The "Soaking"  Movement: A New Church Fad? <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
"That we henceforth be no more children, 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; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." Ephesians 4:14-15
Is there any remotely similar experience seen in Holy Scripture as today's new "soaking" movement and experience? Or, is this yet another fad movement spawned from so-called "revivals" of the no-too-distant past? Is this "soaking" phenomenon another of the latest "winds of doctrine" blowing through the modern church world? Should such be weighed in the balance against Holy Scripture to see if it is of God OR just blindly received?
"The simple (naive; undiscerning) believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going." Proverbs 14:15
"Prove (test) all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thessalonians 5:21
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1
In God's economy, being gullible is a curse and not a virtue. Being a nice little, easy-going and agreeable Christian is not the goal of Christ for His disciples and is completely inconsistent with the lives of the apostles and early church.
It is incumbent upon the last day saints of the LORD to look very closely at new fad experiences and doctrines blowing through the church world, especially in light of the predecessor "revivals" of the 1990's, where men and women rolled around on the floor barking and roaring like animals. For this writer such activities are not hearsay - I was there. These "revivals" we know bore not the fruit of a true biblical revival.
How naive shall we be? Shall we again buy into that which has no connection to biblical Christianity?
The following 3 points on Gnosticism are taken from http://www.crossroad.to/Q&A/church/postmodern/soaking.htm
And yes, incorporates three key tenets of Gnosticism:
1. Faith and knowledge based primarily on personal or mystical experience rather than the Word.
2. Emphasis on self-knowledge and emotional well-being or healing, rather than Biblical knowledge of God and His freedom through the cross and cleansing through His blood (already accomplished).
3. Illogical and feeling-based interpretations of His Word.
"Soaking" is at its premise self-serving and may yield what occult practices do - a false peace and a false joy. I think it appropriate to compare this "soaking" experience movement with the occult practices of Yoga and other world religions which do not honor the one true God by acknowledging Jesus Christ as the only LORD and Savior. Do pagan world religions not incorporate this same mindless meditation? Aren't people instructed to wait and conjure up things? Doesn't this seem consistent with what we see in the "soaking" experiences we see coming into the church world? The object of worship in false religions is ultimately self. "Soaking" is waiting and basking with self-help (helping self) at heart, not worshiping God in Spirit and in truth (Jn. <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />4:23-24). Is this not all a vain endeavor to better our depraved selves? This sound familiar? Look at what Lucifer did just before being eternally condemned by God (note the 5 "I"'s of the devil):
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." Isaiah 14:12-15
Self-exaltation forever severed Satan from the Almighty. This movement seems to follow the pomp philosophy of Lucifer while cloaking itself as a Christian experience, yet with no biblical grounds.
At the heart of the divine economy is the worship of God and elevating of others above self (Matt. 22:37-39).
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