| The term inkblot here refers to a diagnostic tool that allows a subject to project his/her internal-imaging onto an external stimulus (blot) which has an amorphous (shapeless) configuration. There are more than just a few religions which employ this technique to attract new followers. As we pan the landscape of present-day religious persuasions, we find: |
| INKBLOT RELIGION |
| There are religions that only recognize the Old Testament as being authoritative, and discard the New Testament as a counterfeit extension of God's written utterance. There are religions that pirate and purloin Biblical scripture in order to legitimize their feigned attempts to teach another god, as being the true God. There are religions which 'cherry pick' through scripture, and either add-to or take-away from scripture to advance their 'exclusive' interpretation and understanding of God's Truth. There are those religions (or movements) which convolute and twist God's Word in an attempt to have 'a little Truth' interspersed among the tares, in their gardens of detestable heresies. There religions that have such sway in their particular regions, they are able to openly denounce Christianity and drive its followers out of the country or even worse persecution. There are contemporary religious persuasions which masquerade under Christian banners, yet they are "feigned religions" foisting false prophets and teachers spoken of in 2 Pet. 2:1-3 (see below). Then there are the myriad of religions that have no Christian/Biblical affiliation or similarity in beliefs, these will not be addressed in this commentary. (several of these doctrine models can be found at www.aamen.org - Navigation Table) |
| Once the decision is made to opt-out of a Christ centered, bible based, and One True God Christianity, the opportunities to pursue one's quest for a religious utopia, nirvana, and/or existential-like sojourn are almost endless. Alice in Wonderland would even be amazed by the strangeness, if not weirdness, of many religious practices and beliefs held sacrosanct, in today's spiritual climate. |
| When you come upon churches and religious centers that display large human-like or animal statuary, adorn their buildings with multiple figurines, and/or clutter their sanctuaries with plaster icons you know you have entered a place forbidden by the 2nd of the Ten Commandments. [Deu. 20:4 - see below] It does not matter how many beads one counts, whoop-glories recited, or gold leaf hammered on the church steeple, unless one holds to Eph. 2:8 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" ... then it is a "works" rooted religion. Even so, such work's centered religions feign holiness by presenting their maxims on large gilded scrolls, impress by flowered liturgy, rely upon obsessive-like rituals, and/or place ordinance above substance. |
| Inkblot religions are a relatively recent alternative to traditional denominational offerings. They have come forth, in part, from a "quasi-spiritualized" community of disgruntles who declare they want something "new", fresh, and unhampered by traditional dogmas and 'outdated Christian practices'. Thus, the term, postmodern Christianity. |
| Much of the postmodern area was founded on situational morality, social relativism, and ethical expediency. The postmodern culture is willing to progressively borrow from tomorrow in order to afford today's desired necessities and indulgences. Politically, our reach in so many instances seems to have exceeded our grasp, and at the same time undermined our ability to balance expenditure against debt. Postmodern religiosity is a real and disturbing phenomenon. |
| Inkblot religion is a natural consequence of man's quest to be the master of his experiential environment. If a man is able to project his inner strivings into religious contrivances that he controls himself, then he is able to make convenient adjustments for his failures (sins) and determine his guilt, if any. Religious inkblots have no inherent form, as does the Cross at Calvary, and therefore they can be personally manipulated by the observer. |
| Several mega-churches today preach a message of 24-carat psychosocial gospel, take dominion now over the earth, and/or mankind is able to solve all ills that beset it, if "only we could get organized". Almost sounds like a contemporary 'political' gospel. A guiltless, bloodless, and unrepentant type of gospel message may be found in many television ministries and spiritual-like "revivals" blooming across America today. |
| Inkblot religious persuasion can be easily found in almost any contemporary ecumenical-unity-faith movement. We hear them shout, "We come together in unity for the sake if unity", for there are "many pathways to god", and "we each are the helmsman of our own individual destiny". Creationism, the Cross, Sin, intelligent design, by grace saved through faith, blood of the Cross, and "He (who) sits enthroned above the circle of the earth"[Isa. 40:22] are passé scriptural constructs which can become subjugated to let us all be 'green'. Green is good, but it is not the fulfillment of God's endtime purpose, nor the totality of the outworking of His endtime Plan (Eph. 1:10 see below). When the eschatological prophecies begin to fully manifest, Darwin, the Pope, Maroni, Rorschach, Oprah, nor Mohammad will be able to hear, much less respond to prayer pleas for divine intervention. |
| If you find yourself estranged from a Christ centered, bible based, religious setting you are in a danger zone that will ultimately lead you away from the Cross of Calvary and into the endtime deceptions set out in the Book of Revelation. In Christianity, no one needs to project their inner imagery onto a formless or lifeless figure, rather the believer is incorporated into the innermost part of the body-of-Christ and the presence of Christ becomes resident within the believer, via The Holy Spirit. |
| Contemporary spiritism promoted through "religious specials" on PBS, the History and Learning cable-channels, along with their New Age self-actualization gurus, are making marked inroads into the lost and unbelieving world. The religious trappings, self-absorbed ceremonial ordinances, mantras, and nostrums replete in counterfeit Christian religious sects are all but diabolical. Today, we need to discernibly distinguish between increasing nefarious voices and the calling of The Spirit of God. |
| We are now in the beginning time of the false signs and wonders setout in Mk. 13:21-23 - "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ !' or, 'Look, there He is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect--if that were possible. So be on your guard." False imagery, apparitions, unnatural manifestations are no longer extra-ordinary, but are becoming expectations in many revival settings and large public religious gatherings. Scripture reveals strange phenomenon will increase as we approach the time of the Tribulation Period, and amplify during that seven year span as well. |
| This is not a time or season to be caught-up in mystical, paranormal, or fanciful religious illusions. The forces of darkness have had six-thousand years to perfect their snares, trappings, and deceptions. (Eph. 6:12-13 see below) Let us not be arrogantly over confident of our acumen for discerning paranormal apparitions and unclean spirits, without the power of the Holy Spirit's gift for discerning of spirits operating within us. Our salvation is held in the Blood-of-Christ at the foot of the Cross and on the Father's Altar, and not in religions-of-man, psychosocial gospels, nor in works designed to substitute for faith. If we are willing to see through the eyes-of-Christ, we no longer must peer through a glass darkly, and inkblot-images disappear into the background from whence they came. |
| Jon D. Hannum, Ph.D. |
| 2 Pet. 2:1-3 - "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." |
| Deu. 20:4 - "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath ..." |
| Eph. 1:10 - "that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; in Him". |
| Eph. 6:12-13 - "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. 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". |
| Eph. 2:8-10 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do". |
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