Rick Warren also uses the Message Bible as a Scriptural reference - here is a brief look at the Message Bible as posted on another forum [with permission from the poster]:
What are some of the new age terms mentioned in the Message Bible?
Matthew 6:10
LITV - Your kingdom come; Your will be done, as it is in Heaven, also on the earth.
MESSAGE - Set the world right; do what's best - AS ABOVE, S0 BELOW
2 Cor.5:14
LITV - For the love of Christ constrains us, having judged this, that if One died for all, then all died;
MESSAGE - Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this FOCUSED CENTER: One man died for everyone.
1 Pet.1:17
LITV - And if you call on the Father, the One judging according to the work of each one without respect of faces pass the time of your sojourning in fear,
MESSAGE - Your life is a journey you must travel with a DEEP CONSCIOUSNESS of God.
Matt. 17:2
LITV - And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothing became white as the light.
MESSAGE - His appearance changed from the INSIDE OUT, right before their eyes
Luke 7:16
LITV - And fear took hold of all; and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has risen up among us; and, God has visited His people.
MESSAGE - They all realized they were in a PLACE Of HOLY MYSTERY, that God was at work among them.
Matthew 5:44-45
LITV - but I say to you, Love your enemies; bless those cursing you, do well to those hating you; and pray for those abusing and persecuting you, so that you may become sons of your Father in Heaven. Because He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.
MESSAGE - When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your TRUE SELVES, your God-created selves.
Luke 12:2
LITV - But there is nothing which has been completely concealed which will not be uncovered, nor hidden which will not be known.
MESSAGE - You can't keep your TRUE SELF hidden forever; before long you'll be exposed.
The message uses AS ABOVE SO BELOW. Let's look at some "mystical" groups who use this terminology:
MESSAGE - Set the world right; do what's best - AS ABOVE, S0 BELOW
www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/a/below_above.html These are some of the many terms that are new age/occultic/psycho babble in origin. Do you think that God wants His Word mixed with the things of the world? This book and others, are the beginning of a scriptural path to the one world religion. If needed, I can show where many of the other terms used originated from as well. Believing that these terms could have been derived from the original Greek texts is the only stretch here.
I was also told that "as above, so below" was not an occultic term:
from a satanic site:
"The Black Altar of Hell resides in The Noctary Chambre, from which The Magic is cast. The Infernal Idol bears four arms - the top left arm points upwards in the Sign of The Horns, assuring Satan's Power and Dominion, and is significant of "As Above" . The top right arm is lowered with hand signifying both the inverse cross {thumb & index} and the other three fingers pointed downwards as a denial of the Trinity of blindlight, and is significant of "So Below" . The lower left hand holds The Black Candle of Lucifer's Infernal Blessings, and the lower right hand grasps the white candle of destruction. The Altar Goddess rests upon the lap of Baphomet in lascivious rapport, intoxicated by the Might of Lucifer's Phallic Lust. The Satanagram is set upon the face of the altar plain, with The Magical weapons positioned in their respective points outlining the proceedings of the Ritual. The Satanagrammaton is displayed decorating the tunic of The Sabbatic Goat, respresentative of The Devil's seal of fulfillment.The Luciferic Black Flame burns intensely from the mind of manifestation, upon a trapezoidal pillar. The Satanic Altar is the dark cosmic powersource by which The Magician works His will upon the universe. From The Black Heart, andfrom the almighty Will to Power. HAIL SATAN."
I was then told that Paul used terms that were familiar to the Greek stoicks to relate the Gospel message to them and that this was the same. My reply was:
One detail that you failed to mention. Those who penned the original texts in Greek were under the inspiration of God.They did not just decide that the world needed a "new" paraphrase to clear up misconceptions of the scriptures in a plain, terminology modified language.
In closing, here is another favorite new age term from the message:
MESSAGE - Your life is a journey you must travel with a DEEP CONSCIOUSNESS of God.
from a site that promotes shamans [spiritism]:
"The journey is then shared with the mentor following the drumming, who uses the symbols to initiate a CRP journey in the same fashion as he would dream images.It is important that the mentor realize that the images are formed, as are dream images and stories, by the deep conciousness patterns and dynamics that shape the mentored, both physically and mentally. In this way the completion of the drumming is just the first step in a CRP journey, just as the dream provides the opening or doorway for a dream journey. This too sets the CRP drummer apart from more traditional views which require the shaman or to give meaning or interpret the symbols or story encountered. Rather the mentor uses the imagery to explore the deep conciousness structures that gave rise to the symbols." [end quote]
