<p>In this book Phil Mason explores an emerging phenomenon in the contemporary Charismatic/Pentecostal Movement that is drawing many believers into speculative theologies around a number of themes that are ‘extra-biblical’ in nature. The author examines two distinctive streams of ‘new revelation’ that are finding a new audience. In the arena of transformational theology, a number of popular teachers have emerged, offering their audience a paradigm of inner transformation that quantum leaps the Pauline paradigm of a progressive cleansing and healing of the heart. Paul warned the Corinthians; “Do not go beyond what is written!” (1 Corinthians 4:6 NIV) The emerging ‘perfectionist’ preachers are departing from Paul’s theology of transformation. On the other end of the spectrum, the charismatic world is also experiencing an increase in speculative theologies of alien races, exposing hidden agendas perpetrated by invisible beings to infiltrate the human genome for sinister purposes. This secret infiltration requires esoteric techniques to cleanse our DNA from the defilement of alien intrusion. We are in the midst of a revival of the ‘gnostic spirit;’ a quest for a higher knowledge that ushers believers into an advanced dimension of spiritual revelation that, on both accounts, transcends the revelation of Scripture. Gnosticism was a first and second century movement that sought to replace biblical revelation with a higher ‘gnosis,’ or knowledge. This gnostic spirit has infiltrated the 21st century church. Using the paradigm of Paul’s first century conflict with the theology of Apollos as a template, Phil draws out some powerful biblical principles to equip the church to identify the presence and activity of the gnostic spirit and to recover what Paul called “the simplicity of devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3) It is time to return to the simple Gospel and to invest our time and energy into getting equipped to release the kingdom of God on earth rather than getting drawn aside into endless speculations that only serve to cause division in the body of Christ. This is a timely message to the contemporary Charismatic church not to be distracted from our primary calling to minister the power of the kingdom of God to heal people’s hearts and to set the captives free. All that Jesus trained his disciples to do is all that we need to get the job done. It is time to close the door to the new gnostics and to focus again on the power of the simple gospel.</p>

The New Gnostics: Discerning Extra Biblical Revelation in the Contemporary Charismatic Movement

Mason, Phil

Religion & Spirituality

Quantum Ministries Ltd

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Quantum Ministries Ltd publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Quantum Ministries Ltd

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Quantum Ministries Ltd publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The New Gnostics: Discerning Extra Biblical Revelation in the Contemporary Charismatic Movement