Talking to friends involved in Kaballah and Word of faith, and mormonism

[booklover]

I have 2 college roommates who have veered off the straight and narrow path--one into Word of Faith--a "Miracle church", and one into a Kaballah center. Does anybody have any advice for me on how to approach them about the traps I think they've fallen into? After attending my WOF friend's church with her ( a very spooky spiritual experience for me), I sent her a letter and some articles. I haven't talked with her since--we're in different states. I haven't talked with my other friend about the Kaballah thing either, but I feel I need to (she also is a long distance friend). The friend who is mormon is a new friend, and I'm not sure the best way to bring up her beliefs.

Any advice, or personal stories would be greatly appreciated.

[Xenosjeff]

All of our wisdom and methodology can't beat what God has written down for us. When you witness to your "Signs and Wonders" friend just stick to the Gospel and point to Christ. When the truth of his witness shines through all of the "signs" hype, there will be conviction. As to your Kaballah friend, they are in love with the mystical unknown. Same cure, simple witness of Christ. Why go backwards into Jewish mystical darkness. Move forward with them and show them that Christ is the completion of the covenant. There is no need to stay in the past and darkness. Christ is the key.

As for your Mormon, and the rest of them as well, don't forget that love is your attitude, not pride or anger. For the Mormon people I have found that the best way to witness to a Mormon who will talk openly about their faith is to just cut straight to the point. They are not really Christians. How you say it is your call. Just stay in the word and trust in the Holy Spirit to lead you. Also, try to prepare yourself by reading about their issues and doctrine. The last time I spoke to a Mormon openly he was greatly offended. He was grieved by the thought was more like it. Mormons are for the most part good and God fearing people who have been in a ridgid system of social and moral control. They might not have ever heard that they were not Christian. If the conversation goes past that, you will have to point out gently that even if we use some terms that are alike, the meaning is very different. The nature of God cannot be changed. If you get to the point where they are listening you can point out that Mormonism has been very well disproven on many fronts. Joseph Smith has been proven to be a false prophet many times over. No artifact has turned up from the great Mormon society of the Americas. DNA has disproven their claims of Jewish ancestors. It goes on and on.

Also I wouldn't expect to get all three to listen in just one encounter each. Just keep to your witness of Christ and pray for the opportunity to serve anyone you meet. You can't go wrong with that.

Peace

Jeff

[BlessedAssurance]

I've found the best way to witness to my friends is subtly. I send emails about my kids' activities at church. I send cards with a Christian message. I tell stories about things my kids have said to get the point across. What I did before I had children, I couldn't tell you! They're my best witness ever!!

My son (7) last spring asked a Universalist friend if she believed in Jesus. He then quizzed her for 15 minutes on why she didn't believe Jesus was the only way. Then he sang Vacation Bible School songs. This was all his idea. And when she told me about it, and expected me to be embarrassed, I just said, Isn't it great how kids always say the Truth?

So, I wouldn't be dogmatic and confrontational. Maybe ask them what they're learning, and then point out how it's different from the True Walk.

[Somervillechangeling]

I haven't talked with her since--we're in different states. I haven't talked with my other friend about the Kaballah thing either, but I feel I need to (she also is a long distance friend). The friend who is mormon is a new friend, and I'm not sure the best way to bring up her beliefs.

Any advice, or personal stories would be greatly appreciated.

The Kabbalah center is a cult. Trust me. Orthodox Jews who teach genuine Kabbalah warn against it. It's not kosher and has New Age leanings.

I was into genuine Kabbalah for a decade and that's problematic enough. Unlike most Christians, I don't consider genuine Kabbalah to be satanic (merely a man made philosophy mixing the oral Torah with neo-Platonism). I do think it pales next to the Gospel because any religious effort without Christ misses the mark.

There's also the Christian Qabbalah, but that was a Catholic attempt a few centuries ago to interpret translations of Kabbalah in a Catholic Christian vein. You'll find some of that on the net too. Be wary as it adds to the Gospel in some areas and takes away in others.

As to your Kaballah friend, they are in love with the mystical unknown. Same cure, simple witness of Christ. Why go backwards into Jewish mystical darkness. Move forward with them and show them that Christ is the completion of the covenant. There is no need to stay in the past and darkness. Christ is the key.


Not all Jewish mysticism is darkness. Pantheism is darkness, but some of the mystical teachings of Judaism, if understood properly, can lead to Christ. Yet, it has to lead to the Gospel and scripture, not theology or Platonic philosophy. My understanding of the Jewish world of the New Testament was strengthened by my traditional Jewish past, not lessened. I often wince at some of the pamphlets missionaries use to try to convince Jews that Jesus is Christ, because the missionaries (some of them Messianic, others Gentile church believers) often don't understand the Torah concepts they're trying to use.

I came to Christ after reading C.S. Lewis, but my walk with Christ is deeper because I also know traditional Jewish sources and IMHO, they should never be used to convert anyone to Christ, not even by a Jewish Christian. Much of Judaism after the resurrection is still Biblical, but there are man made philosophies and theologies that hinder any Jew's search for answers about Jesus. It's better to just go back to the New Testament and mere Christianity.

[booklover]

I hadn't revisited my thread for a while, so was happy to see Somervillechangeling's response. I still have to call my friend--life has been busy. I'm not sure exactly how she's practicing kaballah, and I don't know what drew her to it in the first place. She grew up in a Baptist church, and we attended a Free Methodist college. To my knowledge she has no Jewish blood.
I myself am interested in studying Judaism to better understand what I am grafted into. We celebrate Passover from the perspective of understanding how Jesus is the Lamb, and our only protection from the angel of death. It makes Easter more meaningful to me. We were persuaded from the Maker's Diet book that it's not healthy to eat pork and shell fish, so we pretty much abstain from those foods. I have no problem with people who choose to practice Jewish customs, but I do not feel compelled to do them--only as an enrichment exercise. The mysticism aspect of Kaballah does concern me. I need to make the time to call and find the specifics of what she's involved in.