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Exposing Counterfeit Faiths and Cults

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Why do this message series? We live in a great country where people are given the freedom to believe whatever they want. Evergreen Church is not in any way advocating the discrimination of a faith group with beliefs different from our own. Instead, we are using this message series to bring to light differing views of God and comparing them to what the Bible says in order to more effectively pray for others and address their extra-Biblical beliefs.

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Gnosticism Gnosis: common Greek word for “to know”. Gnosticism is rooted in Greek philosophy Gnostic Christians believed they received “special” knowledge from God not available to ordinary Christians about Jesus’ true nature.

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Gnosticism and the Early Church “The Gnostic Heresy” One specific instance of Gnostic influence took place at the Christian Church in Colossae. Certain Greek Christians (false teachers) asserted that Jesus was God, but that He did not have a physical body (because in Greek philosophy, matter is flawed) – that he only appeared to have a body. Likewise, they claimed Jesus only appeared to suffer and die on the cross. (because in Greek philosophy, God cannot suffer or die) This false teaching was soundly refuted by the Apostle Paul, the Apostle John, and Jesus!

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Gnosticism and the Early Church “The Gnostic Heresy” Colossians1:19-20 (NIV) “ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Gnosticism and the Early Church “The Gnostic Heresy” I John 4:1-3 (NIV) “ Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Gnosticism and the Early Church “The Gnostic Heresy” Luke 24:37-39 (NIV) “They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Gnosticism and the Early Church “The Gnostic Heresy” John 20:26-27 (NIV) “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Christian Science - “Mind Over Matter”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Christian Science - “Mind Over Matter” Background of the Church of Christ, Scientist Founder - Mary Baker Eddy ( ) MBE claimed to have found healing power through a higher sense of God as Spirit and man as God's spiritual "image and likeness." She became convinced that illness could be healed through an “awakened thought” brought about by a clearer perception of God and the rejection of hygiene and medical treatment. She called her “discovery” Christian Science.

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Christian Science - “Mind Over Matter” Departures of Christian Science from Biblical Christianity - Rejection of the Incarnation (Jesus came as God in the flesh) and the bodily resurrection of Jesus. (Science & Health 336:19-20) - Rejection of the physical existence of the material universe, sin, illness, evil and death. These things are not real but only illusions. (S&H 335:7-15; 447:27-28)

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Scientology - “Self-Help Group to the Stars”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Scientology - “Self-Help Group to the Stars” Background Founder L. Ron Hubbard ( ) Science fiction author that joined elements of faith and psychology to form a new pseudo-religious self help system. LRH asserted that “Scientology” and its precursor, “Dianetics” (Greek for ‘through the mind’) teaches that the source of all human problems and suffering are the result of psychic trauma (engrams) and the only way to be rid (clear) of these is through “auditing” and taking Scientology classes.

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Scientology - “Self Help Group to the Stars” Background “Auditing” – introspective dialogue with “auditor” that uses an “electropsychometer” (E-meter) to locate your “engrams”. E-meter is nothing more than a galvanometer or lie detector

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Scientology - “Self Help Group to the Stars” Background Hubbard taught that once a person was “clear” of “engrams” (takes and average of 2 years and lots of $$$), they become “Operating Thetans” (self- realized beings) and can continue up the Scientology ladder of self-discovery through additional auditing and classes (lots more $$$) which helps remove “Body Thetans” (spirits of prehistoric aliens). Google: “Xenu space opera”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Scientology - “Self Help Group to the Stars” Departures of Scientology from Biblical Christianity - Asserts that “Scientology” is the only way to truly know and better yourself. (John 14:6) - “The written and recorded spoken words of L. Ron Hubbard on the subject of Scientology collectively constitute the scripture of the religion.” (quote from official Church of Scientology website) (Luke 21:33) - Hubbard is quoted as stating, “The man on the cross? There was no Christ!” and that Christianity evolved from the “R6 Implant” (part of the “Xenu space opera”)

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Biblical Christianity teaches: Jesus is God in human flesh John 1:1,14 (NIV) “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Biblical Christianity teaches: Jesus’ physical body died on the cross to provide forgiveness and grace to believers 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Biblical Christianity teaches: Jesus rose from the tomb bodily and was seen and touched by many I Cor. 15:3-6 (NIV) “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Biblical Christianity teaches: Jesus bodily ascended to heaven and will return the same way Acts 1:9-10 (NIV) “After he said this, he (Jesus) was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’”

Part 4: Gnosticism, Christian Science & Scientology Closing 2 Tim. 3: (NIV) “…while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

See you next Sunday!