A Christian Worldview

Anthony Selvaggio has written an interesting book on the modern-day effects of worldliness on the Christian. He does not just address outward behavior but speaks to the internal working worldliness has upon the heart. This I found unique. The short description in the foreword of the book I think sums it up best when he says: “While external behavior practices do matter, the real battle to avoid worldliness occurs internally, in our hearts and minds. While we have been consumed with external matters, worldliness has gained a foothold in our thought processes. Satan has been very successful in getting us to think like the world. This book is an effort to counter Satan’s attack on our minds. It’s a counterinsurgency aimed at thwarting the evil intentions of our adversary.”

The book outlines 7 toxic ideas and then addresses these concerns with scripture. The chapters I found most helpful and interesting were those that dealt with Consumerism and new Technology and it’s effect on our culture, the Christian and the church. Those who would most benefit from this book would be those 35 and under. He does a thorough examination of the 7 ideas he presents and how these ideas are opposite to a Christian worldview and explains why these toxic ideas are non-christian. A good short read.

Anthony T Selvaggio currently serves as a visiting professor of Biblical Studies at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA and is also Theologian in Residence at the Rochester Reformed Presbyterian Church in Rochester NY.

Publisher: P & R Publishing
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 1596381965
ISBN-13: 9781596381964

I received my copy from PFO Ministries. To order visit their website.
P.O. Box 26062 • Saint Louis, MO 63136-0062

Another Book Review of this book can be seen at : Ligonier Ministrieshttp://www.ligonier.org/blog/7-toxic-ideas-polluting-your-mind/

YOGA and the Church

YOGA UNCOILED: From East to West

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From the cover: Many believe they can practice yoga postures, breathing, and focusing techniques devoid of yoga’s spirituality, not realizing that yoga is an inherent part of Hindu philosophy which teaches man and nature are one with divinity.

Today, yoga is experiencing a worldwide renaissance and in America has more than 70,000 yoga teachers working in 20,000 locations. Although viewed primarily as fitness instructors, these trainers are in reality the leading missionaries of eastern religion in the west. The twenty-seven billion dollar a year yoga industry is marketed to students, athletes, businessmen, pregnant women and senior citzens promising solutions for stress reduction, concentration problems, and issues of self confidence.

Once viewed by Christians as a pagan import from the East, yoga has now become mainstream in the church through “Christ-centered yoga classes” designed to help improve spirituality and experience “the presence of God”. But is yoga’s mysticism compatible with historic Christianity?

 

Video-journalist Caryl Matrisciana, who was born and raised in India, returns to her native land to search for truth among India’s leading experts and examines what Christian Yoga practitioners in the West are saying about their Yoga participation.

 

With critical discernment, this hard-hitting and informative DVD explores the ramifications of dismissing yoga’s core spirituality, and blending Biblical terminology and precepts with eastern meditative techniques and practices.  To order this DVD please visit the website below:

 

 

Caryl Matrisciana‘s Website: - http://www.caryltvshop.com/

To order this DVD online visit the website: http://www.caryltvshop.com/Yoga-Uncoiled-From-East-To-West-DVD.html


About the Author

Film Maker and best-selling author Caryl Matrisciana is a well-known expert on ancient and modern world religions, contemporary cults, the New Age, and the occult. Caryl has co-produced or contributed research and expertise to more than 55 documentaries in the past 30 years. For the past 23 years Caryl was the Creative and Marketing Director for Jeremiah Films, a Southern California film company, a leader in documentary film production and video distribution. She was instrumental in the research and production of many of the films covering a myriad subjects and also narrated many of them.

Can Yoga ever be Christian? 

SEE VIDEO :  http://youtu.be/8_yfxZmRokg

Current Trends Examined

This Little Church Had None: A Church in Search of the Truth

 This is Pastor Gilley’s latest addition in a series of books he has written, that addresses the contemporary evangelical movements and is discerning their affects on the church and the individual Christian. The author has written extensively on the culture’s affect on the church. The content is broken up into 3 parts: 1. Obstacles to Truth, 2. Te way back, and part 3. Evangelism. Gilley makes another pleas in this book for a return to biblical preaching and a renewed confidence in the word of god. In the final chapter dealing with evangelism, co-author Jay Wegter outlines a series of questions and discussions that are designed to simplify worldviews, and then gives practical, biblical ways the bible can address them.

Copyright © 2009

Publisher Evangelical Press
ISBN 0852347081

Reading/Review date: July 2010

A Theological Look at Emergent and Emerging

Why We're Not Emergent

One of the benefits in reading this book was the authors took the time to quote large portions of this movement’s leaders such as (Rob Bell, Dan Kimball, Tony Jones, Spencer Burke, Brian McLaren, and several others) and their writings to fully explain what emergent/emerging is, in this way, it gives the reader a more balanced and fair look at the movement being critiqued by DeYoung and Kluck.

In laying out the problems theologically, DeYoung and Kluck make 3 excellent observations in Chapter 1 - Is God Knowable?: 1) the authors state that Emergents question whether we can have any real accurate knowledge about God to begin with. They write emergent leaders are allowing the immensity of God to be swallow up His knowability, and say; “The first problem with the emergent view of journey is that it undermines the know ability of God (pg 35)    2). “With the emergent view of journey is that it suffers from an confusion of categories,” and also makes the well observed point, that “Emerging leaders equate uncertainty with humility. (excellent refutation by the authors is made on this emergent/emerging position). (pg.39)   3). “the third problem with the emergent view of journey is that it establishes doubt as the essence of faith.” (pg.49) Both emerging and emergent seem to have a lack of confidence in the Scriptures.

Our foundation as protestants since the reformation has always been on the Bible being foundational, from which is built upon first Christ (1 Cor. 3:11, and the apostles and prophets writings from the Bible, the non-repeatable foundation of the apostles and prophets that have been preserved for all times in Scripture. (the Bible) is the foundation for truth for the church. (pg.82)  This is what every Christian should, and what devoted followers of Christ do stand firm on.

 

 

The authors do an in-depth observation at who and what the emergent and emerging leaders are writing on blogs and putting in print in order to understand the movement. (pg 23). They have identified who the main emergent leaders are, and those who’s voices are highlighted as bringing forth what aligns with (some) of the views in the emerging conversation. If you can get through some of the heavy reading and philosophical bickering, this book could offer some key insight on what the emergent and emerging church actually is, and why there are many problems with it theologically. Keep standing firm on the truth revealed in Scripture.

Copyright © 2008

Publisher - Moody Publisher

ISBN: 10: 0-8024-5834-3

Reading Review Date: January 2010

The Truth War

Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception

Dr. John MacArthur takes a bold and straight forward approach to addressing the current trends that have been invading the Church. He gives clear, well defined definitions of the Emerging and Emergent church movements and other trends such as the purpose-driven movement that have been moving through the Church. The author outlines in each chapter his scriptural reasons for his deep concerns.

MacArthur warns that: ‘Trends signal a significant departure from biblical & historic Christianity’. MacArthur shows examples of points in early church history where the fight for Truth is what keeps the purity of our Faith intact. A key concern for the church is Apostasy to which 2 Thess 2:10 warns will happen to those who do not receive the love of the truth.

This book takes a closer examination of these current trends in the Church and quotes what the Leaders of these movements say themselves, it is quickly apparent that historical Christian truth is being undermined. We are being told by some of these leaders that ‘Truth found in Scripture’ can’t be certain or knowable. As the author writes; ‘Truth is under assault in the Church today’, and ‘People are experimenting with subjective, relativistic ideas of Truth and labeling them Christian’. But contrary to popular teachings and thought, stands the enduring truth of scripture. 2 Tim 3:16,17, Psalms 119:160, Proverbs 30:5, 1 Peter 1:25

Another important point addressed in this book is the Christian’s apathy towards discernment and the Church allowing false teachings to flourish, and the sad lack of duty to contend earnestly for the Faith - Jude 3. John MacArthur writes that church leaders are especially responsible for setting the example for all believers - Jerm 3:15, Acts 20:18-31.

The Truth War - Fighting For Certainty in an Age of Deception

John MacArthur 

SEE VIDEO : http://youtu.be/35LVc-lwLO4

“The Truth War” will cause you to really think about your faith, what you believe and why. You will learn important lessons on discernment and how to determine truth by applying the Scriptures, and you will grow in your knowledge of Christ. For those who already hold to sound doctrine, it will refresh you. Recommended Reading.

John MacArthur is the author of over 150 books including many best-sellers. He is the Pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California and President of the Master’s College and Seminary. He is also president of  Grace to you  ministries which produces an internationally syndicated radio program, along with print, audio and internet resources. http://www.gty.org/Resources

Copyright © 2007 John MacArthur

Thomas Nelson publishers - http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/

ISBN - 10: 0-7852-6263-6


Reading / Review Date: July 14, 2007