Thoughts on Homosexuality, Reiki and God’s Absolutes.

By Dennis Edwards:

Dear One,

Thanks for the conversation last night. I really appreciate honest and open debate and the questions you posed are not easily answered. I think one of the questions we need to ask ourselves is; Are their moral absolutes? If there are moral absolutes, where can we find them? You seem to believe there are moral absolutes when it comes to murdering or taking life as in the case of abortion and euthanasia. Where do your moral absolutes come from on this issue? Ultimately, I believe you will agree that they come from the principles laid down in God’s word, the Bible. Ultimately, you believe God’s word is true. God has said, “Thou shall not kill.” “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Your absolute moral convictions on this topic come from God’s word.

God’s ultimate condemnation of Israel was for the abominations she committed in allowing her children to pass through the fires of Molech, for the shedding of innocent blood openly in Jerusalem. What blood is more innocent than that of a new born child as in the ancient anti-God customs of the past, like Molech, or today’s counterpart in abortion? God’s word says that God ultimately judged Israel for the sins of Manasseh, “according to all that he did and also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon.” (2Kings 24:3-4) “He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.” (2Kings 21:2) “And worshipped the host of heaven and served them. And built alters for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. And made his sons pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.” “Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.” (2Kings 21:16)

What were the abominations of the heathen that God judged Israel for? I would put forward that one of the abominations of the heathen was the acceptance of homosexual behaviour. When Josiah, Manasseh’s grandson started a revival in Israel one of the first things he did after initiating the rereading of God’s word and the killing of the high priests of other religions, was that “he braked down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the Lord,….and he defied Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.” (2Kings23:7&10) In other words, he abolished the acceptance of homosexual behaviour and stopped infanticide. Maybe the high priests of Molech were homosexuals?

Jesus himself indirectly condemned homosexuality in his reference to the “days of Sodom and Gomorrah” in Luke 17: 28&29. “Likewise, also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.” One of the main sins of Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexual behaviour. But Ezekiel also mentions these other sins to Jerusalem in reference to Sodom: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughter, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.” (Ezekiel 16:49&50) So these other “sins” are equally offensive in God’s eyes.

In Leviticus strangely enough, we find the verse about child infanticide together with homosexual behaviour. “And thou shall not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shall thou profane the name of thy God; I am the Lord. Thou shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” (Leviticus 18:21&22) But as you mentioned, the verse before says “Moreover thou shall not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife, to defile thyself with her.” (Leviticus18:20) Deuteronomy also states “there shall not be a sodomite of the sons of Israel.”

There is a story in the Old Testament of the prophet’s wife, a former prostitute, who was defiled by “Sons of Belial” until almost the whole tribe of Benjamin was going to be eliminated by Israel because of it. The “sons of Belial” seems to not only include homosexual behaviour, but also a kind of perverted wildness, out of control aggressive perverted sex, like anal sex and bestiality and paedophilia. Kind of like the stories Jeremy Spencer told about the sex life of some of the famous musician he knew.

We know that Jesus took the word of God seriously and quoted from it constantly. He did so in a manner differently from the Scribes and Pharisees, who used the word of God to condemn and control the people. Jesus showed the true spirit of the word in his attempt to enlighten and free the people from these false religious leaders of his day, like Ezekiel 34 so aptly points out about the false shepherds.

I agree with you that homosexuality has not been properly approached by the church. Our former pastor was always a good example in his loving acceptance of others in trying to reach them with the gospel and connect then to Jesus. Nevertheless he maintained his strong conviction that the Bible was God’s word. It just needed to be rightly divided and understood through the spirit which Jesus clearly manifested. Jesus in John 8 doesn’t condemn the adulterous woman, but yet he tells her to "go and sin no more," [John 8:11]. Obviously, he is not embracing adultery, but embracing the adulterous. In like manner, he wasn’t embracing tax corruption by going to eat with Zacchaeus. By embracing Zacchaeus, he helps him find the kingdom of God. As a result, Zacchaeus changes his behaviour and returns the money from those he has over taxed.

I think it is the same with homosexuality. Yes, we do need to embrace the homosexual as our former pastor taught and Jesus teaches. But we do not need to embrace and accept as “normal” the homosexual behaviour. My friend Nick knows I do not accept homosexual behaviour. He respects me for the loving way I treated him and others while we studied together at university. I have tried to continue to show my love and respect for him. However, I cannot accept a behaviour I believe is in violation of God’s word. I may be old fashion. I believe that the philosophies of relativism, utilitarianism, and morality measured by what is acceptable by the majority of the people, move society away from the moral absolutes of God’s word. Yes, God’s word does need to be always balanced and applied by the spirit of love and grace. Like you said, people do not want religion. They need to connect with Jesus. That connection not only comes from the spirit but from knowing the words of truth found in God’s word.

We have been fortunate enough to have had the training which liberated us from religious Pharisee-ism. We have seen that very few people are capable of too much freedom. Because of our sinful nature, we tend to use our liberty to the occasion to the flesh, especially if we are given too much liberty and don't have restraints and guidelines. I wrote a letter to a friend recently when sharing my beliefs about creation and the book of Genesis. I don’t believe that Genesis is poetry. I do not believe that it doesn't really matter when or how God created, but just that He did. If God’s word says He did it in six days, I believe He did. I have searched for reasonable answers to the Genesis six-day question. I have found scientists like Russel Humpreys and others who have scientifically tried to find answers of how a six-day creation 6,000 years ago could be physically possible in a universe which some claim seems to be millions or billions of years old.

I think Humphreys’ conclusion are as plausible an explanation as others and may even fit the accessible evidence more accurately. It depends on our starting assumptions. If the Bible is truly God’s word and God’s communication to man, then we start our scientific assumptions based on the claims in God’s word. Our assumptions are in line with God's word. However, if the Bible is not true, where do we take our initial assumptions from?

We all have initial assumptions. I believe like Lee Strobel that the initial assumptions that are in line with the word of God are the ones that are ultimately true. I believe that the Evangelical scientists have some points that are right on. The stereotyped Christian bigot personality, which may exist, is not profoundly obvious in these learned men. They come across lovingly and with good reasonable biblical arguments. Just because some evangelicals are self-righteous, does not mean we need to throw away everything evangelicals believe. Some of their doctrinal foundation may be true and we should not just throw it all away because they are self-righteous. Instead, maybe we need to lovingly and un-self-righteously present the message without throwing away the foundation stones.

Like in the lecture Builder’s Beware, the danger is taking out God’s Word from the foundation. As long as the building was firmly planted on the rock of God’s foundation, His Word, it remained strong no matter what the physical alternations were made. I have my reservations about neglecting God’s Word or saying it’s not important. Yes, the word without the spirit is dead and brings death and condemnation. The word with the spirit brings life and light and is true. I think, we, as ambassadors of God’s kingdom, need to rightly divide and apply and minister God’s word in love and truth and be the true shepherds God wants his people to be. “But, if the foundations be removed, what shall the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

With love we need to bring people to the light of God’s word, which is not only love but truth, and helps us to discern the intents and thoughts of men’s heart. It is the knowledge of God’s word which makes us smart and gives us discernment exceedingly above those of our peers. I think we do ourselves a disservice, if we throw the word away now, and say all we need is the spirit. The Word and the Spirit are uniquely joined together and are part of the definition of what and who God is. These are my thoughts. Yes, I agree on the importance of lovingly embracing the homosexual community, as well as the Jewish community, and the Black community, and the Muslim community and the atheist community and any community, if we can do so without losing our Biblical foundation. Instead of society affecting and changing our faith, we should be instruments of affecting change in society in a loving and compassionate way. The goal is for them to ultimately find the faith which we have found in Jesus and God’s word.

We may not be very successful. We may be ostracized and labelled as intolerant, but we can console ourselves that God’s word says that these days will take place before His coming. “There shall come a falling away first and then shall the end come.” (2Thessolonians 2:3) Anyway, that is the way God has led me in my search for what I believe. Jesus said, “Had you believed Moses you would have believed me, for he wrote of me. But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words.” (John 5:46&47) I have a hard time throwing out the written word just because of other’s misinterpretation or misrepresentation of its truth. My faith is built on God’s word. My doctrinal belief is not the first part of my witness. Love is. Doctrine is a part of it, but I also know that my point of view may not be absolutely God’s point of view. But hopefully I will be found to be in the tunnel of God’s will and truth.

Verses about abomination:

Things That Are an Abomination to God

The following is a list of things which are an abomination to God. Inasmuch as it is disgusting to God, we should certainly avoid these things.

Leviticus 18:22, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (Compare Leviticus 20:13) This is homosexuality.

1. Deuteronomy 18:10-12, "There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, (This is what Reiki is actually doing.) or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD."

A. Passing through the fire is the literal sacrifice of children in a sacrificial fire.

B. Divination is one who claims secret knowledge, especially of the future. Sometimes it is translated witchcraft, and is used of false prophets. (Reiki claims to give you some secret knowledge that will give you healing powers and make your life better. Tarot Cards would be included in "divination.")

C. An observer of times is one who pretends to foretell the future. Sometimes translated a soothsayer, or fortune-teller. (Tarot Cards could be included here, also.)

D. An enchanter is like someone who observes serpents (all have seen the flute player as he charms the snake).

E. A witch is one who uses witchcraft, a sorcerer.

F.A charmer is one who supposedly casts a spell.

G. A consulter with familiar spirits is one who consults an oracle for information.(Reiki calls it calling on your angel spirit helpers)

H. A wizard is a wise man, perhaps one who claims to be wiser than he is, and that he can do more than he really can.

I. A necromancer is one who claims to consult, or inquire with the dead.

2. Deuteronomy 25:16, "For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteousness, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God." (In this context the Lord is speaking of weighing and measuring fairly and properly with weights and measures.)

3. Deuteronomy 27:15, "Cursed be the man that makes any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD." (Speaking of things to be worshiped).

4. Proverbs 6:16-19, "These six things does the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren."

5. Proverbs 3:32, "For the froward (perverse, devious) is abomination to the LORD:"

6. Proverbs 15:9, "The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loves him that follows after righteousness."

7. Proverbs16:5, "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD:"

8. Proverbs 17:15, "He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD."

9. Proverbs 24:9, "The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men." (Here we are speaking of mocking and scoffing at others.)

10. Proverbs 28:9, "He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

11. Ezekiel. 18:12,13, "Has oppressed the poor and needy, has spoiled by violence, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination, Has given forth upon usury, and has taken increase: shall he then live? He shall not live: he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him."

12. Ezekiel 22:11, "And one has committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another has lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another among you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter."

13. Malachi 2:11, "Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and has married the daughter of a strange god."

14. Luke 16:15, "And he said unto them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."

15. Revelation 21:27, "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life."

16. Leviticus 18:19-26, immorality, adultery, sacrificing children to Molech, homosexuality, bestiality, etc.

17. Deuteronomy 20:18, the worship and service to false gods.

18. II Kings 23:24, "Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations"

Originally published October 30, 2013

Read More

Carta a um amigo envolvido com o Reiki - Capítulo 39

Dennis Edwards

Carta a um amigo envolvido com o Reiki - Capítulo 39 

Primeira publicação em inglês em 09/2020. Para voltar ao capítulo anterior clique aqui.

Caro amigo,

Foi interessante conversar consigo. Faz-me pensar para encontrar respostas às perguntas que abordou. Mas penso que precisamos de colocar e responder às seguintes questões: todos os caminhos vão dar à verdade? Só existe um caminho? Existe mais do que uma maneira? Como a Palavra de Deus diz que todas as coisas cooperam para o bem daqueles que amam a Deus, acredito que na nossa busca da verdade podemos seguir caminhos diferentes.

Deve ter fome e sede de justiça

Jesus disse:

Os que têm fome e sede de justiça serão saciados [1].

Em Isaías lê-se:

Vós me buscareis e me encontrareis quando me buscardes de todo o vosso coração [2].

As próprias palavras de Jesus transmitem o mesmo sentimento,

Procure e encontrará. [3]

Rejeitei 

Na minha experiência pessoal, rejeitei o Deus do cristianismo, Cristo e a religião organizada do catolicismo e do protestantismo por causa da hipocrisia e da falta de espiritualidade que vi em ambos. Na minha juventude, não conheci um único padre ou ministro contra a guerra do Vietname ou contra o complexo industrial militar. Faziam apenas parte do clube e, embora simpatizassem com o meu problema de ter de ir para a guerra, sentiam que era meu dever obedecer ao meu governo. Por isso, procurei respostas no budismo, no ioga, na meditação transcendental, nos alimentos biológicos, no jejum e no judaísmo.

Sermão da Montanha: Mateus 5-7

No entanto, depois de ler e pesquisar intensamente sobre o assunto do que deveria fazer em relação à guerra, e nenhuma das opções acima respondeu, encontrei finalmente as palavras de Jesus no Sermão da Montanha que diziam:

Ouvistes que foi dito: Olho por olho, e dente por dente. Eu, porém, digo-vos que não resistais ao mal; mas, se qualquer vos bater na face direita, oferecei-lhe também a outra [4].

e mais tarde,

Ouvistes que foi dito: Amarás o teu próximo e odiarás o teu inimigo. Mas eu vos digo: Amai os vossos inimigos, bendizei os que vos odeiam e orai pelos que vos maltratam e vos perseguem [5].

O maior sermão alguma vez pregado foi dado a um punhado de homens das montanhas pelo maior alpinista de todos os tempos, Jesus, que finalmente escalou a Sua última montanha, o Monte Calvário, o Gólgota, e morreu sozinho pelos pecados do mundo. Essa era a montanha que só Ele poderia escalar por ti e por mim, e assim o fez.

Os primeiros cristãos sofreram perseguições por parte dos romanos, mas viveram a sua fé. Foram até aos leões e sofreram mortes torturantes, e ainda assim testemunharam a sua fé na doutrina de amor de Cristo. A minha posição contra os militares veio, em última análise, de seguir as palavras de Cristo. Mesmo antes de experimentar o renascimento da salvação em Cristo, recebi força moral ao ler as palavras de Jesus no Novo Testamento, onde o ioga, a meditação e o jejum me tinham falhado.

VERDADE: O facto de a verdade absoluta existir aponta-nos para a verdade de que existe um Deus Soberano.

Uma vez que concorda que existem absolutos e, portanto, a verdade absoluta existe, então devemos analisar as diferentes religiões e as suas alegações de verdade para ver qual delas nos leva realmente à verdade. Curiosamente, quase todas as ideologias religiosas afirmam ser o único caminho para a salvação, ou o melhor caminho para a salvação, ou o antigo e esquecido caminho para a salvação, ou o recém-descoberto caminho para a salvação.

Mas como quase todas as religiões do mundo fazem a mesma afirmação e se contradizem, não podem ser todas verdadeiras. Todas elas podem ter verdade. Mas até uma mentira é muitas vezes revestida de verdade para enganar. Se algo é verdadeiro, então algo que o contradiz não pode ser verdadeiro.

Vivemos na ilusão e na aparência das coisas. Existe a realidade. Nós somos essa realidade. Quando compreende isto, vê que não é nada, e sendo nada, é tudo. Isso é tudo. -Kalu Rinpoche

Por outras palavras, algo não pode ser verdadeiro e falso ao mesmo tempo, a não ser que se façam jogos de palavras, como a citação acima. Mas os conceitos místicos pouco claros são muito comuns na Índia, onde o seu significado de “realidade” é que a “realidade” é uma “ilusão” e, portanto, não é “real”, o que leva a uma contradição ilógica ou antilógica. Em matemática dizemos que se y é igual a 3, então y não pode ser igual a não 3. “Deus é amor” e “Deus é a ausência de amor” não podem ser ambos verdadeiros porque são contraditórios.

A Bíblia diz que Cristo foi crucificado e ressuscitou corporalmente dos mortos [6]. 

O Alcorão diz que Jesus não foi crucificado, mas Deus permitiu que outra pessoa o substituísse. Portanto, não houve ressurreição. A Bíblia e o Corão contradizem-se. Ambas as coisas não podem ser verdadeiras. A afirmação de que todas as religiões ensinam basicamente a mesma coisa, o amor incondicional, não é verdadeira. O Alcorão diz que não podemos realmente conhecer Deus. Só seguindo os Cinco Pilares do Islão é que um homem pode ter uma hipótese de talvez ganhar a salvação após a morte, a não ser que morra como mártir pela causa do Islão. Isto não quer dizer que os seguidores do Islão não possam ser pessoas muito amorosas.

Na minha visita aos refugiados Saharaui no sul da Argélia, conheci um homem muçulmano muito amoroso. O seu amor e sensibilidade por mim quando eu estava doente e precisava de ajuda estavam para além de tudo o que já tinha experimentado na minha relação com pessoas na Europa. Mas mesmo que fosse uma pessoa carinhosa e atenciosa, isso não significa necessariamente que o credo do Islão seja verdadeiro. A Bíblia diz:

Deus é amor; e aquele que permanece no amor permanece em Deus, e Deus nele [7].

Acredito que pessoas como o meu amigo muçulmano, que realmente andam em amor, estão próximas de Deus. Jesus disse:

Quem vos recebe, recebe-Me a Mim [8].

Creio que, embora as circunstâncias nos tornassem difícil falar com ele mais intimamente sobre Cristo, ao receber-nos tão cordialmente, ele estava, na verdade, a receber Cristo, a quem sabia que representávamos. No mesmo capítulo onde João diz

Deus é amor [9].

Testando os espíritos: 1 João 4:1-6

Ele também diz:

Amados, não deis crédito a nenhum espírito, mas provai se os espíritos vêm de Deus, porque muitos falsos profetas têm saído pelo mundo. Nisto conheceis o Espírito de Deus: todo o espírito que confessa que Jesus Cristo veio em carne é de Deus; e todo o espírito que não confessa que Jesus Cristo veio em carne não é de Deus, mas é o espírito do Anticristo. [10]

Os espíritos com os quais as pessoas estão a comunicar no Reiki são crentes em Jesus Cristo?

Jesus disse:

Eu sou o caminho, a verdade e a vida; ninguém vem ao Pai, senão por Mim. [11]

Ele disse,

Se, pois, a luz que em ti há são trevas (e tu crês que são luz), quão grandes são essas trevas (porque crês que as trevas são luz). [12]

O apóstolo Paulo disse que até o próprio Diabo pode aparecer como um anjo de luz [13]. O apóstolo João disse que a “besta”, o homem de Satanás durante os Últimos Dias, realizaria grandes sinais e prodígios para que o mundo inteiro acreditasse nele [14].

Pela minha experiência e pela leitura da Bíblia, estou convencido de que todas as religiões podem ser colocadas em duas categorias. Os primeiros são aqueles que professam que é preciso obedecer a certas regras, ou fazer certos exercícios, comer certos alimentos, etc., para ser salvo. O segundo são aqueles que professam que o homem é incapaz de se salvar a si mesmo e que necessita de um Salvador.

A religião enfatiza a importância do sacrifício, da devoção, do ritual e do quanto as pessoas devem fazer por Deus. O Evangelho realça a importância do sacrifício e da obra de Jesus Cristo.

No primeiro grupo, podemos colocar o falso cristianismo ou o cristianismo ou a religiosidade sob qualquer forma ou seita que apareça, para além de todos os outros "ismos", seitas e movimentos espirituais do Oriente e do Ocidente que nos ensinam que nos podemos salvar através dos nossos próprios esforços, sejam eles meditando, invocando certas entidades espirituais, usando certos sinais, símbolos ou pedras, comendo ou não certos alimentos, realizando certos rituais, usando certos símbolos, entoando certos versos, etc. Embora estes "ismos" possam conter alguma verdade, professam ser a verdade para ganhar convertidos e discípulos. Mas a verdade é que não são “a verdade”.

A verdade é que o homem não é capaz de se salvar a si próprio pelos seus próprios esforços hipócritas. É por isso que o mundo é como é hoje. O mundo precisa de um Salvador. Ansiamos por um Salvador. Não apenas um conceito etéreo de salvação. A Bíblia diz que fomos feitos à imagem de Deus [15]. Graças a isso somos capazes de pensar, comunicar, usar a linguagem, criar e amar. Se Deus é apenas uma “energia universal” ou “força vital”, porque haveríamos de ter uma consciência a dizer-nos a diferença entre o certo e o errado?

A crença no Deus cristão da Bíblia dá amplas razões pelas quais podemos amar, raciocinar, julgar, criar, pensar e sentir. A Bíblia diz que Deus é amor [16]. Mas também diz que Ele é um fogo consumidor [17]. A Bíblia diz que Jesus está à direita do Pai [18] e que Jesus julgará os vivos e os mortos [19]. Quando morremos, não somos apenas reunidos com a força vital ou energia universal; estamos reunidos com a Pessoa de Cristo e com os santos que partiram e que agora nos rodeiam como uma grande nuvem de testemunhas [20].

Se algo é livre para ser bom, também é livre para ser mau. E o livre-arbítrio é que tornou o mal possível. Por que razão, então, lhes deu Deus o livre-arbítrio? Porque o livre-arbítrio, embora torne o mal possível, é também a única coisa que torna possível qualquer amor, ou divindade, ou alegria que valha a pena ter. C.S. Lewis

Não é verdade que todas as religiões ensinem o mesmo princípio, o amor incondicional. A Bíblia ensina que Deus tem um amor incondicional por nós. No entanto, se rejeitarmos o amor de Deus por nós, Ele não anulará o nosso livre-arbítrio. Se outras religiões ensinam algo semelhante, é como o exemplo da nota falsa. A falsificação tem de ser muito próxima do real para passar como verdade. Portanto, mesmo as falsas crenças religiosas precisam de ter algumas verdades universais nas suas doutrinas para serem acreditadas.

Jesus não pregou apenas o amor, viveu e morreu em amor pelos pecados da humanidade, tanto seus como meus. Não nos podemos salvar a nós próprios [21]. Precisamos de um Salvador para nos purificar das nossas impurezas. Se dependermos da nossa própria capacidade de nos purificarmos, ou de invocarmos espíritos ou anjos para o fazer, seremos considerados insuficientes. Só Cristo, o Filho Unigénito de Deus, pode redimir o pecado. Os nossos próprios esforços justos não nos podem salvar ou manter salvos. É só Cristo. A Bíblia diz:

Não pelas obras de justiça que houvéssemos feito, mas segundo a sua misericórdia, Ele nos salvou pela lavagem da regeneração e da renovação do Espírito Santo [22].

Mais ninguém morreu pelos pecados da humanidade e testemunhou a verdade da Sua doutrina através dos poderosos milagres que Ele realizou. A Sua ressurreição final dos mortos confirmou a Sua divindade. A morte foi engolida pela vitória. [23] Só Cristo morreu e ressuscitou dos mortos [24]. Esta é a pedra basilar do cristianismo. Nenhuma outra fé tem uma base tão firme. A Bíblia é também um livro vivo cheio de profecias que Cristo cumpriu. É um livro cheio de profecias ainda por cumprir.

Eu era jovem e cheio de energia como tu quando experimentei o amor de Deus pela primeira vez durante uma viagem de drogas. Nessa experiência de epifania, perguntei: “É disso que se trata Jesus?” Mas como não conhecia nenhum verdadeiro cristão, procurei noutro lugar. O Movimento New Age, que chegou recentemente a Portugal, foi popularizado através da música dos Beatles. O pensamento oriental e a Meditação Transcendental tornaram-se a norma intelectual. Agarrei-me totalmente a isso e enchi o meu coração e a minha mente com os livros populares da Nova Era daquela época.

Meditei, fiz ioga, jejuei e comi alimentos biológicos preparados apenas de uma forma especial para ganhar a minha espiritualidade. Mas nunca foi suficiente. Mesmo com todo o meu esforço, nunca foi suficiente. Descia sempre do ápice, ficava impaciente, fazia algo sem amor e ficava desanimado — especialmente com a minha incapacidade de permanecer nesse ápice espiritual. Não consegui manter o espiritual elevado. Não consegui manter um estado de retidão. Graças a Deus descobri que a verdade era muito mais simples. Encontrei o verdadeiro cristianismo; Encontrei o poder da Palavra de Deus, o conforto do Espírito Santo e o discernimento e a sabedoria que o conhecimento da Palavra de Deus proporciona.

Jesus disse:

A minha Palavra é a verdade [25].

Ele disse,

Se permanecerdes na Minha Palavra, então... conhecereis a verdade e a verdade vos libertará [26].

Armas de Engano em Massa

Mas Ele também advertiu que muitos viriam em Seu nome, dizendo que eram Cristo e enganariam a muitos [27]. [28] Paulo diz-nos que primeiro haverá uma grande apostasia e depois será revelado o homem do pecado, [29] o Anticristo. Paulo advertiu ainda que até o próprio Diabo pode aparecer como um anjo de luz [30]. E Jesus advertiu que os falsos Messias fariam grandes e poderosos milagres, [31] pelo que sabemos que o Diabo e os seus anjos caídos podem e inspiram os seus seguidores humanos na Terra nos Últimos Dias a realizar milagres aparentes [32]. Muitas pessoas serão enganadas.

Jesus disse que o amor de muitos esfriaria [33]. Disse que o comportamento dos homens seria semelhante ao de Sodoma e Gomorra [34] antes da sua destruição. Disse que a violência iria aumentar e que haveria guerras, terramotos e pestes como o Ébola e a SIDA, mas que todas estas coisas seriam o início das dores e que as coisas iriam piorar [35]. A humanidade está de facto a caminhar para eventos apocalípticos que abalarão os alicerces do mundo. Jesus disse que, a não ser que Ele controlasse e encurtasse a destruição, a humanidade deixaria de existir, que o homem se destruiria a si próprio [36].

Perigos do Reiki: Cura que causa danos - E.S. Harz

Acredito que o Reiki não é a verdade, mas uma imitação, um engano. O apelo aos anjos de luz é, na verdade, o apelo aos espíritos enganadores que não podem cumprir as suas promessas, mas são enviados para confundir e desorientar aquele que procura a verdade e afastá-lo da verdade real do Evangelho. Li vários testemunhos de antigos Mestres de Reiki que, após uma triste viagem pelo Reiki, finalmente encontraram Cristo. Alguns enviaram avisos a outros.

Vou terminar aqui, meu amigo, para não me alongar muito. Mas vou anexar dois links para que possa visualizar sobre o assunto. Líder católico fala sobre REIKI [37].

e porque é que os cristãos devem evitar o Reiki e a cura energética [38].

Ou pode querer obter o livro à esquerda, The Reiki Danger: Healing that Harms, (O Perigo do Reiki: Cura que Causa Danos), de Eric S. Harz [39]. Na minha busca pela verdade, acabei por deixar de ter desejo por aquelas filosofias e exercícios orientais. A razão era porque eu estava cheio da Palavra e tinha encontrado as respostas no meu estudo aprofundado das Escrituras. Estaria interessado em estudar mais da Bíblia? Jesus disse que, se fizer isso,

a verdade vos libertará [40].

Aceitarás o desafio de “continuar na Sua Palavra”? [41]

Avise! Poderíamos estudar a Palavra em conjunto. Se quiser ver um vídeo mais longo sobre o tema Reiki, incluí outro abaixo [42].

(Fim da carta a um Mestre de Reiki)

Neste ponto, gostaria de pedir desculpa se alguns capítulos repetem informações discutidas em capítulos anteriores. Alguns capítulos foram escritos como itens independentes que mais tarde achei que valia a pena incluir no texto. Em vez de fazer muitas edições, deixei-os praticamente como estavam. Mas espero que repetir as mesmas informações lhe facilite a sua memória.

Para voltar ao capítulo anterior clique AQUI

Para passar para o próximo capítulo clique AQUI

Read More

A Woman's Relationship with Spirit Guides Turns Sour

 To go to her blog click https://www.truthbehindyoga.com/

Read More

Why I Stopped Teaching Yoga and Reiki, to Follow Jesus!

 

Read More

Letter to a Friend Involved with Reiki - Chapter 39

Letter to a Friend Involved with Reiki

Dear Friend, 

It was interesting to talk to you. It makes me have to think to find answers to the questions you addressed. But I think we need to ask and answer the questions: Do all roads lead to truth? Is there only one way? Is there more than one way? Since God’s Word says that all things work together for good to them that love God, I believe in our search for truth, we may go down different paths.

Jesus said, 

They that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled.[1]

In Isaiah we read,

Ye shall seek Me and find Me when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.[2]

Jesus’ own words convey the same sentiment,

Seek and ye shall find.[3]

In my own personal experience, I rejected the God of Christianity, Christ and the organized religion of both Catholicism and Protestantism because of the hypocrisy and lack of spirituality that I saw in both of them. In my youth, I didn’t meet one priest or minister against the war in Vietnam or against the military industrial complex. They were just part of the club and though they sympathized with my problem of having to go to war, they felt it was my duty to obey my government. Therefore, I searched in Buddhism, yoga, Transcendental Meditation, organic foods, fasting, and Judaism for the answers.

However, after reading and searching intensely on the subject of what I should do about the war, which none of the above answered, I finally found the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount that said,

Ye have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on the right cheek, turn to him the other, also,[4]

and later,

Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.[5]

The Early Christians suffered persecution under the Romans, but lived out their faith. They went to the lions and torturous deaths, and yet testified of their faith in Christ’s doctrine of love. My stand against the military ultimately came from the following the words of Christ. Even before I experienced salvation’s rebirth in Christ, I received moral strength from reading Jesus’ words in the New Testament, where yoga, meditation, and fasting had failed me.

Since you agree that there are absolutes and therefore absolute truth exists, then we must look at the different religions and their truth claims to see which one or ones actually lead us to the truth. Oddly enough, almost all the religious ideologies claim to be the only way to salvation, or the best way to salvation, or the old and forgotten way to salvation, or the newly-found again way to salvation.

But since almost every one of the religions in the world make the same claim and contradict one another in their claims, they cannot all be true. They may all have truth. But even a lie is often coated in truth in order to deceive. If something is true, then something that contradicts it cannot be true. 

In other words, something cannot be true and false at the same time, unless you play word games, like the above quote. But unclear mystical concepts are very common in India where their meaning of “reality” is that ‘reality’ is an “illusion,” and therefore, is not “real,” which leads to an illogical contradiction or anti-logic. In math we say, if y equals 3, then y cannot equal not 3. “God is love” and “God is the absence of love” cannot both be true because they are contradictory.

The Bible says that Christ was crucified and rose bodily from the dead.[6] The Koran says that Jesus

was not crucified but God let another person be substituted for Him. Therefore, there was no resurrection. The Bible and the Koran contradict one another. Both cannot be true. The statement that all religions basically teach the same thing, unconditional love, is not true. The Koran says we cannot really know God. Only by following the Five Pillars of Islam can a man have a chance of maybe gaining salvation upon death, unless he dies as a martyr in the cause of Islam. That is not to say that followers of Islam cannot be very loving people. 

In my visit to the Saharawi refugees in southern Algeria, I met a very loving Muslim man. His love and sensitivity towards me when I was sick and needed help was beyond anything I ever experienced in my relationship with people in Europe. But even though he was a loving and caring person that does not necessarily mean that the creed of Islam is true. The Bible says,

God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.[7]

I believe people like my Muslim friend who are really walking in love are close to God. Jesus said,

He that receives you, receives Me.[8]

I believe that although the circumstances made it hard for us to talk to him more intimately about Christ, by his receiving us so cordially, he was actually receiving Christ whom he knew we represented. In the same chapter where John says

God is love.[9]

He also says, 

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (or prove) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, but is that spirit of Antichrist.[10]

Are the spirits that people are channelling with in Reiki believers in Jesus Christ?

Jesus said, 

I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes unto the father, but by me.[11]

He said, 

If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness (and you believe it is light), how great is that darkness (because you believe the darkness is light).[12]

Apostle Paul said that even the Devil himself can appear as an angel of light.[13] Apostle John said that the “beast,” Satan’s man during the Last Days, would perform great signs and wonders so that the whole world would believe in him.[14]

From my experience and from reading the Bible, I am under the conviction that all the religions can be placed under two categories. The first are those that profess that one must obey certain rules, or do certain exercises, eat certain foods, etc, to be saved. The second are those who profess that man is incapable of saving himself and he needs a Savior.

In the first group, we can put false Christianity or Churchianity or religiosity in whatever form or sect it appears, plus all the other “isms,” sects, and spiritual movements of both East and West which teach us that we can save ourselves through our own efforts whether they be meditating, calling upon certain spiritual entities, using certain signs, symbols, or rocks, eating or not eating certain foods, performing certain rituals, wearing certain symbols, chanting certain lines, etc. Though these ‘isms’ may contain some truth, they profess to be the truth in order to gain converts and disciples. But the truth is they are not “the truth.”

The truth is that man is not capable of saving himself by his own self righteous efforts. That is why the world is like it is today. The world needs a Savior. We long for a Savior. Not just some ethereal concept of salvation. The Bible says we are made in God’s image.[15] Because of that we are able to think, communicate, use language, create and love. If God is just some “universal energy” or “life force” why should we have a conscience telling us the difference between right and wrong? 

The belief in the Christian God of the Bible gives ample reasons for why we can love, reason, judge, create, think and feel. The Bible says God is love.[16] But it also says He’s a consuming fire.[17] The Bible says that Jesus stands at the right hand of the Father [18] and that Jesus will judge the living and the dead.[19] When we die, we are not just reunited with the universal life force or energy; we are reunited with the Person of Christ, and with the departed saints who are surrounding us now like a great cloud of witnesses.[20]

It is not true that all the religions teach the same principle, unconditional love. The Bible does teach that God has an unconditional love for us. However, if we reject God’s love for us, He will not overrule our free will. If other faiths teach something similar, it’s like the example of the counterfeit bill. The counterfeit has to be pretty close to the real to pass off as the truth. Therefore, even false religious beliefs need to have some universal truths in their doctrines in order to be believed.

Jesus not only preached love, he lived and died in love for the sins of mankind, both you and me. We cannot save ourselves.[21] We need a Savior to cleanse us from our impurities. If we depend upon our own ability to cleanse ourselves, or the calling upon spirits or angels to do so, we will be found to fall short. Only Christ alone can redeem sin, the only begotten Son of God. Our own righteous efforts cannot save us or keep us saved. It’s Christ alone. The Bible says,

Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.[22]

No one else died for the sins of mankind and testified of the truth of His doctrine through the mighty miracles He did. His final resurrection from the dead confirmed His divinity. Death was swallowed up in victory. [23] Only Christ died and rose from the dead.[24] This is the foundation stone of Christianity. No other faith has such a firm foundation. The Bible also is a living book full of prophecies which Christ fulfilled. It is a book full with prophecies yet to be fulfilled.

I was young and energetic like you when I first experienced the love of God during a drug trip. At that epiphany experience I asked, “Is this is what Jesus was all about?” But since I did not know any real Christians, I looked elsewhere. The New Age Movement, which has only recently arrived in Portugal, had been made popular through the Beatles’ music. Eastern thought and Transcendental Meditation became the intellectual norm. I bought into it fully and filled my heart and mind with the popular New Age books of that era.

I meditated, did yoga, fasted, and ate organic food cooked only in a special way to gain my spirituality. But it was never enough. Even with all my effort it was never enough. I always came down from the high, got impatient, did something unloving, and became discouraged - especially with my inability to stay on that spiritual high. I couldn’t keep the spiritual high. I couldn’t maintain a state of righteousness. Thank God I found the truth was much simpler. I found true Christianity; I found the power of God’s Word, comfort of the Holy Spirit and the discernment and wisdom that knowing God’s Word gives.

Jesus said, 

My Word is truth.[25]

He said, 

If you continue in My Word, then... you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.[26]

But He also warned that many would come in His name saying they were Christ and deceive many.[27] [28] Paul tells us there will be a great falling away first and then shall the man of sin be revealed,[29] the Antichrist. Paul also admonished that even the Devil himself can appear as an angel of light.[30] And Jesus warned that the false Messiahs would do great and mighty miracles,[31] so we know that the Devil and his fallen angels can and do inspire their human followers on earth in the Last Days to perform seeming miracles.[32] Many people will be deceived.

Jesus said the love of many would grow colder.[33] He said men’s behavior would be similar to that of Sodom and Gomorrah[34] before its destruction. He said violence would increase and there would be wars, earthquakes and pestilences like Ebola and Aids, but that all these things were the beginning of sorrows and that things would get worse.[35] Mankind is indeed headed for some apocalyptic events that will shake the foundations of the world. Jesus said that unless He controlled and shortened the destruction mankind would cease to exist, that man would destroy himself.[36]

I believe Reiki is not the truth, but an imitation, a deception. The calling upon the angels of light is in fact the calling upon deceptive spirits who cannot fulfil their promises, but are sent to confuse and disorient the truth-seeker and keep them from the real truth of the Gospel. I have read various testimonies of former Reiki Masters who have, after a sad journey through Reiki, finally found Christ. Some have sent out warnings to others.

I will end here, my friend, to not go on too long. But I will attach two links for you to view on the subject. Catholic Leader Talks About REIKI[37]

and Why Christians Should Avoid Reiki and Energy Healing.[38] 

Or you might want to get the book at the left, The Reiki Danger: Healing that Harms by Eric S. Harz.[39] In my search for the truth, I eventually had no desire for those Eastern philosophies and exercises. The reason though was because I was full of the Word and had found the answers in my in depth study of the Scriptures. Would you be interested in studying more from the Bible? Jesus said if you do,

the truth would set you free.[40]

Will you take up the challenge to “continue in His Word?”[41]

Let me know! We could study the Word together. If you would like to watch a longer video on the subject of Reiki, I have included another one below.[42]

 (End of letter to a Reiki Master)

At this point I would like to apologize if some of the chapters repeat information discussed in previous chapters. Some chapters were written as independent items which I later thought worthwhile to include in the text. Rather than do a lot of editing, I have left them pretty much as they were. But hopefully by repeating the same information, it will make it easier for you to remember.

To go back to the previous chapter click HERE

To go to the next chapter click HERE

To go to the index of chapters for the book click HERE

Notes:

[1] Matthew 5:6
[2] Jeremiah 29:13

[3] Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

[4] Matthew 5:38-39
[5] Matthew 5:43-44

[6] 1Corinthians 15:3-5 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then the twelve:

[7] 1John 4:16

[8] Matthew 10:40
[9] 1John 4:8
[10] 1John 4:1-2
[11] John 14:6
[12] Matthew 6:23 …If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! (paraphrased in text)
[13] 2Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

14] Revelation 13:13-14 … and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon (the Devil) which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?....

[15] Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

[16] 1John 4:8

[17] Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

[18] Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens open, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

[19] Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick (living) and dead.

[20] Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

[21] Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

[22] Titus 3:5

[23] 1Corinthians 15:54
[24] 1Corinthians 15:3-4
[25] John 17:17
[26] John 8:31-32
[27] Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

[28] Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

[29] 2Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you be any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

[30] 2Corinthians 11:14

[31] Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

[32] Revelation 13:13-14 And he doeth great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceives them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast….

[33] Matthew 24:12

[34] Luke 17:28-30 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fired and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

[35] Matthew 24:6-8 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; ss that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

[36] Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

[37] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5C7t_XEAdU
[38] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR6Wus-F6j4&ab_channel=DoreenVirtue (accessed 09/2020)
[39] https://www.amazon.com/Reiki-Danger-Healing-that-Harms/dp/0966830105
[40] John 8:32
[41] John 8:31

[42] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkiNFjzJ6y4&ab_channel=DoreenVirtue (accessed 09/2020)

To go back to the previous chapter click HERE

To go to the next chapter click HERE

To go to the index of chapters for the book click HERE

Read More