Tag Archives: New Age

Pringle Learns “Visualization-To-Abundant Realization”… From Sexually Active Goats?

24 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by in C3 Spirituallity, C3 Teaching, Pringl'es Books, Pringle's Jesus

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Teaching “Visualization-To-Abundant Realization” Methods Aint Christian

A quick search on “Visualization-To-Abundant” in Google produces information on the following.

The title for this youtube video is “Secret Tool of Visualization to Manifest Abundance in all areas of your Life” with the following blurb:

“Secret Tool of Visualization to Manifest Abundance in all areas of your Life- Apply this Secret tool of Visualization to Attract ABUNDANCE IN YOUR LIFE , Manifesting with Ease and Joy : Money – Happy Relationships- Success – Achievement -My first Best-Selling Book – Beautiful Cars- Dream homes – Supportive Friends – Loving Partner – Vibrant Health – Wisdom – Happiness – Love – Gratitude Satisfaction – Easy Fun Travel – Giving and Receiving – Sharing – Consciousness – Much More – What Else is Possible?” – EduaPotor, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSy9pQE639U, 01/08/2009. (Accessed 25/01/2013.)

You will also come across New Age, occult or scam websites saying things like, “Blending the practical with the magical“, “visualize the abundance you so desire“,  or “if we regularly visualize our desires, send positive messages (affirmations) about our desires to our sub conscious mind and have faith that our desires are acheivable and then persevere – our desires will materialise“. You should also come across websites that promote the secret laws of attraction. Simply by doing a Google search, alarm bells should be going off when these sites pop up. Why is a Christian pastor teaching things that are connected to demonic teachings?

We’ve already discovered how Pringle’s faith is not founded on Christianity at all but on New Age, New Thought and occultic sources. This should concern any genuine Christian who attends the C3 Movement.

‘The Secret’ to Phil Pringle’s Doctrine of ‘Faith’

Phil Pringle Influenced By Occult/ New Thought/ Metaphysical Cult Teachings 

How Pagan Can Pringle Get?

Phil Pringle And David Yonggi Cho (Revisited)

‘The Secret’ to Phil Pringle’s Doctrine of ‘Hope’

While we have examined Pringle’s doctrine on faith, his doctrine on ‘hope’ is no different. In his latest book ‘Hope’ (endorsed by Yonngi Cho and Kong Hee), Pringle teaches readers how to practice the New Age technique of visualisation… through goats.

Yes, from goats. You’ve got to read it to believe it.

Pringle writes,

“Jacob’s Spotted and Speckled Sheep

In Ephesians 3:20, Paul says, “God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” The Greek word for “think” here is no’eo, which literally means “to conceive and perceive.” So, once we are visualizing something, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above it. An example of this “visualization-to-abundant realization” is exemplified in the spotted and speckled sheep of Jacob.”

(Phil Pringle, Hope, South Australia: Hyde Park Press,2011, pg. 40.)

Pringle decides to write a personalised narrative of the Genesis story of Jacob and Laban’s goat/sheep deal. Pringle narrates the following:

“In the heat of the next morning, he calls the great flock of Laban to the watering troughs. However, the goats and sheep arrive to a different scene than ever before. A spotted and speckled wall rises before them just behind the troughs. The larger, healthier, stronger sheep jostle easily to the front. The rams rise on the ewes as they drink, all of them mating with a full vision of spots and speckles before them. When the small and weak finally have their chance at the water, Jacob removes the wall. Every day, morning and night, he follows the same clever procedure.”

(Phil Pringle, Hope, South Australia: Hyde Park Press,2011, pg. 41-42.)

Pringle’s conclusion?

“But Jacob knew that his God had given him hope through a dream, a strategy-and all of it by the power of vision. As Jacob saw the spotted and speckled sheep, and as the sheep themselves saw spots and speckles, their vision had become a reality.

What we see is what we get. What fills our imagination is what will fill our lives. This is the power of hope!”

(Phil Pringle, Hope, South Australia: Hyde Park Press,2011, pg. 42.)

After reading what Pringle had to say on visualisation, do you honestly think Genesis 30-31 is trying to teach Christians how to visualise abundance like Laban’s goats supposedly did? Don’t you think it’s odd that Pringle doesn’t actually quote the biblical story?

Phil Pringle Influenced By Occult/ New Thought/ Metaphysical Cult Teachings

12 Saturday May 2012

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D.R. McConell Observes Faith Teachers Connections To Occult Practice

Ralp Waldo Trine

Ralp Waldo Trine

New Thought Leader Ralph Waldo Trine (1866-1958) is widely-read of all New Thought writers. He has influenced many big names, including E.W. Kenyon, Kenneth Hagin and the infamous Henry Ford.1

D.R. McConnell (B.A., M.A., in theological and historical studies), offers insight into the Word of Faith Movement in his book ‘A Different Gospel – A Historical and Biblical Analysis of the Modern Faith Movement‘. McConnell traces the history of the Word of Faith Movement from Hagin to Kenyon to Kenyon’s influences at Emerson College.

McConnell provides convincing evidence that Kenyon’s work was plagiarised by Kenneth Hagin. Kenyon was influenced by various other metaphysical cult experts such as Ralph Waldo Emerson (who Pringle quotes in some of his books), Mary Eddy Baker and Ralph Waldo Trine. Many Word of Faith teachers look up to Copeland and Hagin and have been influenced by writers like metaphysical cult writers Ralph Waldo Trine, Ralph Waldo Emerson and E.W.Kenyon.

Ralph Waldo Trine wrote a book called ‘In Tune With The Infinite’, written in 1897. D.R. McConnell quotes R.W. Trine in his book ‘A Different Gospel’ (pg. 173 in pdf which you can download two quotes down):

“This is the law of prosperity: When apparent adversity comes, be not cast down by it, but make the best of it, and always look forward for better things, for conditions more prosperous. To hold yourself in this attitude of mind is to set into operation subtle, silent, and irresistible forces that sooner or later will actualize in material form that which is today merely an idea. But ideas have occult power, and ideas, when rightly planted and rightly tended, are the seeds that actualize material conditions.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 11 – Plenty Of All Things – The Law Of Prosperity, pg. 104. (Emphasis mine)

View the pdf of Ralph Waldo Trine’s book here:

In Tune With The Infinite: Fullness of Peace, Power and Plenty2, 3

McConnell observes,

“It is significant to note that Trine attributes the confession of prosperity to “occult power.” Trine believed that “thought is a force, and it has occult power of unknown proportions when rightly used and wisely directed.” This usage of occult powers is, of course, a practice that the Faith teachers would publicly reject. Nevertheless, the Faith teachers must come to grips with the fact that those who began the practices of positive mental attitude and positive confession attributed their ability to acquire riches to psychic and occultic power. For example, Trine advocated the occultic practice of visualization as a means to become prosperous. He instructs his followers in the art of visualizing prosperity through mental suggestion and verbal affirmation.” – D.R. McConnell, A Different Gospel…, The Doctrine of Prosperity, 1988, pg. 173-174.

McConnell quotes Trine again on pg. 175 (which you can read in the pdf on pg. 104):

“Suggest prosperity to yourself. See yourself in a prosperous condition. Affirm that you will before be in a prosperous condition. Affirm it calmly and quietly, but strongly and confidently. Believe it, believe it absolutely. Expect it, keep it continually watered with expectation. You thus make yourself a magnet to attract the things that you desire.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 11 – Plenty Of All Things – The Law Of Prosperity, pg. 104.

D.R. McConnell also says,

“… the doctrine of prosperity is the result of two influences, one cultic, the other cultural. First, it is the result of metaphysical influences upon the founding father of the Faith theology, E.W. Kenyon. The metaphysical cults, particularly New Thought and the Unity School of Christianity, were the first to propogate the idea that God will make rich all those who know “the laws of prosperity” which govern the universe. Through Kenyon, this cultic belief entered the Faith movement and was expanded by Hagin and the other Faith teachers to a degree which even he himself would never have approved.

Second, the doctrine of prosperity is a gross example of the church’s cultural accommodation to the worldly values of American materialism. It is a direct contradiction of the examples of the Lord Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and all the heroes of the faith, who were “destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, men of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:37,38). The doctrine of prosperity is not worthy of such men.” – D.R. McConnell, A Different Gospel…, The Doctrine of Prosperity, 1988, pg. 173-174.

It is these metaphysical cult teachings that largely influence the Word of Faith/Prosperity Movement and the teachings of Phil Pringle’s C3 Movement. If you examine the teachings of Phil Pringle, the WoF teachers he looks up too and the leaders he influences around the world, you will notice the similarities between C3’s teachings and the teachings of the metaphysical cults.

In Pringle’s language, Pringle defines ‘faith’ as a “creative force”, “creative power of God”, “positive feeling”, “currency”, “attitude” and “knowing something no-one else does”. Read here:

Phil Pringle’s Translation Guide

We will now see an example how Pringle misuses a scripture that has elements of metaphysical cult teaching.

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An Example: Comparing Pringle’s Teaching To New Thought Teaching

Pringle continually emphasises how Christians must correctly use their faith to get what they want, often misusing scriptures in doing so. Ralph Waldo Trine earlier emphasised how much our thought force is based on “occult power of unknown proportions”.  McConnell didn’t quote Trine on the following (emphasis mine):

“Recognize, working in and through you, the same Infinite Power that creates and governs all things in the universe, the same Infinite Power that governs the endless systems of worlds in space. Send out your thought. Thought is a force, and it has occult power of unknown proportions when rightly used and wisely directed send out your thought that the right situation or the right work will come to you at the right time, in the right way, and that you will recognize it when it comes. Hold to this thought, never allow it to weaken, hold to it, and continually water it with firm expectation.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 11 – Plenty Of All Things – The Law Of Prosperity, pg. 103.

There is no doubt that the C3 Movement has fallen ill to these dangerous occultic doctrines. For example, Pringle would often use Habakkuk 2 to teach the same thing as Trine.

“And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:2-3

In context, this passage is about God instructing Habakkuk to write down a vision that is about Israel’s coming destruction. If anyone heeds the prophets vision, they are to take heed of the coming destruction. Those who flee, should not return. They may not see any sign of the destruction coming, but Habakkuk says it will not tarry.

Pringle says,

“WRITE IT DOWN!
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets.”
Habakkuk 2:2

Vision is to leadership what oxygen is to lungs. Essential! It’s the difference between life and death for a leader. Vision must be written down. Don’t just leave it in your imagination. Write it down. All the time. Receiving a vision is important. Writing it down is more important. The magic of a vision is in it being written down. What’s your vision? Write it down. Again and again.” – Phil Pringle, The Leadership Files Vol 2, File 42. Write It Down.

Pringle would twist the scripture and teach his church to write their personal vision down, run towards their vision and wait for it to come to pass. Pringle will use scriptures like this not knowing that he is echoing similar teachings to Trine: “Hold to this thought [Pringle: vision], never allow it to weaken [Pringle: write it down, make it plain and run for it], hold to it [Pringle: wait for it (or as he says, ‘Tarry’)], and continually water it with firm expectation [Pringle: financially support and commit to God’s house to see the vision come to pass]“.

In the process of writing this article (13/04/2012), Chris Pringle even mentioned this scripture in passing to describe this exactly on the last day of Presence Conference. This is just one example how the Pringle’s accidentally misuse scripture to justify this false doctrine.

It is worth noting that Pringle felt God warn him about dabbling in New Thought/ New Age teaching (emphasis mine).

“A number of years ago, in the pursuit of understanding management, I familiarized myself with a great variety of available business management materials and a lot of the positive mental attitude books that go along with them. Some of the material found its way into my preaching and teaching. I felt a growing discomfort in my spirit, without really understanding what it was.

One day, as I was reading a Deuteronomy 22:9, “You shall not sow your vineyard with different kind of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled,” I realized I could not afford to have a bag of mixed seed. I felt convicted to purify my message so that the material would only reinforce what the Word already says.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 213.

Pringle may have obediently removed himself from worldly “business management materials and a lot of the positive mental attitude books”. But he did not disconnect himself fully from these subversive or subtle influences within or on the fringe of problematic prosperity-driven, WoF churches. For example, Laurie Beth Jones, Zig Ziglar, Bob Harrison, Pat Robertson, the Schullers, the Osbornes, Benny Hinn, John Avanzini, Kong Hee, Yonngi Cho, Peter Wagner, John C Maxwell (just to name a few) are influenced by the New Age and New Thought (or occult) teachings and principles which Pringle is influenced by.

As a result of Pringle’s focus and desire to see results and outcomes, in his driven philosophy that ‘the ends justifies the means’, Pringle has turned his ‘means’ and central ‘Christian’ doctrines into a hybrid faith. At best – his faith is not Christian at all – but echoes a New Age faith at best.

The ‘Secret’ to Phil Pringle’s Doctrine of ‘Faith’

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Phil Pringle Vs Ralph Waldo Trine

To end this article, we would like people to consider Trine’s teachings with Pringle’s teachings. Take note that Trine has no problem attributing his practices to occultism and pagan philosophies.

“Send out your thought – thought is a force, and it has occult power of unknown proportions when rightly used and wisely directed send out your thought that the right situation or the right work will come to you at the right time, in the right way, and that you will recognize it when it comes. Hold to this thought, never allow it to weaken, hold to it, and continually water it with firm expectation.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 11 – Plenty Of All Things – The Law Of Prosperity, pg. 104.

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“THERE is a golden thread that runs through every religion in the world. There is a golden thread that runs through the lives and the teachings to all the prophets, seers, sages, and saviors in the world’s history, through the lives of all men of truly great and lasting power. All that they have ever done or attained to has been done in full accordance with law.

What one has done, all may do. This same golden thread must enter into the lives of all who today, in this busy work-a-day world of ours, would exchange impotence for power, weakness and suffering for abounding health and strength pain and unrest for perfect peace, poverty of whatever nature for fullness and plenty.

Each is building their own world. We both build from within and we attract from without. Thought is the force with which we build, for thoughts are forces. Like builds like and like attracts like. In the degree that thought is spiritualized does it become more subtle and powerful in its workings. This spiritualizing is in accordance with law and is within the power of all.

Everything is first worked out in the unseen before it is manifested in the seen, in the ideal before it is realized in the real, in the spiritual before it shows forth in the material. The realm of the unseen is the realm of cause. The realm of the seen is the realm of effect. The nature of effect is always determined and conditioned by the nature of its cause.

To point out the great facts in connection with, and the great laws underlying the workings of the interior, spiritual, thought forces, to point them out so simply and so clearly that even a child can understand, is the author’s aim. To point them out so simply and so clearly that all can grasp them, that all can take them and infuse them into everyday life, so as to mold it in all its details in accordance with what they would have it, is his purpose That life can be thus molded by them is not a matter of mere speculation or theory with him, but a matter of positive knowledge

There is a divine sequence running throughout the universe. Within and above and below the human will incessantly works the Divine will. To come into harmony with it and thereby with all the higher laws and forces, to come then into league and to work in conjunction with them, in order that they can work in league and in conjunction with us, is to come into the chain of this wonderful sequence. This is the secret of all success. This is to come into the possession of unknown riches, into the realization of undreamed-of powers.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 1 – Preface, pg. 2-3.

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“Within yourself lies the cause of whatever enters into your life. To come into the full realization of your own awakened inner powers is to be able to condition your life in exact accord with what you would have it.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 1 – Preface, pg. 4.

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“The moment we fully and vitally realise who and what we are, we then begin to build our own World even as God builds his.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 1 – Preface, pg. 6.

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“Within yourself lies the cause of whatever enters into your life. To come into the full realization of your own awakened interior powers is to be able to condition your life in exact accord with what you would have it.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 1 – Preface, pg. 4.

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“The optimist has the power of seeing things in their entirety and in their right relations. The pessimist looks from a limited and a one-sided point of view. The one has their understanding illuminated by wisdom, the understanding of the other is darkened by ignorance. Each is building their world from within, and the result of the building are determined by the point of view of each The optimist, by their superior wisdom and insight, is making their own heaven, and in the degree that they make their own heaven are helping to make one for all the world beside. The pessimist, by virtue of their limitations, are making their own hell, and in the degree that they make their own hell are they helping to make one for all mankind.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 3 – Prelude, pg. 9.

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“Faith is nothing more nor less than the operation of the thought forces in the form of an earnest desire, coupled with expectation as to its fulfillment. And in the degree that faith, the earnest desire thus sent out, is continually held to and watered by firm expectation, in just that degree does it either draw to itself, or does it change from the unseen into the visible, from the spiritual into the material, that for which it is sent.

Let the element of doubt or fear enter in, and what would otherwise be a tremendous force will be so neutralized that it will fail of its realization. Continually held to and continually watered by firm expectation, it becomes a force, a drawing power, that is irresistible and absolute, and the results will be absolute in direct proportion as it is absolute.

We shall find, as we are so rapidly beginning to find today, that the great things said in regard to faith, the great promises made in connection with it, are not mere vague sentimentalities, but are all great scientific facts, and rest upon great immutable laws.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 5 – The Supreme Fact Of Human Life, pg. 23.

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“Fear and lack of faith go hand in hand. The one is born of the other. Tell me how much one is given to fear, and I will tell you how much they lack in faith.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 6 – Fullness Of Life – Bodily Health And Vigor, pg. 41.

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Thoughts of weakness actualize weakness from within and attract it from without. Courage begets strength, fear begets weakness. And so courage begets success, fear begets failure. It is the man of faith, and hence of courage who is the master of circumstances, and who makes his or her power felt in the world. It is the man who lacks faith and who as a consequence is weakened and crippled by fears and forebodings, who is the creature of all passing occurrences.”  – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 9 – The Realization Of Perfect Peace , pg. 84.

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“We need more faith in everyday life – faith in the power that works for good, faith in the Infinite God, and hence faith in ourselves created in His image. And however things at times may seem to go, however dark at times appearances may be, the knowledge of the fact that ‘the Supreme Power has us in its charge as it has the suns and endless systems of worlds in space.’ will give us the supreme faith that all is well with us, just as all is well with the world. ‘Thou wilt keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 9 – The Realization Of Perfect Peace , pg. 85-86.

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“We are then led into the full realization of the fact that all things work together for good to those that love the good. Then the fears and forebodings that have dominated us in the past will be transmuted into faith, and faith, when rightly understood and rightly used, is a force before which nothing can stand. Materialism leads naturally to pessimism. And how could it do otherwise? A knowledge of the Spiritual Power working in and through us as well as in and through all things, a power that works for righteousness, leads to optimism. Pessimism leads to weakness. Optimism leads to power. The one who is centered in Deity is the one who not only outrides every storm, but who through the faith, and so the conscious power that is in them, faces storm with the same calmness and serenity that they face fair weather, for they know well beforehand what the outcome will be.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 9 – The Realization Of Perfect Peace , pg. 86.

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“Affirm this, believe it, expect it. If you do this in full faith, you will somehow feel the intuition the moment you come to the right one, and this intuition will be nothing more nor less than your own soul speaking to you. When it speaks then act at once.

If you get the situation and it does not prove to be exactly what you want, if you feel that you are capable of filling a better one, then the moment you enter upon it take the attitude of mind that this situation is the stepping-stone that will lead you to one that will be still better. Hold this thought steadily, affirm it, believe it, expect it, and all the time be faithful, absolutely faithful to the situation in which you are at present placed. If you are not faithful to it then the chances are that it will not be the stepping-stone to something better, but to something poorer. If you are faithful to it, the time may soon come when you will be glad and thankful, when you will rejoice that you lost your old position. “ – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 11 – Plenty Of All Things – The Law Of Prosperity, pg. 104.

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“Faith, absolute dogmatic faith, is the only law of true success. When we recognize the fact that a man carries their success or failure with them, and that it does not depend upon outside conditions, we shall come into the possession of powers that will quickly change outside conditions into agencies that make for success. When we come into this higher realization and bring our lives into complete harmony with the higher laws, we shall then be able so to focus and direct the awakened interior forces, that they will go out and return laden with that for which they are sent. We shall then be great enough to attract success, and it will not always be apparently just a little way ahead. We can then establish in ourselves a center so strong that instead of running hither and thither for this or that, we can stay at home and draw to us the conditions we desire. If we firmly establish and hold to this center, things will seem continually to come our way.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 11 – Plenty Of All Things – The Law Of Prosperity, pg. 106.

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“The great fundamental principles of all religions are the same. They differ only in their minor details according to the various degrees of unfoldment of different people. I am sometimes asked To what religion do you belong?’ What religion? Why, bless you, there is only one religion, the ‘religion of the living God! There are, of course, the various creeds of the same religion arising from the various interpretations of different people, but they are all of minor importance. The more unfolded the soul the less important do these minor differences become. There are also, of course the various so-called religions. In reality, however, there is but one religion.

The moment we lose sight of this great fact we depart from the real, vital spirit of true religion and allow ourselves to be limited and bound by form. In the degree that we do this we build fences around ourselves which keep others away from us, and which also prevent our corning into the realization of universal truth; there is nothing worthy the name of truth that is not universal.

There is only one religion. ‘Whatever road I take joins the highway that leads to Thee,’ says the inspired writer in the Persian scriptures. ‘Broad is the carpet God has spread, and beautiful the colors He has given it.’ ‘The pure man respects every form of faith,’ says the Buddhist. ‘My doctrine makes no difference between high and low, rich and poor, like the sky, it has room for all, and like the water, it washes all alike’ The broad-minded see the truth in different religions; the narrow-minded see only the differences,’ says the Chinese.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 11 – Plenty Of All Things – The Law Of Prosperity, pg. 119.

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“When one comes into and lives continually in the full, conscious realization of oneness with the Infinite Life and Power, then all else follows. This it is that brings the realization of such splendors, and beauties, and joys as a life that is thus related with the Infinite Power alone can know. This it is to come into the realization of heaven’s richest treasures while walking the earth. This it is to bring heaven down to earth, or rather to bring earth up to heaven. This it is to exchange weakness and impotence for strength; sorrows and sighings for joy; fears and forebodings for faith; longings for realizations. This it is to come into fullness of peace, power, and plenty. This it is to be in tune with the Infinite.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 11 – Plenty Of All Things – The Law Of Prosperity, pg. 124.

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“There is something in the universe that responds to intrepid thinking. The POWER that holds and that moves the stars in their courses sustains, illumines and fights for the brave and the upright. Courage has power and magic in it. Faith and hope and courage are great producers – we cannot fail if we live always in the brave and cheerful attitude of mind and heart. He alone fails who gives up and lies down.” – Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 11 – Plenty Of All Things – The Law Of Prosperity, pg. 124.

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1. “It is interesting that Henry Ford, pioneer of mass produced automobiles, attributed his success directly to having read “In Tune with the Infinite.” After reading the book, Ford ordered it on mass, and distributed copies freely to high profile industrialists. It’s a true mark of how powerful the book was and still is!” Ralph Waldo Trine, http://ralphwaldotrine.wwwhubs.com/, (Accessed 11/01/2011). (Pringle also loves quoting Henry Ford.)

2. Courtesy to http://files.meetup.com/384796/In%20Tune%20With%20The%20Infinite.pdf

3. To quote Trine, go to http://divinelibrary.org/trineRalphWaldo/inTune/

4. More works of Trine’s can be read here: http://divinelibrary.org/trineRalphWaldo/bio_trine.htm

‘A Call To Discernment’ On the Word of Faith Movement By Justin Peters

27 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, C3 Ministry, Pringle's Influences

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Phil Pringle and the C3 Movement has it’s roots in the Word of Faith Movement and teachings. Justin Peters presents his findings of the origins of the Word of Faith Movement. This article is broken up into two sections. The first half will examine who Justin Peters is and what he teaches in regards to the Word of Faith movement. We will examine what the connections of the WoF movement are to the C3 Movement of Phil Pringle. The second half will consist of the video link itself and a quote of Peters from the movie.

ABOUT JUSTIN PETERS

Justin Peters has a

    • Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi – 1995
    • Master of Divinity: (Biblical Languages) Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas – May 2000
    • Master of Theology: (New Testament Major / Theology Minor) Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas – December 2002

1. IS THE C3 MOVEMENT CONNECTED TO THE WORD OF FAITH MOVEMENT?

Justin Peters states,

“I cannot tell you how many hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people I’ve spoken too just in the last few years of doing these seminars in churches arounf the United States and around the world. Hundreds of people who have told me their lives have been devastated by this movement. Their lives or one of their loved ones who’ve been wrecked by this prosperity gospel.” – Justin Peters, A Call To Discernment, http://www.justinpeters.org/SWBTS_chapel_092010.wmv, 41:41, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 30/09/2010.

You can see that Phil Pringle preaches the prosperity gospel, (see quote of Pringle in the C3 Banner at the top of page). Pringle believes Jesus died on the cross so Christians can get rich from his death. Read a later paraphrase of this quote on page 57-58 on a later edition of his book ‘Dead For Nothing’:

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=2qWhZyGuCMIC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=regarding&f=false

Yes. People from C3 Church Watch have heard stories of the C3 Movement destroying peoples lives. We are still collecting testimonies. This is one of the mine reasons why this blog started. Justin is right to say “Hundreds of people” have “been devastated by this movement.” The C3 Movement produces the same devastation. Pringle alludes to it in his book ‘You The Leader’. It didn’t sound like his church was dealing with a few but many.

“. . . One of those initiatives is contacting people who were previously members of our church and have slipped away. I so admire the people involved in this because they hear all the worst criticisms about the Pastor, about the church and about what we do, yet they keep reaching out to these people and eventually win them back to the Lord. . . They can’t be involved in the conversation, listening to all the disaffections of these people, (which often sound very plausible), and get swung over to the negative. There is a war with perceptions that are deposited in these people’s minds by the devil…” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 317.

What were these people saying about Phil Pringle, his church and what they were doing?

Peters states that Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis are leaders of the Word of Faith Movement. However, the mentioned ministers are people that Pringle endorses and embraces as legitimate teachers and ministers. Is this what previous members of Pringle’s church had issues with? His endorsement of heretics? The C3 Word of Faith heresy? The C3 Colleges endorsed Joyce Meyer and Jesse Duplantis as ‘God’s Generals’.

C3 College: Misrepresenting The Gospel?

Pringle considers Kenneth Copeland to be a ‘Brother’ and also a prophet of God, and also endorses Kenneth Hagin (who Justin Peters also claims is a plagiarist and the father of the Word of Faith movement).

Phil Pringle And Kenneth Copeland

Phil Pringle On Facebook

Phil Pringle looks up to and endorses Joel Osteen and his ministry (Pringle mimicking Osteen’s motto ‘Your Best Life Now’ with his ‘Your Best Life’). He says, “And sadly for the millions of people around this world that believe Joel Osteen is one of Gods greatest spokesman, he is tickling their ears all the way to hell. And I know that sounds harsh . . . And I can honestly tell you, all the years I’ve been watching Joel Osteen, I’ve never once- not once, heard him clearly present the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not once.” (29:10, 29:28.) So why does Pringle endorse Osteen and his ministry?

Finally, Justin Peters quotes Pringle’s friends Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland and says,

“… This movement does a great deal of harm to people. If you begin with the premise that it is always Gods will to be physically healed, and a person prays for that healing for days, weeks, months, years, sometimes for decades, but the healing does not come, then the question must be asked, “Who’s fault is it?” By definition, it can not be Gods fault because He’s perfect. The only other one then whom to look is the one who is sick. It’s his fault or her fault because they don’t have enough faith; had some secret, unconfessed sin in his or her life and hasn’t given enough money to the ministry or maybe, you’re not even saved.” – Justin Peters, A Call To Discernment, http://www.justinpeters.org/SWBTS_chapel_092010.wmv, 39:45, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 30/09/2010.

Does this destructive blame game happen at C3? Yes it does. We’ve managed to record this happening on stage with faith healer Andrew Kubala.

The full transcript can be read here:

C3 “Healing” Service (Andrew Kubalah Style)

Andrew Kubala said to his victim, “Here comes- here comes the power of God! It went wsssh! all over you! That’s the anointing of God. . . Tonight’s your night. As soon as you lifted up your hand, that’s where the miracle was. . . Here he comes!”

When the unhealed woman said she could still feel pain “Everywhere,” Kubala politely and strategically placed the blame on her, using the audience to soften the blow by saying, “Yes. See what- [80:00] this is the truth [faces church]. Our mind finds it hard to think that years of pain can shift in a thirty second moment.” Andrew Kubala gives her “some homework, cos your words locate you. I just want you to for twenty four- Just give me twenty four hours- every time you think about it, say, ‘God thank you for healing me’. Okay?”. Clearly it was the woman’s fault because God could not bring her healing because of her fault mind. As Peters says later, “But the fault always lies squarely at the foot of the sick believer. There is no other conclusion which one can draw.” (41:32.)

Finally, criticisms against him are very similar to what we receive on a regular basis.

“Some have made the charge against me, “Oh Justin! You’re just doing these seminars because you’re bitter… Friends, let me tell you nothing can be further from the truth.” – Justin Peters, A Call To Discernment, http://www.justinpeters.org/SWBTS_chapel_092010.wmv, 39:45, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 30/09/2010.

People think that we are motivated by bitterness and evil. Well from us “nothing can be further from the truth” as well. The Word of Faith movement and the C3 Movement cannot be separated. While not as extreme as those preachers presented, we are already seeing Pringle walk his logical steps to his Word of Faith beliefs.

2. THE PRESENTATION OF JUSTIN PETERS

Watch this thoughtful and well documented recorded presentation of Justin Peters here:

A Call To Discernment – Justin Peters

Justin explains:

“Over the next several years, the Lord showed me that this prosperity gospel certainly was not biblical in that it made promises that the bible really does not make. It took the bible a little bit too far. But I still thought that it was essentially Christian; it just made promises that the bible really does not make. However, after the Lord called me into ministry and I enrolled into South Western, I began to study this movement at a more academic level. And what I came to realise was that the whole origins of the prosperity gospel are not Christian at all.

The origins of the Word of Faith movement can be traced back directly to the metaphysical cults, such as Christian science, New Age, New Thought, Gnosticism – even some Kabbalah elements are in the Word of Faith movement. So much of what you see on Christian television today, is not really Christian. It’s cultic doctrine that’s been wrapped in Christian terminology to make it more palatable to people like you and me . . .

The Word of Faith movement is lead by people such as Benny Hinn, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis and Joyce Meyer. This movement is a different animal. It does compromise and in times outright deny some of the fundamental tennants of historical Christianity.” – Justin Peters, A Call To Discernment, http://www.justinpeters.org/SWBTS_chapel_092010.wmv, 4:13… 5:42, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 30/09/2010.

‘The Secret’ to Phil Pringle’s Doctrine of ‘Faith’

16 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, C3 Scripture Handling, C3 Spirituallity, C3 Teaching, Pringle's Beliefs, Pringle's Doctrine/Gospel, Pringle's Encounters, Pringle's Influences, Pringle's Jesus, Pringle's Methods

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PRINGLES PREACH ON PRINCIPLES

On the 12th of February 2012, Pringle spoke at every service at C3 Sand Diego in the US. In the morning service Pingle said,

“So here’s the fascinating thing, we can understand the principle of how God does things. And often our hearts want to act independently of God using a principle of God.  And the difference between discovering principles that can be put in any motivational book, any sort of metaphysical book like ‘The Secret’ or ‘Understanding the Universe’, (you know these kind of references that have no references to the Lord but understand principles). Now there’s a principle of seed…” – Phil Pringle, God Creates With Words: 8:54, http://media.cccsandiego.com/Media/02%2012%2012%20AM.mp3, 12/02/12.

The continual push in this sermon was, “you’re involved with a person, not just a principle, living this Christian life is a whole lot different” (19:33). Sounds good right?

In one of the meetings on the 12th of February, Pringle starts promoting a book that opposes his morning message. Watch Pringle here market himself and promote his books:

http://vimeo.com/37288145

At 3:30, Pringle starts promoting his books. At 5:24 you see one of his books, ‘Faith’. This article will be examining this book. Pringle’s book ‘Faith’ encourages C3 Sandiego to do the exact opposite Pringle tells people to do.

ASK, BELIEVE, RECEIVE & FINALLY DECEIVE

To demonstrate how occult-driven Pringle’s teachings are, it is good to look at his works in comparison to modern-day New Age or New Thought material. We will compare Pringle’s book ‘Faith’ to a popular book called ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne, since he bought it up.

New Thought places great emphasis on what Byrne teaches as the ‘Law of Attraction’. Byrne also calls the ‘Law of the Attraction’ a genie, This principle has gained much popularity with  Ronda Byrne’s book ‘The Secret’, as Pringle mentioned. The principles discussed in the pages of Byrne’s book are straight out of New Thought. Pringle made the claim “these kind of things that have no references to the Lord but understand principles”. Really Pringle?

On page 47, Rhonda Byrne writes,

“The Creative Process used in The Secret, which was taken from the New Testament in the Bible, is an easy guideline for you to create what you want in three simple steps. Step 1: Ask… Step 2: Believe… Step 3: Receive…” – Rhonda Byrne, The Secret, 2006, pg. 47-51.

This creative process in ‘The Secret’ was based on this bible verse:

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

‘The Secret’ emphasises very similar principles that Pringle does. This is the table of contents of Phil Pringle’s book ‘Faith’ (2001):

“Contents
INTRODUCTION
1. Faith Is A Feeling
2. Foundation Faith
3. Faith and Prayer
– Desire
– Decide
– Ask
– Receive
– Speak it
– Seem it
– Act it
4. Faith and Conscience
5. Faith and Self-Image
6. Faith and Provision
7. Trial of Faith
8. The Fight of Faith” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001.

Pringle says, “There are seven clear steps to answered prayer. Step one – desire… Step two – decide… Step three – ask… Step four – receive… Step five – speak it… Step six – see it dreams and visions… Step seven – act it.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 36-106.

In his revisited 2003 edition, even one of Pringle’s own church members reviewed his book. Clearly he taught them the practices of the New Age movement. (See thumb nail below or follow the link to read: http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Dr-Phil-Pringle/dp/0958582785.)

POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE

Rhonda Byrne teaches,

“One of the most powerful uses of gratitude can be incorporated in the Creative Process to turbo-charge what you want.” – Rhonda Byrne, The Secret, 2006, pg. 80.

“I stayed focused and held to the outcome. I felt deep feelings of gratitude in advance. As that became my state of being, the floodgates opened and all the magic flowed into our lives.” – Rhonda Byrne, The Secret, 2006, pg. 80.

This is the classic Positive Mental Attitude that Pringle also associates with the ‘faith’ he teaches. Pringle boldly teaches,

“In the new Testament, Paul’s lifestyle left people on the sideline everywhere. It seems that the man had boundless energy, undeterred purpose and an attitude of pure drive that would send today’s most ardent PMA (positive mental attitude) experts to distraction! … He saw every circumstance through the attitude of faith. He had a feeling within him. He felt that he could not be conquered. He knew His God to be the truth. He made sure that his emotions and mentallity agreed with God’s Word. He would bring his attitudes and emotions into a reflection of what God was saying, no matter what the circumstance.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 23.”  – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 23.

Pringle then tries to justify his view on PMA and faith,

“I’m not talking here about some aneamic substitute for faith called ‘positive thinking’. That may be one of the fruits of faith, but understand clearly that it is not faith itself. Faith begins with an attitude, a spirit within us, a feeling of incredible confidence. A feeling of undefeatable victory over all the circumstances. This feeling makes impossible mountains appear like miniature hills. It makes you feel on top and not underneath.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 25-26.

POWER OF FOCUS, ATTRACTION, RECEPTION & DESIRE

Rhonda Byrne teaches,

“Even though his words were saying he wanted to date more women, his innermost thoughts did not reflect that in his paintings. By deliberately choosing to change his actions, it caused him to focus his entire thought on what he wanted. With such a simple shift, he was able to paint his life and call it into exist- ence through the law of attraction.

When you want to attract something into your life, make sure your actions don’t contradict your desires. Think about what you have asked for, and make sure that your actions are mirroring what you expect to receive, and that they’re not contradicting what you‘ve asked for. Act as if you are receiving it. Do exactly what you would do if you were receiving it today, and take actions in your life to reflect that powerful expectation. Make room to receive your desires, and as you do, you are sending out that powerful signal of expectation.” – Rhonda Byrne, The Secret, 2006, pg 115.

Pringle teaches,

“Let’s remember that faith involves the heart as well as the mouth. When people grasp the importance of possibilities of “speaking it” they may become excited about the possibilities of confession and ignore the fact that it needs to be a faith of the heart. This just leaves them with just a lot of positive statements and not necessarily a real faith… When our hearts believe one thing and our mouths are saying another we are deluding ourselves and lying to others.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 72-73.

“If a man knows what he wants, then he is in a position to decide that he will get it. This is faith. The determined decision of a man with desire.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 43.

“The promises of God become the power of God when they are believed and acted upon.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 149.

“The main point here is that we are to desire something before faith can come into play. Our desires are of value to God. It’s His will to fulfill our dreams. When we are delighting in the Lord, our dreams and desires are formed in His Spirit, timing and purpose.” – Phil Pringle Faith, 2001, pg 39.

What’s the difference? Forget God. Pringle teaches on the powers of his principles of faith that don’t require God at all. 

POWER OF VISION

‘The Secret’ says on vision:

“I always say, when the voice and the vision on the inside become more profound, clear, and loud than the opinions on the outside, you ‘ve mastered your life!” – Rhonda Byrne, The Secret, 2006, pg 146.

Pringle teaches on vision:

“To perceive is to see. The kind of vision and perception we are talking about is of the mind. A faith vision is an incredibly powerful creative force… This also relates to the realm of impossibility – a thing you can’t see ever happening because of the impossibility of it. Experience can tell you that it doesn’t happen. The Knowledge tells you that it can” happen. The facts tell you it wont happen. Yet your faith tells you that it’s a reality. It will happen. You can see it happening, against all the odds. You need faith for what you cannot see, not for what you can see.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 99-100.

POWER OF VISUALISATION

Finally, Ronda Byrne also teaches on visualisation:

“Visualization is the process of creating pictures in your mind of yourself enjoying what you want. When you visualize, you generate powerful thoughts and feelings of having it now. The law of attraction then returns that reality to you, just as you saw it in your mind.” – Rhonda Byrne, The Secret, 2006, pg 93.

Pringle also teaches on visualisation (watch how he approaches scriptures with his experiences):

“A long after that experience, I looked back and realized that many of the elements I had seem in the imaginations in my mind were a duplicate of what actually happened. I had stumbled on to a principle of God. As I investigated the Scriptures, it became obvious to me that God spoke to His servants from the beginning of time through visions and dreams. Here we’re looking at the vision of faith. As soon as a real faith for anything arrives in your heart, you will see that thing.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 94-97.

“In Ephesians 3:20 Paul says that “God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” The Greek word for “think” here is “no’eo.” This literally means “to conceive and perceive.” Once we are visualizing some-thing, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above it.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 103.

“Gods movies. There is a screen within our mind upon which three projectors are jostling for prime time… He [God] has a projector with a preset, wonderful destiny as the main feature. As we enter the Spirit through praise and worship, God will form His vision within our thinking. We pray the prayer of faith. The vision of the answer comes to mind and we see it, in living colour… Once the vision of the fulfillment of your dream has been planted in your mind, bring it to your prayer life. Each time you pray bring the picture to mind and meditate on it. See it happening. Destroy all the images of failure. Replace them with the image of success.

Right now in my life I spend much time dreaming over my visions of faith. I know this works. I would be a fool to ignore it. Remember, one of the mightiest keys in the Kingdom of Heaven is faith. Vision is a major part of faith, for we walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is directly contrasted to natural eye sight.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 103.

WHY PRINGLE IS WORSE THAN BYRNE

It should be apparent by now. Pringle does not know the difference between putting confidence in the sinful flesh and putting faith in Jesus alone. What’s worse, Pringle’s teachings are more extreme than Byrne’s. Pringle is teaching the metaphysical cult teachings of New Thought (which is linked to occultism).

“Faith knows it’s there [the object of your desires] because it has the substance of the experience, or the thing, in itself. Faith is a substance of a “thing” it feels the “thing” existing within the heart right now. Because it exists inside me I know that it exists. Somehow my faith has rebelled against normal time restrictions, travelled out into the future, plugged into this thing and translated the substance of it back to me here in the now.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 55.

He also blatantly LIES with his handling of Hebrews 11:1. There is no amplified bible that translates Hebrews 11:1 the way he says it does.

“We believe that we have the answer to our prayer before our five senses tell us so. The Amplified Bible interprets Hebrews 11:1 as “Faith perceives as a reality what is not revealed to the five senses.”

Faith is like an additional sense. A spiritual sense… Thus we walk by faith, that is, an inner substance, an inner reality that cannot be seen by anyone else. The conclusion is that we don’t wait until we receive a thing before we believe that we have it. We get it before we get it.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 56.

PRINGLE’S PREPOSTEROUS PROSPERITY PRINCIPLES

Pringle simply is not putting a relationship with God first. As we see, he is not preaching anything from the bible that promotes the truths of God. Instead he is teaching lies to Christians to dabble in deism, (the metaphysical world view that the universe is governed by impersonal, spiritual laws rather than a personal, sovereign God).

“When this principle first began operating in my life I had never heard anyone so much mention the idea of receiving a thing before receiving it. If they had, I may have written them off as having had too much pizza the night before! It sounds strange to the natural man. But that’s always the way with the laws of God. They are indecipherable to the natural man. In Isaiah 55 God declares His “ways are not our ways”. He says that His ways are “higher” than our ways. Like the difference between heaven and earth, flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s Kingdom. It’s a spiritual Kingdom. It runs on spiritual principles. We must understand these principles and operate within them if we are ever to do anything of eternal value for God. Trying to build a spiritual Kingdom by means of the flesh is a sure recipe for burn-out and failure.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 58.

Because of his approach to his understanding of faith being prosperous, he can’t separate his more serious damaging teaching.

“When Paul told the Philippians that God would supply all their need… their generosity would trigger one of the most powerful spiritual laws in existence. It is the law that the widow of Zarephath discovered when Elijah told her to give away her last meal… For the provision of God constantly to be at work in our lives we must activate the laws of God.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 153.

These are the giving laws recognised in the Word of Faith Movement such as the ‘tithe’ and ‘seed faith’ heresies. Believers are taught to obey these so they may be graced or favoured with the Gods miracles. This is salvation by works. As a result, Pringle curses Christians by the very ‘faith’ he says we must live by.

“This especially applies in the world of tithing. Tithing in one sense is not actually giving. The tithe belongs to God, not to us. Malachi the prophet says that when we keep the tithe we are actually “robbing God”.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 155.

“When we withhold the tithe we bring upon ourselves a curse.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 156.

“Thirdly, WHEN we sow determines when we will reap. We need to sow well before we plan to reap. The time to sow is not when you have a need. You are to be constantly sowing your world with generous actions of faith. Oral Roberts has called this “seed faith”. Anyone who plants a seed has faith that it will become a plant in time. We all realize that it’s not going to happen overnight, but faith and patience inherit the promises of God.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 156-157.

CONCLUSION

As a result in dabbling between both the Christian and occult camps, he continually speaks with two tongues and condemns himself and others.

“The words we speak contain great power. However, it is important that we focus on the positive aspect of the power of the tongue rather than the negative… When we ignore the spirit of Scripture we reduce truth to formulae, empty ceremonies and at worst, superstitions. The Word of God is extremely powerful and must be “handled accurately”(2 Timothy 2:15).” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 70-72.

“Again we see the correlation between the heart and the mouth. The heart must be in harmony with the mouth and the mouth with the heart. Saying the right words is not like some magical formula that will make a thing happen. A positive confession is not like saying “Abracadabra, Open Sesame”. This thinking has the disastrous effect in the reverse.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 74.

“Faith is lifeless unless you act on it. T.L. Osbourne says: “When the promises of God are believed and acted upon they become the power of God”. We can do all the things we have previously talked about about: desire, decision, prayer, speaking faith, seeing the answer, but if we don’t act our faith it is all to no avail.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 

“The “fearful” are at the top of the list of those who are thrown into the lake of fire.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 108.

This is a pitiful faith that hopefully, no Christian should ever want. This is faith by works and laws. This is not faith. This is confidence in the flesh. As Paul says about true Christianity,

“… We are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…” Philipians 3:3

If you feel lead to pray for the spiritual state of Phil Pringle and the C3 Movement please do so. No Christian should have to put with this kind of false teaching. No one should be bound by it.

EDIT: Not looking at his book faith, also compare the following teachings between Phil Pringle & Ronda Byrne:

Both teach that the writers of the bible were exceedingly wealthy,

“If you have been brought up to beheve that being wealthy is not
spiritual, then I highly recommend you read The Millionaires of
the Bible Series by Catherine Ponder. In these glorious books you
will discover that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Jesus
were not only prosperity teachers, but also millionaires them-
selves, with more affluent lifestyles than many present-day mil-
lionaires could conceive of.” – Ronda Byrne, The Secret, 2006, pg. 109. 

“And you need to understand. The bible, (this is kind of a shocking thought for some people), it’s been written by some of the wealthiest people in history. If you got Bill Gates to write a chapter, Warren Buffett to write a chapter, the telecommunications guy in Mexico  (I forgotten his name) to write a chapter, (the three richest men in the world), that’s what the bible is! It’s these unbelievably, extraordinary, successful people who’ve written this book and said, ‘Do these kind of things and life’s going to work for you’.” – Phil Pringle, Financial Excellence AM, 8:15, 22/05/2011.

Both encourage self talk,

And so immediately after you say, “I am tired” or “I am broke” or “I am sick” or “I am late” or “I am overweight” or “I am old,” the Genie says, “Your wish is my command.” Knowing this, wouldn’t it be a good idea to begin to use the two most powerful words, / AM, to your advantage? How about, “I AM receiving every good thing. I AM happy I AM abundant. I AM healthy. I AM love. I AM always on time. I AM eternal youth. I AM filled with energy every single day.” – Ronda Byrne, The Secret, 2006, pg. 168.

“Self talk has become fashionable in many circles of people attempting to improve themselves in any number of areas of their lives. It’s truth that has been in God’s Word for thousands of years. We should develop a set of statements that we regularly speak to ourselves. This creates a faith about who we are and what we can achieve. Here are some examples.

I like my life. I love my job… I’m a happy person. I’m a peaceful person… I speak the right kind of words. Inside the sun is shining everyday. I find solutions to problems. I find answers to questions. I find what I’m looking for. Doors open to me. My mind is healthy. My emotions are stable. I’m happy with the way I look… I love serving God. I’m a creative person. I’m a fit person. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I’m glad about my past. All things are working together for good in my life.” – Phil Pringle, Faith, 2001, pg 94-97.

Understanding The Doctrines Of Demons The C3 Movement Teach

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by in C3 Culture, C3 Spirituallity, Pringle's Beliefs, Pringle's Doctrine/Gospel, Pringle's Influences, Pringle's Laws

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Scriptures say,

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…” 1Timothy 4:1

What one believes often determines the state of their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. One of the reasons why the church is so sick is because of the New Thought/Occult/New Age/Gnostic teachings that is being spread by the Prosperity or Word of Faith Movement. The C3 Movement is apart of this movement, teaching these doctrine of demons.

Ouroboros

As you read this article, you may start to recollect or recognise elements in the teachings of Phil Pringle and other famous pastors within the movement. We will be relying on this article so that people can identify when Pringle, other C3 teachers or Pringle’s associates outside his movement preach these pagan doctrines.

First, we need to understand what some of these doctrines of demons (elemental spirits) are. We encourage you to read this in relation to what the Apostle Paul Paul teaches in Romans 1:18-32 (emphasis mine):

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen…

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done… Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

‘Epistemology’ is a theory about the nature of knowledge: how one gains knowledge and how much can be known. [1]

Epistemology /ɨˌpɪstɨˈmɒlədʒi/ (from Greek ἐπιστήμη (epistēmē), meaning “knowledge, science”, and λόγος (logos), meaning “study of”) is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and scope (limitations) of knowledge. It addresses the questions: What is knowledge? How is knowledge acquired? How do we know what we know? [2]

Faith, ethics and philosophy are interconnected. The outworking of philosophy reveals the morals or ethics of the philosophical structure within communities. This is why it is important we carefully sift through many philosophies today and reject the dangerous ones. Bad philosophies can really damage us and our communities. Here are a few to start with: Deism, dualism and deification; mysticism and fideism.

Deism is the metaphysical world view that the universe is governed by impersonal, spiritual laws rather than a personal, sovereign God.[3]

Dualism is the metaphysical view of reality that the spiritual realm and the physical realm are mutually exclusive and even opposed to one another. [4]Dualism is the belief  that all of reality is reducible to just two opposite principles, with little or nothing in between: light versus darkness, spirit versus matter, good versus evil, etc. [5]

Deification is the metaphysical view that salvation entails man becoming God.[6]

Mysticism is a system of belief that attempts to perceive spiritual reality apart from objective, verifiable facts. It seeks truth through feelings, intuition, and other internal senses. Objective data is usually disregarded as mysticism derives it’s authority from within. Spontaneous feeling becomes more significant than objective fact. Intuition outweighs reason. An internal awareness superseds external reality.

Unfortunately, mysticism is at the heart of modern existentialism. [7]

Philosophies like dualism, mysticism and deification can all be traced back to pagan Greece. Some can be traced back further still. While dualism is still prevailing in today’s culture, we can find it’s roots in zoroastrianism.

GNOSTICISM

One of the oldest and slipperiest manmade/demonic doctrines is gnosticism. GotQuestions defines and warns the dangers of gnosticism well,

Naturally, the connection between Bible reading and prayer is one to be encouraged; they should always go together. However, the dangers inherent in this kind of practice, and its astonishing similarity to transcendental meditation and other dangerous rituals, should be carefully considered. It has the potential to become, and often does become, a pursuit of mystical experience where the goal is to empty and free the mind and empower oneself. The Christian, on the other hand, uses the Scriptures to pursue the knowledge of God, wisdom, and holiness through the objective meaning of the text with the aim of transforming the mind according to truth. God said His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6), not for lack of mystical, personal encounters with Him.

Those who take this supernatural approach to the text can disconnect it from its context and natural meaning and use it in a subjective, individualistic, experiential, even name-it-and-claim-it way for which it was never intended. Here is where lectio and gnosticism dovetail into one. Christian gnosticism is the belief that one must have a “gnosis” (from Greek Gnosko, “to know”) or mystical, inner knowledge obtained only after one has been properly initiated. Only a few can possess this mystical knowledge, limiting the number of those “in the know.” Naturally, the idea of having inside information is very appealing and makes the “knower” feel important, special and unique in that he/she has a special experience with God that no one else has. The “knower” believes that the masses are not in possession of spiritual knowledge and only the truly “enlightened” can experience God. Thus, the reintroduction of contemplative, or centering, prayer—a meditative practice where the focus is on having a mystical experience with God—into the Church. Contemplative prayer is similar to the meditative exercises used in Eastern religions and New Age cults and has no basis whatsoever in the Bible, although the contemplative pray-ers do use the Bible as a starting point.

Further, the dangers inherent in opening our minds and listening for voices should be obvious. The contemplative pray-ers are so eager to hear something—anything—that they can lose the objectivity needed to discern between God’s voice, their own thoughts, and the infiltration of demons into their minds. Satan and his minions are always eager for inroads into the minds of the unsuspecting, and to open our minds in such ways is to invite disaster. We must never forget that Satan is ever on the prowl, seeking to devour our souls (1 Peter 5:8) and can appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), whispering his deceptive lies into our open and willing minds.

Finally, the attack on the sufficiency of Scripture is a clear distinctive of lectio divina. Where the Bible claims to be all we need to live the Christian life (2 Timothy 3:16), lectio’s adherents deny that. Those who practice “conversational” prayers, seeking a special revelation from God, are asking Him to bypass what He has already revealed to mankind, as though He would now renege on all His promises concerning His eternal Word. Psalm 19:7-14 contains the definitive statement about the sufficiency of Scripture. It is “perfect, reviving the soul”; it is “right, rejoicing the heart”; it is “pure, enlightening the eyes”; it is “true” and “righteous altogether”; and it is “more desirable than gold.” If God meant all that He said in this psalm, there is no need for additional revelation, and to ask Him for one is to deny what He has already revealed.

The Old and New Testaments are words from God to be studied, meditated upon, prayed over, and memorized for the knowledge and objective meaning they contain and the authority from God they carry, and not for the mystical experience or feeling of personal power and inner peace they may stimulate. Sound knowledge comes first; then the lasting kind of experience and peace comes as a byproduct of knowing and communing with God rightly. As long as a person takes this view of the Bible and prayer, he/she is engaging in the same kind of meditation and prayer that Bible-believing followers of Christ have always commended.  [8]

Bear this understanding in mind as you sift through the teachings at any C3 Church you go too. We are living in deceptive times. Heed the warnings of our Apostle Paul:

“If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.” Colossians 2:20-23

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1. McConnell, D. 1988. A Different Gospel, pg. 105.
2. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistemology, (Accessed 12/12/11).
3. McConnell, D. 1988. A Different Gospel, pg. 45.
4. McConnell, D. 1988. A Different Gospel, pg. 45.
5. McConnell, D. 1988. A Different Gospel, pg. 105.
6. McConnell, D. 1988. A Different Gospel, pg. 45.
7. MacArthur, J. 1992. Charismatic Chaos, pg. 35.
8. GOT QUESTIONS, Question: “What is Lectio Divina?”, http://www.gotquestions.org/lectio-divina.html, (ACCESSED 15/03/12).