Chalk Circles

05 June

chalk-circleIt’s been almost ten years since the Lord saved me from Mormonism. In that time I’ve learned so much about God, salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m trusting in Him to teach me as I continue to walk with Him.

So when I hear of believers who have walked with Him so much longer than I have embracing things that are clearly pagan, unbiblical, or just plain silly it breaks my heart.

Have you heard of “chalk circles”? The idea is based on a book titled The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. On his website he quotes Gypsy Smith a British evangelist, who when asked how someone could start a revival in their lives said this:

“Go home. Lock yourself in your room. Kneel down in the middle of the floor, and with a piece of chalk draw a circle around yourself. There, on your knees, pray fervently and brokenly that God would start a revival within that chalk circle. “

Now I haven’t read the book, but the ideas in it have seemed to found their way in some churches and in women’s ministries.

The basic idea behind it is to draw a circle, then stand, or kneel in the middle of it and pray. To me this screams paganism, and I can’t understand why prominent female bible study teachers can’t see the same thing, but instead they’re very accepting of it.

During the True Women’s Conference in 2012 there were several chalk circles outlined throughout auditorium to be used by the women in attendance, and as a visual example of what would be discussed during the conference. There was also a chalk circle on the stage where thechalk circle1 speakers stood in to deliver their message.

Below is a link for the conference along with comments from the speakers and those who attended.

Revive Our Hearts – 

I first learned about this practice from the Sola Sisters blog. If you’d like to read their information on this practice here’s a link to their site.

When I hear about things like this going on in the body of Christ I can’t help but ask “where is the discernment?”

Why isn’t kneeling, standing or sitting where you are and offering up a prayer to God enough?

 Why is there a need to add to things?

What is it about the circle itself that makes someone believe God will be better equipped to answer they’re prayers if they’re offered up inside of it?

I’m not one to be over the top, or try to see things that aren’t there, but if you look at symbols involving the occult, the circle is almost always present. Those who practice Wicca create a “magic circle” as part of their rituals.

In the religion of Hinduism chalk circles are used as well as part of their worship.

So I ask again, why do we need to borrow from false religions to make us feel our worship is complete?

God has made it very clear how he feels about diving into occult practices.

Deuteronomy 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

Instead of looking to outside sources to make your prayer life more fulfilling why not just pray where you are and talk to the Lord? Maybe there’s a sin in your life that you haven’t deal with that makes you feel something is missing, or you just haven’t been taking the time to pray as you should?

As 1 John 5:14 tells us:

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

In Christ,
Melissa Grimes (melissa@lifeafter.org)

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