Spiritual Research Network

A Chris Lawson 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:

1. to Proclaim the Gospel and Encourage Biblical Discernment, and
2. to Research, Inform and Warn of the dangers of cults, spiritual abuse, and mystical/occult based spirituality.

Funding for the work of SRN (and also one of our newer sites, www.DangersOfYoga.com) is provided through independent donations made to 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)

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Our Purpose

The ministry of Spiritual Research Network exists in order to:

• 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 books, tapes, tracts and DVD's developed specifically for people seeking sound Bible teaching and discernment resources.
• 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

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Our 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.

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Ministry Bio

From Chris Lawson's missions site - LawsonChristopher.org

Chris Lawson – researcher/lecturer – is both an experienced missionary and an ordained pastor. As such, he has spent much time as a researcher, writer and counselor, helping people escape the clutches of spiritual deception. Among his achievements and calling as a career missionary, he has served as a long-term church planter in the USA and also in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is also the Founder and Director of Spiritual Research Network, a Christian outreach dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel and encouraging biblical discernment.

As General Editor and staff writer for the Spiritual Research Network,  his articles have appeared in discernment resource publications such as Forcing Change and Lighthouse Trails Research Project. He has spoken at numerous churches, been a guest Bible teacher with Fred Stonehouse at Golgota Mission Bible Institute, in Talmachiu, Romania (Transylvania), and participated in Christian apologetics and discernment seminars in Scotland, England, South India, Canada and California.

Along with his preferred style of expositional Bible teaching, he has spent more than twenty-five years researching, informing and warning of the dangers of cults, the occult and mysticism based spirituality. He has also provided news agencies, students, consumers, church leaders, healthcare professionals and law enforcement agencies with assessments, and/or instruction. Formerly serving for nearly 25 years in the Calvary Chapel movement, fourteen of these being a missionary and pastor, he is now focusing on his independent ministry of research, writing and teaching.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, surfing and being outdoors.

Chris (middle) accompanying his friend Sam (left) on a missions trip to South India.

Where Chris has served (1989-to present)

• DangersOfYoga.com (2020-to present)
  
• LawsonChristopher.org (2013-to present)
  
• SpiritualResearchNetwork.org (2004 to present)
  
• Scotland Missions, Edinburgh, Scotland (2003-2007)
• Church planter/pastor, Central Coast, CA (1993-2003)
  

"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