The Other Side of What Heaven?

Back in 2001, Disney released the movie "The Other Side of Heaven," starring Christopher Gorham and Anne Hathaway, based on the true story of John Groberg's experiences as a young missionary on the exotic island of Tonga in the 1950's.

At first glance, this may seem like a touching, inspirational adventure movie, but as with all media, a little investigation is necessary to find the real message behind the silver screen. Not much research was needed to quickly reveal the truth of this seemingly innocent "Christian" movie. On the Watchman Fellowship website, I found a movie review that shed some light on this motion picture.

Though the advertising of the film may not blatantly show this, but in actuality, the film is connected to Mormonism. The main character was a Mormon missionary (in case you were not able to deduce that from his outfit when he first arrived on the island), and he is currently an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Additionally, the writer/director, Mitch Davis is a member of the LDS church, and the film's distributor, Excel Entertainment endorses "...all types of entertainment media that is reflective of Mormon or LDS culture."

I also found it quite interesting that when the film was first released in December 2001, the distributors chose to only show the film in Utah and Idaho with the tag line for the movie stating:

"The true story of Groberg's adventures on the islands of Tonga as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

But when the movie opened nationwide four months later, they chose to remove "for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" from the tag line in the official press release. However, once the film jumped to the box office top 20 list, they changed the tag line again: "the true story of a Mormon missionary sent to the kingdom of Tonga in the 1950's."

Not surprisingly, Excel admitted that prior to the movie's nationwide release, they had tried to get advertising from several Christian media organizations, but they were rejected. So, we can easily deduce that the reason they changed the original tag line was to make the film appear to be "nondenominational" in order to deceive the general public. But despite this deception, even the secular audience was not impressed. Negative reviews were splashed all over the news, such as in the Washington Post, New York Daily News, and the Miami Herald.

Along with the bad critiques, the film did have its supporters and good reviews in the media. Even Bill McKeever, who is the Director of Mormonism Research Ministries, did not bash the movie. He commented that "... there is not a barrage of unique LDS teachings...." in the film. However, he would definitely agree that the movie does pose several concerns to the evangelical Christian community:

1. The movie seeks to put the Mormon church and its mission's ministry in a good light to the viewing audience.
2. The movie has a scene that portrays a Christian minister as the bad guy because he "tells his people to stay away from the Mormon missionaries because they are teaching false doctrine."
3. The movie can also be used in Mormon proselytizing efforts.
4. The God that John Groberg (both in the film and in real-life) refers to is not the God of the Bible. He is the Mormon God. (To learn more, watch this video below, and you can find additional articles at Watchman.org)

In conclusion, though the film may have great acting, beautiful scenery and a moving musical score, that doesn't change the fact that it is merely a tool used to spread the heresy of Mormonism and the LDS church. Unfortunately, because of the influence of Elder Groberg, 40% of Tonga is Mormon (approx. 43,000 people), and it will only be through the grace and mercy of the real God of the Bible, that these lost people will come to true salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)

What is "The Secret"?

Warning: This blog will reveal spoilers to the book, "The Secret." So, if you don't want to know the secret of "The Secret," I would suggest not reading any further. Otherwise, don't say I didn't warn you...

One of the books on the #1 best sellers list right now is "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne, and it's companion DVD has sold over a million copies since its release in February 2007. "The Secret" is basically a self-help book that claims to have the ultimate key to achieving success and happiness. The book and DVD give off a Da Vinci Code feel and boast that this "secret" has been known and used by some of the greatest minds in history, but for eons, "the secret" has been hidden from the public... until now.

On the Watchman Fellowship website, there is a video clip of an interview on the Today Show with one of the teachers quoted in the book & DVD, James Arthur Ray, along with Dr. Gail Saltz, a psychiatrist and Today Show contributor.

What is the secret? It's three simple steps: Ask... Believe... Receive.

The author claims that based on the "Law of Attraction," if you think about something, your mind gives off energy and vibrations that are capable of bringing external objects to you or away from you. For instance, one woman says that when she found out she had cancer, she used the secret and imagined that the cancer was out of her body. Later, she found out she was healed. Others have claimed that they have become wealthy using the secret. However, with all these lofty claims, you have to ask yourself, "Doesn't this sound a bit too good to be true?" Even the TV show, Boston Legal, showed that "The Secret" may have "some kinks to iron out."

During the Today Show interview, Mr. Ray claimed that the secret is based on quantum physics, but this has yet to be proven by the scientific community. For something to be considered scientific, it must meet the following criteria.

1. Must be based on data.
   
2. Must be observable.


3. Must be able to be tested.
   
4. Must have reproducible results.

"The Secret" can claim none of those. Dr. Saltz stated that there is nothing wrong with thinking positively, but claiming that this "Ask... Believe... Receive" concept is a science, is both deceitful and potentially harmful. I also think that the statement made by Prof. Robert Thompson of Syracuse University is very revealing. He said, "It's amazing how we really are a nation of, at best, great optimists, and at worst, real suckers."

The concept behind "The Secret" is Gnosticism, which has been around for at least 2000 years, and the secret itself, the knowledge and power that is being promised, dates back to the first sin of Adam and Eve, the desire to be God. Basically the secret tries to convince you that you can control your own future by being your own god.

Sadly, this lie has been deceiving people for centuries, and it has caused countless disappointments and ruined lives. Jerry Adler, Senior Editor of Newsweek magazine wrote an article about the book and said, "The message isn't new; the packaging is what's new.... The book is potentially psychologically harmful, ethically deplorable, and scientifically nonsense."

Acts 17:11 reminds us that we shouldn't believe everything that we read. We should always compare "secret knowledge" to what the Bible says. If it's contradictory, then it is false. We should be as careful as Beareans... "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." And when compared to Scripture, "the secret" doesn't hold water.

A good resource that will help you learn more about "The Secret," its origins, and dangers, is the new book, "The Truth Behind The Secret." Click here to read the press release.

Is Rev. Moon the Second Coming?

In March 2004 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in the presence of a large audience of congressmen and other "well-to-do's" in Washington D.C., Rev. Sun Myung Moon was presented with maroon robes, crowned "King of Peace," and proclaimed himself to be "none other than humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent." His wife was by his side and was also presented a robe and bejeweled crown.

Up until a few weeks ago, I never knew that this had taken place. I was absolutely shocked. Though, after doing some more investigating, we come to find out that most of the people who were in attendance that night came under false pretenses. Most came under the guise that they were going to be honored for their humanitarian efforts and for being "Ambassadors of Peace." Low and behold, they were blindsided when at the close of the evening they were the unintentional witnesses to an erroneous coronation.

On the Watchman Fellowship website, I found an article that has a lot of good information on Rev. Moon and his cult, otherwise known as the Unification Church. Just in case you had doubts, Rev. Moon is not the Second Coming, unless you are comfortable with and confident in a Messiah who is an ex-con, adulterer, and is heavily involved in spiritualism (i.e. he claims to receive new revelations by projecting himself into the spirit realm and talking with Jesus and other dead saints).

Here are just a few of the aspects of Moonie theology:

• Pantheism: God is not a Person, but is a self-generating energy that became creation. God is all, and all is God.
  
• God was not happy or complete being alone, until it created people. It needs relationships.
  
• God created Adam and Eve to be the perfect parents, but God's plan was thwarted when Eve had sexual relations with the archangel, Satan, and then with Adam.
  
• God came up with a new plan. He created Jesus (who was only human), and intended for him to get married. Then Jesus and his bride would become the perfect parents and raise sinless children. But once again, God's plan was ruined when Jesus got crucified before he could get married and have a family.
  
• God's final plan is being accomplished through Rev. Moon and his perfect family. Salvation and access to the Kingdom of God solely depend on the Moon Family. Everyone must be grafted into his perfect, God-center family.
  
• Rev. Moon claims that he is God's mouth-piece and only through him can "heaven on earth be literally achieved."

Rev. Moon claims that his is the only perfect God-centered family on earth. Let's take a look and see how accurate that statement is. This video clip is from an interview with the daughter of Rev. & Mrs. Moon (aka "The Perfect Parents") as well as Nansook, the wife of Hyo Jin, Moon's eldest son. In 1995 when she could not endure her husband's cocaine addiction, infidelity, and physical abuse any longer, Nansook fled with her 5 children, and divorced her husband of 14 years. In 1998, she wrote a book titled In the Shadow of the Moons: My Life in the Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Family, which is about her experiences as a member of the Moon family.



As you can clearly see, Rev. Moon and his family are anything but perfect, and they certainly do not qualify as the "Perfect Parents" or being divine. Every family is dysfunctional to some extent and the Moon family is no exception.

No matter what fallacious claim Rev. Moon may make, it certainly does not line up with Scripture. "Jesus did not claim to be a partial way, half the truth, or some of the life. He did not leave room for others to complete or fulfill his work. Jesus stated in no uncertain terms, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' (John 14:6)" (Excerpt from Watchman Fellowship article) Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, true Messiah, Lord, and Savior of the world.

For more information about Moonieism, click here to access other articles that are available on the Watchman Fellowship website.