The New Age Movement: Return To The Stone Age ...Lifestyle Apologetics At The Gem Show

The New Age Movement: Return To The Stone Age ...Lifestyle Apologetics At The Gem Show

Romans 1:19-25
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Ever since I was a child I loved being outdoors, animals, plants, and rocks. I really got the rock hound bug as a child when a friend's father  brought a pickup truck loaded with rocks home from West Virginia for landscaping. As we were playing in the rocks at age 6 I found my first fossil. I was stunned to see a plant inside this stone. I asked to take some of the rocks home and spent hours peeling out all the fossils. I had caught the bug! Over the years I attended many rock shows, gem shows, and I often go gem hunting in the mountains. I love God's creation in it's natural state. I am especially fond of fossils and petrified wood. When I hold these items I actually am holding in my hands the result of the biggest world catastrophe that ever existed... the Great Flood. I am in awe of God's creation, the colors and designs. The perfect formation of crystals, and all the variety is breathtaking.   

My husband and I have studied cults and world religions for more than 28 years. In our area we have a large amount of those wonderful New Age folks. We have the Edgar Cayce A.R.E. Association for Research and Enlightenment (sounds so mysterious), several Hippe Healing Stores, many rock and gem stores for your chakra stones and of course the bi-annual Treasures of the Earth  Gem and Jewelry show. My husband and I have attended many New Age classes and conferences in order to study this movement first hand. This has helped us greatly in our witness to these groups. 

So twice a year I take my apologetics to the gem show and witness as I go. I make sure to wear my big cross and my hippie shirt (I was born in 1961), and I carry my handmade denim purse. As I pass the vendors I hear the sales pitches....  "You have pain... this stone heals your pain.... and this stone is for anxiety and of course we all need this stone it is for inner peace in the soul"... this goes on and on. I feel so sad for these poor lost souls that do not know the Great Physician that heals the hearts, minds, souls and bodies of His followers. I see the crippled older woman with arthritis in her hands asking about the "magic stone bracelet" sure to ease her pain... knowing that the placebo effect might last a few days but there is no cure for her in this life. 

When I hear this sales pitch I always make my way to that table and pick up and admire several stones. When I get the "sales pitch" I always respond... "These stones are very beautiful... but I worship the Creator of this stone not the stone itself. This rock has no power but my God does."  This can provoke several responses but I would say stunned is the most common reaction. I get some pretty good responses from the other shoppers as well even an occasional amen! For some this opens up a conversation or a debate on the merits of mere spiritually over Christianity. Often while looking at things like picture jasper, the salesperson will tell me "This is natural...isn't it amazing what nature can make?" I always respond.. "God is the most amazing artist in the universe! He has created all this beauty and we get to enjoy it." 

PICTURE JASPER GOD'S ART WORK

Not all my interactions are positive, but many are. Apologetics should never be about winning arguments but about winning souls. I strive to understand how the person I am witnessing to thinks so I can get into their heads. I want to take what is in that mind and twist it...bend it and hopefully have them question their faith in this "rock"  and point them to the real Rock. 

Psalm 78:35

35 Then they remembered that God was their rock,

And the Most High God their Redeemer.

Never pass up the opportunity to introduce your Savior Jesus Christ to people you meet along the way in your daily life.  

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

By Robin S. Wilson

One the biggest cultural objections to Christianity is the view of Tolerance

Luther Conigliarro

One the biggest cultural objections to Christianity is the view of Tolerance. This view says that "Acceptance" of all ways of life is the only way for people to live. And to reject this idea is to be labeled a Bigot, and Narrow minded. Etc Luther Conigliarro The Jews were being "Tolerant" of the Nazis and look where it led!

Here's how I have delt in the past with this type of Argument in the link below

http://youtu.be/dNNMqQrSBg4


Robin Wilson The term tolerance :: willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own : the ability to accept, experience, or survive something harmful or unpleasant

The willingness to accept things that are different and harmful. It is interesting what we are willing to tolerate. Should we tolerate Cancer or treat it? When something is harmful should we ever NOT treat it? Sin is a disease upon mankind that leads to death and the only cure is Jesus. With any disease and treatment.. it is tough to hear you have the disease, it is tough to accept the diagnosis, it is tough to fight the disease..... but when the Dr. says you are "cured" the fight was worth it. The Christian community needs to be kind in delivering the diagnosis but never be afraid of being honest. In order to get the proper cure.... we must be "narrow minded" .... just like a doctor... we must target the disease. You would never accept a doctor saying to you ... "You have cancer... you need to be tolerant".

Linwood Kemp Simply stated, to be "tolerant" is to allow that which you believe to be untrue and to reject anything that claims to be true. Tolerance elevates the lie and suppresses the truth.

James Runavich Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.
-GK Chesterton

Robin Wilson Ravi Zacharias on Tolerance

"The truth is that all religions are not the same. All religions do not point to God. All religions do not say that all religions are the same. In fact, some religions do not even believe in God. At the heart of every religion is an uncompromising commitment to a particular way of defining who God is or is not. Buddhism, for example, was based on Buddha's rejection of two of Hinduism's fundamental doctrines. Islam rejects both Buddhism and Hinduism. So it does no good to put a halo on the notion of tolerance and act as if everything is equally true. In fact, even all-inclusive religions such as Bahaism end up being exclusivistic by excluding the exclusivists!"

—Ravi Zacharias

J.P. Moreland on Tolerance, Religion, and Morality

"Tolerance has come to mean that no one is right and no one is wrong and, indeed, the very act of stating that someone else’s views are immoral or incorrect is now taken to be intolerant (of course, from this same point of view, it is all right to be intolerant of those who hold to objectively true moral or religious positions). Once the existence of knowable truth in religion and ethics is denied, authority (the right to be believed and obeyed) gives way to power (the ability to force compliance), reason gives way to rhetoric, the speech writer is replaced by the makeup man, and spirited but civil debate in the culture wars is replaced by politically correct special-interest groups who have nothing left but political coercion to enforce their views on others."

—J. P. Moreland

Stands With A Fist: Women In Apologetics

Stands With A Fist: Women In Apologetics 

I loved the movie "Dances With Wolves". The character played by Mary McDonnell "Stands with A Fist" was of course my favorite character. In the movie:

John Dunbar: How did you get your name? Stands With a Fist: When I came to live on the prarie, I worked every day... very hard... there was a woman who didn't like me. She called me bad names... sometimes she beat me. One day she was calling me these bad names, her face in my face, and I hit her. I was not very big, but she fell down. She fell hard and didn't move. I stood over her with my fist and asked if any other woman wanted to call me bad names... No one bothered me after that day.  

Sometimes you need to stand up for yourself and your beliefs. In today's world this can be very hard for anyone. Some women often  have a much harder time doing this than men do. Women are judged on a somewhat different scale than men. We see this clearly in politics. While strong men are applauded , strong women are labeled as nags and the "B" word. More attention is paid to how we look, what we wear than the substance of our character.  This is also true in Christian Apologetics. There are many male Apologists but very few females.  Why is this? I have a few ideas:

• Many women are peacemakers by nature. Any Mom with more than one child knows we spend a lot of time keeping the peace. We don't "like" getting things "started".
• Some churches abuse 1 Corinthians 14:34 meant to bring order in a worship services and never meant to keep women from defending the faith.
• Some women lack confidence in their Bible knowledge, teaching and debate skills.
•  Many women take disagreements as rejection and avoid them. 
• Often women don't want the label of being overbearing
• Women are seldom encouraged to go into apologetics. 

These are just a few reasons, I am sure there are many others. Women can learn a few things from our male counterparts. Men don't seem to take debating personal. They do not often get hurt or dejected or swayed by people that disagree with them. Men tend to debate from logic not emotion. Men often use less words and keep it simple, long explanations tend to lose people fast. Now this doesn't ring true always but mostly. While working over the years with men and women, interesting debates and discussions were common. After the discussion I found that the women that disagreed with me were often upset and quiet while the men were fine. I grew up with a brother and a close relationship with my father. My Dad taught me to love God,  be strong, self sufficient, independent, take up for myself,  persevere, achieve whatever I dreamed I could be and to respect myself. My brother taught me to joke around, don't take life too seriously, to keep fighting until one of us yells uncle, and that I will not always win the battle but at least I tried. My husband has given me support and love and fostered my original interest in Apologetics.  

Apologetics is neither male or female. It is just a willing heart to defend the faith we love. Never make it personal and don't take it personal, just present the facts. Women lets get out there and spread the Word, share the Gospel and win souls with a don't back down attitude. How do we do this?

1 Peter 3:13-17 (Defend and push through)
13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

2 Timothy 2:15 (Study God's Word)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 (Study defenses to the Gospel to build a knowledge base)
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 

Colossians 4:5-6 (Live the Christian life, be an example, never miss the chance)
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. 

Acts 6:8-10 (Be wise and filled with the Holy Spirit)
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 

Titus 1:9 (Sound doctrines are key)
9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. 

Isaiah 50:4 (Lift people up, don't tear them down)
4 The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. 

Acts 19:8-10 (Never give up! Lose one, don't lose heart, move on to the next one)
8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Always remember Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.................. God's Word has the power.... we are merely one of the delivery systems He uses.

By Robin Wilson