In Reply to: Re: Deceiving spirits posted by Rocky on June 29, 2003 at 00:08:12:
This is a good theme for a church service but I wonder how much would preachers really be able to speak of. I live in a society where spiritual connections are subdues and not mainstream Christian but other cultures in the world are different. Starting with predominantly catholic cultures to others in the far east, a good portion of that world believe in spiritual beings and that daily event can be affected by the supernatural. They may not call them miracles but luck and are normally aware that some "spirits" can influence things. I am not sure if Islam or Judaism see the world that same way. Modern Christianity (which doesn't necessarily include Catholicism) looks at those things at arms length and with many qualifications. Not that it's right or wrong, just different than the way a good portion of the world sees daily events. But about The Family, Berg went into spiritism with open arms. He and Maria played with spirits and lost their compass (if they ever had it). Explorers they were but discovered a world of darkness and called it light, the blind are still following that path. Being Christian, or believing in Jesus Christ is not sure proof of protection as many Christians decide not to be under that protection. Some are even unaware that there is a spiritual realm and that it is more important and permanent that the physical one.
I wonder if, on a way, they are more protected than those of us who know that the spiritual life is real and that spirits do come around us and do things. After all, we are commanded to test the spirits and discern spiritually, etc. and the more we know and the more we are aware of, the more responsible we are, or will be. no wonder we are also told to walk circumspectly, to pray without ceasing and to overcome evil with good.
Going back to our initial topic of prayer, in a world that is highly materialistic, it is more difficult to see physical manifestations of the spirit but if we are able to see them, we should beware and careful not to fall on that path of deceit Berg and Maria tried to lead us into. I, for one, want to keep the guide who knows the way and can tell me. He's never fail me yet.