In my estimation, this "soaking" movement/experience is yet another ridiculous scheme of the enemy to further embalm God's people and keep them in bondage to self-serving experiences instead of the true worship of the LORD which leads one to love God supremely, deny self, take up the cross, and elevate others above self in truly following Christ. The sad thing is that so many today who are empty after walking through several supposed "revivals", still go on blindly into yet another fad movement which has literally no biblical reconciliation. This movement will again leave them empty and vulnerable to the next delusion.
Think about it: Isn't it easier to "soak" than to serve? Isn't lying around doing "floor time" (their wording) the easy way out? Are these people not being led to follow the line of least resistance by vainly believing one is marinating in the presence of God while "soaking"? Is this in lieu of doing what the LORD told us to do in His Word?
How naive shall we continue to be? How long will we be led around with the enemies hand by the nose and think we are being led by the Holy Spirit? How long shall we take the LORD's name in vain by labeling false movements like this as from Him? How long shall we refuse to judge and test everything against the Word? How long shall we be "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive"? (Eph. 4:14)
Did the LORD ever instruct anyone in Scripture to marinate or "soak"? Or, did He instruct His people to mortify the selfish desires of the sinful nature? See Romans 6. Has the Almighty changed?
"For I am the LORD, I change not." Malachi 3:6
What is the unchanging LORD looking for? Can we allow God to answer this one for Himself?
"But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." Isaiah 66:2
"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king." 1 Samuel 15:22-23
Whether they realize it or not, those who participate in this strange fire soaking movement are rejecting the Word of God and rebelling. If He didn't tell us to do such in His Word, we are rejecting Him and His Word to do such.
Isn't this "soaking" experience just another opportunity for western "Christians" to find another excuse not to deny self, take up the cross and truly follow Christ by doing the real work of the Gospel? Is this just another great escape from true repentance of life and brokenness before the LORD?
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
MORE:
SOAKING? A Spiritual Discipline or Eastern Mysticism?
http://www.crossroad.to/Q&A/church/postmodern/soaking.htm
www.SafeGuardYourSoul.com
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Re: Re: Soaking Part 5
| Posted On: 09/26/06 08:26:16 AM |
Age 22, FL |
Good points. It's the leadership or the charisma of the leader that guides the people toward or away from deception. But who's training these leaders? The TV preachers and popular revivals? Liberal/secular religous colleges/seminaries? I'm blessed to have a pastor that wasn't given his degree (BA) until he had a two hour interview with the college president, deans, and a couple of professors who could ask him anything, to determine if he's worthy of a degree from their college. He is fundamentalist and evangelical, in the historical definition. But so many churches have shallow, liberally educated or poorly educated, people pleasing and popular pastors, who give good speaches, and are open to deception, both the pastor and the congregation.
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Re: Soaking Part 5
| Posted On: 09/25/06 01:52:17 PM |
Age 52, NY |
You have hit on the real challenge facing the Church in the United States: the maturity of the average believer. There is plenty of "Double Mindeness" (James 1:2-8) going on, instead of the willingness to "count it all joy when you fall into vaious trials", or in other words, taking up the Cross. But this leads me to my prevous comments on your articles about leadership. Paul states in II Corinthians 14: 14 "for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children." Very often the maturity gap experienced in congregations result from immature leadership. They are not willing to model the behavior necessary to inspire their flock to grow up (I Corinthians 9 and many other places) Asking children to grow up without mature pastors & teachers as examples of leadership walking after Christ, is a fruitless venture. Even in your example of "soaking", how can you blame the childish for buying this self indulgent experience? Someone is leading this movement! The reality is, what mature pastor is confronting this leadership and bringing them into correction or exposing the leadership as a fasle prophet? (II Corinthians 10: 2-6) Today's American Christian is the product of our crossless clergy, and true repentance starts with leadership.
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Finally done!!!!! Yeah! Way to Go!
| Posted On: 09/25/06 10:26:15 AM |
Age 41, TN |
Finally, it's reached its final part....after 20 days, lots of name calling by the author and his groupies, plagarism of websites, and very little, if any, actual record of what these people actually teach or do, for that matter, in these soaking meetings that are sooooo everywhere in the church More importantly, this article doesn't show any Biblical teaching violated or a Biblical admonition or teaching to show where they are in error or that they're even a "movement" beyond one church in Canada. The only thing established is that this "strange fire" movement does some things that the author and his editor can't nail down as in error, specifically or admonished against in the teachings of the Bible, unless you're in his "movement" of followers. One day, if this teaching/movement moves on to more churches beyond one in Canada, someone Biblically educated will come along and establish the errors, and how the Truth (the Bible) shows us that it's wrong and should be avoided.
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Question
| Posted On: 09/25/06 08:19:47 AM |
Age 24, SC |
I've read the article. I've read the feedback and replies. I've read of the supposed connection between this church and other supposed false-teachings or spiriticism. I've read your article objectively, checked the links and have a question that's been asked before. what are they teaching and what is it that they're teaching that's un-Biblical. I don't know what they're teaching and this article doesn't say, except to say "soaking" in the Lord's prescence isn't in the Bible. Well, neither is outreaches or revivals, for that matter. Where is the Biblical doctrine/statement/admonition that says or shows this error? Practically speaking, what is the difference between a prayer and worship service and what these people are doing?
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Re: Soaking Part 5
| Posted On: 09/25/06 06:19:33 AM |
Age 56, AR |
Thanks so much for the article. I read about the Toronto Blessing a few years ago. There was a black preacher in charge of the meeting. People were falling down everywhere, and speaking in tongues. Sometimes as older Christians, I think we hear things like this, and the joy they receive from it, and we want it. I know God is spirit, and he does work supernaturally, but isn't it supernatural to bring a man dead in sins, who couldn't bring himself to God if he wanted to? People are looking for more, even Christians. It's so sad that we will go to any length to feel good, even if it means taking God's word and twisting it around to fit the situation. First feeling, then the word. It supposed to be the other way around; first God's word and direction, then feeling. Believing his word, obeying his word, and the blessings will flow. Not because our lives are going along so smoothly, and there is never any conflict or persecution, but knowing God's in control of your life and circumstances, and there is a expected end, Jesus, our hope. It's called FAITH!! Brenda
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