Thirty-one

Recognition and Rewards

“You did not mention me in your newsletter. I did as

much as anyone else.”

No question, I had inadvertently left his name out.

I apologized and righted the slight during the

announcements the very next Sunday morning. But

he was not there to hear it. In fact, I have not seen him

since.

         

There is something in my flesh that loves to be

noticed and admired. I want to be appreciated,

talked about, lifted up, and applauded. How I enjoy

recognition. The flesh cries out for it, yet, God’s glory

will not be shared. So many of us have fallen so very

far when we were so very well known.

The gospel preacher, as anyone else, must face the

desire (need even) to be noticed and recognized. Some

will say these are normal needs and perfectly

acceptable. In any case, a great deal of energy goes

into recognizing people’s efforts and contributions.

What recognition does the servant deserve? We are

called to be servants of Jesus; Paul referred to himself

as “a slave of Jesus.” It is biblically legitimate to refer

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to all Christians as “slaves of Christ.” (see Ephesians

6:6) What kind of recognition is due the slave?

There were some religious people of Jesus’ day

who liked to be noticed. They wore special garments

that marked them as religious people. They made long

prayers in public, and Jesus said, “They have received

their reward in full” (Matthew 6:5). Not much of a

reward, is it? —to be honored by people for appearance

and performance. Preachers of the gospel must not

relish dressing in religious garments and esteeming the

“salutations in the market place”.

Praise and adulation sought from people seem so

unbecoming the gospel minister. I do not see in

Scripture that we are called to seek attention and

recognition. Paul said that apostles had “become the

scum of the earth, the refuse of the world” (1

Corinthians 4:13). Paul may well have had a need for

recognition but he saw it for what it was—something

inconsistent with servant-hood. Pastors, as well as

apostles, may have the same view of themselves. The

call to be a slave of Jesus is the highest of callings and

is its own reward.

People can be manipulated because of their desire

for attention and recognition. At Miller Avenue I

attempt to avoid using recognition processes in such

ways. However, people will be recognized in the

normal course of things without intentional promotion.

Service done in the name of Jesus and for His glory

may, in fact, be recognized. We know this by looking

at the history of the Church. Many faithful men and

women are yet recognized for their service to Christ,

long after their death. Certainly this is the exception

rather than the rule. Most Christians live out their

entire lives in obscurity. Many Christians have labored

long years in mission fields with little outward results.

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Their names are lost to us today and more than likely

lost to the generation that immediately followed them.

In most instances heroes of the faith (from a heavenly

point of view) were unknown during their own time

and perhaps were even despised or ignored, but they

continued to labor. I doubt these served Jesus in order

to obtain recognition or attention. The Christian worker

takes on the “easy” yoke of Jesus for the sake of Jesus

Himself and for His glory. Striving for recognition and

earthly reward is vain and in vain.

People’s need for recognition may become a

problem in the church. When a system of rewarding

service is in place, people may become confused about

why they are engaging in ministry. This may seem to

be a harsh analysis. I must admit that it has not always

been true, in my own personal experience, that

recognition processes become problematic.

The “reward and punishment” process is a

powerful one. When people are rewarded and

recognized for the time and/or money they give they

may come to depend on that. If the reward system fails

somehow, this person may feel punished. To be quite

clear, I have found some workers in the church will

“pick up their marbles and go home” if they do not

receive what they consider to be sufficient reward.

When someone begins to serve in the church I wonder

if they will continue if they are unrecognized for it.

So many of the ministries of the church are not

public. Few of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as they are

expressed, are public in their application. The ministry

of administration, helps, mercy, these and others are

largely behind- the-scene ministries where there may

be no public recognition at all. The person whose

service is done to honor God is the kind of person a

pastor appreciates working with. To make the point

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one more time, people who have a constant need for

attention and recognition are people to beware of,

because they will never receive enough. It must be

enough that we are counted worthy to share in the

ministry of Jesus simply for the privilege of being able

to honor our Lord with our lives.

For a few years I was not in ministry, and I found

that to serve the Lord was the one thing that I loved to

do above all things. To be able to preach the gospel, to

teach the Scripture, to serve other Christians—these

are the precious things. And whether we are recognized

is not essential. If attention and recognition come, so

be it, if it does not come, then with that we need to be

content.

         

  Do you know what it is to be “slighted?”

  How well do you like attention and recognition?

  Do you feel I went too far in depreciating

recognition?

 Astrology

Astrology falls into the category of fortune telling or divination. The core of it is that the movements and alignments of the planets determine how one is to live day to day. 

Horoscopes, also call astrological charts (see more information about the types in the sections taken from Wikipedia at the end of this chapter) drawn up by astrologers, tell you what to do and not do. Here now are horoscopes for July the 16th and the 23rd. 

First is the horoscope from the Marin County newspaper, the Independent Journal, for the July 16, 2022, for Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 23), no astrologer is named. 

Actions speak louder than words. Be mindful of others and do whatever it takes to make a difference. Setting an example for those around you will discourage people from criticizing or complaining. 

Then from the San Francisco Chronicle, again for July 16 for Libra (Sept 23-Oct. 23). The astrologer is Georgian Nicols. 

The mood of today is completely different, in particular, you want to get better organized and accomplish a lot today. Tonight: Work. 

Here now is a second example: for Leo (July 23–August 22) from the Independent Journal, dated July 22, 2022, no astrologer named. 

You must go it alone if you want to get things done your way. The path of least resistance will tempt you when you know sticking up for yourself is the better choice. Don’t let others limit you. 

The same day, but from the San Francisco Chronical, and the horoscope is by Georgian Nicols, July 22, 2022, and for Leo (July 23–August 22): 

Although you are inclined to work alone or behind the scenes now, today you have strong opinions about banking issues and anything that must be divided. Tonight: Take stock. 135 

Neither set of horoscopes bear any resemblance to each other. And they, the four of them, are so vague, they could be interpreted any number of ways and apply to many kinds of people in many kinds of lifestyles and occasions. And this is the draw, this vagueness—it simply blinds a person to thinking that this whole thing might be phony. 

You will have to take our word for it, but after reading horoscopes in these two papers that come to our house daily, the same disjointedness is repeated over and again. And the concepts are so vague, that if a person committed to following the horoscopes could find ways to say, okay I am paying attention to this sound counsel, they would be blind to the deception. 

Over time, one becomes captive to the daily horoscopes, and a cultic mentality can set in, which is as dangerous as if you joined a Satan-worshiping church. 

Two striking facts 

The first fact is that astrology developed at a time prior to the discovery of Uranus and Pluto. There are nine planets not seven planets, but astrology is built upon seven planets. This is essentially ignored by astrologers and those who read and follow their daily horoscopes. 

Then there is the attempt to say that Jesus Himself endorses astrology. Here is that attempt: (author is unknown) 

Christ himself talked about the importance of astrology when he said in Luke 21:25, “There shall be signs in the sun, moon, and stars.” Jesus even discusses with the disciples the importance of astrology and how it can be used as a sign of his return. 

The passage appealed to is Luke 21:25-26, which reads: 

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of that is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” 

This statement from Jesus has to do with His second coming at the end of the age, which ushers in the day of Judgment, one single day. And on that very last day of the existence of the universe, even the stars and the moon will be impacted. But it is readily apparent that this is no testimony by Jesus that there is any truth to astrology. 

Let us now take a look at a few biblical passages that speak to the issue. 

Deuteronomy 18:9–12 “Abominable Practices”: 

[9] “When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. [10] There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an 136 

offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer [11] or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, [12] for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. (ESV) 

Acts 16:16–18 “Paul and Silas in Prison”: 

[16] As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. [17] She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” [18] And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. (ESV) 

God, who inspired the writing of the above Biblical material, created humans and knows our frailties and tendencies and how prone we are to being captivated by evil. He is warning us to stay away from that which harms us and takes our attention and dependency away from Him. 

Final Thoughts 

Probably, most people who read their horoscopes do not take particular care to apply it to their daily lives. Perhaps it is nothing more than a custom, something fun and interesting to read but not much more than this. 

However, there are those who are committed to it, believe there is some esoteric substance and power behind it, and attempt to apply it to their lives. 

But it goes further than this; astrology is a door opener to other more dangerous forms of the occult—everything from Reiki, Ancestor medicine, visiting psychics, channelers, mediums, Tarot card reading, and more. They are then vulnerable to being invaded by demonic spirits. In which case, the only hope is to have these evil, demonic spirits cast out of them. And in our day, it is increasingly difficult to find anyone who does this form of ministry. 

Excerpts from Wikipedia 

Wikipedia July 23, 2022 

Some astrologers write personalized horoscopes using a person’s rising and moon sign, while others use the solar house system to make more general readings (these are what usually comprise newspaper columns).137 

How do astrologers predict horoscopes? 

Astrologers print horoscopes in newspapers that are personalized by birth date. These horoscopes make predictions in people’s personal lives, describe their personalities, and give them advice; all according to the position of astronomical bodies. Mar 23, 2013 

Average Salary 

According to the Simply Hired website, astrologists bring home an annual salary of $42,000, as of this publication. Aug 5, 2019 

Where do astrologers get their information? 

Astrology normally takes its data from a chart. This could be the image of the earth and the encompassing heavenly bodies and planets at a predefined time. Apr 16, 2020 

Wikipedia, July 17, 2022 

Astrology is a pseudoscience that claims to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the movements and relative positions of celestial objects. Astrology has been practiced since at least the 2nd millennium BCE and has its roots in calendrical systems used to predict seasonal shifts and to interpret celestial cycles as signs of divine communications. Most, if not all, cultures have attached importance to what they observed in the sky, and some—such as the Hindus, Chinese, and the Maya—developed elaborate systems for predicting terrestrial events from celestial observations. Western astrology, one of the oldest astrological systems still in use, can trace its roots to 19th–17th century BCE Mesopotamia, from where it spread to Ancient Greece, Rome, the Arab world and eventually Central and Western Europe. Contemporary Western astrology is often associated with systems of horoscopes that purport to explain aspects of a person’s personality and predict significant events in their lives based on the positions of celestial objects; the majority of professional astrologers rely on such systems. 

Throughout most of its history, astrology was considered a scholarly tradition and was common in academic circles, often in close relation with astronomy, alchemy, meteorology, and medicine. It was present in political circles and is mentioned in various works of literature, from Dante Alighieri and Geoffrey Chaucer to William Shakespeare, Lope de Vega, and Calderón de la Barca. During the Enlightenment, however, astrology disappeared as an area of legitimate scientific pursuit. Following the end of the 19th century and the wide-scale adoption of the scientific method, researchers have successfully challenged astrology on both theoretical and experimental grounds and have shown it to have no scientific validity or explanatory power. Astrology thus 138 

lost its academic and theoretical standing, and common belief in it has largely declined, until a resurgence starting in the 1960s. 

Ancient 

St. Augustine (354–430) believed that the determinism of astrology conflicted with the Christian doctrines of man’s free will and responsibility, and God not being the cause of evil, but he also grounded his opposition philosophically, citing the failure of astrology to explain twins who behave differently although conceived at the same moment and born at approximately the same time. 

The scientific community rejects astrology as having no explanatory power for describing the universe and considers it a pseudoscience. Scientific testing of astrology has been conducted, and no evidence has been found to support any of the premises or purported effects outlined in astrological traditions. There is no proposed mechanism of action by which the positions and motions of stars and planets could affect people and events on Earth that does not contradict basic and well understood aspects of biology and physics. 

From Dr. Christopher S. Baird 

Does the position of astronomical bodies affect a person’s life (beyond basic weather)? 

No. The position and orientation of the sun relative to earth does cause seasons. Anyone who has shoveled snow off his walk in January when he would rather be at the beach can tell you that the astronomical bodies definitely affect our lives. Solar flares cause electromagnetic disturbances on earth that can disrupt satellites and even cause blackouts. The position of the moon causes ocean tides. If you are a fisher, the position of the moon can have a significant effect on your livelihood. The solar wind causes beautiful aurora, and sunlight itself is the main source of energy for our planet. But all of these effects fall under the umbrella of basic weather, not astrology. Astrology purports that astronomical bodies have influence on people’s lives beyond basic weather patterns, depending on their birth date. This claim is scientifically false. Numerous scientific studies have disproven that astronomical bodies affect people’s lives according to their birth date 

Wikipedia, July 16, 2022 

A horoscope (or other commonly used names for the horoscope in English include natal chart, astrological chart, astro-chart, celestial map, sky-map, star-chart, cosmogram, vitasphere, radical chart, radix, chart wheel or simply chart) is an astrological chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, astrological aspects and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person’s birth. The word horoscope is derived from the 139 

Greek words ōra and scopos meaning “time” and “observer” (horoskopos, pl. horoskopoi, or “marker(s) of the hour”). It is used as a method of divination regarding events relating to the point in time it represents, and it forms the basis of the horoscopic traditions of astrology. Horoscope columns are often featured in print and online newspapers. 

There are no scientific studies that have shown support for the accuracy of horoscopes, and the methods used to make interpretations are pseudo-scientific. In modern scientific framework no known interaction exists that could be responsible for the transmission of the alleged influence between a person and the position of stars in the sky at the moment of birth. In all tests completed, keeping strict methods to include a control group and proper blinding between experimenters and subjects, horoscopes have shown no effect beyond pure chance. Furthermore, some psychological tests have shown that it is possible to construct personality descriptions and foretelling generic enough to satisfy most members of a large audience simultaneously, referred to as the Forer or Barnum effect.

Thirty

On Helping Others

“Hello pastor, my children and I are at the Fireside

Motel and we are stuck. We’re trying to get to my

parent’s home in Portland and the car won’t work. We

haven’t eaten in two days and we’re out of money. Can

you help?”

“Kent, I need about $400 to pay the rent. I’ll be

glad to do some work around the church if I can have

the money.”

“Pastor, my neighbors are out of work and their

kids need food money. Do we have a benevolence

fund?”

Every pastor is familiar with requests like those

above. For the small church pastor, especially, these

are some of the most agonizing of all situations.

         

The subject of this chapter is how giving might be

a blessing and a ministry, not a curse. Here are a

few ideas on helping others.

Miller Avenue Baptist Church is located on Miller

Avenue in Mill Valley, one of the main streets of our

town (about 13,000 people). It is a busy street and I

keep the front door open. I open it up in the morning

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For Pastors

and I close it in the evening. Anyone may come in and

pray and read the Bible. There is a small table in the

foyer with a rack that is generally filled with free

literature along with some Bibles.

Our building is small. My office can easily be seen

from the foyer; it has the word “Pastor” over the door.

The result is people will occasionally knock on my

office door hoping to receive some kind of assistance.

In times past we had a pastor’s or benevolence fund.

We put $50.00 a month into it. By the end of the first

week, generally, the fund was exhausted. If the church

committed $500.00 a month to a benevolence fund,

the money would be gone in a very short time.

Let me illustrate why I feel a benevolence fund is

problematic. The given: $50 (or whatever) to give out

each month. A person asks for some help because they

are in desperate trouble. The $50 is now gone. The

treasurer will not replenish the fund until the first part

of the coming month. Then another person comes in,

someone in the church for instance, and now the pastor

has to report that the money is gone. What suspicions

or feelings of rejection might be generated in the mind

of that member of the church family?

Our church council gives me permission to give

up to $100.00 away without their approval if there is a

genuine need. (I recently exceeded that amount and

got into some trouble.) But I do not like to have such

authority. It is so difficult to determine the authenticity

of a situation since there usually is no time or reliable

means to make inquiries. And certainly, there is no way

to run all of the requests for money though the church

council. If the council investigated all the requests for

benevolence, there would be little if any time left for

other matters.

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On Helping Others

My solution is to only give my money away. I

generally have a five or ten-dollar bill, or maybe even

a twenty-dollar bill, in my desk that I can give. It is

very hard for me to give tithes and offerings to people

who could just as easily be telling me a story. But I will

give a little of my money away.

And I give it away; I do not make a loan. Giving a

loan, particularly to somebody in the church, is a first

class mistake! People, now in debt, have a cloud and a

burden hanging over them. Additionally, people who

get themselves into financial trouble often have that

need exist for quite some time—it is rarely a onetime

fix.

It has been my unhappy experience that a debtor

will leave the church with nothing more than a note

saying they will pay the money back as quickly as

possible. I’ve had that happen enough that I learned

not to loan money. When money is handed out to meet

a need, it should be a gift, whether the money is given

to a person in the church or to a stranger who knocks

on the door.

I don’t mind giving away a five or ten-dollar bill.

And I’ve heard everything: transmission broken down,

engine blown up, electricity turned off, no food in the

house, operation desperately needed, severe toothache,

on and on. My money is not going to make much of a

difference in such a case. I do have a list of

organizations, public and private, that may be able to

provide additional assistance. But I do not make a

judgement on the worthiness of the need. Even when

I think I am being taken, I will often hand over a fivedollar

bill.

Sometimes I must simply say to a person in need,

“I wish I could help”. And I mean those words; I wish

I could fix the world and make all the pain and suffering

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For Pastors

go away. I am doing little more than taking note of the

person’s need and expressing the desire that if I could

I would do something to alleviate the problem.

I set aside roughly $50.00 a month of my own

money that I use for either offerings (giving to people

who ask for it) or I will buy things so I don’t have to go

to the treasurer all the time. Very few people know I

do this, but it has served me well for 15 years.

My favorite way of helping others is to do practical

things. Later I suggest that pastors have a pickup truck;

indeed, one of my specialties is moving and hauling

things with my truck. Sometimes a seemingly small

thing can be a great blessing. I recall a person who

needed to take dozens of plastic bags full of garbage

and other debris to the dump. The job, completed in

an hour, turned out to be a great time of fellowship.

Experienced pastors understand the “ministry of

presence”. Being there, only being present, is

sometimes the entire ministry that is needed, or

wanted. In my earlier years I was a persistent advice

giver. Now my aim is to avoid giving advice even when

it is asked for. All my supposed wisdom and profound

insight may serve only to get in the way and obscure

issues. My concern is to listen and reflect back what I

hear. Pastors are not therapists or social workers though

we dabble in both; it is better to be a loving and caring

friend who can lift needs up to the throne of God in

heartfelt prayer.

We will not be able to fill every need. The reality

is we may not be able to help even in desperate

situations. After we have done all we can we may yet

feel like we’ve failed. Hardly a week goes by but I am

confronted with a sense of inadequacy in the face of

human need. I can’t sell the building nor move

everyone into the parsonage. I am learning to face my

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On Helping Others

limitations and, at the same time, not succumb to guilt

or despair. We will always have the poor and hurting

with us, and we will do our best for them, as we are

able.

         

It is probably clear that I am far from an expert when it

comes to human need.

  Do you have ideas on how to strengthen this chapter,

perhaps some ideas on dealing with a sense of failure

and inadequacy when we have no resources?

 Medium Tyler Henry: Is This Real?

We are starting the remaining chapters of this book with this piece on Medium Tyler Henry, because we believe you will find in it most of the issues that cause us alarm regarding occult spiritual activities in our modern world. 

In the April 3, 2022 edition of Marin County’s Independent Journal was an article about Tyler Henry, who “says he talks to the dead.” The title of Kelli Skye Fadroske’s piece in the newspaper is “Medium has a message: Be Skeptical.” Her email address is kfadroski@scng.com. 

In 2016, Tyler began an E! Television series titled, “Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry.” He wanted to advertise his psychic abilities, which he said began when he was ten years old. In the same year he published a “memoir,” Between Two Worlds: Lessons From the Other Side. 

This now twenty-six-year-old has written a book titled, Here & Hereafter. On the front cover is a subtitle which reads, “How wisdom from the departed can transform your life.” Here he presents lessons he learned from thousands of departed persons he has encountered and connected with. He also describes how he regularly practices meditation and trusts in his own “intuition,” which is not described in the newspaper article. However, he admits that “it can be difficult to really get a sense of that kind of inner voice.” 

Tyler relies upon video and audio technology to conduct his readings during the present pandemic, which does not “cause much interference when it comes to communication with those who have crossed over.” 

A medium or a channeler—these titles are very close to the same thing— will enter into a trance kind of state, by means of any number of meditation techniques. This state of consciousness may be referred to as an altered state of consciousness or a shamanistic state of consciousness. And this is what Tyler Henry does. 

We do not deny that he is hearing voices—he is—but the issue is, to whom or what do the voices belong, and what is the substance of these departed or crossed over ones? 15 

Tyler’s techniques have been practiced for many centuries by mediums and channelers, so nothing new here. Contact with loved ones who have died is what Tyler offers, and he is much sought after, and large crowds gather. And it is easy to understand why. The grief process can be devastating, and the chance to speak with a dead loved one is inviting and enticing. Not only comfort is sought for, but the departed can also reveal special knowledge. 

“Is this real?” Is a legitimate question to ask. The medium goes into a trance state, and the best can do so quickly. Suddenly, the voice of the dead friend, brother, sister, child, mother, father, wife, husband, partner, etc., is speaking through the medium’s mouth. The voice sounds just like the voice of the person sought for and can reveal things that only the dead person could possibly know. It is incredibly convincing. And Tyler Henry is very good at it. 

A Challenge 

Reader: you may wonder what is wrong with this scenario or service provided by Tyler and his ilk. Here it is—contact with a loved one, assurance that the departed one is okay, which gives hope that this may be something others can experience as well. The promise of an eternal future existence is right there. 

We challenge you to look at another point of view. 

More than 3,500 years ago, a Jewish leader named Moses wrote the following: 

Deuteronomy 18:9–14 

[9] “When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. [10] There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer [11] or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, [12] for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. [13] You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, [14] for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this. (ESV) ¹ 

1 Also see: Leviticus 19:31, 20:6, 27; 1 Samuel 28:3,7,8,9; 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; I Chronicles 10:13; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 8:19; 19:3; 29:4.

“Necromancer” and “medium” are terms referring to someone who contacts dead people. This is what Tyler Henry does, but he does not realize that he 16 

is being misled. Not that he is a charlatan, a deceiver, a con man, a cheat; none of these things. What he experienced and thought to be contact with the dead was so overwhelming, real, and powerful that he could not help but get on board. And he sincerely believes he is helping grieving people. 

So just what is going on here? Tyler Henry, and all those who practice the occult art that he does, are actually making contact with demonic spirits whose boss is no less than Satan. In some way or another, Tyler Henry became indwelt by a demon, likely more than one, which made it possible to move into a trance state and make contact with what he thought were actually departed loved ones but were in fact evil spirits doing an impersonation. Who would not be fooled? 

Reader, it is totally legitimate to ask, “Well, how do you know this?” Following are four reasons. 

Four Reasons 

One, the Scripture, and just the Deuteronomy passage is enough, but there is more in the Scripture, and these passages are listed in footnote #1. 

Two, there is an incredible story of a person named Simon, and this account is in Acts 8:9-24. He was a magician who amazed people, but something was very wrong. Check out the passage yourself. 

Three, down through the centuries Christians have cast out demons in the name and power of Jesus Christ. This “exorcizing” (Greek “ekballein”) was a major feature of Jesus’ ministry while on earth. 

Four, during the 50 plus years of ministry so far, we have cast hundreds of demons out of hundreds of people. Find three books we have written on the subject wherever you buy books: A Manual of Demonology and the Occult, Deliver Us from Evil: How Jesus Casts Out Demons Today, and Deliverance Handbook: A Guide to Casting Out Demons for Today’s Christian. 

Kent explains how this came to be: 

My college degrees were in psychology, and I intended to be a school psychologist. During my first years at a theological seminary when I would hear the professors speaking about a devil and demons, I thought to myself, “Well, they just do not understand elements of mental illness.” All this changed when, beginning in 1967, I began preaching Jesus to those of the beat-hip generation in San Francisco’s Haight/Ashbury District. Here many were involved in weird religions, some openly practicing occult arts, and even those who were members of Anton LaVey’s Church of Satan. I met LaVey’s teenage daughter, who became a Christian, and on two occasions she took me to meet her father, who was living in an old Victorian house on California Street, painted black. There I came face to face with the presence of evil. No longer could I dismiss the reality 17 

I saw in the Bible: Satan and demons were real. 

Then, when Zondervan Publishing House published my master’s thesis, A Manual of Demonology and the Occult in 1973, people came from all over the country and from foreign countries as well, hoping to have demons cast out of them. So many came looking for help that we trained twelve couples to do the deliverance ministry. This ‘work’ still goes on today, but thankfully to a much lesser degree. I think, however, this is about to change. 

The Occult Awakening 

There have been several periods in American history when there was a revival of interest in the occult, with people flocking to seances, fortune tellers, practitioners of various forms of witchcraft, crystal gazers, tarot card readers, mediums, and much more. We are in such a phase again now, but it appears to be far larger than ever before in American history. 

Church attendance is declining sharply, atheism is headed downhill also, but the mediums, channelers, life coaches who use occult approaches (though they say it is all about mindfulness) are on the incline. After all, we are spiritual creatures, and we are attracted to that which is beyond explanation. Directly encountering that which is other-worldly is a powerful magnet. And once a person thinks they are hearing from and communicating with a dead relative, lover, friend, etc., they are likely to be converted through sheer amazement to belief in the veracity of what they have experienced, but it will be an encounter with the worst of all consequences. And what is this? It is dwelling forever and ever in that place where the spirits are, and it is not heaven. 

Unbeknownst to those involved in this practice, that last statement is the whole deal. That old serpent is aggressively prowling about looking to devour as many as possible, and its powers are great, magical, mystical, and ultra-deceiving. Buyer beware! 

Is this real? 

Tyler Henry knows what he is engaged in is real. At this point, however, he does not see that the spirituality he experiences is evil, and by that we mean demonic, powered and directed by Satan. 

A warning must be sounded, and the warning is that mediums like Tyler Henry are involved with demons, which will forever separate them from being with our Creator God, thus bringing more unsuspecting people into the worst possible scenario. 

We are hoping and praying that one day Tyler Henry will be preaching this same message, empowered by the Holy Spirit of God, and will warn people away from the demonic practices of the occult and into the praising and rejoicing of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Twenty-nine

On Being a Counselor

“Kent, remember what I told you about my mother.

You’ve got to promise me that you will never tell

another living soul. I’ll just die if you do.”

“I assure you, I will never mention it to anyone,

not even my wife.”

(One month later.)

“Kent, now my husband knows. You must have told

him because no one else knew. How could you? I’ll

never trust you again.”

         

My college major was psychology. I left a graduate

program in counseling to attend Golden Gate

Baptist Theological Seminary. It seemed natural

enough to combine pastoral ministry and counseling;

I perceived of myself as a pastor/counselor.

Following my involvement in the “Jesus

Movement” I developed a counseling ministry, in the

70’s particularly, called the Marin Christian Counseling

Center. Christian counseling was a subject of great

interest during that particular time and, of course, it

continues to be. As a pastor with counseling skills I

thought I would be able to help people overcome

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emotional and spiritual based problems. For ten years

I spent four days a week with as many as six, seven,

sometimes eight appointments a day. All kinds of

people made appointments—people in the church,

people outside the church, Christians, and non-

Christians. I never charged a penny.

People would reveal their innermost secrets, deep

dark stuff, sometimes details of their lives they really

hadn’t intended to divulge; it would just come out. Too

often I would know way too much.

During the counseling process itself revelations of

past events did not seem to pose any threat. However,

I now had information that might prove damaging

should it get out. Even the closest relationships are

subject to strain, and sensitive, personal information

disclosed in a counseling situation may be problematic

once the strength of the counseling bond diminishes.

This is especially applicable for pastors who do indepth

(more than simple pastoral ministry) counseling

with members of the congregation.

I have discovered that when people go through a

life crisis and disclose intimate details of their lives,

though it seems okay at the time, when the crisis is

past, they may be embarrassed and uncomfortable in

the pastor’s presence. It may even be necessary for the

person to find another church. This has happened to

me more than once. Therefore, I have determined not

to be a counselor or confessor if I can avoid it.

People will confess their sins and if such repentance

arises naturally out of the Holy Spirit’s conviction, well

and good. But to set oneself up as a qualified counselor,

one ready to hear and handle the deep, dark,

complicated things—I think this is a mistake for the

pastor.

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On Being a Councelor

We are called into the pastoral ministry not into

the work of the psychotherapist, analyst, or counselor.

When, however, someone lays a problem before me

and asks for advice or counsel I respond, “I am not a

counselor, I am not a therapist, and I receive no

compensation for counseling.” (I ought also to disclose

that I have neither a license nor malpractice insurance.)

It is not unusual for a person who is not a member

of my congregation to offer to pay me for my time. My

answer is: “There is no charge. If you want to make a

donation to the church, you can.” And I will only say

that if absolutely pressed. I prefer that no money

change hand at all.

Pastoral ministry is what I will do, however. I can

tell a person what the Scripture says about a particular

issue, I can pray with and for somebody, I can relate

some of the things I have learned in my life and

ministry, but beyond that I hope not to go. I will listen

carefully, I will actively share what I feel is helpful,

and I may be able to recommend someone who would

be better qualified and trained than myself.

And so it is that I don’t want to know too much

about an individual. I want to be the pastor/teacher. I

do not want to be the counselor. Pastoral psychology

and counseling are taught in our seminaries and Bible

colleges and I am not saying that is an error or wrong.

I’m saying simply that as a pastor I would rather not

engage in it.

As I have already stated, I get to know more than I

ever wanted to know acting as a counselor, but

secondly, it is an extraordinarily time-consuming

process. Not only does counseling require large blocks

of time, it is emotionally draining as well. To hear of

the pain, suffering, and grief of others is a difficult thing.

What is it that is said, “Psychiatrists have the highest

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suicide rate of any profession.” Whether this is true or

not I don’t know, but I know there is an incredibly

high attrition rate for people who engage in

psychotherapeutic work.

The job of the pastoral minister is to preach the

gospel and help those who are converted to grow up

into the stature of the fullness of Jesus. And people

are to work out their own salvation with fear and

trembling. I don’t want to have a person develop a

relationship with me that they really need to have with

Jesus. I would rather have them view Jesus as their

counselor. Jesus is the Counselor, the Advocate, the

Paraclete, the One who comes alongside to help. I

would rather see an individual develop a strong

devotional life and learn to trust the Lord to be their

counselor. I am then free to be the pastor/teacher.

         

  Do you want to function as a counselor?

  Do you perceive a difference between pastoral

counsel and the counsel of a licensed therapist?

  Have you experienced the betrayal of confidence?

 Crystal Healing

The focus of this chapter is on a book by Alana Fairchild titled, Crystal Masters 333: Initiation with the divine power of heaven & earth, Blue Angel Publishing, 2014, and by going to her website, www.alanafairchild.com, it will be plain that she is fully qualified to present crystal healing. She is, however, different from many of those who identify healing with crystals. She connects with crystals via ascended masters. More on this later. 

On the back cover of Alana’s book is the following:

YOU HAVE WISE SPIRITUAL GUIDES FROM THE

MYSTICAL WORLD OF CRYSTALS AND ASCENDED MASTERS.

THEY ARE READY TO HELP YOU ON YOUR

PATH OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH NOW.

Notice the phrase “Spiritual guides” above. Notice also the phrase “Ascended Masters.” These are very real entities, but they are demonic spirits who are under the authority and control of the prince of demons, Satan. Alana is bowing down to the “god of this world” who has blinded the minds of those who submit to these guides and masters (See 2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

On the inside cover of Alana’s book is the following:

SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE

FROM THE CRYSTAL MASTERS

We, your guiding Ascended Masters, love you without condition

We help you remember and fulfill your divine life mission

We remind you to let go of your doubt and trust yourself completely

We help you remember that you, just like us, are divinity

By use of crystals one can be in touch with divine spiritual entities, and the 128 

reader must ask, what is the nature of these entities? Are they divine, angel like, highly evolved spirits, or something else? Our testimony is that they are demonic spirits pretending to be something divine and desirable. 

And how does it all work, you must ask? Supposedly, it is quite simple. All it takes is obtaining a crystal, trusting in the spiritual power flowing from it, placing it just so, and using your psychic intuition, along with meditation and mindfulness—you are now opened to receive spiritual beings, ascended masters, which are in reality evil spirits. 

We reach to you from within your own heart 

We are always with you, never apart 

We guide you to heal yourself and in doing so, the earth 

You are a sacred mid-wife, helping her rebirth 

Yes indeed, within you now, even at the core, one’s heart. And they will never leave you either. Sounds good? The only way they will leave is if someone who is a follower of Jesus, in the name and power of Jesus Christ, casts the demonic spirits out. 

We speak to you through signs, through intuition and dreams 

We call you to trust in what you feel, all is not as it seems 

We ask you to trust in the divine plan that is at play 

Surrender into it now, let the divine have its way 

The weird cacophony of the demons inside one’s body and brain distorts reality, but one is to trust in the divine plan. It can be said that demons are divine in that they are not human or animal or anything else that is tangible. Demons intend to crush and pervert human beings, since we are made in the image of God. 

It is your job to be all that you can possibly be 

To live, to feel all that you feel, to know you are free 

Choose love over fear, we’ll help you if you ask 

We are always supporting you in your divine life task 

Sounds good? Makes sense? It does, but only if one has a relationship with the Lord Jesus, but such is not the case. Instead, it is a relationship with one or more demons. (However many there may be in a person, there is usually one head demon, the first one to enter into a person who had opened up to the demonic kingdom.)129 

Over the course of four decades now, we have helped those who have unwittingly involved themselves in occultic/psychic processes and who have sought out deliverance from them. Very often, it is communicated to the one indwelt by demons that they will never leave and that no one can make them leave. This is a profound lie. We have found that, if a person begins to seek help, the demonic attacks pick up steam, since the demons know their time is now limited, and they want to derail the deliverance process. 

Fairchild writes that, to become an ascended master means to agree to be an initiate, and when that happens, one is no longer subject to “the karmic law of rebirth” (p. 11). So, rebirths no longer go on; rather, one exists in a spiritual dynamic able to help others become in tune with psychic therapies, among which are crystal healings. And one of the skills necessary to cultivate is being able to move into and out of altered states of consciousness. She says, “I had been doing it in my spiritual channelling and healing work” and the “healing” part was the use of crystals (p. 12). 

The “channelling” above was something Alana would do for hours at a time while she was writing her book. So, the material in it really comes to Alana via ascended masters. She writes, “It is channelling that has created most of this book, and so obviously I hold it in high esteem” (p. 16). 

Her experience is that not all who channel are in touch with true and mature ascended masters. To assure that she connects with only the purest, she prays, “I call upon the true Ascended Master who loves me unconditionally” (p. 16). 

Crystals and their cleansing 

“How do I work with the crystals?” is a short piece that is most relevant to what we hope to present in this chapter. The whole of it is that crystals have energy in them, and sometimes they need to be cleansed. She writes, “You can cleanse all crystals by visualizing a vibrant violet light, flecked with white” (p. 18). The cleansing removes that which is not pure in the crystal. That which is cleansed is negative energy. And one should not expose a crystal to water or sunlight. 

While cleansing a crystal one can say, “I call upon the beings of unconditional love who can assist with cleansing my crystal and transmuting negative energy into unconditional love. Through my own free will, so be it” (p. 18). 

Crystal Angels 

Every crystal has its own angel, Alana states, and may be called a nature spirit, an oversoul, or deva. “These crystal angels are the spirit, consciousness, wisdom and vibration of the entire crystal ‘species’” (p. 19). And these beings are called upon to perform healings. 

So then, when holding a crystal, one works with the energy of that 130 

particular crystal, its angel. And the practitioner calls upon the crystal angel for the healing. And it need not be that the actual crystal be present, since the angel of the crystal will be present. Alana writes, “Through connecting with the angel we can call on the healing energy of the crystal anyway” (p. 19). 

Energy healing is a term that describes working with crystals, it is all about energy, and the vibrations and energy of crystals can be the healing agent. This is the core of working with crystals, and each crystal has different energy. 

This is not dissimilar to Reiki, as it also has to do with moving energy and vibrations around, or releasing energy, or unblocking energy. 

The Crystals 

From page 23 to page 339, Alana describes one crystal after the other, 18 of them. Each section looks like these examples: 

ASCENDED MASTER LAO TZU (Eastern Wisdom) 

ZINCITE (power) 

INITIATION INTO BALANCE 

And 

BUDDHA (Compassion) 

PERIDOT (Increase) 

INITIATION OF THE BODHISATTRVA VOW 

And 

ASCENDED MASTER MOHER MARY (Protection) 

CELESTITE (Serenity) 

INITIATION OF TRUST 

The first line states the name of the personage—each one is identified with a figure in history or fantasy. The second line states the name of the crystal, here Zincite, Peridot, and Celestite. And the third line has to do with the need or act. 

Excerpts from Wikipedia 

Wikipedia, July 4, 2022 

Crystal healing is a pseudoscientific alternative-medicine practice that uses semiprecious stones and crystals such as quartz, agate, amethyst or opal. Adherents of the practice claim that these have healing powers, but there is no scientific basis for this claim. Practitioners of crystal healing believe they can 131 

boost low energy, prevent bad energy, release blocked energy, and transform a body’s aura. 

In one method, the practitioner places crystals on different parts of the body, often corresponding to chakras; or else the practitioner places crystals around the body in an attempt to construct an energy grid, which is purported to surround the client with healing energy. Scientific investigations have found no evidence that such “energy grids” actually exist, and there is no evidence that crystal healing has any greater effect upon the body than any other placebo. 

Where the practice is popular, it fosters commercial demand for crystals, which can result in environmental damage and exploitative child labor to mine the crystals. 

Origins 

In Plato’s account of Atlantis, crystal healing is also mentioned. According to Plato, the Atlanteans used crystals to read minds and transmit thoughts. The first historical documentation of crystals originated from the Ancient Sumerians (c. 4500 to c. 2000 BC). The Sumerians used crystals in their magical formulas. 

Writings dating back as far as 400 BC make observations about the powers different crystals were believed to emit. Often if a negative incident occurred, a specific stone would be used in an attempt to counteract the negative effect. This was done by wearing amulets or other talismans around the neck with specific stones. 

The origins of crystal healing is tied to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, India, Ancient Greece, or Ancient Rome. 

Ancient Egyptians mined for crystals and used them to make jewelry. Crystals or gemstones were also used in practice, for their metaphysical properties. Specifically, they used crystals as aids for health and protection. They often would bury a lapis lazuli scarab with their deceased, with the belief that it would protect them in the afterlife. Additionally, in Ancient Egypt amulets were used to ensure the well-being of the individual. The amulet’s shape, decoration, inscription, color, material, or ritual performed with the amulet dictated its power. Amulets were worn or placed on the body, in the form of stones, piercings, rings, necklaces, or other jewelry. The Egyptians used amulets to benefit their afterlife, often representing an Egyptian deity and their specific powers. Amulets were also placed on mummies or in between the mummy’s bandages, with funerary pieces usually being larger than those worn by the living. In funeral practices they also used headrest amulets, these were full-size headrests placed in tombs to protect the dead, they also symbolized the deceased rising and being revived, and the sun rising between two hills, which 132 

symbolized resurrection and rebirth. 

The Ancient Greeks assigned a multitude of properties to crystals. The word ‘crystal’ is derived from the Greek word “krýstallos” which translates to “ice”. The Ancient Greeks believed that clear quartz crystals were a water that had frozen to the point where it would remain in its solid form. The word “amethyst” in Ancient Greek language means “not intoxicate.” Amethyst was worn as an amulet that they believed would aid hangovers or prevent intoxication. 

Precious stones have been thought of as objects that can aid in healing— in a practice known as lapidary medicine—by a variety of cultures. The Hopi Native Americans of Arizona use quartz crystals to assist in diagnosing illnesses. Both Pliny the Elder and Galen claimed that certain crystals had medicinal properties. In Europe, the belief in the healing powers of crystals (and in particular crystal amulets) persisted into the Middle Ages. The alleged medicinal properties of precious stones, as well as other powers they were believed to hold, were collected in texts known as lapidaries, which remained popular in Medieval and Early Modern Europe until the 17th century. 

Across cultures, different stones can symbolize or provide aide for different things. An example of this is rose quartz. In Egypt, it was believed rose quartz could prevent aging, but the Romans used rose quartz as a seal to signify ownership, while in the Middle Ages it was used in healing potions, today rose quartz is known as the “love stone” and is used to balance emotions and heal anger and disappointment. 

Introduction to the New Age movement 

New Age crystal healing ties to three cultures, British, Indian, and Native American. British culture has a Pagan history which has inspired many people who practice modern-day witchcraft. Indian culture uses crystal healing as a form of holistic healing and is written in the holy texts of Indian culture. 

New-age healing in the Western world has ties to the British, and more specifically paganism. While many people may not want to practice animal sacrifice, modern practices have simplified many ancient rituals and practices, making them more available and attractive to those in Western society. Western astrology is also used with crystals, and ties into modern paganism. Practitioners believe certain stones align with and share properties with certain planets. Using astrological birth charts someone may also use types of stones that are compatible with their star signs. 

In the Vedic texts of Hinduism, specifically the Garuda Purana and Graha-gocara, there is a lot of information about the importance of crystals in Indian culture. In these texts Hindu Demigods trick the Vedic demon Valla into attending a pretend sacrifice ritual and after allowing himself to be tied to a stake, Valla learns the demigods are not pretending and the Demigods 133 

dismember Valla, whose body parts turn into gem seeds which contain talismanic powers, made more powerful the purer the gem. Vedic crystal practices is still alive in modern India and are used by both the older and younger generations. 

Tibetan refugees practicing Buddhism used crystals in meditation as malas, or prayer beads and many other people in Indian culture still use crystal healing when modern medicine does not work or is unattainable. 

Native American culture and crystal healing have been passed down through generations through word of mouth, due to this many traditions and secrets have been lost due to the extinction of many indigenous languages. In native cultures there are two important principals when it comes to crystal healing, meditation, and respect. Meditation varies from person to person but usually includes good thoughts and a healthy mindset when handling crystals. In Native American culture crystals are considered an entity and you must show respect to the stones, you can also show respect to the crystals through respect of the Earth. In native traditions they can use the crystals by wearing them to benefit from healing vibrations, either one at a time or several but the stones should never touch, or tinctures can be made with the stone and water and then administered internally. 

Contemporary use 

New Age 

In the English-speaking world, crystal healing is heavily associated with the New Age spiritual movement: “the middle-class New Age healing activity par excellence”. In contrast with other forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), participants in crystal healing view the practice as “individuated”, that is dependent on extreme personalization and creative expression. Practitioners of crystal healing purport that certain physical properties such as shape, color, and markings, determine the ailments that a stone can heal; lists of such links are published in commonly distributed texts. Paradoxically, practitioners also “hold the view that crystals have no intrinsic qualities but that, instead, their quality changes according to both participants. After selecting the stones by color or their believed metaphysical qualities, they place them on parts of the body. Color selection and placement of stones are done according to concepts of grounding, chakras, or energy grids. 

Crystal healing today is often featured in jewelry and is used side by side with yoga, meditation, or mindfulness. Often people turn to crystal healing when they become dissatisfied with modern medicine and people are looking to revive cultural traditions from older generations. Today the use of crystal healing is typically used by middle and upper-class individuals because they have the time and resources to seek out this type of alternative medicine. More affluent people are also able to afford better quality crystals. 

Twenty-eight

What Title to Use

“How shall we refer to you on the wedding

announcement?”

“I like ‘Most Holy Reverend Doctor’. It has a ring

to it don’t you think?”

         

Just what or who are we? The usual titles are

“reverend,” “minister,” or “pastor,” and some like

to use “Doctor” if they have an earned doctorate.

Though I have an earned doctorate, a DMin., (not an

academic, but practical degree) I do not use it. It sounds

pretentious. I reserve “Doctor” for medical doctors,

dentists, and other medical specialists. But I will use

the term, also, for university, college, or seminary

professors if they have an earned Ph.D. or Th.D., but

that is about it. I restrict my use of the title because I

noticed that I was too pleased with being called “Dr.

Philpott”.

One day I introduced myself as Doctor Philpott to

a small group that included a rather well known medical

doctor. The M.D. gave his name, Doctor so-and-so. It

embarrassed me. He intended, I felt, to embarrass me.

He knew my doctorate had something to do with

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What Title to Use

theology, and he could, I think, sense the kind of selfimportant

way in which I announced myself. That was

the last time I pulled that. I do not use the title in the

Yellow Pages of the telephone book, and I do not use

the term on my stationary or my business card. I have

no quarrel with others who do use it, however.

“Pastor” is the designation I use. I do not like the

title “reverend” maybe because I do not feel very

reverent most of the time. And I do not know what

“reverend” means exactly except that it is a ministerial

designation. The term “minister” is appropriate. When

I sign a wedding document (at least the ceremonial

certificate) I declare that I am a “Minister of the

Gospel.”

Essentially my function is to pastor a church, so

that is the title I use. When I meet people for the first

time they often don’t know how to address me. I will

generally extend my hand and say, “My name is Kent

Philpott” thereby letting them know how I prefer to

be called. If people ask “How am I to introduce you?”

or “How am I to list you on the program?” I will say,

“After my name should read, ‘pastor.’” And if they

want more than that I say, “Pastor of Miller Avenue

Baptist Church.” But generally, upon introduction, I

give my full name without title.

The question comes up, “How are kids to refer to

you?” I may not have the right spin on this, but I just

introduce myself to them as “Kent”. If a parent wants

to say, “This is Pastor Philpott”, or “Pastor Kent”, or

“Reverend Philpott” I let it go at that. However parents

wants to instruct their child to refer to me I will accept.

I will not correct a child but will let them call me

anything they want to.

Robes, clerical robes—though not the subject of

this chapter, I do not want to come up with a separate

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For Pastors

chapter about robes—deserve some comment. I have

worn robes yet never felt comfortable with them. One

Sunday morning I tripped on the stole on my way up

to the pulpit and thereby generated a chorus of giggles.

I would not mention this topic except that I have met

too many ministers who take what I consider to be too

great a delight in dressing up in robes and other

religious garments. Robes were developed in an era

when the office of minister was undergoing a transition

from servant to shaman, or servant to magician. Special

garments symbolized extra ordinary powers. That is

one theory anyway, and another is that robes help set

the ministry apart or call attention to the specialness

of Christian ministry. I have little objection to this latter

view, but clothes should not be what makes the

ministry special.

If a particular denomination or church traditionally

uses robes, fine, ignore what I have said here all the

while keeping in mind our tendency to think of

ourselves more highly than we ought.

         

  What title do you prefer?

  What does the old term, “puffed up” mean to you?

 Sarah Young: Jesus Calling

The following is repeated from our own book, The Soul Journey: How Shamanism, Santeria, Wicca, and Charisma are Connected, in which we propose that the “connection” between these spiritual paths is actually the mediumistic practice of attaining a trance state and contacting spirits, be they supposed spirits of dead ancestors (shamanism and Santería), spirit quides (various occult renditions), lords and ladies of the Realm (Wicca), or even the supposed Jesus of Sarah Young’s series of books that started with Jesus Calling in 2004. 

******* 

Sarah Young practices “listening prayer,” in which she hears messages directly communicated from Jesus. She describes her technique in her bestselling book, Jesus Calling, which has sold over nine million copies in twenty-six languages (as of the end of 2013). This book was the fifth bestseller for the first half of 2013 for all books, not just Christian books. Through it all, the author maintains a low profile, partly due to physical disabilities, and thus she is relatively unknown. She has experienced chronic physical difficulties for many years and writes inspiringly of her loving connection with whom or what she thinks is Jesus giving her comforting and encouraging messages. 

It all began with Sarah wondering if she could receive messages during times of prayer. She hoped God would talk to her personally. And it began to happen. And yes, she believes that Jesus is really and actually speaking with her. She prays then listens, and He answers. This has been her experience for many years. 

As she hears, Sarah journals what she hears, and after a number of years she published some of what she heard. Readers and prayer groups are encouraged and comforted by the messages, and as sales of books demonstrate, she has a growing audience. Many thousands are now taking up the practice of listening prayer. 

The key question which must be asked is, who is speaking? Jesus or 125 

someone else? Is it possible there is clever counterfeiting here? 

Over the centuries Christians have thought that God does speak to them. Richard Foster, who champions contemplative prayer or meditative prayer, defends Young’s practice. He has modeled his own recommendations for deep meditation and contemplation on what Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, Ignatius Loyola, and many others practiced and experienced centuries ago. What Young does is the same as or quite similar to the exercises of these Christian mystics. 

Sarah Young describes her own custom as meditating on Scripture and then waiting quietly to hear a reply from Jesus. When Jesus speaks, she writes down what she heard or was placed on her heart. She insists that the words or messages are not revelatory in the sense of prophecy or fortune telling; the content of the messages is fairly ordinary and biblically based. The Bible plays a major role in Sarah’s life, and she firmly believes it is the inspired revelation of God; however, and this is a huge “however,” she wanted more than what the Bible offers. She indeed got more and has come to rely on these communications, the “encouraging directives from the Creator,” as she originally said before that phrase was removed from her 2013 edition. 

But there is a worrisome twist. When Young journals the words supposedly spoken by Jesus they are written in the first person with Jesus as the person speaking. She does not, for instance, write, “Jesus said,” but rather, “Focus on me.” Since she purports to write down whatever Jesus says, her readers must logically conclude that her journal is as authoritative as the Bible, almost a fifth Gospel. If this is not so, then Jesus Calling is pseudo-biblical, an imitation, albeit very clever, of a revelation from God. 

Young’s error is therefore serious and similar to that of the Course in Miracles, supposedly communicated by Jesus to Helen Schucman in the 1970s. Schucman’s Jesus dictated profoundly spiritual concepts to her, which she wrote down, and one of the most successful new age cults was born. Schucman’s Jesus bears little resemblance to the biblical Jesus, unlike Young’s Jesus, but could this make the counterfeit even more difficult to detect? 

Young’s book sales are phenomenal, and again I cannot help but be reminded of Helen Schucman and the Course in Miracles; however, Young’s book is far more biblically Christian than Schucman’s. The difference seems clear, and many Christians are tempted to embrace Young’s claim to hear the voice of Jesus. But it will not work. There is neither biblical precedent nor warrant for quieting oneself, praying, and then listening for Jesus to speak. Young’s techniques fit into the broad spectrum that is Charisma today, emboldening yet another dangerous counterfeit practice. 

The Jesus supposedly speaking to Sarah Young is very affirming and encouraging, but little else. The messages lack the doctrinal content of the real Jesus found in Scripture. Encouraging promises found in quotes supposedly 126 

from Jesus’ appeal to those who are easily dazzled by assurances of personal satisfaction and are therefore attracted to purveyors of the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel. 

Nowhere in Scripture does God promise to speak individually to believers or answer prayer by speaking directly to the one praying. This is the critical point. What I discovered in my decades of ministry is that, if you want to hear things from God, you eventually will hear something. But the communication is not from God, however real and spiritual the communication might be. 

John 10:27 is quoted by proponents of Young’s book as proof that Jesus speaks directly to His ‘”sheep.” “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” To “hear” is to know Jesus as the Good Shepherd as distinct from a false shepherd or a wolf; the literal application of “hear” does not work here. It is the Holy Spirit who indwells the believer at conversion who “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). 

An instruction for believers to listen for the actual audible voice of Jesus, be it solely in the mind, is foreign to the New Testament writings. There is nothing in Scripture about praying then listening for a response. It is surprising that so many do not know this. Churches across the country have instituted prayer groups devoted to Young’s methods. Again, it illustrates the fascination with feelings and direct experiences rather than seeking to learn what the Word of God actually teaches. 

We are all hungry to know more of God, and little by little we do grow up into the fullness of the stature of Christ (see Ephesians 4:1-16). Following Jesus is a lifelong process and there are no shortcuts. Quick and easy methods of “going direct” to the source can be addictive and difficult to disengage from. Christians are yet sinners and living in a sinful world; we are pilgrims traveling the straight and narrow road that is often filled with pain and sorrow. God hears our prayers and does strengthen and comfort us, but He speaks to us through the Scripture. That is enough for us. We do not need more. Eve wanted more and she got it, but it brought disaster upon her and all of us. 

******* 

We strongly suggest acquiring Brenna E. Scott’s book, Christian Journaling or Psychic Channeling? A Critical Comparison of the Jesus Calling Series with Occult Training Literature. You will find in this book a brief history of how Sarah Young encountered a devotional book, God Calling, written in the 1930’s by two women who practiced waiting in God’s Presence in a mediumistic manner. Ms. Scott is quite thorough in her analysis of the contents of Sarah Young’s books. There is a foreword by Chris Lawson, and it is published by Brenna Scott Publishing, LLC, 2022.

Hello All, I will be starting a Bible study by Zoom, this going through the Gospel of Mark, starting September  8, at 4pm Western time. Will last one hour. Expect to get a nice looking invitation with a link in it for the Zoom class. If you don’t get one by Monday let me know.

First time ever doing this, so their might be some clitches, but we will work it out.

Kent

Twenty-seven

Limit Promotions

“I just got a letter from our missionaries in South

America and they need a new computer and a new

truck. I figure it will run about $12,000. Pastor, what

are you going to do about it?”

“I think I will simply scrape a little bit more gold

off the chandelier.”

         

Pastors are asked, sometimes expected, to promote

many important and worthy causes: in some

instances it seems more like a demand than a request.

Before I learned how to say “No,” I spent an inordinate

amount of time begging for money. Squeezing money

out of people seemed like a major feature of my job.

Of course I present the need for giving tithes and

offerings. In the Sunday morning bulletin I routinely

have an offertory theme. Sometimes the theme

coordinates with the sermon, sometimes it does not.

The offertory theme provides an opportunity for a brief

teaching on giving. In addition, a record of the week

by week giving is presented in the Sunday bulletin.

The monthly newsletter contains a complete

accounting of the giving and spending for the past

month.

129

Limited Promotion

Miller Avenue is part of a particular denomination,

and the denomination has four offerings a year. We

participate in the “The One Great Hour of Sharing”

offering, an America for Christ offering (home

missions), the World Mission offering (foreign

missions), and an offering for retired ministers and

missionaries. This is characteristic of American Baptist

Churches. Prior to the date of the offering, I receive a

box of promotional materials, videos, cassette tapes,

posters, and bulletin inserts. A financial goal is set, an

educational and motivational process is set in motion,

and the goal is usually met.

Beside the four basic denominational offerings

there are others we promote as well. Several of the

missionary organizations we give to usually send a

representative around once a year to promote their work

and take up a love offering. In addition, there are other

important groups who make requests to come before

the congregation and present their ministries. And then

there are the local charities and outreaches; they too,

look to churches for support. The over-riding need is

money, sometimes money and volunteers.

It is difficult for me to make evaluations about the

worthiness of a ministry or outreach. What makes it

even more stressful is that friends will be entreating

me to support their ministry. However, limitations must

be made, pastors must learn to say, “I wish I could”. If

not, the pastor will continually be asking the

congregation for money.

A common perception, for Christians and non-

Christians alike, is that the church is simply after

money. This perception is not far from the truth. We

are too often either taking an offering or preparing to

take one.

130

For Pastors

It is essential to limit promotions. There will be

some promotion certainly, and my suggestion is to

select one or two or three a year and do a sensible

promotion. And be very straightforward about it: “We

are going to raise money for _____ and here is the reason

why.” Giving, I have found, will actually increase when

the constant selling, promoting, and persuading is

limited. Above all, reject any tactic that tends to make

people feel guilty for not giving.

Though this does not logically belong at the end

of this chapter, I want to include a tangential issue. I

think it is extremely important that no one know what

anyone else in the church is giving. Certainly the

church treasurer is going to know, and consequently

that church treasurer needs to be a confidential person

who will not divulge information. And the treasurer

must not act towards someone in a deferential manner

on the basis of giving.

Pastors do not want to know who gives what! I do

not know who gives what and I do not care who gives

what. It matters not if a person gives a dollar or a

thousand dollars a month; I will not pay attention to

the one person over the other. It is a mistake to do so.

Too easily we can get into a situation where we are

afraid of losing somebody we know is a substantial

financial contributor. Such a person can then wield an

unhealthy power over us. We want to reject that kind

of fear and entanglement.

131

Limited Promotions

         

  Do you have strong feelings about money and the

church?

  Perhaps the worst experience is having to promote

an offering for a cause you do not care for. Have you a

plan for limiting promotions?