The Hidden Agenda of the Order of the Mustard Seed

Peter Grieg of the 24-7 Prayer Movement, an international, ecumenical movement laced with Gnostic, New-Age, and Contemplative spirituality, is reviving the 17th century mystical Masonic Order of the Mustard Seed. Recruited members are required to take a life-long vow of commitment to the Order and the outward sign of this commitment is to be symbolized with a ring or tattoo. [1]

The Order of the Mustard Seed was originally a secret order started by Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf and is listed in “The History of Freemasonry” by Albert G Mackey as being a long dormant Masonic Order. Greig claims he was inspired to resurrect the order by the 18th century Moravian renewal and the life of Count Zinzendorf. Understanding the significance of the resurrection of this order and of the overall resurgence in the interest in Zinzendorf is key to understanding the state of the apostate church and where it’s headed.

The self-proclaimed Apostles and Prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation, embrace a world-view by which they fancy themselves God’s Champions. They believe in, and are striving towards, bringing Heaven to Earth through a take-over of the world’s systems which will place them in control through a hierarchical grid of world-wide apostolic networks. Interestingly enough, it is these same apostles and prophets that appear to possess such rabid fascination with Zinzendorf and the Moravians. Why, are so many of those who champion a world-wide ecumenical movement, so enraptured by the Moravians? Why do the Moravians wield this kind of influence over this “New Breed” of Christian “emerging” in today’s post modern church world? It is curious that the same ones who claim God is doing a NEW thing would be so enraptured by a man who died 300 years ago.

In order to understand the horrific significance of the resurrection of this Order and the overall draw of Zinzendorf’s Moravianism, it is first imperative to understand the history of the movement and how it fits together with the stringent social and political agenda of today’s self-proclaimed Apostles.

The Moravians were a Gnostic sect that was founded in 1457 in what is today’s Czech Republic. They were an offshoot of the Bohemian Brethren but in 1467 they constituted themselves a church, thereby severing themselves from their association with the National Bohemian Church. Bohemia is a historic region in central Europe which occupied two thirds of today’s Czech Republic. It is bordered by, Poland, Austria, and the Czech historical region of Moravia. [3]

In Bohemia and Moravia, the Moravian sect grew rapidly to about 400 congregations in the early 16th century. The Lutheran movement in Germany brought attempts to unite the Moravians under the Lutheran denomination however the Calvinistic reformation saw the Moravians align more in its favor. When the anti-reformation ensued, merciless persecution by the Catholics, extinguished most of the Protestants in Bohemia and completely wiped out the Moravians in Bohemia. However, a few of the Moravian families held on in the region of Moravia. In 1722, they left their homes, land and belongings and journeyed to Germany in search of religious freedom. By invitation they settled on the estate of Count Ludwig Von Zinzendorf and eventually built a town there called Herrnhut. [3]

The New Church settlement initially went back to its Bohemian roots, however Zinzendorf who eventually settled among them was Lutheran and an agreement was eventually reached between the Bohemian and Lutheran factions. [4] It is my opinion after reading several modern historical accounts and other accounts written by Zinzendorf’s contemporaries that the Count may have started off with sound doctrine. However reports from the community at Herrnhut from eye-witness accounts in historical records, indicate that they most certainly did not retain orthodox doctrine as the settlement evolved. [5]

ZINZENDORF the ROSICRUCIAN

Zinzendorf was a Rosicrucian. In late medieval Germany, the Rosicrucian’s were a secret society of mystics holding a doctrine built on esoteric truths, and “secret doctrines” of the ancient past. They believed that these secret mystical truths were concealed from the average man, and reserved for an elite few. [6] Much like today’s New Apostolic Reformers, these mystics sought a universal Reformation of Mankind. Many modern esoteric orders and secret societies are said to draw in part or in whole on the Rosicrucian’s philosophies. Zinzendorf was head of the Rose Croix (Rosicrucian) from 1744-1749. [7] In fact Masonic dictionaries list a category called Moravian Masonry which was founded in 1939 called the Confraternity of Moravian Brothers of the Order of the Religious Freemasons. An alternative order was the Order of the Grain of Mustard Seed which itself originated in 1922 through Count Zinzendorf. Members of the Order wore a ring on which was inscribed in Latin “no one of us lives for himself” Its purpose was for the extension of the Kingdom of Heaven through Masonic Channels. [2] Although he sought to build a Kingdom on earth, it most certainly had nothing to do with the God of the Bible.

CYMBROGI

The newly revised Order of the Mustard Seed encourages inductees to diligently prepare for taking the vow by co-joining themselves to a community of other like-minded vow-takers. Those in the preparation stage leading up to the taking of the vow, join with others who are likewise in preparation. These fellow vow-takers encourage and support one another in their journey towards full inclusion into the order. The lead up to the day of the vow-taking day is compared in anticipatory importance to the preparation for ones wedding vows. They have chosen to call the Order’s supportive communities of vow-takers, Cymbrogi. [1] Below you will see the description of these communities in their own vernacular.

“We have adopted the ancient Celtic word Cymbrogi meaning ‘companions of the heart’ to describe the communities that are emerging, gathered around the Zinzendorf story and the vows of the Mustard Seed Order…… Cymbrogi are more than acquaintances – they are covenant companions, life-friends, brothers and sisters in arms.” [8]

Cymbrogi is an ancient Celtic word and is pronounced koom-BRO-gee. The purveyors of this “Order” claim the word simply means companions of the heart, however, Cymbrogi can also mean “Sword Brothers” and I suspect this definition is more in line with their intended meaning.

“It has been variously translated along the lines of “fellow countrymen”, “companions of the heart”, and the one that best captures our intent, “sword brothers”. In this context, a sword brother is one who has covenanted to stand with his comrades in battle for noble causes and who would gladly forfeit his life for his brother in arms [9]

Curiously enough, the Arthurian legend refers to the brotherhood of knights committed to Arthur, as Cymbrogi. It is intriguing in light of the avid fascination some Dominionists have with the Arthurian legend. The connection between the use of the word in the Arthurian legend and the use of the word among those resurrecting the ancient Order of the Mustard Seed is more than likely not coincidence.

“Cymbrogi, he calls us: companions of the heart, fellow-countrymen. Cymbrogi! We are his strong-arm, his shield and spear, his blade and helm. We are the blood in his veins, the hard sinew of his flesh, the bone beneath the skin. We are the breath in his lungs, the clear light in his eyes, and the song rising to his lips. We are the meat and drink at his board. Cymbrogi! We are earth and sky to him. And Arthur is all these things to us – and more.”[10]

LORD OF THE RING

The website for the “Order of the Mustard Seed” prominently displays a famous quote from Frodo, the main character in Tolkien’s Novel, Lord of the Rings. Lord of the Rings, as most of you will no doubt be aware was later made into an epic and award- winning film.

“I will take the ring, though I do not know the way…” (Frodo) [11]

It is curious to me why the procurators of this Order would choose this quote. In the movie Lord of the Rings, the ring is clearly evil and the seat of its power is called Mount Doom. At the moment when the main character Frodo feels as though he’s finally mastered the Ring, the Ring takes complete and utter mastery of him turning his will into its.

MEET THE NEW CONSPIRATORS; SAME AS THE OLD

In researching the resurrection of this Order, I happened across a website entitled, The Mustard Seed Associates. The Mustard Seed Associates are those who have embraced the lifestyle and philosophy of the Mustard Seed Order. Curiously enough they describe themselves as the “New Conspirators.” They explain that when a church lives in isolation, it cuts itself off from “God’s Conspiracy.” What, you may ask, is God’s conspiracy? It is a conspiracy to refashion the world and craft a new global community. While I can agree that it is certainly a conspiracy, I must disagree that the conspiracy has anything whatsoever to do with God.

The website prominently displayed a book for which the undiscerning could exchange their cash for the Gnostic New Age agenda of the “New Conspirators.” The book was entitled, appropriately enough, “The New Conspirators: Creating the World One Mustard Seed at a Time.” I have included its synopsis below.

“In The New Conspirators, Tom Sine helps us to think critically and creatively about the world we’ve inherited and the global community we’re crafting: strained schedules and divided loyalties, the rising cost of housing, emerging political and economic realities, the plight of the global poor, the vulnerability of the environment. He then shares stories of churches and ministries that have planted hope in these troubled soils. With inimitable insight and delight, Sine commissions this mustard seed generation to refashion the world according to God’s great vision.” [12]

Notice, it is this new Mustard Seed Generation who is going to refashion the world and craft a new global community, not God! These words take on a new and ominous meaning when you consider that they are committed Dominionists who believe they are mandated to dominate and subdue the earth using whatever means necessary. Perhaps it will be clearer now that the term “sword brothers” does in fact belie their true mission. Theirs is an aggressive geo-political and social agenda to unite all faiths and refashion the world. There will be a world church that unites around Christ; unfortunately it will be the Anti-Christ.

AGGRESSIVE DOMINIONIST AGENDA

Dominionists possess a radical socio-political agenda, and like a well oiled military machine, they are well-organized and their network vast. Their ultimate socio-political goal is a One World Church and a New World Order. They believe they will go forth like a vast army, yielded to the authority of the New Apostles, and conquer the world’s Kingdoms’ for Christ to usher in the millennial reign. These Kingdoms consist of all social and political institutions and those who do not wish to be ruled will be slaughtered. With the world under their complete dominion they will hand over the reigns to Christ so that He may return to earth. However, the Bible makes it clear that at the time of Christ’s return, the earth will be in complete and utter chaos and His return will prevent what would otherwise be the complete annihilation of the earth, in the Great Tribulation. This doctrine of Dominionism makes the Church the Savior, and not Jesus Christ. Christ alone can, and will, institute God’s rule on earth.

Many Dominionists believe that the Church IS Christ and that Christ will literally be incarnated within the church to enable it to take control and evolve to the next level. This is of course hand in hand with what New Ager’s, Gnostics, Cabalists, and Secret Societies, believe. The New Ager’s teach that we are converging towards an “Omega Point” whereby man’s collective consciousness will unify and be transformed or transubstantiated into Christ. Let me boil that down for you into something easily digestible. They believe and teach that we will become God. They term this the Christ Consciousness, yet it has nothing to do with the Christ of the Bible. They believe and teach that Jesus was merely a man tuned into the highest range of consciousness and vibrational frequency they call the “Glory of Oneness.” At this level, they teach, one has the most enLIGHTenment. As a man, Jesus was able to access this level and thus it is called the Christ Consciousness. The New Ager’s insist that as mankind unifies, we will collectively reach the omega point and a quantum leap in evolution will occur where by we will all access this higher consciousness and become Christ. They believe that man’s collective consciousness is essentially moving towards a glorious pinnacle and evolving into Godhood. This is not what Scripture teaches. Scripture teaches that we are collectively moving towards the opposite; social un- rest, the collapse of world systems, and the Anti-Christ.

REFERENCES 1. Information gleaned from The order of the Mustard Seed Main Website ( http: www.mustardseedorder.com) 2. The History of Freemasonry by Albert G Mackey (1898) This Book is online according US Pre-1923 Public Domain Rule 3. Hamilton American Church History Vol VIII 4. Henry Rimius, A Candid Narrative of the Rise and Progress of the Herrnhutters (London: A. Linde, l753) 5. Moravians Compared and Detected by George Lavington This Book is online according US Pre-1923 Public Domain Rule 6. Wikipedia 7. Occult Theocracy by Lady Queenborough This Book is online according US Pre-1923 Public Domain Rule 8. The Order of the Mustard seed [http://www.mustardseedorder.com/cm/home/15] 9. The Cymbrogi [http://www.thecymbrogi.com/TheOriginOfTheName.htm] 10. Arthur-Stephen Lawhead 11. The Order of the Mustard Seed [http://www.mustardseedorder.com/cm/livingthevow/?category=4] 12. The New Conspirators [http://thenewconspirators.wordpress.com/the-new-conspirators-book/]