The latest fad is potentially
the most grievous heresy to arise in the recent history of the Church. It is
a repudiation of literacy -- the written Word. It is now widely being taught
to missionaries, particularly through mission groups closely associated with
the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).
This new heresy is called ORALITY, which is telling biblical stories based
on pictures and images. Orality short-cuts Bible translation and language
methods of teaching the Word of God to "people groups." The rationale for
this is, of course, the "urgency" in fulfilling the Great Commission
"mandate." Orality is by its very nature condescending, treating Third World
peoples as "children" who supposedly do not have the "ability" or "desire"
to learn to read. It is being touted as an alternative method of evangelism.
However, it is very evident that some mission groups have no intention of
EVER teaching these people to read, or give them a Bible in their own
language.
At http://epic.ccci.org/epc/Our_Vision.htm one can read the following
description:
"Our Vision
"A global partnership involving Campus Crusade for Christ, the International
Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Wycliffe International &
The Seed Company, Trans World Radio and YWAM—using chronological Bible
storying among unreached people groups. Current estimates suggest that
almost two-thirds of the world’s population is illiterate or has an oral
preference (can't, won't or don't read and write). The proportion is
significantly higher among the nearly 5,000 people groups not yet reached
with the gospel, and among these include many of the 2,700 remaining
Bibleless peoples. For these oral communicators, life lessons are processed
by observation, participation and verbal communication—i.e. stories.
"Communication of the gospel by these same oral deliveries has potential for
greater effectiveness than the literate methods churches and mission
agencies have long used. From grass-roots initiatives in varied situations
worldwide, mother-tongue storyers and cross-cultural workers are reporting
the effectiveness of these oral delivery strategies, in many cases among
people groups heretofore resistant to the gospel.
"In recent years a growing number of individuals and agencies have
periodically gathered for consultations on orality, and have begun working
cooperatively on issues like chronological Bible storying and the beginnings
of an “Oral Bible” among unreached people groups. Table 71, a regular
gathering of mission-agency leaders arising out of the Amsterdam 2000
conference, has also adopted a cooperative strategy centered on orality and
chronological Bible storying."
The above webpage is also a good example of the rapidly developing
ecumenical cooperation model utilized by the world mission groups steeped in
dominionism. Other urls of interest to those who want to know more about
this topic include:
http://epic.ccci.org/epc/Documents/Timelines.pdf
http://epic.ccci.org/epc/Documents/Overview.pdf
http://epic.ccci.org/epc/Documents/ChurchPartnerInfo.pdf
At
http://tinyurl.com/pon9n one can see that repentance is not included.
The foundation of this new heresy is said to originate from Walter J. Ong,
who wrote a book entitled Orality & Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word
(Methuen & Co., Ltd., 1982). This book is listed in bibliographies of the
new orality heresy. The premise behind this book is that humans need to
return to their earlier (evolutionary) primative heritage of myth, fable,
story, image, symbols, icons, etc. The written word is degraded. The spoken
word and image are said to be more closely connected to the human
"consciousness." This author means "consciousness" in the sense of Carl
Jung's pagan pseudo-science of "collective unconscious." Story, myth and
image are therefore seen as closer to pagan spirituality. The author notes
the "magic power" inherent in the written word and states that "Literacy can
be restricted to special groups such as the clergy." (p. 93)
Literacy for the general population has been one of foundational tenets of
Christianity since the time of the First Reformation 500 years ago, which
coincided with the invention of methods of mass printing. For the first time
men had access to Bibles translated into their own languages. For the past
500 years this has been considered a basic human RIGHT, not a privilege to
be had only by an elite. History demonstrates the abuses of that type of
elitism. So why would the postmodern NAR mission movement want to return to
this type of system? The answers are ominous indeed.
ORALITY & Whole Language
Astute readers will recognize that Orality is connected with the idea of
Whole Language. Whole Language is a method of teaching that treated words as
symbols or hieroglyphics, requiring children to memorize them or
contextualize them rather than learn simple decoding skills. Whole Language
methods of reading instruction mushroomed in popularity around the U.S.
during the decade of the 1980s. Samuel L. Blumenfeld, international phonics
expert, explains that Whole Language "was touted as a real breakthrogh in
reading instruction, one that would radically change our view of what
reading and language learning are really all about. Marvelous results were
promised. . . . " Of course, this confusing method was only "effective" at
dumbing-down an entire generation of American school children.
Whole language was an integral part of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) models
for education transformation. Blumenfeld noted that Whole Language "is . . .
based on an entirely different view of language which is contary to the view
that has prevailed in Western civilization since the invention of the
alphabet, a view which today bears the label of 'deconstruction.'"
Blumenfeld explained that the real goal of these "deconstructionists" was to
eradicate western civilization's dependence upon the written word, with a
goal in mind to destroy the Written Word of God. Chapter 14 of Blumenfeld's
excellent book entitled The Whole Language/OBE Fraud is now posted at
Discernment Ministries in the "Articles" section at http://tinyurl.com/ra5ge
. This article is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand the esoteric
foundation of Orality/Whole Language and understand where this movement is
headed.
Orality and Worldview
Orality is connected with the NAR heresy of "contextualization." Orality
permits the Word of God to be "contextualized" to a pagan culture through
images, icons and symbols, thereby retaining the pagan elements of that
culture. Using "redemptive analogies" (another heresy), these pagan beliefs
and practices are claimed to be "redeemable" and are "christianized." Even
the name of God is being changed to that of pagan deities!
Orality exchanges didactic instruction for psycho-spiritual methods:
indoctrination, initiation, mastery, shadowing, mentoring, spiritual
formation, etc. Using these methods makes it easier to pass on a religious
message that is nuanced with a "culturally correct" worldview, which can
easily be substituted for a Biblical worldview. Orality makes it easier to
transmit certain values and beliefs that prop up the doctrinal worldview
that these mission groups want to promulgate. If there is no literacy, then
-- tragically -- there is no access to Scripture which might challenge the
pervading ideology. Ong notes:
"Human beings in primary oral cultures, those untouched by writing in any
form, learn a great deal and possess and practice great wisdom, but they do
not 'study.'
"They learn by apprenticeship -- hunting with experienced hunters, for
example -- by discipleship, which is a kind of apprenticeship, by listening,
by repeating what they hear, by mastering proverbs and ways of combining and
recombining them, by assimilating other formulary materials, by
participation in a kind of corporate retrospection -- not by study in the
strict sense." (p. 9)
The Truth:
To cut off access to the Word of God is to deny the very doctrine of Jesus
Christ:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him;
and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and
the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness and the
darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:1-5)
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen
with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the
Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear
witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and
was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto
you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is
with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we
unto you, that your joy may be full." (1 John 1:1-4)
© 2005 by Discernment Group
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2006/02/using-change-to-facilitate.html
* * *
See also Using CHANGE to facilitate TRANSFORMATION
C. Peter Wagner Redefines Genesis 1 & Wilkinson's Dream For Africa is Shattered
Dominionism and the Rise of Christian Imperialism
A Blinding Darkness | Global Day of Prayer | The Second Reformation
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