Unleash WHAT Power?

Anthony (aka "Tony") Robbins is a motivational success expert, author and infomercial star with many noted accomplishments. He is, (according to his own website,) a “peace negotiator, humanitarian, philanthropist, strategic adviser to world leaders, successful entrepreneur and honored business strategist, award winning speaker, internationally known and best selling author, authority on Peak Performance, mass media veteran, world authority on the psychology of leadership, innovator on psychology and intervention, and dedicated family man.”  There is apparently little that he does not do and do well.  He says when world leader have a problem, they come to him. He even claims in his biography that the International Chamber of Commerce has named him one of the top ten Outstanding People of the World." 

As to how he does all this, Robbins attributes it all to his "faith," that is, faith in the “science of achievement” and “the art of fulfillment.” Like a philosopher Robbins wants you and I and anyone else to listen to him and learn from him, even adopt his core beliefs.  Like a salesman he wants you to buy his beliefs, for his beliefs are his product and Robbins believes he has the ability to motivate anyone to the same level of personal excellence he has achieved; He will even help you “turn dreams into reality,” (a-hem, ) for a fee.

Yes, for a fee.  Robbins does not just give free advice, he sells his "expertise," and it is not cheap.  His Anthony Robbins Rapid Planning Method , (RPM) "a revolutionary breakthrough in time and life management that will show you how to manage your life instead of your time," is a calendar product that you can purchase from him for a mere $199.00.   A 12 hour seminar will cost you about $180.00; or if you prefer. the 9-Day Mastery Program, it runs for about $5,000.00. Yes, for a fee, Robbins will help anyone "Unleash the Power Within."

And what do you get for your money?  He advertises his Anthony Robbins' Business Mastery program, that with his program, "The world is yours." 
 
Over the years, Robbin's has taught that Unleashing the Power within is a "powerful metaphor" for what will happen when you learn his secrets to success.  While he quotes the Father of Evolutionary theory, Charles Darwin, strangely, Robbins also talks about God, and forgiveness but the most incredible thing Robbins can teach a person is how to become rich, or maybe just richer.  Not only that, Robbins even teaches his students to do incredible physical feats that they never thought possible, like breaking boards with their "bare hands.”

But breaking boards is somewhat passe' these days.  Robbins has a new gimmick.  Now,   "the ultimate physical metaphor for your newly emerging mastery," is storming "barefoot across a bed of glowing coals--and that is only day one!”   Robbins is now into Firewalking.

Robbins, who himself has been firewalking since 1983, says, believes and teaches others to do it.  It's the highlight of his seminars all over the world, places like Rome, Singapore...and Atlanta Georgia.  Robbins teaches that things like breaking boards with your bare hands, walking on beds of hot coals without being burned by them, is only the beginning.  He advertises that after attending his seminar, one will return home....with "a fire in your soul", (one that "can never be extinguished.")  This is because of the ultimate metaphor... firewalking.


Fire-walking takes courage for most people to do.  It is after all, something far-removed from what people normally do with their time and energy.  It's not really "normal" to simply walk upon hot coals.  It's not "normal" to do such a thing without being burned.  Yet those who have been under Tony's influence do it and live to talk about it.  They love to talk about it.   It's all over You Tube. 

This video examining firewalking, was quite interesting.It tells about how traditionally fiji firewalkers believe walking through the fires will purge them of their sin, and as such ...firewalking, when it is successful, proves the favor of the gods... Other people think there is some scientific reason it can be done.  But people all over the world and on fiji, ( thanks to the famous Anthony Robbins and his fire-walking friends,) are firewalking and they do not even need to be superstitious about fire goddesses and gods   All that they have to do is attend a corporate management motivational seminar with Tony and learn that they have the power to do anything they simply put their mind to, even the seemingly impossible.

Firewalking done in the corporate world has many effects.  It tends to boosts company morale as co-workers see what each other is made of.   It it has the effect of building confidence in individuals who can then work as teams knowing they can all do something a bit outside of the proverbial "box."  Not only that, people get excited about their own success as they do something they thought was physically impossible, if not downright dangerous.  The promise to businessmen is that after a seminar with Tony, after employee have had the experience of walking on fire, they will be rejuvenated and subsequently be able to produce results far beyond anything ever experienced before.

Firewalking does look dangerous, but proponents say it is a "relatively safe" experience.  You can see the excitement in the You Tube videos; a lot of people have successfully done it.  If someone fails, it can only be because they did not have enough faith or will power to make it happen.  At that point, it  becomes their own fault, not the instructors.  The greatest danger in learning to firewalk appears to be a person's ego, or maybe their wallet, as some instructors charge as much as $500.00 per event. But if you look a little deeper, you may see that it is not really just the wallet or the ego that is as risk, it is.. and Robbins will even tell you this, you wil need to change your belief system. 

Advertisers and motivational speakers like Anthony Robbins who promote firewalking like to say that firewalking is a way of “challenging the traditional,” and “going beyond the boundaries.” They say it's about "change," and changing those "limiting belief systems." One might wonder, "Which ones?"


When it comes to firewalking, could this be refering to your parents who warned you as a child, not to play with fire, who told you that if you played with fire, you might get burned?  Could it be your  religious upbringing, maybe it refers toChristians (and Christianity,) you know, Christians are always warning others to repent of sin or they will face the terrible fire of hell and they put faith in the Bible, and those "thou shall nots"  in that Old Testament too.

But then,  maybe such firewalking is completely compatable with biblical teaching.  After all, some firewalkers, quoting verses like Isiah 43:2 and Proverbs 6:28, say that such practices are not forbidden at all by God. Besides, there are many prominent Christian people that endorse Robbins, ;like Christian businessman and leadership expert, Kenneth Blanchard.  Blanchard even “co-authored" Robbin’s book, Unlimited Power in 1997.

Blanchard, who authored his own book titled, the One-Minute Manager, professes publicly to be a born-again, bible believing Christian.  Besides partnering with Anthony Robbins, he “partners” with other well-known Christian "celebrities" like Zig Ziglar, Henry Blackaby, Lori Beth Jones, Phil Hodges, Norman Vincent Peale, John Maxwell, Bill Hybels, and even "America's Pastor" Rick Warren who did President Obama's Inaugural address.  Blanchard heartily endorses Robbins. , and has been quoted many times saying, "You can't afford not to know what Anthony Robbins in teaching."   In the forward to the co-authored book, Unlimited Power, Blanchard encourages readers saying,  "use Tony's thinking to unleash the "magic" within you.”

"Magic"?  Hmmm...What is this "magic"?  Is it something supernatural?


Some people say firewalking is supernatural, spiritual... a way to connect to God. 

Tolly Burkan is one of those people.

Anthony Robbins originally "learned" to Firewalk from Tolly Burkan, the man who claims to have “created the firewalking movement” in America.  Burkan himself has authored his own book titled, "Extreme Spirituality"  in which he teaches people how to do things like walk on broken glass or fire, in order to "make a personal connection to God."

Burkan does not teach traditional Christian beliefs, such as how Jesus is the only mediator between man and God, but he does talk about Jesus.  He says, "Two thousand years ago, a revered teacher (Jesus) said all people possess the ability to do the same miracles he himself did… and more.”  He also says that by doing these "extreme" spiritual acts, (the ones  he teaches in his book,)  “You will discover that your spirit is not of human origin, that some part of you is eternal, and as you explore more deeply, you'll be developing an intimate relationship with God… and to be able to access this spiritual power 24/7 so you can use it as a resource. Instead of dogma or teachings, Extreme Spirituality gives you a direct experience!”

It's a new gospel, a new spiritual paradigm....

Burkan insists it's mind and spirit that takes a person over such extremes unscathed. He says, “When people burn, it may indicate that their states of mind have made them more “dense.” A “fluid” mind-state translates into fluidity of the body itself…. After people tell themselves "I can do this and not get burned," and they feel "comfortable" with that certainty, they proceed to walk with "confidence." (Quote from: firewalking.com) The end result of doing a firewalk, (whatever the reason for success, beit the temperature of the burned materials, the amount of time the feet are in contact with the coals, or simply the will to make it happen,) the end result is confidence, self-confidence.  Self confidence is the spirit released from within.  Anthony Robbins, calls if self-mastery. 

 It is not the kind of spirit that comes from repenting of sin and believing in the supernatural power of God, but the power that comes from grasping the position of God in your own life, driving your own life, creating your own destiny, finding and fulfilling your purpose as you love those who either help you become wealthy or make you feel good about yourself.  It is about creating for yourself, (as Joel Olsteen would say,) "your best life now."

Yes, no doubt there is a power being released, (or rather, unleashed,  unrestrained,) but truth is, some people simply do not stop to test the spirits and see what "spirit" they are of.  They will learn from men and leave their old limiting belief systems behind to embrace the new spiritual paradigm being offered, a gospel that teaches everyman is God (as if equality with God is something to be grasped.)

Man, created by God and given freewill, may have truly have within himself the power in him to do whatever he wills, even firewalking, but with man, somethings really are impossible.  But as Jesus Christ revealed, with God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

Man, is mortal and as such he will one day come face to face with something he cannot overcome in his own strength.  He will one day run out of his inner power, (or money,) and face the ultimate enemy, death.  Without repentance, without rebirth into the Holy Spirit of God, man will surely die in his sin and he will be ft eternally walking in the unquenchable fire of eternal separation from God.


We can live our lives on earth believing the words of men who do not believe the words of Jesus, who tell people they can attain their best life now if only they believe in themselves, or we can believe in Jesus Christ and in the almighty power and sovereignty of a God who loves us and cares for us, and seek to serve Him and others instead of ourselves.  Truth is, we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:34) and it's important to wonder, what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Matthew 16:26)