About SRN
As a Christian outreach, Spiritual Research Network places proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the top priority. We also consider sound biblical discernment as of utmost importance because biblical discernment and the clear proclamation of the Gospel go hand-in-hand. Without biblical understanding in the proclamation of the Gospel according to Scripture, the message of God’s creation account (Genesis 1-12) and the clear fundamental teachings of the Bible become convoluted and distorted. In any Christian church or Christian Missions movement, preaching the Gospel, teaching biblical truth, and warning against false doctrine, false teachers, and false prophets, is paramount. (See God’s Method of Consistently ‘Warning’ and ‘Teaching’)
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” —1 John 4:1
Spiritual Research Network has also created a Spiritual Abuse Questionnaire covering many different areas and types of abuse. We have done a significant amount of research on the dangers of yoga, meditation perils, kundalini awakening—symptoms, hazards and emergencies, and spiritual abuse and spiritual crisis in general. Many of these things are crossing over into churches, coupled with over-bearing “authoritarian” church leadership abuses.
We have expressed our great concern over the numerous mystical methods and spiritual dangers that comprise contemplative spirituality. The French-based Taizé movement, with its ecumenical, interfaith Taizé community and Taizé worship, is just one example. For many years, we have also been warning about Eastern Occult philosophy, meditation, and the spiritistic (spiritism) influences and practices of the New Age/New Spirituality and occult-based Yoga movements.
Finally, for those affected by the many long-standing false teaching movements and newer false revival and “holy laughter” movements in Christian churches worldwide, our website and our off-site links to other research ministries can be of much help. We have helped and encouraged many thousands of people through the years. We hope and pray that our materials and those that we recommend will be of great help to you and your family and friends.
—Chris Lawson, SRN Administrator
We have expressed our great concern over the numerous mystical methods and spiritual dangers that comprise contemplative spirituality. The French-based Taizé movement, with its ecumenical, interfaith Taizé community and Taizé worship, is just one example. For many years, we have also been warning about Eastern Occult philosophy, meditation, and the spiritistic (spiritism) influences and practices of the New Age/New Spirituality and occult-based Yoga movements.
Finally, for those affected by the many long-standing false teaching movements and newer false revival and “holy laughter” movements in Christian churches worldwide, our website and our off-site links to other research ministries can be of much help. We have helped and encouraged many thousands of people through the years. We hope and pray that our materials and those that we recommend will be of great help to you and your family and friends.
—Chris Lawson, SRN Administrator
Outreach
Committed first and foremost to the Lord Jesus Christ and the integrity of His Word, the primary goal of Spiritual Research Network (SRN) is twofold:
Funding for the work of SRN is provided through independent donations made through Chris Lawson's ministry. Spiritual Research Network has been online since 2004 as an independent Christian outreach, and one of our foundational Bible verses comes from Philippians 1:9-11.
- to Proclaim the Gospel and Encourage Biblical Discernment, and
- to Research, Inform and Warn of the dangers of cults, spiritual abuse, and mystical/occult based spirituality.
Funding for the work of SRN is provided through independent donations made through Chris Lawson's ministry. Spiritual Research Network has been online since 2004 as an independent Christian outreach, and one of our foundational Bible verses comes from Philippians 1:9-11.
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment [discernment]; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."
(Philippians 1:9-11)
Purpose
The ministry of Spiritual Research Network exists in order to:
In order to carry out our purpose, we seek to reach out in the following ways:
- Glorify, honor and serve the Lord Jesus Christ by proclaiming His Gospel of man’s redemption.
- Provide evangelistic training and resources with an emphasis on the Bible as the verbal and plenary inspired, inerrant Word of God.
- Expose doctrines that oppose or nullify the Gospel of grace as found in Scripture.
- Contend earnestly for the faith against those who suppress, and/or reject doctrinal truth for the sake of unbiblical ecumenical unity.
- Encourage and support former members of other belief systems.
In order to carry out our purpose, we seek to reach out in the following ways:
- We have a local growing lending library of resources developed specifically for people seeking sound Bible teaching and discernment.
- We offer resources such as books, tracts and DVDs developed specifically for reaching out to undiscerning Christians, as well as all who are involved in abusive cults, the occult, mysticism, etc.
- We teach Bible studies in homes and churches in order to equip believers with sound biblical doctrine.
- We provide seminars to help equip Christians for evangelizing people in the cults and the occult.
- We publish research articles through our periodic online updates and mailings.
- We encourage people who, upon leaving their former faith, may experience a vast array of feelings and struggles associated with guilt, doubt, family rejection, or instability in their Christianity.
- We are involved with short-term missions projects as funds allow
History
Spiritual Research Network (SRN) was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2004 as part of Chris Lawson's Scotland Missions outreach (2003-2007). While living and serving in Edinburgh, a culture thoroughly steeped in secular humanism, evolutionary theory, and Neo-Pagan occult spirituality, we established the SRN outreach for the purpose of helping equip Christian churches and individual believers with biblical discernment. Our initial goal as overseas workers was to plant a church fellowship, but we quickly realized that the bulk of people we were ministering to were hurting Christians, many of whom had been spiritually abused.
"Except the Lord build the house,
they labour in vain that build it:
except the Lord keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain."
(Psalm 127: 1)
In conjunction with biblical preaching and teaching, we have been fully committed to confronting spiritual deception found in cults, the occult, the New Age/New Spirituality movement, and in abusive churches. The reason we do this is so that people can be set free from spiritual enslavement and its devastating consequences.
Although very unpopular in an age of political correctness, we have always taken an unwavering stand against mystical, occult, New Age (The New Gospel) and Contemplative Spirituality (Spiritual Formation) practices. The reason for this is that the unbiblical doctrines and practices of contemplative spirituality (Eastern mysticism/occultism) have infiltrated countless churches, Christian universities, and colleges around the world. The contemplative movement continues to spread through the ecumenical Emerging Church and Interfaith movements.
Due to the fact that many practices being promoted in churches today are rooted in mysticism and occult philosophy (pantheism, panentheism, monism), we have sought to educate people about these spiritual deceptions and the practical problems associated with believing in them. We have also provided the biblical alternative to such, and the Scriptural basis for doing so.
We have also sought to explain how the teachings and methods of mystics and Eastern gurus (centering prayer, visualization, yoga, mantras, etc.) are being passed on to undiscerning Christians - pastors, church leaders and churchgoers alike. Along with other like-minded ministries, we continue to sound the alarm to the church and anyone who will listen.
As part of our teaching activities we have educated many people in the basics of biblical discernment. We have sought to communicate to people how to avoid spiritual abuse and deception (coercion, mind control, manipulation) as well as popular heresies such as the "Christianized" occult “anointing,” the lying signs and wonders movements, the dangers of Replacement Theology, and more.
Throughout the years we have remained committed to proclaiming the biblical Gospel and encouraging spiritual discernment among those who regard themselves as Biblical Christians. Believing that our primary task is to proclaim Jesus Christ as God's only provision whereby sinners can be forgiven and declared righteous before God, we have always placed our greatest emphasis upon the Person, work and nature of Jesus Christ.
In the Spring of 2007 our ministry was relocated from the seaside towns of Portobello and Joppa, in Edinburgh, Scotland, to the Central Coast of California.
Although very unpopular in an age of political correctness, we have always taken an unwavering stand against mystical, occult, New Age (The New Gospel) and Contemplative Spirituality (Spiritual Formation) practices. The reason for this is that the unbiblical doctrines and practices of contemplative spirituality (Eastern mysticism/occultism) have infiltrated countless churches, Christian universities, and colleges around the world. The contemplative movement continues to spread through the ecumenical Emerging Church and Interfaith movements.
Due to the fact that many practices being promoted in churches today are rooted in mysticism and occult philosophy (pantheism, panentheism, monism), we have sought to educate people about these spiritual deceptions and the practical problems associated with believing in them. We have also provided the biblical alternative to such, and the Scriptural basis for doing so.
We have also sought to explain how the teachings and methods of mystics and Eastern gurus (centering prayer, visualization, yoga, mantras, etc.) are being passed on to undiscerning Christians - pastors, church leaders and churchgoers alike. Along with other like-minded ministries, we continue to sound the alarm to the church and anyone who will listen.
As part of our teaching activities we have educated many people in the basics of biblical discernment. We have sought to communicate to people how to avoid spiritual abuse and deception (coercion, mind control, manipulation) as well as popular heresies such as the "Christianized" occult “anointing,” the lying signs and wonders movements, the dangers of Replacement Theology, and more.
Throughout the years we have remained committed to proclaiming the biblical Gospel and encouraging spiritual discernment among those who regard themselves as Biblical Christians. Believing that our primary task is to proclaim Jesus Christ as God's only provision whereby sinners can be forgiven and declared righteous before God, we have always placed our greatest emphasis upon the Person, work and nature of Jesus Christ.
In the Spring of 2007 our ministry was relocated from the seaside towns of Portobello and Joppa, in Edinburgh, Scotland, to the Central Coast of California.
Ministry Bio
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Chris (middle) accompanying his friend Sam (left) on a missions trip to South India.
Where Chris has served (1989-to present)
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11, KJV).
Chris Lawson
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