MIND SCIENCE AND IDOLATRY
By Synthia Esther
Rev. Ike is short for Fredrick Eikerenkoetter. He claims, "The lack of money is the root of all evil." Which is an erroneous interpretation of 1st Timothy 6:10, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." As one reads on...1st Timothy 6:11 commands, "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." There is nothing gentil about Rev. Ike's blatant stance and Biblical falacy. He is living in the Science of philosphy, Christian Mind Science, and what some have termed, black Pentecostalism.
MIND SCIENCE AND THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL
Bob "Larson's New Book of Cults," Tyndale House, Page 352-353, "To Rev. Ike the Bible is "a book of psychology rather than a book of theology." Satan is "the negative thoughts of lack and limitation" and Deity is "the Presense of God in you." Ike says the purpose of his preaching is to "teach the individual to be master of his own affairs by manipulating his own self-image." Heaven is replaced by "the eternal now" since there are no literal, spiritual realities. Sounding like Mary Baker Eddy, Ike declares, "Everything is a condition of the mind. ,,,Getto blacks who see little chance of upward economic mobility are easy pray for Ike's promises. ...Ike's goal is self-improvement and financial advancement by visualizing oneself in a positive frame of mind." This blamphemous treatment of God's word by Rev. Ike doesn't end there. As he states, "The Bible says that Jesus rode on a borrowed ass, ....But I would rather ride in a Rolls Royce than to ride somebody's ass!" Rev. Ike is not alone in his view of prosperity revelations.
An offshoot of George Gurdjieff's psychology is the monastic, well educated group the "Fellowship of Friends," which is known by many as the "Renaisssance." Leadership of the Renaissance is a former grade school teacher Robert Burton, who lives according to "Larson's New Book of Cults," page 403, "in affluent splendor on a northern California ranch. ....He contends that the quality of life is enhanced by a worship of beauty and materialism. Higher consciousness is possible by filling one's environment with beauty and comfort. As a result, his disciples provided Burton with a Mercedes Benz and a lavish mansion filled iwth priceless works of art. Followers attend his bidding and provide free labor for the ongoing construction of cult facilities. Most of Burton's time is consumed in world travel, a task he undertakes to scout for new paintings and porcelains to be added to Renaissance's growing collection of artifacts. He explains to critics that it is his duty to elevate the culture and tastes of those who surround him."
IDLOATRY AND THE LOVE OF MONEY
Such sin will lead one's soul to the depths of destruction. As is the story of the infamous Hetty Green. In the late 1800's Hetty Green was the world's richest woman, who was also known to be the worlds stingiest. She had millions in the bank, yet dressed like a homeless hag, living life like she didn't have money to buy clothes, food, or housing. From the book, "ABC's of the Human Mind," Readers Digest, page 195, we read, "As a child, Hetty Robinson learned to read from the financial pages, which she would recite to her wealthy father. At age 30 she inherited one million dollars and, over the course of the next 50 years, she shredly manipulated stocks and bonds until her fortune grew to nearly $100 million. Her financial wizardry and infamous stock manipulations confounded such formidable tycoons as Jay Gould and J. P. Morgan and earned her the ignominious title 'The Witch of Wall Street.'"
She married millionaire Edward Green at age 33, with a signed prenuptial agreement not to claim any of her money. He went broke and the marriage ended. Hetty wore the same black dress everyday, only washing the bottom portion to save money on soap and clothing. When her son Ned injured his knee, Hetty took him to a charity ward to be treated. A doctor recognized his millionarie mother and demanded payment. She refused to pay and treated young Ned herself. Two years latter Ned's leg had to be amputated.
Hetty refused to pay rent for an office, preforming her work and financial dealings from the bank which housed her fortune. At times when she was low, Hetty would sit on the marble floor of the bank's vault and admire her notes and securities. When hungry, she would warm up a bowl of oatmeal on a radiator or take out a ham sandwich, unwrapped, from one of her clothes pockets. Upon Hetty's death, Ned inherited much of his mother's fortunes. He was extravagant, a big spender. He had lavish parties, expensive jewelry, yachts, and even diamond studded chamber pots.
THE RICH RULER ASKED JESUS, "GOOD TEACHER, WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?" - LUKE 18:18-29
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good - except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother."
"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give ot the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich amn to enter the kingdom of God."
Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be savcd?"
Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
Peter said to Him, "We have left all we had ot follow you!"
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or chidlren for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."
OUR HOPE IS IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS WORD
Rich or poor, our hope is always in Jesus Christ and His word. Eternal life cannot be bought. As salvation is a free gift from God. Seek God. Not money. And life for you will go well with your soul.
* For more information on how you can accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please visit our salvation resource page by clicking the hyperlink: "A Free Gift"
