In the world of alternative, holistic, and natural health, it isn’t uncommon to run into people that espouse various religious ideologies such as Taoism/Confucianism (Traditional Chinese Medicine), , Hinduism (Ayurvedic medicine), New Age (based on eastern mysticism in general, but primarily hinduistic/gnostic), or any of the earth-worshipping religions such as paganism, wicca, etc. There are many self-styled adherents to “spirituality”, and on North American shores, there is a resurrection of indigenous spiritism/ancestral worship/earth worship/shamanism. Shamanism around the world is fairly recognizable regardless of region.
Alongside these expressions gaining steam in the world of natural health and by extension due to disillusionment with medical establishments, the greater public eye, there is also renewed interest in the occult (of which wicca is a part, along with satanism, druidism, etc) and although one would think the obvious would send people running the other direction, Islam is seeing a rise in western countries all while there is an explosion under the radar, of muslims coming to Christ, an explosion that has been ongoing since the mid 2000’s.
There is a growing voice out there that all religions should examine their common ground and come together under one big banner! InfoWars shared an artistic depiction that makes the discerning believer cringe! I did not watch the associated video that went with it, but the image itself appears to have attempted to weave in a number of the world’s religions into a single graphic.
Now we know the Book of Revelation says there will be a single man-made religion headed by the False Prophet and whose object of worship will be the Anti-Christ. But the props must be put into place to make that a reality. Those props were originally being put into place clandestinely, under the radar of most people out on the street. The World Council of Churches was the first in the Christian world, to make this foray, and for a long time, other than ecumenical church groups, the only organized attempt to bring “all faiths to the table”. Various Imams began doing something similar on a community level, holding round tables in various cities, (mine being one of them) aiming to hold panels where each seat at the table was a representative from “a different faith”. On the surface, the objective was to create safe spaces for open dialogue and better understanding of each other. I was suspicious as each of these events would get announced where I live, and to my knowledge had taken place at least 3 times before 2020.
The WCoC and Islam however, would eventually be joined by the Popes of the Catholic organization, aiming to achieve two goals begun by Benedict (who’d be the first pope to resign his position) and carried on by Francis. The first goal is to eventually bring mainstream churches, Catholicism, and protestant churches all back together under the banner of the mother church. These Popes have had high level meetings with various leaders from various Christian denominations to this end. The House of One for example, in Germany, has been in the works since 2012, they were to begin building in April 2020, though an article in the Guardian February 21, 2021 says they are to begin the project May 27th. According to a website dedicated to the document signed between Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Abu Dabi back in 2019, known as The Document on Human Fraternity, Abrahamic Family House will be completed and ready for use in the UAE, in 2023, claiming that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all worship the same god, and that there are many ways to god and each of them are valid! The head of the Roman Catholic organization, various Jewish Rabbis, and several Imams have all echoed this idea.
More recently in the circles I move in with my new career focus as a Biblical Natural Health Coach offering natural health using food as medicine from a Biblical perspective, the newsletters and discussions I am seeing are all attempting to revolve around two things, that, without Christ at their centre, will only lead to further disillusionment.
The first is the issue of unity, and the second is the issue of spirit/love.
SPIRIT
For the unsaved world, the concept of spirit is more akin to attitude, passion, what drives a person, what breaks a person, etc. Those who espouse this understanding are trying to encourage anyone they can, to recognize the evil around us and to fight it from a position of love. They claim that love is the highest motivator and therefore able to conquer evil, but that it requires unity with our fellow man to find it’s fullest expression and achieve it’s fullest extent of power. To the unsaved mind, this either sounds really enticing, or really head-clopping! But for the believer, there should be warning bells.
Scripture teaches that without Christ, we are dead in our sins. The spirit of a man is not his passion, not his drive, not an attitude, nor a motivation. The spirit of a man is the intrinsic part of him that lives forever in either heaven, or hell after leaving this physical life on earth.
I want to share several passages now, around the subject of the spirit of man, and the Spirit of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Romans 8:1-11 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
1 Corinthians 2:9-14 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 15:44-58 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
LOVE
Scripture addresses the issue of love as well, from multiple angles that I won’t cover extensively for this article. I’ve written in the past about God’s idea and the world’s idea of love. Here are a few links on various aspects of that discussion:
https://songdove.fa-ct.com/wordpress-mu/songdovemusings/2017/07/09/humility-and-the-way-of-honour/
God’s idea of love is not the world’s idea of love. The world, and the various false religions all starting to cry “love, win with love”, are missing key ingredients to how love works best. Namely, God Himself.
1 John 4:7-21 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
I hope, from the discussion so far, that you are able to see the differences between the world’s idea of spirit and love, and what God says spirit and love are.
UNITY
With such drastically different concepts and ways of living those out, is there really as much common ground as the false religions say there is? The closest the world gets to God’s idea of love, is what we call humanitarianism. It’s a feel-good, altruistic sort of love that can shift on a dime. But it is hailed as the holy grail that mankind must reach for together, united as one.
Unfortunately, the world’s idea of unity, again, is not God’s idea of unity and does not share the same basis, goals, or purpose. Some of these are shared in the articles earlier around love, because one of the biggest differences between God’s concept of unity and the world’s, is that of acceptance of anything (read: tolerance) in the world’s idea while God’s version of unity is centered around living life led by the Holy Spirit along with others in the faith. God warns us not to be united with those who do not follow God’s ways.
I will allow God’s Word to continue now:
Luke 1:13-17 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
1 Corinthians 6:15-20 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 11:1-4 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Galatians 6:7-10 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Ephesians 2:1-19 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Ephesians 4:1-6 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 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. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
1 Timothy 4:1-5 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
So you see, it isn’t that God doesn’t want us uniting to do good for the betterment of those around us. He wants us united under the banner of Christ, and Christ alone, carrying out His desires as per the Holy Spirit’s leading on the hearts, spirits and minds of men.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
But what is it that these voices are calling us to unite around love to win? They claim that love wins over evil, and that unity is required for love to win over evil. They are literally only half right! The other half is that without God, no amount of human-derived love will win over evil. Only God’s love can do that. God teaches us how to overcome evil in His Word.
Romans 12:9-21 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
This passage in Ephesians is known as The Armor of God, and for good reason, as it informs us what is necessary to engage in spiritual warfare against the enemy of our souls and his various minions. They are doing overtime right now on the world stage to the point that even those who claim no spiritual affiliation whatsoever, are observing that what is coming down through governments, media and medical is downright evil and not from a human place. Spiritual enemies must be fought with spiritual weaponry, and that is only available to the born-again believer in Jesus Christ. I wrote a workbook on Spiritual Warfare, introducing the reader to seven aspects and understandings the warrior of God must have a solid grasp of, and the Scriptures that teach them, based on this passage in Ephesians.
God had me put this page together on my coaching website as well:
https://naturalhealthgodsway.ca/spiritual-warfare/
Two articles I’ve written on spiritual warfare on my author blog:
https://songdove.fa-ct.com/wordpress-mu/songdovemusings/2015/01/23/praise-and-peace/
The days are getting darker, so vividly now that those who do not know God are talking about it. Their ideas of love and unity will only be fully fleshed out and properly executed when they find Christ for themselves, because it is only in Christ that we have victory over sin, the devil, and the grave.
