An Excerpt from Tamara Hartzell’s new online book:
“Reimagining” God: Turning the Light off to Look for “Truth” in the Corner of a Dark Round Room
Below is a relevant discussion of increasingly popular emerging doctrine, “incarnating Christ,” taught by Leonard Sweet and other leaders. Today’s excerpt is from Chapter 4, p. 91.
“Early Christians drew upon ideas,
phrases, metaphors, and customs of pagan cultures as ‘seeds’ of the divine Word
that become enfleshed in Christ and in the church.”
– Leonard Sweet*
phrases, metaphors, and customs of pagan cultures as ‘seeds’ of the divine Word
that become enfleshed in Christ and in the church.”
– Leonard Sweet*
“The
completion of the incarnation of God in the world must be in His
Church…. Jesus Christ is the fruitfruit, but without the ongoing
harvest, the incarnation will never be complete…. “
“We
are on earth as extensions of God to finish the work He began. We are
the essence of God, His on-going incarnation in the world.”
– Earl Paulk**
completion of the incarnation of God in the world must be in His
Church…. Jesus Christ is the fruitfruit, but without the ongoing
harvest, the incarnation will never be complete…. “
“We
are on earth as extensions of God to finish the work He began. We are
the essence of God, His on-going incarnation in the world.”
– Earl Paulk**
“In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.… And the
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
(John
1:1, 14)
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.… And the
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
(John
1:1, 14)
“And without
controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of
angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory.”
(1 Timothy 3:16)
controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of
angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory.”
(1 Timothy 3:16)
|
I
|
n the light of God’s unadulterated written Word of truth, “the
Word was made flesh” and “God was manifest in the flesh” one time and one time only in the one and only Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Son of God
and “the Lord from heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:47), was sent by the Father “to be
the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14). So God the Son took on a human body in
order to “taste death for every man” as the only perfect and eternal sacrifice
for our sins:
Word was made flesh” and “God was manifest in the flesh” one time and one time only in the one and only Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Son of God
and “the Lord from heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:47), was sent by the Father “to be
the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14). So God the Son took on a human body in
order to “taste death for every man” as the only perfect and eternal sacrifice
for our sins:
“But we see Jesus,
who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste
death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9)
who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste
death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9)
“For the wages
of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“Neither by the
blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the
holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.… And almost all things
are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no
remission.” (Hebrews 9:12, 22)
blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the
holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.… And almost all things
are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no
remission.” (Hebrews 9:12, 22)
“For it is not
possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore
when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest
not, but a body hast thou prepared me …
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that
he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once
for all.… But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever,
sat down on the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:4-5, 9-10, 12)
possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore
when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest
not, but a body hast thou prepared me …
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that
he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once
for all.… But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever,
sat down on the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:4-5, 9-10, 12)
“For there is
one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1
Timothy 2:5)
one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1
Timothy 2:5)
Although the term is not found in Scripture, Jesus—God the Son
“made flesh” in a human body—has been referred to as God “incarnate.” The term incarnate means “made flesh,”[i] and likewise, the term incarnation
means “act of being made flesh.”[ii] Not surprisingly, these terms have taken on
a much broader meaning now that today’s shifting Christianity is trying to
“find God” and “relationship” on the broad way. And, of course, in the emerging
faith of Oneness, i.e., panentheism, these terms ultimately take on as broad of a
meaning as it gets. Both its immanent “God” and its immanent “Christ” are
“incarnate” in everyone and everything.
“made flesh” in a human body—has been referred to as God “incarnate.” The term incarnate means “made flesh,”[i] and likewise, the term incarnation
means “act of being made flesh.”[ii] Not surprisingly, these terms have taken on
a much broader meaning now that today’s shifting Christianity is trying to
“find God” and “relationship” on the broad way. And, of course, in the emerging
faith of Oneness, i.e., panentheism, these terms ultimately take on as broad of a
meaning as it gets. Both its immanent “God” and its immanent “Christ” are
“incarnate” in everyone and everything.
First, the Lord Jesus Christ
alone is both the Word “made flesh” and God “manifest in the flesh.” God is
neither immanent nor incarnate in any part of His creation. And God’s Word
makes it clear that God and the Lord Jesus Christ only dwell in believers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers are
neither “incarnations” of God nor “incarnations” of Christ nor “of one
substance” with Jesus, but a “temple”
in whom the Holy Spirit dwells—Who is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Jesus
Christ (e.g., 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; Galatians 4:6; Philippians 1:19; 1
Peter 1:11). Believers are neither God in the flesh nor Christ in the flesh nor
Jesus in the flesh, and can neither “be Jesus” nor “become Jesus.” We are “the temple of God” and He indwells us as
a separate Being. God was not “one
substance” (“One”) with the temple in Old Testament times, and neither is He,
nor does He become, “one substance” (“One”) with us now. Neither does the Lord
Jesus Christ, Who is God.
alone is both the Word “made flesh” and God “manifest in the flesh.” God is
neither immanent nor incarnate in any part of His creation. And God’s Word
makes it clear that God and the Lord Jesus Christ only dwell in believers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers are
neither “incarnations” of God nor “incarnations” of Christ nor “of one
substance” with Jesus, but a “temple”
in whom the Holy Spirit dwells—Who is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Jesus
Christ (e.g., 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; Galatians 4:6; Philippians 1:19; 1
Peter 1:11). Believers are neither God in the flesh nor Christ in the flesh nor
Jesus in the flesh, and can neither “be Jesus” nor “become Jesus.” We are “the temple of God” and He indwells us as
a separate Being. God was not “one
substance” (“One”) with the temple in Old Testament times, and neither is He,
nor does He become, “one substance” (“One”) with us now. Neither does the Lord
Jesus Christ, Who is God.
But, of course, those in the emerging faith of Oneness/panentheism
don’t see it that way. This emerging faith “reimagines” God as immanent in creation—i.e., in the very substance of everyone and
everything. Absurdly, this immanence/Oneness not only places this “reimagined”
“God” in the very substance of the
trees, gold, silver, brass, precious stones, etc., that were used to make the
temple in Old Testament times, but also in
the very substance of the flesh, blood, cells, DNA, atoms, etc., that make
man.
don’t see it that way. This emerging faith “reimagines” God as immanent in creation—i.e., in the very substance of everyone and
everything. Absurdly, this immanence/Oneness not only places this “reimagined”
“God” in the very substance of the
trees, gold, silver, brass, precious stones, etc., that were used to make the
temple in Old Testament times, but also in
the very substance of the flesh, blood, cells, DNA, atoms, etc., that make
man.
“Know ye not
that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1
Corinthians 3:16)
that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1
Corinthians 3:16)
Second, the Lord Jesus
Christ alone is Christ. The Lord Jesus is not an “incarnation” of Christ. He is the Christ, the only Messiah. The Lord Jesus was sent by
God to be the Messiah—the Christ—the Saviour of the world. No one
“incarnates” the Messiah; they either are the Messiah or they are not. And all who are not the one and only Person
of the Lord Jesus Christ are not the
Messiah. Likewise, for all who
are not the one and only Person of the Lord Jesus Christ there is no “being Christ”—being the Messiah—to the world, or even at
all!
Christ alone is Christ. The Lord Jesus is not an “incarnation” of Christ. He is the Christ, the only Messiah. The Lord Jesus was sent by
God to be the Messiah—the Christ—the Saviour of the world. No one
“incarnates” the Messiah; they either are the Messiah or they are not. And all who are not the one and only Person
of the Lord Jesus Christ are not the
Messiah. Likewise, for all who
are not the one and only Person of the Lord Jesus Christ there is no “being Christ”—being the Messiah—to the world, or even at
all!
“…We have found
the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” (John 1:41)
the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” (John 1:41)
“And we have
seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the
world.” (1 John 4:14)
seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the
world.” (1 John 4:14)
“Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20)
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20)
“And he said
unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
(Mark 16:15)
unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
(Mark 16:15)
“Then opened he
their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them,
Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the
dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke
24:45-47)
their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them,
Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the
dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke
24:45-47)
Again, no one “incarnates” the Christ (Messiah); they either are
the Christ (Messiah) or they are not. And all
who are not the one and only Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Who died for
the sins of the world and rose from the dead the third day are not the Christ (Messiah). The
Lord Jesus Christ alone is Christ. The
Lord Jesus Christ alone is Jesus. The
Lord Jesus Christ alone is the Word “made flesh” and God “manifest in the
flesh.” To believe otherwise is to believe the emerging faith of
Oneness/panentheism, which is both a counterfeit gospel of a counterfeit
“Christ,” and a counterfeit faith of a counterfeit “God.” Both are completely
powerless to save.
the Christ (Messiah) or they are not. And all
who are not the one and only Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Who died for
the sins of the world and rose from the dead the third day are not the Christ (Messiah). The
Lord Jesus Christ alone is Christ. The
Lord Jesus Christ alone is Jesus. The
Lord Jesus Christ alone is the Word “made flesh” and God “manifest in the
flesh.” To believe otherwise is to believe the emerging faith of
Oneness/panentheism, which is both a counterfeit gospel of a counterfeit
“Christ,” and a counterfeit faith of a counterfeit “God.” Both are completely
powerless to save.
“For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans
1:16)
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans
1:16)
“For the preaching of the cross is to them
that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
The Word was made flesh one time and one time only in the one and
only Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the truth of Who the Lord Jesus Christ is
and what He did for us. The Gospel is
not made flesh in every culture! Nor is the Word made flesh differently in every epoch/age! But people in today’s
shifting Christianity, in their eagerness to find a new “truth” and “faith”
that they are willing to accept, are becoming “so open to change the old” and
“so eager to embrace the new”—even
from “pagan cultures” no less. [For example, Emergent leader Leonard Sweet has said,]
only Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the truth of Who the Lord Jesus Christ is
and what He did for us. The Gospel is
not made flesh in every culture! Nor is the Word made flesh differently in every epoch/age! But people in today’s
shifting Christianity, in their eagerness to find a new “truth” and “faith”
that they are willing to accept, are becoming “so open to change the old” and
“so eager to embrace the new”—even
from “pagan cultures” no less. [For example, Emergent leader Leonard Sweet has said,]
“There is no
matter without spirit. There is no flesh without word. The height dimension of
faith teaches us that without the Word made flesh, there is no Word made power.
In every epoch, however, the Word is
made flesh differently.… Logos
materializes in Pathos in forms
fundamental to, shapes revelatory of, the age.”[iii]
matter without spirit. There is no flesh without word. The height dimension of
faith teaches us that without the Word made flesh, there is no Word made power.
In every epoch, however, the Word is
made flesh differently.… Logos
materializes in Pathos in forms
fundamental to, shapes revelatory of, the age.”[iii]
“Not only did God become incarnate at one time and in one place,
thus becoming visible to the earth, but the
gospel gets incarnated in every culture by design.…
thus becoming visible to the earth, but the
gospel gets incarnated in every culture by design.…
“Incarnational energies are what make the restless intelligence of
the Christian tradition so eager to embrace the new, so open to change the old,
so free to be creative in its engagement with the world. An incarnational faith
is what guarantees generativity, the possibility of every culture to ‘know’
things about God that have never been ‘known’ before.…
the Christian tradition so eager to embrace the new, so open to change the old,
so free to be creative in its engagement with the world. An incarnational faith
is what guarantees generativity, the possibility of every culture to ‘know’
things about God that have never been ‘known’ before.…
“Early Christians drew upon ideas,
phrases, metaphors, and customs of pagan cultures as ‘seeds’ of the divine Word
that become enfleshed in Christ and in the church.”[iv]
phrases, metaphors, and customs of pagan cultures as ‘seeds’ of the divine Word
that become enfleshed in Christ and in the church.”[iv]
Absurdly, [according to]
this emerging faith not only is the “gospel” incarnated—made flesh—in every
culture and “the Word” “made flesh differently” in every epoch, but Christ
is paganism incarnate! That is, the
Messiah is paganism incarnate! So,
in other words, paganism is the “form”/“shape” that is “fundamental to”
and “revelatory of” our age. How very fitting for this post-truth age in
which man is coming full circle in the culmination of Satan’s lie.
this emerging faith not only is the “gospel” incarnated—made flesh—in every
culture and “the Word” “made flesh differently” in every epoch, but Christ
is paganism incarnate! That is, the
Messiah is paganism incarnate! So,
in other words, paganism is the “form”/“shape” that is “fundamental to”
and “revelatory of” our age. How very fitting for this post-truth age in
which man is coming full circle in the culmination of Satan’s lie.
In the never-ending absurdity (to say the very least) of this
emerging faith, “the man Christ Jesus” is not the only Word “made flesh.” Anything is—including “ideas, phrases,
metaphors, and customs of pagan cultures.” To say that today’s shifting
Christianity is “rethinking” and “reimagining” the Messiah—the Christ—is an
eternal understatement. Yet today’s off-the-map changes of convoluted absurdity
are inevitable when the truth and faith of God’s Word are “reimagined” as fictitious truth….
emerging faith, “the man Christ Jesus” is not the only Word “made flesh.” Anything is—including “ideas, phrases,
metaphors, and customs of pagan cultures.” To say that today’s shifting
Christianity is “rethinking” and “reimagining” the Messiah—the Christ—is an
eternal understatement. Yet today’s off-the-map changes of convoluted absurdity
are inevitable when the truth and faith of God’s Word are “reimagined” as fictitious truth….
Not only is today’s shifting Christianity obviously changing its
methods and message in its purposeful
shift to darkness, but it is also changing to “another gospel,” “another spirit,”
“another Jesus,” as well as another “Christ” and another “God.”
methods and message in its purposeful
shift to darkness, but it is also changing to “another gospel,” “another spirit,”
“another Jesus,” as well as another “Christ” and another “God.”
“Take heed,
brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing
from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12)
brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing
from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12)
“But they
hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the
imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.” (Jeremiah
7:24)
hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the
imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.” (Jeremiah
7:24)
“…for, behold,
ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not
hearken unto me.” (Jeremiah 16:12)
ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not
hearken unto me.” (Jeremiah 16:12)
Endnotes:
[i].Online
Etymology Dictionary, “incarnate,” http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=incarnate.
Etymology Dictionary, “incarnate,” http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=incarnate.
[ii].Ibid.,
“incarnation,” http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=incarnation.
“incarnation,” http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=incarnation.
[iii].Leonard
Sweet, Quantum Spirituality, p. 101, emphasis added.
Sweet, Quantum Spirituality, p. 101, emphasis added.
[iv].Leonard
Sweet, So Beautiful, pp. 165-167, emphasis added.
Sweet, So Beautiful, pp. 165-167, emphasis added.
*Leonard Sweet, So Beautiful, see footnote 4.
**This quote was added to the original text of Hartzell’s book for purposes of illustrating the heresy. This quote is attributed to Earl Paulk, emphasis added, cited in the Discernment Ministries newsletter from July 1990 which states, “This is the cornerstone of Manifest Sons teaching…. we become EQUAL TO and EVEN ASSUME the ROLE OF JESUS CHRIST — THE GODMEN!” See Herescope post: “The New Breed and Incarnating Christ.” See also “Field of Dreams: Dominion Eschatology,” by Dr. Orrel Steinkamp.
Republished with permission of the author. This section of Chapter 4 was titled “Ideas, phrases, metaphors, and customs of pagan cultures” are “‘seeds’ of the divine Word that become enfleshed in Christ”?! Several minor textual changes were made to enhance its re-posting for blog use. The next section of Chapter 4 is titled: “The word ‘religion’
concerns relationship.”