After the dust settled somewhat from the initial fracas concerning the controversial Son of God movie, I have taken some time to reflect on the reactions of individuals adamantly and ardently in favor of the movie. Some of them, such as Matthew Hagee (Cornerstone Church), refused to consider any information about Roma Downey. Other ones went to see the movie, loved it, and recognized no biblical discrepancies in it. Some even claimed conversions as young people prayed and purportedly gave their lives to Christ. There was a faction that went on the offense to accuse and rebuke me and other ones for attempting to present the facts.
The controversy centers on the claim that Roma Downey is a godly person who is engaged in the work of God, namely, spreading the Gospel and bringing souls into the kingdom of God. The counter claim is that Downey is a New Age adherent, and her movie depicts an unbiblical Jesus. There is also a concern that she is a Lightworker, which is a cult within the New Age Movement (NAM). It is difficult to prove beyond the shadow of doubt if someone is associated with the NAM or the Lightworkers unless they state it outright. The reason is because neither entity is an organized movement that has a physical headquarter and membership record. They are identified solely by religious affinities, doctrines, and practices. However, allow me to suggest that we can usually determine if someone is a sinner even if they never declared it. We can determine if they are jealous, vindictive, a drunkard, or a terrorist for that matter, though they may not admit it. When the evidence is overwhelming that they are of one ilk or another, we have no problem drawing that conclusion. We can employ the same process that the courts use to determine culpability beyond a reasonable shadow of doubt.
There are some facts that people should consider in arriving at their conclusion. Downey professes to be a Roman Catholic, but that religion has no problem accepting components of the NAM or pagan religions. Her composite religion seems to be the new syncretism that is called New Age Christianity or simply New Christianity. Thus, Downey and her husband present themselves as Christians though no true Christian would agree with that identity. New Christianity’s root, Contemplative Spirituality, sprang up in antiquity via Roman Catholic mystics. It is now the spiritual dynamic of the Roman Catholic Church and I might add the Emergent Church. New Christianity is ecumenical in the sense that the RCC extends an invitation to Protestantism for Interfaith Dialogue, and that the Emergent Church is reaching out to dialogue with Islam, Mormonism, and other religions. However, it is syncretistic in the sense that neither Catholics nor Emergents want merely an ecumenical connection, but a merger—not only with each other but with non-Christian religions. To a significant degree, Roman Catholicism and the Emergents have already syncretized with the NAM. Roman Catholic scholars declare that Contemplative Spirituality is the sole essence and sum of Roman Catholic spirituality. Spirituality determines a religion or a person’s identity. It does not matter if the rest of one’s Christian doctrine is spot on, if such a person regularly engaged in séances, transcendental meditation, contemplative spirituality, and necromancy, that person is New Age.
Downey graduated from Santa Monica University, which is a New Age school founded by notorious New Age spiritual and self-help guru John-Roger, with a degree in Spiritual Psychology, the definition of which can be found at the following link; http://www.universityofsantamonica.edu/What/index.aspx. Included in her training was how to be a Divine Being having a human experience, which appears to be one of the requirements for being a New Age Lightworker on their website. A Lightworker then is any being, who is aware of their true non-dual nature, their eternal “I Am” Presence and acting in accordance with it. (http://lightworkers.org/what-is-a-lightworker-are-you-a-lightworker)
Downey confesses to listening to books on tape (probably CD) by New Ager Eckhart Tolle. Tolle, author of The Power of Now and A New Earth, is listed on the Lightworkers website as a good read. The review by Lightworker.org of Tolle’s work states, At the core of the teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he sees as the next step in human evolution. An essential aspect of this awakening consists in transcending our ego-based state of consciousness. This is a prerequisite not only for personal happiness but also for the ending of violent conflict endemic on our planet (http://lightworkers.org/node/31652).
Other evidence that Downey is a NAM adherent is that she identifies with other established New Age individuals such as Della Reese and Oprah Winfrey. Further, she was on the cover of the premier NAM magazine, OM (July 2011, 2nd Anniversary Special Edition). OM would not have put her on the cover if it did not identify her as New Age, especially their 2nd Anniversary Special Edition. Who better to identify someone as New Age but the premier magazine of the NAM? Downey is also a necromancer. She appeared on the Necromancer John Edwards show and attempted to contact her dead mother. John Edward’s book, Practical Praying, included a bonus CD on meditation provided by Downey. In 1999, Roma Downey recorded a New Age album with Celtic artist Phil Coulter that features Downey reading from ancient Celtic texts about life and spirituality.
As to the direct connection between Downey’s production company, LightWorkers Media and the NAM cult, Lightworkers, the evidence is mostly circumstantial. However, if one peruses all the Lightworker Facebook pages and websites, you will realize that there are similarities of beliefs. Lightworkers claim no connection to an organization, but are identified as New Age by their fruit. I typed Lightworker into the search engine and every result was New Age. Downey explained in an interview why she called her company, Lightworkers Media.
“And as they started this journey with us of shining a light; because our company is called Light Workers, tired of cursing the darkness; we wanted to be part of shining a light, shining his right.” (Interview: Roma Downey and Mark Burnett on “Son of God” by Nell Minow)
The Lightworkers site gives this response to the question, “What is lightworking?” Just as the sun rises each morning, to shine its light into the world, so it is with lightworking. To walk upon the face of the planet lightly, light in spirit and bearing, and shine love, happiness, tranquillity (sic) and peace into the world. Of course, Christians believe shining their lights also. The question is whether Downey is shining the light of the true Christ Jesus, or the false light of the NAM Jesus, Sananda (the false New Age Jesus that stunningly resembles the Jesus actor in the Son of God movie).
In the New Scriptures, that was channeled from Sananda/Jesus, there is this statement. My beloved wife Mary Magdalene taught The True Way at my side, in harmony with the ideas I had come to offer the world. In the movie, a woman named Mary was always with Jesus and the twelve disciples. Further, she often reproved them, which would indicate that she had some authority that was not normally accorded a single woman in Jewish antiquity. However, it might be authority afforded a wife of a Rabbi. Her reproving the disciples equated didactic reproving, or teaching. Here is a link to the Lightworkers website promoting the New Scriptures: http://lightworkers.org/channeling/186297/chapter-one-new-scriptures-written-sanandajesus.
Downey also stated, “I am so grateful to have Loyalty to Your Soul to sweetly remind me of all I have learned. Let’s just say that I went from playing an angel on TV to living more of an angelic life every day. The teachings in this beautiful book have sent me on a journey to the very center of my own being where, wrapped in the safe wings of Love, I feel as though I have come home.” Other than being a bit spooky and perhaps a delusional statement, it is an endorsement of a completely NAM book. The book was taught at Santa Monica University. Loyalty to Your Soul contains teachings promoted by groups such as The Movement for Spiritual Inner Awareness. The following excerpt pretty much explains what direction they come from.
Within the spiritual context, you’d assume that you’re responsible for everything in your life. However, you usually don’t know the spiritual reason why your Soul would choose an experience such as cancer. What you do know is that all of life serves a spiritual purpose, and since illness is part of life, cancer must serve one, too.
In a Washington Post interview, Downey affirmed that she was a Roman Catholic. Then she said, “…and so, um, and I see, I, I see God in everyone, um, and in everything, you know. I guess, when I’m looking for inspiration myself, I probably find it most in nature, and the beauty and um, the magnificence of nature. And, and, you know, the, the, and I’ve heard once that…two things that have struck me as profound, that, that, there are two points of view, perhaps. That there is no God, or that there is only God. And for me there is only God. Um, that you could see nothing as a miracle, or you could see everything as a miracle, right? So, um, that and then just that, that the language of God in science, perhaps. And um, you know, from this, from I was a very young age, um to, to my education, but really, through my, my father’s guidance, encouraged to listen to what he called, you know, your God voice, which is the, the, still, quiet, voice inside of yourself, that, that you know what’s the right thing to do, that you know the kind thing to say, and I’ve always tried to be guided by that” (Actress Roma Downey on religion, faith, Washington Post, 02/09/2012) Discerning Christians will recognize the Panentheism in her statements, the NAM belief of divinity, the advocacy for a spirit guide, and the lack of mentioning Christ Jesus.
In an interview with the Washington Times, “I grew up in Northern Ireland,” Ms. Downey said. “And I was grateful that the show did not take a strongly religious point of view. As angels we worked for God, all Gods.” However, in an interview on beliefnet, Downey said, “I loved being on that show. I loved it. I loved playing Monica. I loved being the messenger, the believer. I loved being part of a message that went out weekly reminding people there is a God and this is God’s purpose for you and God will be part of your life and most importantly that God loves you.” (Roma Downey’s life has been more than touched by an angel, by Rob Kerby, beliefnet)
Does Downey believe that all gods are God? If so, it is another NAM connection. The God Consciousness and Christ Consciousness are NAM beliefs. Both doctrines allow people to become gods or christs within the context of an overarching consciousness.
On the Lightworker’s website, in answer to the question, what about God, there is this answer.
There is no concept that can define God. That power some call God is the source of all. It is the over arching divine consciousness that guides and directs all life in form and non form. We know God by knowing our true selves. We do not need to consciously understand, rationalize or define God for God to be real. Like us, God Just IS. We accept there is great power in who we are, and the processes of how we each came to be. Yet each is free to formulate their own interpretation of what that power is, yet to do so may prove futile. HOwever (sic) we can come to understand aspects of God. LIke (sic) the fact that God pervades each and everyone of us, exists both within us, around us and is intricately connected to us. God works, with us and through us and for that we honor and love God through divine service and existing in a state of least resistance to God. We honor the process and honor our own role within it. To see through the illusionary nature of form and see clearly each and every beings, non dual nature. To see the God aspect in each other, and to love God. http://lightworkers.org/what-is-a-lightworker-are-you-a-lightworker
Another interesting detail that I discovered when researching Downey, which by itself may not be considered significant. However, when put together with the other information about Downey’s “faith”, it is definitely relevant. After listening to interviews, reading articles, quotes, and etcetera, I realized that here was something missing that is included in every true Christian’s life. Until the time of the “Son of God’ movie, I did not hear or read one mention of Jesus Christ. Instead, Downey mentions God and inspiration from nature. Although true Christians love God, they relate to His Son in a different way. Christ Jesus was the one who died for their sins. Their gratitude is the reason for so many songs about Jesus, so many testimonies, and why He is the topic of so many sermons. When you talk to a true Christian about his or her faith, Jesus will be the focus of their gratefulness. Conversely, Downey referred only to God until interviews about her movie. God is a generic term to the NAM that covers all their unbiblical concepts of what that term means. It does not refer to Almighty God of the Scriptures that gave His only Son Jesus Christ as atonement for our sins. They use the term God to include all gods, self-gods, and ideas of gods.
Maybe at some point Downey has given an account of her salvation experience and mentioned her gratitude to Christ Jesus for saving her soul. The only reference to Jesus I could find was when she was asked in several interviews about playing the mother of Jesus, her response was, “I have loved Jesus my whole life.” (CNN, CBN, Christian Today, Christian Post, and others) She also said in an interview with Parade concerning Mary, “I have loved her my whole life.”
For someone who, as Downey, believes they are a “divine being having a human experience”, I can understand her remarks. However, for us mere humans, we encountered the Divine when we met Christ and recognized that we needed Him as both Lord and Savior. At that point we established our spiritual birthday. All that was before that was darkness and a death spiral into eternal hell. Gratitude for His deliverance is overwhelming. It not only makes it near impossible not to give Him due glory when asked about our faith, but it makes it near impossible to engage in the making of a movie that presents Him anything other than what He is exactly to us. He’s more than the Son of God. He is Lord and He is Savior. Further, He is the only way, truth, and life, and no one can come to the Father God except by and through Him. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” No one who truly loves Christ Jesus would engage in diabolical New Age activities.
In conclusion, Downey claimed in the CBN interview that, “the ultimate message of Jesus was to love each other as we love ourselves, and to love God.” No it was not His ultimate message. That was His response when asked which was the great commandment in the law (Matthew 22:36-39). The ultimate message of Christ was the Gospel. The Gospel is that God loved us so much that He sent His Son whose vicarious atoning death delivered from sin the ones who confess and surrender to Him as both Lord and Savior.
It is not my intent to convince anyone who is dead set on believing that Downey and her husband are godly Christians and that their movie has no New Age message. I’m just laying the facts out exactly as I discovered them. Everyone can make up his or her own mind based on the evidence. In my opinion, Downey fits the description of a Lightworker as presented by the main Lightworker.org website. I also believe that the facts show that she is deeply involved in the NAM. Although she frequently refers to God, her description is as that of the New Age god. Based on those conclusions, I have determined that she cannot possibly be a godly person working in God’s harvest. I do not believe that she has a relationship with the true Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I believe that she is a good actress, knows exactly how to use that talent to deceive Christians, and does so with great success. I also believe that the movie Son of God is an attempt to present an ecumenical New Age Jesus, perhaps Sananda, which does not resemble the biblical Jesus. That’s my opinion and it is partly why I oppose the movie Son of God.
Well done. We are in a time, I believe the last days, where there is the purposeful and deliberate attempt to confuse the Gospel message by changing the image of CHRIST as a tolerant and passive GOD who is all inclusive. HE is none of these. HE is clear in who HE says HE is. GOD. We must as Pastors and leaders in the church be diligent in clearly understand the scripture. We have several sects infiltrating the church today. Charismatic, New Age, Occult, to name the major players in the attack. Additionally the New Age movement has brought into the church their version of Scripture called the Message. Which is no different in my opinion then The New World Translation (JW’s version) Some resources to read and watch are as follows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOMFHej1KVk , http://www.johnmacarthurs-strangefire.com/ ,
Great information regarding the beliefs of the person who took the movie and good analysis based upon scriptural truth. I found that “love” is the word used for justification of falsehood and toleration of sin. I have attempted to understand the meaning of love from the Bible and came to the following understanding.
From God’s (spiritual) perspective we understand that love means obeying His commandments, ie love and law have same meaning when it comes to God (John 14:15, Romans 13:8-9). When man loves his father and mother more than God (Matthew 10:37), then love becomes inclusive, ie when human relationship is not governed by God’s law, then that love is not spiritual love. So when our love becomes inclusive (excluding God’s law in its expression) then human relationship building would become the norm. God’s love which is based upon His law, truth has the purpose of our ultimate good (spiritual), ie redemption from sin and eternal life. When we exclude God’s law from our love, it will not result in the ultimate good of the person (object of love), but may result in temporal good (material pleasure, gain, here and now). Inclusive love becomes man-pleasing (dialogue, relationship building, common ground, bridgebuilding, consensus, acceptance/inclusion) and not God-pleasing (preaching and teaching, Word-centered) Heb 3:13, Acts 11:23, 2 Tim 4:2.
A servant of God tries to please man for the sake of salvation of his soul, (1 Cor 10:33, Rom 15:1-3) but he cannot please man at the expense of displeasing God, ie act or speak in violation of God’s law while trying to please man or trying to save his soul. (Gal 1:10, 1 Thess 2:4)
Love of truth is an essential requirement of salvation (John 18:37, 2 Thess 2:10). God’s love redeems a person from sin (conviction) and transforms his life (John 3:16, Romans 12:2). God’s love does not accept a person in sin (inclusion), but persuades the sinner (preaching and teaching of truth) to accept the truth of God’s law and grace and be blessed with the matchless gift of eternal life, salvation (1Tim 1:15-16) through repentance. In other words, God loves the sinner, but He does not want the sinner to continue in sin and die.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? (Eze 18:23)
But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. (Eze 33:19)
Sir,
Your extended definition of love is outstanding! Thanks for sharing your insights. You have very succinctly put into words what I have tried to tell the congregation I’m privileged to pastor using many words. If you don’t mind, I will use your comments, giving you the credit, of course.
Thanks again for sharing your insights. Lord bless you!
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your encouragement. You may please use my comments as needed for the glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I have seen the movie, I was blessed, I have recommended family and friends to see it. The trouble Jesus received most from in the movie was the Pharisees. Jesus did not let them deter him from his mission, they would accuse him of only falsehoods.
My prayer is that anyone seeing the movie will receive the message I saw. A Christ that was crucified and rose again victorious over death.
God Bless
Pennie Louis De Witt was in the occult for 26 years. She has done a masterful forensics job on Roma Downey that is nothing short of spectacular. “Be sure that the light that is in you is not darkness” as Jesus Christ warns. (Luke 11:33) Downey is that darkness. And her Son of God movie offers us an unoffensive Jesus vs. the Scriptures Jesus that is a “rock of offense.” I Peter 2:8
Rick Warren is a major collaborator with Roma Downey. The name of this website is Truthkeepers. Great title. Here is how Rick Warren keeps the truth: He states that his Purpose Driven Life Book is “the bestselling non-fiction hardback book in history.” Here is irrefutable proof that this is a fraudulent claim:
http://www.perfectpeaceplan.com/post/is-rick-warrens-claim-that-his-book-is-the-best-selling-non-fiction-hardback-book-in-history-true/
This is further testimony on Roma Downey and Rick Warren:
Miguel Hayworth of Plumbline Apologetics in the UK total demolishes the principality of Roma Downey and The Bible on TV, which was the foundation for the Son of God movie at:http://www.firstplumbline.net/html/hope14bible.html
In both the TV series and the movie Jesus looks attractive, handsome and fair to look upon and Aryan. The real Jesus in scripture looked the opposite and more resembled an Iraqi:
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:3
Roma Downey and all of her apostate advisors couldn’t even get that right.
So you don’t have to pay to see a movie, whose own ads portray a myth of how Jesus looked. So don’t listen to the voices that say you have to pass (pay) for the movie in order to see what’s in it, any more than you would follow Saul’s example to visit the Witch of Endor to see your future…rather flee…don’t even go near the door as Proverbs warns about prostitutes. And don’t listen to the voices that say: “Do not condemn a fortune teller unless you have paid to see one and tried it.”
Blessings,
James Sundquist
http://www.perfectpeaceplan.com
ROMA DOWNEY:
In the March 2014 First for Women magazine, Downey said, “I think we all have a responsibility to see God in each other. That’s how I’ve raised my children – that no matter whose face they look into, they’re looking into the face of God, who’s in all of us.”
Source: First for Women magazine, 03/31/14, pp. 44-45
Now that means you have to see the face of God in whom Isaiah said this:
“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” Isaiah 8:20
That would mean when you look into the face of Haman, you would have to see the face of God.
That means you would have to see the face of God, were you to look into the face of Judas.
Now that means you would have to see the face of God in the Judaizers whom Paul twice eternally damned in Galatians.
That means you would have to see the face of God in whom Paul called servants of Satan masquerading as servants of righteousness:
“No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
That means you would have to see the face of God in who the Apostle John said:
“and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” 1 John 4:3
That means when you look into the face Haman, you would have to see the face of God.
That means when you look into the face of Judas, you would have to see the face of God.
That means you would have to see the face of God in whom Jesus called brood of vipers.
That means you would have to see the face of God in whom Jesus called “depart from me ye wicked and accursed I never knew you.”
That means you would have to see the face of God in whom Jesus called “Ye are of your father the devil”:
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44
Says Roma states, ‘My kids go to school about a 40-minute drive away. I’m open to the group’s opinion about what we listen to on the way there. On the way back, I get my own selections — books on tape by Eckhart Tolle, Tony Robbins…My husband says I’m so self-realized I’m practically levitating.’ Tony Robbins walked on fire and Eckart Tolle is a New Age leader who states in his book:
“Don’t get attached to any one word. You can substitute ‘Christ’ for presence, if that is more meaningful to you. Christ is your God-essence or the Self, as it is sometimes called in the East. The only difference between Christ and presence is that Christ refers to your indwelling divinity regardless of whether you are conscious of it or not, whereas presence means your awakened divinity or God-essence.” Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (Novato, CA: Namaste, 1999), p. 104.
I have had the same concerns, and took notice that Roma and her husband are featured speakers at the upcoming Value Voters Summit, along with others like Glenn Beck, Huckabee, Hannity and more. Sponsored by AFA. Why would they be promoting someone who got a degree recently from Santa Monica? They undoubtedly know. Very curious.
I can’t say for certain about Roma Downey’s spiritual standing. After reading this, it sounds like she’s invested heavily in New Age. However, regardless of whether she is truly saved or not, I believe she is, but I don’t think she’s trying to deceive people. I think she herself has been deceived and cannot discern the dangers of New Age teachings with the truth of Scripture. I will pray for her that she realizes the truth about New Age and that she devote herself solely to the Biblical God.
Downey’s New Age beliefs have no foundation in Catholicism. Your blanket charge “that [the Catholic] religion has no problem accepting components of the NAM or pagan religions” is patently false. If you want to know what the Church actually teaches read this pontifical document:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html
Of course I cannot explain in one article how Roman Catholicism and the New Age Movement have a lot in common. It would take a book and there are several available. Suffice it to say that Roman Catholicism is rife with heresy and paganism, not to mention idolatry and man-worship. The worship of Mary as co-redemptrix is blasphemy, but their contemplative spirituality of Merton and others, mixed with Hinduism and other paganism, is something that every true Christian ought to avoid like a plague. It is the stuff of the New Age Movement. If you wish to put your hope in such heresy and stand before God’s judgment throne, that is your prerogative. However, when the RCC attempts to deceive and infiltrate true Christianity, every truth Christian must stand firmly in opposition.
Your knowledge about the Catholic religion is so riddled with heresy and error. I am saddened by your rhetoric.
My knowledge about Roman Catholicism is comes from its own history, published doctrines and papal decrees. The heresy of Mary worship, including worshiping demonic apparitions of Mary, declaration of Mary as co-redemptrix with Christ, praying to Mary, the heresy of the Eucharist, and many more unscriptural and even blasphemous doctrines of Roman Catholicism are not hidden or ambiguous. One would have to be completely blind or deceived not to recognize the vast amount of heresy in Roman Catholicism. God’s word is the standard. Anything or anyone that adds to or takes away from God’s word is anathema. The true Church, the Body of Christ, is an organism, not necessarily an institution. True Christians believe in the following: Sola Scriptura! Soli Deo Gloria! Solo Christo! Sola Gratia! Sola Fide! The Pope and the Roman Catholic church is against all of these. How can a true Christian consider that Roman Catholicism is true Christianity.
I can’t speak for individuals, but The Church is not in union with the NAM. It is gaining grounds in the evangelical churches. POD and Hillsong are a couple bands like that and the rock music and emotion-dependent worship probably led to that and other problematic spirituality. Practiced fully, Catholics would have those ideas in the Index of Forbidden Books, as it had when it was going strong. It will by supernatural protection toss out, run out or convert the troublemakers or the end of the world will be the end of the faith Christ started. It has had these periods and come back, with no doctrine changed, while the others divide or believers do their own thing.