Where is God Amidst All This Chaos?
Special: Counseled by God Free Video Event and up to 50% off!

Protestantism's 500-Year-Old  Bitter Root Judgment and Inner Vow

I believe that when Protestantism protested and left the Roman Catholic Church, they reacted against Catholicism's use of imagery. I believe Protestants have held an ungodly belief that all use of images constitutes a graven image. Their corresponding inner vow was that they would reject all uses of imagery in their Christian lives. The result is that most Protestant books on systematic theology do not even include a section on dream, vision, imagination, or any other application of the eyes of one's heart. This is startling considering that the biblical stories and actions which came as a result of dreams and visions form a section of Scripture equal in size to the entire New Testament! Their ungodly belief has given them the right to ignore one-third of the Bible.

Another fruit is that Protestants do not lead in drama, theater or the arts. Protestants have great conservative political think tanks (i.e., a left-brain function), but few great Christian performing or visual arts (i.e., a right-brain function). We need to repent of this ungodly belief and inner vow for ourselves and our forefathers and receive all that the Bible says is ours.

The Negative Judgment: All use of images constitutes a graven image.
The Inner Vow: Therefore, I will reject all uses of images in my Christian life.
The Result: Many Protestant books on systematic theology do not even include a section on dream, vision, imagination, or any other application of the use of the eyes of one’s heart. This is startling considering that the biblical stories and actions which came as a result of dreams and visions form a section of Scripture equal to the entire New Testament!

On the Positive Side 

On the positive side of this question of man's capacity to think visually, I would like to make two points. 

  1. All of the children and two-thirds of the adults I have polled usually picture Bible scenes as they read them. As we are picturing these Bible stories and praying for a spirit of revelation (Eph. 1:17), God causes the story to come alive and speaks to us out of it. This is essentially the same process we are describing, of setting scenes in our minds and asking God to grant us revelation, then tuning to the flow of the Holy Spirit and watching the scene come alive as God speaks to us. 
     
  2. One-fourth of the adults I have polled normally picture the scenes of songs when they worship. As God inhabits our praises, the scenes come alive and move with a life generated from the throne of God. Both of these illustrate the very process I am describing. 

Man's ability to think visually is currently being used unknowingly by many Christians, particularly those who are intuitive and visionary by nature. In reality, visual thinking is not a new thing. We are just defining and clarifying what has been happening naturally for some. As a result of this clear definition and statement, all believers can now be taught to become more sensitive to the divine flow within us.

Summary: Why Is Using the Eyes of Our Hearts Important? 

  1. God gave Abraham a vision of the stars of the sky and told him he would have that many children (Gen. 15:5), and that produced faith in Abraham’s heart (Gen. 15:6). So here we have an example of godly imagery which produced faith in the man who is called "the Father of Faith" (Rom. 4:11). That is a powerful concept. That would indicate that if I wanted faith in my heart which moves mountains, then I would need the same ingredients which God gave to Abraham. These are:
    • A spoken promise (Gen. 12:1,2)
    • A divine picture (Gen. 15:1,5,6)
    • Then as I hold this promise and picture in my heart, meditate on it and ponder it, God produces a miracle in the fullness of time. For Abraham, a child was born 25 years later. 
  2. God has created us with eyes in our hearts with which we can see, picture and visualize.
  3. God wants to fill these eyes with His dreams, visions and images (Acts 2:17).
  4. Jesus lived in pictures constantly (Jn. 5:19,20,30).
  5. Jesus filled the eyes of His listeners by constantly teaching with parables (Matt. 13:34).
  6. We are commanded to meditate on the Word, which involves prayerfully rolling it around in our hearts and minds. Since the Bible is full of picture stories, we will by necessity be picturing as we meditate upon Scripture (Josh. 1:8).
  7. When we reason together with God, He uses imagery (Isa. 1:18).
  8. A picture is worth 1000 words, so when I see something, it has the power to change me much more greatly than when I simply think a thought. That is why God says we are transformed (changed) "while we look" (2 Cor. 3:17,18; 4:16 -18). When I see myself clothed with Christ's robe of righteousness (Gal. 3:27), it appears to influence me more greatly than when I simply recall the Scripture verse that "I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:9).
  9. God counsels us at night through our dreams (Ps. 16:7).
  10. Even the Lord's supper utilizes imagery. As Jesus broke the bread, He said, "This is My body" and as they drank the wine, He said, "This is My blood" (Matt. 26:26-28). I see this imagery as I partake of the Lord's supper, and by doing so, it impacts me greatly every time I do it.
  11. The Bible is absolutely full of dreams, visions, pictures, images, and parables from cover to cover, so obviously, God is big on imagery.
  12. When David prayed, he used imagery (Ps. 23).
  13. When David worshipped, he used imagery (Ps. 36:5,6).
  14. In the Tabernacle in the wilderness, God established much imagery that was an integral part of approaching Him (Ex. 25:8-22).
  15. In the New Testament, we are told that Jesus is the Image of the invisible God, and we are to "fix our eyes upon Him" (Heb. 12:1,2).  So in both Old and New Testaments, God has ordained imagery as part of our approach to Him

Differences Between Idolatry and 
Setting an Image in One's Mind

  IDOLATRY IMAGE
Authorized by: Man (Ex. 32:1) God (Ex. 25:9-22; Col. 1:15; Heb. 12:2)
The Goal: Worship the idol (Ex. 32:8) Never worship the image; use the image as a stepping stone into divine flow (Rev. 4:1)
The Action: The idol remains dead (Is. 44:19) Divine flow is prompted (Rev. 4:2)
The Prayer: Pray to the idol (Is. 44:17) Never pray to the image; as divine flow is activated, communication with God is established (Rev. 4 - 22)
The Purpose: To worship the thing (Is. 44:15) To focus one's heart before God (II Cor. 3:18; 4:18)
The Attitude of the Heart: Stiff-necked; proud (Ex. 32:9) Seeking God humbly (Prov. 2:1-5)
The Control Issue: Manipulating God; magic 
(I Kings 22:20-23)
Watching God in action; Christianity (Rev. 4 - 22)

Get the printable PDF

 

Additional Resources Which Relate to Using the Eyes of Your Heart as You Approach God

  1. What Does the Bible Teach about Visualization?
  2. You Can See Visions! They Are a Pathway to God
  3. Poised Before Almighty God
  4. Lord, When Is “Priming The Pump” Acceptable and Unacceptable?
  5. Initiative - Should I Take It? by Charity Kayembe
  6. Help! I Have Trouble Seeing Vision!
  7. Training Your Child to Encounter Jesus - Godly Imagination & Visions
  8. Training Package - 4 Keys To Hearing God's Voice (One key is to use vision)
  9. Training Package - Hear God Through Your Dreams (Dreams utilize imagery)
  10. Book - Am I Being Deceived? (Difference between New Agers and Christians)
  11. Book  - Secret Place (Examples of God painting beautiful scenes during prayer times)
  12. Divine Healing Toolbox CD/DVD Set (using vision while praying for healing)
  13. Protestantism's 500-Year-Old  Bitter Root Judgment and Inner Vow (a chance to repent)
  14. Training Package - Prayers That Heal the Heart (Inner healing prayer utilizes vision)
  15. Western Study Verses Biblical Meditation
  16. Also related to this topic: How to Receive Revelation Knowledge

Results

Results 11 - 20 of 479

Pages

Hearing God

Hearing God - for Intimacy, Healing, Creativity, Meditation and Dream Interpretation

by Mark Virkler and Patti Virkler | 192 Pages

Reviewed by Sid Roth on It's SupernaturalWhat does it sound like to hear from Heaven? In this interactive journal, Dr. Mark Virkler takes you on a life-changing journey that reveals three powerful ways you can hear God’s voice and recognize how He is speaking in your life everyday.

Price: $16.95
Naturally Supernatural

Naturally Supernatural

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 161 Pages

A step-by-step guide on “abiding in Christ” or how to let go and let God live naturally and powerfully out through you. Disarmingly simple. Mind-blowingly powerful.

Price: $14.95

Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions

by Mark Virkler and Charity Kayembe | 314 Pages

Experience Healing for Your Body, Soul, and Spirit through Kingdom Emotions!

In Christianity, emotions are often considered to be misleading and untrustworthy—a lingering part of our fallen nature that distract us from God’s truth. But our emotions were created by God, and though the enemy may seek to manipulate our hearts, Jesus sets us free! This practical teaching will empower you to see emotions as unique channels through which the Holy Spirit works to bring miraculous life-transformation, deliverance and healing.

Price: $16.99

Your Extraordinary Life!

by Mark & Patti Virkler | 197 Pages | $14.99 Retail

Can you imagine starting new believers off with the Holy Spirit! What if the first thing you were taught as a newborn Christian was how to connect easily and daily with the Holy Spirit Who was living inside you, anointing you, empowering you and transforming you?

Save $4 off retail for this book, plus huge quantity discounts available!

Price: $10.95

Rivers of Grace

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 189 Pages

You can be the parent God wants you to be: loving, encouraging, trusting and able to raise up your children in the way they should go, fulfilling their own unique destinies. Parenting was not intended to be a burden, and anyone who tells you differently has bought into a lie. You will learn to enjoy parenting as an exciting, joy-filled, divinely-ordained opportunity, not an wearying responsibility.

Price: $14.99

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice - Teen Edition

by Kay Velker and Mark Virkler | 164 Pages

Get your teens excited about hearing God's voice, two-way journaling and receiving divine vision! Keep them from going through teenage rebellion by teaching them how to hear from the Lord personally every single day of their lives. Give them a foundation that will let them accomplish more than they ever dreamed possible! 

Price: $9.95
4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Pre-Teen Edition

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Pre-Teen Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 39 Pages

This book will ensure that your children learn to hear the voice of God. Generally young people can hear God’s voice easier than adults can! And by teaching them the four keys early on they will clearly recognize His voice as they grow up, positioning them to readily experience His maximum grace and goodness every day of their lives.

Price: $7.95

49 Lies Book – 49 Religious Lies Jesus Told Me to Stop Believing

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 112 Pages

If you have ever believed any of the following lies, then this book is for you: "Emotions are soulish;" "Money is evil or secular;" "It is wrong to seek vision;" "Don’t trust experiences;" "God gave me a mind and expects me to use it;" "Politics are evil;" God is always beating on me;" or one of 43 more such detestable lies...

Price: $11.95
Am I Being Deceived?

Am I Being Deceived?

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 110 Pages
Do you know where the boundaries are? Do you know the distinguishing traits of true Christianity, phariseeism, and the New Age Movement? You will after you have read this book. Set your borders straight, your vision high, and your passion at full steam ahead. Come explore true Christianity, phariseeism, and the New Age Movement.
Price: $12.99
Apprenticed to Leadership

Apprenticed to Leadership

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 74 Pages

Apprenticeship: "Soaking up the spirit and anointing of another."

Apprenticeship is the most time-honored approach to learning. It has proven itself through all of history, was used by Jesus of Nazareth to disciple the Twelve, and is being restored in America today by progressive educators.

Price: $10.95

Pages