| The Moses Code: A Brief Analysis |
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Step aside, keepers of The Secret, and make room for the newest trend in New Age mysticism - The Moses Code. James Twyman, best-selling author, musician, and self-proclaimed "minister of peacemaking" of the "Beloved Community" has written a book (now turned into a movie releasing this month by the same title). Though from a political standpoint it is relatively benign, it offers a theology that no Christian ought be involved with. In particular, the "Moses code" apparently involves harnessing the power Moses experienced at the burning bush encounter. What Moses allegedly absorbed there was powerful enough to lead to the release of the enslaved Israelites. This pathway, or "code," Twyman promises can be ours. His overall philosophy concerns changing focus. Rather than focusing on how to receive for the ego, we ought to focus on giving from the soul. We must utilize "the Christ within" to foster peace around the world. But we're not "creating peace" but forming an environment to "find it everywhere." However, we "don't look for peace outside ourselves" (J. Twyman, Lesson 1 of his Seminary) but, rather, from within. After all, we have been mistaken in thinking that we are separate from God - this realization is our salvation. And because our neglect in understanding this truth is fundamental, realizing this mistake will solve our problems - we have a "divine inheritance." Individually, we must confess "I am ready." In this way, we realize our alignment with "the divine . . . there is no you, there is no me . . . even as I serve you, I perceive the Self - the I Am." Twyman then admits that we cannot understand this intellectually - "realize that you don't know and that's a good thing." However, it is a simple concept and it comes down to love of humanity and compassion as set forth by the Dalai Lama and Mahatma Ghandi.
A Brief Response: (i) The Creator is distinct from creation. This is evident as early as Genesis 1. Nowhere in the Scriptures do we find any accession to pantheism. (ii) The "Moses code" was nothing more than being used by God to carry out His plan. It was not a supernatural "law" in the universe that Moses absorbed to bring about change as though it were Moses' idea. (iii) Our "divine inheritance" is linked with the "Christ within" in the sense that Christ dwells in the hearts of those who seek His salvation and are promised eternal life. We are not imparted enlightenment into thinking that we are ontologically one with God. (iv) Our primary mission as Christians is not a peaceful humanity, but discipleship. This is not to say that we are opposed to peace (nothing could be further from the truth) but that the gospel takes primacy to anything else. (v) Twyman's theology includes a word-faith scenario where we "claim now" what we're going to do or be. And by "announcing it in advance" will "bring the experience." But the idea that imagining something to be true thereby making it true is to commit the wishful thinking fallacy. |
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