Eckhart Tolle and Differences with Christianity (John Stott Quote)

... Yt the possibility of self-salvation is one of the major delusions of New Age philosophy. It teaches that salvation comes not from without (someone else coming to our resuce) but from within (as we discover ourselves and our own resources). So 'look into yourself, shirley MacLaine urges us, 'explore yourself', for 'all the answers are within yourselef'. And in here subsequent book, which is revealingly entitled Going Within, she writes that'the New Age is all about self-responsibility', i.e., taken responsibility for everything that happens, since 'the only source is ourselves'.

But Paul teaches oa different source of salvation. With verse 4 he turns from us in our depravity to 'God our Saviour', from our hatred of one another to his amazing love for us. paul traces our salvation right back to its source in the love of God. But when the the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, that is, in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, he saved us. .... Thus salvatin originated in the heart of God. It is because of his kindness, love, mercy and grace that he intervened on our behalf, he took the initative,he came after us, and he rescued us from our hopeless predicament."

Quote taken from John Stott in his commentary on Titus (ch. 3)

The differences he points out in regard to salvation coming either from without or from within apply not only to MacLaine but to Tolle's philosophy as well. One must ask how fallen is man. The apostle Paul points out that sinful man (in need of salvation) is deceived and this deception is not limited to just thinking a different way in order to save ourselves, but that God himself has to do a change in us (regeneration) in order that we may see and understand the truth.

The issue comes down to this: What is the need of man when it comes to salvation? Simply to see things differently (as Tolle suggests), but to be able to see to begin with (a work that God himself must do). The scripture teaches the latter, Tolle the former. Which is it?

Luke 8:10 "to you it has been given to know the secrests of the kingdom of God...'

1 Cor 2:14 "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."

Eph 1:17-18 "...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you."

John 3:27 "John answered, 'a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven."

Romans 9:16 "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy."

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