Contemplative prayer seems to be the common mystical thread that is infiltrating the Church today. I recently had a comment by a reader who said:
“They (IHOP) have redeemed the concept of contemplative prayer away from familiar spirits, as you say, and God has given another avenue through which to praise Him. Who cares where it originated, it does not represent that now! If that is your standard of measure, then when you and your family go an pickout your christmas tree, and celebrate on december 25, then you are a pagan! I’m not trying to seem angered, offended, or upset…I’m trying to make you realize that God has the power to over come all the negative roots and produce a positive result. ”
My response to the above statement was that you can put a dress on a dog and call him a person, but that doesn’t make him one! Does doing yoga and calling it Christian, make it Christian. Does God “redeem” it, just because we use a different name or meditate on Jesus as our mantra? Isn’t it still TM? Aren’t we still going to the center….. the “cloud of unknowing”?
Contemplative spirituality is being highly promoted by the emergent church and places like IHOP. For example here are some places where their books are being sold and promoted:
Of the 244 books sold at the Forerunner Bookstore 31 of them are listed under the heading “Contemplative” and include such authors as Herni Nouwen, St. John of the Cross, Bernard of Clairvaux, mystic Jeanne Guyon and Brother Lawrence
eChristianstore.com
Mariners Church Bookstore has a large selection of books by Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, and even Contemplative Pastor
by Eugene Peterson
Understanding the dangers of Contemplative Prayer:
Here’s a two part video series by Ray Yungen teaching on the dangers of contemplative prayer
Brian Tamaki is under fire these days for being a cult leader. Last week the “bishop” had 700 men take a covenant oath of loyalty to him at a conference:
“Bishop Tamaki last week proclaimed himself the “spiritual father” of the church and 700 men swore a “covenant oath” of loyalty and obedience to him at the annual conference.
The oath requires they stand when the bishop and his wife, Hannah Tamaki, enter a room, surprise the couple with gifts and commands them never to be the first to begin eating when dining with the bishop.
A church document entitled “protocols and requirements between spiritual father and his spiritual sons” requires the men to tell others of their love for Bishop Tamaki and defend against any problems arising from mistakes he might make. It was also reported that Destiny’s 7000 members were encouraged to donate money to the bishop in an annual offering known as “First Fruits”. The couple were said to get between $350,000 and $500,000 on top of his six-figure salary. But Bishop Tamaki yesterday dismissed the reports as “low-level stuff” generated by people who were upset that others were doing better in life.” 1 (see article with details at the end of this post)
And according to Religion News Blog the men were all given “covenant” rings:
“At a special service during the church’s annual conference in Auckland at the weekend, about 700 male members of the church swore a “covenant oath” of loyalty and obedience to Mr Tamaki and were given a “covenant ring” to wear on their right hands.”2
Here’s a video of the event:
Is Tamaki a fluke or is this just the first time we’re actually seeing where this fathering apostleship will go? My opinion is that Tamaki is just the first that we’ve seen of the congregation actually marrying a pastor. (because seriously, that was a marriage ceremony)
The Set Man Principal:
Brian Tamaki believes in a form of leadership called “The Set Man”. This is a doctrine promoted and taught by Mark Hanby of Mark Hanby Ministries. According to the “Set Man” principal God gives ONE MAN a vision and then everyone else is “set” around this man to support this vision. Also, many teachers of the “set Man” use the model of King David to say that you can not “touch God’s anointed”, therefore keeping you from questioning anything the leader says or does. (Our own pastor taught this in the ’80’s and used these exact verses)
They use an OT model to suppost this from Exodus about Moses and the 70 Elders:
“And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, LET THE LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, SET A MAN OVER THE CONGREGATION, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” Numbers 27:15-17
Here is one Church’s discription of the “Set Man” Principal:
“The leadership of The Father’s House International follows the Biblical model that is structured in the Old Testament and expressed in the New Testament church. God Himself chooses, calls, and commissions a man to bring forth and/or lead a ministry in the earth. This man becomes responsible for the ministry and its people, as an under-bishop and under-shepherd for God. He actually is to become an earthly representative father for God the Father. In the Old Testament,
Moses was the archetypical human example; in the New Testament, the
Apostles walked in this role (chiefly the Apostle Paul). This man is known as the “Set Man” of a ministry (a phrase coined by Dr. Mark Hanby,3
According to the Baretta Blog:
“Brian Tamaki, who took the title “bishop” in spite of the church not having an episcopal leadership model. All of the church’s publicity, including its own television broadcasts, were centred on one individual. Mr Tamaki was at the centre not because of any qualifications that made him knowledgeable or especially skilled at anything in particular, but rather because of the belief that he is God’s chosen man.”4
Mark Hanby
Who is Mark Hanby and what is Brian Tamaki’s connection to him? Mark Hanby is a twice divorced “Apostle” who teaches on “spiritual fathering” and “kingdom alignment”. He wrote a book entitled “You Have Not Many Fathers”, which is a teaching that is a throw back to the controlling failed shepherding movement of the 1970’s. This time the “fathers” are apostles, instead of pastors and, of course, if you don’t have a spiritual “father” you are an illegitimate bastard. This is all based on human relationships, and not our true spiritual realtionship with our Father in heaven. What would these guys say about Melchizedek, who had no father?
Brian Tamaki is connected to Mark Hanby through “Bishop” Eddie Long, who is a member of Mark Hanby’s network and whose link can be found on Hanby’s website. In fact, “Im Speaking the Truth” blog recently put up a post about a time when he was at Eddie Long’s church and Long did something very similar to Tamaki. See story here: Another “Spiritual Daddy” Demands “Submission”
A few years ago Brian Tamaki called Eddie Long his “spiritual father” and both he and Bishop Eddie Long claimed that Destiny chruch would soon be ruling New Zealand:
“Last year Tamaki told his followers: “I predict in the next five years, by the time we hit our 10th anniversary – and I don’t say this lightly – that we will be ruling the nation.”
On that same night Tamaki joined forces with Bishop Eddie L Long, senior pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, USA.
Tamaki said the self-appointed bishop was his spiritual father.
Long blessed Destiny’s vision that it will be ruling New Zealand before its 10th anniversary.
“He made a declaration that in five years you shall be ruling and reigning in this nation,” Long told the Destiny Church.” 5
Here is the video of that event:
Tamaki also is planning on building his own city and ruling from there:
Ritual Marriage
What Brian Tamaki is actually doing is performing ritual magic ceremonies that have more to do with the occult (hieros gamos) and the ancient Kabbalah then Biblical Christianity.
Hieros Gamos is defined as:
“Hieros gamos or Hierogamy (Greek ιερός γάμος, ιερογαμία “holy marriage”) refers to marriage between a god and a goddess, especially when enacted in a symbolic ritual where human participants represent the deities. It is the harmonization of opposites.
The notion of hieros gamos does not presuppose actual performance in ritual, but is also used in purely symbolic or mythological context, notably in alchemy and hence in Jungian psychology.” 6
This meets the requirement for Brian Tamaki as he is now King David (a type of Jesus Christ) and his “church” is his bride.
“The document asserts Tamaki’s authority as “Bishop” and “spiritual father” of the church he founded. Another section, “Conduct Towards Bishop”, states that “Bishop is the tangible expression of God”, instructs the “sons” to follow numerous protocols, to defer to Tamaki with unquestioning loyalty and obedience, to follow his dress code, and to never tolerate criticism.” 7
Brian Tamaki is a dangerous man and he needs to be shut down before they pass the kool aid! He’s using classic mind control and manipulation against his followers by telling them how special they are, everyone against them is the enemy, they have been chosen by God for a special mission, etc. I pray that the people in his curch cult, get out before it’s too late!
The Destiny Church’s covenant demands total support for their ’spiritual father’ Brian Tamaki – even when he makes a mistake. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today
EXCLUSIVE – The leader of Destiny Church, Brian Tamaki, who not long ago anointed himself bishop of the church he founded, has now proclaimed himself the church’s “spiritual father” and designated the male members of the church as “spiritual sons”.
At a special service during the church’s annual conference in Auckland at the weekend, about 700 male members of the church swore a “covenant oath” of loyalty and obedience to Mr Tamaki and were given a “covenant ring” to wear on their right hands.
A church document describes the covenant as “a solemn oath of commitment that is binding, enduring and unbreakable. You are bound to covenant … Covenant is an irrevocable, undissolvable oath of commitment”.
The document, entitled Protocols and Requirements Between Spiritual Father & His Spiritual Sons, contains the text of the “covenant oath”, the guts of which is that “Above all, we stand here today in the presence of God to enter into this sacred covenant with our man of God, Bishop Brian Tamaki”.
It says: “To you Bishop we pledge our allegiance, our faithfulness and loyalty. We pledge to serve the cause that is in your heart and to finish that work. Success to you and success to those who help you – for God is with you.”
In its introduction, the church document says that proof of a man’s covenant with God is how they “submit to God’s chosen man … We are blessed to our spiritual father through whom this principle is being restored. The fruit of his ministry is self-evident, so much so that his call and influence is discerned at many levels in both the Christian and non-Christian communities here in New Zealand … Spiritual fathers are extremely rare … For us it is about discerning the special anointing and function God has put on Bishop’s life … “
The requirements of sonship, the document says, are to give Mr Tamaki obedience and honour, to imitate him and follow his faith and to give him “your loyalty and your strength”.
A church statement last night said the initiative was launched by Bishop Tamaki.
He said the covenant ceremony was witnessed by several thousand church-goers, and marked the culmination of a six-month programme aimed at “helping men to become better husbands and fathers and standout contributors to local community”.
The Destiny Church statement said many of the men had emerged from social dysfunction, crime, alcohol or drug-related problems and domestic violence to become functional members of society.
Protocols
In the document comes a section entitled “Protocols towards our spiritual father”, which takes 1300 words to describe in jaw-dropping detail how the “spiritual sons” shall behave towards their “spiritual father”.
Under “Public Conduct”, the sons will in all conversation always speak of Mr Tamaki in a favourable and positive light; and in formal and/or public occasions, they will always address him and his wife, Hannah, first in acknowledgments and addresses at meetings “as a sign of respect to the father of the movement”.
If any “son” is honoured either by the church or secularly, he is to mention his “mentors and role models” – Mr and Mrs Tamaki – “because Bishop is one of God’s best-known representatives in our country”.
Under “Conduct Towards Bishop”, the “sons” are told that “Bishop is the tangible expression of God”, so they need to understand how to properly approach their man of God “to protect the anointing and not transgress this special relationship”.
They are always to be respectful and honourable in Mr Tamaki’s presence. “Even though he is very sociable and open – remember who he is!” They must never be “in his face” and must protect him from outsiders who attempt to do that.
They must ensure that Mr Tamaki and his wife are both honoured, cared for and given appropriate respect. “Bishop is a people person. Often it is better we offend others than him.”
And since “Bishop carries our vision and our anointing for the future and hope of our families and offspring, we ought to guard, protect and watch out for him and Ps [Pastor] Hannah”.
Under “Discernment”, the “sons” are told they must “feel Bishop’s flow and be attentive to his thoughts and directions”, which “gives unity and power to what God is saying and doing through him”.
They must endorse what Mr Tamaki endorses, fully support what he promotes and ensure that what he is involved in is supported and successful.
“Whenever Bishop speaks all other talking stops: give him your full attention. Be careful not to cut in on him when he is speaking and ensure others don’t either.
“Don’t start talking or gesturing to somebody else while Bishop is speaking.”
The “sons” must never openly disagree with Mr Tamaki in front of others and must “be careful not to become familiar (which can lead to contempt)” with him “due to his friendliness and openness”.
Under “Etiquette”, the “sons” are told that when Mr Tamaki and his wife enter a room, they must stand and acknowledge their presence. They may sit only after the Tamakis are seated.
And if they dine with him they wait until he has started eating before they start eating, unless he indicates otherwise.
Vocal
Under “Church Service (in house) Protocols” the men are encouraged to sit as close as possible to the front of the church to be nearer to Mr Tamaki and to be vocal during his preaching, affirming what he has to say with “amen” and “that’s right”, clapping, shouting and laughing. This sort of participation is said to build “an atmosphere that is conducive to supernatural events”.
They are told to bring Bible, pen, paper or laptop to note down Mr Tamaki’s sermons which “shows how highly you value the Word of God from Bishop’s mouth”.
They should come to church anticipating that God will speak through Mr Tamaki and should always be dressed well at all meetings with him. “His dress code is your dress code.” They should also look happy and smile and be friendly to all and encourage people.
Under “Supporting Bishop’s Function & Ministry”, the “sons” are encouraged to find out Mr Tamaki’s speaking itinerary and travel to other churches and engagements to support him, because a team of men around their bishop “reflects his importance to them”.
They must never tolerate anyone (regardless of who they are) speaking or talking critically of Mr Tamaki and his wife/family or the church. “You are not only to stop them in their tracks but warn them that they criticise you when they criticise Bishop.”
They should celebrate Mr Tamaki’s special occasions with him with surprises on birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions or achievements.
“Don’t wait for others to do it. It is a sign of your love and respect for him: at times give gifts to him and/or Ps Hannah. A gift means many things – love, honour and blessing them: they will feel appreciated.”
The men are exhorted to be protective of Mr Tamaki and his family. The protocol says he “will be more criticised, scrutinised and demonised than most others because of who he is and what he carries”.
“You will hear all sorts of statements and opinions but you must be prepared to ignore them and consistently hold him in the same high regard no matter what you hear.”
Somewhat surprisingly, the protocol says that Mr Tamaki is human and does make mistakes.
However, the sons must “be prepared to defend against any problems arising out of his mistakes.
A loyal man is supposed to ‘cushion’ the effect of a mistake on Bishop and to protect him. NEVER intentionally expose his weakness.”
It says Mr Tamaki may downplay and even discourage “sons” in overtly honouring him, “BUT that should never stop the men from doing what is honourable and what is in their heart to do”.
“The bishop’s discomfort with honour should never rob the people of the spiritual rewards for such honourable and respectful actions towards him.
It is appropriate, says the protocol, for men to tell others of their love for Mr Tamaki, who is “one of the most well-known representatives of God in our country”. The “sons” must reinforce and emphasise what he says and preaches and quote him as often as possible in favourable terms.
I left a comment recently on another blog. The blogger was saying that the promise God gave to Abraham to “Bless those that bless you” in Gen 12, was refering to the entire nation of Israel. My comment stated that that word was not given to the nation of Israel, but to Abram while and he was not a Jew. I went on to say that the blessings of Abraham were passed to the gentiles through Jesus Christ.
She commented with that old cliche about believing in ”replacement theology”…. It’s the same old argument for those who are into dispensational futurism. She told me about how after the “rapture” God is going to deal with Israel seperately (Dual covenant theology??) and that the antichrist is going to set up his kingdom againt Israel. When I reminded her that Israel had already been surrounded by armies (Luke 21) she then said “Ah…. I see. You’re a preterist. That explains your post completely. You believe that nothing remains of prophecy to be fulfilled, and that it was fulfilled in 70 A.D.” She then accused me of interpreting the Bible spiritually. Well, No Crystal… I take literally that which is literal and spiritual that which is spiritual! She then went on to tell me that preterism was a leaky vessel.
I’ve been pondering the exchange for several days and I decided to counter this with some intellegent preterist teachings. If you really know the word and how to use proper exegesis and let the Bible interpret itself, the vessel actually doesn’t leak! Let’s let go of our preconditioned brainwashing and open our ears and hearts to truth.
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Two Florida school officials will be in court next month to answer charges that they violated a court order when they prayed in public after a school secretary was cleared on similar charges.
I for one am not surprised at all about this… the honeymoon is over!
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | The polls this week are a disaster for Barack Obama. Scott Rasmussen has his approval dropping to 45 percent, after several weeks at 49 percent. John Zogby has it even lower at 42 percent.
Welcome to Truthspeaker's blog. I am a seeker of truth, a writer, a missionary and a teacher of the Word of God.
As a former spiritual mapper, involved in both the spiritual warfare and prayer movement, I have been doing research on history and current events for almost 20 years. I hope you will find interesting and useful information on this page.
Here I have put together various topics, and current events, on what is going on in the church and in the world. Please feel free to comment and leave feedback!
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Welcome to Truthspeaker's blog. I am a seeker of truth, a writer, a missionary and a teacher of the Word of God.
As a former spiritual mapper, involved in both the spiritual warfare and prayer movement, I have been doing research on history and current events for almost 20 years. I hope you will find interesting and useful information on this page.
Here I have put together various topics, and current events, on what is going on in the church and in the world. Please feel free to comment and leave feedback!
