A Voice in the Wilderness |
*** PORTIONS *** Re: Bali and the pagan "church" Public TV is quite a source of information. An 'eye' into remote parts of the earth where a normal person might not have opportunity, or be able to afford to go. When they present documentaries, they typically do so with no 'agenda', necessarily, that they are promoting; other than "culture" and/or "art". Recently there was such a program about Bali. And a week-or-so before that, on a 'primative' tribal culture. When we see these cultures we ought to on one hand be alerted to the things the "church" has fallen to, and become diverted. On the other, we who are True Believers ought to be ashamed of our lack of dedication to and 'care' of the things of the Lord, when we see the 'lifestyle of worship' that other cultures represent! Bali does not have a word for "art". They do not have "artists". And yet, their culture is -loaded- with what we consider to be art. This is because their 'artists' are -religious- people. That which we call "art" is part of their daily, moment-by-moment "worship" of their 'gods'. The one "artist" they showed was being very careful in his work because it needed to "glorify the gods" properly. When tourists go visit, and are "entertained" by ritual dances and shows, this is not "culture". Well... it is. But it is more. Those dances and shows are a religious service they are performing. When they wear those face masks, they have spiritual powers; and those movements you see are the enactments of demons under whose spell the person has subjected himself. As I was watching, I thought to myself, "Those are the same movements that rock musicians make on their stages!" They have their "trance". They specifically ask the spirits (plural) to enter them. Such participants go into spasms, twitches, fall on the ground, and make grunting, growling, howling sounds. Sound familiar like anything some are calling a "spirit-filled christian" experience? They also have "power". When in these trance states, they will take daggers and try to stab themselves with all their might. But the "filling" they are under gives their bodies 'power' to not be injured. Sound like anything else that's called "christian"? In the tribal settings, the witch doctor and fellow-shamans would inhale hallucinogens, get into an altered state, and would "heal" people. They grab the sick person's head and yell at the spirits. They grab the person where the sickness is, and rub up towards the head to draw the sickness out of the person. Sound like anything else you've seen on TV a lot, called "christian", and performed by those now being labelled, by some, "great men of god"? What is "art"? Art often includes study of religion. Studies of the origins of musical art begin, essentially, with study of the Roman church's music. Paintings, frescoes, statues often include religion. The study of architectural history usually involves the study of temples, cathedrals, and other objects of worship. With the TV special on Bali, practically -everything- they discussed had -some- religious significance. The little I've studied on Japan, my birth-place, I have come to realize that -most- of what I as a child just saw as being "Japanese" was, in actuality, of religious significance...to "Shinto". How the world must laugh at "Christians"! These are just three cultures we have spoken of here. But if you've ever watched very many documentaries of other cultures and archaeology, you know that cultures revolve around their deities. Their culture is -distinct- BECAUSE OF their deities. And they very carefully make sure they adhere to the strictness of every detail regarding their worship. Distinctly. And yet...here's the "church". Embracing shamanism, occult, witchcraft, and everything else of the world through its art and music. "christians" embrace all their little trinkets, fish symbols, and pictures. But, did they ever think about God's command, 'you shall not make to yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above [pictures of 'Jesus'], or that is in the earth beneath [crosses, crowns of thorns], or that is in the water under the earth [fish]. To the heathen cultures, their 'art' -IS- their worship. A thing of distinction for Christians is that God commanded to NOT have any of these 'likenesses.' "God is a Spirit, and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." (Jn4:24) Not "objects". The heathen have all their rituals and demonic ways. Christians are to NOT engage in those things. They are not to embrace them. The flesh has been put to death (Col3:3,5) as we are "mindful of things above" (vs2) We don't use the methods of the world to worship and/or witness. "For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds" (2Cor10:4) If we are using the heathen ways, we are no longer 'distinct' from the world. The world cannot tell that our "citizenship is in heaven". (Phil3:20) They cannot tell that we are -REALLY- "looking for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." If we are not distinct enough to be different, why should they become a Christian? It must not be "genuine" enough to stand up for. Something I have noticed about essentially -ALL- other cultures and religions, as I'm exposed to them from time to time, is that they are militant and faithful to their distinctives. The only ones who are not are the Jews and the Church!! Shame on us!! "I am JEHOVAH your God..you shall have no other gods before Me..you shall not make to yourselves any...likeness...you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I JEHOVAH your God am a jealous God.." (~Ex20:2-5) "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness? And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God...therefore come out from among them and BE SEPARATE, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing." (~2Cor6:14-17) May this prayer of Moses be ours... "So we shall be separated, I and Your people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth." (Ex33:16b) Amen! Related topics:Q/A -Trance Dance - Tattoos: demon affiliation ![]() |