In this chapter:
» The Bible: God's Revelation to Us
» Visions or "visualizations"?
» Spiritual Warfare

The hallmark of this movement is mysticism - a desire to enter into and experience the spirit realm through the physical senses (sensuality) and emotions; seeking higher, hidden, secret knowledge through intuition, feeling experiences, and personal 'revelations' and focusing attention inward to what is being experienced, rather than trusting by faith in what God has said in His word.

Many Christians do not realize that this is not the way God has told us to seek Him. Well-meaning believers are being led astray by leaders who are encouraging them into this experience-based faith rather than into the solid footing of the Bible.

One thing that I note about all mystical religions is the turning of attention inward. This quote from a yoga site is typical:

There is no ''Christian version'' of this. The Christian seeks the God who is objectively known through what He Himself has revealed to all in His word. The Christian is not directed to seek what he can hear within himself. Beware of anything that directs you to turn your attention within- this is Satan's means of deception! Turn your attention outward to God's word and let His word dwell within you, if you would be closer to God.

The leaders of this movement spend much time in direct communication with spirits. They believe they are ''hearing from God,'' often claiming to hear an audible voice. This is where they receive their doctrines.

When we open ourselves to input from the spirit world, we enter a world in which we are utterly blind. We have no way of knowing whether our impressions are accurate or of evaluating what we may see or hear. And, here these people are, taking the word of unknown spirits to be trustworthy, when we have been warned that our ''adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour,'' ''disguises himself as an angel of light'' and is ''a liar, and the father of lies'' ! (1Pet 5:8, 2Cor 11:14, Jn 8:44.) We should know better. The Bible has plainly warned us -

There are spirits who would like to deceive us. There are doctrines that demons would like for us to accept.

There is no need for us to to make ourselves vulnerable to deception by seeking hidden truths from unknown spirits. Jesus does not work in secrecy, He is open and forthright. He has given us the truth clearly and openly in His word.

The word ''occult'' means ''hidden'' or ''secret.'' This word describes Satan's religions well. He desires to lure us into darkness to seek hidden, secret mysteries, because there he can most easily deceive us. God, in contrast, is pictured as light.