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THE BIBLE SERIES ON TV
2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
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Hope Together are promoting another gospel through the Bible Series and another attempt to draw us into the RCC they start leading many into apostasy, we need to be more vigilant in these last days.
“THE BIBLE is an epic 10-hour mini-series to be broadcast on Channel 5 with the first episode airing on November 30 at 9pm. The series brings to life the dramatic tales of faith and courage in the most widely-read book of all time. Breathtaking in scope and scale it features powerful performances, exotic locations and cutting-edge visual effects to create a spectacular television event that will entertain and inspire the whole family. From Genesis to Revelation, THE BIBLE series features some of the most famous stories ever written and some of the most iconic characters.
Make the most of the series in your community or workplace.”
Visit Scripture Union’s resource page for The Bible Bank and The Bible e-book, free resources helping you to engage with the THE BIBLE mini-series.
Check out some of the reviews:
THE BIBLE series is an excellent dramatisation of the Bible. It is historically credible and put together with sensitivity and imagination. The producers have a wonderful ability to make you think about familiar scenes in an entirely new way. Helen K Bond (Senior Lecturer in New Testament, University of Edinburgh)
The Bible is the most-read book of all time. It has touched the lives of billions of people across the planet and has significantly shaped the history, culture, literature, art, politics and human behaviour – and continues to shape the world we live in today. You don’t have to believe the Bible to be affected by it. Roma Downey and Mark Burnett (Executive Producers of THE BIBLE series (Roman Catholics)
The show has been nothing short of a sensation, watched by millions of people across the world. To have it on Channel 5 is incredibly exciting – these are stories that can’t fail to draw you in. Marie-Claire Dunlop (Acquisitions and Channel Manager at Channel 5)
Attempting to depict the whole span of the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation is a bold undertaking. THE BIBLE series pulls it off. It has paid very close attention to the text, but at the same time imagined what it might have felt like for the different characters depicted. Paula Gooder (Canon Theologian of Birmingham and Guildford Cathedrals) (This person does not know their Bible)
What exactly does the Bible Miniseries Teach and who are the Spiritual Advisors Behind The Bible that Hope Together and Scripture Union are promoting?
[1] Source Beginningandend.com
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. – Matthew 7:15-18
“We weren’t qualified to teach the Bible, but we knew plenty of people who were,” – The Bible mini-series co-creator Mark Burnett, speaking of the panel of spiritual advisers who helped make the mini-series.
A quick look at the Board of Advisors on The Bible Miniseries and it becomes quite obvious that it was bound to contain heretical portrayals of the Scriptures. Prosperity Gospel preacher T.D. Jakes, Rick Warren of Saddleback Church and Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church, the largest church in the United States are the three most prominent names. As Beginning and End has detailed in past articles, all three pastors teach Unbiblical, New Age, false doctrines. In our article on T.D. Jakes we showed that in addition to preaching the money-focused prosperity Gospel, he also has yoked with New Age promoter Oprah Winfrey. Joel Osteen preaches a message of New Age mysticism that can be found in many books and websites on witchcraft, while Rick Warren has been a major promoter of a one-world religion that merges other faiths with Christianity.
Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv, which is famous for its rendition of “Gangsta’s Paradise” during Sunday service is also on the board in addition to a number of Catholic advisers as well. What all these people have in common is teaching doctrines that are not found in the Bible and often contradict the Word of God. As The Lord Jesus Christ explained in the passage above, if the spiritual foundation of a mini-series is filled with heretical, New Age pastors, the “fruit” of the mini-series will be questionable.
Numerous Biblical Errors
The writers of The Bible Miniseries should have consulted an actual Bible.
“The Bible miniseries is not a documentary, it is a scripted, acted docu-drama filmed on location in the Middle East and Morocco.” – The Bible Miniseries website.
“[Miniseries Co-Creator Mark Burnett] would send scripts our way and ask doctrinal or Bible questions about it, but a lot of it was a friendship and an advisory role,”[Pastor Joel] Osteen said. Osteen said much of his work was confirming if the extra biblical material stayed true to the Bible. (source).
“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 this day and age of spiritual confusion and heresies, it is very important that a Christian message is based on sound, Biblical doctrine. Obviously, in a theatrical presentation, there is an understandable, creative license, because not every detail of every story is included in Scripture. Thus, in a scene where Abraham greets Lots and says “Lot, my nephew!”, while not in the Bible, is done to inform the viewers of the relationship and the facts of these Biblical men. But The Bible Miniseries goes well beyond this as it changes much of the core message of the Bible and alters facts from Biblical accounts for no real reason other than entertainment value.
Noah And The Ark
Noah leaves out an important detail in telling the story of Adam and Eve.
The Bible opens with Noah on the ark with his family, struggling to plus leaking holes and keep the ark afloat (it seems the design of the ship, provided by God, was having issues). He then tells his children the story of Adam and Eve from Genesis. Here are some of the errors:
- Noah’s sons are small children. In the Bible they are actually grown, married men and they and their wives come on to the ark.
- As Noah tells the story of Adam and Eve, there is no mention of the promised Redeemer, who would one day be born and redeem Adam, Eve and all of humanity:
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. – Genesis 3:14-15.
This is one of the most important verses in the Bible as it marks the first prophecy of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would be born of a woman and one day conquer Satan. This was done on the cross, when Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, allowing forgiveness for those who put their faith in Him. All of the history in the Old Testament is centred on the expectation of this prophesied child one day being born. The many challenges and battles fought in the Old Testament often centred on preserving the lineage of the Messiah. And yet somehow, The Bible Miniseries has left the most important aspect of the Bible, out.
It was sin that cursed humanity and the Earth, invoking God’s wrath. Scripture tells us: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:11). Rather than make this very important point to his children, Noah says that humanity has made “bad choices! Bad decisions!”
In ignoring sin (the word is not even uttered in the first 2 episodes) and neglecting to mention God’s forgiveness and plan for redemption of humanity through the Savior, Jesus Christ, the main message of the Bible is lost.
Even after receiving the punishment, Adam showed his hope in the future, for he and his wife and The Lord once again showed His mercy to them:
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. – Genesis 3:20-21.
Adam names his wife Eve, meaning mother of all living, expressing hope in the promise that their “seed” or child, would crush the serpent and redeem them. And God showed another sign of His grace and willingness to forgive by making clothing for them out of animal skins. It was only after Adam and Eve sinned that their nakedness became a shame to them. And nakedness in the Bible is symbolic of sin. By God sacrificing a creature to cover their shame with animal fur, once again we have a beautiful foreshadow of God providing the ultimate sacrifice: His Son, Jesus Christ, in order to atone for the sins of all people. Yet again, The Bible Miniseries ignores this very important detail. Instead, Adam and Eve are banished from the Garden with no repentance and no hope of redemption. God is basically does with them, completely contradicting Scripture.
Abraham and Lot
Abraham, the father of the faith, tells God “No” in The Bible Miniseries.
- Abraham, whose name was actually Abram at the time depicted in the scenes in The Bible Miniseries. The Abrahamic covenant, where God promised to Abraham a great nation and that his seed would inherit the Promised Land, a foreshadow of all believers receiving eternal life in Heaven, is also the chapter where Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, signifying, as The Lord said: “..for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.”(Genesis 17:5-7).
- Thus the Messianic bloodline established with Adam and Eve, the hope of all humanity to be redeemed and saved from the clutches of sin and damnation, would be continued through Abraham. This is a critical point to understand God’s plan through the Bible and the presence of Jesus throughout Scripture. Jesus said: “Search the scriptures; for.. they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39).
- Abram is portrayed as a ruddy, nomad scraping to survive. The Bible says: “And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” (Genesis 13:2).
- When the workers of Abram and his nephew Lot begin to quarrel, it was Abraham’s decision to divide their land as a way to work out a peaceful resolution:
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. – Genesis 13:7-9.
Abram then offers Lot the first pick of the land, opting to take whatever half Lot does not choose. This generous and compassionate gesture was an example of his kindness. In The Bible Miniseries, it is Lot who tells Abram that they must divide the land so he can move on to a new area for himself and his wife.
- When God pronounces his judgment upon the wicked city of Sodom, he sends angels to rescue Lot before the city is destroyed for its rampant sexual immorality and rebellion:
And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. – Genesis 19:1-7.
These angels come to the city of Sodom to remove Lot and his family before God’s destruction rained down. Their rescue of Lot was a picture of God’s salvation for those who believe in him, while the destruction of Hell waits for those who die in their sin with no belief (symbolized by the fire and brimstone which destroyed Sodom and all the people in it). Once again this is a great occasion to teach the message of sinful humanity and its need for salvation that can only come through faith in The Lord. But instead, The Bible Miniseries runs wild changing the story. Instead of finding Lot as told in the Bible, it is Lot who discovers and rescues the wounded and beat up angels, who beg him for safe haven in his home (which again contradicts Scripture). At no time in the Biblical account were the angels ever harmed or even scared of the Sodomites.
Burnett and Downey also left out the homosexual sin of the people of Sodom. As detailed in the verses above, Sodom’s entire male population was engaging in homosexual sin as shown by the fact that every man, even the young men and the elderly, came to Lot’s door, demanding the angels be brought into the street for forced public fornication. This is how far gone into sexual depravity this city and its neighbouring city, Gomorrah, had descended to.
The Bible Miniseries omits this very important detail of the story, instead portraying the men of the city as promiscuous, heterosexual men who were just angry with the angels of God and seeking to fight them. This same compromise of the Christian faith exists in many of the apostate churches today where pastors will no longer preach the Bible’s verses on homosexuality being a sin, lest they offend the non-believing public. Thus the message of the Bible changes to suit the preferences and tastes of people, even if it is in rebellion against God. Galatians 1:9-10 addresses this:
“As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:9-10.
A Christian should never change God’s Word to accommodate others. Christians should be loving, forgiving and respectful towards all people. The Bible should not be used a means of attacking people. But that does not mean changing what one believes. But with a multi-million dollar big budget production, the desire to please the public is quite strong and won out over believing Scripture in the case of The Bible Miniseries. This may also explain the same angels protecting Lot engaging in martial arts fighting with the men of Sodom during Lot’s exit from the city. With a series of high-flying moves and swordplay, they battle the men of the city – something never seen in Scripture.
Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac
Abraham believed that even if Isaac died, God would raise him from the dead.
One of the most pivotal moments in Genesis is Abram’s offering up his son Isaac as a sacrifice in obedience to God. This test of Abram’s faith, on Mt Moriah was a foreshadow of where God Himself, would indeed offer His own Son, Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, 2000 years later. There is a very important aspect of Abram’s character that cannot be understated – his faith:
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. – Genesis 15:1-6.
Abram and his wife were well advanced in age, and thus not physically capable of bearing children. But God promised Abram that he and his wife would in fact conceive a son. And not only would they conceive a son, but through him, they would have more descendants than Abram could count through this particular son. The key moment is that Abram believed God. He had faith in the Lord’s promise of an heir (and his faith was counted as righteousness before God, foreshadowing the doctrine that Christians are saved by faith and not works). This heir would be the continuation of the Messianic bloodline prophesied to Adam and Eve in the Garden. The same line that God preserved on the ark through Noah and his son Shem. Abram would now continue this line through a miracle child, Isaac.
When the command came from God to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, Isaac did not have any children. Therefore, if Isaac had died and never been heard from again, he would not have any children and the promise that God made to Abram in the passage above would have failed. However, Abraham believed God, even in the face of what looked like an impossible situation. After all, Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah 90 when they conceived Isaac, something that should have been physically impossible. Yet God made it happen. So Abraham had the same perspective when it came to offer his son as a sacrifice: he had faith that God would do something to make sure His initial promise to Abraham (that Isaac would have many descendents) came to pass:
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. – Genesis 22:1-6.
Notice in Abraham there is no doubting. He just listens to God and obeys. He rises up “early in the morning” to pack his things and take Isaac to Mount Moriah. And he tells his servants that he and Isaac was leaving on their own, but would “come again.” He never doubted that Isaac was going to return alive.
Even when Isaac questioned Abraham, his answer reflected his faith in God’s Word:
“And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” – Genesis 22:7-8.
Rather than doubting Abraham and God, Sarah had faith in The Lord.
Abraham again demonstrated that he was not just acting on blind faith. He was acting on informed faith. He spoke to God directly. He saw God perform miracles that were not possible for humans to achieve on their own. He received God’s protection and saw God’s mercy in sparing the life of his nephew Lot. And he trusted that Isaac would have a child, if not many children, just as God had promised. And since Isaac did not have children at this point, Abraham knew with confidence that God would provide a way for the sacrifice to take place and Isaac still return with him alive. And he was right.
“And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.“ – Genesis 22:9-18.
As Abraham predicted, God did indeed provide a ram as a substitute offering in place of Isaac. Some may ask: “Well, if God knew Abraham was faithful, why put him through this gruelling test anyway?” The Bible tells us that all of these events in the Old Testament happened: “for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” ( 1 Corinthians 10:11). If it is heart-wrenching to the reader to even think that Abraham was asked to offer his own son as a sacrifice, know that this is precisely what God has done for you. God offered His own Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice to take the punishment for the sins that humanity committed. Just as God provided the ram as a substitute for Isaac, God provided Jesus as a substitute for you, so you would not have to go to Hell. Why? Because God loves all people and is “not willing that any should perish.” Jesus’ sacrifice of His perfect, divine blood was the only way to provide forgiveness for all sins for all people for all time. And it takes faith to receive the gift of eternal life.
Hebrews 11 tells us that Sarah had faith that she would conceive a child at age 90. She believed God with true faith that He would bless them with the seed that would continue to lead to the Promised Messiah. It then goes on to say about Abraham: “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Abraham believed that even if Isaac died on that altar, God would raise him from the dead in order to fulfil the promise that Isaac would have many children and descendents and a nation would come through him, again giving a foreshadow to God raising His only begotten Son, Jesus from the dead, 2000 years later.
This is the message of this incredible passage. But how does The Bible Miniseries handle it? Abraham appears as a paranoid, babbling man who could be losing his sanity. When God asks him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, Abraham recoils in horror and says “No! No! Have I not done enough?”, showing doubt and rebellion that are never seen in Scripture. When it is time to put Isaac on the altar, Abraham is weeping and babbling, full of regret and depression over what God is “making him do.”
Meanwhile, in a scene that clearly pushed the limits of “creative license”, Sarah hears the news of Abraham’s ‘insane sacrifice scheme’ and starts running to the mountain to stop Abraham from the sacrifice. She gets close enough to see Abraham in the distance and starts screaming for him to stop. Isaac, who is a small boy (he was actually a man by this time), is struggling and fighting with Abraham, crying and begging him not to kill him. But a wild-eyed Abraham continues on until angels tell him to stop. Sarah then runs up and grabs the crying Isaac, rolling her eyes in disgust at Abraham.
Does the version from The Bible Miniseries capture any of the important doctrinal elements of the Biblical account? Does Abraham’s faith, based on knowing God, believing God and trusting in His word, come through in this? Would a viewer know from this miniseries portrayal that Sarah was actually a faithful believer in God as well and not trying to stop her husband? The scene leaves Abraham looking like a mindless believer, God looking cruel and irrational and Sarah completely disagreeing with her husband and having no faith in God’s promises.
So what spirit is leading a film that would take such a dramatic departure from the text? What spirit would lead the film to ignore the beautiful type and foreshadow of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, on the exact same spot where Abraham offered up Isaac and the message of eternal life? Beloved, it is the same spirit that operates in the sermons of Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes and Rick Warren – one that does not have a concern for Biblical accuracy and will teach any doctrine that excites the flesh and puts the focus on self. Do not be deceived.
Jesus Christ said this if the importance of adhering to the accuracy of The Word:
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” – Jesus Christ, John 12:46-48.
It is the words spoken by Jesus, the Word of God, that will ultimately judge a person before God. The Bible is not just a series of exciting stories. It is the written Word of The Lord. Romans chapter 1 calls the Gospel message “the power of God to salvation.” There is life, spirit and supernatural power in the words of the Bible. So not only actual Scriptures be used in a Christian program, they should never be altered to the point of contradiction to make a story more exciting or to overlook sins that society that many churches no longer have an issue with. Yet many pastors and churches today are doing just that: putting the focus on entertaining congregations and twisting Biblical doctrine to the point that even the Gospel itself is changed. Here is an example in a preview scene of the character of Jesus in The Bible Miniseries with the disciple Peter (who was also known as Simon in Scripture):
Here is that same account in the actual Bible:
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. – Luke 5:1-11.
Notice Peter’s reaction to the miracle that Jess had performed. He and his men were fishing all night and caught nothing. There was seemingly, no way to catch any. Yet Peter believed Jesus’ words and obeyed him. And after the miracle, Peter dropped to a position of worship and said “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Recognizing one’s own sin before the morally perfect God and Lord that is Jesus Christ, is key to going to Heaven. This is again a critical aspect of how a person is saved from the wrath of God and the lake of fire. Peter understood he was in the presence of Divine Power and did not feel worthy. Yet Jesus encourages him by inviting him to come with him to “catch men”, meaning bringing more people to believe in Christ. And Peter “forsook all”, meaning he gave up everything he was doing with his life on the spot, to follow Jesus. All of this is what a person has to do in order to go to Heaven. Acknowledging your sin, confessing it to God, believing in Jesus Christ and giving up your past life of sinful ways and letting your own heart rule, in order to follow Jesus and let Him be Lord of your life, is all a part of being a born again Christian.
Does The Bible Miniseries illustrate these powerful points? Not at all. Instead of being astonished and worshiping at the feet of Jesus, Peter asks him “How did this happen? What did you do?” as if he had no idea what was going on. The Jesus character (who looked like the Renaissance era/Catholic depictions of Jesus) responds: “I am giving you the chance to change your life.. giving up catching fish and I will make you a fisher of men.” Peter answers “What are we going to do?” showing he still does not really understand if Jesus is divine or why it would be necessary for people to know Jesus. And the Jesus character’s answer is “Change the world.” No mention of sin, acknowledging of Jesus as God in the flesh or a real salvation message. Instead, it is almost a social justice message. Jesus Christ did not come to change the world, He came to save it from its sin. Without understanding that sin is the greatest problem the world is facing, Jesus’ message could be changed to just helping the poor, or providing water wells for communities in drought or working in a homeless shelter. All these actions, while noble, will not get you to Heaven or make one right before God. This is the problem with many churches as they put an overemphasis on “changing the world” without first changing the sinful heart that has led a person into sin and damnation, lest they believe the Gospel. And the false doctrines being preached today, while exciting are not Biblical. Do not be deceived.
Background Information on the Roman Catholic Director, Roma Downey.
What does Roma Downey, the co-producer of The Bible miniseries, believe? We know she and her husband Mark Burnett are Catholic. But did you know she also attended the University of Santa Monica, a private graduate school founded by New Age spirituality and self-help guru John-Roger? She will graduate with a master’s degree in spiritual psychology in June.
“As someone who has been on a spiritual journey for many years, it seems a natural extension of that work,” says Downey. “The skills I’m learning will ultimately qualify me to be a therapist.”
Says Roma, who lives in Malibu, ‘My kids go to school about a 40-minute drive away. I’m open to the group’s opinion about what we listen to on the way there. On the way back, I get my own selections — books on tape by Eckhart Tolle, Tony Robbins… My husband says I’m so self-realized I’m practically levitating.’
The following was by donotbesurprised.com
Roman Catholic Roma Downey, Producer of ‘The Bible’ Miniseries, Says Francis I Will Be a ‘Pope of Hope’
This article originally appeared here at Christian Research Network.
In spite of its gross theological and historical inaccuracies, The History Channel’s miniseries, ‘The Bible,’ has become quite a sensation among professing Christians. Evangelical leaders can be seen and heard promoting the production across nearly every social media platform. Men such as Joel Osteen, Rick Warren and T.D. Jakes, all of whom also served on the Board of Advisors for ‘The Bible,’ is perhaps offering some of the loudest praise. To the dismay of many, the show also earned the endorsement of well-known creation ministries. This likely was because it accurately depicted a literal Adam and Eve and a global flood, though accuracy in these two points ought not cause one to overlook the vast number of other errors.
(UKAL does not Endorce Ray Comfort as he has compromised on many occasions.)
Few seem willing to retract their endorsement of ‘The Bible’ even after being confronted with its numerous errors. Evangelist Ray Comfort broke this pattern, however, when he retracted his own endorsement of the series upon learning of its many theological inaccuracies. Said Comfort on his Facebook page:
It’s been brought to my attention, by a reliable source who conducted thorough research, that there are a number of unbiblical and very questionable things in “The Bible” television series–about the deity of Christ, the character of God, and the reality of sin (among other things). In light of this recent revelation, I cannot endorse this series. If you choose to watch it, I would urge you to do so with a discerning heart, testing all things. (Source)
Yet, as noted, Comfort appears to be in the minority with his humble willingness to withdraw any praise or endorsement of ‘The Bible’ miniseries. Further, in the midst of the drama and special effects, it seems that another fact has been overlooked or ignored by many evangelicals who are promoting this program, and that is that executive producer Roma Downey proclaims herself to be a devout Roman Catholic.
In a February 2012 interview with Washington Post reporter Sally Quinn, Downey was asked about her faith. Her response, when examined, also demonstrates more than a hint of New Age and mystic thought:
Partial transcript: I see such beauty in my faith, you know I just have a great love and belief in the Lord. I see God in everyone and in everything. When I’m looking for inspiration myself, I probably find it most in nature and the beauty and magnificence of nature. . . . The language of God is in the silence, perhaps. From a very young age through my education, but really through my father’s guidance, [I was] encouraged to listen to what he called ‘your God voice,’ which is the still, quiet voice inside of yourself that you know what’s the right thing to do, you know what’s the right thing to say. And I’ve always tried to be guided by it. (Source)
As is documented here, many of the mystical practices of spiritual formation originated within the Roman Catholic Church with the Desert Mothers and Fathers. Thus, Downey’s search for a ‘God voice’ within herself and her propensity to ‘see God in everyone and everything,’ though not biblical, is not necessarily in contradiction to her own Roman Catholic faith.
Downey further affirmed her affinity and reverence for the Roman Catholic Church this week, as she was interviewed by CNN following the election of Pope Francis I. Having just finished praying for the new pontiff, Downey stated,
The information that we’re getting, that’s emerging, is that he’s a real man of the people, a humble pope, he’s taken on the name Francis. I think he’s going to be a pope of hope. (Source)
Working alongside her husband, Mark Burnett, as executive producer of ‘The Bible,’ Roma Downey no doubt had great influence and input on the content of the series. Yet she, along with millions of others, finds herself enslaved to a false religion. While Christians must pray that many will be delivered from this deception, it cannot be ignored that, at the Council of Trent, the Roman Catholic Church anathematized the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone. Canon 9 of the Council of Trent reads:
If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, and that it is not in any way necessary that he be prepared and disposed by the action of his own will, let him be anathema. (Source)
Of course, the Bible teaches that men are saved by faith alone, and even that is a gift from God:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8–9)
Yet, as countless numbers of professing Christians, and even many unbelievers, gather on Sunday evenings to watch ‘The Bible,’ many likely remain dangerously ignorant of the erroneous theology that may have impacted this production. Those who are watching, then, are urged to do so with caution, with discernment, and with the true Bible in hand. Once ‘The Bible’ miniseries is compared to the real thing, it should not take long to realize that the book is far better.
Roma Downey and the New Age.
Now on to the current post:
(Revised 08/10/13)
Roma Downey’s comments about her New Age “Spiritual Psychology” degree show she is not a Christian as she claims, but a New Ager
In the Wikipedia article about Roma Downey I noticed this fact: “Roma graduated from the University of Santa Monica with a master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology.”
On a technical note, this blog says Downey “will graduate in June”; it was written Apr. 23, but doesn’t say what year. I looked back at several previous blogs – the Mar. 25 blog refers to “this Sunday, March 28.” Which would mean the Downey blog was written Apr. 23, 2010. So apparently Roma Downey graduated from USM in June 2010.
What exactly is “Spiritual Psychology”? Is it “New Age”? Bingo, you’re correct! I’m going to quote from several sources here, to explain Spiritual Psychology and Downey’s involvement.
This discernment article (which unfortunately says we should give “The Bible” a chance of watching it and discussing it with nonbelievers) nonetheless contains much helpful info on Downey. Such as:
I think, without question, [Della] Reese has had an influence over Downey’s view of God, and possibly that of Burnett, as well. However, even if she hasn’t [obviously she has, as I showed in another blog], Downey definitely has been exposed to the New Age having earned a degree in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica (USM). (Charisma)
Lest one think this is a fully accredited four-year university with degrees in several schools; it is not. USM only offers an advance degree in “Spiritual Psychology”. If there is any question as to whether this is tied into New Age thought one only has to look to the founder of USM, Roger Delano Hinkins [I added this link-DM], who goes by the name, John-Roger. Hinkins, or John-Roger, is a prominent New Age author and teacher.
And here’s what I found about Spiritual Psychology at the Santa Monica Spiritual Psychology website:
“Spiritual Psychology is the study and practice of the art and science of human evolution in consciousness… “surrendering” and “sacrificing” is work that can and has been called “healing,” which includes healing on the physical, mental, and emotional levels in service to the deeper revelation of who we truly are as Loving, Peaceful, Compassionate, and Joyful beings. We refer to this level of awareness as the Authentic Self…
Put another way, Spiritual Psychology is a technology that empowers students to convert their everyday life experience into rungs on the ladder of Spiritual Evolution…
Change is taking place at an unprecedented pace on our planet… From within the Context of Spiritual Psychology, the only way to truly promote peace is for there to be more peaceful individuals living in the world.
… Assuming we get through the current challenges, these very same skills will be highly valued as we transform into a more peaceful, highly globalized world.”
Regarding the University of Santa Monica, this Wikipedia article states, [founder Roger Delano Hinkins was joined by] “Dr. H. Ronald Hulnick and Dr. Mary R. Hulnick (former faculty members at New Mexico State University), who shortly thereafter took on the roles and responsibilities as President and Academic Vice President, respectively.” And in Google’s “Book” section, I found this book: Loyalty to Your Soul: The Heart of Spiritual Psychology, by H. Ronald Hulnick, Ph.D., Mary R. Hulnick, Neale Donald Walsch. The New Age Roma Downey provides this glowing endorsement (viewable online) near the beginning of the book as follows:
“As a USM [University of Santa Monica] graduate, I know firsthand the value I received from participating with Ron and Mary in the Master’s degree Program in Spiritual Psychology. I am so grateful to have Loyalty to Your Soul to sweetly remind me of all I have learned. Let’s just say that I went from playing an angel on TV in living more of an angelic life every day. The teachings in this beautiful book have sent me on a journey to the very centre of my own being where, wrapped in the safe wings of Love, I feel as though I have come home.”
For more info on the above book on Spiritual Psychology, see the book’s home page here.
Finally, a quote from this source:
“Roma also attends the University of Santa Monica, a private graduate school founded by New Age spirituality and self-help guru John-Roger, and will graduate with a master’s degree in spiritual psychology in June [2010].
‘As someone who has been on a spiritual journey for many years [so basically Downey admits she has been a New Ager for many years – notice she doesn’t say here, she’s been “a Christian” for many years], it seems a natural extension of that work,’ says the lady still seen in Hallmark Channel reruns as angel Monica. She notes, ‘The skills I’m learning will ultimately qualify me to be a therapist’ — not that she has plans to start a practice anytime soon. ‘It’s really so interesting to learn about human behaviour.’
And other matters.
Says Roma, who lives in Malibu, ‘My kids go to school about a 40-minute drive away. I’m open to the group’s opinion about what we listen to on the way there. On the way back, I get my own selections — books on tape by Eckhart Tolle, Tony Robbins… My husband says I’m so self-realized I’m practically levitating.’
And Downey, a Spiritual Psychology major who listens to Eckhart Tolle and “practically levitates”, is co-producing “The Bible”? This is pretty heretical – not to mention all her other New Age statements quoted in my other blogs.
This article by Kate Nesbitt gives a New Age definition of Spiritual Psychology. Note that 1) the writer graduated from the same school as Roma Downey. And 2) Downey has stated elsewhere recently that she hopes to become a “therapist” (similar to Kate Nesbitt, I assume).
Zoo… when did Downey supposedly becomes a Christian? Before or after getting a Master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology? And perhaps Downey received this degree near the same time she was “contemplating” a production of “The Bible”. Sounds to me like Downey is claiming to be a “Christian” in the same way Oprah Winfrey is claiming to be a “Christian.” It would be interesting to see Downey go on an Oprah show as a guest. Wouldn’t that be a hoot, seeing one famous New Ager who insists she’s a Christian talk with another famous New Ager who insists she’s a Christian.
Would Christians like “The Bible” if it were produced by Winfrey, or Shirley MacLaine, or Deepak Chopra? Seems to me like Roma Downey is just as bad.
(Revised 03/07/13)
By Davemosher
Roma Downey’s comments and connections with psychic medium John Edward show she is not a Christian as she claims, but a New Ager
I stumbled across several articles connecting self-proclaimed “Christian” Roma Downey with psychic medium John Edward. The Bible condemns occult practices such as those of John Edward. Seems to me this is powerful proof Downey is not a Christian as she claims, but a New Ager.
So far I have found two articles detailing Downey’s connections with Edward. I have reposted them verbatim below, to document these connections. I have emphasized certain points by bolding, and inserted comments in [brackets].
Exhibit #1
Roma’s TV chat to dead mother [in 2002] (click here for the original source of this article)
Byline: DREW MacKENZIE in New York
ACTRESS Roma Downey has talked to her mother through a psychic on live TV.
The Derry-born Touched By An Angel star was a guest on a celebrity version of the US psychic show Crossing Over, hosted by medium John Edward.
Roma’s mother, Maureen died of a heart attack in Derry when she was 10.
And Roma was heartbroken that she was never able to tell her how much she loved her.
So she jumped at an offer from the producers of the show on the Sci-Fi Channel to speak to her mum using Edwards for the connection.
Downey sat directly behind Edwards during the programme and he did not know who the celebrity he was speaking to was until he turned around at the end of the segment.
He was able to tell that the 41-year-old actress was caught in a hail of gunfire during an IRA gun battle 30 years ago which almost killed her.
Facing the audience, he said: “I hear you cry. I hear some sort of popping.
“The sort of popping I am hearing would mean there is some sort of gunfire or like someone was caught in a spray of bullets.”
And referring to the celebrity’s mother, he said: “She [the spirit of her mother] was commending and applauding what you do and how you do it.”
Roma said: “My mother was telling me that she was very proud of me and my work, it just made me want to weep.”
The psychic show will be aired in America tomorrow night.
CAPTION (S):
SEANCE: Downey
Exhibit #2 Roma Downey develops rosary concept with John Edward, includes her rosary CD in his book
Note: this Amazon link to the first edition includes a “Look Inside” link to read various pages online
And a reader comment on the second edition of the book (which also includes Downey’s CD) states: “John Edward came out with this brilliant concept with Roma Downey”.
Practical Praying: Using the Rosary to Enhance Your Life (click here for the original source of the article below)
Roma prays the entire rosary on the beautiful CD that comes along with this book. It’s quite lovely and gives you the special opportunity and a unique spiritual closeness to Roma to be able to pray right along with her as if she was right there at your side.
The book above by well-known author John Edward was published in April [2005]. Practical Praying is divided into three sections; the first includes Edward’s thoughts about writing the book and his own personal approach to prayer, as well as the history of the rosary in the Catholic Church. The second section discusses the usage of the power of prayer through the rosary. The last section is the audio CD, which the author says is “one of my favourite parts of the book. It’s unbelievably beautiful.” Roma Downey refused to accept pay for her work, instead asking Edward to make a donation to Operation Smile in her name “so she could pay for more smiles,” he said.
You might enjoy purchasing one of Roma’s beautiful rosaries from her collection at QVC to use when listening to the Roma’s beautiful voice or you may use them and pray the rosary with her.
For those that may be surprised that John Edward wrote a book all about the use of the rosary in your life, you may feel differently after reading a recent article Praying the Rosary [link not included] John Edward’s new book details his favourite ‘weapon of spiritual defence’ that ran recently in The Catholic Telegraph. Click on the link [broken link] to The Catholic Telegraph to read the full article. Although to many, including some Catholic clergy, they are not surprised at all. During the run of his popular [psychic medium] show, he always promoted the use of the rosary and shared that he prayed it daily. John Edward is an Irish-Italian Catholic. In regards to this specific book and his promotion of the rosary, he even received recently a papal blessing, signed by the current pope when he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. [Wow – I’d like to research this further – the Pope is “God’s man on Earth.” All his decrees are (supposedly) infallible – yet he gave his blessing to Edward’s book??? Shocking.] The book has become quite popular with Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
Conclusion and thoughts
I’m wondering if Edward and Downey received some of their Rosary concepts from the teachings of New Ager Elizabeth Clare Prophet, who also developed her own brand of the Rosary back in 1972. Click here for a description of “the New Age Scriptural Rosaries given to Elizabeth Clare Prophet by Mother Mary.”
I do believe Mary accepted Christ as her Saviour – that she was born again and is in Heaven. But she is not an intercessor or Co-Redemptrix (hopefully I’m using the right Catholic terms). And any messages or apparitions supposedly from her are actually demonic counterfeits.
Compiled by UKAL 1/1/2014
Refs
[1] http://beginningandend.com/the-bible-miniseries-hollywood-heresy/
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