Iyanla Vanzant is an American inspirational speaker, New Thought
spiritual teacher, author, and television personality. She is known primarily
for her books, for her eponymous talk show, and for her frequent appearances on
The Oprah Winfrey Show. Wikipedia
“Live your life like
nobody is watching you. Live beyond expectations. Live beyond what you have
been told is right, wrong, good or bad. Just for one day, live like you are totally free to be anything and do anything you
choose for yourself. Allow yourself the freedom of talking to yourself,
dreaming for yourself, dancing with yourself and living your life like nobody
else in the world cares or is watching what you are doing.” So says, Iyanla Vanzant!
On the surface this sounds
good to the ear of the searching heart! However it is not practical, possible
or wise to follow Ms. Van Zant’s sooth sayings! She is a product of the New
Age-New Thought Philosophy Teachings. She sits regularly at the feet of
heretical teacher, Michael B. Beckwith; founder of Agape International
Spiritual Center; of which she is a member and frequent speaker. Beckwith doesn’t
know what to teach! He’s all over the place in his teachings. He’s gone from Religious
Science Ernest Holmes, Science of Mind to New Age/New Thought Philosophy; (Also
known as Mumbo Jumbo Spiritualty). He was part of that great money grabbing group
of false teachers, who collaborated and published “The Secret.”
Ms. Van Zant’s philosophy grows out of
demonic, New Age Spirituality. This teaching does not point to or acknowledge Jesus
Christ as God and Savoir of the world. Its emphasis is on the individual saving
and changing themselves by their own power. It is dangerous for Christians to
follow, as it is intended to distract you and lead you away from Jesus Christ. Her
proverbs places you right into the hands of God’s Arch Enemy! This is not the
first time the idea of reckless abandonment of morals, beliefs and societal
laws; in search of an imaginary freedom, has been advocated. Satan himself
advocated this when he tempted Eve to disobey God.
We as humans have never
and will never be able to live irrespective of other human beings. Or in total
disregard of the nature’s laws, societal laws or God’s spiritual laws that affect
our collective lives. Is it because of her celebrity that people take this nonsensical,
mumbo jumbo life coaching for truth and enlightenment? We don’t even swallow
our food without examining it first; but
people accept this ambiguous New Age dribble as truth.
She says, “Live your
life like nobody is watching you!” What does that mean? How is that
accomplished when we live under the scrutiny of others 24/7, as we live in a
communal society! Even more so today, as there are cameras everywhere! But most
importantly, God is watching and our desire should be to live a good life and
do what is pleasing to Him!
She says, “Live
beyond expectations!” Who’s expectations are you trying to exceed? God’s expectation
or your own? You cannot live beyond what God expects of you, because He is all
knowing! Are you putting your own self-imposed
demands or someone else’s, upon yourself? Are you angry with yourself because
you fell short of expected goals? Can’t you just hear God saying, “I never demanded that from you…..You were
demanding that of yourself; and you fell short of it!”
She says, “Live
beyond what you have been told is right, wrong, good or bad.” We have two sources for our knowledge of what’s
right, wrong, good and bad. (Better known as Good and Evil) The first source is
God Almighty, through His Word! The second is the Government and the
institutions that comprise it. So now, she wants people to live lawlessly! To determine
individually what is right, wrong, good or bad? Are we going back to the days
of the Wild-Wild West? Are we now to disregard
our God given moral compass and Biblical commandments? Are we now to have no
regard for our civil regulations that protect our society from anarchy? Didn’t
Adam and Eve disobey God seeking the freedom to determine for themselves the knowledge
of good and evil?
Then she closes by saying,
“Live like you are totally free to be anything and do anything you chose for
yourself. Allow yourself the freedom of talking to yourself, dreaming for yourself,
dancing with yourself and living your life like nobody else in the world cares
or is watching what you are doing” Well, Ms. Van Zant has just describe the
“perfect world” for criminals, predators, pedophiles and homosexuals. Self-indulgent
behavior like there is nobody to care what you do or watching you do it! Live a
hedonistic lifestyle is what she is advocating. Shall we go back to the days of
Roman debauchery, under the guise of “personal freedom/liberty?
A wise man once said, “Freedom/Liberty
without restriction is a vain and fanciful dream of unstable and flighty human
minds”. No one is free to do any and
everything their heart desires. Unbridled personal liberty is a teaching of the
devil. We are warned in 2nd. Corinthians 11:13-14 that false apostles,
deceitful workers, transform themselves into the apostles of Christ. And Satan
would transform himself into an angel of light. Don’t be fooled by the slick New
Age jargon, no matter who is speaking it!
Your brother, In His
Service
Min. Douglas
