The Christian Reenactor's Network
The Guidon, March/April 1999

An Open Letter to Barbara Lane
author of "Echoes from the Battlefield"

From The Christian Reenactor's Network

Dear Barbara:

The Christian Reenactor's Network is appreciative of your desire to help Civil War reenactors (and others) find an inner peace and a spiritual fulfillment. We fully understand that your objectives include helping the human condition through the application of love and forgiveness principles as you understand them. However, during the past several years, the world of Civil War reenacting has been the subject of a philosophical and religious belief system espoused in your book "Echoes From The Battlefield". As you are fully aware, the foundations of reincarnation are derived from Eastern mysticism, monism ("ultimate all-is-oneness"), pantheism (god-is-all-and-all-is-god), Gnosticism (the "Path of Knowledge"), and the syncretistic blending of these in its most recent form, Theosophy. We live in a time now when claiming to have the one and only truth is considered narrow-minded-- and holding up that truth is the greatest crime against reason, science, philosophy, and "religion". However, in love and with the desire to have all understand the magnitude of God's open arms, we will continue to hold forth that Truth.

Barbara, these religious systems seek to substitute God's plan for mankind with mankind's plan to become like God. Self-salvation and spiritual harmony through Karma (the Buddhist "Law of Causation") are at the heart of this philosophy. While we completely defend your right to promote these ideas, we stand firmly opposed to these views in light of the inerrant Word of God, the Bible. Furthermore, we will continue to inform the reenacting world of the spiritual danger, biblical distortions and inherent risks of "regression" hypnotherapy which these "New Age" views present.

The occult mysticism, which this religious/philosophical paradigm is based on, is diametrically opposed to evangelical, Bible-believing Christianity. This is also evident by the recent written reactions in the Camp Chase Gazette of neo-pagan groups to the Bible's message. We recognize, Barbara, that you have taken issue with our theological position as harboring "exclusivity". We fully understand this reaction since your view regarding the Bible conflicts with our view regarding the Bible's inerrancy, inspiration and authority. However, it is incumbent upon those who believe the Bible and the claims of Jesus Christ to proclaim God's message and allow the Scriptures to expose error where it exists.

The fact is, the entire Bible presents God's dealing with mankind in terms of "exclusivity". We are ALL excluded from knowing God on the basis of our sinful condition. "Sin" (Hebrew "hata'ah--"missing the right path"; Greek "harmartia"--"missing the mark) is defined by the Bible as our missing God's standard of holiness and perfection. Therefore, God designed a means for us to establish a relationship with Him and thereby become included in His family! That link is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You will find more insight regarding this in our "How to Really Connect with God" links. (The Guidon, December 1998).

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God". (John 3:16-18)

Mark Twain once said:

"It's not the things I don't understand in the Bible that bother me,
       it's the things I do understand!"

This accurate insight exposes the real reason many people are afraid to study--or believe--the Bible. They are afraid they might meet the Author someday, and they know that they're not ready for that.

The transformation of consciousness which "regression" therapy promises has a price tag. The experiences may be enjoyable and "enlightening", but you know from your familiarity with the Bible that there is a dark, mystical side of which many are unaware.

The Jesus of the Bible, the sinless Lamb of God, (John 1:29) is far different than the A.R.E. would maintain. The mystical esotericism of Edgar Cayce may make for fascinating reading and be glorified by the media for popular consumption, but the fact remains that his views are far from what the Bible teaches. This is not to disparage or denigrate Mr. Cayce in his character or intentions. However, it matters not that he attended a "Christian" church nor that he made verifiable predictions. It matters not if the whole world, every great thinker, theologian, philosopher, scientist or pollster arrive at the conclusion that reincarnation can be accommodated by their belief systems. It matters not if those of New Age ideology extol the spiritual benefits of channeling or spirit guides. It matters not if a reenactor individually experiences, somewhere in his/her regression-induced altered state of consciousness, the Battle of Bull Run/First Manassas, Pickett's Charge, or Appomattox. At bottom, the issue is will we individually accept God's Word-- the Bible--as it stands, or will we choose to explain it in conformity with our predetermined ideas. You and I will both be judged by a holy and perfect God on the basis of how we have responded to His revealed Truth, not on the basis of our good works or honorable intentions. (I Tim 4:1-8, et.al.) None of us is "good" enough to enter God's presence:

"But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6)

Barbara, you have invested many years developing your expertise in your field and in the pursuit of helping people find inner peace and spiritual meaning. We ask that you truly consider what the Bible itself says about the spiritual condition of man, the Deity and supremacy of Christ, His virgin birth, His atoning death, and His resurrection. Start with the book of Romans. Our prayer is that you will recognize the true love and inner peace which only the God of the Bible can provide. His love is there for you to receive, but we must do so on His terms. True healing and forgiveness can only be achieved by recognizing that they find their source in the One true God alone. As the Bible says:

Run toward the God of the Bible, Barbara, for this alone is how "ultimate oneness", healing, and forgiveness will be achieved, and in God's love it is our prayer for you.

Stuart Zaharek
for The Christian Reenactor's Network