APPENDIX A
SOME NON BIBLICAL TEACHINGS
VISUALIZATION HEALING TECHNIQUE
- Visualize Jesus coming to you and healing whatever needs to be made whole in your body.
- Agnas Sanford’s book: “Healing Light” is the basis for many so called Christian healing services.
- This technique was learned by Agnas Sanford during her stay in China.
- This is an occult practice.
The Bible teaches us that we are to pray to God and ask Him for our health and wellbeing. However, it will be up to His will, not ours, as to whether or not we will receive a miraculous, medicinal or surgical healing (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
HEALING OF MEMORIES OR INNER HEALING
- This was also brought into the church by Agnas Sanford.
- This technique was/is promoted by David Seamonds.
- The premise of this practice is that the uncovering hidden memories are the key to emotional and spiritual well being.
- This practice uses visualization techniques for you and Jesus to walk back in time and visualize Him healing you of your bad memories, experiences and the promoting of forgiveness for wrong doings.
- This is also an occult practice.
The Bible teaches us that we can only have peace through faith in Jesus Christ (John 16:33 & John 14:27). At the time of our new birth past sins and wrong doings have been forgiven and our conscience has been cleansed. In other words, the born again believer is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17 & Hebrews 10:22).
POSITIVE CONFESSION
- The premise of this practice is that faith is a positive force God used to create the universe.
- Hence, we too by faith can create, with our minds, whatever we want by using those same so called “God’s laws of faith.”
- This movement also believes that non Christians can develop the so called “God’s laws of faith” and create or bring into fruition their desires.
- Big proponents of this practice were/are Kenneth Hagen, Kenneth Copeland, Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuler and Joel Osteen.
First of all, the Bible teaches us that the universe and all that is in it was created by God speaking them into existence (Genesis 1:1-2:3). Consequently, God and God alone is the Creator and we are the created (Ezekiel 34:3). Furthermore, the Bible teaches us that it is God who gives each one of His children the spiritual gifts, functions and positions for us to perform His will (1 Corinthians 12:4-30).
NEW AGE THINKING
- Unity is the dominate theme for this movement.
- The Universe is a living and conscious entity called God.
- We must live in peace and harmony with the world around us.
- Various religious doctrines are divisive and disturb the harmony.
- This movement believes the new age will be the ecumenical union of all religions.
- The famous book that is often quoted from in some of the so called Christian teachings is titled: “The Road Less Travelled” by M. Scott Peck.
The Bible reveals to us that God is a person and not some created entity or object (John 20:24-29). The Bible clearly teaches us that Jesus Christ is the only person by whom we are saved from our sins and transgressions (Acts 4:12). The Bible also teaches us that true harmony will only come when Jesus Christ returns to bring us into the newly created heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1-7).
SPIRIT GUIDES
- This practice was/is promoted within the church by Richard Foster.
- The technique is to visualize a loving/wise figure and then ask him/her for advice and direction.
- Sometimes these spirit guides take on the form of loved ones who have passed away.
- This technique is also used in many of our secular schools.
- This is an obvious occult practice.
The Bible clearly forbids us to consult with mediums, spirits and/or the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). The Bible teaches us that within its pages God provided the direction on how He wants us to live our lives (Psalm 33:3, Psalm 48:14 and 2 Peter 1:2-4). In addition, when we are not sure of what to do, the Bible teaches us to consult God for direction (2 Kings 1:16, 2 Kings 8:8 and Isaiah 30:1-2).