|
Seer Training: Christian or mysticism
A church in Scotland which is part of a mainstream denomination is running a course on Seer Training. Is this forward thinking or a route into occultic mysticism?
by Watchman
 We live in a day of both great threat and great opportunity.
Churches are haemhorraging members, our nation is now post-Christian and we are seeing new government legislation coming onto force which is making it more and more difficult for believers at all levels to maintain a solid Christian witness. A post-war baby boom of church leaders is heading for retirement whilst Christian denominations increasingly are following the secular tide into condoning and encouraging immoral models of relationship.
But change also presents great opportunity. Whenever prevailing and historical models are threatened, the loss of the status quo can produce a vacuum into which new things can flow and new paradigms emerge.
The question today is whether what is 'new' is biblical or a return to mystic and deviant practices.
The following is the blurb attaching to a forthcoming course in Scotland for Christians.
----------------------
The Seer Course
The Seer Course will walk you through the ancient Hebrew definition of the seeing gift and how it applies to you personally today. In this course, you will learn practical applications of how to function as a seer, how God wants to communicate with you as a seer, and how He taught Jeremiah to see.
You will grow in metaphorical (sic) [should be 'metaphysical'? - Ed.] understanding and be amazed as you realize all the implications and possibilities of this gift. Most importantly, this course will change your life at a day-to-day level and radically heighten your relationship with God.
The Seer Course addresses these questions and more:
- How do you know you have this gift?
- How do you know you’re not just making it up?
- Does seeing include more than just spiritual sight?
- How do you operate as a seer?
- What are orbs, lights, and strange things you think you see?
- What is the seer’s role in relationship with God and others?
----------------
What is indisputable in the age in which we live is that 'new' things are emerging at an unprecedented rate and the need for spiritual discernment is critical in our time. The word of God teaches us that there is nothing new under the sun. But these things can reappear clad in a new (different) set of clothes, so the need for continual vigilance is paramount. And the most subtle forms of deception is counterfeit of the real thing. The danger is even greater when there is (some) truth mixed in with error.
But in these issues, the days of fence-sitting and abstract philosophising are over. Opportunity or threat? It's make your mind up time. |
Watchman, 28/08/2009 |
|
| | Andrea Mac | 04/09/2009, 21:43 | | John said:
"How on earth did Christians mature for the first 19 centuries without these things?"
Absolutely! I don't read of any of the great Biblical prophets needing to 'attend a course' before being fully equipped to carry out what God intended them to do. The first part of their life was usually their 'course' when they learned about life in general and matured both in age and their relationship with God.
None of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are hampered by the need to 'go on a course' and provide a 'paper certificate' at the end of it. These things only seem to be requirements of man before someone is allowed to follow a certain path in their ministry.
| | | Eddie Hallahan | 05/09/2009, 18:44 | | What happened with a lot of the biblical prophets is that they went through a discipleship with another prophet. And I agree that the Holy Spirit doesn't need a bit of paper.
Equally I feel that despising a course just because it is a course isn't really the way to go either.
| | | John Parker (Guest) | 06/09/2009, 14:41 | | Eddie said: "Equally I feel that despising a course just because it is a course isn't really the way to go either."
Indeed he is absolutely right. However there are (at least) three very important points (in no special order):
* there shouldn't be the need for (external) courses; the church(es) should be training, teaching and discipling their own people i.e. a deficiency in the churches seems to be in evidence
* there is no guarantee of oversight or suitability of those who might attend or even of what they might do with the 'qualification'
* there is (very often) little scrutiny of the content and teachings of these courses (i.e. lack of validation and oversight)which can then lead to -
(in addition to the above) error creeping into the church(es) under the radar.
Concerning cost, although the cost of these courses is ussually reasonable (in comparison with secular training), the cost (but not just the cost) -
(a) can be a limiting and determining factor regarding who can/can't attend
(b) the teaching should be available to all (in their churches) without any direct cost.
| | | Rosemary Cameron | 08/09/2009, 21:57 | | John has successfully managed to articulate many of the concerns which I have about the increasing number of courses now available in the Christian world. I'm not totally against going on a course but I am concerned about the amount of time and money some churches are spending on courses like Purpose Driven and Dream Interpretation. I think there is a danger that these things sidetrack the church from its primary mission - to spread the gospel of Christ. I also think that some course providers are doing very well out of gullible Christians.
| | | Annie (Guest) | 17/09/2009, 11:21 | | The gift of prophecy is just that...a gift from God.
The only thing needing to be taught about it is HOW to deliver the message....clearly, concisely, even loudly if in a large hall or building. Some of the recipients of this wonderful gift are quite shy, quiet and introvert people. I am so encouraged by the fact that God will use the most unlikely and ordinairy people who simply need help in their technique.
In a church that believes in the gifts of the Spirit being in opperation, the pastor/minister will have the ability to develope the gifts that God has given to his flock - it's part of his job! No need to look elsewhere or to pay for extra teaching.
I know some folk who were damaged by a "session" with the Brahan Seer some years ago..........
| | | Andrea Mac | 17/09/2009, 11:55 | | Annie said:
"I know some folk who were damaged by a "session" with the Brahan Seer some years ago.........."
A timely warning - there is more than one source of spiritual activity and it can be a very good mimic so as to deceive even those who think themselves wise!
| | | Mandy (Guest) | 11/03/2010, 02:26 | | In America I have not found training like this. No prophets to be found to study under. I realize the gift. But I have no idea how to use it. And it isnt a really good idea to go to your local church and say to the pastor "hey, I see visions and I have dreams that come true". I would be introduced to a nice white jacket and a padded room. Depending on the person in charge of the training..it is a wonderful idea, the fact anyone can take the course is not.
| | | W Benn (Guest) | 11/03/2010, 16:44 | | Judging by the contents on the tin this course is absolute tosh and I am rather surprised at the gentle reaction from the posters on site. It is not true to say that Christian witness is being thwarted by government; that is not at all the case in America and also not the case here in terms of the things that matter e.g. political power that changes legislation and gives Christianity some protection against so called 'abusive' criticism of its dogma - not to mention the favour of undemocratic representation.
I am perturbed concerning the term 'immoral relationship'. It would clear things up if such relationships were defined and then disected for immorality.
My fellow posters will no doubt enjoy dealing with my comments, especially my second paragraph [I anticipate Christian morality - need to be married etc] but that is not the only response and view in town.
It was suggested as far back as the 1970s that a few decades later we would have lots of weird and exotic belief systems [Future Shock - Alvin Toffler] and this looks a bit like it.
In my view the likes of Andrea Mac are far too intelligent to accept this tosh; she will see through it despite her considerable flexibility and open mind.
| | | John Parker (Guest) | 12/03/2010, 15:41 | | With all due respect W. Benn, there are some things relating to the Christian faith which those outside of the faith just cannot hope to understand. And the prophecy is one of them.
That is not to say that everything which carries the name of 'prophecy' is kosher, but neither is to dismiss all prophecy as tosh.
The word of God is jammed with prophecy - including the prophecy that Jesus is coming back again, to the sheer delight of some and to the utter anguish of others.
| | | Andrea Mac | 12/03/2010, 16:54 | | Just to clarify my position on prophecy:
I tend to take my views from what I have read in the Bible and I have no doubt at all that there are those through whom God speaks, even today. However, I believe they are few and far between, as they were back then, and were most often very reluctant to be used by God in this way.
Prophets were never self-appointed or invited - they were directly moved by God to state exclusively what He wanted them to say and it usually brought great anguish and persecution to the prophet.
I just feel that a 'course' to 'learn' prophecy is a recipe for disaster and at best is pandering to those who have an inflated sense of their own abilities and, at worst, is spiritually dangerous.
If your purpose is to be a prophet, you will know about it and God Himself will equip you with the abilities required, which none of us have otherwise.
|
(page
1
2
3
4
5)
|
|
|
