(some think my blog post are too short)
This weekend was full of reading for me. I completed a book that Pat gave to the staff and asked us to read entitled, Why We’re Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be). The book was a very good read and is definitely a book worth picking up. The authors expose some major theological errors in the theology of Rob Bell, Erwin McManus, and Brian McLaren (+ a host of others). No one denies they are very good teachers and communicators, but the theology base they work from is a new form of classic liberalism. Each of the authors desire their readers to “follow the way of Jesus” which is what I think most pastors desire for the congregations they are entrusted to lead. The authors of the book explain how what Bell, McLaren, and others write and teach is full of doctrinal errors which will lead individuals to spiritual disaster. This doesn’t mean that living like Jesus is wrong, but the premises that each of these guys work out of is faulty and leads away from historic orthodox Christianity.
On Friday evening Amy and I walked into B&N and I immediately saw a book that caught my eye. It is by the popular, buddhist transcendental meditation author, Deepak Chopra. He has entitled his new book Jesus, A Story of Enlightenment.
Here is an excerpt from the dust cover:
“What if Jesus wanted his followers—and us—to reach the same unity with God that he had reached? My story is based on the premise that he did. By following the young seeker from Nazareth on his path to Christhood, I’ve laid out a map of enlightenment. It wasn’t necessary to invent the map. Enlightenment has existed in every age. The path from suffering and separation to bliss and unity with God is well marked. I put Jesus on this path because I believe he walked it.”
–Deepak Chopra from
JESUS: A Story of Enlightenment
Another from his website:
It’s been a long time — perhaps as far back as Thomas Jefferson — that Americans seriously considered Jesus, not as the Son of God, but as an enlightened teacher. For me, that doesn’t rob him of his sacred stature. It puts sacredness in human terms.
I hope the reader comes away appreciating how enlightenment unfolds from promising beginnings, not full divinity. In an age when Jesus threatens to become the exclusive property of fervent, literal-minded devotees, we have an urgent need to bring him back, not as the savior, but as a savior — one who won his own salvation before promising it to the world. (bolding is by K.G. for emphasis)
HEY NOW HOLD ON!!
This is serious stuff.
First, Jesus was not on a path to Christ-hood. He was born the Christ child. In fact, he was Christ the Son of God before the foundation of the world. Chopra had nothing to do with it. (John 8:58)
Second, Jesus was not a young seeker, in the sense of enlightenment. He did come seeking, those who needed a savior. He was about his Father’s business seeking and saving those who were lost. (Luke 19:10)
Third, Chopra did not put Jesus on any path. Jesus put us on our path. (Col. 1:16)
Fourth, Chopra attacks the full divinity of Jesus with his statement above. Jesus was fully God and fully man.
Fifth, notice Chopra calls him a savior, not the savior. (John 14:6)
I was mortified. I know I shouldn’t be, but I was. This is one of the books that is getting front billing in the store.
My counsel is to be ready to speak truth to those who see this book on any afternoon talk shows, because it is coming soon to a network near you.
By the way, if you have made it this far you need to know these authors will not offered in our resource center (Crosswalk) and will not be approved for small group materials.
