HYPNOTISM WITHIN THE ADVENTIST CHURCH:  

  Above all-Keeping thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues
of life. {margin) Pr 4:23

PART SIX OF TEN

But now, back to the hypnotists. If you are daily living with God and His Word. the kind of hypnotists you have to deal With (the men trained in LAB I, LAB II, and advanced NLP courses) will probably be encountered in lectures or personal conversations.

First, let us consider lecture settings:

A lecture setting would be a church service, campmeeting, or some other gathering where people are assembled to hear someone speak. But it could also include listening to a tape, or even to an independent, itinerant speaker in a small home gathering (remember LOR!).

"When you were with Erickson, did you have the experience of being slightly disoriented, fascinated and entranced by the man's language?

"Man: I was bored.

"Milton uses boredom as one of his major weapons." Frogs into Princes, p. 135.

How very often people are in meetings of various kinds, or listening to lectures on audio- or videotape, and yet for various reasons they are only half-listening. It is at such a time that the Ericksonian worker can accomplish his objectives more effectively. It is always easier to hypnotize people that are already half asleep.

"A related device is to use vocabulary and sentence structure in a somewhat confused pattern--so as to mystify the audience. They imagine the speaker is very intelligent because they cannot exactly figure out what he is talking about; so they buy his conclusions without checking them out. Remember that the deepest wisdom in the world is in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, and both were written in simple language. No university graduates, no psychiatric experts, no great men filled with their own importance wrote any of it. Only commonplace folk, and the God of heaven. Beware of these people that are so wise that it is with difficulty that you can figure out what they are talking about. Truly wise men speak simply, directly, to the point.

So what should you do when you find yourself in such a situation?

If obvious error is being taught, then just walk out. But if you are not so sure, but you do not feel comfortable in the situation, or just feel bored; there is an excellent way to immediately solve the problem.

When you go to Sabbath School, church service, midweek meeting, campmeeting, or any other kind of meeting, take your Bible and a Spirit of Prophecy book along with you. Then when, to the slightest degree, the situation becomes boring or uninteresting, open and begin reading. Shut out the world and have a feast of good things from God's Word! You are not bored and no man is catching you in a net. Ellen White tells us that when we are traveling and have nothing else to do, -to open the Word of God and read a portion of it. If you cannot otherwise profitably use your time in helping someone, or resting, then read and think about Scripture and your thankfulness to God for all His many blessings to you. Open His Word and memorize a command or a promise.

The emphasis, with these men, is reaching the unconscious and changing it in accordance with they way they think it should be changed.

"Look, I'm not talking to your conscious mind. I'm talking to the part of you responsible for this pattern of behavior. It's going to run the show. I'm going to serve as its consultant . .

"I want to go directly to the part of Dick which is controlling his behavior at the unconscious level. It -Frogs to Princes, p. 140.

That is totally wrong! First, According to the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, the "kingly power of reason"--the reasoning, thinking mind--is to rule the body and decide what shall be done. But Ericksonian hypnotists seek to bypass the frontal lobes and deal directly with the more impressionable emotional portions of the brain. We must not let that happen.

Second, it is unscriptural to let another man control our mind, or for us to seek to control the mind of another. Have nothing to do with people involved in that kind of activity. In the above quotation the operator explains that he is saying something to the unconscious mind. When he speaks to it, a definite purpose may form in his mind as to the changes that should be made, but there may be none at all.

What is his purpose, his objective? What changes is he trying to produce in the client through storytelling, when he admits that he has never heard the problems the client has? Simple enough: According to the author, he frequently just works at random, cares not for what kind of response he gets, believing that it will always work out for the best, no matter which direction it may lead! Significantly, he knows that whatever response, whatever changes are made will be "good ones," since there are no "bad responses"! That would be understandable by the views of a worldly evolutionist mind, for if there are no moral standards, then there would be no bad changes in a person's behavior.

"If you decide before you begin a communication what will constitute a 'valid' response, then the probability that you'll get it is reduced severely. If, however, you make a maneuver, some intervention, and then simply come to your senses and notice what response you get, you'll realize that all responses are utilizable. There's no particular good or bad response. Any response is a good response when it's utilized, and it's the next step in the process of change. The only way you can fail is by quitting, and deciding you are not willing to spend any more time with it."-Frogs into Princes, p. 164

In all of this, we have to keep in mind the "intuitive guide" spoken of by Changeworks Cassettes; that "being" who, knowingly or unknowingly, is in contact with every hypnotist. That spirit "guide" is able to make the random imbeddings and interventions implanted by his agent, work out just the way (it) he wants them to. And that thought should frighten anyone from ever consulting a hypnotic counselor.

You see, not only is the client deceived into trance control and changes, but the hypnotizer is deceived into thinking he is in command of the situation. He is being used also.

In view of such a startling, haphazard approach to "helping people through hypnosis," we well agree that changes may be made, but will any of them be positive improvements? Are people really helped by seeing professional counselors? At this point, the author of Frogs into Princes mentions a research experiment that is worth keeping in mind:

"There was a research project that I think you all are entitled to know about. Out of a group of people, one third of them went into therapy, one third of them were put on a waiting list, and one third of them were shown movies of therapy. The people on the waiting list (those who never met with a counselor) had the same rate of improvement"-Frogs into Princes, p. 164.

He then concludes that the reason for the positive help is that regular counselors lack the innovative methods he uses.

When we go to people who are not earnest Christians for counsel, we cannot expect to receive the real help we need. Only a person who knows and loves God, and who values His Inspired Word above all other guide books, can help you. He will do so by drawing you closer to God and to His Word. For, ultimately, only God can really give us the help we so much need.

Do not seek out those that peep and mutter, or those that use "modern techniques" from the same sources.

Fruit from the tree of good and evil will not help you. All trances are dangerous! God does not work with trances; instead He seeks to convince the mind. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 1:18) And then He adds, "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword." (verses 19-20).

Submission and obedience to God is the issue. The total opposite occurs when, by curiosity or neglect, men permit created beings to take control of their minds. Give your mind to the Lord and to obedience to His Word. He alone is to rule in your life.

We dare not leave the Lord. He alone is our safety. His Word alone must be our fundamental guide. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20). The fact that the experienced hypnotist recognizes that he does not really know exactly what changes should be made and yet then the changes are later made (!), reveals that he is only being used by a supernatural power. It becomes clear that the hypnotist is only the medium through which a super-mind is accomplishing his purposes through one mind to control another. After the captivated leave the medium, the trance factor can continue on for weeks or months thereafter.

"Did you find that six months, eight months, or a year later, you were going through changes that were somehow associated with those stories that he was telling? Ibid.

Let us notice again a certain emphasis: "You go in and out of various levels of consciousness throughout every day. Hypnosis is the skilled and directed use of this naturally occurring state. "Dr. Milton Erickson. . showed us how to use hypnosis to better meet therapeutic goals. He taught that we can communicate with the whole person by utilizing conscious and unconscious levels. Dr. Erickson also taught us how to utilize and bypass client resistance by embedding therapeutic interventions in seemingly casual conversation." NEINLP brochure.

Remember this important point: The Ericksonian hypnotists want to reach you and affect you when you are in low gear, when your mind is randomly in somewhat disconnected thought, when it is not at high alert.

The plan is to use lectures that you listen to or a personal conversation with you to achieve this objective. Let us now turn our attention to those "casual conversations," which, in reality, are Ericksonian hypnotic sessions: How can you gain the victory when an Ericksonian specialist comes knocking at your door, enters, and engages you in conversation:

(1) Pray for divine help, not merely when in a questionable lecture, interview, or conversation, but all the time. Fullest strength in meeting the sudden crises comes by living right with God all the time.

(2) Do not have fear of man or Satan. Let your thoughts focus on: love for God, thankfulness to Him for His care over you, prayer for protection, and continued trust that He will provide it.

(3) When in a questionable lecture, open the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy and begin reading with interest. Just ignore what the speaker has to say, and be caught up in the content of the book before you.

(4) Recall the experience of Ellen White when the mesmerists, the hypnotists of her day, tried to put her in a trance so as to affect her mind and control her thoughts.

"[Ellen White arrived at a meeting in Maine.] J.T. was there. He had boasted that he understood the art of mesmerism, and that he could mesmerize me; that he could prevent me from having a vision, or telling a vision in his presence. There were many Present who had heard this boast. I arose in the congregation. My visions came up fresh before me, and I commenced relating them, when I felt a human influence being exerted against me. I looked at J.T. He had his hand up to his face, and was looking through his fingers, his eyes intently fixed upon me. His lips were compressed, and a low groan now and then escaped him.

"In a moment I remembered the promise which the Lord had given me, and turned to him and related what the Lord had shown me in Portland; that if I was in danger of being affected by a human influence, to ask for another angel, who would be sent to protect me. I then raised my hands to heaven and earnestly cried, Another angel, Father! another angel! I knew that my request was granted. I felt shielded by the strong Spirit of the Lord, and was borne above every earthly influence, and with freedom finished my testimony. The saints were comforted, and rejoiced in the Lord."-2 Spiritual Gifts, 62-63.

That promise is for you! God did not intend that you become the sport of the devil. When you feel tried, tempted, and in need of divine help, plead for help, believe that it will come, and you will have it. ABC - ask, believe, and claim. The help will be given when you need it most.

When to a special degree you sense danger, dart a prayer up to heaven, and say, "Father, another angel; send another angel!" You are His property, by creation and redemption, and He will care for His own. The context of the following statement speaks about the certainty of God's protecting care of those who remain with Him, even when evil spirits would seek to overcome them:

"When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted wood, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light."-Desire of Ages, 324.

(5) Plead with God in your daily prayers that, when the time comes, you will sense that you are in a dangerous situation.

(6) When it comes, then send up an appeal-spoken or unspoken-to your kindly, protecting heavenly Father for extra help. And then put your mind in high gear, and be on the alert. If it appears to be one of those Ericksonian "casual conversations, then, by an act of will and words, dominate the conversation. It is not now the time for the "courtesy" of sitting around, listening to people say all they want to say. It is not now the time for you to sit patiently while smokescreens are thrown up, so men can subtly introduce error and strengthen their beachhead. If you sense danger, speak up, get to the point; state Bible-Spirit of Prophecy principles, and make an appeal for a decision on the basis of those principles. If the individual appears to be trying to state a clear-cut position, he should do it concisely and to the point.

 Any normal person of average intelligence will be able to state his position simply, and fairly concisely. If he appears to be beating around the bush and sidestepping issues, then close off the conversation. If he is not willing to consider your appeal to stand by stated Bible-Spirit of Prophecy principles, then end the conversation and get out of there. And take your loved ones with you. Remember Lot's wife; she wanted to linger behind.

By following the course of action outlined in the above paragraph, you maintained a clear-cut objective in your mind and you actively pursued it. This eliminated any possibility of irresolution or confusion on your part. You defended God's Word, and then, if the individual refused the counsel, you terminated the conversation. In this way, there is no opportunity for Ericksonian penetrations while your mind is in low-gear. You were in the fast lane; this was no low-gear conversation.

If you find that the operator is really a skilled hypnotist, then you do well to only utter a warning, turn, take your loved ones by the hand, and get out of there. I recall, back in the 1950s while we were both attending the Seminary in Washington D.C., a friend of mine told of an experience he had the night before. He visited a home where he had been giving Bible studies. But, unexpectedly, Jehovah's Witnesses, who had also been giving the family studies, arrived shortly afterward to confront him. It was an interesting, but complex situation, but, in afterthought, he noted that he made a mistake in even praying with those unexpected visitors. They rejected the divinity of Christ and were in total opposition to several other Biblical principles.

Interestingly enough, as we go into the end of time, there will even be instances when you will not be able to pray with some people. The rebellion against God's Inspired Writings will intensify, and, accompanying it, the separation between the faithful and those determined to withhold obedience to God will widen.

It is my earnest prayer that the above suggestions will bring you fresh courage for the battles ahead. On one hand, our people need to know that certain of our leaders are now taking training courses in Ericksonian hypnosis. (You would not want to be ignorant of this would you?) On the other hand, we should not now retreat into bomb shelters of fear and isolation, lest we meet an Ericksonian pastor headed our way. We have a work to do for God in the world!

Be strong in the Lord! Deepen your study of His Word. Put on all the armor. Be ready, in His strength to meet the enemy in battle. You are not dallying with their ideas or toying with their theories. But when they come to meet you, you will be ready.

Especially beware of those who come, quoting disconnected Spirit of Prophecy passages, and claiming to have "new light" for you, your family, or your group. Feigning to be earnest believers in the writings of Ellen White, they say they have advance "light" that will strengthen your confidence in historic Adventism;--beware! If their messages do not clearly agree with all that you have been reading for years in the Inspired books, then you had better send them on their way rather quickly.

When such people arrive, you have a right to ask that they quickly get to the point-and state their "new light." If they have genuine new light, they will be able to give it within 10 minutes, and in clear, direct statements. The people that need an hour or two to get to the point tend to mystify and confuse. The hearers are charmed by their smiling bearing and earnest, calm voices. The first half-hour or so sounds so good; just like old-time Adventism. Soon relaxed, with their guard lowered, they begin to become intrigued and then fascinated by a cobweb of novelties. Men weave together a fabric of error, held together by a woof of deception and a warp of maybe's, and present it to a bewitched audience. Confused utterances indicate either a confused mind or an attempt to deceive.

 No one with a confused mind can have worthwhile light for you, and you surely do not need the other kind around. Our people are craving "new light." That is good, but only if they are looking in the right place for it. Far too many are looking in the wrong place. We have, each one of us, enough light in our minds from the thousands of pages of Scripture we have already read--to finish the work on earth, if we would go out-trusting in Christ to be our forward and rearward and give it to the world. We do not need more light; we need to use the light we already have. So when men come to you with "new light," which Quickly becomes apparent to only consist of new theories, send them on their way, lest while dallying with them, they capture you or your loved ones.

The Word of God is, as it were, the protecting cleft in the rock that is Christ. Living within it, we will have the help of Jesus and protection from the last-day storms raging about us. But woe be to that man who imagines himself strong enough or wise enough to consider so-called "new light" which is not plainly stated in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy.

Throughout this brief overview of how Ericksonian specialists try to do their work, we note certain underlying trends:

In casual-conversation contacts, their methods work because the person tacitly gives his assent. (1) He is willing to remain in the same room with the operator. (2) He is willing to engage in casual conversation with the operator. Never talk casually to them! Get to the point, state principles, and then get out of there. (3) He is willing to let the operator decide what they will talk about. (4) He is willing to think about something distant or past because the operator has asked him. (5) He is willing to consider distracting and overload issues, which the operator suggests, instead of ignoring them. (6) Thus, consistently, he is willing to let the operator lead, while he fellows. Perhaps this is why John Savage named his NLP firm, which presents LAB I and LAB II seminars, "LEAD Consultants." The very term is a synonym for an Ericksonian hypnotist! In sermon or lecture contacts, their methods work because the audience is willing to (1) sit there and listen to them, (2) consider what they have to say, (3) listen to their stories, (4) enter upon "meditation" (alter states with thoughts turned inward) at their request and "visualize" things that are not there.

If you are placed in such a situation, or think that perhaps you might be in such a setting, first, dart up a prayer to heaven and as God's little child, ask for protection for you and your loved ones, and ask for "another angel." Then, act in accordance with your prayers: Either leave the premises, or go out into the lobby, or, if you are in an auditorium (not a casual-conversation) setting, and you cannot do otherwise, open the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy book you brought with you and begin reading. I recommend that it be a Spirit of Prophecy book, for the reason that you will more easily be able to become absorbed in what you are reading. A Conflict of the Ages book (PP, PK, DA, AA, or GC) is excellent for this purpose, since they are filled with stories, and it is easier to get lost in a story than in a statement of facts. The first three have the most stories, and Great Controversy has powerful stories and principles. You are not "following directions" by doing this reading, as is the one who, at the request of the operator, "meditates" or thinks about the past. The door is opened to trance formation by doing anything they say to do!

If you are in a casual-conversation setting, get out of there and take your loved ones with you. If the hypnotist is in your home, order him to leave, and if he appears slow to do it, consider telephoning the police to have him evicted. He is on your property and you do not want him there and he refuses to leave. If he refuses to leave even by the time the police arrive, you can fill out a warrant for his arrest.

PART SEVEN OF TEN

If, in a conversation, an operator says, "You won't be able to shut your eyes, It then turn and walk away with your fingers in your ears and ignore him. When he becomes that bold, cease the conversation, your proximity to him, even the eye and ear contact, and get out of there!

In summary, here is a four-step way to deal with the situation:

1 - Praying beforehand for protection and wisdom to recognize such a situation when you eventually find yourself in it.

2 - When it arrives, praying for protection for you and your loved ones, and for help to give a warning, and then leave.

3 - Take immediate action to get yourself and your loved ones away from the hypnotist's presence immediately, especially if it is a casual conversation.

4 - Leave the premises as soon as possible, or, if it is in your home, require that, without hesitation, he and his associates leave. There IS a way they cannot hypnotize you! -By praying for protection and getting out of their presence! But, as you go WARN others, and continue to warn others afterward. God will protect you to the degree that you rely upon Him and are not presumptuous.

After reading all the above, by this time you will quite a: well agree with me that Terry Ross in Oregon did exactly the right thing by opening up before our people the terrible danger of what has been taking place. A number of g our church leaders have been taking LEAD courses in Neuro-linguistic Training, and Terry spoke up and protested. How very thankful we can all be that he gave that warning!

And what was the result? Don Jacobsen, Oregon Conference President did not change; instead, he sent a conference officer to Terry's home church to disfellowship him!

"Because of many phone calls. letters and requests, I am writing this brief summary of what happened at the trial on June 28. 1990.

"Just a little over a week ago on Thursday evening at 7 p.m., I was in the Youth Chapel at the Grants Pass SDA Church. I had been told to prepare to defend the material I had written, entitled 'Omega'. On arriving. I laid out my evidence, which covered fully a large table, and also included a TV/ VCR, three video tapes and two audio cassettes.

"Cliff Walters (vice-president of the Oregon Conference), Larry Evans (author of the book. From Cell to Celebration, and special assistant to President Don Jacobsen), David Bissell (pastor of North Valley SDA Church), and most of the North Valley Church were present.

After a brief devotional given by Elder Walters, he then specified the 'rules' we would be following at this trial. He said that the Oregon Conference and its leaders, whether they were right or wrong, and the celebration style of worship would not be discussed. None of my evidence would be permissible at this trial.

"Now, according to page 164 of the SDA Church Manual, it states clearly that it is a fundamental principle of justice for the accused to be permitted any evidence and witnesses he wants to use to defend his case. If this is not allowed, then no church has the right to call any action against the accused.

"According to the letter from the North Valley Church Board, I was within proper procedure to bring the evidence I had. Allow me to quote a portion of paragraph two from that letter, dated June 20, 1990:

" 'Because of this last letter entitled 'Omega', the board felt he has gone to far in his divisiveness and criticism of the church and its leaders. Therefore the board is recommending to the church in business session that Terry be disfellowshiped.'

"Anyone can plainly see that the 'Omega' tract was the issue. I had come to defend that tract and had a mound of evidence, but it was not allowed! . . Even though the evidence wasn't allowed, or my three witnesses, a vote was taken anyway and I was disfellowshipped by a vote of 28 to 25,"-Terry Ross, letter dated July 6, 1990.

In this brief study we have given attention primarily to Ericksonian hypnotism. But it would be well to review classical hypnosis, since many of the techniques and results of both hypnotic methods are identical.

Pagan worship and hypnotism have always been closely connected. Where you find the first, you will frequently find the second. Priests of ancient Egypt would induce a state known as "temple sleep;" during which time they would perform operations. Most of us have read about the trance-like ritual dances that pagan worshipers perform. In Africa, men will run through hot coals and their feet will not be burned. Kata Ragasu and Sasa Rora, native Adventist pastors in the Solomon's, told of how men would swim from island to island across the open ocean. They would do so by calling upon the spirit gods to send a shark. Grabbing hold of its fin, they would be pulled along to the next island. Elsewhere in the South Pacific, workers of magic would wave their hands at storms and they would cease.

Incantations and peculiar trances occur. Men in India lay on beds of spikes for years without injury. A woman in India will sit before cobra snakes; both darting back and forth, until the woman her apron flecked with cobra venom, suddenly darts forward and kisses the cobra on the mouth.

Several years ago, I related a story I found in a book about 1980. The author, a tourist, was walking on a street in India, when a nearby man, with a boy beside him, hollered to the crowd that he was going to do something very special. The people gathered near, and this tourist decided he would film the entire procedure! Setting up his camera, he shot the entire sequence.

What he saw was this: The man took a coil of rope from his shoulder and threw it down on the ground. Then he reached down and grabbed the end of the rope and threw it up into the air. Up and up it went, and then hung there suspended from nothing.

Then, turning to the boy, the man told him to climb the rope. As the people craned their necks, watching in awe, the boy climbed to the top of the rope. Then, the man took a long, sharp knife and climbed up the rope after the boy. Reaching him, he cut off the boy's head, and the boy fell to the ground! The tourist was horrified. All the while, his camera was faithfully recording it all.

Then the man climbed down the rope, and reaching down to the dead boy, pulled him up-and instantly he, was made whole, fully alive and unharmed. Everyone in the crowd around cheered, and money was thrown to this "holy man." Then the crowd dispersed.

The author of the book was eager to return home to America so that he could develop the film. He had recorded the miracle-working power of India on 16 mm film. When the film came back, he projected it onto a screen. And this is what he saw:

The man called to the people, with the boy alongside him. Then he reached down and threw the rope up in the air, and it went up a short distance-and then fell to the ground. After this, as the man and the boy stood there Quietly by the fallen coil of rope, everyone around them in the crowd stared at things not there. Intently, they looked up Quickly, and then twice slowly stared at something not there moving upward. Comments and gasps could be heard; then a cry of horror. Finally, all eyes turned toward the man and boy, unharmed, standing there together and everyone shouted. They smiled in return, received the money thrown to them, picked the rope off the ground and walked away.

Speaking to those people watching entranced, we recall the words, "Freedom of the will? Whose freedom? Which will is controlling the situation?" And we wonder: was this a formal "classical" hypnotic trance, or only one induced by Eriksonian casual-conversation? I suggest that it was the latter.

Franz A. Mesmer (1734-1815), an Austrian, appears to have been the first to widely introduce hypnotism to modern Western Civilization. In the late 17005, he claimed the power to heal people with "animal magnetism." In fact, he did a variety of very strange things, which no one could explain. But it was also true that some of his patients, who were well beforehand, became seriously ill afterward. Soon his method became known as "mesmerism. " Later still, it become known as hypnotism or hypnosis.

Some hypnotists have diagnosed and "healed" people at a distance of hundreds of miles. In the late 1700s, John Graham led out in introducing it into England, Marquis de Puysegur in France, and Elisha Perkins in the American colonies. James Esdaile, an English doctor working in India, used hypnotism as an anesthetic, and performed 261 major operations on people he had put into a hypnotic stupor.

Jean Martin Charcot (1825-1893) was a leading French hypnotist of a century ago. Alfred Binet and Sigmund Freud were two of his famous students. Freud developed his early theories by studying people who were hypnotized. In this way. he could receive information directly from spirit guides; the information that later formed his theories which are today called "Freudian psychology. " Today, hypnosis is used in hospitals for major surgery, in dental offices during drilling and pulling of teeth, and by educational counselors, industrial specialists, and family workers. Hypnosis seems to be reaching out into nearly every sector of society. And now it is coming into the churches, and even into our own denomination.

While in the Adventist ministry, the present writer attended a conference worker's retreat in the late 1950s, at which Jack Provonsha spoke. He told us that hypnosis was invading Loma Linda Medical School, but that he was trying to stop it. At the time, I admired him very much for his concern to purify our standards. Since then, however, he himself has swung far toward the liberal side.

It seems that nearly all the world is being led captive by one bewitchment or another. Who will be saved? How earnestly we must study, pray, and obey! How earnestly must we cling to the hand of Christ! We are but little, almost defenseless children. But if we will remain close to Christ, and let Him fulfill His will for our lives, we will be safe unto the end. But it is a moment-by-moment task. We dare not take our eyes off of Him for a moment to look to ourselves, look to others, or look to the waves.

In addition to Terry Ross, Jeff Reich also sounded a warning against Neuro-linguistic Programming. I read over his article, "The New Age Connection, after preparing this present study. He has seen more of these hypnotic books, and has spoken with NEINLP and LEAD hypnotists, gleaning much information from them about Adventist involvement in these hypnotic techniques. Here are points relative to Ericksonian hypnosis, NLP, and LAB I and II in his study which are in addition to those to be found in the present study:

"These different institutes (LEAD and NEINLP] are clearly New Age centers. The books that are suggested reading strongly express New Age techniques. Here are some of the most popular titles: Frogs into Princes, Magic Demystified, Meta-Cation, Reframing, Practical Magic, Patterns of Hypnotic Techniques, Trance Formations, and Therapeutic Metaphors.

The covers on some of these books are shocking, such as the one on Trance Formations, in which there is a picture of a witch holding a wand, standing in front of a curtain which has been raised. Through the curtain are winged serpents flying off into the distant land beyond. The book, Reframing, has a picture of a unicorn on the front. Frogs into Princes has a frog being transformed into a prince. In the background there is an incense burner and psychedelic colored tapestries. On the backside of the book, behind the tapestry, is a large winged serpent. Why all the winged serpents on the books? Who do these metaphors stand for? . .

"When I discussed NLP [on the telephone] with those at the NEINLP, I told them about the Life Supports Ministries [LOR) up here in northern Idaho and the things they are doing. I was told that NLP was a power tool and could be used or abused by the person who has an understanding of these techniques. They said it was up to the morals and ethics of the person using NLP as to how it was used."

"Ericksonian hypnoisis is able to embed therapeutic interventions in a seemingly casual conversation, not to mention adding music, and multiple voices to further the effect. Dr. Erickson developed a style of hypnosis that is 'gentle, open-ended, and indirect.'

"What does that say about certain types of music, such as rock and roll, Christian rock, or any secular music? It can be a powerful agent of hypnosis in planting specific messages in the mind, without it being known. . "Mr. Savage [developer of LAB I and II) first came in contact with NLP through reading a journal in 1981. Then shortly thereafter, he was again re-introduced to NLP by a Seventh-day Adventist pastor from Tennessee. Now he has his certification as an NLP practitioner, after taking most of his training from Gene Rooney, who is, not only his colleague at LEAD Consultants, but also a pastor of the 2,000-member First Methodist Church in Jefferson, Missouri.

"Mr. Savage has given seminars around the world, and his books are also being translated into several different languages. He is well known among pastors, including Seventh day Adventists, for his LAB I (The Calling & Caring Ministries) and LAB II (Training to be a LAB I Leader)

"I had a telephone conversation with Mr. Savage a few weeks ago, which turned out to be quite interesting. I asked him if he used NLP in his training seminars. He told me that in the forty-hour LAB I, there was about five hours of NLP [five hours of hypnotic training in LAB I]. The LAB II had more incorporated into it. He said advanced LAB content was almost exclusively NLP techniques. He also uses NLP perpetually in therapy.

"He verified that NLP was based on Ericksonian hypnoses, and stated that Christians use hypnosis all the time. He mentioned. . that Jimmy Swagert was a master of hypnosis, being able to introduce an altered state of mind in his audience. .

"I asked Mr. Savage about Finbar Noland and his ability to use, what appeared to be, psychic healing: 'How do we separate Mr. Noland's psychic healing from that of the psychic healers of the Far East?' He told me [in reply], 'You don't. All healing is of a psychic nature. . ' Then I mentioned a case of healing that a friend of mine saw in the bush as a missionary, where a witchdoctor healed a young boy. I was told [by Savage], 'All healing comes from God.' . .

"I asked him what he thought, since he was a minister, of the pictures on the covers of the book he uses and propagates in his book store. He told me that they were just symbolic metaphors and that the Bible uses metaphoric language all the time. . (He said] his desire was to bring in Christian concepts and reframe it with NLP language. .

"I contacted Dan Goddard, who is the Ministerial Secretary of the Potomic Conference in Takoma Park, Maryland. He is a LAB II instructor and has taken advance labs from Mr. Savage. In fact, Mr. Savage will be giving LAB II training for the Potomic Conference ministers August 27-September 1. I called and talked with Mr. Goodard and sent him documents sharing my concerns, and have never received a reply.

"Mr. Savage also finished LAB II training in Orlando, Florida for the Florida Conference ministers last March. . I have found out that a large number of Adventist ministers have had training in the LABS I and II, and many have taken NLP training and are using it in their counseling."-The New Age Connection.

From the above, it is obvious that Ericksonian hypnosis is being introduced with surprising rapidity into our conferences. Did you notice the mention of "winged serpents" on the covers of these hypnotic training books that our own ministers are now studying? Why winged serpents? Apart from information given by God to His prophets, or Satan to his agents,-no one today could know what that serpent in the Garden of Eden looked like. By divine inspiration, the Spirit of Prophecy explains that it had wings. Satan has also revealed that fact to his agents and they are now portraying it. This winged-serpent aspect reveals the source from whence these hypnotic concepts emanate.

The remainder of this tract set will consist of several additional specific hypnotic-type problems now entering our church:

THE BREATHE FREE PROGRAM

The Five-Day Plan to Stop Smoking, was started by J. Wayne McFarland, M.D., and Elman J. Folkenberg (Robert Folkenberg's uncle) in 1960. During the first three years of operation, 20,000 smokers were helped in programs conducted by McFarland and Folkenberg in stop smoking institutes all over North America.

Emphasis was placed on will power, combined with trust in God for help to carry it through.

About a decade ago, Breath-Free took its place. But Breath-Free is based, not on a personal decision to stop, combined with the help of God to do it, but instead on visualization and psychological techniques.

"Most smokers in North America know that smoking is hazardous, but they don't know how to stop, So the new plan emphasizes lifestyle-modification strategies such as values clarification, modeling, visualization, affirmation, positive thinking, and rewards. -Breath-Free Plan to Stop Smoking, brochure.

Values clarification, as taught in the educational institutions, is the concept that all values are equivalent, so you should select that the ones that will help you the most. Modeling means to copy those traits in other fallible humans that you would like to have in yourself. Affirmation means to prefer one solution over another one. Positive thinking is the idea that you can do it if you are confident and vibrant enough in your outlook. Rewards is keyed to behavioral conditioning: If I don't smoke for one hour, I will treat myself to a candy bar, etc. In summary then, Breath-Free is based on the concept that man can do all things; he just needs some modern psychological techniques to help him.

But what about visualization? In a brochure by Breath Free, the reader is told that, visualizing himself later as a success without cigarettes, will so impress his "sub-conscious" that he will gain the victory:

"You can be the architect of your own self-image. . If you consciously hold this unshakable image of yourself successfully living your life free of cigarettes, it will soon, through repetition, sink down into the fabric of your subconscious as an accepted truth on which to base future behavior.

"Since your subconscious self-image acts on course, you will tap new strength and energy to keep your life in harmony with your new self-image.

"Begin now to establish your new self-image as a person who is free from smoking. Visualize yourself in detail as the person you intend to be; then choose to make that vision become reality. Repeat your affirmation, 'I love being free from smoking.' You see, 'We create our lives with our thoughts.'

"When you believe you are a nonsmoker, you will not light up a cigarette. By desirings, visualizing, and believing yourself to be a non-smoker, you can become one. The Breathe-Free Stop Smoking Plan, pp. 28-32.

Notice in the above statement, that, in the second paragraph, through visualization you will reach down into the depths and bring up "new strength and energy" to enable you to make this change. In the third paragraph, you will talk yourself into the change. The fourth paragraph explains that success will come about as a result of believing in yourself. All THIS is totally New Age!

This concept of visualization comes from Hinduism, which teaches that by thinking about something, we can change our body. Mental imagery results in personality change or physical healing. The highest levels of visualization can only be attained through hypnotic trances, according to Hindu theory.

"In a recent interview, reported in the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, the Dalai Lama (the former ruler of Tibet, and one of the most important Buddhist religious leaders in the world today] declared that 'the use of the imagination '" generate or visualize an image in the mind's eye' is an integral part of tantric Yoga; and he explains how this ancient practice is related to similar techniques recently adopted in modern psychotherapy.

"Christian leaders who promote and defend visualization seem unwilling to admit that it lies at the heart of religious beliefs that are demonically inspired and unalterably hostile to Christianity. The (Christian leaders] suggest instead that shamanistic visualization is (only] a counterfeit of God's truth which they teach. However, there is no true visualization thought or practiced in the Bible for Satan to counterfeit; visualization is as absent from the Scriptures as it has always been present in the occult. .

"There is no more obvious link between paganism/occultism and modern psychology/religious practices than visualization. . Psychic healers Bill Henkin and Amy Wallace stress that 'visualization is one of the most potent and widely used techniques in (psychic] healing.' Steller declares that the exercise of 'visual imagination is a regular part of the training for psychics and healers in.. spiritist churches."-The Seduction of Christianity, pp. 140-141.

ADVENTIST IMAGING MEDITATIONS

William Loveless is a well-known East Coast pastor and administrator. For a long time he has been one of the most influential Seventh-day Adventists in Takoma Park, Maryland. For over a decade and a half, he has been president and chairman of the board of Columbia Union College (formerly Washington Missionary College).

As you might imagine, he is extremely influential. We recently received an audiotape of a lengthy instructional lecture by Loveless. On a major part of it, he gives a sample "meditation sermon" to his audience. In this sermon he discusses the need for visualization in meditation as a primary means of maintaining Christian experience. He alludes to a variety of non-Adventist and non-Christian psychologists and authors as evidence in support of his meditations. He says the "mystics" of earlier ages have pointed the way, and we should follow in their steps.

He also quotes a couple from the Spirit of Prophecy as further evidence for what he wants the audience before him to do. He says this can be done by imagining scenes from Bible times, but then he earnestly cautions that it cannot be done by thinking of descriptions of Biblical events, as given in the Spirit of Prophecy. He says that the imagination somehow will not be able to grasp that. Why would that be?) He is very concerned that the Spirit of Prophecy writings not be used as the basis for these waking dreams, but only the Bible and a free-ranging imagination. He seems concerned that his audience avoid the Spirit of Prophecy, and he notes how trivial it is, compared to the Bible. Cautioning his hearers that the Spirit of Prophecy is only "a lesser light," he says it is incompatible for the production of these important visualizations. (Perhaps he has noticed that the church members, who are faithful to both toe Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, do not effectively come under these meditative spells.)

CONTINUE:  PART 8