tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post7223988518062617401..comments2023-10-07T04:07:56.527-04:00Comments on The End Time: Ted Dekker's The Forgotten Way: Book Review and a Discernment LessonElizabeth Pratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-78205093413240064022018-10-28T09:49:42.719-04:002018-10-28T09:49:42.719-04:00I have enjoyed reading Ted Dekker over the years ...I have enjoyed reading Ted Dekker over the years because he tells a good story and he always brings God’s power into each terrible situation in a way that shows God is always a step ahead of evil. Up till now I have been able to brush aside concerns about this or that slightly off theological point because the books were fiction and not theology. However I am reading The 49 Mystic and I feel buzzers going off in my head. Ted’d use of words associated with new age is at the very least careless and if they are intentional alarming . Also his talk about polarity and how the man that is “inchristi” is above it and lives only in love is simply not true. Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. It is true that seated in Christ we see life from his perspective and that gives us peace. But it doesn’t free us from polarity. Jesus said “In the world you will have tribulation” . The idea that we walk around unaffected is more Buddhist or Zen then Christian . At the very least Ted needs to be more careful.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12550716141532876198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-17698090689304932232018-10-26T15:14:54.528-04:002018-10-26T15:14:54.528-04:00Thank you for the reviews! I'm halfway through...Thank you for the reviews! I'm halfway through reading Dekker's Rise of the Mystics and have been unsettled numerous times but couldn't quite articulate why at each point. I've always been skeptic of Dekker's theology. With Black, Red and White, I haven't had a problem discerning between what he got right and what he got wrong. Even with The 49th Mystic, I only had a few minutes of pause through the whole book, but didn't find anything really concerning. Until Rise of the Mystics. This book has unsettled me more than any other. I am very glad I've come across several reviews now that warn against specifically his non-fiction work. I haven't read any yet, and now I have no desire to. It's nice to know I'm not simply being paranoid about it. Janinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-79500632559434068402018-07-15T21:16:34.601-04:002018-07-15T21:16:34.601-04:00Though this is an old conversation, I found this p...Though this is an old conversation, I found this post when I was looking for other Christians’ thoughts about Ted Dekker and his Forgotten Way book. I used to read many of his fictional novels but I started feeling really unsettled in my spirit when I saw promos for the Forgotten Way. Well, it appears he has now started describing himself as a Christian Mystic. Read this for more information: http://www.mikeduran.com/2017/11/27/the-dangers-of-christian-mysticism/<br />As followers of Jesus Christ, let us continue to test all spirits to see if they are of God and check all teachings against scriptural truth. When his disciples asked him to tell them the sign of His coming and the end of the age, Jesus’ first sentence to them was “See to it that no one deceived you...” The very special thing about deception is that it IS deceiving. Let us humbly watch, study the word of God and pray. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-34785767897501255602018-02-20T06:44:13.448-05:002018-02-20T06:44:13.448-05:00It might be best if you do ignore statements above...It might be best if you <i>do</i> ignore statements above made by women, since you're determined to ignore the two Bible verses included with my statement and the admonition to be wise & discerning. I think that would be best for all of us.Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-10883588369936751962018-02-20T06:39:53.458-05:002018-02-20T06:39:53.458-05:00It means what is says according to the two verses ...It means what is says according to the two verses included with the statement. Read them.Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-11102714590045341842018-02-20T00:22:33.639-05:002018-02-20T00:22:33.639-05:00Women are "more prone to error." Guess I... Women are "more prone to error." Guess I should disregard any of the above comments made by women. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-41276167269418319012018-02-20T00:12:52.994-05:002018-02-20T00:12:52.994-05:00Take it easy. We are "more prone to error&quo...Take it easy. We are "more prone to error". What does that even mean?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-7183628026807543052017-02-24T10:44:39.979-05:002017-02-24T10:44:39.979-05:00Oddly enough, I watched the promo and was concerne...Oddly enough, I watched the promo and was concerned also, saw who vouched...basically saw red flags too..then decided to search on google for reviews..yours was the second..the first was full of red flags..then reading yours i thought yes, that's right i even call it red flags..and i decided the same way.. It made me uncomfortable..shall i say..in my Spirit?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04942556800568339592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-72792975173300620252017-02-13T19:27:20.306-05:002017-02-13T19:27:20.306-05:00Hi Vanessa,
I'm very sad that you believe wha...Hi Vanessa,<br /><br />I'm very sad that you believe what you do. <br /><br />Here are the times Jesus said "Follow me"<br /><br />John 1:43, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 16:24, Matthew 19:28, Mark 10:21, Luke 5:27, John 21:19,John 8:12<br /><br />Times Jesus said "Walk beside me": <br /><br />You're just making things up now.<br /><br />Secondly, if you believe church is stale and restricted, this is a spiritual problem you should look into. The beauty of church for EVERY generation is that it is the <i>same</i>. That is because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He does not change. Heb 13:8. There is no shadow of turning in Him. James 1:17.<br /><br />The way we align our hearts and minds with His is to obey His word. We need books that explain the word and exhort us to obey it.<br />Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-62784472282609469362017-02-13T15:54:45.189-05:002017-02-13T15:54:45.189-05:00After reading all of the comments, I am interested...After reading all of the comments, I am interested in reading the Forgotten Way. As believers, our identity in Christ is our plumb line. When we align our hearts and minds with His, we move into a greater maturity. When we walk as mature sons and daughters we are able to see more clearly that God is doing a New thing. Do you not perceive it? It is one thing to follow Christ, it is something altogether different to walk beside Him. We need books that will set afire a new generation and burn away the stale mindsets that keep the church so restricted. I'm hoping this is one of those books.<br />Vanessa Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06416283539656406077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-1714531643590845532017-01-10T06:12:06.025-05:002017-01-10T06:12:06.025-05:00here's the correct spurgeon address, http://ww...here's the correct spurgeon address, http://www.spurgeon.org/medit.phpElizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-64993183795850054172017-01-10T06:10:39.089-05:002017-01-10T06:10:39.089-05:00If it feels wrong, it IS wrong, is the motto. Try ...If it feels wrong, it IS wrong, is the motto. Try Spurgeon's daily devotions, Morning & Evening or Faith's Check-book (ahttp://www.spurgeon.org/medit.php), or Grace to You's daily devotions (http://www.gty.org/resources/devotionals) or Aistair Begg at Truth for Life's devotions (https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/daily-devotionals/01/10/2017/) as some examples. <br /><br />There are so many devotionals out there written by solid teachers. You don't need to continue with one that makes you unsure. :)Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-56064805806696714162017-01-09T10:17:34.819-05:002017-01-09T10:17:34.819-05:00I have to agree to be skeptical of Dekker's wr...I have to agree to be skeptical of Dekker's writings. I've been going through his devotional and always feel that something is not quite right. First of all, he never comes out with a true invitation of the gospel. I would think he would have begun his book by making sure the reader was truly redeemed by the blood of Christ before he /she could understand what they are in Christ now. This makes me wonder if he is a universalist.<br />I didn't like his interpretation of Luke 14:26. He says hating our own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters...is hating our identities here on earth. See page 262 in Meditations. But, I clearly see that interpreted as putting Christ as a higher priority in our lives than anything or anyone else. My Pastor just preached that portion of Scripture as a challenge for the new year. At this point I'm wondering if completing this book is a wise use of my time.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00869064661569431128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-62639923351961166012017-01-07T09:18:51.476-05:002017-01-07T09:18:51.476-05:00CJ,
Ted Dekker said the whole world longs for the...CJ,<br /><br />Ted Dekker said the whole world longs for the way of Yeshua. He said it, not me. The whole world does NOT long for the way of Yeshua. The whole world in fact HATES 'Yeshua'. (John 15:18, Matthew 10:22, John 7:7, John 3:1). Dekker made a sweeping generalization that is totally inconsistent with the Bible and is BASING his teaching on that. <br /><br />Also, Dekker said, and I quote his page directly-<br /><br />An awakening is sweeping the world. Millions of Christians are beginning to find the Way once more. An alignment to our true identity that shifts the way we experience every aspect of this life in the most beautiful way.Do you dare see who you really are?<br /><br />Where's the proof of this supposed great realignment? All I see is the opposite, which is what is consistent with what Jesus taught will happen. This is New Age claptrap, wrong, unbiblical, and I refer you once again to the main essay I posted which explains why.<br /><br />Dekker said "The Forgotten Way is a 21 day Journey that leads to the discovery of who you truly are."<br /><br />Who we really are ...is that we are craven, depraved sinners who hate Jesus. (Romans 3:23). Until or unless Dekker's material make that point, he is teaching something unbiblical. <br /><br />Lastly, Dekker claimed that the "whole world" forgot 'The Way', but Dekker is the ONE guy to rediscover it and bring it forward again. This is satanic pride, pride that blinds. As the Bible says, if it's new, it's false:<br /><br />For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. (Holman, 2 Tim 4:3)<br />Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-2942522503694985372017-01-04T18:23:40.001-05:002017-01-04T18:23:40.001-05:00CJ, hello. I received your reply yesterday, just y...CJ, hello. I received your reply yesterday, just yesterday, amid lots of other emails, replies, and other correspondence. I do take time to thoroughly read, ponder, research and pray through each one I receive. Sometimes that takes time. I know that many blogs' comment threads devolve pretty quickly into back and forth unedifying snark. If you want that, it's available in lots of places. If you want a thoughtful conversation, that may take a day or two to develop, stick around!Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-86759274816952827272017-01-04T18:10:46.779-05:002017-01-04T18:10:46.779-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06737854490375277557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-10679900286822603882017-01-02T20:02:11.824-05:002017-01-02T20:02:11.824-05:00I may not agree with him that the whole world long...I may not agree with him that the whole world longs for the Way of Yeshua, but I do believe there is an awakening all over the world. Not that the whole world is awakening, but in every part of the world, I believe that those that will come to the Lord are coming to the Lord. I don't believe he is saying that everyone is going to come to Jesus...as you stated, the world will always reject Jesus and no one comes to the Father except the Father draw them to Him. And I think the Father is doing that now by evidence in the Muslim world with the multiple accounts of Muslims having revelations and visions of Jesus. I did not read him saying that sin was just a mistake. In many of his writings he definitely acknowledges sin and how it separates us from God. I don't think his theology has changed. I don't think this book is meant to be an exhaustive doctrinal statement...I think it is meant to be an encouragement to believers. Plus, he has many scriptural references to back up how we are one with the Father because of Jesus. Christians have been beat up by people in their own churches and made to feel like they are worth nothing, when they have sinned,instead of restoring them, forgiving them like our Father does and teaching them who they really are in Christ and walking in that freedom. I think Ted is speaking to Christians who are tired of walking in status quo Christianity, who want to live in the power of the resurrected Christ as we are told we can in the scriptures. We cannot walk in that power if we don't know who we are and believe what the Word says about us and THAT is something the enemy uses to keep us in the status quo, ignorance of who we are. If I thought in any way that Ted was misleading people, I would be the first to say so because I have said such about other "famous" televangelists that water down the gospel so badly that it is nothing but corn syrup. The foundation HAS to be the Word of God and I believe this book is based on the Word. If after going through all of it and the Lord shows me different, then I will come back on here and say so. Thanks for listening.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06737854490375277557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-32788132450605750102017-01-02T11:44:11.811-05:002017-01-02T11:44:11.811-05:00Hi CJ,
Fair enough. However, words matter. Swappi...Hi CJ,<br /><br />Fair enough. However, words matter. Swapping New Age words for the standard words the Bible uses is dangerous. For example, sin is now just a "mistake". Semantics count. We now have a new definition of "love", "humility" and "grace" than previous generations do. Even more dangerous. Satan always tries to get people to misunderstand things, and changing the definitions of words is one way.<br /><br />As for your concerns over my approach, I do ask you this- do you have a response to any of the <b>scriptures</b> I used? specifically this:<br /><br />"I read such outlandish things as "The whole world longs for the Way of Yeshua" and "An awakening is sweeping the world." ...Dekker does not know that all 8 billion people of the world long for the way of Yeshua. ... the world rejected and still rejects Jesus and He said they always will. (John 15:18). No one seeks after God. They all go their own way, (Isaiah 53:6), which is not the way of "Yeshua". So Dekker's sweeping statements are a problem."<br /><br />What say you? :)Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-18362694822927050972017-01-02T11:28:06.447-05:002017-01-02T11:28:06.447-05:00I don't think he said anything about a "n...I don't think he said anything about a "new way"...it is the "forgotten way". I don't see how he has taken anything away from the gospel at all. I think Ted is being straightforward in how we tend to get away from "the Way" because of the cares of the world and the way we view God the Father. He does not take away from the simple truth at all...he actually is trying to get us back to the simple truth...nothing we can "DO" will change our position of who we are in Christ. All of us that have been brought up in church have had to realize as we mature and read the Word for ourselves that all of the "do's and don'ts" are NOT what the gospel is about...It is by grace we are saved...not works..and even though we know that now, we still have ingrained in us that somehow, we have disappointed our Father and He is frowning upon us and if something bad happens to us, well, we must deserve it. (I am not saying there aren't consequences for sin because there are, but we can always get in right standing with our Father by confessing our sins and He being faithful and just to cleanse and forgive us) We make it harder than it is and I personally think Ted is simplifying things without taking away from the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06737854490375277557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-30552851499584727102017-01-02T11:20:12.657-05:002017-01-02T11:20:12.657-05:00I agree with Wendy's assessment. I think we c...I agree with Wendy's assessment. I think we can get caught up in symantics because someone uses a word that is used in the new age and we miss the point he is trying to get across. My grand daughter LOVES rainbows! Does that mean she is a lesbian? She is only 5 years old so I think not. God created the rainbow and just as the word "gay" has a negative connotation, does that mean we just don't use that word anymore? I had no problem with him using the words alignment or harmony because ultimately we want to be living in total alignment with the Father through Jesus Christ. And jumping on his case because he uses Yeshua instead of Jesus? That is a little extreme. Yeshua, I believe is HEbrew for Jesus. Although I agree we need to be discerning because there are a lot of charlatons out there, we need to be careful we aren't just being judgemental...although we are to appraise everything... We ALL have need of realizing who we are in Christ because the enemy of this world has fed us lies since day one and basically, we really do need a spiritual detox. Although I don't think just having a 21 day devotion will totally detox us. As he stated many times in this book...he struggles daily, just like we all do in keeping eyes focused on the author and finisher of our faith. We need to be constantly reminded of who we are and who our Father is because the father of lies is constantly berating us and lieing to us about who we really are. I purposefully looked for reviews of this book because I wanted to hear the good and the bad, but I think you are twisting things way out of proportion in red flagging every word he uses that may or may not be used in the New Age movement. CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06737854490375277557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-65934769830620902012016-12-30T16:29:50.694-05:002016-12-30T16:29:50.694-05:00I read the book, and while it had a lot of truth, ...I read the book, and while it had a lot of truth, it as you pointed out did not hit on the sin issue that plagues all Christians and is the real reason why we have strayed from the Lord. We have to be so careful to not not tickle the ears, but teach the Whole Word of God and NEVER water it down. I felt Ted Dekker's Forgotten Way watered the the Word of God down. Thank you for the review. Be Bereans and search God out through His word and through Prayer.Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07044024948524044347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-25969891257858900082016-12-30T15:11:16.735-05:002016-12-30T15:11:16.735-05:00Yes you're right. But what I'd said above ...Yes you're right. But what I'd said above is that it's founded on God who does not change. It's the revelation of His unchanging self to us so that we can know who He is and how to meet Him.<br /><br />The Reformation was not a change. It was a RECOVERY, of the true faith from those who had stolen and perverted it (Catholicism) by returning the unchanging scriptures to the people.<br /><br />There is only one meaning in any given scripture. The Author only intended one thing. And that does not change. The point of the lesson here in this essay is that if a teacher comes along and says "I have a new way" then just remember there is nothing new under the sun. Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-9048284651961188112016-12-30T14:58:32.449-05:002016-12-30T14:58:32.449-05:00"The point of Christianity is its unchanging ..."The point of Christianity is its unchanging nature" - no, I think the point of Christianity is God's saving grace through Jesus Christ. Christianity as a religion has changed quite a bit over the centuries. The Reformation is a really good example of that. Scripture that had been interpreted one way for a very long time started to take on different meanings through revelation, according to the Reformers. Why wouldn't revelation still be happening today? trustloveshearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09329819801883357800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-10539997612502336472016-12-29T14:38:00.561-05:002016-12-29T14:38:00.561-05:00Thank you Wendy! I'm glad you enjoy his books....Thank you Wendy! I'm glad you enjoy his books.Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-18993425576900387982016-12-29T14:31:10.140-05:002016-12-29T14:31:10.140-05:00I have read almost every one of Ted Dekker's b...I have read almost every one of Ted Dekker's books. While they are often dark, love ultimately overcomes the darkness in ALL of his books. The truth is that evil is real, alive and well in this world, but that God will ultimately overcome evil. That is what Ted Dekker relays in his ALL novels. Maybe we paint too glamorous a picture of how dark, revolting, disgusting and wanting to consume us Satan really is. Possibly because of Ted Dekker’s childhood he sees this more than most of us living here in our sheltered America see. Years ago I picked up a copy of When Heaven Weeps, (I read the whole trilogy) and haven't stopped reading his books since. In the series Black, Red, White, and Green the picture of how repugnant sin is in the eyes of God, but how He still continues to relentlessly pursue us was clearly evident. Saving blood is a common theme in many of his books. (Read Emmanuel's Veins and The Books of Mortals trilogy) His books are also rich with symbolism that always points to Jesus. While Ted's book may be bizarre, and yes, often dark, they never stray from the truth of the Gospel, and are a true representation of the condition of the human heart without God, but with Jesus' atoning sacrifice, our hearts can be washed clean and lives changed. If you're looking for a less dark read, but still an excellent read, read his historical fiction novels AD 30 and AD 33. I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of his devotional yet, but not one of Ted Dekker's books has ever disappointed me. Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08175474364990024082noreply@blogger.com