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Part 2 of 2. Read part 1 HERE.
Historical Jesus
In researching Tolle it was clear that he ignores the facts that surround the historical Jesus. The actual God person, Jesus, whose existence, crucifixion and resurrection was attested to by eyewitness, those who followed Jesus and their immediate disciples, the Early Church Fathers. Tolle takes none of the Bible verses that we are discussing literally, interpeting it all in an esoteric fashion, denying mankind’s need for a savior. This can be easily seen in his interpretation of the verses we have just reviewed and in his interpretation of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Christianity – Crucifixion & Resurrection – Actual physical death of Jesus, literal bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead as testified by the eyewitness’s. The Bible says this is the specific purpose of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection:
Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification/righteousness. Romans 4:25
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” Matthew 28:6-7
“Then he (Jesus) said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” Jesus in John 20:27-29 after the resurrection.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Tolle – “The sight of Jesus on the Cross is a powerful symbol of the pain-body itself. The crucifixion on the cross is an external representation of an inner reality – the pain-body.” “The nails are your own ego. They are not deadly and they can be removed. They can be removed and you can be liberated from your pain and suffering.” http://www.tolleteachings.com/death-on-the-cross.html
“And this is the meaning of the Resurrection. We are capable of freeing ourselves from the cross of pain and suffering. We can be released from that which binds us and walk and breathe and live.” http://www.tolleteachings.com/death-on-the-cross.html
Context
A critical factor in reading the Bible is context. Are the verses you are reading written to a Jew, a Gentile, a believer or an unbeliever? What do the surrounding verses say so we understand the verse in context? Tolle has a habit of taking verses out of context or even making a big deal out of partial verses. In John 14:6, Tolle consistently leaves off the second half of the verse to arrive at his interpretation.
Tolle quotes this first part of the verse: “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life,” and consistently leaves off the second part of the verse, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Christianity - Jesus is making it crystal clear here that he is the only way, he the truth and the life, and no one comes to God the Father except through Jesus.
Tolle – “The truth is inseparable from who you are. Yes, you are the Truth. If you look for it elsewhere, you will be deceived every time.” A New Earth
“You yourself personally are the way, the truth and the life and you get to God through your inner self. You are the I Am Jesus is talking about.” http://www.bibleone.net/new_earth_review.htm
Tolle tells us to trust ourselves and not Jesus as our savior. Each person reading this will need to make up their own mind. Do you really think you are the way, the truth and the life?
More on the Messiah, Christ, Anointed One
As I mentioned, there are many things we can learn from the Old Testament. It prophesied the coming of a Messiah. Knowing what “Messiah” meant to the Jews who were waiting for him is a huge help to us.
Messiah comes from the Hebrew word mashiach and means “anointed one” or “chosen one.” The Greek equivalent is the word Christos or, in English, Christ. The name “Jesus Christ” is the same as “Jesus the Messiah.” http://www.gotquestions.org/what-does-Messiah-mean.html
We see in the Old Testament that the Jews were waiting for a chosen one; they knew they were not the Christ, not God or part of the God force as Tolle would have us believe. Peter was Jewish and knew that the Messiah was to be The Deliverer sent by God for mankind.
In the end, it has nothing to do with who Tolle, the New Age movement, or who I believe Jesus is. It is all about who you believe Jesus is. Do you believe, as Tolle teaches, that Jesus was just an ordinary man who presented a partial or half- truth, that your sins simply mean you missed the point of human existence? When you tell a lie, cheat, steal or harm others in some way, do you believe the guilt you experience is an illusion and you do not need God’s forgiveness and a Savior?
Or do you believe as Peter did that Jesus is God who came in the flesh, the Messiah, the chosen one, the anointed one, the Savior of the world, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, and now offers us eternal life if we will simply trust in him?
“And he (Jesus) asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ.’” Mark 8:29
Faith
A Christian’s faith does not make the Bible true. Faith like love must have an object. The object of faith is always more important than the faith itself. Faith placed in a lie is in vain. Faith itself does not save anyone. Jesus claimed to be God and proved his claims by the many miracles he did and ultimately by the resurrection. Christians believe the historical evidence for Jesus and the resurrection and thus place their faith in the person of Jesus Christ as Savior. It is the shed blood of Jesus that saves according to the Bible. You can clearly see that historical events are the basis for the Christian’s faith in the following verse. If the resurrection is not the truth, our faith is in vain.
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 1 Cor 15:14
Did Jesus really rise from the dead – free book - http://www.god-evidence-truth.com/
Conclusion
In essence, it appears that New Age believers come to the Bible with their view of how things should be. They then attempt to compliment their current belief by cheery picking and reinterpreting scripture, while ignoring the eyewitness testimony and original interpretation of the Apostles and ensuing testimony of the early church. What they do not like, they reject as false. They then take bits and pieces from the Bible and other beliefs and build their own version of Jesus.
If the Bible text we have today could not be verified, Christians would have no foundation to stand upon. Think about your current health insurance policy; do you know what is in it, specifically how all things are covered? Do you have a written copy or do you just trust your insurance company to treat you right? If they knew you did not have a copy in writing, do you think some insurance companies might be tempted to change it to benefit them when you actually needed the coverage? Isn’t your possession of a written copy the one thing that protects you?
Just like the Bible, anybody could change whatever they wanted, and no one would know when something had been changed if we did not have the objective evidence we do have. The entire message would be lost by now. Many have tried, through the years, to alter the text. Even as the original books of the Bible were being written, the Bible warns (in the book of Galatians for example) of people trying to change the message of salvation. As a Christian, the Bible’s text is what all messages we hear about God should be filtered through. If a preacher tells me Jesus was just a man or salvation is not by grace alone and requires works, I know right away they are teaching something contrary to what the Bible teaches. Since truth never contradicts itself, both cannot be true. I will trust the written text that has been preserved for centuries for us and the teaching of those closest to the events over any modern-day preacher who claims contrary enlightenment.
Actually knowing what is in the Bible by personally reading and studying it is the only way Christians have to protect themselves from contrary teachings. One should never just blindly trust any person, place their faith in any preacher or teacher, including Tolle, without knowing for themselves what the Bible actually states. A Christian is called to have faith that Jesus is the truth and that the Bible is true, not that man is truthful no matter who they claim to be.
Do not be deceived. If you have not personally read the Bible, specifically the New Testament, and are following someone like Tolle, your faith is in that person’s teaching and their claim of special enlightenment, not in Jesus or what is plainly written in the Bible itself. You need to read the New Testament for yourself.
This is precisely how people are led astray by false teachers according to the Bible. The Bible tells us we need no one to interpret it for us. If you are truly seeking God, you will find him. Don’t take my word for it or anyone else’s blindly. That is the definition of blind faith. The Bible itself says to filter teachings and spirits through what you read in scripture.
“PROVE ALL THINGS; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
Tolle is asking people to believe and entrust themselves to him and his special enlightenment. He is doing this while contradicting even Jesus and the Apostles’ teaching. Jesus himself did not entrust himself to any man. Jesus knew what was in man, a fallen nature according to the Bible and not hidden special enlightenment.
“Now when he (Jesus) was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. “John 2:23-25
I am not asking you to trust me, I am asking you to read the New Testament for yourself and ask God if it is true.
Jesus Warned about False Teachers/Prophets?
The best way to pass a counterfeit $20 bill off is to make it look as close to the original as possible. When they teach people how to spot counterfeit money, they do not have them study the counterfeit. They have them study the real thing so they will know a counterfeit right away when they see it. There are many false teachings that claim the name of Jesus Christ in some form.
Jesus warned numerous times of false prophets and teachers.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Jesus in Matthew 7:15
“…and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.” Jesus in Matthew 24:11
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Based on Tolle’s contradictions to the interpretation of the earliest believers in the areas discussed, he would qualify as a false prophet/teacher.
Tolle’s New Age beliefs are very closeto the Gnostic beliefs that the Early Church Fathers declared false, fought, and warned strongly against. You can read very clear warnings in the writings from the Early Church Father Irenaeus about this matter: Against Heresies
Final Thought
Years ago, I was interested in and became involved in New Age beliefs until I investigated it more closely. I can tell you that there is not one single benefit that the New Age movement offers over a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in this life, and it is missing the eternally vital component of God’s forgiveness and salvation. Everything a New Age person needs is found in a personal saving relationship with Jesus of the Bible, God incarnate. He is offering love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, righteousness, joy, peace and the freedom New Age believer’s desire, but not before their sin problem is dealt with. The Bible says that the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in that order, in the Holy Spirit. God is offering to everyone “in Christ” freedom from the punishment a just God must bring for any and all sins committed. Don’t be deceived; listen to your own conscience, all of us have sinned and need a Savior. Salvation is being freely offered to you today, to all who will believe. The Bible speaks of a great inheritance for all who will believe, a new world where there will be no more pain, suffering, or tears, and much more than anyone can imagine or hope for.
“Therefore he (Jesus) is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death (Jesus) has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions (sins) committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15
Read: Sharing the Gospel with a New Age Believer
How to read the Bible for beginners: http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=181675
Review more of the objective evidence in a free book here: http://www.god-evidence-truth.com/
Scripture verses utilized are primarily from the ESV.
Tolle’s position on the Bible is easily obtained online through a Google search.
Various sources of Tolle information utilized:
Tolle’s book “A New Earth”
Page reference notes from Tolle’s book “A New Earth” taken from this article on str.org: http://www.str.org/articles/oprah-s-religion-a-brief-evaluation-of-eckhart-tolle-s-a-new-earth#.V7C1RvkrLZ5
http://www.equip.org/article/paradise-still-lost-in-eckhart-tolles-a-new-earth/
http://www.thepathoftruth.com/false-teachers/oprah-winfrey-and-eckhart-tolle.htm
http://www.bibleone.net/new_earth_review.htm
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I had never heard of an Eckhart Tolle before I came across your piece. I can understand how so many people are being led astray from true Christianity now. Wow. The devil is slick.
I have come across many people with this Tolle mindset in my journeys. I never could understand where they got the misinformation from that living in sin or not repenting is okay.