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Book Review: Becoming Like God |
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Book Review of Becoming Like God: Kabbalah and Our Ultimate Destiny by David Berg
As I was leaving the “Afternoon with Kabbalah”, I was handed Like God: Kabbalah and Our Ultimate Destiny. For those who know me, I never turn down a free book! However, this has been a difficult book to read as I have had to stop several times and literally pray for God’s presence to overcome the dark forces that can be found in not only every word of the book but also in the spaces between the lines. In fact I was forced to use color-coded highlighters to determine what was blatant blasphemy (yellow), egocentric (green), revisionist Biblical history (purple), and just plain bizarre (red)!
And while it would be easy to dismiss the book as self-indulgent claptrap, that would be an easy way out of a difficult book to explain. Berg spends most of the book encouraging the people to literally “become like God” because in his view we are already God … we just don’t know it yet. And yes, I recognize how blasphemous that sounds. However, we as believers in Jesus must realize that Berg’s work appeals to the idea that “we are the center of the universe”.
We recognize the silliness of such statements on the surface; however, down below that surface many people want simple answers to life’s difficult questions. People are searching and going to seminars on Sunday instead of going to a place where the answers are taught … doctrinally sound congregations and churches. But is it really their fault? Or is it ours because we are not responding apologetically to those Jewish people who disdain traditional Judaism but want some sort of spiritual meaning to their lives? I think we all know the answer to those questions.
Another reason why this psycho babble appeals to searching Jewish souls is because Berg’s Kabbalah offers them to be like Walt Whitman … the captain of their own ship and the master of their own destiny. There is no real spiritual searching and questioning in modern Kabbalah. Just believe you are God and all your problems disappear. In other words, Berg’s teachings are the exact opposite of the teachings of Jesus who promised that as we become more sanctified in our walk with Him that more problems will occur.
So the ultimate question boils down to eight simple words – what are we going to do about it? Are we going to take on the challenge and respond to the blasphemy, the egotism, the revising of God’s Words, and to the plain bizarre? Are we going to present the truths of Jesus that truly will transform lives so that they can realize their ultimate place in God’s economy – to be His children through recognizing Jesus as Messiah? Or are we going to continue to ignore the problem … even at the risk of their eternal souls? We have the answers. They have nothing. Who is going to tell them? If you don’t know the answer, then you are leaving them to an ultimate destiny that is anything but joyful and happy. |
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What Exactly is Kabbalah? |
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What Exactly is Kabbalah?
Comparing Traditional and Modern Approaches
There are a number of differences between the Kabbalah that is practiced in many “Red String” environments today and the Kabbalah observed and remembered by the ultra-Orthodox followers of traditional Judaism. What they both have in common is the lack of awareness and recognition that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. Therefore, we must continue to strive and evangelize and pray for the salvation of the marginally religious Jewish person who is exploring Kabbalah in some attempt to have a faith and for the ultra-religious Jewish individual who believes that the tenets of Kabbalah provide one with a deeper insight into the mind and heart of God.
Traditional Judaism believes that the Kabbalah (and/or the Zohar) should not be studied until one is forty years old. Kabbalism believes that the Zohar must be studied and understood at the earliest age possible. Kabbalism wants all people to study the writings of the Zohar. Traditional Judaism limits the study of the Kabbalistic teachings to only those who are male and Jewish. Traditional Judaism believes it is only understandable for those who have a true understanding of all the rabbinic teachers via the Mishna, Gemara, and the Talmud. In other words, modern Kabbalah wants to be all things to all people so that it might confuse everyone. Traditional Judaism seemingly believes it is only viable for those are old rabbis and Yeshiva students. Oy vey!
However, the bottom line is that Kabbalah is focused on seeking mystical answers to eternal spiritual problems. Whether you are wearing a “red string” or a “black hat”, Kabbalah wants to find the pathway to God (see chart above and understand it as a step ladder) instead of seeing that Messiah Jesus came to be the mediator between God and man. There is no need for self-indulgence and/or self-aggrandizement. What we must share with the Jewish people is that the pathway to God is through the narrow road of Messiah Jesus.
Therefore, please be on the lookout in the coming months for an evangelistic tract that is specifically designed to reach those trapped by the lies of Kabbalah with the truth of Jesus the Messiah.
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My Afternoon with Kabbalah |
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My Afternoon with Kabbalah … Interesting to Say the Least!
Please do not worry! Tzedakah Ministries has not changed its mission, ministry, or mind. Tzedakah Ministries still exists “To Equip His Church to Reach His People”. In fact, my exposure to an afternoon with Kabbalah on March 30 has made the burden of Tzedakah Ministries even greater than it was before. I simply wish that there was more than 24 hours to a day. I need about 30 hours!
Anyway, somehow an invitation to attend an introductory meeting for those interested in Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism – see hamsa symbol to the right) was sent to my email address. I could not turn down such an intriguing opportunity and so I went … but only after hours spent in prayer! I sought to be anonymous and blend into the surroundings; however, as a friend told me after the event – “You couldn’t blend … even if you tried!” However before I give you the rundown on my failed attempts to blend, let me highlight some of the blasphemous statements that I heard during my time with the Kabbalists – two of whom were former SOUTHERN BAPTIST deacons!
- According to the Kabbalist instructor (David), 80% of his students in California are Catholic and/or Christian
- Abraham’s intent (as he was the first man to receive the instruction of Kabbalah) was to enable us to have the power to tap into our soul
- The Bible is not understandable if you do not have the codes of Kabbalah to decode it.
- This “decoder ring” called The Zohar takes every word of the Bible and reveals its true meaning.
- Our job as humans is to connect to the light force that emanates from the Creator
- The “Big Bang” was when the soul of humanity rejected the light of the creator and shattered into billions of pieces across the universe Our purpose is to become like God and we have to earn it (Yes, this is what I heard!)
- All people discovering and correcting their Tikkun (their own personal hindrance) will enable people to become “the light” and this will bring about the return of the Messiah.
I realize that the Kabbalah afternoon that I spent has a few variances than traditional Kabbalah. However, the essence of mysticism and becoming “like God” is present within both streams and strands of Kabbalism. We, therefore, have an urgent task of reaching those involved in Kabbalah with the truth that Messiah Jesus is the only light we need to follow. He is the only light that can be followed for all other lights will lead only to eternal darkness and separation from the eternal light of God.
Now for the failed attempt to blend at the Kabbalah meeting …. I registered fairly close to the time for the doors to open and kept to the background while waiting. I purposely sat at the back table so that no one would recognize me and found myself sitting with a “volunteer” named John and a family of Sephardic Jews who were raised Catholic, experimented with Christianity and found “fulfillment” in Kabbalah. I resisted answering questions during the group discussion time and asked them instead.
One of my table questions resulted in it being asked in front of the entire group of 330! The question – “How can Kabbalah teach that Jesus was a Kabbalist if Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection prove that no one can earn perfection/salvation?” David the Kabbalah leader was flustered by the question as well as the rest of the audience. However, my prayer that God give me a question for the table that would provoke real thinking ended up being used by God to poke holes into the heresy that was being taught.
After the session, I then had the opportunity to question the former SOUTHERN BAPTIST deacons and David the leader. Questions that could not be answered within the confines of Kabbalah because Kabbalah does not offer true answers and true hope to life’s ultimate question – “where will I go when I die?” Only Jesus provides that answer and we as believers in Messiah Jesus must be about the business providing all Jewish people including those involved with the heresy of Kabbalah with the truth of just WHO IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! Will you be a part of this work?
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