Transitioning to What?

One of our members came across an interesting, if not confusing, document on the Internet in which the author attempts to explain why he quit being a “preacher” for the Church of God in Christ and is now serving as “the International Chief Elder and Spiritual Teacher of The Afrikan [sic] Village and Cultural Center.” The reader quickly notices that, whatever this magnificent title refers to, it is not describing anything found anywhere in the Scriptures.

Why, then, deal with it? Perhaps it might be better ignored than noticed—except for the fact that the purpose of the document is to persuade people that Christianity is a false religion and that an older religion exists that Blacks, especially, ought to belong to. The document can be found by typing “Dr. Ray Hagins” (rhymes with Baggins). It begins with a biography of the “Chief Elder,” including his academic achievements and hobbies. Then he sets forth his main thesis: “How I Made the Transition From Religion to Spirituality” (a little over five pages in length, although much of it is repetitive).

Repudiation of Pentecostalism

If there is anything of value in Hagins’ defense of his switch in religions, it is this. He admits that his Pentecostalism was invalid. He does not say if he “spoke in tongues” or if he worked “miracles.” What he does say is that he cannot now explain how it was that he believed he experienced “the power of God” when such could not have been the case. He felt God “moving” upon him previously in great and wondrous ways. But if his new-found knowledge is accurate, what he formerly believed regarding those things was a lie.

The word lie (lies, lied) is one of Hagen’s favorite words. He affirms that he had been lied to, and in fact all Christians have been lied to. But help is on the way; he now knows the truth. Of course, many lies have been circulated in the world—even among Christians. It began in the first century. Jesus commended the church at Ephesus, telling them: “And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars” (Rev. 2:2b). Previously, John warned brethren: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

One of those lies is that people today experience Holy Spirit baptism and possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which only lasted a limited time. God designed those gifts for members of the church to use until the Bible was completely revealed (1 Cor. 13). Some may actually believe they possess these gifts, but they do not, which is something that Hagins now agrees with. And he is right—but for the wrong reason. In the New Testament era—and ever since—there was a test to determine truth, which involved comparing any new revelation with what had already been revealed.

In other words, if a message (claimed to be from God) contradicted what Jesus and the apostles taught, it was rejected; if it agreed, it was considered valid. The New Testament teaches that the gifts were temporary; so, when someone today claims to have them, we know such a claim is false, since they “failed” before the end of the first century. No one is performing miracles today, as Jesus and the apostles did.

Pagan Religion

Hagins, however, did not come to the realization that the “Christianity” he practiced was false by studying the Bible. He came to that decision by studying Egyptian history. He was introduced to Osiris, Isis, and Horus, who was immaculately conceived and born of a virgin. Oh, how that impressed him, although why is a mystery. Various cults have a virgin-born person as part of their mythology. According to an article by Berwyn Lewis, “There’s Nothing New About Virgin Births (Just ask Plato),” available on the Internet:

A virgin rollcall might include Romulus and Remus, twin founders of Rome, born of the virgin Rhea Silvia.

In ancient Egypt, Ra (the Sun) was born of a virgin mother, Net [Neith, GWS]; Horus was the son of the virgin Isis. The Phrygo-Roman god, Attis, was born of a virgin, Nana, on December 25. …he went on to be killed and was resurrected.

In ancient Greece, Dionysos was the son of either the virgin Semele or the virgin Persephone. Persephone was also the virgin mother of Jason. And Plato’s mother, Perictione, was a virgin.

The list goes on. Hinduism, Buddhism and ancient China all have their share of them and none is more or less believable than any other myth, fable or symbol.

There are obviously more than a dozen claims of a virgin birth besides that of Horus. One wonders why Hagins is so fixated on that one. Another weakness he has is that of failing to document his claims. He avers that the events involving Osiris, Isis, and Horus happened “15 to 20 thousand years” ago. The Encyclopedia Britannica, however, disagrees. Their online description states that Osiris became prominent about 2350 B.C. (they use the awkward and inexplicable term, BCE), although he existed 600 years earlier. They also state: “There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325)….” Where Hagins came up with 15 to 20 thousand years is anybody’s guess (since he cites no sources). He also failed to mention that Osiris and Isis were married (in other words, she was not a virgin) and Horus was born nine months after Osiris died and had become mummified.

So far as your congenial editor can discern, no virgin birth was explicitly prophesied 700 years in advance, as Isaiah did of Jesus (7:14; cf. Matt. 1:21-23). Usually, other instances are clearly myths, which no one any longer believes. Most were not actually human beings—but rather gods and goddesses. Osiris became the god of fertility and the god of the underworld as well. Horus was considered his son.

Someone might wonder, “Why are there other accounts of virgin births?” What better way to give credentials to a deity than to claim he was born of a virgin? However, Mary was not some sky goddess (like Isis); she was a human being. The resurrection is claimed by some “gods” for the same reason. But none of the pagan myths remotely resemble what we find in the Scriptures, which deal with real people—not mythological figures. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and the Jews then plotted to kill him because he was a living reminder of Jesus’ power. Later, more than 500 people saw Jesus alive after His own resurrection. These things happened in Bethlehem and Jerusalem—in the first century—not at some mythical place at an unspecified time.

Where Did Moses Get His Theology?

When Hagins reads the Scriptures, he jumps to conclusions that a mere novice would avoid making. When he read Acts 7:20-22, he noticed that it taught that “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians….” Therefore, Hagins concludes that Moses received his wisdom from the ancient religion of the Egyptians, which is absurd on the face of it. Anyone who knows anything about Egypt knows that they were idolaters. In fact, Horus had the head of a falcon.

In the 1956 movie, The Ten Commandments, directed by Cecil B. DeMille, there is a scene that occurs after the Lord passed through the land of Egypt and struck all the firstborn of man and livestock (Ex. 12:29). In the movie, Pharaoh placed his dead firstborn son in the arms of Horus, to whom he has been praying fervently. His wife joins him and chides him for expecting any results. She points out the obvious truth: “He’s nothing but a piece of stone with the head of a bird.” And this Horus is supposed to replace Jesus?

If Moses taught Egyptian theology, why did he forbid the making of graven images in the second commandment? And why wasn’t the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Horus”? Can Dr. Hagins have actually missed the fact that Jehovah spoke the Ten Commandments directly to the people (Ex. 20:1-19). Will he next teach that Jehovah got His theology from the Egyptians? Jehovah means the “existing one.” He is the great “I AM” (Ex. 3:14). That anyone would claim the Old Testament is based on Egyptian theology is beyond belief.

Europian?

The Bible’s teachings were plagiarized from the “ancient concepts of Afrikan spirituality,” says Hagins. Furthermore, they constitute a “European-fabricated version” of the dark continent’s truths. Really? The Old Testament is set in Asia—not Europe. Ur of the Chaldees, the Euphrates River, Babylon, Assyria, Syria, Arabia, and Israel are all in Asia. Egypt is in Africa. Only in the New Testament do we find the gospel spreading to Greece and Rome. Romans, the Corinthian letters, Philippians, and the Thessalonian letters were specifically written to Europeans. This alleged “truth” of European influence sounds more like propaganda than facts.

One might say that the Roman Catholic Church had a tremendous influence over society, but they did not alter the New Testament manuscripts; they have so little influence that practically no one accepts their apocryphal books. Manuscript evidence proves that no one significantly altered the books of the Old Testament. The Europeans did not change the Word of God.

He further states that Christianity was forced upon Blacks by European slave traders. And that all Blacks should be suspicious about the White man’s religion. He apparently overlooks the fact that many slaves were provided by Blacks in Africa. Instead, he plays the race card and appeals to prejudice. Hopefully, all races will see through this tactic. Christianity is the one religion that seeks to unite all mankind. If Hagins thinks about it long enough, he might recall Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Christianity was never designed to be a White religion—or a Black one, either. It is designed for all mankind (Acts 17:24-28). Christianity is universal.

Worship of Jesus

Hagins said he came to the realization that there are too many songs devoted to praising and honoring Jesus. He then puts in capital letters that even Jesus taught: “NO ONE IS TO BE WORSHIPPED BUT GOD ALONE!!!” He cites what Jesus replied to the devil in Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8 (worshiping God and serving only Him). Excuse me? Is he quoting from the White man’s religion to prove his point? Hmm.

He fails to realize that when Jesus accepts worship, that is precisely His point—that He is God (Matt. 8:2; 9:18). Peter refused to be worshiped, since he was only a man (Acts 10:25-26). An angel refused to allow John to worship him (Rev. 19:10). But Jesus accepted worship because He is God. Does Dr. Hagins not remember Peter confessing the Deity of Jesus and the Lord commending him for knowing that truth (Matt. 16:16-17)? Has he forgotten John 1:1-3? The Deity of Christ is the rock on which Jesus built the church (Matt. 16:18).

Incredibly, Hagins writes: Jesus NEVER told his [sic] disciples to go preach (or teach) about him [sic]!” Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15), which Paul defines as Christ dying for our sins, being buried, and rising again the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Preaching the gospel means preaching about Jesus, Who can wash away our sins (Acts 22:16; Heb. 10:12).