Obama Foreshadows the Coming Spirituality

Barack Obama, the Senator who may
become the next president of the United States, says (in

an exclusive article in United Church News), that the
teachings of the UCC (United Church of Christ), of which he is a
member (Trinity United
Church of Christ), are “foundation stones for his political
work.” Just what are those “teachings” comprised of? On
Trinity’s website (Obama’s personal home church), on
a page promoting Yoga,
the following statement is highlighted:

“Within each [of] us is the seed
of Divinity. Each Soul is divine. I bow to the divinity in
us all!

This is the spirituality of
Thomas
Merton, who believed that divinity was in all humans and in all
creation. That is why Merton stated:

“It is a glorious destiny to be a
member of the human race, … now I realize what we all are
…. If only they [people] could all see themselves as they
really are …I suppose the big problem would be that we
would fall down and worship each other … At the center of
our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by
sin and by illusions, a point of pure truth … This little
point …is the pure glory of God in us. It is in everybody.”
(from

A Time of Departing, quoting Thomas Merton, Conjectures
of a Guilty Bystander -1989 edition, 157-158)

The United Church of Christ is an
ultra liberal Christian denomination that has focused on social
justice and making the world into a better place. But in the
process of their all encompassing view that anything positive is
spiritually sound, many leaders within this group have embraced
or incorporated the teachings and practices of occultism and
eastern religion. One such individual is
Bruce
Epperly, a United Church of Christ pastor, who wrote a book
called Reiki Healing Touch and the Way of Jesus, in which Epperly says:

“We can utilize the practice of
Reiki to transform
families, relationships, meetings, and institutions.”

Reiki is
drawn from Tibetan Buddhism and incorporates spirit guides and
psychic powers. It is very probable that Obama has been exposed
to things such as
yoga or
reiki.

Global Peace

Rick Warren and Barack Obama share views on global peace and
world-wide unification. Obama, who was a speaker at the “Pentecost
2006: Building a Covenant for a New America” conference,
used “the speech as a call for continued dialogue and
bridge-building between religious conservatives and
progressives.” This “bridge-building” is the same kind of talk
Rick Warren uses when he is discussing his “new reformation”
that will include all religions, in which he states that he will
do “whatever it takes” and work with anyone at all to accomplish
this new reformation in his lifetime.

In

Obama’s address at Pentecost 2006, he talked about the
“connection between religion and politics.” This is what

Rick Warren talks about with his “three-legged stool”
philosophy that government, religion and business have to work
together if global peace is ever going to happen. In light of
the popularity of both these men, and given the possibility that
Rick Warren could potentially be “the President’s pastor,” their
views on global peace should not be overlooked.

New Age Peace

Marianne Williamson (Oprah’s featured author for
A Course in
Miracles) shares this same vision, as do other prominent New Age
leaders. One of those who has worked closely with Williamson is
Barbara Marx Hubbard, who shares this interspiritual,
panentheistic vision for the world. But
Marx Hubbard does not conceal her belief that those who
oppose this “great awakening” of mankind will be a deficit and a
hindrance:

“Christ-consciousness and
Christ-abilities are the natural inheritance of every human
being on Earth. When the word of this hope has reached the
nations, the end of this phase of evolution shall come. All
will know their choice. All will be required to choose…..
All who choose not to evolve will die off; their souls will
begin again within a different planetary system which will
serve as kindergarten for the transition from self-centered
to whole-centered being. The kindergarten class of Earth
will be over. Humankind’s collective power is too great to
be inherited by self-centered, infantile people.” (from
The Plan,
quoting
Barbara Marx Hubbard,
Happy birthday Planet Earth.
p.17)

Divinity in all? Not according to
the Bible. But since the Garden of Eden when the serpent (the
devil) told Eve “ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5), and when
Lucifer (Isaiah 14) said he would be like the “Most High,” there
has been a New Age philosophy that declares man is equal to God
and God is in him without faith. The following scriptures (among
so many others) testify of the contrast between God and man.

“For God so loved the world, that
he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other
name [Jesus Christ] under heaven given among men by which we
must be saved.” Acts 4: 12

Right now, the majority of leading
Christian organizations from Focus on the Family to Awanas to
YWAM to our seminaries, colleges, publishing houses, and
denominations are to one degree or another either opening up to
or actually promoting contemplative spirituality. Given the fact
that Thomas Merton’s beliefs are the foundation of
contemplative, isn’t it time Christian leaders who truly love
the Lord and His Word, begin to speak up and warn their people
about this devastating spirituality that is quickly overtaking
our world but should not be overtaking the church?

The Bible
says faith comes by hearing the Word of God, but asks: “How then
shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how
shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). But if the
leaders, teachers, and preachers are all preaching a different
gospel (a mystical, panentheistic one), then how shall the lost
hear and be saved?

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Read the
entire article at
Lighthouse Trails:

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=204

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