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NASB | Isaiah 55:11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Isaiah 55:11 So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. |
Bible Question:
Dear Forum participants….I seek your help. An old friend of mine has been taken in by the Fulun Gong (Fulan Dafa, Falan Gong) movement here in the U.S. and I must find Christian critiques of this movement. (Why are Americans so intrigued by Eastern thought?) For the past few months I have searched the web and have come up empty. I chiefly find articles on Chinese repression of the sect. I should add that I have been to the FG web site and followed its’ links so I pretty much understand what they believe and, like other cults, that they are/will be gods some day. I have read their official guide to an introduction as well as the “masters” pronouncements. They are a crafty bunch!! There is much more of course and perhaps I will have to arrange my own doctrine by doctrine, point by point, response but any help you can provide will be much appreciated. I have only made headway from the Creation perspective. I have tried all the Christian resources I know of and have come up empty. The Americans who join the sect deny Jesus in the main, I suspect, as a refutation of their parents beliefs. Help nip this thing in the bud if you can. God Bless….Jensen |
Bible Answer: Hi, Jensen; What is your friend's attaction to this cult? Emotional? intellectual? Do you think your friend is simply missing some (any) spiritual dimension to his/her life? Why does your friend find the "master" believable? Personal charisma? the message? What button is he pushing? It may not be the eventual deity pitch that's drawn your friend in. I'm asking because I don't think there are any standard approaches. People are susceptible to this cult or that because of some un-met need. (I needed to be shown that Jesus' claims about himself were rational.) I think cults succeed because there are so many of them, every one a little different from the others. Each one has some appeal that will ensnare people who hunger for what it offers. God, on the other hand, is much less specific - he meets all needs. I suspect that it's not at all obvious to some people that a God who meets the needs of Mother Theresa or Kurt Warner can meet theirs. Look at it this way - if you crave chocolate, what will be more appealinig to you? A Fanny Mae store or a department store with a candy counter? If you know that Fanny Mae focuses on selling pretty good chocolate, you may never discover that the department store sells Godiva's (really outstanding) chocolate. I think people are reluctant to believe that God's department store simply has the best of everything - better than every specialty shop and boutique in town. And the best prices too! So they settle for a pretty good shop and ignore the department store. You have to find what your friend is shopping for, then show your friend the department in God's store that offers what he/she needs. Hope this is useful somehow. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |