The Circle Maker Heresy – Witchcraft In The Church
Hot off the presses, a new book is making its way around churches and youth groups that further incorporates the “strange fire” of occult mysticism as a poor substitute for true Biblical Spirituality…
[Excerpts from article]
The Circle Maker Heresy – Witchcraft In The Church
The apostasy of the modern church continues with a book that is teaching witchcraft.
This year a book called “The Circle Maker” has started making the rounds through churches as the latest “new method” to access untold blessings from God. Written by Pastor Mark Batterson of National Community Church in Washington D.C., The Circle Maker teaches a new method of prayer by drawing a circle either on the ground or in the Bible based on an old Jewish legend from the Talmud and misuses verses from the Bible to put a new spin on the Prosperity Gospel heresy that wrongly teaches that Christians can receive whatever material blessing they want from God. Not only is this a false teaching and heresy, it is also embracing concepts from witchcraft. The popularity of this book among Christians is yet another sign of the growing apostasy as the church moves away from the Bible to adopt any new method even if it is linked to the occult.
The “New Way” To Pray
“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
Batterson started National Community Church in 1996 with 3 people and today it is one of the fastest growing churches in Washington D.C. with 7 campuses where the church meets (consisting of coffee shops, movie theaters and concert spaces).
The Washington Post has dubbed Batterson: “one of the most promising leaders for the next generation.” David Kinnaman, President of the Christian polling and research firm, Barna Group said:
I’m not sure if anyone could make a bet as to whether he’ll reach the rare echelon of the top two or three pastors, but he’s clearly putting himself in the hunt,” said David Kinnaman, president of the evangelical polling and research firm the Barna Group. (source)
Zondervan, one of the biggest publishers in the world, chose The Circle Maker as one of three books to do a major PR campaign to tens of thousands of churches across America. The book debuted as a New York Times bestseller. So with all the excitement, hype and popularity, what exactly is the book teaching? Here is a video trailer for the book and the accompanying study course:
Notice that the entire premise of the book is based on “the legend of Honi The Circle Maker.” This should be the first red flag to any Bible-believing Christian (and it is this author’s sincere hope and prayer that this article will encourage believers to use the Bible as the basis of their beliefs and decisions about what is God-honoring and what is not).
This “legend” is a story from the Talmud and Midrash, which is a compilation of Jewish oral tradition and commentaries on the Mosaic law. The point here is that the Talmud is not the Bible. Honi is referred to as “a prophet of God” and yet he is not mentioned in the Bible. Notice in the video, Honi did not wait to hear God’s instructions as all the prophets of the Old Testament did. He has his own plan and ideas and took them to God for The Lord to execute. It was Honi’s idea to make the circle, not The Lord’s. This is the exact opposite of God’s prophets who the word of The Lord came to and they acted upon it as willing servants.
The Bible says: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) and encourages Pastors to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2). In both commands it is focused on The Bible which is “the word of truth” and “doctrine.”
Why would a Pastor base an entire book and teaching on prayer, one of the most important aspects of Christian life, on a non-Biblical source? The same passage 2 Timothy continues:
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Rather than focus on “sound doctrine.” Batterson is teaching “fables” to the church. Batterson reinforces this by saying he is in fact teaching “how to pray in a new way” and states “you can’t just read the Bible, you need to start circling the promises..” All of this is with this goal of achieving “big dreams” and having God deliver your desires to you. This “me-centered” approach to the Bible is a hallmark of the Prosperity Gospel heresy. It is a false teaching that misuses Scripture to teach that whatever a Christian desires on Earth, can be theirs, either through faith, giving money to a pastor or some other New Age technique. When in fact, Jesus Christ instructs to not store up treasures on Earth, but focus on eternal life (which comes through faith in Christ), serving God and our eternal riches in Heaven. But Batterson, like many Pastors today who are “seeker-sensitive” and “emergent” want church to cater to the wants and desires of the world wants to use the Bible as a means of receiving what you want, as soon as possible.
In this case, it is done by “drawing a circle in the sand” or around whatever object it is that a person wants. This is where “discernment” – the ability to distinguish a teaching that is based on the Bible and thus The Word of God, from what is not. This is a very important skill for every Christian and The Circle Maker is a perfect example to demonstrate how believers can be lured and deceived into thinking a teaching is Biblical, when it is not.
Full article:
http://beginningandend.com/the-circle-maker-heresy-witchcraft-in-the-church/