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Seer Training: Christian or mysticism
A church in Scotland which is part of a mainstream denomination is running a course on Seer Training. Is this forward thinking or a route into occultic mysticism?
by Watchman
 We live in a day of both great threat and great opportunity.
Churches are haemhorraging members, our nation is now post-Christian and we are seeing new government legislation coming onto force which is making it more and more difficult for believers at all levels to maintain a solid Christian witness. A post-war baby boom of church leaders is heading for retirement whilst Christian denominations increasingly are following the secular tide into condoning and encouraging immoral models of relationship.
But change also presents great opportunity. Whenever prevailing and historical models are threatened, the loss of the status quo can produce a vacuum into which new things can flow and new paradigms emerge.
The question today is whether what is 'new' is biblical or a return to mystic and deviant practices.
The following is the blurb attaching to a forthcoming course in Scotland for Christians.
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The Seer Course
The Seer Course will walk you through the ancient Hebrew definition of the seeing gift and how it applies to you personally today. In this course, you will learn practical applications of how to function as a seer, how God wants to communicate with you as a seer, and how He taught Jeremiah to see.
You will grow in metaphorical (sic) [should be 'metaphysical'? - Ed.] understanding and be amazed as you realize all the implications and possibilities of this gift. Most importantly, this course will change your life at a day-to-day level and radically heighten your relationship with God.
The Seer Course addresses these questions and more:
- How do you know you have this gift?
- How do you know you’re not just making it up?
- Does seeing include more than just spiritual sight?
- How do you operate as a seer?
- What are orbs, lights, and strange things you think you see?
- What is the seer’s role in relationship with God and others?
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What is indisputable in the age in which we live is that 'new' things are emerging at an unprecedented rate and the need for spiritual discernment is critical in our time. The word of God teaches us that there is nothing new under the sun. But these things can reappear clad in a new (different) set of clothes, so the need for continual vigilance is paramount. And the most subtle forms of deception is counterfeit of the real thing. The danger is even greater when there is (some) truth mixed in with error.
But in these issues, the days of fence-sitting and abstract philosophising are over. Opportunity or threat? It's make your mind up time. |
Watchman, 28/08/2009
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Eddie Hallahan |
04/09/2009 12:12 |
Andrea,
As I said earlier we are all told to desire the greater gifts. I personally think that looking to get training/practice in any of the gifts of the Spirit in a safe environment is stewardship of the best kind.
Also casting out of demons is not a gift of the Spirit it is something that will occasionally need done - but only after utilising one or more of the gifts e.g discernment of spirit, word of knowledge etc.
As for not all being prophets - Id agree that we are not all prophets, yet we are all called to live prophetically.
Perhaps one of the ways God is ensuring people can hone and use the gifts He has given them is through courses like the above?
The interpretation does indeed belong to God Rosemary, yet He tends to deliver said interpretation through His people - so again good stewardship would indicate that learning how to correctly use and deploy that which God has given us is required.
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Andrea Mac |
04/09/2009 12:33 |
Thanks Eddie,
I think we'll just have to agree to differ on this one.
I would agree with you that it is appropriate to take guidance from others to use such a gift wisely, but my main concern is that this course is being offered to whoever wants to come along and I don't feel that this is wise.
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Eddie Hallahan |
04/09/2009 14:09 |
Well - how do you know if you are utilising the gift of prophecy or just making stuff up?
Perhaps it is worthwhile doing the course simply to establish whether you are using the gift of prophecy or not.
All the spiritual gifts are just like the natural gifts that God gives us Andrea - they all get better when we practice and train in them.
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John Parker (Guest) |
04/09/2009 19:31 |
The great danger (I see) with these types of courses is that (more or less) anyone can sign up; and then having completed the course are deemed 'qualified' (in whatever the course is offering). The giftings, callings and ministries exercised by any believer should be first affirmed by a local fellowship and exercised under the oversight of a local fellowship.
In many cases (maybe even the majority) this will happen, but there is always the danger of the 'lone ranger' launching out on a 'ministry' just because he or she has attended a course.
I stick to what I said earlier that discipling by fellow believers is the biblical method for equipping the saints (I'm not off course referring to - for instance - language training for those embarking on foreign mission, or the like.)
What we are seeing is an American (and dare I say 'commercial') model creeping into the church in the UK.
How on earth did Christians mature for the first 19 centuries without these things?
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Andrea Mac |
04/09/2009 21:43 |
John said:
"How on earth did Christians mature for the first 19 centuries without these things?"
Absolutely! I don't read of any of the great Biblical prophets needing to 'attend a course' before being fully equipped to carry out what God intended them to do. The first part of their life was usually their 'course' when they learned about life in general and matured both in age and their relationship with God.
None of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are hampered by the need to 'go on a course' and provide a 'paper certificate' at the end of it. These things only seem to be requirements of man before someone is allowed to follow a certain path in their ministry.
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Eddie Hallahan |
05/09/2009 18:44 |
What happened with a lot of the biblical prophets is that they went through a discipleship with another prophet. And I agree that the Holy Spirit doesn't need a bit of paper.
Equally I feel that despising a course just because it is a course isn't really the way to go either.
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John Parker (Guest) |
06/09/2009 14:41 |
Eddie said: "Equally I feel that despising a course just because it is a course isn't really the way to go either."
Indeed he is absolutely right. However there are (at least) three very important points (in no special order):
* there shouldn't be the need for (external) courses; the church(es) should be training, teaching and discipling their own people i.e. a deficiency in the churches seems to be in evidence
* there is no guarantee of oversight or suitability of those who might attend or even of what they might do with the 'qualification'
* there is (very often) little scrutiny of the content and teachings of these courses (i.e. lack of validation and oversight)which can then lead to -
(in addition to the above) error creeping into the church(es) under the radar.
Concerning cost, although the cost of these courses is ussually reasonable (in comparison with secular training), the cost (but not just the cost) -
(a) can be a limiting and determining factor regarding who can/can't attend
(b) the teaching should be available to all (in their churches) without any direct cost.
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Rosemary Cameron |
08/09/2009 21:57 |
John has successfully managed to articulate many of the concerns which I have about the increasing number of courses now available in the Christian world. I'm not totally against going on a course but I am concerned about the amount of time and money some churches are spending on courses like Purpose Driven and Dream Interpretation. I think there is a danger that these things sidetrack the church from its primary mission - to spread the gospel of Christ. I also think that some course providers are doing very well out of gullible Christians.
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Annie (Guest) |
17/09/2009 11:21 |
The gift of prophecy is just that...a gift from God.
The only thing needing to be taught about it is HOW to deliver the message....clearly, concisely, even loudly if in a large hall or building. Some of the recipients of this wonderful gift are quite shy, quiet and introvert people. I am so encouraged by the fact that God will use the most unlikely and ordinairy people who simply need help in their technique.
In a church that believes in the gifts of the Spirit being in opperation, the pastor/minister will have the ability to develope the gifts that God has given to his flock - it's part of his job! No need to look elsewhere or to pay for extra teaching.
I know some folk who were damaged by a "session" with the Brahan Seer some years ago..........
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Andrea Mac |
17/09/2009 11:55 |
Annie said:
"I know some folk who were damaged by a "session" with the Brahan Seer some years ago.........."
A timely warning - there is more than one source of spiritual activity and it can be a very good mimic so as to deceive even those who think themselves wise!
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