...and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables… 2 Timothy 4:4…

The latest rage is a supposed Christian movie based on popular supposed Christian song played often on so called Christian Radio, ” I Can Only Imagine.”

Frankly, when the song first became popular  I was taken in by the music and what I could tell of the lyrics.  And didn’t give it much thought afterwards. I’ve since confessed to God for not being aware before engaging in the song.

But when the song based movie came out and main stream media began promoting it as a great “Christian”, faith based movie, my antenna went up immediately  and I began researching. Mature Christians know from experience based on God’s word the world and the world’s systems are NEVER in agreement with the things of God.

“Know ye not that the friendship of the world is emnity with God? ” James 4:4. 

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.  Luke 6:26.

I began my search by closely examining the life of the creator of the song, the lyrics to the song, and a detailed unbiased review of the movie itself to see if it truly would be worthy of being titled a Christian movie.

WARNING!   In all three areas,  I have found, ” I can only imagine”  to be found weighed in the balance and found wanting, seriously alarming and against scripture.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS:

Creator of the song:

Artist: MercyMe

Album: The Worship Project

Released: 1999

Songwriter(s): Bart Millard

Genre: Christian/gospel

Analysis: 

Based on the creator’s bio, he was closely associated with and involved in Rock Music. Although it is concealed, KISS and other Satanic rock music inspired and “got him through” his abused life.  He has never come out of it. He has never renounced the wrong kind of music. Here is the Truth about ROCK MUSIC by a former acquaintance of the genre.

According to Bart Millard’s personal testimony he believes

Bart Millard has been quoted  in various interviews saying that so called Christian Singer/ Composer Bill Gaither is his mentor, hero, inspiration.  Tell me who your friends are and I will show you who you are.

Bill Gaither and his ECUMENICAL World Compromise

Here are some of Bart’s favorite recording artists U2… Saying quote, ” I listen to them all the time.” (NOTE: All of the false teachers like Rob Bell and Rick Warren lift up U2 as great inspiration. )

Comment:  Over and over I see Bart use quotes like, ” To know Christ. To have Christ. Christ…” where people suppose he’s referring to The Lord Jesus Christ.  But is he?     In searching through the Epistles,  Paul always referred to Jesus Christ or the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus,  in full, but  never in part as Christ.  Christ means the anointed one. Christ is not Jesus’ last name.

Another worrisome aspect of Bart’s personal testimony is portraying God as universally accepting all, no matter what.  “God loves us, God considers us the most beautiful thing he ever created.” It seems he like other new age prophets use this new age GNOSTICISM and Universalism avoiding the True Doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Also, Mercy Me, is a colloquial expression that reeks of a questioning tortured soul pleading for mercy. An unregenerated sinner would say this, not a blood bought born again true Christian. 

The LYRICS to the Song are as follows:

Begin quote:
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk, by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When you face is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by You glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes
When I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine when all I would do is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for You, Jesus
Or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine hey ya ah

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for You, Jesus
Or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine hey ya ah

I can only imagine yeah yeah
I can only imagine

I can only imagine ey ey ey
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine

Songwriters: Bart Marshall Millard

I Can Only Imagine lyrics © Music Services, Inc

End Quote.

My comments on the Lyrics:

NO! You Reprobate! This is what a true child of God will do upon seeing Jesus:  

FALL AT HIS FEET AS DEAD! 

Not going into detail, phrases  of “standing in the Son”, your face is before me (implies Jesus Christ subservient position), and using subjunctive mood of “would” implying doubt, really bother and vex my spirit.

However,  my main focus is on the word imagine. Bart claims in multiple interviews that The word imagine kept coming to him.  What came to me, after prayerful consideration of this subject, was the Bible verse of 2 Corinthians 10:5.

We are strongly warned that our spiritual warfare deals directly with destroying IMAGINATIONS and anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

2 Corinthians 10:3 KJV
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We are also warned that the sin for knowing God – But not glorifying God as God those becoming vain in their IMAGINATIONS. 

Focus on the word IMAGINATIONS.  The Greek word in the original Bible text for Imagination is λογισμοὺς ( logismos ).

A careful analysis in context of the word logismos is USING OUR LIMITED PERSONAL OPINION RECKONING TO COMPREHEND THE INFINITE.

Why would God forbid This?

Simply stated,  the mind is the battlefield and where our imagination perceives without the word of God’s direction, we are sifted like wheat by the adversary.   A great read on the subject is THE SPIRITUAL MAN by Watchman Nee.

Nowhere in scripture are the Prophets or Apostles allowed to be left imagining and letting the flesh discern spiritual matters. Or even make hypothetical proposals or questions.  Whenever the apostles strayed like Peter did in imagination of his limited mind to perceive the infinite things of God, Jesus Christ severely rebuked him.  Read:  Matthew 16:23,    Matthew 17 TRANSFIGURATION .

No doubt The Lord Jesus Christ  rebukes Bart Millard…

Let’s also take a look of the word IMAGINE used in the old testament.  The Hebrew word for imagine is hagiyg. In context the way Bart uses Imagine in his lyrics,  it literally means to devise a vain thing as used in Psalms 2:1; to mutter and muse (muse literally comes from fallen angels who preside over the arts for inspiration to drive the wandering mind to be lost in reflection)  as wizards and those who communicate with the dead, Isaiah 8:19; to find the uttering out of the heart lying words of vanity, Isaiah 59:13 (Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart of man is deceitful and wicked. Mark 7:21 says that only evil proceeds out of the heart of man.); the growl of a lion over prey Isaiah 31:4.

Please note carefully the time imagine is used with Godly meditation is within the strict confines of the word of God.  Psalms 1:2. More clearly I will take only what is clearly stated in scripture and meditate on that. Not adding or subtracting one word.

Most connected to the danger of Bart’s now famous song goes all the way back to the Garden.  Looking carefully at Genesis 3:5, we see Satan employing Eve’s imagination outside the limitations of God’s law.

Careful examination of this word in context to the scripture shows clearly is letting your mind run on its own course to reason for possible conclusions. Precisely the reason the King James Translators use the word IMAGINATIONS.

Another look at Imagine comes from John Lennon’s most commercially successful album in 1971. IMAGINE is without doubt completely the antithesis of God. It is the herald for the Beast, kingdom of the Antichrist. 

In my link above about Rock Music, it clearly shows how John Lennon admitted that his inspiration came directly from Satan.

The lyrics say in the chorus I CAN ONLY….imagine…This clearly implies uncertainty… There is an uncomfortable friction of doubt, very subtle but strong sense of  unbelief.  The same spirit was with EVE in the garden…. Doubt…Questioning left to the imagination.

I can only image is worn cliche meaning I have no idea regarding something of infinite complexity so, for poetic purposes,  I’m going to make my own assessments.

If Bart Millard bothered reading his Bible, he would not have to let his carnal mind muse over meeting Jesus Christ in heaven. He would know for sure. Clearly in Revelation 4, we see the Saints (the true blood bought born again Christians,  the true body of Christ,  FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP THE KING OF KINGS.

Paul was taken into the 3rd Heaven into the very presence of God.  He wasn’t allowed to comment. He would not dare speculate. 

Isaiah was taken in a vision before God and he fell to the ground as if a dead man.

Bart Millard wouldn’t be imagining things like dancing like a monkey when Revelation clearly shows the opposite. 

Bart Millard needs to REPENT.

The Movie:

Based on the box office sales, the movie would be considered a success from the eyes of the world. But based on film critics who are evaluating the content as strictly content, this movie sends any message but definitely not the true doctrine of Jesus Christ according to the Bible.  The message is clearly secular with hints of confounding and mixed signals that include Lordship Salvation,  Social Gospel,  Prosperity Gospel and Hyper-Dispensationalism.

Sadly, because of the state of apostasy in these last days, I’m not surprised most churches are promoting this movie.

Sufficed to say I wont be wasting my time and money to watch secular Rock Bands performing  on a false gospel scripted  movie that’s supposed to be about finding Jesus Christ.

Here are 2 critiques of the movie:

Indiewire quote:  “What Bart is missing, of course, is Jesus. And if he wants to find Jesus, he’s going to have to forgive his dad (who, conveniently enough, finds Jesus first). After roughly 90 minutes of secular dramatic storytelling, the film’s swerve towards faith is desperate and inevitable, the Erwin brothers explicitly suggesting that the lyrics for “I Can Only Imagine” came from God Himself. At the same time, they seem keenly aware that non-believers might struggle with the idea that modern prophets spread their gospel on Top 40 radio (and get filthy rich in the process), and so they snap back to the basic facts of their inspirational true story, building to a climactic scene that celebrates the singular power of Christian rock by ending the movie with … a song by mainstream electro outfit M83. Jesus died for our synths.”  End quote.

“This movie is tailor-made for people who will not look at the word “imagine” and think of another song, just as it’s designed for an audience that won’t notice anything strange or contradictory about abusive dads curing themselves via church broadcasts on the radio, or uplifting bands singing passionately about the sweet release of death, or how Bart doesn’t feel successful until he’s on his way to making a s—t-ton of money. There’s something interesting to be mined here, at the intersection of faith, forgiveness, and pop music. I Can Only Imagine does its best to ignore it.” End Quote