By Justin Edwards
And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am (Christ); and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. - Luke 21:7-8
The trailer for "I AM" (view below) clearly shows us the intention of this movie to draw worship for the creation rather than the Creator. Visuals of creation and worshiping false gods (Islam and Buddhism), focusing on man, and claiming "we are more interconnected with each other at a fundamental level than people realize or previous thought" stamp the movie with a pantheistic agenda. The very premise of the movie is that "we might have it all wrong" and calls the audience to
Forget what you know...and wake up...to the miracle...of who we really are.
After a biking accident that faced Shadyac with near-death, he set sail on a journey to find out what's wrong with our world and to discover what we can do about it (obviously, the Bible is not his source). In asking "today's most significant minds", Shadyac interviews various people claiming that
"Science has discovered elements that undermine everything we've been told about how we work and how the world works."
"The truth of who we are is that we are because we belong."
"The basis of nature is cooperation and democracy - it's in our DNA."
"We're just at the point where technology and this narrative are beginning to come together."
"The science shows us that we are all connected."
"Very deep connections at a very deep level."
"This is the most profound discovery in all of physics."
"What we do at the individual level really does affect the global environment."
"We're really geared at a primordial level to feel what another feels."
"It's like we are born to be our brothers keeper - it's the way that we're wired."
"This is the emerging story - we are far grandeur than we've been told."
"I AM." (emphases added)
I can't help but think of Avatar and its deceptive strategies to mainstream pantheism and panentheism when viewing the trailer. The "I AM" movie seems to want to show how we are all connected at a spiritual level, which would actually be in line with New Age thought and the likes of Leonard Sweet's Quantum Spirituality. Nevertheless, with such focus on self and the human race's natural interconnection, the clear agenda of this movie is at root a spiritual one, as the trailer closes with these words:
The shift is about to hit the fan in February 2011. (emphasis original)
Think this film is an isolated incident? The movie is merely part of a growing trend to deem man, not God, as "I AM". In 2010, Brannon Howse of Worldview Weekend discussed Oprah and Glenn Beck's assertions that we are "I AM" ( read here and listen here). And just this morning, I received an email from Brannon on this very topic of "I AM" regarding Glenn Beck. In his 1/5/11 article titled Glenn Beck and Oprah Winfrey Launch New Age Programming for 2011, Brannon writes,
Many Christians continue to defend Beck despite the fact he is becoming more and more blatant in his New Age preaching. I expect Beck will continue to gather around him a huge audience that is looking for a spiritual experience that tickles the ears.
On his TV program on January 4, 2011 Glenn unveiled what he calls the "E4 Experiences" that he will be promoting for 2011. Part of the theme he will be promoting is nothing short of New Age heresy and blasphemy. Beck proclaimed:
Over the next 12 months, all Mercury divisions, radio, television, books, digital and stage will focus on what I call The E4 Solution. The four Es consist of: Enlightenment, Education, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship. We will challenge ourselves and those who choose to chart this course with us, to find what we as individuals really believe, challenge what we think we know and dig deep to find out what we are each capable of.
The "E4 Experiences" include Enlightenment, Education, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship. The two that are the most disturbing were described by Beck on a giant poster that included the following wording. Enlightenment: God "I AM That I Am" Miracles, faith and Divine Providence. Empowerment: Yes I AM! Yes I Can!
On the January 4 program Beck preached:
I choose to ReFound this amazing nation by rediscovering within myself, and my own circle of influence, the principles and ethics that defined American exceptionalism.
So Glenn thinks the answers for America's spiritual, moral, political, economic, and cultural problems can be found by "rediscovering within myself" some kind of New Age enlightenment or that man is really the "I AM"? (emphases added)
Do you see the trend too? This blasphemy is coming from the liberal left and the conservative right. The complete articles and audio from Brannon Howse are must-reads to really grasp what is going on here. The attempts by man to steal glory away from God are getting more bold by the day, and I can only imagine how close we really are to the Lord's return in light of this. Romans 1:18-32 speaks to this idolatry, and those who continue in this way are storing up the righteous judgment of God for themselves (Romans 2:5). May those reading this article who may fall into this category turn to the One True God and be healed.
Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. - Romans 1:22-25
