More Disappearing Trails

If you have ever observed the tracks left behind by sheep, you would know that a sheep’s foot print looks very different than a wolf foot foot print. This is why wolves in sheeps clothing need to continually cover their tracks, otherwise the sheep will know that there are wolves among them in the sheep pen. Let’s take a look at some recent tracks that have been covered up on the disappearing trail…

We all heard about the disappearance of Todd Bentley’s references to his angel Emma, who became simply that “particular” angel as his story was changed (see Todd Bentley, Is he now ashamed of his angel Emma?).

But that is not the only thing that is being changed as Christian bloggers expose what is going on behind the scenes while wolves in sheeps clothing tip toe around in the sheep pen, trying to act like sheep.

For example:

The godtube video of Todd Bentley at The Secret Place in Abbotsford, B.C., as referred to in the post called
Following the Tracks (Part 2)- from Abbotsford to Lakeland and Around the World, has disappeared.

Here is another one. After being up for a long time, the youtube video of Mark Virkler teaching how to hear the voice of God through automatic writing/channelling (as recently referred to in a post called Todd Bentley Responds to Criticism) has suddenly disappeared. In the video, Virkler sat down and typed out a message on the spot from God for his interviewer in a cheap display of “hear God guaranteed” on demand, not unlike putting coins into a soda pop dispenser. This was an important video as Virkler’s spiritual advisor is Dr. Gary Greig, whose widely publicized endorsement Freshfire uses to legitimize Todd Bentley and the false Florida revival.

Then there’s the strange phenomena of shifting articles. Take for example the glory cloud revelation (Todd’s vision of Sundar Singh) as referred to in Todd Bentley and Contemplative Meditation.The link to this vision account disappeared. It was later discovered that it was simply changed on the Freshfire website shortly after many discernment blogs had linked to it.

Then there’s this one which deserves a longer explanation. A recent article on Wolf Tracks that got a lot of traffic and referals was called LECTIO DIVINA – Leading Sheep to a New Level of Consciousness. While I was writing this article, I copied and pasted the words from a page on the Youth Specialties website that was written by Mike Perschon. In the article, Pershon mentioned the four levels of consciousness achieved through practicing Lectio Divina.

This is what I wrote in the Lectio Divina article (the words in quotation marks were copied and pasted from Mike Perschon’s article, as were the four steps of consciousness, or so I thought):

Mike Perschon of Youth Specialties compares the four steps of Lectio Divina to “four levels of consciousness…which introduces you at each new level into a whole new world of reality” that occurs through the four levels of repetitious reading:

1- LITERAL LEVEL CONSCIOUSNESS
2- Moral level of consciousness
3- the Allegorical level which requires a Spiritual level of listening
4- We simply rest in the presence of the one who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. We call this level, Union of Life or the unitive level of consciousness.
-An Experience of Lectio Divina
(http://www.cellofpeace.com/refl_lectio.htm)

The reference to these steps can no longer be found as the Youth Specialties article is no longer there. All you will get if you click on the link now is the OOPS page. Nevertheless, whether it has disappeared or not, Mike Perschon himself commented on Wolf Tracks under my article on Lectio Divina and did not disagree with these steps or the practise of Lectio Divina. Here is what he said:

“I’d just like to clarify that I’ve been misquoted here. I didn’t write the website regarding the four steps. I was asked by Youth Specialties to do an introductory article on various contemplative practices, and I linked to certain pages I deemed to represent the practice well. I didn’t write it though. That said, I don’t disagree with it, and I would like to further clarify by saying that I do not espouse Lectio Divina as THE way to knowing Christ. As an academic and former pastor, I am devoted to studying the Bible within its contexts, and understanding it in a very rational way. But I find that Lectio Divina enlarges my experience of the Bible. It’s one of many tools I use in my walk with Christ. And I’m not suggesting it replaces grace, as some have supposed elsewhere.”

We would like to give Perschon the benefit of the doubt, but as it is interesting that while Perschon says he was misquoted, he admittedly does NOT disagree with these 4 levels of consciousness. It’s difficult to check back to read exactly what he said because the page is now blank, and the article that I used to pull his quote from has been shifted over. It has been moved, and given a new URL…

This is where it was:
http://www.youthspecialties.com/articles/topics/spirituality/contemplative.php
This is where you can find it now:
http://www.youthspecialties.com/freeresources/articles/spirituality/contemplative.php

Apparently missing from the article is the reference to the 4 levels of consciousness, however, the link to Cell of Peace remains. Perhaps I copied and pasted incorrectly? Could be. But then, how can this ever be proven? Is the moral of the story to copy/paste/save everything we find? Who has time for that?

The point of bringing these particular things to light is this. Why would Mike Perschon say he was misquoted, but also say that he agrees with the quote anyways? Is he feeling bad about leading youth to a new level consciousness instead of leading them to the truth? Is he sort of covering his tracks?

In another Youth Specialties article Mike Perschon wrote (here):

Morton Kelsey refers to the experience of contemplative prayer in all its forms as entering a “laboratory for the soul.” While this phrase entices me with its sense of adventure, it frightens most believers. For too long, evangelical Christianity has packaged faith in safe bundles.

I’m sorry Mike Perschon, but the reason this “frightens” most believers is that this is not of God, and the only “safe” place to be is under the shelter of His wings. He is our strong tower. This is why we must stay away from practices that might open our minds up to the darkness of the spirit realm and doctrines of demons, but you are leading youth away from God, in this mad laboratory experiment devised by Satan, and into darkness.

In conclusion, there will surely be more covered tracks as the delusion unfolds and sticky web of apostasy is woven. In the meantime, some might say, why bother with all this, let’s just read God’s Word and stick to the truth. While this is very VERY good advice, and I totally agree, God’s Word also instructs us to reprove and expose what is in the darkness.

11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Ephesians 5:11

Maranatha!

June 27, 2008 | Categories: contemplative spirituality, discernment, emerging church, false prophets, Lectio Divina, meditation, mysticism, New Age, prophecy watch, religion, sheep, spirituality, Todd Bentley | 12 Comments