Missions, Mysticism and Magic-A Closer Look at the Missionary Organization ADVENTURES IN MISSIONS The Spirit expressly states that in the acharit-hayamim (the last days) some people will apostatize from the faith by paying attention to deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come from the hypocrisy of liars whose own consciences have been burned, as if with a red-hot branding iron.
1 Timothy 4:1,2
Moreover, understand this: in the acharit-hayamim (the last days) will come trying times. People will be self-loving, money-loving, proud, arrogant, insulting, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, uncontrolled, brutal, hateful of good, traitorous, headstrong, swollen with conceit, loving pleasure rather than God, as they retain the outer form of religion but deny its power.Stay away from these people! For some of them worm their way into homes and get control of weak-willed women who are heaped with sins and swayed by various impulses, who are always learning but never able to come to full knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:1-7
Over the course of the last 30 years, in my calling as a preacher, teacher, apologist and radio broadcaster, I have unfortunately been a witness to the growing and alarming trends of false doctrines that have permeated the Church. Few instances have been as sad and shocking as those that seem to focus on young people. Whether it been the Emergent Church, the Seeker-Driven or the Purpose Driven, the enemy’s mission is to kill steal and destroy, and he is concentrating his greatest weapons it seems on those who are young of year and of faith.
I was somewhat familiar with the ministry Adventures in Mission but it wasn’t until I read Missions, Mysticism and Magic by Claris Van Kuiken that I learned of the incredible dangerous scope of AIM’s efforts.
In this book Claris has layed out for us all a clear and concise portrait of what I would describe as the diabolical works of AIM to lead astray youth worldwide, and to do so under the guise of Christians missions, when in reality the organizations methods and motives are more consistent with that of a cult.
Claris skillfully and accurately exposes Adventures in Missions, which under careful Scriptural examination, is clearly steeped in Eastern Mysticism, New Age philosophy, Emergent philosophy, contemplative spirituality and even the occult.
In this book you will learn of AIM’s promotion of such false teachings as holy laughter, “listening prayer”, as well as condoning such heretical movements as The Latter Rain, The Third Wave and other Charismatic-Neopentecostal movements.
Clarish does an extremely thorough and detailed examination of AIM, its founder Seth Barnes and the organizations tools and methods.
The Word of God tells us that the enemy is amazingly deceptive and we must study and pray to be able to discern the truth from a lie. Sadly in today’s society, and indeed in today’s Christian church, young people are, in large degree, illiterate in even the very basic foundations of the faith, let alone in deeper areas of theology and doctrine.
I agree with Claris that Adventures in Mission is a very deceptive and dangerous enterprise; that’s its mission and ministry is to intentionally propagate to an unsuspecting and spiritually, and scripturally, ignorant generation.
Jude 3 says we are to “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.” Missions, Mysticism and Magic calls us to study, prayer and action, and is in my opinion an extremely valuable resource to educate ourselves and others of the truth of the Gospel. I highly recommend this book to all who love, cherish and stand for the Truth.
It is really sad that you are saying these things about a great organization. I went on the world race & it opened my eyes to many things. I continued on in my journey with Christ through the entire 11 months & I do not believe this is a cult by any means. We served the least of these: fed the poor, went door to door in Africa sharing the gospel, shared the gospel with prostitutes on Bangla road in Thailand( one of the biggest red light districts in the world)…and much more. If anything we are more immersed in Christian living, living out the gospel, and learning to be the hands & feet of Jesus then most Americans ever will be. If you look at the gospel it says in John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” It says miracles of Jesus will be done through his true followers. It is not a cult. I have seen people healed & it is only by the blood & power of Jesus. If you merely choose to sit & objectively criticize something I doubt you know anything about, that is something you will have to answer to God about.
God does still speak today & it is sad so many people block him out or choose not to listen. The Holy Spirit is alive & while & speaks to true followers.
Isaiah 55:11 tells us, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/God-still-speak.html
By the way we were not taught any concepts of Mysticism.
Sounds to me like you are following what someone else has said and not done your own research. As a missionary myself, and someone who has done the world race let me tell you that you’re wrong my friend. We had people from all backgrounds on my team, and AIM DID NOT teach us anything that was Biblical. I went to seminary, and I’ve been taught to examine everything I’ve been taught, believe me I did that, and I do that to my own pastor. Respectfully, you should get your facts straight before assuming something you know nothing about. For the recored, Seth Barnes is a great man of God. God has been moving in this ministry, bringing many to Christ all over the world.
Bringing Kingdom until ALL have heard!
Courtney
“I was somewhat familiar with the ministry Adventures in Mission but it wasn’t until I read Missions, Mysticism and Magic by Claris Van Kuiken that I learned of the incredible dangerous scope of AIM’s efforts.”
As one who has seen both the good and the bad at AIM (both in relation to its staff and its mission), I might advise you to get to know the organization itself before you accept one author’s opinion as truth. You’re absolutely right that in the last days many will be led astray, but as AIM sends hundreds if not thousands of young adults into the world each year to share the love of Jesus, I would rather stand on their side and lovingly correct rather than do nothing but oppose their work with hate.
Because Jesus loved those who followed Him, not those who criticized the “sinners.”
Hey Mike,
I’m a Christian, and I struggle with judgement. I try hard to live out of a place of love, grace, patience, etc for all of God’s children. But often I find myself thinking a lot of other Christians are doing things wrong or poorly. Honestly, I’m pretty judgmental towards Joel O’Steen and a number of other preachers I consider to be preaching a “prosperity gospel.” I seek repentance in this are of my life daily.
With that said, my first reaction to this blog (as a member of the AIM community) was frustration and defensiveness. Then I realized I do this exact thing…pointing out where others are “wrong” or “failing” or however you want to phrase it. And so I come to you as a brother in Christ, a fellow follower of Christ and a flawed human man in love with his Creator and thankful daily for His grace.
AIM isn’t a cult. Nothing about it is steeped in eastern mysticism, new age ideas, the occult or anything else you mentioned. Nor is AIM diabolical or deceptive.
AIM is focused on the mission of Christ:
1. To love God first and foremost, and to love everyone He created.
2. To serve the poor, the helpless and those in need.
3. To extend grace radically and without bias as has been done with us by our Father.
I could give first-hand accounts and example after example countering whatever Claris has “studied” about AIM…but rather, I would encourage anyone to test AIM by determining whether the fruits of The Spirit are or are not present among the organization. I believe the fruits speak for themselves…and speak very loudly.
However, I do agree with you that AIM is dangerous?. As those who work with AIM will tell you, they believe that God’s Holy Spirit is powerful, more powerful than the enemy, and they seek to reclaim what the enemy has stolen, killed and destroyed. AIM is directly opposed to the work of the evil one, and are incredibly dangerous to his work in the spiritual and physical realms.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Blessings for you and your family.
Mike, you seem to put a lot of stock in Claris Van Kuiken’s book. I wonder if you’d give equal time (maybe in number of pages read) to The World Race by reading blogs at Theworldrace.org. The blogs are almost real-time reports of what the Lord is doing around the world and in the lives of World Racers.
Clinton,
Educate me. Send me materials or links and I will certainly read them.
Mike
Hey Mike,
You’ve got some pretty pointed words for an organization that correctly isn’t as clean and organized as we often prefer of ministries and missionaries. However, in reading through people’s blogs and getting to know the heart beneath the ministry of AIM you’ll find a generation of very vulnerable and honest people. Love is messy sometimes and I’m sure you’ll run into the messiness of love that gets poured out into blogs and lives alike. If your intent is to look for things written from participants that isn’t as scripturally sound as your years of education and pastoring, you probably won’t have to look to far. There is a screening process with blogs but I for one am thankful that AIM allows it’s participants to speak from where they are at. Everyone is on a unique journey and AIM intersects these people wherever they are at.
One of the biggest strengths of AIM is that it has the courage to let people face their mess, their past, their lies and their fears. Sometimes that gets ugly and sometimes it takes awhile for the depth of truth that the Spirit is working on to come to the surface. However, AIM intentionally attempts to lead people into the presence of the Lord and let them encounter Him in transforming ways…even at the price of others’ perceptions, judgments and misunderstandings of themselves.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom and He came that we may live life, and that abundantly. Every time that I worked or was a participant with AIM over multiple years, I left with more life and more freedom. This came directly from being more intimate with God. I haven’t written in my blog for quite some time now and hope to start again soon. However, I invite you to browse through some of my messiness and ask yourself if Holy Spirit or a diabolic cult has been behind some of my transformations and story. You may find my blog at:
http://www.bennyv.theworldrace.org
Feel free to contact me and let me know what you think.
Hello Benny,
I appreciate your comment. Like I shared with Clinton in another comment, if you will send me specific information about AIM I am certainly willing to read it. If I am wrong I will have no problem in saying so. Are you directly affiliated with AIM? If you are, or someone else reading this is, I would certainly consider posting a full post in response to the AIM post on my site.
If you want to send me links for materials for me to examine, please as specific as possible.
LORD bless.
Michael
Hey Mike,
If you head over to AIM’s website you’ll be able to find all the info you need. Every World Racer has a blog and you’ll find every single one of them there. I challenge you to read through them and you’ll most definitely see the heart of God at work and not that of those being led by a cultish leader. Benny gave you the link to his World Race blog and I’m sure you’ll read about his experiences with the world race as you will any other blog you read. I read blog after blog before deciding whether or not to go on the race. I’m so glad I did! I was an older participant than most (30)…and deeply rooted in my faith. It still changed my life and I’m not the same since!
Thank you Michelle. I will go back to the AIM website and review the materials.
Michael