I mentioned in a previous article that many churches and
organizations not officially belonging to the Willow Creek Association were now
adopting Willow Creek’s ways. It shrewdly allows them the social and financial
benefits of compromise without the carnal stigma of being affiliated. An example
of this can be found in a recent Baptist Press article by Richard D. McCormack
entitled:
'Interactive Team-Building Seminar' Called Cutting-Edge Way of Learning'
http://www.baptistpress.com/bpnews.asp?ID=14603
Mr. McCormack reports that a workshop was held at Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas for the purpose of introducing a
'new style of learning' based on a program called 'EPIC'. (Experience,
Participate, Image-Rich and Connection) John Herring, pastor of discipleship at
The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala. was quoted as saying "it is
the model of things to come for teaching in our churches".
Little does he know that what seminar leaders Leonard Sweet and Keith Kline were
teaching is Diaprax.
For those unacquainted with the term 'Diaprax', it is simply another word for
the Hegelian Dialectic or consensus process -- a deceitful procedure designed to
bring about change through conflict and compromise that was conceived in the
late 1700's by transformational Marxist, Georg Wilhelm Fredric Hegel who sought,
as occult-led globalists do to this day, ‘unity in diversity' – a term many of
us became familiar with under the Clinton Administration. Diaprax, a word coined
by author and teacher Dean Gotcher, essentially brings together people of
diverse and often opposing backgrounds, worldviews and belief systems in hopes
they will forfeit their own values, traditions and absolutes for the emotional
rewards of group acceptance.
The goal of Diaprax in the church is to rid the flock of its pesky and divisive
hang-ups and habits that impede unity and change – personal convictions and
restrained behaviors that are based on Biblical truth rather than political
correctness, pragmatism and personal taste. Diaprax is a truth-silencing
technique that covertly promotes humanist ideals and a reciprocating brotherly
love known in the Greek as 'phileo' through imagery (arts/media) and
conversation (opinion/dialog) at the expense of the more Godly, obedient,
self-sacrificing, truthful and unworldly 'love-your-enemy' kind of love called
'agape' – the kind of love that drove the Apostle Paul to speak the bitter truth
about sinful man from the chains of a dark and lonely prison; the kind of love
that caused Stephen to cry out: "lay not this sin to their charge" as the
angry crowd stoned him to death for his cutting words of conviction; and what
moved the Lord Jesus Himself to say as He hung on a cross for the sins of the
world: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
Those who GO along to GET along, the cowardly essence of Diaprax, are rewarded
with the 'phileo' love of tolerance and flattery. Those who courageously
challenge the consensus are shamed, ridiculed or rejected for their 'hateful'
attitude', 'mean-spiritedness' and 'ungodly' disruption of the group's
'purpose-driven' unity.
Facilitators of Diaprax always minimize the importance of scriptural knowledge
(facts) and didactic teaching (lectures) in order to successfully seduce their
subjects into group participation with un-offensive human interaction,
superficial edutainment, non-threatening worshiptainment and dialectic
'team-building' techniques. Diaprax doesn’t teach anyone anything except how to
THINK, FEEL and EXPERIENCE what everyone else is thinking, feeling and
experiencing. The only thing learned by Diaprax is the process itself. What
Diaprax is REALLY all about is unlearning your core values – letting go of
anything that keeps you from moving toward the new paradigm of global harmony.
It's about turning one's ears from the Ancient of Days to the latest noise on
the street for spiritual guidance and direction.
You see, carnal Christians led by consensus are more likely to FEEL secure in
their group-led opinions and actions knowing they're not alone in them, even if
they are unbiblical. But unfortunately, many today have made consensus their
conscience in order to avoid any personal responsibility or accountability for
sin.
Have you ever wondered why movies, games, sports, plays, concerts, speeches and
events have a much greater motivational impact on us inside a theater, arena or
coliseum surrounded by hundreds or thousands of enthusiastic people than they do
viewed through a television screen in the privacy of our home? It's because we
receive the heightened emotional stimulation and support of the crowd around us.
And it is THAT elevated emotional state that makes us cave-in to peer-pressure,
laugh at sin, imitate the unregenerate and rush to say and do things we never
would when alone with God.
This transformational process is especially dangerous to Biblical Christians who
are enticed into compromising their convictions for the collective. The tragic
result of the process is that believers are slowly drawn away from the absolutes
of God's Word to accept the 'cutting-edge' strategies and ‘team-building’
techniques of some 'loving and supportive' group they bonded with emotionally,
making it extremely hard to walk away. These seductive 'whatever-it-takes'
relationships are the driving force behind today's 'new spirituality' where
'facilitators' with pre-determined outcomes manipulate 'seekers' into
superficial commitments and carnal covenants with eye-catching imagery and
misguided emotion toward a one-world religion of wholesale mediocrity. This is
the meaning of 'unity in diversity'. It is an outcome-based religion and a 'new
world order', powered by a transformational process called 'Diaprax'.
Do yourself a favor and read the Baptist Press article above. What you'll see is
the dialectic language of a brave new world that lures its targets with words
like, 'interactive', 'image-rich', 'cutting edge', 'futurist', 'new learning
strategy', 'rewired', 'leadership', 'team-building', 'transition', 'audience',
'participative', 'entrepreneurial', 'next millennium', 'whatever it takes',
'dialog', 'evaluate', 'programming', 'new paradigm', 'image-based', 'carving
ministries', 'casting ministries', 'experiential momentum', 'passion-driven',
'purpose-driven', 'success', 'non-relevant lectures', 'post-modern', 'concepts',
'solidifying', 'invest', 'money', 'resources', 'conversational', 'intentionally
relational', 'share experiences', and 'connecting'.
Words you WON’T see in the article are God, Jesus Christ, cross, sin, rebellion,
repentance, confession, forgiveness, grace, mercy, wisdom, love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, the Holy
Spirit, edification, sanctification, glorification or even salvation. Why? --
Because this 'model of things to come for teaching in our churches'
is not about the Gospel of Christ. It is about avoiding it at all costs.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And
they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto
fables." – 2nd Timothy 4:3-4
© 2003 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserved
Other articles by Paul Proctor:
HEGELIAN DIALECTIC & THE NEW WORLD ORDER
Paul Proctor, a rural resident of the Volunteer state [Tennessee] and seasoned veteran of the country music industry, retired from showbiz in the late 1990's to dedicate himself to addressing important social issues from a distinctly biblical perspective. As a freelance writer and columnist, he extols the wisdom and truths of scripture through commentary and insight on cultural trends and current events. His articles appear regularly on a variety of news and opinion sites across the internet and in print. Paul may be reached at watchman@usa.com.
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