right advocacy groups -- the Christian Coalition, Eagle Forum, and Family Resource Council. Many of those same lawmakers also got flunking grades -- less than 10 percent, on average -- from the League of Conservation Voters last year.

There is no reference to this comment. One might assume this writer did his own research and wants us to do the same. Since this article was written, the LCV has upgraded 2007 and 2008 as “banner years” for the environment. Apparently all the Christians have left office.

There are all kinds of graphs you can download from his site, which few will really do—just move on with more erroneous messages about Christians.

He goes on to say…

These statistics are puzzling at first. Opposing abortion and stem-cell research is consistent with the religious right's belief that life begins at the moment of conception. Opposing gay marriage is consistent with its claim that homosexual activity is proscribed by the Bible. Both beliefs are a familiar staple of today's political discourse. But a scripture-based justification for anti-environmentalism?*

Okay, hold on here. Christians do not oppose all stem-cell research. I’ll give this writer a break, as he wrote this a few years ago, and we’ve since learned that stem-cells can be harvested from other things besides zygotes. Yes, Christians do believe that life begins at conception, because it does, but the argument is that until said zygote pitches a tent in the uterus, it’s just traveling through like a blood clot. Just because some pre-embryos don’t attach to the uterus, doesn’t discount God’s involvement and I suppose he’s there with the millions of frozen zygotes waiting for a chance to develop into a human being, or for a death sentence. At the time of conception a human begins to grow if you leave it alone; if you do not value a growing human being because he or she is just a zygote, you might not value an infant since they cry and poop all day long. You’ll find ways to minimize the importance of life. What this writer might have wanted to say was the Christians believe that the soul begins at the moment of conception, but he didn’t write that. Soul holds too much water, so let’s use the world life which is a sieve for contention.

Women who’ve had abortions often regret that decision later in life, especially when they later have children and realize what they’ve done when they see that infant either on a sonogram or in their arms. Sometimes it takes some living to understand the frailty of our lives. I don’t doubt when I was 17 years old I would have opted for an abortion without thinking twice, and I might have counseled my daughter to do the same when she was in High School. I had no clue about the importance of a living being within a womb. Of course all this leads to responsibility not to get pregnant in the first place. That’s another topic.

Yes, the majority of Christians oppose gay marriages, and yes, they do believe that homosexual activity is not natural and, like it or not, it is forbidden in Scripture. But you don’t have to be Christian to have that opinion, and an opinion isn’t the same as intolerance or violence. Fact: our bodies are made male and female, with ports and docks that are not meant to be interchangeable. Where is the rationality of evolution if this statement isn’t true? Homosexuality was as widespread thousands of years ago as it is in ours. Why haven’t we evolved to have two sets of organs? Because that’s not how God set things up.

Other religious faiths are far more intolerant of homosexuality than Christians. There are countries where execution is the punishment for this lifestyle. Homosexuality is a sin just like any other sin, and just because we like the lust it stirs in us, doesn’t make it right. People are being told that homosexuality does not hurt people. But homosexuality hurts individuals, and we’ve all seen families torn apart over a daughter or son coming out of the closet. My own family has a broken marriage from the husband coming out.

No one gazes down upon their newborn thinking, oh, how darling he or she is, I hope she grows up to be gay! I hope she chooses a different, unaccepted lifestyle where he or she will be subject to ridicule, basing, discrimination, and disease. We are god’s darling children. He doesn’t want any of the pain that a homosexual lifestyle will inflict, either physically or emotionally. You can propose all the laws you want regarding the rights of homosexuals, but ultimately they’ll never be fully accepted by all of society or by our Christian God. Marriage is between a man and woman. Anything else is rebellion against God, but that doesn’t mean hell. Only God makes that decision and that’s where zealous Christians veer off.

Many Christian fundamentalists feel that concern for the future of our planet is irrelevant, because it has no future. They believe we are living in the End Time, when the son of God will return, the righteous will enter heaven, and sinners will be condemned to eternal hellfire. They may also believe, along with millions of other Christian fundamentalists, that environmental destruction is not only to be disregarded but actually welcomed -- even hastened -- as a sign of the coming Apocalypse.

This statement is outright insane. This is the opinion of the writer. There is no proof that any of this statement is true. Yes, there are websites that feed the apocalypse, but do politicians really base their political platform on the return of Christ? No way! If they did, maybe they’d be more honest!

This same writer quotes Senator Zell Miller (now retired), as a Christian fundamentalist politician having no concern for the planet because he quote from the book of Amos: "The days will come, sayeth the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land. Not a famine of bread or of thirst for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord!" Of course, the blogger didn't reference the quote, making Senator Miller seem like a wing-nut aspoucing scripture out of context!

Like it or not, faith in the Apocalypse is a powerful driving force in modern American politics.

As a Christian, I’ve never heard this preached before (and I’ve attended many churches), nor do I know where this information came from to research it futher. American politics is driven by money, greed and power.

Stand up for the truth, stand up for Jesus Christ.

Modern Day Guru’s Part III - Buyer Beware

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.” Matthew 13-14 Message

For the sake of this article, I am using the term guru, in its more modern term. Meaning anyone who supposedly has knowledge of religious subjects.

God is very clear who the Boss is, and everyone knows He’s the boss, and if we’re not following Jesus Christ, we’re rebelling. Everyone hates to hear that, and people get up on their laurels wanting to “do their own thing.” Okay, I get that--I’m simply trying to advise you that gurus make money on their followers, and they don’t really care about anyone but themselves. I know this because I followed one. I got into dharmic religions through the counter-culture of the 60's, the "do your own thing" era. Plus, I wasn't raised a Christian, and the ones I knew were not redeeming so, though I was saved by the Jesus Movement, I bailed out too soon. I discovered early in my Christian walk hypocrisy in my small band of Christians, and quit without seeking truth from Christ. Plus Christianity sounded very conforming to me, and my generation didn't want to conform. The first time I registered to vote I did so as a Libertarian Party just to raise some eyebrows, and it did at the local polling place.

Most people don't want to be told what to do--or believe in, and the idea that we're free to choose what we want to be acceptable as our God, is an American right. I get that too. Yet, when we try on religions, we're apt to be greatly disappointed in our choice. The idea of a hell is so distasteful to most Americans (it was to me!) that they'd rather turn their spiritual life over to a famous syndicated talk show host by following her spiritual choice rather than crack a Bible and see what it has to say. The devil is laughing all the way to the bank. The idea of a devil isn't popular, either. Satan knows this and uses it to his advantage.

I swore an allegiance with an eastern guru without ever knowing about the truth in Christ.

Did I know that there was salvation in life through Christ before signing up with a Guru? Yes. I knew, I'd been told. I willingly left the side of Christ for a Guru. I walked away for something that seemed mystical; something that might show me more than what the Christians were showing me. Therein was my problem. I wanted the Christians to show me something...not Jesus. And that's what happens, we want a show.

My guru, who was dead since 1952, still had quite a show. For being dead, his organization had grown world-wide. There were temples, meditations, incense, Indian music, and all the eastern mysticism which is very beautiful. They owned beautiful gardens and properties overlooking the ocean. I can't deny even now how peaceful those places were, but they're not only for eastern religions. Christians can have gardens and beautiful retreats, and yet, most Christian churches lean toward a more austere environment with little or no Christian elements. Nature draws us in naturally, and many eastern religions are in touch with the beauty in nature and use that to attract members.

My church had famous movie stars, a president or two, a Beatle, all the trappings that seem to qualify them as God's representative. It was tied up in a nice package. It was appealing. But many things are appealing to our flesh that isn't good for us.

The guru I had made an investment with couldn't give me unconditional love because he wasn't God incarnate, though we were told he was, and many stories where shared either in his writings or amongst devotees, of his divine quality. There was a kind of love affair going on there... A divine love affair. Affairs don't last, and neither did this one. As long as I was young and idealistic, this religion worked for me, but life isn't young and idealistic forever.

I really thought that the history of the Bible and Jesus was too inconceivable to believe and written by the church to manipulate people. This is what we were told, if not from the pulpit, certainly within smaller groups. On the other hand we were told so many goofy stories, completely unprovable by science and history, that it’s embarrassing to admit I believed any of it, and yet we didn’t believe the Bible! And that’s how these gurus want things to run. They don’t want you poking your nose into the Bible, lest you find some truth there. The only Bible they want you to read or know about is their version.

Recently a talk show host began to support a new-age German philosopher. Her stamp of approval escalated him into mainstream media. He teaches non-ego and enlightenment states (which is impossible to attain) so what he’s really spewing is ancient philosophy and eastern teachings—claiming them modern, and using his hypnotic German accent as part of his persuasive presentation. After watching a few of his videos I was captivated by his sheer sense of bloated self-worth. He needs to kill his own ego.

Why am I picking on TV personalities? Well, I’m not. I’m just stating a fact and it's disturbing to me that people I love are starting to follow this fake. Why didn’t this A-lister talk show host support Jesus Christ whose given her the blessed life she now enjoys? Because she's come to believe she's God. Being taught we are God is the number one ticket for guru's.

I did the same thing! I was born again in 1971 and took up with a Hindu guru in 1973. The idea that I could control my own destiny was too seductive for me to turn and run. The devil has his ways.

The Bible warns us to be wary of those motivated by fame, power and money, or plain rebellion. Satan is a deceiver and extremely motivated to use these phony teachers to get what he wants, our soul. Don’t take the word of anyone over the Word of God.

Jesus warns us of the cost of following him and many people don’t want to pay the Cross.

All gurus teach a self-directed life, which means results are promised to one self--you're never to look outside of yourself for your happiness. These gurus put themselves on a throne and promise their followers the same throne. From my own experience, I'm telling you, this does not work. We can't be God, we can't control anything but our own choices.

A guru's premise is ALWAYS that you’re flawed and what they’re selling will make you feel better, look better or have a closer relationship with God. For some reason they have been allowed to talk to God and get it right, whereas the rest of us must take their word.

We are not flawed.
We were born into sin.
Only Jesus Christ can free us.

Gurus want you to believe you’re more than human or less than human. To be more than human is to make a mistake, and to be less of human is to believe you are the mistake. Their techniques shame us when they fail to work and keep us preoccupied with our flaws. The more mistakes we make as human, the more money they make when we strive to be less human. People idolize their gurus and make themselves bad.

Modern day gurus do not believe in the true Jesus Christ. To believe in Christ is to believe everyone has sinned; the penalty for our sin is death; Jesus Christ died for our sins; to be forgiven for our sin; we must believe and confess that Jesus is Lord. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ.

Modern day gurus will correct you if you quote scripture as truth. They believe they have the answer, not Jesus Christ, because they have a better way, a life full of strict details where there's no freedom in the doing, doing, doing...

Jesus says to beware of those whose words sound religious but who are motivated by money, fame, or power. You can tell who they are because in their teaching they minimize Christ and glorify themselves.

Further proof that Christ is the way and the truth and the life:

Word of Christ –Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Col 3:16 Message

Word of God - Jesus commented, “Even more blessed are those who hear God’s Word and guard it with their lives!” Luke 11:28 Message

Word of Life – “so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.” Phil 2:16 Message

Word of Truth - “Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.” – Tim 2:15 Message

Abides forever – “Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.” Mark 13:31 Message

Endures forever – “God’s Word goes on and on forever.
This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.” 1 Peter 1:25

Soul Saving – “It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else!” Romans 1:16 Message



**Photo National Geographic

Modern Day Guru’s Part II - Big Sale Today!

All modern day gurus are selling something. It might be a service, a get rich quick scheme, mediation techniques, flat abs, shoes or a fountain of youth.

Today’s gurus are honed pitchmen that know how to manipulate the general public, usually through physiological methods. They make promises that work for a small percentage of the population (usually when diet is concerned). For the most part what they’re selling is a hoax, usually repackaged from older hoaxes, and it’s perpetuated on a suffering group of people, as Thoreau said, “the mass of humanity live lives of quite desperation,” and the modern day gurus bet on this pain—not plan, pain.”

Modern day gurus use a method to sell their products and their religions. They’re master pitchmen (or women).

Jesus Christ is free.

Modern day gurus all follow a pattern for top marketing.

Brand Description - Usually a symbol
Personality – Modern gurus have dynamic and charismatic personalities
Key attributes – Usually enthusiasm and interest in your well-being
Packaging – Study guides, lessons, books that always cost money
Presentation or persuasive presentation – This can range from a guru walking down a blue carpet and rose peddles tossed by veiled women to an austere stage, a fashionably dressed person with a German accident, or full blown tattooed maniac in the spirit revival. However he/she’s packaged her “stuff,” you need it to be skinny, happy, saved or healed.
Mission Statement – Usually to unite something, or enlighten you, help you lose weight, change your life, become one with God.

This is the pattern of Jesus Christ:

Everyone has sinned
The penalty for sin is death
Jesus died for our sins
To be forgiven we must believe and confess that Jesus is Lord
Salvation comes through Jesus Christ

There is no money to be made from Jesus’ marketing plan, so modern gurus think up a different plans—or marketing strategies to sell their ideas, religion or products. Sometimes they mix up several other programs, religions or philosophies, but they’re never a unique idea but an uneducated person won't know this--they'll think this guru is phenomenal, unique, modern, it. All eliminate truths that will not attract followers.

Sin and hell is removed from false religious lexicons. There is no hell or damnation. Doesn't exist, just what's inside of your bliss mind -- Jesus just got nailed on a cross for nothing other than he "staged it" and "man" wrote the Bible so it's flawed.

The do not advise you to read the Bible but they'll surely miss quote it.

Your failure is their cornerstone to success. It’s your fault and you need to take step two, or buy this book, teaching, food, whatever they’re selling. It then requires your study and application, usually filling all of your free time so you have no time to think about the insane thing you're involved in, and when you fail they’ll blame your inability to understand the program. You’ll leave and find another modern day guru who will promise you the same thing.

In what ways will you fail?

You will not lose those ten pounds - and keep them off forever
You will not find the truth inside of you
You will not free yourself from your mind without a lobotomy
You will not find cosmic consciousness
You will not be stress free
You will not appreciate every moment of your life
You will not see a flower growing

Jesus Christ does not make promises he can’t keep. Once he said it, it’s done, so strong is his promise.

He gives assurance that you’re saved eternally. “These things I have written to you so you believe on the Son of God; that you know you have eternal life.”1 John 5:13

If gurus promise you’ll feel “something” as proof their brand of religion is real, remember this: “Do not say, I don’t feel it? Feeling is not the evidence, or proof for you to trust. Your feelings may change like the wind, but God’s Word never changes. He says: Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away.” Matt. 24:35

Which words would you rather trust? God’s unchanging Word, or your ever changing feelings?

Jesus promise is simple – accept Him and be saved.

Guru’s programs are complex and there’s a lot to do and remember. Gurus will tell you it’s an inner world to strive for, but Jesus says we are not saved by trying, but by trusting in what He has done for us.

Stay tuned for part III - Who are Modern Day Guru's

Modern Day Guru's Part I - It's all in a Name

“The right name is an advertisement in itself.”

Hopkins, Claude

-American jazz pianist and bandleader

The word guru from Merriam Webster Online means:

1: a personal religious teacher and spiritual guide in Hinduism

2: a: a teacher and especially intellectual guide in matters of fundamental concern b: one who is an acknowledged leader or chief proponent c: a person with knowledge or expertise: expert

The first meaning of a word is its strongest definition. Remember that rule when writing.

Before we jump into modern gurus, let’s understand the term. A guru is a Hindu teacher. The second meaning was added to Webster’s more recently, yet I’m unable to site the date (if you can contribute that information, please email me).

I currently have in my possession a Christian magazine with an article titled: "How this exercise guru brings fitness and faith--"

As Christian’s, especially Christian writers, shouldn’t we shy away from any references to Hinduism? But what about the second meaning? It’s a second meaning. A good writer uses their strongest vocabulary to make a themselves clear, and that’s my point here. Guru is now cultural for anyone who’s a leader in a particular field. There is a guru energy drink, jazz gurus, a current cutesy comedy movie about a guru, staring Mike Myers, there are marketing gurus, golf gurus, there’s a guru power bar, management gurus, fitness gurus and guru shoes. There are 92,600,000 guru definitions on Google as of July of 2008. That’s a lot of gurus, and none of them should be in reference to a Christian.

Part II of this series will unpack what modern gurus are selling.

**Artwork Permission from Zeb Toons copyrighted

Part II of this series will unpack what modern gurus are selling.

Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk

As Christians we're supposed to be part of the 'great commission,' meaning we're to 'spread the good news.' For 30 years, I recruited people into a toxic, eastern-western blended church without any problem opening my mouth and sharing my faith. Nowadays, I find it more difficult to start dialoging about Jesus. Why? In part by my past reputation with eastern religion, and second the current media fad to push yoga and new age religions by celebrities like Oprah. Atheists and evolutionists are pushing their agendas as well, arming unsuspecting people with untruth, and yet their arguments for their beliefs are compelling. Where does that leave the Christian witness if you’re not up to speed on all these current issues?

First, I’m going to address my past. Many of us use our past as roadblocks to witnessing. We might be ex-drug addicts, drunks, abusers, “name the sin,” and we’re all afraid our friends and family will happily point them all out, and get ticked we’re now preaching to them. Then there’s that dreadful word: crutch. We might be accused of finding one crutch for another. I’ve been told I switched crutches. One of my brothers said I wasn’t any fun anymore now that I was “religious.” On one hand I want to be passionate about my conversion and share it, but on the other hand, I want to keep it private, or wait until I’d gained enough Biblical knowledge to spread the Good News and hold my own in serious debates about God.

Here’s the problem with family and friends. They might not see the change, or if they do, they will feel threatened by it. Either way the cross represents conflict to most people. Remember those old black and white horror movies where a cross would bring a vampire to his knees and destroy him? That image isn’t that far fetched. Speaking the truth is uncomfortable, and often those we witness to think truth telling is being judgmental. The media definitely takes that angle, and high-profile stars, like Oprah, pushing a new-age guru, doesn’t help the Christian voice.

Ten years ago I would have sided with Oprah’s philosophy over a Christians. I believed in many paths to God, and as that kind of belief system encourages, is pride that “my path” was better than anyone else’s. We were taught that the guru picked us, not the other way around. When sitting down with someone over coffee, I could easily explain this philosophy, and encourage them to attend the temple for themselves and discover the bliss this guru offered. I always told them that “nothing would be required,” and that they could “come and go and no one would bother them.” This invitation is nonthreatening. I told them there was no such thing as “sin” only mistakes that can be erased through meditation. Often, I named a few popular cultural icons who attended to validate the teachings. I usually didn’t have to go into much more, but I included a book my guru wrote to clinch the deal. Witnessing was not required, in fact, they prided themselves in not recruiting, another testimony that the guru was hand picking his devotees.

Here I come now, a Christian. I have to tell these same people that I was wrong, that there’s only one guru, though wise on some subjects, could not have saved us through his meditation techniques. I now have to tell them to rethink sin, that it’s real, and they must confess to Jesus Christ, and I need to hand them a bible. The reality of it is there were many people I seldom spoke to about my eastern beliefs, but they knew I was somehow involved in it. Eastern religion is a private, singular affair—it’s an inner search. I usually could sense who would be interested in eastern thought, the rest of the people, I lived a worldly, sinful life just like the rest of them.

Here I come now, a Christian. I no longer want to disrespect the Lord by certain behaviors. This is threatening to people who want to continue their lives in sin, even though I’ve not witnessed to them. So where does this leave me, and others facing the same dilemma? Foremost we want to spend eternity with our loved ones, and then we want to them to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The past two years I’ve done some serious Biblical study, but this one concern of mine wasn’t answered until recently when God took me back to the book of Acts. I’m just starting to get my head around what kind of transformation took place on the road to Damascus and these three versus in the Bible are the written truth about total conversion into the Christian faith and how to share the Good News. There is no other story quite like it in the Bible, and when we’re struggling with our pasts, or the latest fad religion is getting all the air time, this story will give us hope.

Jesus Christ transforms lives. That’s the most important thing to remember. He does that, not us. We’re to move past our past because he does, and there’s nothing more evident than Paul’s amazing transformation. We can use the template of his lives to better equip us to spread the Word of God.

We meet our hero Saul (later named Paul), in Acts 9, breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. If you’re not familiar with the Bible, Saul was zealous for his Jewish beliefs and he began a persecution campaign against anyone who backed Jesus. He was so passionate about this mission that after Stephen (a disciple) was dragged out of the city and stoned to death, Saul helped begin the wave of persecution that began that day. He planned a trip to Damascus hoping to find Christians living there and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial, imprisonment and execution. Saul was a successful Pharisee, and as such had grown up in good standing and had studied Judaism with the best teachers. Saul’s past religion set him against all Christians and everyone in the faith knew he was out to get them. Now he’s on the road, determined like no other man of his time, to get to Damascus and do his dirty business. But wait…
As he neared Damascus a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you—Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:3-6

At that point the Lord struck Saul blind, and he was lead by hand into the city by his traveling companions.

This is the point that all Christians should really understand that their past doesn’t matter to Jesus Christ, and if it does not matter to him, it shouldn’t matter to us. Paul didn’t say, “Er, excuse me there Lord, but I’m versed in Judaism and don’t know anything about you, other than the troubles your followers have caused, now if you’ll excuse me.”

Nor does he say, “I’d like to help, but I’m going to need about a year to get up to speed. You know the Jews have a good case against you, and I’m just not going to be able to convince anyone you’re the Lord until I really understand this Christian stuff.”

What Paul had no Bible (in many translations), nor churches, or Christian bookstores, colleges, no Internet, nothing to go and learn about the faith. He didn’t even have directions on where in Damascus he was supposed to go, but he went, anyways, full of faith that God would take over from there. And God did, and so will he with us.

How did Paul explain his past in order to get in the present and share The Good News, and to be creditable? Everyone knew he’d watched Stephen (the first to give his life for the Gospel) stoned to death, and he’d come to Damascus to arrest and drag back Christians to Jerusalem for trial. So, how did he convince his family and friends and everyone in the middle that Jesus Christ was Lord and they needed to accept him immediately or live in hell for eternity?

Was he afraid they’d think he was a liar, or off his rocker?

Neither, here’s what he said: “Even though I was once a blasphemer and persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is the trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 13-16

God is beaming that light same light he sent to Saul on each and every one of us, everyday, every hour, and how are we responding to the call? Are we doing His work or not? Do we continue to persecute Him by sinning? The hardest part of being a Christian is saving souls. I personally wasn’t in the business before, and the shoes are a little tight right now.

Who’s going to believe you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ if you’re an ex-drug user, alcoholic, prostitute, or practiced a Hindu-based faith? Remember, Jesus does not transform those who are already in the body of Christ; he transforms the worst sinners, so we can see his glory.

What incredible freedom! We must remember God is in control and nothing surprises him. Nothing. There’s nothing we did, or thought to do, that God can’t forgive and use us for his purpose. We can share our liberation with others. Isn’t it freeing to get up every morning with a new slate? That’s a gift from God. That’s his light coming down on us and inviting us to take the journey.

Paul had to face everyone in his life and prove to them he was a changed man, and then he had to do it with the Christians. Yes, he was a brilliant scholar and speaker, but his reputation had preceded him. This is what we’re all supposed to do—live a changed life even if our reputations precede us! I can promise you people were watching and waiting for anything to prove Paul was a fake, and they’re watching and waiting for us to fail.

Now, back to Oprah: Our very culture makes it easy to get people to try something new, but Christianity? How can we talk the talk of Christians? What kind of tools do we need to assure people that the Bible is real? That the Bible is happening, and true? Did Paul worry about these things? There isn’t much evidence. He just said, “Jesus is Lord,: and kept his resolve to spread that message! He did what God told him, no if’s ands or buts!

There is comfort in knowing that even though Paul once persecuted Christians, God used him in a mighty way. We all want God to use us in a mighty way--to tell people Jesus is the Christ. Let’s do it!

* A nondenominational world-wide church, led by a guru, which taught a blending of Hinduism and Christianity.

Kundalini - Fashion or Foe?

People Magazine has an article this week about a young actress who overcame an eating disorder and now draws her strength from Kundalini yoga. What concerned me most about this story is Kundalini is described as simply meditation and chanting. This lack of information is typical of our culture.

We’re obsessed with eastern religion, and if you read much of my Blog you’ll see I’m quick to point out the erroneous mistake in promoting it so blatantly.

Even more ironic is the message from this story is to go from one addiction to another. Yoga can be an addiction.The writer of the People Magazine article didn’t consider a common thread that yoga has with addictions. Control. Eating disorders are about control, and so is yoga, especially Kundalini yoga, which is a meditative discipline. The addicts I knew who clung to yoga as their means of recovery, failed and are now dead. 30 years in an Eastern Church gives me some authority on the subject, and a bird’s eye view of the wreckage that a yogic life can leave behind.

Here’s what People Magazine didn’t tell you.

Kundalini yoga focuses on moving energy through the spine, or what yogi’s call the chakra system. How do they do that? They imagine moving energy around the chakras (spine), and this is done in conjunction with certain breathing exercises. It is done in repetitions, usually starting out with a small number and increasing as you practice.There is an additional concern for addicts. Self-hypnosis is very addicting. It produces endorphins that mimic the same kind of high that cocaine can produce and stopping it suddenly can cause withdrawals. Practicing yoga can become an emotional obligation, something yogi’s might feel forced to practice, and when oneness is never found, depression can follow. Finally, the yogi self-hypnotizes isolates and disconnects from their world in the same way addicts isolate and disconnect. It’s important to remember that the word yoga is “union,” meaning one. Kundalini yoga is said to enable the person to merge with or "yoke" the universal Self, resulting in union with the Divine.

All yoga classes introduce meditation in some form. Breath control, affirmations and incense are often included. These caveats are part of Hindu mysticism. Christians especially should know that any form of pagan rituals, dressed up in cultural style and paraded by Hollywood is a dangerous message. This lovely actress founded a national eating disorder association and I wonder how much of Kundalini yoga will be introduced to other young women struggling with this cultural disease, or those reading People Magazine. Recovery requires something yoga can’t offer: Grace. Forgiveness.

Yoga is not just exercises; it’s a life-style, a practiced and believed philosophy. In the end, yoga can alienate people from the God of the Bible. It might not happen overnight, but it can change beliefs through hypnotic states. Repetitive yoga techniques interspersed with chanting, mantras or affirmations, has direct access to the subconscious mind without any interference from the conscious mind.“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 11:17

(This is a reprint from the old TD 8/23/07)