This entire 21-part study appears on the FaithSaves.net website in a study entitled “Hannah Whitall Smith: Higher Life Writer, Speaker on Sanctification, Developer of the Keswick Theology, Quaker Quietist and Universalist Heretic.” Click here to read the entire study.
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“The Methodist predator from whom Mrs. Smith made her most fundamental discovery of the spiritual life also believed in the doctrine, developed out of medieval and counter-Reformation Roman Catholic mysticism, that Spirit baptism brought physical sexual thrills.”
to read the section that was in the blog post below.
So, this was a bit...much... I read through it quickly. The sad thing is that maybe a few years ago this would have seemed shocking or unusual. But with the norm in what is supposed to be considered "evangelical Christianity", this abusing scripture to justify our every desire rather than using scripture to know His desires...seems...familiar.
ReplyDelete"His conclusion that his own intellect and morals were untrustworthy appears to be most sound."
Ha :) He had the verbage right but got twisted in the application. These days we use the same verbage, but in action seem more suspicious and embarrassed of the Bible--deeming it untrustworthy. It's so needed to reevaluate our motives in our Christian life. The whole LGBT in the church conversation, definition of marriage...how to not be so offensive rather than
letting the cross be the offense that it is and proclaiming the truth that saves. Anemic Christianity. Somewhere in seeking "better balance", the pendulum is swinging far to the other side.
And so the Christian "excuses" and the blog posts and tacked on out of context out of orthodoxy Bible verses...look as sensual, shocking and heretical as this Smith. And it's becoming the norm in even more conservative Christianity...all manner of excuse making and irrationalization to be able to "love the world and the things thereof" all the while phrasing it as "we don't need to worry about commands or obedience...God will sanctify us as He will".
I don't know. Why do "conservative" news sources show the Jenner photo all the while decrying it...Why do Christians want to be on the "victim" agenda/bandwagon or chastise the Duggar situation all the while finding it funny that their elementary/middle school kids enjoy and know the the Super Bowl Halftime Show lyrics (erotic and perverse) by heart or are avid fans of Game of Thrones. Why are there Christian blog posts that try to give the benefits of seeing "50 Shades"...and turn around and mock those that would have no part...or vice versa...would have no part of "50 Shades" but find it their fascination or their kids fascination with a pop culture and personages and fads that have no problem with what "50 Shades" promotes. Didn't someone say "what we love and what we hate reveal what we are..."
Something like "woe unto them that call evil good and good evil"...and woe unto the age, not just some tiny slice of religion as you've presented here, but mainstream Christianity...that can't seem to tell the difference any more. Or just doesn't want to.
Mixed up world, mixed up "Christianity". It's time we just take our Bible and earnestly humbly just want to "know Him and imitate Him" rather than turning God into an image of ourselves.
There. Rant done :)
I think I have the "Christian's Secret" book around here in some collectible Christian Classics bound edition though I've never read it. It should be an interesting read now that I know the warning/background you've provided...or maybe I should go read my Bible and attempt to stay right side up in this upside down world :)
Dear Doulos,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment.
I would suggest that, unless you need to do historical research into Keswick or related movements, that you don't waste your time reading Hannah W. Smith. Christians should read her about as much as they read the Pope or Buddha.
Ha!
ReplyDeleteOr about as much as they read the "news" headlines of the day...
Just like the switch up of "black/white" "man/woman" "entertainment/pornography", real news is discarded and garbage has turned into news :)
Anyway, I was just coming back to try to tactfully and succinctly respond to the "do you believe in one truth" post...and saw your comment here.
Maybe we agree on this "truth"...that unless we NEED (and there'd be debate on the definition of "need" I suppose) to do research...and "don't waste time reading Hannah..."
So, yes, I chose not to read the book. It seems harder and harder to do Philippians 4:8 these days or "hold on to that which is good" while "proving all things".
As for Buddha, I just saw an interesting quote that might pertain to the "one truth" post...so trepidly I go....