Way
back in 1976 C. Peter Wagner had already expressed a
foundation of sand upon which his entire "apostolic" kingdom
is built. To back up his notions, he and his friends
such asJohn
Wimber,Paul
Cainand many others began to
get the cart before the horse. They tried to create
revival where there was none with unbiblical and even
heretical ideas. They imported occult ideas from false
religions into the churches, such as"slain
in the spirit"and called the results
"revival". The means they used were the
counterfeit revivals of theWord
Of Faith Movement, theVineyard
movement, theToronto
"Blessing", theBrownsville
"Outpouring"and on down the
line to latestTodd
Bentley "Lakeland Revival". The proof that
the means have all been unjustifiable is in the unjustifiable
ends. Lakeland has now come to an apparent abrupt end
due to false healing and dead raising claims, many false
teachings, a false "transferable" anointing, and sexual
misconduct. You can read about these things in ourTodd
Bentleysection. Yet the
leadership of theNew
Apostolic Reformationhas not
even been slowed by yet another bad end brought about by the
self-destruction of the means. In the latest ElijahList
the false prophets are prophesying even greater revivals to
come.
There
is a new phenomenon especially among some island churches
where handkerchiefs are being handed around a congregation
claiming that they have an anointing that can cause people to
be healed and other miraculous things happen to them. The
problem with this idea is especially evident in two things:
(1) that this can and is being considered by many to be
Christian magic and (2) that it is being taught as being
something that should be a normal part of the Christian
experience. It is taught that if you have faith you will
believe in touching the handkerchief that you will be healed,
freed from demons, or get a special anointing. But faith
is not proven by signs and wonders.
This
chart should be of grave interest to those in YWAM and those
supporting YWAM and its agenda with the IPM or "First
Nations" movement led by people like Daniel Kikawa (Perpetuated
In Righteousness),
Don Richardson (Eternity
in Their Hearts:Startling Evidence of Belief in the One True
God in Hundreds of Cultures Throughout the World),
John Dawson (Taking
Our Cities for God: How to Break Spiritual Strongholds),
Richard Twiss (One
Church, Many Tribes : Following Jesus the Way God Made You),
Terry LeBlanc (Creating
Christian Indians: Native Clergy in the Presbyterian Church)
and many others. You will notice a very close
comparison in this chart between false religion and
so-called "Christian" leaders. Please read whatYWAM,The
Emerging Chuch,
theWCGPand
others are teaching that are almost exactly what the Baha'i
teach.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
For more information on this DVD, go here.
Three
Fallacies Of Third Wave Spiritual Warfare Teachings by Sandy
Simpson
When so-called Christians employ Biblical pagan
methods to rid themselves of demons, they end up giving the
enemy an opportunity to deceive them and a foothold in their
lives. When Israel disobeyed the Lord's command to
come down to Jerusalem and worship Him in the temple under
the Law, and instead chose to set up altars in the high
places, the result was that they ended up worshiping
demons. They thought they were worshiping God, but
ended up worshiping Baal and Ashtoreth. You cannot
live a life glorifying to the Lord unless you obey Him.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
For more information on this DVD, go here.
The Duties of Christian
Leadership by Sandy Simpson
Christians, and especially Christian leadership, are
called to be salt and light in a dark world.
Matt. 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the
earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it
be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything,
except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the
light of the world.A city on a hill
cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it
under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives
light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your
light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven.
When the Lord tells us to be salt and light, He
states both the positive and the negative. That is the
way with all Scripture. We can’t just take the positive
and be done with the subject. We have to consider all
the ramifications of being salt and light. Salt is used
to season food and make it taste good. It was and still
is used as a preservative. In the same way Christians
are to be salt in the world. Without the witness of
Christ, without standing for the truth, life is ultimately
tasteless and rotten. Anyone here who was a sinner for
any length of time without the Savior knows what I am talking
about. But the flip side is that salt can lose its
saltiness. Christians can lose their saltiness by
diluting the Gospel message to the point where it is
useless. Let me give you an example of a washed out
Gospel often preached in churches today.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
For more information on this DVD, go here.
Smack Dab in the Middle of the Apostasy by Sandy Simpson
'Antichrist'
No More: Evangelicals Praise Pope Most are unreserved in their
praise on political, social, and even theological matters,
but critique of papacy remains. Compiled by Ted Olsen, 04/05/2005
04:30 p.m.
Among the names mentioned, who praise the Pope in
this article, were "Evangelical" leaders such as:Evangelical
Episcopalian Fred Barnes; Wheaton College's Mark Noll;
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod President Gerald B.
Kieschnick; National Association of Evangelicals President
Ted Haggard; Focus on the Family President James Dobson;
Charles Colson who organized the evangelical side of the
Evangelicals and Catholics Together; Paige Patterson,
President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary;
Presbyterian Church in America Pastor-brothers David and Tim
Bayly; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al
Mohler; Dallas Theological Seminary President Mark Bailey;
Credenda Agenda Editor Douglas Wilson; and Evangelical
Alliance, the United Kingdom's version of the stateside
National Association of Evangelicals.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
For more information on this DVD, go here.
Marriage A
Biblical Illustration Of Our Faith Commitment To Jesus Christ
For Salvation by Sandy Simpson
Marriage as a metaphor for our
relationship to Jesus Christ.
Marriage is used as a metaphor for our
relationship to God many times in the Bible. Let's
look at the picture God wants His people to see about their
relationship to Him, and His relationship to them.
TI have been challenged
lately to think again about what the Gospel message is all
about. This has come as a result of hearing what I
considerto be, at the very least, "gospel lite" and at the
most no gospel at all being presented by a number of
neo-evangelicals, Third Wavers and outrightheretics. The
interesting thing is that many seem to be preaching the
same message. What is most intriguing is that
false teachers like Benny Hinn, ecumenicals, and even some
preachers I would considerto be orthodox in their theology are
preaching a "gospel" that is very similar.The question is:
Is this new gospel message really the Gospel at all?
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
For more information on this DVD, go here.
Leviathan by Sandy Simpson
This creature that existed, and may yet exist,
is used as a description of themightand
power of the enemy.
Isaiah 27:1In that day theLORDwill
punishLeviathanthe
fleeing serpent,WithHis
fierce and great and mighty sword, EvenLeviathanthe
twisted serpent; And He will kill thedragonwholivesin
the sea. (NASB)
Speaking of the “day of the
Lord”, when the Lord comes back again to rule and judge the
earth, Isaiah says that the Lord will punish Leviathan the
dragon.Satan is
likened to leviathan, a serpent, and he is said to live in
the sea.
Revelation 13:1Andthe dragon stood on the
sand of the seashore.Then I saw
a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and
seven heads, and on his hornswereten
diadems, and on his headswereblasphemous
names. (NASB)
Again the dragon comes out of the
sea, which is symbolic of the nations of the world, but
perhaps is also tied to a literal meaning.He
has multiple heads which are symbolic of the heads of the
nations of the end times, but he is also said to have
multiple heads before the symbolism of the nations of the
revived Babylon come into being, as recorded in Ps. 74:14
and Job.
Many Christians today (having allowed themselves to be
diapraxed by false teachers on TV, in books, in seminars and
on tape) have begun to accept a mixture of Pre Mil and Post
Mil doctrines. Many claim they still hold to a Pre
Trib Rapture (or another Pre Mil scenario) and at the same
time would claim that Christians are in a great end times
revival, that "Transformation" is taking place all over the
world, and that our mandate is to retake dominion over the
whole world including its businesses, social agendas and
political arenas (a Post Mil scenario). But what many
"Christians" today do not realize is: the mixture
they have accepted is oxymoronic.
There are two kingdoms being taught in many
churches today. Teaching about one of the kingdoms is on the
decline while the other is being promoted all over the
place. I am warning Christians that they need to check
out who is using the word "kingdom", the books they have
been reading and recommend on building "the kingdom", the
people they have been hanging out with at conferences, and
what they mean by "the kingdom".
There are so many people who claim to be
Christians today, claiming that they are God.Not just a “little god” but God Almighty.I hate to tell them but there is only one God/man who
could ever claim that and His name is Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:4-6
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is
in the world.They are from the world and
therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the
world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever
knows God listens to us; butwhoever is
not from God does not listen to us.This
is how we recognize the Spirit {Or spirit} of truth and the
spirit of falsehood. The reason why false teachers, who deny one or more
of the core doctrines of the Faith, gain so many followers is
that they are saying what the world wants to hear. They
organize their churches so that they cater to unbelievers, and
once non Christians come in they are fed a diet devoid of the
essential nutrition of the Gospel and sound doctrine.
False teachers conduct surveys to see what non-believers are
looking for in a "church" and then provide those things.
False teachers claim they are bringing people into the Kingdom
when in fact they are bringing them out of the world and back
into the world, the only difference now being that they are
spending their money in support of some apostate leader and/or
group.
The NAR proponents claim to be foundational Apostles to
the modern church. This claim is exactly what Paul warned
the Church about regarding false apostles. The term "false
apostles" is used only once in the Bible in 2 Cor. 11:13.
False apostles are identified as those who claim they areequalwith
the the foundational Apostles. The NAR proponents go even
further! They claim to beGREATERthan
the original Apostles.
Jude 1:1-2 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ
and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who
are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: Mercy,
peace and love be yours in abundance. Jude was the brother
of Jesus Christ. But it is significant that he calls himself
the brother of James. Jude wants everyone to know that,
though he is a half-brother of Jesus Christ through his
mother Mary, he considers himself to be a servant of Jesus.
I’m sure there were those who tried to idolize him for being
the brother of Jesus Christ. If he had the character of some
of the current large crop of false teachers, he would have
written “Jude, the brother of Jesus Christ.” I’m sure if
some of these modern heretics could trace their roots back
to Christ, they would use that information to get support
for themselves and power over people. But Jude does just the
opposite. He calls himself the servant of Jesus Christ. He
is addressing this letter to those who have been called, and
who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ. So
he is addressing this letter to Christians. God has called
every true believer.
You can get more information here. A Word of Encouragement from Paul
Run the Race, Win the Prize by Sandy
Simpson
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a
Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power
that enables him to bring everything under his control, will
transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his
glorious body. Jesus Christ is coming again. We
are citizens of heaven, not this earth, and Jesus will come
to take us to our homeland. So true believers eagerly
await His coming, unlike those who oppose the cross of
Christ who think they must take dominion over the earth or
laugh at the idea of the Rapture. There are many of
them today. We know that when Jesus comes, by His
power, He will bring everything under His control. We
are not called to do that as the Church. Jesus will do
that when He comes, and when He comes we will be changed and
receive our everlasting bodies that will never wear out.
1 Cor. 15:51-57 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not
all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we
will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with
the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the
perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the
mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written
will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your
sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is
the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today,
in
a majority of churches, we see the result of the
seeker-friendly,"purpose-driven", church growth,
Third Wave, New Apostolic Reformation methods and
teachings and their product I am
calling"Entertainment-style Christianity" (ESC).
But ESC churches are not only missing out on the cutting
edge of true Christianity, but areheading down the road
to apostasy.
True
biblical
Christianity is "interactive". Those in ESC are
taughtto be spectators at mega-church entertainment
events. They are not taught the Bible but rather
to be enamored with the oratoricalskills of the
preacher, and to not dare question anything that is
shoved down the throats of the "laity" by the ruling
"anointed"elite. They are treated to a circus
atmosphere including wild CCM music with people flailing
around and acting like they are on drugs, topreachers
who tell endless stories about themselves and joke about
everything while actually making profundity mundane, to
hula dancing,to banners and marching in the church and
around it, to the blowing of shofars, to slain in the
spirit and wild manifestations. Theirsears are
tickled by guest speakers who make up sermons out of
their own imaginations instead of the written
Word. They are entertainedwith gold dust, gold
fillings, "angel" feathers, "angel" footprints, drunk in
the spirit antics, and during these displays they can go
outand get a latte and a snack at the church snack
bar. They come into these mega churches and leave
without being personally challengedother than with tired
worldly psychology, and without anyone being able to
find out what they are doing in their private
lives. A smallpercentage attend "cell groups"
where they are diapraxed into consensus instead of
challenged to be Bereans and think and act
forthemselves. They live like the world during the
week, then come to church where the world is not only
welcomed but accommodated.
Commentators
seem to think that this section of Habakkuk was addressing
theCeasarsand
their drunken desire for power.Seems
these two things often go together.
Those
who love drunk in the spirit are no exception.They
are trying to get others to share in their debauchery and
the false hope of an end-times worldwide revival,
currently through the Saturate 2020 events.Though
these were two of the hereticaldistinctivesof
the New Order of the Latter Rain, these ideas are nothing
new.The righteous
continue to live by faith, while the proud boast in their
drunken state.
Saturate 2020 is another in a long line of
Latter Rain revivals which do not meet the criteria of a
Biblical revival at all (Acts 3:19). The Toronto
“Blessing” and Brownsville “Revival” both came into towns
all over the world with the promise that people were getting
saved and nothing weird was going on at their
meetings. This was always a lie as the true
Gospel was not preached but instead people were invited
forward to have hands laid on them in order to transfer an
impartation. Meanwhile false doctrines were laid
down in order to get people involved in churches like Bethel
Church in Redding, CA. We are warned in Scripture
about this. Galatians
2:4 But it was because of the false
brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in
to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ
Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.
2 Peter
2:1 But false prophets also arose among the
people, just as there will also be false teachers among
you, who will secretly introduce destructive
heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing
swift destruction upon themselves.
The fact that some formerly Biblical churches have joined
this circus is a testament to their lack of teaching
discernment. Some of these denominations were
warned repeatedly about the Latter Rain, Word of Faith and
the New Apostolic Reformation yet they apparently wanted to
remain “willfully ignorant”. The people
advertised as being involved with this latest “revival” are
almost all associated with Bethel in some way and promoters
of what they teach. This is not a true Biblical
revival but rather a revival of the occult and New Age among
Christians. This meeting is actually hurting the
cause of Christ and will not have any real beneficial effect
on the culture of California, which has turned decidedly
evil for decades. These Dominionists
will not be saving the planet, but are rather setting people
up for the coming antichrist. Nor will they rid
the world of coronavirus, but rather likely add to it.
Should biblical Christian churches be
Christ-centered (Christocentric)? Should the doctrines
of the Father (Patriology) and the Holy Spirit (Pnematology)
also be equally emphasized? Can a church be
Patriocentric or Pnemacentric and be biblical?
The answer to these questions are quite simple from
a biblical perspective. There have been charges leveled
at some movements such as the Pietist Movement in Germany and
other movements that they place too much emphasis on Christ to
the exclusion of the Father and the Holy Spirit. This
may be true to a certain degree. The doctrines of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit must be taught with equal emphasis
so that Christians will know what they believe.
But should a church be Patriocentric or
Pnemacentric? No. For instance, there are far too
many churches today, having been influenced by
hyper-Pentecostalism and the Latter Rain, that are
Pnemacentric. They spend most of their time focusing on
the Holy Spirit to the exclusion of preaching the Gospel
while, in fact, they don't even have a biblical doctrine of
the Holy Spirit. I believe that because classic
Evangelicals, to a certain degree, dropped the ball in
defining the Person and role of the Holy Spirit it gave an
opening to Third Wavers to step in with their erroneous ideas
of Pnematology.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
The
Letter to Laodicea Is
a Warning to the TRUE Church Today by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
Rev. 3:14-22
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;
These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy
works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou
wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and
neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods,
and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I
counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that
thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest
be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not
appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the
door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with
me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Much has been made of this passage, using it to point out
what is happening today in the apostate churches around
the world. It is true that they believe they are
rich in spiritual things when they are very poor. It
can be applied in one sense to theWord
of Faithmovement.
It is true that the "River" movement of Latter Rain
teachings do think they are hot when actually they are
cold.
But this letter to the end times church
of Laodicea is actually talking to biblical Christians who
are born again. The apostate movements of theLatter
Rain,Third
Wave,Toronto
"Blessing",Vineyard,Brownsville
"Outpouring",Word
of Faith,New
Apostolic Reformation,World
Gathering on Indigenous People,Manifest
Sons of God,Seeker
Friendly,Church
Growth,Emerging
Churchand many others have already
had their lampstands removed (Rev. 2:5) because of their
apostasy and have already been spit out of the Lord's mouth
(Rev. 3:16). We can know this because of what the
Bible says about those who teach false doctrines (1 Tim.
6:3-5, 2 Tim. 4:3) and make false prophecies (1 John 4:1).
These false churches, false movements and false brethren
(Gal. 2:4) are already under the judgment of the warnings of
theseven
letters, as all but two of the original first century
churches are today (only the two who Jesus did not warn
still survive today). Therefore theletters
to the churchesapply to those
churches who have not had their lampstands removed and been
spit out of the mouth of God because of heresy and false
prophesy. So the warning to the true biblical churches
today remains. Why is this warning significant to us?
It
is significant because, by in large, it isthe
true
Church today that has allowed the movements mentioned
above to infiltrate and take over the agenda for what is
called "Christianity" today.
In
Titus 1:6-11 Paul tells Titus to appoint
"overseers" in the churches. The word
"overseer" isepiskoposin
Greek
and means bishop, curator, superintendent,
guardian, watchman. Overseers are to be
shepherds to the sheep, watchmen, guardians.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
You can get more information here. Jesus
Cares for You by Sandy Simpson
The
story
of the feeding of the 5000 is found in all the gospels of
Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. When something is repeated in
the Bible it means that it is important and is something we
must try to understand. There is often a deeper meaning in
sentences or stories that are repeated.
In
this same story repeated in Mark 6:34 it says:
"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on
them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he
began teaching them many things."
One of the main things that Jesus is... is compassionate. He
cares for His people. He was compassionate then and He is
still compassionate today. Jesus came and saw the needs of the
people. So He did two things. He met their physical need of
hunger for bread, and He also met their spiritual hunger for
the bread of life. As Jesus told us in John ... He is the
bread of life. The Bible, the Word of God, being the word of
the Father and the Son, is also the bread of life. Jesus
is the living example of the Word as it also says in John "The
Word was made flesh and lived among us".
This
paper
exposes what General Boykin has been doing in Calvary Chapels
and his associations.
He
isGrand Chancellor of the
Vatican's Jesuitical "Knights of Malta", an ecumenical
society under the leadership of Rome where Catholics,
Protestants and a plethora of others unite in what cannot be
a unity of the Faith.
We just finished as study in the book of Jonah in our
Bible study groups. As we studied through that true
story I became aware of an application for Church leaders
today.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
You can get more information here.
What Does The Bible Teach About "Synergy"?
by Sandy Simpson
Synergy is also a concept being adapted and taught today
as a major tenet of the Third Wave, New Apostolic Reformation
(NAR) movement. Dutch Sheets was one of the first to
introduce this concept to that movement back in the National
School of the Prophets - Mobilizing the Prophetic Office
Conference at Ted Haggard's New Life Church in Colorado
Springs, CO on May 12, 2002.
HUMOR: Time for a rewrite of the old
hymns. In this day and age of Third Wave revival
movements and Word-Faith dominion, the old hymns just aren't
cutting it anymore. Not only are they old fashioned
musically, but the lyrics are, for the most part,
particularly depressing. They talk of sin, death,
repentance, the cross, the blood of Jesus and a whole host
of other disgusting subjects. There are also too many
lyrics in them, frankly, which takes away from the "worship"
atmosphere. Repetitiveness is what we need, not dead
doctrinal concepts. The old hymns are just too biblical.
Give us a beat to move our feet, not concepts to move our
hearts and minds!
Here is a list of some hymns that could be
"upgraded" to meet the criteria of the Third Wave,
Word-Faith, Latter Rain, Manifest Sons Of God, New Apostolic
Reformation. This list is by no means complete.
If you don't recognize the hymns mentioned perhaps it would
be worth your time to go back and read them, then compare
what they say to the new doctrines.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here
for further information. Almost
Saved by Sandy Simpson
“To be almost saved is to be totally lost.”
– Adrian Rogers
There are many so-called
“Christians” today who are clearly “almost saved” by their
testimonies and/or actions.But to be
“almost saved” is to be completely lost.A
person who is drowning and almost saved drowns.A
woman who is almost pregnant is not pregnant.King Agrippa
said, “You are almost persuading me to be a Christian (Acts
26:28)” but being almost persuaded is not enough to be
saved.
The word “almost” means “very nearly”, “not
quite.” In light of this we may conclude that to come close
to the target, or “almost” hit it, means to completely miss
the mark. (Shalem Evangelical
Church Bush Hall Yard Gap, St. Michael)
"Silence
the noise of your songs" by Sandy Simpson, 5/26/19
Amos 5:21-27 “I hate, I reject your festivals,
nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. “Even though
you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I
will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace
offerings of your fatlings. “Take away from Me the noise of
your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.
“But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like
an ever-flowing stream. Did you present Me with sacrifices and
grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of
Israel? You also carried along Sikkuth your king and Kiyyun,
your images, the star of your gods which you made for
yourselves. Therefore, I will make you go into exile beyond
Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts. When
I first reread this passage in Amos, a few things struck
me. First of all the Lord is bringing judgment on Israel
for carrying on religious ceremony without true dedication to
the Lord. They sing songs and present their offerings
while harboring idols. I was reminded of how the Lord
must view the heretical apostate mega church celebrations of
today. There is a lot of pomp and circumstance, yet
little or no obedience to the Word of God. The Lord does
not look favorably upon worship of that type, no matter the
hype, no matter the noise, no matter the show. He
actually “hates” it.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here
for further information.
How To Find A Good Church by Sandy Simpson, 2003
Here’s how to find a good church. What
you need to find is a church that not only has orthodox
doctrinal statements but teaches, both explicitly and
implicitly, in line with the core doctrines of the
Faith. These are Bible-believing Christ-centered
churches that are balanced in their theology. Be sure to
test all churches before you become involved. It is
acceptable to get involved with a house church or Bible study
as long as there is someone who has the gift of teaching there
to lead the study of God’s Word.
Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling
together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one
another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
The Christian life is not one to be lived
alone. Trust me; I have sympathy for those who have been
spiritually injured by false churches, false prophets, false
teachers and false apostles. It is often a long road
back from the diaprax of heresy. But to undo the
brainwashing you will need help, especially from those who are
already ahead of you on your journey back. The first
century church was known for the following:
Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting
themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer.
This is a good gauge to tell if you are
involved in an effective assembly of believers, no matter how
small. Remember that the first century churches were in
homes. In my experience smaller churches are much better
at doing the above and more. Avoid mega churches.
This book was written by my mother and is about
my family's experience as missionaries in Micronesia.
Juanita went to be with the Lord in August of 2018. This
book has been a blessing to many people around the world and I
want to share it with you. - Sandy Simpson
This is the story of a young woman
who goes to the ends of the Earth with her pastor
husband and two small children. While describing the
hardships of living in a remote village on a remote
Pacific Island in the 60's, it also gives us a vision of
the joy the family experienced as well. The heart of the
book is the story of how the author survives the death
of her husband and goes on to serve God and the
Micronesian people in her own right.This book reveals a
woman of great faith and courage. In addition, the book is
well written and a pleasure to read.Having
met the author, I will add that there are thousands of
people throughout Micronesia who love her and who have
benefited by her faithfulness and commitment over the
years. Read the book and get to know this wonderful
woman. Review by Richard
D.
Shewman on Amazon.
Deliverance! A Biblical Guide To
Freedom from "Another Spirit" The Possible
Consequence of the Unbiblical Practice of "Slain In the
Spirit" by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
The cases are legion. Let's look at John
(a pseudonym) as one case in thousands that I read through the
years in the emails sent to my site.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here
for further information.
A Short History of
Dominionism by Sandy Simpson
In order to understand where the modern fusion
called “Dominioism” comes
from, I want to first give you definitions of Kingdom
Now, Dominionism
and Reconstructionism.
Dominionism
is sparsely defined as follows:
“Dominion Theology (also known as Dominionism)
is a group of Christian political ideologies that seek
to institute a nation governed by Christians based on
their personal understandings of biblical law. Extents
of rule and ways of achieving governing authority are
varied. For example, Dominion Theology can include theonomy, but does not
necessarily involve advocating Mosaic law as the basis
of government. The label is applied primarily toward
groups of Protestants in the United States.” [1]
It is more closely defined this way:
“Dominionism, or
Christian Dominionism
is a term coined by social scientists and popularized by
journalists to refer to a subset of American
Christianity that is conservative, politically active,
and believes that Christians should, and eventually
will, take control of the government. The term is
sometimes used as a “catch-all” by bloggers to describe
any politically active Christian, but not every
conservative, politically minded Christian is a Dominionist. Christian Dominionists believe that God
desires Christians to rise to power through civil
systems so that His Word might then govern the nation.
The belief that “America is a Christian nation” is
sometimes called “soft dominionism”;
the idea that God wants only Christians to hold
government office and run the country according to
biblical law is called “hard dominionism.” [2]
“Hard Dominioism”
as it is called in the above definition, is what C. Peter
Wagner (deceased) of the New Apostolic Reformation (a term
he coined) have been advocating, following the teachings
of the New Order of the Latter Rain and Reformed Theology
“Reconstructionism”.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here
for further information.
Maturity Training by Sandy Simpson
Heb. 5:14 But
solid food is for the MATURE, who by constant use have
trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
At the core of
maturity in Christ is the issue of training to be able
to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong.
But in today’s churches this issue has not only been
downplayed, but actually swept aside.
I run a website and
get hundreds of emails every week. Since the website
deals with apologetics against false teachers and false
prophets, about half the email I receive is blasting me
for even bringing up the issue. These emails are from
“Christians” who claim I am not “anointed”, don’t
understand the work of the Holy Spirit, etc. I am forced
to remind them of Hebrews 5 and Ephesians 4 and the
biblical definition of maturity in Christ. Maturity is
not defined as following dynamic speakers, running after
people who claim the ability to perform signs and
wonders, those with wealth, charismatic teachers with
large numbers of followers, those with name recognition,
and prophets who make wild prophecies. It is defined
simply as training ourselves to know the difference
between good and evil.
Where do Christians
get solid food? From voices in their heads, intuition,
imaginations, flights of fancy, signs, wonders? No.
Solid food is consumed by feeding on the meat of the
written Word of God.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here
for further information.
Bill Johnson Quotes by Sandy Simpson
This article is about the use of invective
while attempting to do apologetics or teaching
discernment. Invective is defined as a noun: insulting,
abusive, or highly critical language ie. "he let out a stream
of invective". I admit to using invective at times in
the past. My goal is to stop that practice and focus on
the facts, not attack an individual’s ability to
comprehend.
In the case of Christians, the first thing to
consider when doing apologetics is our mandate to reconcile
people to Christ, no matter who they are.
2 Cor. 5:18-21 Now all these things are from
God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us
the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in
Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their
trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word
of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you
on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who
knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here for
further information. Ten Questions For those who Claim the "Supreme Beings" of the Nations are
the True God
by Sandy Simpson
I have some questions for those of the World
Christian Gathering of Indigenous People (WCGIP) adherents
such as Don Richardson, Daniel Kikawa,
Richard Twiss (deceased),
Terry LeBlanc, Danny Lehman, Aloha KeAkua, YWAM as well as many in the
Emergent Church (EC) ... the questions arise from their
claim that the "supreme beings" of the nations are all the
True God, YHWH, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
You can read more on this subject in our book "Idolatry In Their Hearts" or in the WCGIP
section of my site.
My main
question for them is this: When did ANY of the Patriarchs
and Prophets in the Old Testament and the Apostles or Jesus
Christ in the New Testament EVER claim that the "supreme
beings" of the nations were Elohim/YHWH,
the one True God? Let's look at some examples in the
form of questions and you can check out the source links as
well.
10 Questions
is available is now available in booklet format. You
can order here or at Lighthouse Trails here.
$1.95
per copy, bulk orders get a discount.
Go here
for further information. Real Revival by Sandy Simpson
Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and return,
so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times
of refreshing may come from the presence of the
Lord;
There has been so much hype of "revival" in
our modern day that it is easy to forget the true biblical
criteria and definition of revival. Revival cannot be
brought about by signs and wonders or "laying" on of hands
to transfer apostolic or prophetic "anointings". In fact
there is no such thing in the Bible.The Biblical criterion
for revival has, as a precondition, repentance. The word
"refreshing" is also defined as "revive".
I received a letter from Peter Popoff. This
infamous televangelist, in the past, was found to be
guilty of wearing an earpiece so that his accomplices in
his sound booth could feed him personal information on
people in his audience while he was claiming to get
personal messages directly from God. This letter
proves that, not only is he back as a regular on TV, he is
also back to his old tricks.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here for further
information. Occult Practices in the
Churches How the occult has been fully
integrated into many Christian lives and fellowships by Sandy Simpson
The Bible is quite clear about occult
practices.Neither Israel nor the Church
is to have anything to do with the way the world tries to gain
secret knowledge.The Gnostics were and
are known for promoting new revelation that is either loosely
tied to Scripture taken out ofcontext or not at all.The
Israelites seeking information from the dead or in omens were
judged harshly by the Lord who had warned them numerous times
to stay away from that stuff.
Yet due to the influences of
heretical teachers in the New Apostolic Reformation, Word of
Faith, Emergent Church, and the New
Age many have been successful in getting lots of churches and
denominations into occult practices that have been thinly
disguised as “Christian�?.Many of those
who follow these people, I’m sure, have
no idea how far they have strayed into the occult.
First I want to give the dictionary
definitions and then Biblical warnings against these
practices.Then I will give examples in
the churches taken mainly from the ElijahList
e-newsletter.
List of Practices Detestable To God
Deuteronomy 18:9-12 “When you
enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall
not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son
or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses
divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who
interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell,
or a medium, or a spiritist,
or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these
things is detestable to the Lord; and
because of these detestable things
the Lord your God will drive them out before you.
Isaiah
8:19When
they say to you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and
mutter,�? should not a peopleconsult
their God?Should
theyconsultthe dead on behalf of the
living?
Using
the
above list from Deuteronomy and Isaiah, let’s take a look at
each individual practice.
New
Important Book! Dominionism! How Unbiblical Action Can Change The
Churches by Dr. Orrel Steinkamp & Sandy
Simpson
Preface
By Sandy Simpson
The title and cover art of this work are a play
off of the book by C. Peter Wagner entitled “"Dominion! How
Kingdom Action Can Change The World". In contrast to
this specious claim we have titled this book “Dominionism! How
Unbiblical Action Can Change The Churches�?. We think
that is far more in keeping with what we will present in this
series of articles and essays on the subject of Kingdom
Now/Dominionism.
Indeed, many churches have already been changed
by accepting the false teachings that constitute
Dominionism. This started decades ago under Reformed
Reconstrucionism and Latter Rain theology, but even before
that in the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). The attempt of
Constantine to protect Christians from being persecuted, since
he claimed he had become one of them, turned out to begin a
journey in syncretism and Dominion. It wasn’t long
before corrupt church officials began to try to seize power
all over Europe and beyond as the “Holy Roman Empire�?.
The Reformation itself was a reaction to the lengths to which
the RCC had gone to take control over the Scriptures, the
nations, the kingdoms, and the people for financial
gain. They sold indulgences, promising those who came up
with enough money a much shorter time in Purgatory.
Those same ploys are being used today on what has been loosely
called “Christian television�? by the sale of trinkets and
promises of healing, financial gain and even salvation.
These ideas all coalesce in Dominionism.
If it were true that the Church needs to take over the planet,
then we would be seeing the unstoppable plans of God’s
physical Kingdom unfolding. But we do not. All we
see are failed prophecies, empty edicts and declarations
coming from false apostles and false prophets. They love
to fool Christians with talk of the “kingdom�? when it is
clear they are talking about a different “kingdom�?; a Kingdom
Now not a Kingdom come. Jesus taught us to pray: “Thy
Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven�?. The implication is that we are to be about
building His spiritual Kingdom while praying for and expecting
His physical Kingdom to come. The only way we can do
that is to continue in the Great Commission till He comes, not
attempt to rule where God has not given the Church the
authority to rule. Jesus will do that when He returns.
If we go off on the tangent the Dominionists want us to go, we
will not only miss out on the blessings of His Kingdom to
come, but may well be deserving of judgment.
This book is online and available as a download
at this time for $15. The
printed books are now here! They are $20.
each plus s/h
Go here for
further information.
Seeds, Soil & Fruit by Sandy Simpson
Matt. 13:38-39 The field is the world,
and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The
weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows
them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age,
and the harvesters are angels. Matthew 7:17 Likewise every good tree
bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Original sin is the bad seed in everyone.
We all start with a bad seed.
Jer. 17:9 The heart is deceitful
above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand
it? Rom. 3:23 for all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God, Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered
the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this
way death came to all men, because all sinned
We need to have the bad seed destroyed and
replaced with good seed.
Gal. 5:24 Those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its
passions and desires. Rom. 6:6 For we know that our old
self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be
done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to
sin 1 Pet. 1:23 For you have been born again,
not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through
the living and enduring word of God.
The good seed is the Word, the Gospel.
Luke 8:11 "This is the meaning of the
parable: The seed is the word of God. 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will
continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he
cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Bad seeds are from the enemy and are full of
false doctrine and a false gospel.
Matt. 13:38-39 The field is the world,
and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The
weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows
them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age,
and the harvesters are angels.
Will the Real Blasphemers Please Stand
Up? by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
This subject is one so serious that I do it
with great fear and trepidation. Nonetheless, because I get so
many e-mails accusing me and other Bereans of blasphemy, among
other serious charges, I felt it was necessary to clear up
some issues on this topic. Because of my stand for the truth
of God's Word juxtaposed against all the false teaching that
is going on today, I think it is important to do a quick study
on what blasphemy is actually all about from a biblical
standpoint. There are many references to blasphemy in
the Bible and from them we can find out how and why that term
was used.
You will see that the word "blasphemy" in the
Scriptures is the very definition of what the false teachers
and false prophets are doing today!
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here
for further information. "Glitter Christians" by Sandy Simpson
This is a name I came up with for people
attending and teaching at Oral Roberts University in the
70s. Even back then I had come to realize that their way
of representing Christianity was not in line with the
Scriptures. At that time I didn’t know that Oral Roberts
was carrying on the Word of Faith traditions of New Thought
practitioners such as Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Essex
Kenyan, Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuler, and many other
false teachers of the time. Though I didn’t know
anything about Word of Faith or New Thought then I knew that
the way they were representing Christianity was just not right
somehow. Their desire to portray Christians as rich,
beautiful, healthy, perfect, and virtually sinless (holiness)
went directly against the example of Jesus, the Apostles and
the early church.
Studies in Worldview MP3 CD click below to order for $25. plus s/h
Studies in Worldview MP3 DVD click below to order for $25. plus s/h Screwtape Legacy by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
The book by C.S. Lewis called "Screwtape
Letters" was a clever idea in exposing a number of tactics of
the enemy. Those principles are still at work today in
many churches. Following is a list of some of the things
the enemy wants to see in churches and Christians in order to
bring them down.
Bradford Pear Christianity by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
I was driving along and noticing that spring
has sprung here in North Carolina. One of the first trees to
bloom is the Bradford Pear. I began to notice how that tree
has proliferated almost everywhere and then my wife looked up
the information on this tree on the web. As she began to read
the facts about this tree and its proliferation I began to see
an allegorical parallel to what is going on in much of
Christendom. But before I get into what the Bradford Pear can
show us about the churches, I need to present the facts about
the tree.
The Lord's Prayer, Our Prayer by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
Matt.
6:9-13 This, then, is how you should pray: "Our
Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom
come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give
us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
This model prayer
that Jesus taught the disciples to pray contains many
important precepts. It should probably be called "The
Disciple's Prayer". It starts with a very important
concept in the first verse.
The Fallacious Arguments of
Neo-Universalists by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
The new Universalists are not as vocal about
their Universalism ideas but are far more deadly to the
Church as they are not rejected like classic Universalists
were decades ago. The new Universalists would include
Emerging Church leaders like Brian McLaren, Leonard Sweet,
Spencer Burke, Alan Jones and others like Wycliffe, Society
of Biblical Literature, World Christian Gathering of
Indigenous Peoples, Richard Twiss, Daniel Kikawa, Terry
LeBlanc, Rick Warren, Henry Nowen, YWAM, Tony Campolo,
Robert Schuller, George Otis Jr., and even Billy Graham.
The future of apologetics and
discernment ministries by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
I admit that I am very
skeptical about the future of discernment and apologetics
ministries. I don't see the next generation coming up to
replace those who have stood for the truth for so long.
Fortunately many apologists have gone to be with the Lord but
who will replace them? I don't see replacements coming up who
will take the place of those who have been fighting the fight
the years. I run a web site where I collect articles and
materials from all over the world and present them in a sort
of Reader's Digest format so that people can come to one place
to get the latest information on heresies in the churches as
well as research past ones. What I've seen in the last couple
of years is that the production of regular materials is
declining to the point where it's becoming difficult to find
one article for my site to post every day. Of course I write
my own articles but don't have enough time to write an article
on a daily basis. I am very concerned because of the tsunami
of false ideas from the enemy in the churches. At the same
time, unfortunately, I see a lot of younger people who don't
even recognize anymore that something is wrong.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
You can also view this DVD online here.
Go here for
more information.
Church History & The Core Doctrines by Sandy Simpson
This 4-DVD set is a combination of a condensed
study on Church History and the Discernment Toolkit series which
deals with the core doctrines of the Church and how to use them
to discern error. The Church History DVD takes a different
approach to Church History in that it does not celebrate the
Catholic Church but rather exposes it as false
Christianity. It covers World religions, false
Christianity and finally a study of the true remnant Church
through history following the story of the many martyrs who
stood up for true Biblical faith.
The "Weight of Glory" by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (KJV)
This is both an incredible source of hope
for Christians who are downtrodden, and a source of
escalating heresy in many churches.It is critical that we
understand what Paul was talking about when he wrote the
phrase “weight of glory�?.Jacob Prasch has repeated this
phrase in his teachings over the years … “A text, out of
context, in isolation from co-text is always a pre-text."A
huge problem today is that individuals and movements tend to
yank verses out of their context and build a cult of heresy
around them.This is called eisegesis or plugging your own
ideas into the Scriptures instead of exegesis, gaining
understanding and interpretation of the Bible by studying it
in context and in the scope of the whole written Word.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here for further
information. Did God Put "Eternity In Their Hearts" or "The World In Their Hearts"? by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
In the introduction to Mike Oppenheimer's
and my book "Idolatry In Thier Hearts" I exposed the fact
that Don Richardson pulled the phrase "Eternity In Thier
Hearts" to use as his book title from it's context in Ecc.
3:11. He did this to support his thesis, which
actually contradicts the second part of that verse, where it
states that man cannot fathom what God has done. Richardson,
rather, sets forth what has become the foundation for the
false teachings of the WCGIP, YWAM, a number of Bible
translation societies and the Emerging Church ... the
propostion that men from Gentile cultures have always been
seeking God and that Gentile cultures were already
worshipping the true God before missionaries came with the
Gospel.
But as I further investigated this verse I
found that Richardson even ignored the true meaning of the
FIRST half of the verse in favor of a few translations that
use the phrase "eternity in their hearts".
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here for
further information.
Christians who “turn away�? by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
Jeremiah 3:10-11 And yet for all this
her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her
whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. And the LORD said
unto me, “The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more
than treacherous Judah.�? (KJV) Israel had turned away from
the Lord and had gone after the gods of Canaan, namely
Baal and Asherah. Because Israel had
prostituted herself with false gods in worshipping the
polytheistic gods that started at Babel, God had declared He
was divorcing Israel and would send them into exile until they
again returned to the true God. But Judah prided itself in
doing what God had commended as they had Jerusalem and the
Temple. They disdained Israel for setting up altars to
Baal and Asherah poles on high hills. Yet God was not
fooled by Judah’s pretence. In the KJV it says they were
not worshipping God with their whole heart but
“feignedly�?.
Prophets for profit by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
2 Cor. 2:17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle
the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we
speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
There are many false teachers on TV these days
who peddle the word of God for profit. They make
promises of healing that do not come true by claiming if they
are given a financial gift the person will receive healing and
riches. When what they promised does not happen the
person is blamed that they did not have enough faith. This
often destroys the faith of people who fall into the traps of
these snake oil salesmen. I have no problem with people
charging for their materials if they cost to be produced, even
though it is hoped that when a person cannot afford to pay for
books and DVDs they will receive them free of charge.
But the charges levied on people for conferences and speaking
engagements is often excessive. A minister of God can
ask for support and deserves it if they are being diligent in
their study and proclamation of the Word. But
experiences and feelings often come with a price today and
that is not right.
"Mistake" or "Sin"? by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
Today we often hear the word "mistake"
coming from pulpits, and especially in defense of false
teaching and false prophesy. "Cut him some
slack! He just made some mistakes". "We all make
mistakes, so don't judge lest you be judged." We even
hear the word "mistakes" being substituted for the word
"sin" in many presentations of what I have termed "Gospel
Lite" today. So is it proper to substitute the word
"mistake" for the word "sin"? We'll look at the
problem of one word "mistakenly" being used for the
other.
Holy Ghost IGNORED! by Sandy Simpson
This 3-DVD set is a message based on this
movie review.
"Holy Ghost Reborn" is the second film in
the "Holy Ghost" series released by Bethel Church in
Redding, CA. Tim Wirth and I reviewed the first "Holy
Ghost" film and that review is freely available on YouTube
here:
I am sorry to say this but Bethel is clearly
a cult of Christianity holding to most of the teachings of
the Latter Rain and Word of Faith. They have
demonstrated repeatedly a manipulative atmosphere targeting
young people in particular while preaching rank
heresy. This new film is a continuation of those false
teachings and practices. I pray for the young people
in that church that they will come to know Jesus Christ as
their Savior and thus come to know the true Holy
Spirit.
This 3-DVD set is only $30. plus s/h. for
US.
Holy
Ghost
IGNORED! Part 4 - Addendum with Tim Wirth & Sandy
Simpson
This "Holy Ghost IGNORED! Part 4 - Addendum is
part of a 3-DVD series by Sandy Simpson reviewing the film
"Holy Ghost Reborn". This addendum features a number of false
teachings of Bethel Church in Redding, CA that I was not able
to include in the 3-Part series. Get
the whole thing! It is very important to see what has
become the "new" Christianity.
Servant Authority by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
The world system has always been a "top down"
structure, starting at the apex of the pyramid and going down
to the bottom. In kingdoms we have the king at the top, then
the princes, common people, slaves. In a democracy we have the
President at the top, the VP, the Sec. of State on down to the
citizens. In business we have the CEO at the top, upper
management, lower management, office workers and the
janitors. Unfortunately, sometime in the third century,
the church started to have a top down structure. This is also
when the church began to be in error. The church of Rome began
to have a "top down" structure that started with the pope,
then cardinals, then bishops, then priests, then the people.
Well, what about that? Eph 4:11 It was he who gave
some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, This
all sounds like a "top down" structure. But the problem is
that people have not seen an important fact about these gifts
of the Spirit -- man looks at function and title, God looks at
aim and goal! Read on. Eph. 4:12 to prepare God's
people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up. These are not gifts given for title or to give
people job descriptions. They are given because there are
people out there who need our help! The church needed the
Apostles. They were the ones who were the foundation of the
church. They were the ones who saw Jesus in the flesh and were
taught by Him personally. They wrote the New Testament
Scriptures. Though the gifts of apostle and prophet are
different today than in biblical times, the gift of
evangelism, pastoring, teaching and others are still the same.
A person who is an evangelist does not just have a title so he
can rule over people. The reason that he has the gift to be an
evangelist is so that he can tell others the good news. Why do
we have pastors? Are they supposed to rule the church and get
everyone to support them and bow to their demands? No. They
are to serve the church by helping people to come to a fuller
knowledge of Jesus Christ, to equip the saints to become more
like Jesus every day.
The true structure of Christianity is
symbolized as an inverted pyramid!
�Overtake you like a thief� by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you, brethren, are
not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a
thief; How serious will it be for a person to be overtaken
in �that day� like a thief overtakes a household when he
slips in and steals? Will it just be a surprise for
those who claim to be Christians who will get a slap on the
wrist by the Lord but still proceed to heaven? Will
they simply lose rewards but still gain the ultimate
reward? What is this darkness that the brethren are
not in? 1 Thessalonians 5:3-5 While they are
saying, �Peace and safety!� then destruction will come
upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with
child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren,
are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a
thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day.
We are not of night or of darkness;
Generic and Specific by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
In my article �Blasphemizing
the
Bible� I give a number of examples of how a lot of
modern Bible translation societies are putting the names of
�supreme beings� in the Bible in the place of God or YHWH. In
this article I'm going to examine two of the excuses they make
for making those substitutions in the Bible in many hundreds
of different languages today.
(1) They claim that God has many different
names and therefore they think they are justified in putting
the names of various gods of various cultures in Bibles, as
long as they are considered �supreme beings�.
(2) The second excuse they give is that the
names of the �gods� they are placing in the Bible are generic
terms for God, like the words �God�, �Theos�, �Dios� and
�Elohim�. By generic I mean a word that can be used for any
deity whether of the one true God or other false gods who
claim to be God.
I will go through both of these excuses and
show that they are both unbiblical, therefore the Bibles they
have translated with names of other gods in them, or names
they claim are generic, prove that they have �blasphemized�
those Bibles.
The Ugly Side of
Diaprax by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
There has been a concerted effort by the false
teachers from many movements inside the church such as Word of
Faith, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)/Latter Rain, World
Gathering on Indigenous People and Emerging Church among
others to diaprax people into thinking that the church has
been ineffective until they came along with their new and
improved ideas on how to take over the world. This is
always a feature of the Hegelian Dialectical process put into
action by praxis, thus diaprax. In order to form a new
paradigm or worldview the leadership of these movements must
vilify orthodox Biblical Christianity.
Deluded! by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
There are so many "Christian" leaders out there
that teach delusional teachings. These teaching are
dangerous and can lead a person to shipwreck their faith.
Healer? Heal Thyself! by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
A good subtitle for this article might be
"Practice What You Preach!" There is no doubt that God
can and does heal people today. But the false doctrines
of the Word-Faith Movement about "declaring" healing,
"name-it-and-claim-it", etc. have been proven to be lies by
the very people who sell this deceit. If you don't know
about where these famous "faith healers" go when they need
healing, you may be surprised. Why couldn't they heal
themselves when they purported to be able to heal others by
virtue of their superior faith? What happened to the
extraordinary faith they claimed to have, enough faith to heal
and be healed? Since they are the ones who taught that
all you have to do is claim the healing that is in the
Atonement (Is. 53:5) why did they not do so? Don't their
deaths prove that what they were preaching was a lie and
pragmatic witchcraft rather than biblical relality?
God�s Attitude toward the �Supreme
Beings� of the Nations by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
It is quite clear from Scripture that YHWH does
NOT consider the �supreme beings� of the nations to be
Himself, the One True God. This is in opposition to the
teachings of Don Richardson, Daniel Kikawa, Richard Twiss and
many others promoting the World Christian Gathering of
Indigenous People movement, Emergent Church and Liberal
theologies. I have proven this time and time again in my
articles on the subject but I am going to consolidate the
information from the Bible in this article by studying the
false gods named in the Bible. I am sure I will not be
able to cover every instance of supreme beings mentioned in
the Bible but I (1) want to deal with some of the major ones
(2) show you where they are found in the Word, and (3) prove
that they were the �supreme beings� of those nations named by
the patriarchs, prophets and Apostles and that they were not
monotheistic gods but polytheistic in the tradition of Babel
where the false religion of polytheism first took root through
the worship of Nimrod and Semiramis.
You need to "nip it in the bud"! by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
I am writing this article to address a
subject that I have often observed. It is the fact
that if you do not get the leaven out of your church the
leaven will become the leadership.The Bible teaches quite
clearly that if you let the leaven in you will leaven the
whole lump.
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leavens
the whole lump of dough.
We see this often in the case of many
�Christian� movements that have allowed a small error to
exist in their churches and have not dealt with those
issues. It then ends up metastasizing into worse and
worse problems as time goes by.
The New Panentheistic "God" Of
Christendom by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
Now, I bet you read the title of this article
and thought I had misspelled the word "pantheism". Just
so that those of you who write to me advising me of words I
have misspelled in articles (and I do often) I want to tell
you that I am using the term "panentheism" as coined by Karl
C. F. Krause. You can read more about this word and
concept in an excellent book called "A
Time Of Departing" by Ray Yungen.
There is a new "God" being promoted in the
Third Wave, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and Word of Faith
movements whose teachers are regularly seen on TBN, Daystar,
SkyAngel, CBN and other "Christian" TV networks. Some of
those teachers even have, what would be considered, a fairly
typical statement of faith or doctrinal statement they
endorse. But by what they teach they end up promoting a
false unbiblical view of God, especially through their actions
and experiences. The whole phenomenon of "slain in the
spirit" and all the antics that go with it are brainwashing an
entire generation of Christians to put their faith in another
Jesus, another Spirit, another Gospel. This new "Jesus"
and "Holy Spirit" is clearly pantheistic or panentheistic in
nature. Though some of these teachers would claim to be
believing in the God who is One God in Three Persons, by what
they teach they deny the very revealed character of God from
Scripture.
What Should I Say? by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
booklet.
How do you answer an invitation to attend a
meeting where you know nothing about the speaker or what will
be done there? What happens if they want to announce the
meeting at your church and invite everyone? What do you say to
a person who tells you that you don�t have the Holy Spirit
even though you are a Christian? What should you do if you
think something is wrong, or your conscience is bothering you
about something that was said or done? The answer?
Go to the Scriptures!
The Bible has all the answers to your
questions. This little booklet is an attempt to deal with a
few of the typical statements you will hear from people who
have become involved in the Third Wave revival movement. By
�Third Wave� I am referring to teachers, �prophets� and any
meeting associated with the Toronto �Blessing�, Brownsville
Assemblies of God, Rodney Howard-Browne, Benny Hinn, Kenneth
Copeland, Rod Parsley, Marilyn Hickey, Joyce Meyers, Bethel
Church, Lakeland and many others who appear on the Trinity
Broadcasting Network and the 700 Club on TV.
Hopefully the statements and answers in this
booklet will set you off on an investigation of your own in
the Word. If you need help, and you have access to the
Internet, you can visit my web site called �Deception In The
Church� that deals with these issues and has the articles
mentioned in this booklet.
Luring People To Destruction By The Unscrupulous Use Of The
"Gospel" Message by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
Phil. 1:14-18
Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have
been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and
fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of
envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter
do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of
the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,
not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me
while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important
thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or
true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes,
and I will continue to rejoice,
If you see what I see in this passage, this
argument cannot be used for people like Benny Hinn, Kenneth
Copeland and the hundreds, even thousands of Third Wave
ministers today who are not merely envious and self ambitious,
but are also teaching outright false doctrine. Paul was not
talking about heretics in this statement, but "brothers in the
Lord" who preach the Gospel with wrong motives. Third Wave
teachers not only have wrong motives, they also have the wrong
message. This argument cannot be used for people like
Hinn, even if they manage to preach enough of the "Gospel" for
people to come to a saving knowledge of the Lord, because they
are also teaching and practicing heresy.
One of Satan�s Final Masquerades by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no
wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
Satan often disguises himself with the
purpose of deceiving people. One way in which I believe
he is putting on a masquerade is by appearing as �Mary� to
millions of people worldwide.
Attack Of The Enemy On The Churches by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
So much heresy is entering the churches these
days. As you would suspect, sometimes it is due to a
pastor attending a conference or reading a book and becoming
diapraxed with unbiblical ideas. He then starts to weave
those ideas into his messages and begins to invite speakers to
the church who expound on those ideas. Then when
confronted by someone in the church who has reservations about
the new stuff being taught, they are told to not talk about it
and just go along with the program. If that person does
not they are ostracized, slander behind their back, and often
told to leave (which is what they should do in any
case).
But my observation is that it is not only the
pastor who causes unbiblical changes to influence a
church. Often the pastor is blissfully unaware of
influences coming into his church. They often come in
through (1) the worship team (2) women�s groups (3) bookstore
(4) children�s programs (5) interdenominational prayer efforts
and (6) relief and mission organizations. If unchecked
this type of infiltration is much more subtle and can become
deeply rooted.
Marks Of False Religion by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you
captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to
the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles
of the world, rather than according to Christ.
In context Paul is especially addressing,
though perhaps not to the exclusion of other false religion,
what had become the false religion of the Pharisees and Jewish
leadership. There were many Jewish so-called
�Christians� making the rounds among the fledgling early
churches who were trying to get the Gentiles to come under the
Law from which Christ had purchased their freedom. John
Gill states this case well in his commentary.
Universalism in the World has Permeated the Church by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
The current fad of interfaith solidarity and
unity is simply a thin guise of inclusivism, Universalism
and pluralism.
Universalism is defined by Dictionary.com
as: The doctrine that emphasizes the universal fatherhood of
God and the final salvation of all souls. (Source)
Universalism is a religion and theology that generally holds
all persons and creatures are related to God or the divine
and will be reconciled to God. (Source)
Pluralism is defined as: The doctrine that
reality is composed of many ultimate substances. � The
belief that no single explanatory system or view of reality
can account for all the phenomena of life. (American
Heritage Dictionary, (Source)
Inclusivism is: "Inclusivism posits that
even though the work of Christ is the only means of
salvation, it does not follow that explicit knowledge of
Christ is necessary in order for one to be saved. In
contrast to pluralism, inclusivism agrees with exclusivism
in affirming the particularity of salvation in Jesus Christ.
But unlike exclusivism, inclusivism holds that an implicit
faith response to general revelation can be salvific. God
expects from man a response proportional to the light given.
Saving faith is not characterized so much by its cognitive
content as it is by its reverent quality." (Ken Keathley,
None Dare Call It Treason: Is an Inclusivist a Paul
Revere or a Benedict Arnold? (Ken Keathley, Assistant
Professor of Theology and Philosophy New Orleans Baptist
Theological Seminary, (Source)
We deal with these old heresies brought
forward to modernity, these ideas that all men have have a
relationship with God that will cause them to be able to
avoid judgement in our book on the teachings of the World
Gathering on Indigenous People movement called �Idolatry
In Their Hearts�. The idea that all men who
worship a �god� are worshipping the true God, YHWH, has
bubbled up to the very top of our societies and religions,
and even Christendoom, and should sound a warning alarm to
true Biblical Christianity. Instead, as usual in our
day, most Christians are asleep at the wheel while
Universalists claim that you can pray to a �god� like Allah
and be praying to the true Trinue God, YHWH. I also dealt
with the fact that Allah is not YHWH, both in our book and
in the article �Is Allah The Same
As YHWH?�.
What We Need Is A Reverse Paradigm
Shift! by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
I'm going to warn you now. I am going to
let you in on some information tonight that is going to
radically change your world view. You are likely going
to experience the beginnings of a reverse paradigm shift and
after tonight there will be no way to go back the way you
came. You will be faced with choices that you may never
have known you had. You will be faced with a new way of
looking at things that is going to cause you to rethink
everything that is being taught in the Emerging Latter Rain
churches. It is going to be radical because the basis
for this message doesn't come from Jesus Christ visiting my
room last night bodily, but from His holy written Word.
So buckle down your seat belts, you're likely in for a bumpy
ride!
Matt. 7:15-23 "Watch out
for false prophets. They come to you in sheep�s clothing,
but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you
will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes,
or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good
fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot
bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
"Not everyone who says to me, �Lord, Lord,� will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day,
�Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your
name drive out demons and perform many miracles?� Then I
will tell them plainly, �I never knew you. Away from me, you
evildoers!�
False Teachers Revisited by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
I often receive requests to present updated
false teachings and false prophecies by the myriad of heretics
out there. We do try to keep up with all the
latest. But I have to remind people that those we have
exposed as false on our site have not repented of what they
have already done in the past, which is why they are still on
our site. So what they are doing now has no relevance as
to whether or not they are now to be considered a true
Biblical teacher. If and when they repent, that is
renounce their false teachings and false prophecies, make
restitution to those they have deceived, and begin to teach
sound Biblical doctrine we will give you that
information. As of now NONE of the people we have
exposed have repented of their Latter Rain, Word of Faith
teachings, heretical practices or their false
prophecies. But in the interest of helping you to
respond to a person who inquires by saying: "Those articles
are old and you need newer materials" well, here is some newer
stuff you can add to the pile. For you and me this
really makes no difference, but for those who are living in
deception perhaps it might demolish one of their arguments
against the truth.
Testing The Spirits by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
Sometimes I really wonder why someone who
claims to be a Bible believing pastor, for instance, refuses
to listen to the truth. It frankly boggles my
mind. I don't know if it is as a result of the
postmodern paradigm or just that they have no love of the
truth left. I don't know how that can happen in a truly
regenerate person. You would think that the Holy Spirit
would confirm the truth to them, first in their conscience,
and finally through the written Word. But these days it
is a miracle if it gets that far. I don't know if their
conscience has been so seared that they don't hear the Spirit
or if they just don't want to know the truth because then they
would be responsible for it. I know that I cannot know
their motives or the reasons why they reject truth and refuse
to talk about false teaching, but I do know one thing: we are
called as true believers to test the spirits. We must do
this even if the result is not to our liking or befuddles us
as to the reasons.
1 John 4:1 Dear friends,
do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see
whether they are from God, because many false prophets have
gone out into the world.
Questions for Those Who Claim the
"Supreme Beings" Of the Nations Are the True God by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
I have some questions for those of the World
Christian Gathering of Indigenous People (WCGIP) adherents
such as Don Richardson, Daniel Kikawa, Richard Twiss
(deceased), Terry LeBlanc, Danny Lehman, Aloha Ke Akua, YWAM
as well as many in the Emergent Church (EC) ... the questions
arise from their claim that the "supreme beings" of the
nations are all the True God, YHWH, the God of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob. You can read more on this subject in our book
"Idolatry
In
Their Hearts" or in the WCGIP
section of my site. My main question for them is this: When
did ANY of the Patriarchs and Prophets in the Old Testament
and the Apostles or Jesus Christ in the New Testament EVER
claim that the "supreme beings" of the nations were
Elohim/YHWH, the one True God? Let's look at some
examples in the form of questions and you can check out the
source links as well.
How To Discern, Test & Judge
Rightly by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
In running a web
site with thousands of articles, 1-2 million hits per month
from all over the world, and hundreds of e-mails per week, I
have come to realize, with time, that there is a terrible
problem in Christendom today. The problem stems from an
existential subjective view of the world that has filtered
into the church from secular society, but also from the
teachings of heretical wolves who have taught an entire
generation of churchgoers completely unbiblical methods of
discernment or to get rid of any discernment altogether.
A house built on the rock will stand. The
Rock is God and in particular, Jesus Christ. Therefore
His written Word is the teachings of the His Holy Spirit and a
Rock we can depend on. Anyone who wants to prove
anything theologically, historically, scientifically or
anything else needs to start with correct information.
If you start with a faulty foundation, as you build your
arguments, they begin to fall apart because they are not
supported in God"s truth. If you want to build on a firm
foundation, you need to start the process by a careful study
of God"s Word in context of the verse and according to the
whole counsel of God"s Word. The Bible is the best
commentary on the Bible.
Karma (by any other name) by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
According to Wikipedia:
"Karma means action, work or deed; it also
refers to the principle of causality where intent and
actions of an individual influence the future of that
individual. Good intent and good deed contribute to
good karma and future happiness, while bad intent and bad
deed contribute to bad karma and future suffering.
Karma is closely associated with the idea of rebirth in some
schools of Asian religions. In these schools, karma in
the present affects one's future in the current life, as
well as the nature and quality of future lives - or, one's
samsara. With origins in ancient India, it is a key concept
in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Shintoism,
Ching Hai and others."(emphasis mine)
Mirram-Webster defines it this way:
the force created by a person's actions that
is believed in Hinduism and Buddhism to determine what that
person's next life will be like: the force created by a
person's actions that some people believe causes good or bad
things to happen to that person
His Name, The Only Name by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
Zechariah 14:9 NIV The LORD will be king
over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD,
and his name the only name.
The reason I wrote this article
based on Zech 14:9 is that I was reminded of how many
so-called Christians, who are influential in the churches, are
promoting the worship of God in the names of other gods.
Replacement Theology On Steroids by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
So, as you can see, the root of this
teaching is that Israel no longer holds the distinction of
being the tree from which the Root of David (Jesus-Rev. 5:5,
22:16) came. They are no longer the "natural branches"
(Israel-Rom. 11:21) on to which Gentile Christianity (the
wild shoots-Rom. 11:17 or wild branches-Rom. 11:24) are
grafted in (Rom. 11:17-24). According to Replacement
Theology, Christianity has now become its own branch apart
from Israel (the natural branch) that produced the Root and
all the promises of the Bible to Israel have been taken away
from them and given to the Gentile Church. This is why
you hear so many false teachers taking verses out of context
from the Old Testament and willy-nilly applying them to the
Gentile Church. This methodology has been going on for
decades in liberal churches and has been popularized by many
false teachers on TV. But the fact is that Replacement
Theology is utter false doctrine. It denies promises
made to Israel, some of which have already been fulfilled
and some which are yet to come to fruition. But when you add
the fact that the Inclusivist WCGIP proponents are now
saying that God planted hundreds of different trees,
cultures all over the world, that are not connected to the
natural branch, tree and Root, you have what can only be
termed Replacement Theology on steroids!
Those Who Do Not Lead Christians to
Maturity by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
The Scriptural definition of maturity is to
learn to discern truth from error so that the Christian will
no longer be double minded, blown about by every wind of
teaching and by the schemes of crafty people. But the
problem today is that so few Christian teachers are feeding
their flock's solid food. They are serving up milk and,
because of that, people are starving. Yet they often don't
even know they have been on a starvation diet. Amos 8:11
"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I
will send a famine through the land - not a famine of
food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the
words of the Lord."
"... and all liars" by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
Lying is a problem for all people (Ps.
116:11). We are all sinners (Rom. 3:23). Those of
us who are Christians are "sinners saved by grace" (Eph. 2:8)
indwelt by the Holy Spirit in our "new self" (Col. 3:10). But
we still live in our "old self" which we must "put off" (Eph.
4:20-25) by taking up our cross daily and following Christ
(Luke 9:23). The difference between unbelievers and
those who are truly born again is that believers no longer
"practice sin" (1 John 3:9, see my Bible study on 1
John!) They have the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11)
who convicts them when they lie (John 16:8). True believers
then repent (1 John 1:9) and go on to "practice righteousness"
(1 John 2:29) with the Lord's help. The unregenerate,
the false brothers, or those who have fallen away (Gal. 5:4,
Mark 4:17), practice lying. They practice a lifestyle of
lying because their consciences are seared (1 Tim. 4:2) and
the Holy Spirit, when convicting them, cannot break through
the hardness of their unrepentant hearts (Eph. 4:17-19, Heb.
3:13).
Four Books That the Enemy Has Used To
Corrupt Christianity by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
The four books that have changed the church by
giving an introduction to the false teachings of the New
Apostolic/Latter Rain (NAR), the Emerging
Church/Contemplative/Catholic Mysticism (EC), pragmatic Church
Growth (CG) methodologies of C. Peter Wagner, Robert Schuller
and Peter Drucker, and the teachings of the World Christian
Gathering on Indigenous People (WCGIP) are as follows:
Surprised by the Power of the Spirit by Jack
Deer, Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, Purpose
Driven Church by Rick Warren & Etnerity In Their Hearts by
Don Richardson.
These four books were widely read by
Christians from virtually every denominational background
before their ramifications and the movements they would spawn
were known. They lay error alongside truth so were
considered not to be a threat to churches. Therefore
these books then became part of the consciousness of many
Christians and churches, thereby laying the basis for the
introduction of the modern day false teachings of the NAR, EC,
CG and WCGIP that have become part of the landscape of
Christendom today.
Night Marchers and UFOs on the Big
Island by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
With the resurgence of the old religion of
Hawaii and the continual invocation of Pelé and other
"deities" for years in the secular culture and even in
churches with regards to worshipping 'Io, is it any wonder
that those beings are beginning to manifest again? In
a story called "Night
Marchers" on the Kawaihae site and in a YouTube
video on the same subject, eyewitnesses claim all
kinds of sightings that they think are the warriors,
ancestors and demi-gods of Hawaii coming back.
Interestingly the
first
book the Hawaiian Heritage site recommends in its
"Suggested Reading" list is "Perpetuated
in
Righteousness" by Daniel Kikawa that we reviewed in
our book "Idolatry
In
Their Hearts" by Sandy Simpson and Mike Oppenheimer.
Since Kikawa claims that 'Io is the True God and one that
the Hawaiians worshipped in secret, we have to wonder if
Kikawa also thinks 'Io is showing up in these night marches?
Since YWAM, Aloha Ke Akua and Hilo New Hope participated in
worshipping 'Io at the "edge of Hale-ma'uma'u Crater" it
sounds like they have all been inviting the old "gods" to
return to Hawaii.
"They Will Believe The Lie" by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
I am doing a Bible study right now on what I
would call "renewing our minds". It is based on this
verse:
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is
- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The only way to renew our minds is to believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, confess our sins, and be saved, then
to study the written Word and allow the indwelling Holy Spirit
to teach us. Our minds are corrupted by virtue of the
sin nature and what we have learned in life because our
filters are off. I gave an illustration of straining coconut
to make coconut milk. If you use a 1 inch screen
everything will pass through. Even if you use a quarter
inch screen you will get mostly coconut meat in your
milk. You have to use a fine screen in order to separate
the milk from the leftover. Our filters are off and the
first thing God begins to do is correct our worldview, because
if your worldview is off you will not understand God's
reality. We need to learn to see things from His
perspective. This is why I started this study by going
back to an original problem.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 The coming of the
lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He
will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and
wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that
wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish
because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For
this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they
will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned
who have not believed the truth but have delighted in
wickedness.
This has always been an interesting passage to
me for a few different reasons. What is "the lie" that
is talked about here in verse 9 and 11? What are the
ways that "wickedness deceives those who are perishing" and
how long has this been going on or does this only begin to
happen at the coming of the lawless one? In what way
does "the lie" cause those who do not believe the truth to
"delight in wickedness"?
Updated! The First Nations Movement Deceiving The Nations! 4-DVD Series Critical Missiological
Issue!
The "Indigenous People's" (IPM) or "First
Nations" movement is an unbiblical movement teaching heresies
and doctrines of demons. It is being spread worldwide by YWAM,
Don Richardson, John Dawson, Richard Twiss, Terry LeBlanc,
Daniel Kikawa and many other adherents. The IPM or World
Christian Gathering On Indigenous People is full of the false
teachings of the Third Wave, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR),
Word-Faith, Dominionism, Latter Rain and many other false
theological systems. But it does have it's own
distinctives that are driven by the works of Daniel Kikawa,
Richard Twiss, and Don Richardson in particular. They
are teaching Christians to "redeem" their cultures by
worshipping their former gods, pretending they are YHWH.
Go here for ordering
information. Only $10. per DVD or $35. for the 4-DVD set, plus
s/h. for US. The First Nations
Movement 4-DVD Set
The First Nations
Movement DVD 1 (1) Perpetuating Nations' Myths - Mike
Oppenheimer (2) 11 Reasons To Reject This Movement, Part 1
- Sandy Simpson The First Nations
Movement DVD 2 (1) The Fingerprints Of God? - Mike Oppenheimer (2) 11 Reasons To Reject This Movement, Part 2
- Sandy Simpson The First Nations
Movement DVD 3 (1) The New Indigenous "Christian" Religion -
Sandy Simpson (2) Did God Put Eternity In Their Hearts? -
Sandy Simpson (3) The Missionaries Brought A Foreign God -
Sandy Simpson (4) Catholic Syncretism - Sandy Simpson The First Nations
Movement DVD 4 (1) "Monotheism" In Ancient Cultures - Sandy
Simpson (2) The History Of The Knowledge Of God - Sandy
Simpson "Christians" Who Try To Poke Holes In
Sola Scriptura by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this article: "Christians"
Who Try To Poke Holes In Sola Scriptura
There are a number of the leadership of the
Emerging Church (EC) who do not believe that the Bible is
the highest authority for the Christian faith. Most do
not believe that the Bible is inerrant in the original
manuscripts and many do not acknowledge that the Bible is
our highest revelation. Yet this is a core doctrine
over which true believers and false brethren must separate.
Those who try to poke holes in Sola Scriptura make excuses
like (1) we need to reinterpret the Bible through the lens
of postmodern culture and religion (2) the Bible never uses
the words "Sola Scriptura" therefore it is not a Biblical
concept (3) there is new revelation for the church through
the Holy Spirit apart from what is written and the precepts
of the Bible and (4) the Bible just doesn't address our
postmodern situation therefore we cannot rely on it for the
truth and answers for our problems today. I will prove
that all the above arguments, and more, from EC leaders and
others is exactly what they are teaching. I will give
you quotes from their teachings, videos and books. The
postmodern church and its "movements" are abandoning Sola
Scriptura in their rush to be like the Roman Catholic
Church, which takes its authority from a mix of Scripture
and tradition.
"As a result the Church, to whom the
transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted,
"does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths
from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition
must be accepted and honored with EQUAL sentiments of
devotion and reverence." (Roman Catholic Catechism, Given
October 11, 1992, the thirtieth anniversary of the opening
of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, in the fourteenth
year of my Pontificate. Page 31).
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. per DVD plus s/h. for
US.
Updated DVD! The Question Of Dominion by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this article: The Question Of Dominion.
I am writing this article as an apologetic
against the Third Wave, Latter Rain, Word of Faith and
Reformed Theology teachings that the Church is to rise up
and take over the systems of government, businesses and
every other aspect of life. "See, the problem is, is that
Satan has had too much of his way in our society because he
has a government! And the only way to overthrow a
government is with a government. It won't happen
otherwise. So therefore the government of the church
has to get into place in the extended church just like we do
have it very well in place, we haven't reached our goal yet
..." (Transcript of C. Peter Wagner, Arise Prophetic
Conference, Gateway Church, San Jose, CA, 10-10-2004) Wagner
has substituted the "government of the church" for the
coming government of Jesus Christ in the Millennial
Kingdom. Wagner is "Kingdom Now" while the Bible
teaches "Kingdom Come". What I wanted to do with this
article is put the issue of dominion to rest by studying the
definition the Bible gives to dominion and ruling
authority. When we look at the subject we can easily
ascertain what is going on today and what God requires of
the Church.
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. per DVD plus s/h. for US.
Shepherd Or Hireling? by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on the article: "Shepherd
Or
Hireling?"
The Bible lays out the definitions of both
an overseer (under shepherd) and a hireling. John
10:11-13 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd
giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling,
and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the
wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf
catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling
fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the
sheep. (KJV) 1 Tim. 3:1-3 Here is a
trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an
overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be
above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate,
self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not
given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not
quarrelsome, not a lover of money. (NIV) Titus
1:7-13 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work,
he must be blameless, not overbearing, not quick-tempered,
not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing
dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves
what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and
disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message
as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by
sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. For there are
many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers,
especially those of the circumcision group. They must be
silenced, because they are ruining whole households by
teaching things they ought not to teach - and that for the
sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has
said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy
gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them
sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith. (NIV) A
hireling does not really care about being a watchman, but is
more concerned with protecting his reputation, position and
income. A true watchman will guard the flock against
wolves from within (Acts 20:30) and without (Acts 20:29) no
matter the cost to his reputation, position or income.
Following is a little quiz you can take to see if you are a
true Biblical under shepherd as a leader in your church, are
becoming a hireling, or are one now.
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Too many churches today are allowing music
to be used in their services that is not glorifying to the
Lord and can actually be a hindrance to the teaching of
sound doctrine. Pastors and leaders should be using their
leadership role to test what is being played and sung in
their churches. Though some are quick to test preaching and
teaching from their pulpits, many ignore the music being
used in the same services. This is a tragic mistake. Music
is a powerful medium. It is something that effects deeply
the body, mind and emotions. It is a proven fact that music
often stays with a person far longer than what is taught or
preached. Songs roam around in our heads, especially if the
melody appeals to us. What is often overlooked is the
serious impression music makes on people, and the teaching
they are getting over and over again as they allow the song
to repeat in their minds and on their lips. Music teaches
things much more subtly yet sometimes far more effectively.
That's why the lyrical content of music in the church, as
well as its effect on the spiritual lives of those who
perform and listen, should be vigorously examined by the
leaders of the church. This is a 2-DVD set.
Go here for
ordering information. Only $20. per 2-DVD set plus s/h. for
US.
2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves to
see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in
you - unless, of course, you fail the test?
People who call themselves followers of Christ
or "Christians" and claim they are born again must believe
certain things. If they do not then they fail the test
of faith. They can claim they are born again all they
want and "once saved, always saved" but if they fail the test
of faith there is no eternal security. Only God knows
who will be saved, from beginning to end, because of His
foreknowledge and omniscience (Rom. 8:29, 1 Pet. 1:2).
God did not make an arbitrary judgment about who would be
saved and who would not. His Spirit is given to those He
foreknew, when convicted of sin by His Holy Spirit, would
choose to believe and commit themselves to Jesus Christ.
We are not God and we do not have His omniscience.
Therefore, according to Paul, we must be sure our belief
system is in the right place once our eyes have been opened to
the Truth. I am not saying we do not have assurance of
salvation, but our assurance comes not only because of His
Atonement and promises of salvation but from our continuing in
the Faith, which is always the Biblical criteria. Those who
would be Bible teachers must teach according to the whole
counsel of God's Word. Let me be clear. There is
only one way to salvation. That is by grace alone
through faith alone in Christ alone. I will deal with a
few of those issues following, but it is important to
recognize that being saved is not just a matter of believing
that Jesus lived, or that He was a man, or simply giving
mental ascent to His existence in whatever form.
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
"Blasphemizing" The Bible by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
I am going to go over an article I wrote back
in 2006 in preparation for the book I wrote with Mike
Oppenheimer called 'Idolatry in Their Hearts'. This book
is an apologetic against the false teachings of the World
Christian Gathering on Indigenous People movement, the
Emerging Church and the New Apostolic Reformation which got
their ideas from the book "Eternity in Their Hearts" by Don
Richardson. At the time that book came out no one really
saw the dangerous ideas Richardson was promoting. All
they would have had to do was look at the two subtitles of
that book to understand the implications. The first
subtitle in the 1981 edition read: The Untold Story of
Christianity among Folk Religions of Ancient People.
Those who read this book found some interesting cross-cultural
ideas but apparently missed the false premise of the book
starting with the subtitle. How could Christianity be "among
folk religions" where the Gospel had not been preached (Rom.
10:14-15)? At that time Christians who read the book were
apparently satisfied that, though there was some questionable
material present, it made for an interesting discussion on how
to do cross-cultural ministry. The subtitle it has today,
which was first published in 1984, is as follows: Startling
Evidence of Belief in the One True God in Hundreds of Cultures
Throughout the World. This should have been a red flag
for many Christians but then, who reads subtitles? But
how could the "One True God" be known to Gentiles who did "not
know God".
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Resources For Pastors including "Good English Bible Translations" by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
I was talking with a pastor after a Wednesday
night service and he mentioned that I said I had done an
article comparing English Bible translations. He called
me up later and asked me to come back and present the contents
of that article I sent out in about 2002 to my mailing list
for the Pacific Waves Newsletter which, unfortunately, I can
no longer afford to publish and mail. However an archive
of past issues of that newsletter can be found here.
In that article I detailed a number of good and bad resources
for pastors including Bible translations, concordances,
commentaries, Bible dictionaries, etc. I present an
edited version of part of that article on this DVD,
particularly dealing with English Translations of the
Bible. Translation is a very detailed endeavor and
should only be undertaken by those with a proper education in
that subject and a sound doctrinal background. I read a
few books on that subject and it helped me understand the
complexities involved. Hebrew is a rich language so it
is hard to distill one Hebrew word down to one English
word. Greek is a very technical language and it is also
not easy to translate. This is why it is imperative to
use the good English translations out there for comparison
along with a good concordance and Bible dictionary.
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
A TALE OF TWO KINGDOMS Kingdom Now or Kingdom Come? by Sandy Simpson
This DVD is a message based on this
article.
There are two kingdoms being taught in many
churches today. Teaching about one of the kingdoms is on the
decline while the other is being promoted all over the
place. I am warning Christians that they need to check
out who is using the word "kingdom", the books they have been
reading and recommend on building "the kingdom", the people
they have been hanging out with at conferences, and what they
mean by "the kingdom".
Go here
for more information or click on the "Add To Cart"
below. Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
BIBLES STUDIES IN DISCERNMENT by Sandy Simpson
Bible studies in Galatians, Philippians,
Ephesians, Colossians, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Jude with a
focus on applying timeless discernment priciples to our modern
times.
Go here
for more information or click on the "Add To Cart"
below. The price is $18. per book plus s/h.
BIBLES STUDIES IN DISCERNMENT Companion CD! by Sandy Simpson
Contains the PDF text to the book BIBLE STUDIES
IN DISCERNMENT plus extra studies by Sandy & Juanita
Simpson covering many issues of apologetics and discernment.
Go here
for more information or click on the "Add To Cart"
below. The price is $10. per cd plus s/h.
A Whole Lot Of Wishful Thinking
These Days! by Sandy Simpson
This DVD series is a teaching based on this
article.
In this DVD series I want to detail a number
of beliefs people have these days that have no basis in
Scripture. I am going to roam all over the map, so to
speak, and try to give fairly short answers on a number of
topics and also give you useful links to articles that will
help you deal with any particular issue. It is truly
amazing how many false ideas people cling to without giving
a thought to what the Bible has to say on the subject.
Only $20. plus s/h. for US. Go here
for ordering details.
Signs Of Apostasy In The Churches
In The End Times by Sandy Simpson
This 2-DVD series is a teaching based on this
article.
There are many signs of the great Apostasy,
or falling away (2 Thes. 2:3) indicating we are living in
the end times (Mt. 24: 3-14) I am going to go through
some indications of the Apostasy in the churches as a follow
up to the signs of the times in the world.
Only $20. plus s/h. for US. Go here
for ordering details.
The Responsibilities of a Good Shepherd by Sandy Simpson
This CD is a message based on this
article.
Emerging Church CD & Free DVD All the links to
resources and articles we have on the Emerging Church on
one CD. by Sandy Simpson
(The Emerging Church only is downloadable!)
When you purchase the
"Resource Tools - Emerging Church" CD for $10. plus s/h you
will also receive a brand new free DVD called "The
Emerging Church" that features Gary Gilley, Ray
Yungen, Joanna Michaelson, Mike Oppenheimer and Sandy
Simpson.
From Church To Emerging Church DVD
Series by Sandy Simpson
The issue of the Emerging Church and it's
introduction into many churches and mission organizations has
reached a critical point. Many do not undersand what is
being leavened into churches by the EC leadership. Many
would be shocked to know their belief systems involve
Universalism, New Age, defense of postmodernism,
Interfaithism, and many other false doctrines. In order
to reach out to this generation the EC leadership is proposing
a whole new "map" to deal with what they perceive is a lack of
understanding on the part of the churches on how to
communicate. EC proponants believe the "scripture" for
today is evolving and must change in order to reach
postmoderns.
Go here for
ordering details on this 2-part DVD series!
Idolatry In Their Hearts Landmark Book! by Sandy Simpson &
Mike Oppenheimer
Does having eternity in your heart mean that you
know God and are His child? Could Gentile cultures understand
the Gospel from the stars? Did God create man's cultures? Has
God always been in the process of redeeming cultures from the
time of Babel by placing in them a true revelation of Himself?
Is there the worship of YHWH in all cultures and religions
through the names of supreme beings? Have all cultures
always had a way to make things right between them and God?
These questions and many more are answered in this book that
addresses the false teachings of The New Apostolic Reformation
regarding missiological methods as being carried out by many
agencies including the World Christian Gathering on Indigenous
People, YWAM, and many Bible societies.
The New Apostolic Reformation -
What is it and where is it going? Every Pastor Needs
This! by Bill
Randles, Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Jacob Prasch, Mike
Oppenheimer, Orrel Steinkamp, Gary Gilley, Dave Hunt, Sandy
Simpson and others.
This is a 6-DVD expose
of the NAR and it's leadership of C. Peter
Wagner, Cindy Jacobs, Chuck Peirce, Dutch Sheets, Bill Hamon,
Jack Deere and others.
Lessons In Forgiveness Great Study! by Sandy Simpson Through the years I
have been presented with many opportunities to forgive.
Sometimes the situation was so severe that it took me some
time to forgive and start the process of healing for
myself, and eventually for others. I learned that a
Christian needs to forgive other people even if they have
not repented of their sins. That can be really hard if we
let it be hard. But if we give our burdens over to the
Lord, He will carry them and that frees us up to treat
other people with love, compassion, and be in the right
frame of mind and heart to set them up for reconciliation
with Jesus Christ. That does not mean we tolerate their
sin. We simply forgive them for what they have done to us,
whether perceived or real, and move on to looking for ways
to redeem them. We can then present to them the "truth in
love" even when we have to rebuke them.
by Sandy Simpson was written to help
believers to realize the absolute necessity of growing to
maturity in Christ. Many churches are urging Christians to
push aside discernment in favor of experience. It is our
hope that this book will inspire many believers to fight
the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (2
Tim. 4:7).
The New Apostolic Reformation -
What is it and where is it going? Companion Book! by Sandy Simpson is now available in book form. This is the
DVD script plus commentary by Sandy Simpson. The commentary
of the DVD series is not in the book, but there are many
more quotes available than in the video series. Good
reference material. Also available on CD-ROM.
Letters To The Church Timely! by Sandy Simpson is a fitting manual for the Revelation
Christian. All the precepts are in the seven letters in
Revelation 1:9 - 3:22 to help us keep the faith, stay in
sound doctrine, and reach out to those who are perishing. I
hope and pray that this book will
help the reader to be an "overcomer".
DISCERNMENT TOOLKIT Demolish Arguments! by Sandy Simpson Want to be able to see your way through to
clear biblical discernment? Want a set of tools that will
allow you to disciple your loved ones so they will stand
firm in the Faith? Want to sort out many of the false
arguments and teachings that have invaded the churches? Then DISCERNMENT
TOOLKIT book is for
you!
DISCERNMENT TOOLKIT DVD Study Series! by Sandy Simpson is taken from the book but includes a lot of
footage of false teachers and false prophets. It covers the
core doctrines, how we can use them to test, and examples on
the DVD that can be paused for discussion. Also
includes a teacher guide and links to resources on the
web. This 3-DVD series is available now!
SPIRIT OF TRUTH OR SPIRIT OF ERROR? Important Video Information On Benny Hinn! by Sandy Simpson, Mike
Oppenheimer & Jacob Prasch
features tons of video
showing the teachings and prophecies of Benny Hinn.
This is a proven tool to keep people away from heresy.
THE EMPTY PULPIT Highly Recommended! by Mike Oppenheimer What is Christianity? What significance does
the cross have? Are there teachings that can wreck our
faith? We live in an age unlike any other in the history of
man. To follow the Lord among the unique challenges we must
understand Scripture and live by it. Available for $20-
includes shipping. Apologetics Coordination Team
HIGHLY recommends this book. It deals with many crucial
issues for the Church today.
Go here
to order the book by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason
Ministries, P.O. Box 860683, Wahiawa, HI 96786.
(2)New Age/Eastern
Mysticism In The Churchesby Sandy Simpson,
9/18/05 Within my lifetime there has been a monumental change in the
churches. In the last few decades New Age Eastern Mysticism and
Gnosticism has entered a majority of Christian churches. It
entered very slowly, like a frog in a pot. When the pot is
slowly brought to a boil with a live frog in the pot it has been
observed that he will not jump out because he does not feel the
changes in temperature until he is boiled to death. The "slow
boil" of New Age brainwashing in the churches started a long
time ago, but even in the last 20 years or so the changes are
stark. None of the New Age practices I will mention could be
found in most churches at that time, and would have been soundly
dismissed as unbiblical and heretical. Many will ask, "Where has
the New Age entered the churches?" All you have to do is think
about it a little and you will see that many churches have
adopted New Age teachings and ideas and "Christianized" them,
when none of them are biblical.
(3)THE
EMERGING
CHURCH - Revival or Return To Darkness?by Roger
Oakland, Understand The Times, 10/05 History reveals that Christian fads and trends come and go. It
seems that it is common for many pastors and church leaders to
constantly look for some new methodology, "new wave" or "new
thing" God is doing, "right now." We live at a period in
church history that is characterized by enthusiasm for methods
and means that facilitate church growth. Large churches are
commonly equated with successful pastors and successful church
growth methods. Whatever it takes to reach that objective, is
acceptable, we are told. Church growth has become the measuring
stick for successful Christianity.
(4)The
Emergent
Churchby Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries,
11/05
A series of articles on the Emerging Church.
(5) The
Emergent Church: A Dangerous Fad or Solid New Movement?
by Jan Markell, Olive Tree Ministries, Inc., 5/05 While the movement is ecumenical and attracts numbers and
particularly youthful followers, it hardly seems biblical when
so much involves the extra-biblical.
(6) The
Emerging/Emergent Church - and their use of "diaprax"
by Sandy Simpson, 11/28/05 The concept of the Emerging Church, as advertised worldwide in
books, the web and on TV by the likes of Brian Mclaren, Leonard
Sweet, Richard Foster, Dan Kimball, Rick Warren, Ken Blanchard
and a whole host of others, seeks to cater to the postmodern
mindset while using diaprax to achieve its goals. The
Hegelian Dialectic is used in concert with praxis (known as
"diaprax") to brainwash an entire generation into creating a new
hybrid Christianity. This new religion is full of Eastern
mysticism and Gnosticism, while systematically redefining the
teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostles and Prophets within a
subjectivist, existentialist worldview.
(7) Satan,
The First Postmodernist by Sandy Simpson,
12/1/05 This is an article written after giving further thought to the
definition of "postmodernism" given by the likes of
postmodernist Leonard Sweet and other Emerging Church promoters.
(9) Lowering
Standards
In Christ's Name by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries,
12/05 Let's stop here for a moment and
apply this text to our times of lowering standards in Christ
Name in favor of our quite irreverent seeker sensitive purpose
driven emerging "worship" so common today. I offer that, in
what might have begun as good intentions, we are now making
the exact same mistake that Uzzah made. Evangelical leaders
and pastors have decided for themselves that our Lord
understands how our arrogant and capricious culture doesn't
like "formal" worship, so we took it upon ourselves to make a
few changes.
(13) Series
Of Articles On the Emerging Church by Ken Silva,
Apprising Ministries, 1/06
Go to this web site to read a whole
continuing series on the Emerging Church.
(15) The
Transformation
of the Emerging Church by Ken Silva, Apprising
Ministries, 1/06 In this next series I will present
conclusive evidence that there are those in and around Emergent-US
who have found the emphasis on "Christian" mystic traditions-a
core doctrine of the theology of the Emergent Church-fertile
ground in which to plant neo-pagan spiritual elements
absolutely hostile to the historic Christian faith. Read Part
1, Part
2, Part
3 & Part
4.
(16) Emerging:
from
Tradition to Transition to Transformation by
Herescope, 1/31/06 In order to understand the
Leadership Network's involvement with the formation of an
Emergent Church movement, it is necessary to take a few posts
to explain the bigger picture. There is a much broader
historical and philosophical context in which to view this
"paradigm shift" to an "emerging" church.
(17) Emergent
"New
Breed" Leaders by Herescope, 2/2/06 One of the key tenets of the
Latter Rain cult is the concept of a "NEW BREED" or a "NEW
SEED" of elite super-Christians, the formation of a superior
race of young generation believers who will manifest great
power to conduct end-time signs and wonders and rule over the
Earth.
(18) A
GREAT Compromise by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason Ministries, 2/10/06
(19) A
How Can These Things Be? - Purpose Driven, Emergent,
Transformational, & New Age in the Churchby Scott MacIntyre,
Wood & Steel, 2005 Today's churches are full of men who have lost
sight of the fact that it is Jesus who builds the church"not
their ideas, plans, or abilities. Christian men who have
recognized their own abilities as leaders in the corporate
sense have mistakenly believed they are imminently qualified
to be pastors. It becomes a career move largely based upon
their own inventory of abilities and strengths.
(21) The
Emergent
Elijah by Dave Green, The Kingdom Come, 3/06 What if the Emergent Church crowd could re-write some of the
"meanie" parts of the Bible? What would it look like? The
following is an account from the story of Elijah & the
prophets of Baal. Much of the narrative is from actual
things Brian McLaren has written in his books (McLaren is one of
the main advocates of the "emergents").
(22) Evangelical
Leaders
Promote New Age and Eastern Spiritual Practices by
Lighthouse Trails In what appears to be a sweeping phenomenon, Christian leaders
are embracing practices and a new spirituality that borrows from
Eastern mysticism and New Age philosophy. The changes are taking
place worldwide and involve many of the most popular evangelical
leaders including Rick Warren, Brian McLaren, Richard Foster,
Tony Campolo, and Eugene Peterson.
(23) Contemplative
Christian
Wizardry by Steve Muse, Eastern Regional Watch,
3/22/06 Every example of prayer in the Bible has the individual that is
praying actively involved in the process, and praying to God
with words or tongues and/or asking a petition of God.
Never is there a mention of emptying our minds of all thought so
that we can achieve "divine union" with God.
(25) The
Emerging
Church by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things, April
2006
A series of articles on the Emerging Church. Read Part
1, Part
2 & Part
3.
(26) Think,
It's
Not Illegal...Yet by Ken Silva, May 15, 2006 Again I rise to warn the Church that what is going on through
the Devil's pagan practice of Contemplative/Centering Prayer
(transcendental meditation in Christian terminology) is that his
forces are marshaling an attempt to get you to shut down your
critical reasoning skills through an influx of Eastern
non-thinking. The short of it is they are actually spreading the
logical fallacy of a false analogy regarding so-called
"Christian" mysticism. Basically this is like comparing apples
with oranges, both are fruit but with differing distinguishing
characteristics that make each unique or dissimilar.
(27) Calvary
Chapel's
New Official Position Paper On The Emerging
Church/Contemplative Prayer by Calvary Chapel Costa
Mesa, 5/06
Pastor Chuck Smith has come out with the official Calvary Chapel
Outreach Fellowship Statement on the Emerging Church. This
is apparently in response to some in Calvary Chapels who are
teaching the false doctrines of the Emerging Church such as Chuck
Smith, Jr. and Danny Lehmann.
(28) Soaking
Prayer
And It's Connection To Contemplative, Reiki And The Occult
by Lighthouse Trails Research Project, 5/26/06
"Soaking prayer is a modern form of contemplative prayer ...
People put themselves in an attitude of stillness, focusing on
Jesus and open to the Holy Spirit but with no requests or agenda.
The aim is to be still in God?s presence, "waste time with
Jesus.". The Toronto church sees soaking prayer as one of the main
ways in which they encourage people to be open to the Holy
Spirit." (SOAKING PRAYER by Roger Harper)
(29) Yoga
and
Christianity Compatible? posted by Jim Bublitz, Slice
Of Laodicea, May 27, 2006 Here's an interesting email posted on the Lighthouse Trails
website. It should be of interest to the Emerging Church
"communities" that are integrating yoga into their services, and
for other churches that offer it as a midweek elective. The
email is from the Classical Yoga Hindu Academy.
(30) THOMAS
KEATING
ON CONTEMPLATIVE/CENTERING PRAYER by Ken Silva,
Apprising Ministries, 5/27/06 What you are about to see is the definition of
Contemplative/Centering Prayer, or what is actually
transcendental meditation lightly sprayed with Christian
terminology from a man universally known as an authority of this
practice. In his own book on so-called spiritual "practices and
disciplines" called The Sacred Way Emergent theologian Tony
Jones recommends a book called Open Mind, Open Heart (OMOH) by
Thomas Keating.
(32) Beth
Moore
Gives Thumbs Up to "Be Still" DVD by Lighthouse Trails
Research Project, Newsletter, 6/06 Beth Moore's statement of "apology" should be disregarded - new
information takes precedence. The Be Still DVD by Fox Home
Entertainment was just released in April. Featured speakers
include Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Max Lucado, Beth Moore
and many others. Shortly after the DVD was released, Ingrid
Schlueter of Slice of Laodicea spoke with Beth Moore and told
Moore that the DVD was promoting the mystical practice of
contemplative prayer. Within one hour, Moore issued a statement
to Slice of Laodicea and asked that they post it on their
website, which they did. However, there has been a growing
concern about her statement and the fact that Moore's ministry,
Living Proof Ministries, never placed the statement on their
website. Lighthouse Trails has now received emails from a number
of people who have sent us a new statement from Living Proof
Ministries. Because Living Proof is issuing this statement to
the public, we are making this available for all to read.
According to this recent email, Moore's original statement of
apology should now be disregarded. The statement clarified:
"[W]e believe that once you view the Be Still video you will
agree that there is no problem with its expression of Truth."
Living Proof is offering to send a free copy of the DVD to
anyone who receives their email statement and wishes to view the
DVD, saying that, "[I]t would be our privilege to do this for
you to assure you that there is no problem with Beth's
participation in the Be Still video."
(33) The
Emerging
Church: Another Road to Rome by Roger Oakland,
Understanding The Times, 6/06 A prayer station created for use during the Emerging Church
service at Capo Beach Calvary illustrates what Chuck Smith Jr.
means by allowing his congregation to "feel" and "know with the
heart and not with the brain." This prayer station was on
display during the month of April, 2005. Further, the prayer
station complete with candles, incense and icons featured an
instruction sheet to assist church attendees in how to pray with
an icon.
(34) Beth
Moore's Illicit Tent of Meeting by Bob DeWaay,
6/06 Recently, on Ingrid Schlueter's Web site Beth Moore denies that
she promotes approaches to prayer that have Eastern overtones.
The issue arose from her participation on the Be Still DVD which
has been critiqued on this site by Ingrid and then Brian Flynn.
Brian and I viewed a segment of Beth Moore on that DVD. We found
disconcerting her poor understanding of Exodus 33:7-11, the
passage she uses as her proof text. In her discussion of Moses'
tent of meeting she proposes that each believer can have their
own tent of meeting where they can go to have two way
conversations with God.
(35) Emerging
Interfaith
Compromise by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries,
6/06 Finally, as far as those in the other false religions such as
Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, you have already seen that the
Bible has told us in no uncertain terms these people are in
reality offering their worship and sacrifices to demons and not
to God. So what knowledge about the Lord could the true
Christian possibly acquire from them? The truth is that child of
God isn't to learn about our Creator from pagans, rather as an
ambassador of Christ, the job of the Christian is to proclaim
the Gospel of salvation to these lost people. And it most
cetrtainly is not to end up in Emergent Interfaith Compromise
with them.
(36) What's
Wrong
With Yoga, Especially Christian Yoga? by Cassandrah
Batya, June 21, 2006 Biblical Christians should start asking their own questions of
all churches and individuals that are promoting "Christian"
Yoga. Where is this practice in the Bible? Why is
this eastern pagan heresy being given a Christian title?
How does The Gospel of Christ fit into any of this? What
does light have to do with darkness?
(37) The
Emerging
Church by Roger Oakland, Understanding The Times,
6/22/06 For some years we have seen some dramatic changes in terms of
how the church has changed. While it is true Christianity must
be relevant in order to be effective, how far can we stray from
biblical standards and still be sound Christian witnesses of the
gospel?
(38) Emerging
Into
What? by Roger Oakland, Understanding The Times,
6/23/06 Rick Warren and others are saying we need to pay attention to
the emerging church. Things are changing, they say and the
"emerging church" has the answers for our generation. But what
will the emerging church emerge into? Could it be a form of
Christianity that embraces experience rather than God's Word?
(38) The
Kundalini Effect and Contemplative Prayer by Brian
Flynn, 6/06 On a pro-contemplative spirituality web site, I came across the
descriptions of those who had experienced the effect of
contemplative prayer. Some of this is very disturbing and should
be read with care.
(39) The
Kundalini
Connection: Evangelicals Embrace Energy Of The Serpent
excerpts from the new book "Yoga
And
The Body Of Christ" by Dave Hunt, The Berean Call,
Newsletter, July 2006 This entire discussion always brings us back to the most
fundamental fact about yoga. No matter what physical beneit
might be derived from the exercises themselves, yoga inevitably
involves Eastern meditation. And Eastern meditation, unlike
Western contemplation or reflection, accompanies an intentional
dissociation from our conscious minds. This shutting down of the
mind is, in fact, a total abdication of our God-given
responsibility that Jesus declared is the first and great
commandment: to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind
(Deuteronomy 6:5-6, Matthew 22:37). Thus, we are violating one
of the true God's most basic commandments every time we give our
minds over to the intentional "nothingness" of yoga and
associated "relaxation techniques."
(41) New Age
Pathways In The Church by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us
Reason Ministries, 7/06 People will always chase the new thing[s] down wherever they
are not holding to and practicing the old thing accurately-
God's eternal word. Ancient it may be, but it is the truth that
stands the test of time, to all cultures and all generations and
that is what our focus should be on.
(42) Thomas
Merton:
The Contemplative Dark Thread by Jackie Alnor,
Apostasy Alert, 7/06 It is remarkable that elements within the church today would
point to dead heretics such as Merton as a source for any kind
of spiritual truth. The man was truly demonized and corrupted
many undiscerning souls who no doubt are with him in hell to
this day.
(43) Christian
Yoga
Renamed Is Still Hinduby Subhas R. Tiwari, Hinduism
Today, 07/19/06
CAUTION: This article us by a Hindu master in yoga
philosophy. But it does show that Yoga can never be severed
from its roots in Kundalini Hinduism.
(44) Tony
Jones
Says by Rev. Ken Silva, July 22, 2006 "Tony Jones is the National Coordinator of Emergent. He talked
with RELEVANT
about the movement, its leaders and dispelled rumors about what
Emergent is really all about. A full profile of the emerging
church and Emergent was featured in the July/August issue."
(45) Emerging
Church
and Postmodern Spirituality Debate by Bob Dewaay,
Pastor of Twin City Fellowship, radio host of Critical Issues
Commentary vs. Doug Pagitt, author of "Church Re-Imagined: The
Spiritual Formation of People in Communities of Faith"
This is a PodCast of the event also available on CD.
(46) Focus
On
The Family Says OK Once Again To Contemplative Prayer
by Lighthouse Trails Research, 8/5/06 We find it incredible that Focus on the Family likens
contemplative prayer (which has roots in Hinduism and other
eastern religions) to attending church services, reading the
Bible, singing hymns and listening to sermons? This is a
preposterous statement. Has Focus on the Family slipped so far
down the contemplative spirituality slope that they do not at
all see this? How can they in any measure endorse the writings
of Richard Foster who teaches that anyone at all can be a
sanctuary for God by practicing contemplative prayer and who
says we should all without shame enroll in the school of
contemplative prayer? What a grievous time this is!
(47) Enemies
Of
The Cross by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries,
8/6/06 The above mentioned evangelical organizations are giving money
and support to, as well as publishing the books of, men
reversing the Reformation and openly denying the substitutionary
atonement of Jesus Christ before the world. Men and women, I ask
you: What else could we possibly call these but enemies of the
Cross? It truly is as my dear friend and brother in arms Cecil
Andrews of Take Heed Ministries has keenly observed: "I have
found over the years that what I would call the "shoots and
buds" of someone's "heresies" have a tendency to develop and
strengthen over time until they eventually "blossom fully.""No
one who denies the Son has the Father"
(48) Postmodernism
by Michael Penfold, Webtruth, 8/06 A new kind of language stalks the land, based on a widespread
contemporary ideology called postmodernism, the chief
characteristic of which is the rejection of absolute objective
truth. "What's true for you may not be true for me,"
encapsulates the postmodern idiom fairly well. Despite its
recent origin, postmodernism already dominates the media,
academia, politics and much of 'the church'. Statistics reveal
that a majority of young people in the West hold to the
following 'truth'; "There is no such thing as truth." A thing
may be cool, OK or workable, but to say it is 'true' implies
something else is 'false', a judgment call that assumes a
hierarchy of correctness - perish the thought.
(49) Laurie Beth
Jones' Four [Pagan] Elements of Success by Bob DeWaay,
Critical Issues Commentary, 8/11/06 Now, Laurie Beth Jones enters the market promoting yet another
version of temperament study: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. Using
these ancient pagan categories, she has developed her Path
Elements Profile (PEP) and sells the program to businesses. She
claims, "Insights surrounding PEP have helped save marriages,
unite families, discern career directions, and select everything
from jobs to spouses." (from her book The Four Elements of
Success).
(50) Emergent
Church:
Spencer Burke's Panentheism Emerges by Ken Silva,
Apprising Ministries, 8/11/06 Here is another example of just how far off the rails the
Ecumenical Church of Deceit actually is and why the deception of
the neo-liberal cult of the Emergent Church is going to have
catastrophic results upon the youth of our nation. Some of you
might remember an article I did here at Apprising Ministries
called The Emergent Road To Universalism which dealt with a
forthcoming book by Spencer Burke of the Emergent Ooze. Frankly
I dropped the story because I thought it was just too ridiculous
even by substandard Emergent standards.
(51) What
is
the New Age Movement? - A brief synopsis by Sarah
Leslie, Discernment Ministries Newsletter, September-October
2006 In the following excerpt you will learn how New Age leaders are
"working" the media in order to best position themselves and
their message. You will gain backstage information about how
publicity decisions are made, how leaders have learned to pull
back when their message is too controversial, and how they
patiently wait for a ripe opportunity to launch the next phase
of their agenda. The similarities to leading evangelicals, who
also manipulate public relations, will be quite evident.
(52) Unwinding
the
Labyrinth: A Christian walk ... away from God by
Brian Flynn, excerpt from Running Against the Wind, September 4,
2006 If you are a church pastor that promotes this practice or has
one installed in your church then I would say you should do one
of two things: either throw a rug over it and apologize to your
congregation or resign. If you lack the fundamentals of
understanding, the means of grace by which your flock can truly
draw closer to Him, then you are not qualified to pastor anyone.
(53) Assemblies
of
God: Committed to Spiritual Formation, Contemplative and
Emerging by Lighthouse Trails Research, 9/06 With all of the influence that contemplative/emerging is having
on AOG denomination, it is not surprising to find out that
Purpose Driven has also found its way into the movement (it too
is a big proponent of both contemplative and emerging). A search
on the AOG USA website produces over 600 entries for "Purpose
Driven."
(54) Dallas
Willard
- An Emergent Conspirator by Ken Silva, Apprising
Ministries, 9/18/06 The current issue of Christianity Today tells us Dallas Willard
"is on a quiet quest to subvert nominal Christianity." But with
the Reformation denying Spiritual Formation (aka Contemplative
Spirituality) espoused by Willard and his co-conspirator Living
Spiritual Teacher Richard Foster the truth is they are actually
on a quest to subvert true historic orthodox Christianity.
(55) Neo-Orthodoxy:
An
Emergent Overview by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon,
10/06 The following comes from Contemporary Theology""an overview of
theology over the last 50 years. It deals mainly with
pinpointing certain theological trends and the most influential
and well known movements of the day" by Dr. C. Matthew
McMahon. As you read through this you should be able to
see where the new evangelicalism has been heading. The views of
neo-orthodoxy are quite obvious within the three major pillars
of the Ecumenical Church of Deceit - the the Purpose Driven
Church, the Word Faith Church and most particularly the
neo-liberal cult of the Emergent Church.
(56) Meaningless
Offerings
and Christ's Return by Ken Silva, Apprising
Ministries, 10/16/06 My guess is that there are some who have come to be a bit
exasperated with me and are awaiting a thorough biblical
analysis of the neo-liberal cult of the Emergent Church within
the new evangelicalism. Some Christians hoping for Bible verses
with which to confront the Emergent, and the Emergent looking
for verses with which they can dispute. And this is one of the
important points I am making in this short piece. The so-called
"conversation" of the Emergent Church movement is not really
interested in dialogue because they have already decided
beforehand what they believe. In my experience with leaders and
pastors within Emergent Church I've yet to meet one who was
actually willing to truly consider an opposing view.
(57) "Christian"
Yoga by Roger Oakland, Understand The Times Radio
Commentary, 10/25/06 There are a number of people in the world today who believe
mankind is entering into a whole new era. The pathway to higher
consciousness, they say, is within the grasp of all those who
are willing to pursue it. Is this thinking here to stay, or is
it just a passing fad?
(58) Red
Moon
Rising: An Army for God with a "Violent Reaction" by
Lighthouse Trails Research, 10/19/06 While Greig's book and ministry may, at first glance, appear to
be a movement of prayer, research shows that both the book and
the movement are heavily influenced by contemplative
spirituality and New Age thought. And while youth around the
world are taking shifts (to pray) in Greig's boiler rooms
(prayer rooms), they may be getting into something entirely
different than biblical prayer. If your youth group is
considering incorporating Red Moon Rising and 24-7 Prayer into
their agenda, a second look may be worthwhile.
(59) Rob
Bell
Denies The Gospel by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries,
10/21/06 When I continue in Part Two I'll show you a bit more about the
social gospel which is being repainted by Emergent Hollow Men
like Rob Bell, who through their misunderstanding the true
nature of man are simply reimagining all over again the very
"Cult of Liberal Theology."
(60) The
Emerging
Church - Revival Or Return To Darkness? by Roger
Oakland, Understanding The Times, September 2006 History reveals that Christian fads and trends come and go. It
seems that it is common for many pastors and church leaders to
constantly look for some new methodology, "new wave" or "new
thing" God is doing, "right now." We live at a period in
church history that is characterized by enthusiasm for methods
and means that facilitate church growth. Large churches are
commonly equated with successful pastors and successful church
growth methods. Whatever it takes to reach that objective, is
acceptable, we are told. Church growth has become the measuring
stick for successful Christianity.
(61) What
Are
They Saying? by Lighthouse Trails Research,
11/03/06 Quotes from Emergent leaders.
(62) Ted
Haggard
Replacement (as President of the NAE) Promotes Contemplative
Spirituality and the Emerging Church by Lighthouse
Trails Research, 11/07/06 After the recent exposure of Ted Haggard, the National
Association of Evangelicals (NAE) has replaced Haggard with
interim president, Leith Anderson. Anderson is the pastor of
Wooddale Church in Minneapolis, which is the former church of
Lighthouse Trails author Brian Flynn, (author of Running Against
the Wind). Choosing Anderson for the NAE president may help to
speed up the infiltration of contemplative spirituality into the
evangelical church - Wooddale Church has been promoting it for
some time.
(63) A
Southern Baptist Pastor Investigates Emergent And
Contemplative Within The SBC (Southern Baptist Convention)
by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 11/14/06 As this progresses you will see that I have great reason for
concern that the influence of the Emergent Church and its core
doctrine of Contemplative Spirituality is indeed spreading
within the once conservative Southern Baptist Convention which
at last check still claims to be a Protestant denomination.
(64) Emergents
Help
Humanity Awaken to a New Spirituality by Slice Of
Laodicea, 12/11/06 (Note: this article is no longer online or
archived) Take some time on this New Spirituality book site. Study the
titles of the books and see how the mystical Jesus, the
experiential Jesus, the redefined Jesus, is the man of the hour.
Study the titles and see where things are headed. Some of these
titles would rest easily on the shelves of your Christian
bookstore like, Putting on the Mind of Christ. (It's not the
Christ of the Bible..) The church without discernment is being
actively seduced into this satanic deception of counterfeit
spirituality.
(65) How
to
Create an Emergent Movement by Herescope, 11/16/06 "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord
commandeth it not?" (Lamentations 3:37)
(66) WORDS
OF
ENCOURAGEMENT: THREE MEN OF GOD EXPOSE THE ROTTEN ROOT OF THE
"POSTMODERN" EMERGENT CHURCH by Ken Silva, Apprising
Ministries, 12/11/06 We simply must face facts here, evangelicalism has become a
thing “an idol“the way we "do church." And
because the Christian Church in America has been waffling on the
doctrines of grace for too long God has sent and allowed
deceptions into our midst. Not to mention extremely well placed
attacks by Satan e.g. the counterfeit Christianity of the new
cult of liberal theology the Emergent Church. And the Lord had
warned us“ For the time is come that judgment must
begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what
shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1
Peter 4:17, KJV).
(67) The
Church
Growth, Emerging Church - Daiprax Agenda - The Diabolical
Practices of 'Ministers' Across America Today by Dean
Gotcher, Authority Research, 12/12/06 We are not to be an offense to others, but in sharing God's
word with others, when it becomes an offense, it is not up to us
to water it down, candy coat it, or to change it?humanize it, to
make it acceptable. To behave in such a way is not only a praxis
of deceiving ourselves but also a praxis of taking pleasure in
deceiving others. The definition of the word offense is
"(skan-dal-id'-zo) to put a stumbling block or impediment in the
way, upon which another may trip and fall, to entice to sin, to
cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought
to trust and obey, to cause to fall away, to be offended in
one." Source: The Bible Collection 10.1.629 (c) 2006
(69) BIBLE
BUTCHERY
- How To Make God's Word Say Whatever You Like And Ignore What
God Said It Actually Says - The Cut & Paste
Hermeneutics Of Rick Warren and The Gnostic Interpretation
Of The Parables By Brian Maclaren & Peter Tsukahira
by Jacob Prasch, Moriel Ministries, 12/14/06 "Let Not Many Of You Be Teachers, For We Teachers Shall Be
Judged More Strictly Than the Rest" (James 3:1) This
warning The Holy Spirit gives through The Apostle James is
daunting. While we shall stand before the judgment seat of
Christ, those of us posing to teach God's Word to others will be
held more accountable than others, because teachers can most
easily mislead others. Being misled is one thing, but misleading
others - either being cognizant of the error, or teaching error
out of out own ignorance doesn't matter. In the secular world if
a non lawyer gives false legal advice he can mislead another
with serious consequences, or if a non-medic mutilates a sick or
injured person , it is unimportant if he or she were sincerely
trying to do good or not. If they really cared about the ones
they tried to help they would not have attempted to illegally
practice medicine or law, misrepresenting themselves as
qualified in a field they are not. Their acts are ones of
criminal fraud, and the law does not care about their professed
'good intentions'.
(70) Understanding
The
Emerging Church by Roger Oakland, Understanding the
Times, 12/06 Attempting to come up with a definitive explanation to describe
all that is happening in the Emerging Church movement is an
impossible task. Probably the best way to do this would be to
examine the numerous books that have been written on this topic
and come up with some general trends that seem to be consistent.
This series of programs will attempt to do this.
(71) How
to
Know When the Emerging Church Shows Signs of Emerging in Your
Church by Roger Oakland, Understanding The Times,
12/06 The world is changing. So is the Christian evangelical church.
There was a time - not that long ago - when the Bible was
considered to be the Word of God by the majority of evangelical
Christians. Now that we are well into the third millennium and
the post-modern, post-Christian era, the term evangelical can
mean almost anything. What has happened? Why is this happening
and what is the future for mainstream Christianity?
(73) Christian
Or
Christ "Follower" by Lighthouse Trails Research,
12/22/06 Christian or Christ-follower. It's a distinction that is being
made more and more today, and often the latter term, Christ
follower, is replacing the former term, Christian. Even many
Christian leaders are making the switch. But just what does it
mean? Emerging church leader, Erwin McManus says his "goal is to
destroy Christianity as a world religion and be a recatalyst for
the movement of Jesus Christ."
(74) Christian
Yoga:
Rooted in Hindu Occultism by Chris Lawson,
1/5/2007 Dear reader, the following article has been written in order to
convey information about the unbiblical practice of Christian
Yoga. Sadly, many professing Christians in the church are too
undiscerning to know any better. Even Hindu's recognize that
"Christian Yoga is still Hindu".
(75) Christianity
Today
Article Promotes Lectio Divina and Breath Prayers by
Lighthouse Trails Research, 1/19/07 In the current online edition of Christianity Today, an article
by contemplative proponent Keri Wyatt Kent is instructing on the
practice of lectio divina and breath prayers. As with most
contemplatives, Wyatt Kent says that her prayer time was filled
with too many "words," saying her time studying the Bible became
"stale." She then explains how she found the solution to the
dreariness of her spiritual life.
(70) Roman
Emergent
Matrix by Watcher's Lamp, 3/20/07 Folks who experienced the 40 Days of Purpose in their churches
or who have read the book, may not have noticed the embedded
references to Catholicism.
(71) A
Line Has Been Crossed ... No Turning Back? by
Lighthouse Trails Research, 3/30/07 Right before our very eyes mainstream Christendom is converging
with the New Age movement. In 2007, two events are scheduled,
and if they actually occur without a public outcry by Christian
leaders then we will have entered into a full-fledged paradigm
shift, and a line will have been crossed that will very likely
mean no turning back.
(72) The
Emerging
Civil War by Paul Proctor, Biblically Speaking,
NewsWithViews And you know what? It's working - because this Emergent leaven
is everywhere in Southern Baptist life today and almost no one
in SBC leadership and authority that I know of is resisting it -
at least not publicly.
(74) The
Emerging
Spiritual Revolution by Herescope, 4/17/07 In his blueprint for "the emerging spiritual revolution" (The
Emerging Order, p. 95), Jeremy Rifkin wrote about how to
manipulate the Charismatics to create a new Dominionist
worldview for science, economics and spirituality. This
worldview is New Age, representing a new world order created out
of the humus of Hermeticism. Rifkin suggested that the
Charismatics could provide the nonrational component, while the
evangelicals could work on the theological logistics of a "new
covenant vision and a new world view."
(75) AM/CRN
Exclusive:
Erwin McManus At Origins - The Experience 2007 by Ken
Silva, Apprising Ministries, 4/07
The Origins Conference (April 30-May 3), put on by cultural
architect, distinguished futurist and lead pastor for Mosaic Erwin
McManus is now underway. Origins is "an interactive experience
which mobilizes people to serve through the discovery of one's
uniqueness. Includes Gallup's StrengthsFinder, Myers Briggs Type
Indicator, and Character Matrix (based on Uprising by Erwin
McManus)."
(76) On
Tap-Have
Suds With Your Buds! - A "Ministry" of The Journey Church
by Sherry Neese, ApostasyAlert, May 31, 2007 The real kicker was an event for the men of the church called
"On Tap". The "requirement" for attending this group is to be
over 21 and "a person who wants to think or at least think about
thinking and have a beer and some suicide wings with other guys"
at a local restaurant. Great! The church is promoting alcohol
consumption as the manly thing to do. What kind of message is
this sending to the boys in the church?
(77) Is
Your
Church Doing Spiritual Formation? by Lighthouse Trails
Research, 6/11/07 Is your church involved in a Spiritual Formation program? If
so, you might want to ask the question, what does Spiritual
Formation look like? It's a fair question, and one, that if not
asked, could end up surprising you when your church changes in
ways you never imagined.
(78) Dan
Kimball
and the Emerging Church and Eastern Meditation by
Steve Muse, Eastern Regional Watch, 6/13/07 As I read Dan Kimball's book, The Emerging Church, I realized
the book opened up a Pandora's Box of concerns for what Kimball
was communicating to this new generation of churches about
vintage Christianity. Reading the book, I became impressed with
a very disturbing sense that Kimball is attempting to take
today's youth back into an experience-based relationship with
God much like the Catholic mystics have revealed to us through
their writings. And now through contemplative prayer and
contemplative spirituality we are to come into a deeper
relationship with God. On the Internet, countless sites promote
the Emerging Church experience with its myriad forms of worship
and prayer-and on most of these sites Kimball's book is heartily
promoted.
(79) Rob
Bell:
Hitting the road on a mission of "misplaced" faith by
Lighthouse Trails, 6/14/07 "A lot of people see Jesus as just for Christians but I keep
discovering that his teachings are really about what it means to
be human." - Rob Bell, Manchester Evening News (June 15, 2007).
According to a news report from Manchester Evening News
(Britain), emergent leader Rob Bell is "setting out on an
ambitious theatre tour of Britain with his message, Calling All
Peacemakers." As do most emergents, Bell believes in a
universal/interfaith religion where all one has to do is add
Jesus to their own religion - it isn't necessary to become a
Christian and identify with the body of Christ. One can remain a
Hindu, continue practicing Hindu rituals but just say they like
Jesus the best. This is what we call the new missiology, and its
evangelists include Rick Warren, Brian McLaren, and many other
emerging church proponents.
(80) Episcopal
Priest
says, "I am Both Muslim and Christian" -- That's OK with the
Emerging Church by Lighthouse Trails Research,
6/18/07 The June 17th headline in the Seattle Times newspaper reads, "I
Am Both Muslim and Christian." Janet Tu, religion reporter for
the Times has written the piece on an Episcopal priest named Ann
Holmes Redding. Redding has been a priest for more than 20
years, and she became Muslim 15 months ago. The article is her
coming-out-of-the-closet debut. Redding explains: "I am both
Muslim and Christian, just like I'm both an American of African
descent and a woman. I'm 100 percent both." Interestingly, the
article quotes Kurt Fredrickson, director of the doctor of
ministry program at the pro-contemplative/emerging Fuller
Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. Of Redding's choosing
to be both Muslim and Christian, Fredrickson seems to be opposed
to Redding's decision and states, "The most basic [question]
would be: What do you do with Jesus?" But there is a twist to
this story, and obviously, it's one the Seattle Times didn't
include in their own report. While Fuller Theological Seminary
and probably most evangelical institutions would say you can't
be both Muslim and Christian, in truth they are saying the
opposite every day. How you ask? Simply by promoting
contemplative and/or the emerging church, which countless
Christian organizations, ministries, schools and churches do
now.
(81) LifeWay's
Fitness
Expert Promotes Yoga - New Age Movement continues to Haunt
Southern Baptist Convention by Bud Press, Director,
Christian Research Service, June 29, 2007 For years, the Southern Baptist Convention (hereinafter SBC)
has warned Christians about the dangers of Yoga and the New Age
Movement. The SBC has developed articles, resolutions, and
Interfaith Evangelism Belief Bulletins warning against the New
Age Movement and Yoga. LifeWay Christian Stores, a division of
the SBC, removed Susan Bordenkircher's Yoga for Christians and
Brooke Boon's Holy Yoga from its main online bookstore. SBC
officials have spoken out against Yoga and other forms of the
New Age Movement. For decades, solid, Bible-based Christian
apologists and cult-evangelists have warned the body of Christ
about Yoga and the New Age Movement. God's word, the Bible,
warns about false teachers, worldly philosophies, strange
doctrines, and traditions of men, and commands Christians to
avoid them. But despite the warnings, LifeWay and its own
fitness expert, Branda Polk, promotes Yoga and encourages
Christians to participate in Yoga classes.
(82) Contextual
Theology
- Falling From Truth Through the Emerging Church by
Roger Oakland, Understand the Times, 7/24/07 In order for the emerging church to succeed, the Bible has to
be looked at through entirely different glasses, and
Christianity needs to be open to a new type of faith. Brian
McLaren calls this new faith a "generous orthodoxy."1 While such
an orthodoxy allows a smorgasbord of ideas to be proclaimed in
the name of Christ, many of these ideas are actually forbidden
and rejected by Scripture.
(83) Southern
Baptist
'Kids' Bowing To Yoga - The Facts, the Dangers, the Photos,
the Warnings by Bud Press, Director, Christian
Research Service, August 16, 2007 Introduction: Across the Western world, professing Christians
are participating in New Age practices such as contemplative
spirituality, labyrinth, and Yoga--all of which is preparing the
way for something darker and more sinister.
(84) Faith
Undone by Roger Oakland, Understanding The
Times, 8/07 Is the emerging church movement just another passing
fad, a more contemporary approach to church, or a bunch
of disillusioned young people looking for answers? In
fact, it is actually much broader and is influencing
Christianity to a significant degree. Grounded in a
centuries-old mystical approach, this movement is
powerful, yet highly deceptive, and it draws its energy
from practices and experiences that are foreign to
traditional evangelical Christianity. The path that the
emerging church is taking is leading right into the arms
of Roman Catholicism and ultimately to an interfaith
perspective that has prophetically profound
ramifications.
(85) Emerging
Arrogance by Herescope, 8/27/07 Daily we are inundated with a flood of evangelical literature
and e-mails and website postings that all indicate a crazy new
form of arrogance flaunted by Christian leaders. Much of this is
new doctrine -- under various guises, with inventive
interpretations that suit the need of the moment. Perhaps
nowhere is this most evident than in the new teachings on
so-called "servant leadership."
(89) Artificial
Milk
- Weaning Evangelicals Off The Word by T.A. McMahon,
The Berean Call, 2/07 Apostasy is rampant within the evangelical church today. At
least that's my perspective as one who has observed religious
trends and developments for three decades. Read Part
1,Part 2
& Part 3.
(90) End-time
Deception
in the Emerging Church by Prof. Johan Malan,
Middelburg, South Africa, 9/07 We are living in a time when increased pressure is exerted upon
all churches to fundamentally change their doctrines. The Bible
is considered less dogmatic since modern humanity is not
prepared to restrict its freedom by a narrow and literal
interpretation of Scripture. A biblical concept of God, an
evangelical doctrine of salvation and premillennial teachings on
end-time events are among the major casualties in the new
reformation which is currently under way. These tenets all stand
in the way of kingdom reforms aimed at ensuring a happy future
to a united humanity of all faiths. In the emerging postmodern
world, people regard themselves free to determine their own
values and beliefs. When their religious views differ
substantially from the Bible they merely discount biblical
teachings as having been written from the perspective of an
ancient world-view when people still believed in a devil and
hell, and also in a vindictive God who is intent on punishing
sin. In the postmodern world, people think in terms of new
paradigms which clash with a literal interpretation of
Scripture. Since religion is no longer determined by faith but
by subjective human reasoning, they simply deconstruct modern
and pre-modern beliefs, and substitute them with postmodern
views which emanate from their humanistic world-view.
(91) Christians
Are
Mixed Up - In Mysticism by Marsha West,
NewsWithViews.com, September 15, 2007 More and more of those who profess Christ are "experiencing
God" in ways that lands them smack dab in the middle of the New
Age movement. Read Part
1 and Part
2.
(92) Novelty and Change Will Lead Them
by Orrel Steinkamp,The Plumbline, Volume 12, No. 5, Sept/Oct
2007 There exist today hundreds of people in Christian think tanks
and agencies whose whole view of ministry is to promote and
induce cultural change into the church. It is called
contextualization or transformation. But transformation is
basically inducing change into the Christian church. Pastors who
are properly trained in transformation and contextualization
principles are known as transformational pastors. Pastors are
also called to be "change agents." For further reading on this
topic, please refer to my earlier newsletter, entitled
"Transformation Thinking for Dummies." The overriding feature of
seeker-sensitive and transformational activities is to change
the church to resemble the culture as closely as possible and
thereby insure survival and success in today's changing society.
There is more to it than outward appearances. Seeker-sensitive
churches low key their doctrinal statements, lest they scare
away the seekers. Although doctrinal stances do not officially
change, the week-by-week teaching exhibits the church as fellow
travelers in the culture. The process of transformation calls
not only for change but perpetual, ongoing change; in order to
entice an ever-~hanging seeker population. Forgotten entirely
these days, is the fact that God's people are meant to be a
leaven within the culture, a pocket of resistance to the foibles
and ethos of the flesh. However, I suspect there are still some
seekers left who expect to find something unique and noticeably
different at church than in the world at large.
(93) Emergent
Confusion by The Berean Call, 9/26/07 The emergent church is fond of quoting St. Francis regarding
his "take" on how one communicates the Gospel.
(94) Surrender
is
not an Option: An Evaluation of Emergent Epistemology
by David Kowalski, 9/29/07 While most leading Evangelical scholars have strongly opposed
the many unscriptural teachings found in the emerging church
movement, some popular Evangelical leaders have openly
befriended the movement and some Christian magazines have spoken
favorably of certain emergent books. This phenomenon may pass
with time. David Smith observes that when the theology of hope
first appeared in the 1960's "Many conservatives early in the
movement's life saw the theologians of hope as fellow
travelers"[38] due to certain outward similarities to
Evangelicalism. As conservatives became more familiar with the
substance of this movement's teachings they realized their first
impression had been wrong. Perhaps as more Evangelicals become
familiar with all of the teachings of the emerging church
movement and consider the serious implications of their theology
of surrender they will choose to disagree with the
sociologically based theology, morality, and spirituality which
the epistemology of this movement has birthed.
(95) The
Kingdom
of Emergent Theology - Part 1 by Gary Gilley, Think On
These Things, 9/07 Emergent kingdom theology, like its liberal postmillennial
predecessor, is based not so much on the observation of an
improving world but on feelings of desperation. McLaren admits
that many might see his kingdom views as a mere pipe dream, but
if that is so, "what do [we] have to look forward to if they are
right? Simply more of the same in human history"" But
truth does not emerge from groundless optimism or "what if"
desperation; it emerges from the Scriptures. What God says
about life now, the future and the kingdom is what
matters. In answer to McLaren's question, we have much to
look forward to, for Christ will one day bring His kingdom to
earth, at which time the very social and earthly issues that
concern emergent people will be corrected and made right.
But this kingdom will come through the power of Christ, not the
good deeds of men. It will come when He returns, not as a
prelude to it. It will not only remedy societal wrongs it
will usher in the world-wide righteousness and justice of
Christ. We have much to look forward to when the kingdom
comes, but it will come about because of God's actions, not
ours. It is right that we seek to correct social ills, but
our actions do not usher in Christ's kingdom. Read Part
1,Part
2 & Part
3.
(96) Mysticism
&
Global Mind Change - Shaping a New Civilization - Part 1
by Berit Kjos, Kjos Ministries, 10/04/07 Do you wonder why yoga, labyrinths and other meditational
practices have suddenly emerged in churches across
America? Or why "Christians" now use the old occult
formulas practiced by sorcerers, alchemists and "enlightened"
yogis (a combination of concentration, meditation, visualization
and mental projection) to invoke the presence of "God"?
This East-West synthesis didn't happen by chance. For several
decades, influential church leaders have been promoting a "new
way of thinking," a more experiential religion, an end to
"separatism," and an inclusive oneness that would fulfill their
vision of an earthly "Kingdom of God."
(97) The
Avalanche
of Spiritual Formation by Lighthouse Trails,
10/03/07 A move away from the truth of God's Word to a mystical form of
Christianity has infiltrated, to some degree, nearly all
evangelical denominations. Few Bible teachers saw this avalanche
coming. Now that it is underway, most do not realize it has even
happened.
(98) Todd
Friel
Interviews Doug Pagitt of the Emergent Church,
Reformed Voices blog, Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Listen to this interview with Emerging Church leader Doug Pagitt
to understand Pagitts view on hell, other religions, etc. It
it clear from this interview that Pagitt has little understanding
of the Bible and is trying to diaprax people with the heretical
views of the Emerging Church.
(99) Transcript
Of
Todd Friel And Doug Pagitt On WOTM Radio on Apprising
Ministries, 11/8/07
If you haven't seen the below Apprising Ministries would like to
point you to a post by Rob Willmann where he made the time to
transcribe the recent appearance on Way of the Master Radio by
Doug Pagitt, a leader in the neo-liberal cult of the Emergent
Church.
(100) Contemplative
Proponent
J. P. Moreland Says Christians Too Committed to Bibleby
Lighthouse Trails Research, 11/21/07 According to a Christianity Today article, Biola University
professor J.P. Moreland says evangelical Christians are too
committed to the Bible. His talk at a recent Evangelical
Theology Society meeting was titled "How Evangelicals Became
Over-Committed to the Bible and What Can Be Done About
It."
(103) Dumping
Sola
Scriptura by Herescope, 11/29/07 When evangelical leaders talk about a Second Reformation, they
mean reversing the tenets of the First Reformation. A stunning
example of this occurred recently when evangelical professor
J.P. Moreland blasted "over-commitment to the Bible" and neglect
of "work on broad cultural themes." If this is the current state
of apologetics in the evangelical world, then grievous times
have arrived.
(104) Contextualization
by Steve Camp, Camponthis, 12/15/07 Contextualization. It is the latest buzz word adopted by
emerging/emergent/missional adherents who want to be
contemporary and cool, yet biblical both at the same time
thinking they have found something new that will revolutionize
evangelism and redefine the church of the 21st century. This
missional arrogance has its roots in what is known as
Sociolinguistics. "It is the study of the effect of any and all
aspects of society, including cultural norms, expectations, and
context on the way language is used. Sociolinguistics overlaps
to a considerable degree with pragmatics."
(105) Warren
Smith
at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on The New Age and Emerging
Church, 1/29/08 Listen to Warren Smith's talk on The New Age and The Emerging
Church at the the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa last week online
here. Simply click on the link to his speech. We've been
astonished to find that Warren's previous Herescope posts about
Oprah Winfrey, Marianne Williamson and the Course in Miracles
have taken on a life of their own in cyberspace. Many people
around the country have been sending these posts to family and
friends and their loops. Praise the Lord for this important
warning getting out. For people desiring more information about
the false gospel in A Course in Miracles, Warren Smith's first
book The Light That Was Dark contains his fascinating testimony
about his personal experiences with this Course.
(106) Can a
pagan practice be Christianized? by Marsha West,
1/25/08 Is yoga just a way of reducing stress or is there more to it
than that? I mean, everyone's doing it so it has to be a good
thing"right? The short answer is that there's more to yoga than
meets the eye. So bear with me as I explain the reasons
practicing yoga "stretches traditional Christian boundaries" and
why Christians should avoid yoga and seek other alternatives.
(107) Evangelical
Mysticism? by T.A. McMahon, The Berean Call, February
1, 2008 I find myself increasingly grieved these days by what I see
taking place among those who profess to be evangelicals. I know
the term "evangelical" has undergone radical changes regarding
its meaning and practice. Yet when I use the term, I'm going by
a very simple definition: I'm referring to those who claim to
accept the Bible alone as their authority for knowing and
receiving God's way of salvation and for living their lives in a
way that is pleasing to Him.
(108) 5
Reasons Why the Emerging Church is Now Receding (Don't Bury
The Emerging Church, Yet!) by Roger Oakland,
Understanding The Times, 2/5/08 Trevin Wax's article titled "5 Reasons Why the Emerging Church
is Now Receding" posted February 5, 2008, asks some interesting
questions and raises some valid concerns with regard to the
Emerging Church. However, unfortunately Wax has drawn
conclusions that steer readers far from an accurate picture of
understanding the times from a biblical perspective and it is
necessary to sound the alarm.
(109) In
Defense
of Chuck Smith & Calvary Chapel, Dave Hunt and Roger
Oakland by Jacob J. Prasch, Moriel Ministries,
2/6/08 Moriel Ministries & Jacob Prasch take extreme exception to
the statement critical of Chuck Smith, various Calvary
Chapels, Roger Oakland and Dave Hunt by Richard Abanes of
Saddleback Church in reaction to their expressed position
regarding The Purpose Driven Agenda of Rick Warren.
(110) "Pragmatic Evangelicalism" Has
Peaked by Orrel Steinkamp, The Plumbline, Volume 13,
No. 1, January/February, 2008 "Something ... just happened in the evangelical community. For
most of a generation evangelicals have been romanced by the
'seeker-sensitive' movement spawned by Willow Creek Community
Church in Chicago. The guru of this movement is Bill Hybels. He
and others have been telling us for decades to throw out
everything we have previously thought and been taught about
church growth and replace it with a new paradigm, a new way to
do ministry... The size of the crowd rather than the depth of
heart determined success. If the crowd was large then surely God
was blessing the ministry. Churches were built by demographic
studies, professional strategists, marketing research, meeting
'felt needs' and sermons with these techniques. We were told
that preaching was out, relevance was in. Doctrine didn't matter
nearly as much as innovation. If it wasn't 'cutting edge' and
consumer friendly it was doomed. The mention of sin, salvation
and sanctification were taboo and replaced by Starbucks,
strategy and sensitivity.
(111) Rob
Bell
"Undefines" Holiness by Bob DeWaay, 2/14/08 In Velvet Elvis, Bell lists a number of transcendent
experiences that he claims overwhelmed him to be in awe of God.
The first one for Bell happened as a teenager at a concert
performed by Irish rock group U2, where he was "overwhelmed with
the word true."[i] These extraordinary experiences he also
describes as "holy" and "sacred." The problem is that his usage
has nothing to do with the Biblical meaning of the terms "holy"
or "or sacred."
(112) Emerging
Church
Leading Protestants Back To Rome by Mike Gendron,
Proclaiming The Gospel Ministries, 2/08 We have been receiving an increasing number of reports about
Protestants who are converting to Roman Catholicism. There is
now a series of three books which herald the testimonies of
former Protestant pastors who have found the broad way to Rome
more enticing and fulfilling. What is causing this growing
apostasy? Who is behind this reversal of the Reformation? Why
are so many Protestants being seduced by the piety of this false
religion? Many evangelicals are puzzled and are searching for
answers. Although it is disheartening and discouraging, we
should not be surprised because: "the Spirit explicitly says
that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying
attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Tim.
4:1).
(113) The
Death
Of Discernment In The Church by Mike Gendron,
Proclaiming The Gospel Ministries, 2/08 The critical issue in the Church today is the purity of the
Gospel. That alone is the rudder that must guide the Church
through stormy waters that have been stirred up by every wind of
doctrine. Take away the ability to discern objective truth and
churches turn into cafeterias serving whatever junk food people
want instead of the disciplined diet they need for spiritual
life and health. Without a steady diet of the whole counsel of
God, churches become entertainment centers for goats instead of
sanctuaries for the Shepherd's sheep (Mat. 25:32). Unregenerate
people, who are never exhorted to examine their faith, will
continue attending church to enjoy the music, entertainment and
"feel good" messages. Unless these people are confronted with
their sin, their need for a Savior and the eternal consequences
of a spurious faith, they are destined to hear these terrifying
words from Jesus: "'I never knew you; depart from Me" (Mat.
7:23).
(114) Christian
Yoga by Roger Oakland, Understanding The Times,
2/20/08 There are a number of people in the world today who believe
mankind is entering into a whole new era. The pathway to higher
consciousness, they say, is within the grasp of all those who
are willing to pursue it. Is this thinking here to stay, or is
it just a passing fad?
(115) Evangelical
Mysticism? by T.A.McMahon, The Berean Call, February
1, 2008 I find myself increasingly grieved these days by what I see
taking place among those who profess to be evangelicals. I know
the term "evangelical" has undergone radical changes regarding
its meaning and practice. Yet when I use the term, I'm going by
a very simple definition: I'm referring to those who claim to
accept the Bible alone as their authority for knowing and
receiving God's way of salvation and for living their lives in a
way that is pleasing to Him.
(116) Ancient-Future
Heresies by McMahon, T.A., The Berean Call, February
28, 2008 We desperately need to heed the words of Jesus in Revelation
chapters 2-3 that give critical warnings to churches that
profess to be His.
(118) Potentialy
Harmful,
and Dangerous Spiritual PracticesResearched and
Compiled by Chris Lawson, Spiritual Research Network,
3/27/08 Please note that the SRN staff issues a warning about the
following topics because they are either or all of the
following:: (1) Founded on occult principles; (2) Dangerous
forms of occult and mystical practices; (3) Based on the
writings and beliefs associated with either paganism, spiritism,
occultism or mysticism; (4) Mystical and supernaturalistic
health related methods.
(119)Does
Rick
Warren Have Reservations about the Emerging Church? by
Lighthouse Trails, 3/29/08 If Rick Warren has reservations about some things in the
emerging church, those reservations are not about the mystical
components of this movement.
(120) Confession
is
Good for the Soul by Jackie Alnor, Apostasy Alert,
March 31, 2008 When I see Bible-believing churches adopt Roman Catholic
traditions, such as the liturgical use of incense, candles, and
icons, I recoil in disgust. When Roman Catholic church fathers
are quoted by Protestants to prove some theological point, I
roll my eyes.
(121) One step
forward and three steps back by Mike Oppenheimer, Let
Us Reason Ministries, 4/08 Willow Creeks affiliation with the emergent church movement.
(122) Warfield
and
Contemplative Spirituality by Herescope, 4/10/08
Benjamin B. Warfield's writings on mysticism help to orient
Christian believers to understand the implications of
contemplative and mystical spirituality's challenge to orthodox
and biblical Christianity.
(123) Emerging
Church
Spreading Spiritual Cancer by Marsha West,
4/18/08 What this is really all about is truth. False teachers stare at
Truth but fail to recognize the identity of truth. Jesus himself
said, "I am truth." Thus we know that Truth is an aspect of God
Himself. Christianity is the only truth because it is anchored
in the Person of Jesus Christ. Moreover, truth is crucial to a
realistic worldview. Which is why committed Christians mustn't
buy into the lie that truth is a matter of preference or
opinion. In case you haven't notices, in our postmodern culture
we are experiencing the death of truth - and the death of truth
could mean the death of civilizzation! I wrote this down, but I
don't remember who said it. "Truth is true if no one believes
it. A lie is a lie if everyone believes it." And that's the
truth!
(124) Emergent
MIND
Change by Herscope, 4/25/08 Dr. Dennis Cuddy, in his bi-weekly NewsWithViews column on
April 7 made a startling observation. Cuddy, an historian and
author with expertise in the mental health arena,* noticed that
there were similarities in Brian McLaren's new book everything
must change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope and
Eckhart Tolle's new book touted by Oprah's Book Club, A New
Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. Both authors define
mental illness in terms of wrong belief systems which are
harming the planet:
(125) POINTS
to
PONDER - Rick Warren, Richard Abanes, Ken Blanchard, Psychics,
Yoga by Bud Press, Christian Research Service,
April 26, 2008
Richard Abanes' book, Rick Warren and the Purpose that Drives Him,
was published July 2005. On page 15, Abanes tells of an interview
between he and Warren, which took place on May 4, 2005. During the
interview on pages 28-29, Abanes records Rick Warren stating that,
"Well, I do know Ken Blanchard. But we're not close friends--no
closer friends than half-a-dozen other celebrities" (emp. added,
book on file).However, in his February 19-20, 2005 article, "The
Skills of Leadership: Leading Like Jesus Part 3," Rick Warren
stated that, "My good friend Ken Blanchard who wrote The
One Minute Manager and a bunch of other books he always
says, Catch people doing something right. We always do the
opposite. We catch them doing something wrong. But catch people
doing something right and affirm it" (Pastors.com, click HERE for
PDF file, page 12, bold emp. added).
(126) Do
The
Dobsons and Focus on the Family Agree with the Emergent
Church? by Brannon S. Howse, 4/28/08 While I respect much of the great work of Dr. Dobson, Shirley
Dobson and Focus on the Family, there has been a recent trend
that is disturbing. This past weekend, Shirley Dobson appeared
with Dr. Robert Schuller on his Hour of Power. Click here to
view her appearance:
http://www.crystalcathedral.org/hour_of_power/index.php I don't take issue with Mrs. Dobson's message on behalf of the
National Day of Prayer but rather her appearance on his show and
her closing remark that affirmed the "work" of Dr.
Schuller.
(127)What
Is
Contemplative Prayer? by Roger Oakland, Understanding
The Times, 4/29/08 Contemplative prayer can be traced back to 3rd century monks
who were looking for ways to contact God by mystical techniques.
Such prayer methods are making a comeback. Will Christians be
enlightened or will they be introduced to eastern mysticism?
(128) The
New
Wave of Apologetics by Tim Wirth, Nogoofyzone Weblog,
4/26/08 There is a New Wave of Apologetics sweeping through the Body Of
Christ for some years now. But before we see what apologetics is
not, let's study and see what it is.
(129) The
New
Age Morphing . . . Into the Church by Herescope,
5/13/08 How has the New Age morphed itself over the past 35 years since
the public launching of "The Aquarian Conspiracy"?
(130) Emergent
Road
Show Receives Sponsorship From Major Organizations by
Lighthouse Trails, 5/22/08 Three "of the most outspoken" leaders of the emerging church
(Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, and Mark Scandrette) will be going on
a national road tour this summer and are receiving sponsorship
from several large organizations. Some of those sponsors are
Christianbook.com, Jossey-Bass, Compassion International,
International Bible Society, and Zondervan.
(131) The
Emerging
Church - The Rising Generation - A Maturing Church? by
Jewel Grewe, Discernment Ministries, Discernment Newsletter,
Volume 19, Number 3, May/June 2008 How far from Biblical Authenticity this has come! We now have
Ancient-Future Heresies that Journey to the Past to find Future
Spirituality.
(132) Earth:
The
Old Story, The New Storyby Herescope, 5/29/08
Emergent church leaders are re-packaging and marketing the
Creation Spirituality myth to the evangelical church. According
to Emergent church leader Brian McLaren, human beings on planet
Earth need to change our "framing story."
(133) Ancient-Future
Faith
Or Do All Roads Lead to Rome by Gary Gilley, Think On
These Things Newsletter, June 2008 - Volume 14, Issue 6 Rumors are starting to circulate that the emergent church
movement is running out of steam. After making the biggest
splash and the most noise of anything in the Christian community
for many years it appears to be approaching exhaustion.
Some like Rob Bell and Erwin McManus who are clearly in the
"emergent conversation" have denied their involvement. And
people seem a bit tired of hearing about postmodernism, its
rejection of universal truth and its promotion of
relativism. After all, how long can people live
questioning the obvious and denying reality? These things
play out nicely in philosophy class and in college coffee shops,
but have serious limitations in the real world. Maybe it is time
for the emergent ship to leave the dock and make way for the
next fad.
(134) What
is Centering? - Can we find God or enhance our experience of
Jesus by entering into an altered state of consciousness?
by Pastor Don Matzat, 7/08 The reality of Christ is never discovered within but is always
extra nos, outside of us. Christ is to be sought, not in the
inner self nor in some questionable technique borrowed from
occultism or the fringes of psychological theory, but in the
external and objective means of Word and Sacrament. The intrusion of these methods into the church should not only
cause us concern, but anger!
(135) Ancient-Future
Faith,
Its Practices by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things,
July 2008 - Volume 14, Issue 7 In a recent sermon dealing with the emergent/emerging church,
Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill in Seattle and self-described
emerging church leader, identified four lanes in which the
emergent/emerging movement is traveling. In the first lane are
emerging evangelicals who believe in basic Christian doctrine,
such as the Bible being God's Word and Jesus dying for our sins.
They also tend to form the "hip, cool church," according to
Driscoll. Pastors who may fall in this category include Dan
Kimball and Donald Miller. Without taking much time to
debate with Driscoll at this point, I would certainly challenge
the notion that Donald Miller is a supporter of basic Christian
doctrine. Kimball, on the other hand, does hold to certain
doctrinal positions such as the three ancient ecumenical creeds,
but would not want to drift much beyond them.
(136) Beware of
This Doctrine of Demons by Heidi Swander, Herescope,
8/12/08 It's called
"contemplative" or "centering" prayer and if you haven't
heard about it yet, chances are unfortunately good that you
will soon. It's invading churches like a virus in
which submicroscopic pathogens contaminate the body many
hours or days before the victim is aware of its presence.
Contemplative prayer is one of a number of ancient mystical
practices or spiritual disciplines, as their proponents
refer to them, which are being encouraged at an alarming
rate by evangelical churches. It is all part of
something called Spiritual Formation and the Emergent
Church, a movement that as John MacArthur states in his
book, The Truth War, is subtly changing the beliefs and
doctrines of the evangelical church as we know it.
(137) The
Emerging
Church by Jason Carlson, 8/30/08 Carlson relates his experience in and out of the Emergent
Church . He sounds an alarm at our Olive Tree Ministries
"Understanding the Times 2007" conference. This is an
MP3 of his radio interview with Jan Markel.
(138) Who's
Laughing
Now? by Bud Press, Christian Research Service,
September 9, 2008 Years ago, many parents laughed when their children were
introduced to Yoga, Transcendental Meditation, relaxation, and
visualization techniques in the secular schools and YMCA. Many
school teachers and principles shrugged their shoulders and
thought the techniques would help develop calmer, better behaved
students. On the job-site, professing Christians participated in
company-sponsored "Stress Reduction" seminars. They laughed
under their breath and refused to speak out against it--for fear
of losing their jobs. Now, many companies across the nation
offer Yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki, and other New Age practices as
regular motivational courses for employees. Despite the
complaints and concerns, many bookstore managers and officials
within the "Christian bookstore" industry laughed and continued
to advertise and promote books written by New Age authors. The
"bottom line" (money) was more important than the spiritual
welfare of the innocent and unwary.
(139) Ancient-Future
Faith
- It's Beliefs by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things
Newsletter, August 2008 In his most recent book Finding Our Way Again, The Return of
the Ancient Practices, Brian McLaren, the most recognizable name
in the emergent church movement, signals a shift, or at least a
new emphasis within emergent, toward ancient practices of
earlier periods of church history.
(141) The
American
Church - Descent Into Darkness Part 1 by No Other
Gospel, 10/7/08 ICABOD is written upon our doorposts. We have embraced other
gods, we have turned our backs upon the Lord God, the only God,
maker of heaven and earth. We have embraced a social gospel,
which lauds mans good works and excludes the Savior that bought
them. ICABOD is written upon our house.
(142) Who
Goes
There? - Encountering Voices in the Silence of Contemplative
Prayer by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 10/8/08 Through practicing the discipline of solitude and silence,
contemplative spiritualists hope to hear God personally speak to
them. As one nationally known personality stated on the Be Still
DVD, "intimacy automatically breeds revelation."[1] But if a
voice speaks, there is some question regarding its identity.
Therefore, in the video's same segment, "Fear of Silence,"
Richard Foster offers advice about how to discern who might
communicate in the stillness.
(143) MacArthur:
The Emergent Church is a Form of Paganism interview
with John MacArthur by Paul Edwards
"The Paul Edwards Program," WLQV Detroit, 10/08 Paul Edwards, host of "The Paul Edwards Program" on WLQV in
Detroit, interviewed pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church
John MacArthur about the emerging church movement in America.
Paul begins the interview by asking Pastor John to respond to a
radio interview with prominent emerging church leader Doug
Pagitt. In the clip from October 22, 2007, Pagitt denied that
there is a place of eternal conscious torment for persons who
die apart from faith in Jesus Christ.
(144) The
Nanotechnological
Transhuman Cyborg by John Loeffler of the Steel On
Steel, radio program interviewed Dr. Martin Erdmann, Saturday,
October 18, 2008 John Loeffler of the Steel On Steel radio program interviewed
Dr. Martin Erdmann this week on the topic of the new emergent
scientific religion of transhumanism and how it seeks to use
nanotechnology to design super humans and super soldiers of the
future: part human, part machine. Herescope readers have special
permission to access this fascinating interview online.
(145) Coming
From
a Nazarene University President by Psalm 11:3 -
Warning The Nazarene Denomination About The Emergent Menance,
10/25/08 I am printing with permission a exchange a friend and
sister in the Lord of mine had with a president of a Nazarene
University. You should be shocked at his comments. I have left
the names out at the request of my friend.
(146) Going
Downhill
Always Goes Faster Than Going Uphill by Mike
Oppenheimer, October 20, 2008 We welcome new leaders and recognize them for their service to
Christ. Today there are many new leaders, but there is a
shortage of biblically well trained leaders who are aware of the
issues and have answers to them.
(147) My
Reflections on the Emerging Church by Scott Tibbetts,
11/08 ... the EC is left with no gospel, no good news for the
nations. This is why I have felt when I read EC literature
I sense no conviction of true guilt before a holy God, no great
appreciation for the atoning work of Christ on the cross, no
longing for heaven. EC is very big on bringing in the
Kingdom of God to earth now, they are big on "Christian
spirituality," big on an "encounter with God," but the pining
for heaven as expressed by the Apostle Paul in Phil. 1:21, "For
to me to live is Christ, to die is gain," I sense very
little. If there is no real gospel, no real people will go
to a real heaven. And this is the burden of my heart.
(148) Understanding
The
Emerging Church by Roger Oakland, Understanding The
Times, 11/17/08 My greatest concern about the Emerging Church is the overall
direction that I discern it is headed. This direction, in my
opinion is away from a faith in Jesus that is based on His Word,
to a faith driven by experience and headed towards Roman
Catholicism.
(149) Why
Christian
Leaders Should Not Promote Henri Nouwen by Lighthouse
Trails, 11/22/08 At the end of his life, in the last book he ever wrote
(Sabbatical Journey), Henri Nouwen said the following: Today I
personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to
God's house, all human beings can walk through that door,
whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call
to help every person claim his or her own way to God.1 Even
though such a statement does not at all fit within biblical
Christianity, and in essence denies the very foundation of
Christ's work on the Cross, Henri Nouwen is touted as a great
spiritual figure by countless Christian leaders, pastors,
seminary professors, etc.
(150) Irony:
Muslim
Leaders Warn Against Yoga - Christian Leaders Remain Silent
by Lighthouse Trails, 11/23/08 According to a Fox News article, Muslim leaders in Malaysia are
telling Muslims that Yoga is dangerous for them because of its
Hindu roots. And yet, Christian leaders in America say virtually
nothing against contemplative spirituality, which is also based
on eastern-style meditation principles and practices.
(151) A
Still Small Voice - "Contemplative Prayer and the 'Elijah
Experience'of 1 Kings 19:12" by Pastor Larry DeBruyn,
11/24/08 Elijah's Mt. Horeb experience, when he heard "a sound of sheer
silence" (1 Kings 19:12, NRSV), has stimulated a tradition of
desert spirituality which pursues solitude in order to hear the
voice of God. Practitioners of lectio divina (i.e., reading
sacred things) also desire such encounters.
(152) Memoirs
of
an Emergent Church Victim by Heidi Swander,
12/8/08 I realize as I write this that there are many of you who only
dream of finding a solidly biblical church home. Some
continue to attend an unhealthy church because you don't know
what else to do. Some choose to stay and fight - which I
did for a while -- but you have to know when the gig is up and
it's time to move on. And then, where to move on to?
Pray about it. Set standards that you will not waver
from. For me a church must be Bible-based, doctrinally
sound, pro-Israel, premillennial. Sit down with the pastor
and grill him on your important standards that are essential to
a healthy church.
(154) Emerging Church Quotes
compled by Sandy Simpson, 12/08
Quotes by Emerging Church leaders.
(155) Allelon: Unity in the Church or
Unity with the World? by Sandy Simpson, 12/08 The EC promoted and taught by groups like Allelon is full of
the teachings of false teachers who have introduced ideas and
practices that are not Biblical.
(156) The Fallacious
Arguments of Neo-Universalists
by Sandy Simpson, 1/4/09 The new Universalists are not as vocal about their Universalism
ideas but are far more deadly to the Church as they are not
rejected like classic Universalists were decades ago. The
new Universalists would include Emerging Church leaders like
Brian McLaren, Leonard Sweet, Spencer Burke, Alan Jones and
others like Wycliffe, Society of Biblical Literature,
World Christian Gathering of Indigenous Peoples, Richard Twiss,
Daniel Kikawa, Terry LeBlanc, Rick Warren, Henry Nowen, YWAM,
Tony Campolo, Robert Schuller, George Otis Jr., and even Billy
Graham.
(158) Desperate
Sheep
Without a Shepherd by Jan Markell, Olive Tree
Ministries, 3/2/2009 The impact of the "New Age Movement", also called "the new
spirituality," in all Western societies is overwhelming. Learn
more here.
(160) The
Challenge
of Pragmatism - Part 1 by Gary Gilley, Think On These
Things Newsletter, 3/09 If there is a common religion to be found within the Western
world it surely is pragmatism - the religion of "what
works?" Pragmatism has no cathedrals; it follows no
liturgy, hires no pastors and cannot be found in any listing of
denominations, yet it is woven into the very fabric of the
Western church.
(161) The Ugly Side Of
Diaprax by Sandy Simpson, 4/10/09 There has been a concerted effort by the false teachers from
many movements inside the church such as Word of Faith, New
Apostolic Reformation (NAR)/Latter Rain, World Gathering on
Indigenous People and Emerging Church among others to diaprax
people into thinking that the church has been ineffective until
they came along with their new and improved ideas on how to take
over the world. This is always a feature of the Hegelian
Dialectical process put into action by praxis, thus
diaprax. In order to form a new paradigm or worldview the
leadership of these movements must villify orthodox Biblical
Christianity. Let's look at some of those statements.
(162) Jesse
Middendorf
promotes the new age/Catholic practice of Spiritual Formation
by Nazarenepsalm113, April 16, 2009 Dr. Jesse Middendorf, general superintendent of the Church of
the Nazarene, recently expressed his support of this event,
noting that "Spiritual formation is at the heart of our
understanding of a Wesleyan-Holiness lifestyle. Our theology
requires that we apply ourselves to growth both in understanding
and in practice. I applaud the effort to provide this event for
members of our global family in the Church of the Nazarene."
(164) Corrupt
Counsel
by the Double-Minded:The American Association of Counselors
by Sherry Neese, 1/14/08 Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Journey, Soul Care, Spiritual
Disciplines; What do they mean? Much of so-called Christian
counseling is replete with buzzwords such as spiritual
formation, spiritual journey, soul care, spiritual disciplines,
etc., as several discernment ministries have documented.
Spiritual Formation: "A movement that has provided a platform
and a channel through which contemplative prayer is entering the
church. Find spiritual formation being used, and in nearly every
case you will find contemplative spirituality. In fact,
contemplative spirituality is the heartbeat of the spiritual
formation movement."
(165) WASHINGTON:
Walking
the Labyrinth at Washington's Church by Mark Tooley,
VirtueOnline, 4/18/09 Would George Washington or Robert E. Lee have walked the
labyrinth? This potentially New Age tool is now available at
Christ Episcopal Church in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, which
both generals once soberly attended.
(166) Coming
to
Christ Through Mysticism? by Roger Oakland, Understand
the Times, 4/19/09 The spiritual formation movement teaches that if people
practice certain spiritual disciplines, they can become like
Jesus and model their lives after Him. But being born again and
having the indwelling of Christ is not a prerequisite. Neither
is receiving Him as Lord and absolute Savior. What spiritual
formation offers is an alternative to God's plan of salvation
revealed in Scripture.
Updated! (167) The Emerging Church - Introducing
Heresies by Sandy Simpson, 4/20/09 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as
there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce
destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who
bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. (2 Pet.
2:1)
(168) Some
Contemplative
Terms and What they Mean by Ray Yungen, Lighthouse
Trails, 4/30/09 In order to help others who might be involved with some form of
mysticism, it is important to be aware of these terms and
understand their basic meanings.
Updated! (169) The
Emerging
Church - Circa 1970 by Herescope, 5/1/09 - Read Part
1, Part
2, Part
3, Part
4, Part
5, Part
6, Part
7, Part
8 & Part
9. The Emergent/emerging church movement was first tried with that
name back in 1970 at a series of conferences sponsored by Faith
at Work. This fact is disclosed in Hiley Ward's book Religion
2101 A.D.: Who or What Will Be God? (Doubleday, 1975). The book
is a compendium of futurist thought, including the science
fiction and paranormal and metaphysics activities extant in the
early 1970s. But first the background information to put this
all in context.
(170) Mark
Driscoll
to Speak at Crystal Cathedral by Lighthouse Trails,
5/7/09 According to Mark Driscoll's church calendar and other reports
as well, Mark Driscoll will be speaking at Robert Schuller's
Crystal Cathedral on June 14th. While many evangelical leaders
have promoted Driscoll, he has been the topic of a number of
Lighthouse Trails articles. Driscoll was one of the early
"emergent" leaders mentored by Leadership Network (Bob Buford)
to form the first emergent team (McLaren, Pagitt, Seay, etc.)
Since then, Driscoll has publicly denounced some of the
teachings and "theology" of that group. However, he has promoted
contemplative spirituality and the new sexual spirituality, both
of which are part of the emerging philosophy.
(171) Early
Experiential
Emergents by Herescope, 5/9/09 The fact that Faith at Work was attempting to start an Emerging
Church Movement as early as 1970 is quite relevant to the
Emergent/Emerging Church today. The ramifications of this are
quite stunning. For example, Faith at Work was a leading sponsor
of Brian McLaren's "Everything Must Change" tour a year
ago.
(172) "Emerging Theology" Is
An Oxymoron by Sandy Simpson, 5/8/09 There was no theology presented in this lecture, per se.
The overriding theme was that the EC wants to help Christians
"find God in the world" and for them to "look like Jesus".
Sounds good but what does that mean? Does that mean going
back to Roman Catholic liturgy and the Eucharist which
Middendorf promotes? Does it mean incorporating mystical
and New Age practices into the churches? Does that look
like Jesus? I think not.
(173) Donald
Whitney
and Spiritual Disciplines - Spirituality Without Boundaries by
Bob DeWaay, Critical Issues Commentary, Issue 111, March/April
2009 The problems with Whitney's book are these: serious category
errors, a lack of boundaries, failure to understand the means of
grace, pragmatism, the endorsement of false teachers such as
Richard Foster and Dallas Willard without caveat, and his own
toned-down version of mysticism. I shall proceed to show what I
mean by interacting with his ideas.
(174) "The
Spiritualization
of Science, Technology, and Education in a One-World Society"
by Herescope, 5/21/09 This emerging trans-modern worldview, involves a shift in the
locus of authority from external to 'inner knowing.' It has
basically turned away from the older scientific view that
ultimate reality is "fundamental particles," and trusts
perceptions of the wholeness and spiritual aspect of organisms,
ecosystems, Gaia and Cosmos. This implies a spiritual reality,
and ultimate trust in the authority of the whole. It amounts to
a reconciliation of scientific inquiry with the "perennial
wisdom" at the core of the world's spiritual traditions. It
continues to involve a confidence in scientific inquiry, but an
inquiry whose metaphysical base has shifted from the
reductionist, objectivist, positivist base of 19th- and
20th-century science to a more holistic and transcendental
metaphysical foundation. - Willis Harman's essay, "Bringing
About the Transition to Sustainable Peace" (Part One: "A
Changing Worldview"), cited in footnote bb, Erdmann, M Eur J
Nanomed 2009; 2:31-38.
(175) Emergent
New
Paradigm Pastor (Mike Erre) to Speak at Calvary Chapel Costa
Mesaby Lighthouse Trails, 5/25/09 Emerging/emergent spirituality is making serious inroads into
Christianity. Churches and Christian colleges, unaware of the
subtle undermining of such spirituality, are embracing teachers
and leaders of this movement and pointing others to them. Often
they are unaware of what these teachers really believe and
teach. In light of an event (Movement 2009) scheduled to take
place on May 29th at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, the Calvary
Chapel mother church, with RockHarbor pastor, Mike Erre (and a
similar event (Pure Worship) that took place earlier this
month), Lighthouse Trails is posting this special report.
(176) "Emergent"
or
"Emerging"? Makes No Difference - Going in the Same Direction
- Away from Truth toward Deception by Lighthouse
Trails, 5/30/09 It was Shakespeare who said a rose by any other name would
smell as sweet. In the case of the "new spirituality" that has
pervaded so much of Christianity, emergent church by any other
name is just as harmful. While some are saying they are not
"emergent" but are emerging, the overall beliefs (and mission)
of each--emergent and emerging--are the same.
(177) Is the
gospel being preached in the emergent church movement?
by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason Ministries, 6/1/09 We are to be keepers, protectors and proclaimers of the gospel,
it is to be the same message that was given to the apostles
nearly 2,000 years ago. The gospel can be changed from applying
new innovations.
(178) The
Depths
of Our Concerns for Calvary Chapel and Other Christian
Organizations by the Editors at Lighthouse Trails,
6/10/09 Calvary Chapel is not the only Christian organization that is
being influenced and changed because of contemplative/emerging
spirituality. The Nazarene Church has deeply absorbed this new
spirituality, as we have reported in many articles. Also, the
Christian Missionary Alliance and Mennonite denominations have
been hugely affected. Southern Baptist is another that has been
pulled into the contemplative/emerging whirl of deception. Many
Reformed/Calvinist churches have started going in this
direction, as have Foursquare and Assemblies of God. It has even
been reported to us that some Amish communities and Independent
Baptist churches are feeling the effects. And the list could go
on and on.
(179) Evangelicals:
Emergent
and Erotic by Herescope, 6/12/09 This fall (October, 2009), one major seminary is hosting a
one-day seminar on, "Sacred Sexuality." One purpose of the
conference includes, "Casting a Vision for the Sexually Healthy
Church," and one workshop is titled, "Holy Eroticism: Marital
Intimacy."
(180) 2009
Summer/Fall
Christian Conferences Provide Platform for
Contemplative/Emerging Speakers by Editors at
Lighthouse Trails, 6/16/09 Many Christian-led conferences taking place throughout North
America during the summer and fall of 2009 are providing
platforms for speakers who are helping to further the new
spirituality. In many conferences, the speaker line-ups are a
blending of non-emerging/non-contemplative speakers with those
who are of that camp. Doing this gives an unmerited credibility
to the teachings of the contemplative/emerging speakers. While
some say there is nothing wrong with Christian teachers sharing
the platform with those who promote a false approach to God
(i.e., mysticism), the Bible is clear that "A little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9). And by silently
standing with the wayward teacher, one must now share the
responsibility of his or her error.
(181) Should
Pastors
Warn Their Congregations About Contemplative Spirituality?
by Lighthouse Trails, 6/29/09 Lighthouse Trails believes that contemplative spirituality must
be addressed head on. Recently, we were contacted by a pastor
who told us he did not see the reason to focus on these
"negative" aspects (such as contemplative and emerging). He
wanted to know why we did what we did.
(182) Christian
Leaders
Giving Mysticism to Our Youth by Ray Yungen,
Lighthouse Trails, 7/1/09 The cover of the July/August 1999 issue of Group Magazine, a
leading resource magazine for Christian youth leaders, featured
a teenage girl, eyes shut, doing contemplative prayer. The
article, "Ancient-Future Youth Ministry" begins by declaring:
"It's Sunday just after 5 p.m.... Seven adults are sitting
around a "Christ-candle" in the youth room. There is no talking,
no laughter. For 10 minutes, the only noise is the sound of
their breathing ... now it's 7 p.m.--one hour into the night's
youth group gathering. There are 18 senior highers and five
adults sitting in a candlelit sanctuary. A gold cross stands on
a table.... They're chanting the "Jesus Prayer," an ancient
meditative practice."
(183) Spiritual
Formation
is Dangerous.... And Here's Why from a book review on
Castles in the Sand by C. Pack, 7/8/09 As a former New Ager, I have become increasingly alarmed at the
New Age/New Spirituality practices and beliefs that I have seen
flowing into the church. I was saved in a conservative,
evangelical church that boldly proclaimed the gospel: Jesus is
THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life, and no-one comes to the Father
but by Him. Yet, within 2 years time, this same precious church
began to preach sermons on past mystics (St. John of the Cross),
began offering yoga classes, and began to adopt practices that
eerily reminded me of my New Age days... all of which are an
assault on the true gospel.
(185) Disciplines
to
Deception in the Southern Baptist Convention by Ken
Silva, 7/15/09 Within a source paper called Spiritual Disciplines: Pathway to
Christian Maturity (SDPCM), from the Georgia Baptist Convention
(SBC), we learn what is now considered consistent with a proper
Protestant approach to spirituality for Christians in the
Southern Baptist Convention. Continuing along the lines of
Richard Foster Forming Protestant Southern Baptist Convention
Spirituality here Apprising Ministries begins with the following
from Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster
in SDPCM.
(186) Spree
Wales by Miguel Hayworth, 7/17/09 Spree Wales is organised by Ecumenical/Emergent groups such as
Ignite, The Salvation Army, Big Ideas, Scripture Union, The Boys
Brigade, Evangelical Alliance, Show Jesus and World Horizon.
(187) Divination
Is
Forbidden By God - Divination: any attempt to foretell the
unknown by occult means by Chris Lawson, Spiritual
Research Network, 7/18/09 Divination also includes forms of Contemplative Centering
Prayer whereby contact with the spirit world [demonic] can
easily be made. This occult prayer method [which many
Christianize] can and does oftentimes lead to the full
conversion of ones spirituality to a pantheistic, panentheistic,
Eastern occult view of reality. This form of prayer
divination places into the minds of humans ideas that are not
only unbiblical, but thoroughly occult and antichrist. The
Self-induction and alteration of ones consciousness [into the
Alpha-state], which so often is engaged in by undiscerning
people, can quickly lead to full blown spirit contact,
"snapping", and even demonic possession. Thorough documentation
is abounding in Indian Yogic Spirituality; Self-Realization
cults, etc.
(188) Spectacles
for
Spectators by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 7/21/09 Were the accommodating Aaron a leader in a contemporary church,
he would have called for the worship team-a drummer, lead
singers, and guitarists-to be assembled, the electrical crew to
ready the "sanctuary" with the newest audio-visual equipment
including multiple giant screens on which to project a fast
paced collage of images, and the sound techs to coordinate the
flashing strobe lights with the pulse of the drum beat, and to
time the release of a fireworks display that would flash, bang,
and belch forth smoke as the worship reached a frenzied climax.
All of this, and perhaps more, could be employed to recreate the
narrative of Israel's Sinai experience (See Exodus 19:18-19;
Exodus 32:17-18.).
(189) A
Chat with Ray Yungen and Mike Oppenheimer posted by
nazarenepsalm113 on July 22, 2009 A chat we filmed back when we originally filmed our Concerned
Nazarenes DVD. This is the first time this has been seen
publically. Mike and Ray chat about contemplative prayer, its
roots as well as the new age and the new spirituality as well as
some bits about Rick Warren and Saddleback..
(191) "Rick
Warren,
Leonard Sweet, and Sweet's 'New Light' Leaders" by
Warren Smith, 7/28/09 Shortly after Deceived on Purpose was published, I came across
a book titled Quantum Spirituality: A Postmodern Dialectic
written by Rick Warren's "Evangelical" colleague Leonard Sweet.
Also, around the same time, I was given a cassette tape set of a
presentation Sweet had done with Warren in 1995. Their recorded
discussion is titled The Tides of Change and was packaged as
part of an ongoing series called "Choice Voices for Church
Leadership." At the time this audio project took place, Sweet
was a Christian author, Methodist minister, and the Dean of the
Theological School at Drew University. According to information
on the tape set, this presentation was about ministry on the
emerging "new frontier."
(192) Chief
Saddleback
Apologist Defends New Age Sympathizer Leonard Sweet by
Warren Smith, 7/28/09 This is part two of an introduction to Warren Smith's new book,
A "Wonderful" Deception. In last week's installment, it was
revealed that Rick Warren's and Leonard Sweet's evangelical "new
reformation" appears to be moving toward the New Age/New
Spirituality. In this week's section, Saddleback's chief
apologist defends Leonard Sweet's working relationship with Rick
Warren, even though Sweet's affinity with New Age leaders is
clearly evident.
(193) A
"Wonderful" Deception - The Further New Age Implications of
the Emerging Purpose Driven Movement by Warren Smith,
7/09 "A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The
prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their
means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in
the end thereof?" Jeremiah 5:30-31 Five years after writing
Deceived on Purpose: the New Age Implications of the Purpose
Driven Church, former New Age follower Warren Smith continues to
reveal how Christian leaders-wittingly or unwittingly-are
leading the church into a spiritual trap. A "Wonderful"
Deception examines church metaphors, concepts, and beliefs that
are essentially the same as those being used in today's New Age
teachings. And while biblical prophecy is being minimized and
explained away, the "new science" is being used to prepare the
world-and the church-to accept a New Spirituality and a false
New Age Christ. This book explains how all the puzzle pieces are
in place for the "strong delusion" described in 2 Thessalonians.
A "Wonderful" Deception pierces right into the heart of this
deception while preparing believers in Jesus Christ to
effectively stand against it.
(194) Our
Father
in Heaven or Our Mother on Earth? by Berit Kjos,
8/5/09 The following from Berit Kjos is from her book A Twist of
Faith, which identifies and warns against "goddess
spirituality." Keep in mind that The Shack and Sue Monk Kidd's
book, The Secret Life of Bees (recently made into a movie) carry
the "goddess spirituality" theme within their pages through the
Black Madonna figure. We should not underestimate the impact
these books (and their spiritual overtones) are having on
millions of people. It can be subtle at first, but remember what
happened to Sue Monk Kidd: she started out as a conservative
Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher. After she was introduced
to the writings of Thomas Merton, her spiritual outlook began to
change. Eventually, she came to believe that the God of the
Bible was not the true God and that a feminine goddess (one
which dwelt in all things - even graffetti on a wall) was. Is it
any wonder that Lighthouse Trails became alarmed to see David
Jeremiah favorably talking about Sue Monk Kidd in his book Life
Open Wide and saying that she was one of a handful of people who
had learned the secret to a "passionate" life. If you have not
read some of our material regarding Sue Monk Kidd, The Shack,
and David Jeremiah's book, we urge you to do so. The spiritual
welfare of your loved ones may be at stake. (see links at bottom
of this post)
(195) "Fractals,
Chaos
Theory, Quantum Spirituality, and The Shack" by Warren
Smith, 8/9/09 The following is the third installment (see: part one, part
two) that we are posting of Warren Smith's new book, A
"Wonderful" Deception. We hope you have find the chance to read
all three chapters that we have made available. They are very
important in helping to explain the new spirituality that has
come into Christianity through today's major Christian figures.
(196) Emergent
Ideology
is Here, What Will You Do? by Manny Silva, August 19,
2009 It is clear to me, that the movement called the emergent church
movement has slowly but surely infiltrated into the very heart
of the Nazarene denomination. There is no doubt about it
now. The only question now is, what do we do? At
first I thought it was just a few renegade churches and
colleges, but that is not the case. It is more than that,
and it is very disturbing. It has particularly been
welcomed by almost all Nazarene universities, and even our
seminaries and Bible colleges.
(197) Understanding
the
Error of Spiritual Formation by Roger Oakland,
8/23/09 A move away from the truth of God's Word to a mystical form of
Christianity has infiltrated, to some degree, nearly all
evangelical denominations. Few Bible teachers saw this avalanche
coming. Now that it is underway, most do not realize it has even
happened.
(198) A
Renewed Confidence in the Word of God by Gary Gilley,
Think On These Things, August/September 2009 - Volume 15, Issue
5 Emergent spokesman Brian McLaren calls for the evangelical
community to get over its love affair with certainty. He
writes, "Drop any affair you may have with certainty, proof,
argument - and replace it with dialogue, conversation, intrigue,
and search."[1] Are we to take McLaren seriously? If
so, then the best way to get over our love affair with
certainty, according to McLaren, would be to replace it with
uncertainty, or more commonly, mystery. It is definitely
in vogue at this point in church history to make the rather
"certain" claim that we cannot be certain about anything.
Of course, the irony of such certainty about uncertainty is
obvious. But much like impossible political promises, when
statements are left unanalyzed and unchallenged they tend to be
uncritically absorbed by the minds of some people, often
resulting in great harm.
(200) Why
Must
Everything Change? by Jan Markell, August 31,
2009 That "old-time religion" we once loved is evaporating because
guys like Brian McLaren and his Emergent buddies have convinced
people that "everything must change." The one-world religion is
literally on the horizon. Look over a fence and you will see it
approaching.
(201) Carl
Rogers
- Father of the Emergent Culture by Sarah H. Leslie,
1993 NOTE: This article was originally published in 1993. It was
rediscovered recently while sorting old papers. It is timely and
applicable to the current series Herescope has been running on
the early history of the Emergent/Emerging church movement. The
context of the early Emerging Church culture was Humanistic
psychology with all of its tenets and practices, which were
being imported into the evangelical and Protestant churches
indiscriminately and wholeheartedly at the time.
(202) Meditation
and
Contemplative Prayer: Test the Spirits by Warren B.
Smith, 9/19/09 Not long after our conversion, my wife and I sat down one day
and talked about the ultimate spiritual deception described in
the Bible--the great "falling away" of the church and the coming
of Antichrist. We agreed that for someone like Antichrist to be
credible in the world, he would need a majority of the people
who call themselves Christians to believe that he was Christ. If
he could get enough Christians--especially Christian leaders--to
follow him, he could then discredit and marginalize those who
oppose him. But to get people who call themselves Christians to
believe that he was Christ he would first have to successfully
redefine Christianity. To do that he would have to introduce
non-Christian teachings and practices into the church, while at
the same time make them appear Christian. His obvious goal would
be to convert undiscerning and unsuspecting believers into a
more eastern and mystical, New Age "Christianity." While
invoking the name of "God" and "Christ" he would actually turn
the Bible upside down--just as we had seen in A Course in
Miracles and in our New Age teachings.
(203) G12
Master
Plan Could Expose Thousands of Nazarenes to
Contemplative/Emerging Spirituality by Philip Gray,
10/3/09 "Training Today's Leaders for Tomorrow's Churches" is the motto
for New Church Specialties, a Christian consulting organization
that largely reaches Nazarenes. But New Church Specialties and
the affiliated New Church University (where pastors and leaders
are mentored and trained) are a conduit for the new
spirituality, and their G12 Master's Plan could potentially
expose thousands of Nazarenes to contemplative spirituality and
the emerging church.
(204) Emergent
Inebriates
- Some thoughts on "Pub Theology." by Pastor Larry
DeBruyn, 10/10/09 As he begins to rip into "a screaming guitar solo," a band
member sarcastically yells out at the audience, "Let's go to
church boys!"[1] Welcome to Pub Theology. As the reporter
describes it, Pub Theology is "a Sunday night show that's one
part church and one part party." Among other posters on the
barroom walls, one alludes and adds to the final verse of the
biblical chapter on love. It reads, "Faith, Hope, Love and
Beer." WARNING: The biblical text reads, "But now abide faith,
hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1
Corinthians 13:13, NASB).[2]
(205) Discussion
of
the Emergent Conference by Pastor Bob DeWaay with
Chris Rosebrough, 10/09
This is an MP3 file. In this must-hear discussion at TFC
you'll hear DeWaay and Rosebrough explain how this EC
apostasia-paloosa is very rapidly emerging into another religion
entirely.
(206) "Pub
Theology"
Emergent Inebriates - There They Go Again!by Pastor
Larry DeBruyn, 10/14/09 "A growing number of Christian groups from a variety of
denominations are taking God to the bars, launching
religious-themed pub nights dubbed 'martini masses' or 'theology
on tap' in an effort to broaden their reach."
(207) Merton
&
Nouwen: Sacrificing Truth for Mystical Experiences by
Ray Yungen, 11/01/09 Contemplative advocates propose that there has been something
vital and important missing from the church for centuries. The
insinuation is that Christians have been lacking something
necessary for their spiritual vitality; but that would mean the
Holy Spirit has not been fully effective for hundreds of years
and only now the secret key has been found that unlocks God's
full power to know Him. These proponents believe that
Christianity has been seriously crippled without this extra
ingredient.
(208) Emergent
SAMIR
SELMANOVIC on Finding God in all Religions posted by
Lighthouse Trails under The Emerging Church, 11/5/09 This misguided effort to unite all things, to give people the
option of maintaining their own religious practices, suggesting
they do not have to call themselves Christians is a spiritually
slippery slope and an undoing of the Christian faith.
(209) A
List Of Christian Colleges Promoting Contemplative/Emerging
Church Teachings by Lighthouse Trails, 11/09 In November 2004, Lighthouse Trails Research issued its first
alert to Christian colleges that are promoting contemplative
spirituality. The four colleges listed in that alert were San
Fransisco Theological Seminary, Biola University, Bethel
University, and Lincoln Christian College and Seminary. Since
then, several other alerts have been issued. What has become all
too painfully clear is that the majority of Christian colleges
in North America have in varying degrees begun to incorporate
contemplative spirituality into their colleges. It is not just a
few schools - it is most, and for those who understand the
dangers of contemplative (and emerging), it is obvious that
Christian colleges are in a crisis of faith.
(210) The
Two
Trees by Herescope, 11/20/09 Looking at this tree, it is obvious that what passes for
"Christian" meditation in our modern era springs from the
Gnostic roots of this occult tree. Is it any wonder that this
tree then bears corresponding occult fruit? Note that this
contemplative tree does not promise life, only "wisdom," which
just happens to be what the serpent promised Eve if she ate of
the fruit of the tree in the Garden of Eden.
(211) The
New
[Age] Spirituality: The Folly of the Ages by Ray
Yungen, 11/09 The reason the New Age is wrong is that it takes devotion,
trust, and glory away from the One who created us and gives it
to man and the rebellious familiar spirits who deceive man into
self-glorification. An analogy of this would be that of an
artist's canvas or paint-rather than the artist taking credit
for the painting, the canvas or paint takes the credit.
(212) Christian
Soldiers
Standing Up For Jesus? by Ken Silva, 11/23/09 You know I can't help but wonder, among our professing
Christian brothers and sisters today, just where are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)? Among our
so-called Christian "leaders" we see striving for phony unity
with their compromised man-centered message-while courting their
favor-speaking from the viewpoint of the world, which is why the
world listens to them (1 John 4:5); just where are those
who are persecuted because of righteousness (Matthew 5:10)? Do
they seriously not know that Christ Jesus said of those who do
hunger, and of those that are persecuted, theirs is the Kingdom
of Heaven
(213) More
Questions
About Break Forth Canada by Pastor Adam Gislason,
11/27/09 First, is this a "Christian Conference?" I am not convinced
that it is from the research that I have done on both Break
Forth Canada and their line up of false teachers.
(214) Taize
services
are gaining in popularity by Lighthouse Trails,
12/7/09 Taize is part of the contemplative prayer movement. This
article is posted, not as an endorsement but rather to report on
the growing popularity of contemplative practices.
(215) "Bus
Ride
to the Future" - A True Story About Yoga by Caryl
Matrisciana, 12/17/09 When I was twenty years old, my family returned from India,
where I was born and lived for most of my life, to England, our
homeland. It was during the turbulent sixties, and I was about
to be introduced to a movement that didn't even have a name yet.
How could I have possibly known then that the strange and
mystical religion I had been surrounded by in India would
someday be at the heart of a spirituality that would influence
millions around the world?
(217) Mark
Driscoll
IS a Contemplative Proponent by Lighthouse Trails,
December 21st, 2009 Although Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Fellowship in Seattle
Washington, is said to have denounced certain aspects of the
emergent church, Driscoll is a proponent of the main element
behind the emerging church - contemplative prayer.
(218) Article
on
Mark Driscoll's Site Takes Scripture Out of Context to Defend
Contemplative by Lighthouse Trails, 12/24/09 LTRP Note: The following comment was sent to Lighthouse Trails
from a man in Holland regarding our recent article, Mark
Driscoll IS a Contemplative Proponent. We have posted it to help
people see how contemplative proponents have taken Scripture out
of context to erroneously defend mystical-type spirituality. To
see another example of this misuse of Scripture regarding
contemplative, see Ray Yungen's comments at bottom of this post.
(220) What's
Wrong
With A More Social Gospel? by Paul Proctor, January 6,
2010 With a self-sustaining focus on acquiring evermore results and
relationships (i.e., "church growth") by way of pragmatism and
consensus, none of which is biblical, today's Christians are, by
and large, being persuaded and trained week after week to
embrace surveys, marketing principles, public relations programs
and people skills as their new commandments with
dialectically-trained consultants and facilitators posing as
prophets and preachers - people pleasers who know how to work
the crowd and steer the herd while selectively applying the
scriptures as needed to maintain a biblical appearance of
righteousness and religiosity.
(221) Enter
The Labyrinth by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason
Ministries, 1/11/10 Walking the labyrinth has become a popular spiritual exercise
across the country and around the world. I first read of it in
Leadership Magazine, a Christian publication and became a bit
concerned, since looking into it further I'm definitely
concerned.
(223) Contemplating
the
12 Steps by John Lanagan, My Word Like Fire,
1/17/10 As time has gone on, I have become increasingly aware
that contemplative spirituality is latently, sometimes
blatantly, interwoven throughout 12 Step Spirituality.
When we think of meditation in AA (and other 12 Step groups), we
naturally think of Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation
to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him,
praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to
carry that out.
(224) Emergent
Worship-Wonder
Or Wasteland? by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, Discernment
Newsletter, Vol. 21, No. 1, January/February 2010 If evangelicals seek to derive worship experiences from ancient
traditions or contemporary culture, they will become bound to
those bases and turn worship from the wonder of the Word into a
wasteland of the world. Worship will be so carnal minded that it
is of no spiritual and heavenly good.
(225) Fictionally
Fighting
Contemplative Spirituality by John Lanagan, My Word
Like Fire, January 25th, 2010 As Lighthouse Trails Ministries has grimly noted, 2009 was a
year in which contemplative spirituality-essentially New Age
meditation-made great inroads into the culture, and especially
into the church. A Canadian writer is fighting back. Castles in
the Sand is Carolyn Greene's intriguing novel about the invasion
of contemplative spirituality into a traditional Christian
college. Greene is using fiction as a weapon, and while the book
may not seem like one of the "great stones" hurled by King
Uzziah's soldiers, even a small stone, if guided by the Lord,
can cause a giant to fall.
(226) Buddhist/Universalist
Sympathizer
Woos Nazarene Students at NNU by Lighthouse Trails
Editors, 1/25/10 Below is a link to a video* of a lecture that took place at
Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho, one of the Nazarene
Universities that is strongly promoting the
contemplative/emerging spirituality. The lecture, presented by
NNU Thomas Oord and College of Idaho, Denny Clark, was taught by
Dr. Jay McDaniel, a self-proclaimed "Christian" Buddhist
universalist sympathizer who is said to be highly influenced by
the late Catholic panentheistic monk, Thomas Merton. This is an
83 minute video, but for those who want to understand the
paradigm shift that has occurred in the church and continues
wooing millions with the mystical, universalist spirituality,
this video is well worth the watch.
(227) God
in
all things? The basis for contemplative spirituality
by Ray Yungen, Lighthouse Trails, 1/26/10 It is, of course, easy to find many passages which link the way
of the Christian Knower with that of his brother in the East.
They bear witness to the same efficacy of method. What did
she mean by the term "Christian Knower"? The answer is
unmistakable! In the first chapter, we saw how occultism is
awakening the mystical faculties to see God in everything.
(228) Northwest
Nazarene
University President Responds Regarding New Spirituality
Speaker by Lighthouse Trails Editors, 1/29/10 We believe this is a case of a university president who does
not appear to understand the nature of the current spiritual
deception sweeping through the church, and very much so the
Nazarene denomination.
(229) "Into"
the
Mystery - On Musical Mediatrixes by Pastor Larry
DeBruyn, 2/1/10 The New Testament knows nothing of musicians who possess either
the position and authority to escort Christians into God's
"soaking" presence. No matter how talented, singers and worship
leaders who make claim to being mediators between God in heaven
and Christians on earth can do so only by usurping the role of
Christ for us and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in us.
(230) The
"Kingdom
of God" in the Emerging Church: A Theology of Despair and
Hopelessness by Bob DeWaay, February 11th, 2010
Imagine a world where the polarity of time is reversed so that
history moves backward toward Paradise rather than forward
toward judgment. Consider a world in which God is so immanently
involved in the creation that He is undoing entropy1 and
recreating the world now through processes already at work.
Think of a world where the future is leading to God Himself in a
saving way for all people and all of creation. This imaginary
world is our world viewed through the lens of Emergent
eschatology.
(231) Assemblies
of
God Leader Promotes Universalist "Christian" in AOG Magazine
by John Lanagan, Word Like Fire, February 15th, 2010 What would you do if a Superintendent of a large denominational
district wrote an article promoting a universalist author? And
what if this article was published and distributed in a
popular denominational magazine? What if, in several
months of back and forth emails, the Superintendent never took
steps to correct this, and in fact, continued to express his
admiration for the universalist?
(232) Dr.
Jay
McDaniel And Mysticism At Northwest Nazarene University
by Ken Silva, 2/15/10 Along with other online apologetics and discernment ministries
such as Lighthouse Trails Research (LTR) at Apprising Ministries
I'm doing what I can to alert you as to how far corrupt
Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) ala Living Spiritual
Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster, with an assist from
his spiritual twin Dallas Willard, has now penetrated mainstream
evangelicalism.
(233) Universalism:
The
Gospel Message of Emergent and New Age Spirituality by
Sola Sisters, 2/18/10 One of the greatest misconceptions in this country today is
that the New Age Movement of the 80s and 90s is (1) a thing of
the past and (2) has nothing whatsoever in common with
Christianity. Nothing could be further from the truth on
either count. Let me explain.
(234) The
Quantum
Christ: Entering the World AND the Church Through Popular New
Age & Christian Leaders by Warren B. Smith,
2/17/10 The New Age/New Spirituality is already heralding quantum
physics as a "scientific" basis for their contention that God is
not only transcendent but also immanent-"in" everyone and
everything. Physicist Fritjof Capra's 1975 best-selling book on
quantum physics-The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the
Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism-was the
first to present this proposed scientific/spiritual model to a
mass audience.
(235) Contextual
Theology
- Falling From Truth Through the Emerging Church by
Roger Oakland, 1/10/10 In order for the emerging church to succeed, the Bible has to
be looked at through entirely different glasses, and
Christianity needs to be open to a new type of faith. Brian
McLaren calls this new faith a "generous orthodoxy." While such
an orthodoxy allows a smorgasbord of ideas to be proclaimed in
the name of Christ, many of these ideas are actually forbidden
and rejected by Scripture.
(236) Nazarene
Pastor
Fired For Fighting Emergent Ideology by
ReformedNazarene, 2/19/10 Disturbing trends continue to develop in our
denomination. Recently, I sent out a prayer request for a
pastor and his church that decided to leave the Nazarene
denomination, rather than stay and bow to emergent ideology and
priorities. Soon, I will be posting some information
regarding those who have been forced to leave their churches
("Divorced From The Church"). More and more Bible
believing Nazarenes are finding themselves ostracized and are
even being labeled as cult members, hateful, dividers, "used by
the devil""etc. On and on it goes, with no biblical
justification! Students are subject to ridicule or
harassment for standing up against unbiblical teachings at their
universities.
(238) Keating,
Kundalini
and Contemplative Prayer by Brian Flynn, 2/10 How much more evidence do the leaders in our churches require
before they repent of promoting this practice When Rick Warren
stated in his first book, Purpose Driven Church that Foster's
spiritual formation was a wakeup call to the church, he gave the
green light to millions to practice something that could
potentially have long or permanent lasting damage on
practitioners.
(239) Could
This
Really Be the End of the Age? by Ray Yungen, February
28th, 2010 However, in 1984 I had an unexpected encounter that changed my
entire outlook. A newfound friend educated me about the New Age
movement and its end-times implications. After a period of
investigation, I came to believe this could very well be the
time period the book of Revelation showcases. Instead of a vague
and obscure manifestation of prophecy, I saw something distinct
and pervasive happening in our churches and society. And
incredibly enough, this shift has been predicted from both sides
of the struggle.
(240) Missionary
or
Missional - The Emerging Church "On a Mission from God"
by Bob DeWaay, 3/3/10 For hundreds, if not thousands, of years Christians have used
the term "missionary" to describe one who goes out to preach the
gospel to an unsaved world headed toward judgment-repentance for
the forgiveness of sin found in the death and resurrection of
Christ. The mission of the missionary was to proclaim the
absolute truth of the gospel-a fact proven by Jesus'
resurrection from the dead. The gospel is "good news" because it
provides condemned sinners with a certain escape from God's
wrath. Emergent's word "missional" does not convey this meaning.
(241) Updated! The
Emerging Church - Introducing Heresies by
Sandy Simpson, 4/20/09 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as
there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce
destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who
bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. (2 Pet.
2:1)
(242) Castles
in
the Sand visits Shane Claiborne by John Lanagan, My
Word Like Fire Ministries, 3/11/10 Before a packed auditorium at Warner Pacific College in
Portland, Oregon, activist Shane Claiborne gave his
message of peace, love, and brotherhood. An engaging speaker,
and a man dedicated to his beliefs, Claiborne had the crowd
laughing and reminiscing with him as he recounted past
adventures and experiences. During the time he spoke he
emphasized again and again our Christian duty to help the poor
and the oppressed.
(243) The
Cross
versus the "Higher Self" by Ray Yungen, 2/12/10
The New Age and Christianity definitely clash on the answer to
the question of human imperfection. The former [the New Age]
espouses the doctrine of becoming self-realized and united with
the universe, which they see as God but in reality is the realm
of familiar spirits. On the other hand, the Gospel that
Christians embrace offers salvation to humanity through grace
(unmerited favor).
(244) A
Beth Moore Expose' by Apprising Ministries,
3/13/10 Apprising Ministries pieces like How Would You Know Beth Moore?
I've shared my concerns about people like Moore who appear to
claiming to receive special revelation directly from God.
(245) Into
the
Arms of Rome Through Ancient Church Fathers and the Eurcharist
by Roger Oakland, March 18th, 2010 Many emerging church leaders are suggesting the need to study
the ideas and beliefs of church leaders of the post-disciple
era. They say if pastors and church leaders reintroduce these
teachings from the past, we will have spiritual transformation
and successful churches in the 21st century. But wait a
minute! If the church that emerged from the New Testament church
was based on ideas and beliefs foreign to Scripture, why would
we want to emulate a previous error? When doctrines of men
replace the doctrine of Scripture, many are led astray. It has
happened in the past, and it is happening now. Following
doctrine not based on the Word of God always results in the
undoing of faith. (from Faith Undone, ch. 5, pp. 77-80).
(246) BEWITCHED!
"Evil
Eye over Evangelicalism" by Pastor Larry DeBruyn,
3/28/10 Of their attitude toward this New Age system of spirituality,
Horowitz notes the double minded attitude of evangelicals
towards it (See James 1:8.). He notes that even while
evangelicals "heaped scorn upon the New Age," they adopted "some of its most popular therapeutic premises."
(248) Emerging
Church
Leaders, Evangelicals Sign'Covenant For Civility' by
Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 3/30/10 Emergent Church leader Brian McClaren, social justice guru Jim
Wallis and some evangelical notables such as Chuck Colson, have
signed a document called the "Covenant for Civility".
(249) A
Covenant for Civility - A New Order of the Third Way
by Herescope, 3/31/10 This is getting to be a regular event! Yet another broad
ecumenical coalition has gathered together to sign yet another
"covenant" for "common ground" and "civility." The Discernment
Research Group warned over a year ago that this tactic would be
increasing.
(250) Man's
Dangerous
Hunger for the Occult and the Supernatural by Carl
Tiechrib, 3/31/10 Yes, the physical world is a marvelous wonder, filled with many
transfixing and puzzling surprises. It still baffles man by its
beauty and complexity. So too the non-physical universe,
including mental and spiritual components, is a place of
fascination. However, when dabbling and dealing with the
supernatural - and the mind sciences that sometimes attempt to
explain or exploit it-a mental, emotional, and spiritual
minefield is encountered. And just as wandering into a physical
minefield will destroy the body, so too will a spiritual
minefield destroy the soul.
(251) Christian
Leaders
Celebrate Easter But Promote Atonement Deniers - Makes No
Sense by Lighthouse Trails, 4/1/10 The contemplative prayer movement and the new emerging
spirituality continue to wreak havoc on the body of Christ and
on the preaching of the Gospel to the lost. For eight years,
Lighthouse Trails has shown through one report after the next
the teachings by many that outright or indirectly deny the
substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ (the basic essence of
the salvation for the believer). And yet today many Christian
leaders, professors, and pastors continue to promote atonement
deniers or those who resonate with them. And we say again, it
makes no sense to celebrate Easter while promoting those who
deny the atonement. A case in point. Calvary Chapel teacher,
Gayle Erwin, has his endorsement of The Shack on the back cover
of the book and on The Shack website. Yet, Erwin continues
addressing Calvary Chapel pastors (e.g. recently at the SW
Calvary Chapel Pastors Conference with Greg Laurie and other
Calvary Chapel pastors). But William Paul Young, author of The
Shack has denied the biblical substitutionary atonement as we
showed in John Lanagan's 2009 article, The Shack Author Rejects
Biblical Substitutionary Atonement.
(252) Why
Evangelicalism
is failing a new generation as is the Emerging Church
by Apprising Ministries, 4/4/10 And there you go; as a former Southern Baptist, Carol Howard
Merritt would walk away and then find a home in an innovative,
intergenerational congregation within the liberal/progressive
PCUSA. Merritt said above that "this is an important moment for
progressive Christians"; that's where the Emerging Church is
headed, toward a new form of progressive Christianity with its
lie of universalism. So I counter that this is instead a very
critical moment in time for actual evangelicals; do you now have
the spiritual intestinal fortitude to expel such as these-who
are spiritually immoral-from among your midst? Because if you do
not, you'd best know this; their spiritual cancer will also kill
the mainstream of the visible church in just the same way as
that of their evil forebears once mortally wounded the mainline
denominations.
(253) The
Seductive
Poison of Apostasy: A look at "180", a new book from the
Nazarene Publishing House by Eric Barger, April 15,
2010 180 is a compilation of several authors, including Emergent
leader and author, Leonard Sweet, Frederica Mathewes-Green (who,
along with Sweet and Emergent godfather, Brian McLaren,
contributed to the book The Church in the Emerging Culture: Five
Perspectives), G.P (Graham) Taylor (author of Shadowmancer), and
Baptist-bred biographer-turned-fiction-writer, Ace Collins. A
few of the other contributing authors include Emergent youth
speaker, Mark Oestreicher, Karen Spears Zacharias, Patricia
Raybon (who has endorsed contemplative spirituality and favors
Catholic mystics), Cameron Conant and Bob Buford, the founder of
Leadership Network, (the suspected genesis point which spawned
today's Emergent movement and its original leaders). Buford also
served as the initial chairman of the Peter F. Drucker
Foundation for Nonprofit Management, now known as "Leader to
Leader Institute."
(254) Emergent:
"Why
Can't Everybody be Right?" by Bob DeWaay,
4/19/10 Emergent writers decry any approach that declares some ideas to
be true and others false. Propositions force people to decide
what to believe. One Emergent writer, Dwight J. Friesen,
explains his view: "The theological method of orthoparadoxy
surrenders the right to be right for the sake of movement toward
being reconciled one with the other, while simultaneously
seeking to bring the fullness of convictions and beliefs to the
other. Current theological methods that often stress
agreement/disagreement, win/loss, good/bad, orthodoxy/heresy,
and the like set people up for constant battles to convince and
convert the other to their way of believing and being in the
world." Propositional truth claims do not fit into the Emergent
"conversation" because they divide people. But the price of
giving up such claims is to give up the very claims that the
Biblical writers made.
(255) What
Are
We Left With? by Jacob Prasch, Moriel Ministries,
4/2/10 As emergent apostate McLaren continues his satanic agenda to
dismantle the Gospel, and as John Piper promotes Rick Warren,
the real question emerges: "What Are We Really Left With?"
(256) Emerging
Church
Theologian Leonard Sweet Not To Speak At Pastor Skip Heitzig's
Calvary Chapel by Ken Silva, 4/28/10 Sandy Simpson comments: "This is a victory for the
cause of Christ. Let's just hope their claim to not
support the agenda and teachings of the EC is true. Jackie
Alnor comments: "And Phoenix Preacher bloggers have a
collective conniption fit! PP's leader, Michael Newnham says:
"Heitzig just breathed new life into the ODM movement"they are
now empowered as never before." Translation ODM means "online
discernment ministries" which is a derisive term." ... Ken
Silva comments: "Today however, I was contacted by Nelson
Walker, who is a pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque (CoA) where
Skip Heitzig is Senior Pastor. What pastor Walker told me was
that CoA happens to have "beautiful facilities" that are also
sometimes used by others, which would be the case of this
National Worship Leader Conference. He told me that this was not
a CoA event, but even so, Leonard Sweet has been asked "not to
speak though he will be in attendance. Pastor Walker said that
CoA was in not supportive of the Emerging Church."
(257) Questions
Arise:
Is New Age Sympathizer Leonard Sweet Speaking at Calvary
Chapel Albuquerque or Not? by Lighthouse Trails,
5/1/10 Stablein told my associate that a decision whether or not have
Sweet speak at CoA has not yet been made and she felt it was
"premature" for pastor Walker to have said Sweet will definitely
not be speaking at CoA. In addition, I've just spoken myself
with Lighthouse Trails Research (LTR); I was informed that also
on Thursday, April 29 they were contacted by David Bow, another
pastor at CoA. Bow told LTR, at that time, he was under the
impression that Sweet was going to be speaking at CoA. So you
may wish to stay tuned as we attempt to bring this rather fuzzy
picture into focus.
(258) WARNING:
Monvee
- Leadership Network's Spiritual Formation & Mystical
Spirituality by A Ministry In His Service, Sola
Sisters, 5/5/10 In a recent post about Monvee, we talked about Catholic mystic
Thomas Merton who once compared mystical meditation to the same
powerful experience generated by mind-altering drugs. And
as we noted, the problem with mystical meditation is that it is
far more dangerous than drugs. Monvee, the new product put
out by Leadership Network, markets itself as a way for
Christians to draw closer to God through something called
"Spiritual Formation." But, the Spiritual Formation
techniques taught by Monvee, which are the same thing as the
"mystical meditation" referenced by Thomas Merton, are identical
to classic occultic meditation practices taught in Hinduism,
Buddhism, wicca, paganism,etc.
(259) The
National
Worship Leader Conference is still advertising that both Skip
Heitzig and Leonard Sweet will be speaking at their conference
at the Calvary Chapel Albequerque church by Ken Silva,
5/8/10 A number of Lighthouse Trails' readers contacted us over the
last couple days sending us copies of an email they each
received from an undisclosed personnel at Calvary Chapel
Albuquerque. The form letter states: Thank you for contacting us
here at The Connection and thanks for writing to Pastor Skip. We
always love to hear from you. The conference is not a Calvary
conference. The conference is being put on by Worship
Leader Magazine using our facility - just like CAPE, Home school
graduation, funerals, etc. Therefore, Leonard Sweet is not
speaking at "Skip's Church". [LT: Heitzig is one of the
speakers at this event.] He is part of a conference using
Calvary's facilities. Leonard Sweet will attend the conference
but WILL NOT BE SPEAKING. It is our prayer that God will
continue to reveal Himself to you through His Word as you seek
to know Him.Love in Christ, Connection Communications. Despite
these emails sent out by CCA, Leonard Sweet AND Skip Heitzig
are listed as speakers. What is Skip's picture and name
doing there if he is not a part of it? So what is this garbage
about Skip just letting them use his church? Someone is not
telling the truth!
(260) Letter
to
the Editor: National Worship Conference & Calvary Chapel
Not a Good Mix at Lighthouse Trails, 5/13/10 I have been reading your posts regarding C.C. Albuquerque and
Leonard Sweet. I thought you might like the following
information so that we might all be able to determine the truth
regarding this matter. According to Calvary Chapel Albuquerque's
website on their upcoming events page, Dr. Leonard Sweet will in
fact be speaking. If you scroll down to about the 17th event "
National Worship Conference " there is an audio promo posted
which states that Mr. Sweet will in fact be speaking:
http://www.calvaryabq.org/events.asp I would also like to point
out that Leonard Sweet while blatantly New Age, is not the only
speaker in question. There are many other people in this
upcoming conference who are a part of Saddleback and Willow
Creek. Both pastors of both churches, Rick Warren* and Bill
Hybels respectively, are graduates of the Robert Schuller School
of Church Leadership, and both pastors also endorse
contemplative prayer, a 'Christianized' brand of Hindu
meditation practices.
(261) Beyond
a
Doubt: Contemplative Spirituality = New Age Movement
by Ray Yungen, 5/18/10 Before writing my book, A Time of Departing, I made sure I
could prove, beyond a doubt, that contemplative prayer had not
only slipped into the Christian faith, but also prove it is an
integral part of the New Age movement.
(262) Emerging or
Submerging? by Brian Brodersen, Calvary Chapel
Magazine, Issue 44, Summer 2010
Finally a good response from a Calvary Chapel pastor to the influx
of Emergent teachings into Calvary Chapels. The only
statement I disagree with in this article is that Brodersen says:
"I believe time will tell that this new movement will turn out to
be nothing more than a passing fancy of a few disenchanted
men." We know from long experience that heresy begets heresy
and does not really ever go away till Christ comes back which is
why we must reject it. However this article does call EC teachings
what they are ... heresy. Thanks for this article
Brian.
(264) The
Other
Side of Emergent: The New Apostolic Reformation by
Herescope, 6/1/10 Today is the launching of a new book, co-authored by Leonard
Sweet and Frank Viola. This marks the open marriage of the
Emergent movement with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).
Sweet and Viola's book, Jesus Manifesto, is subtitled "Restoring
the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ," and it pushes
the envelope on redefining Jesus, including "You can be a Jesus
Manifest."[2] A quick glance at the lineup of key endorsers for
this book includes a list of who's who in Emergent, the Latter
Rain cult, neoevangelicalism and the New Apostolic Reformation.
(265) Using
Contemplative/Centering
Prayer as "Christian" Meditation by Ken Silva,
Apprising Ministries, 6/4/10 The most dangerous aspect of the new spirituality is this idea
of some supposed "spiritual disciplines," which must be
performed in order to more fully "experience" God.
(266) A
Revolutionary World Peace - Whose Revolution? by
Warren Smith, 6/6/10 As more and more talk arises about a "spiritual revolution" or
awakening, believers should be asking, is this a revolution from
God? Or is this coming global "revolution" part of the great
falling away of which the Bible speaks? Consider the following
article by Warren B. Smith, and next time you hear a Christian
leader talking about revolution, ask yourself, "Whose revolution
is this?"
(267) Deceitful
Mysticism by Ken Silva, 6/10/10 In recent posts such as Leonard Sweet, Frank Viola, And The
Third Way and Root Of This New Downgrade here at Apprising
Ministries I've been showing you how deeply the practice, and
results, of Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) within
the pretending to be Protestant squishy evanjellyfish community.
And in Mark Driscoll And Neo-Reformed New Calvinist
Contemplative Spirituality I've also shown you that CSM has now
pretty much metastasized throughout the church visible as it's
now even festering within the neo-Reformed camp.
(268) A
Subtle And Dangerous Shift In Christianity By Marsha
West, News With Views, June 13, 2010
It seems everyone's practicing yoga meditation these days.
Physicians recommend it to their patients which means it's
beneficial"right? Meditation is said to relieve stress, anxiety,
hypertension, acne and post-nasal drip, so go for it! Just tighten
those abdominal muscles, inhale deeply and chant Maaaaaaaaa all in
one breath and your concerns will drift away like a feather
floating on the win........
(269) Saddleback
Promotes
Chrstianized Mantra Meditation by by Christine Pack,
Sola Sisters, 6/15/10 Rick Warren's Saddleback Church website features two books by
Quaker and mystic Richard Foster, today's leading proponent of
something known as "Spiritual Disciplines" or "Spiritual
Formation." Also promoted are several other books focusing
on the Spiritual Disciplines, which teach a practice that is
nothing more than a "Christianized" version of mantra
meditation, a pagan practice borrowed from Hinduism and
Buddhism. In this pagan practice, a person will "empty"
the mind employing some kind of device: rhythmic music,
repeating a word or phrase, focusing on breathing, etc., in an
attempt to connect to God.
(271) Dangerous
Prayers by Paul Proctor, News With Views, June 25,
2010 You see, there are those in the Church today who practice what
is called "Contemplative Prayer" - a New Age style mantra that
is all about emptying one's mind to allegedly "find God within"
by repeating certain words or phrases over and over until the
mind is disengaged and no longer thinking - achieving an altered
state of consciousness or (alpha state) known as "The Silence"
which is indeed "dangerous" considering it opens one up to what
the Bible calls "familiar spirits" (demonic influences). It's
rooted in Eastern Mysticism where it is more commonly referred
to as "Transcendental Meditation."
(272) Rising
Christian
Imperialism Fueled By Dominionism Theology by Don
Koenig, Apprising Ministries, 7/2/10 Most Christians might think I would have to be nuts to warn
others about the possibility of rising Christian imperialism at
a time when Christianity is under oppression by the secular Far
Left and Islam but apart from my mental condition I try to stay
one step ahead of the curve.
(273) Dialectic
Deception:
Do you know where they are taking you? by Sandy
Simpson, exceprt from the DVD "The Emerging Church", 7/2/10
Sandy Simpson on Dialectic Deception. The following video link
is to a segment from Concerned Nazarenes DVD project on the new
spirituality. This particular segment is an interview between
missionary Sandy Simpson (founder of Deception in the Church)
and interviewer John Loeffler.
(274) Experiencing
God
through Deceitful Mysticism by James Sundquist,
Richard Bennett, Berean Beacon Ministries and a former Roman
Catholic Priest, 7/9/10 - YouTube video Professional deception and clever fraudulence are running
rampant in mystical claims to experience God. Thus, the
signature of Satan is seen in St. John of the Cross, Ignatius
Loyola, Madame Guyon, Carl Jung, Richard Foster, and in such as
Mother Teresa, Rick Warren, Brian McLaren, Leonard Sweet,
Phyllis Tickle, and other deceivers of the Emerging Church
movement who transmit this plague. In this illustrated
DVD, Richard Bennett and James Sundquist expose the deceitful
shams that prevail at the present time. They also explain
the scriptural method of biblical meditation and genuinely
experiencing God.
(275) Is
BSF
(Bible Study Fellowship) Heading in the Contemplative
Direction? by Lighthouse Trails, 7/13/10 Bible Study Fellowship, a ministry of Bible studies that has
been around for over 50 years, is utilized by many Bible
believing Christians. On the BSF website, it states: "In all,
there are over 1,000 BSF classes with 200,000 class members in
38 nations across six continents! Over 800 of the classes are
held in the U.S." Recently, a number of BSF
supporters/participants contacted Lighthouse Trails with
concerns that the organization may be becoming influenced by
contemplative sources, most likely unbeknownst to many or most
of BSF board of directors and Bible Study teachers. In the May
2010 issue of the BSF magazine, a book list includes three
contemplative proponents: contemplative pioneer Dallas Willard,
emerging proponent Dan Allender, and Pastor Timothy Keller of
Redeemed Presbyterian in New York.
(276) The
CORNERSTONE
Festival - My Cornerstone Experience by Herescope,
7/16/10 Among the bands and speakers, there were a many Dominionists,
Vineyard, and Protestant/Catholic combined peoples putting out
their theology. The Gospel may have been presented, but not once
did I hear mention of Jesus Christ's sanctifying work or His
precious gift of salvation. Instead I heard about the greatness
of the monks and the need to make productive communities.
(277) Update
on
the Church of the Nazarene and the Emerging/Contemplative
Movement: Where are the Battlegrounds? by Reformed
Nazarene, 7/16/10 The Emergent Church Movement is a serious problem for the
Christian church. It threatens practically all Christians
regardless of denomination. I've been a Nazarene all my
life, but if you are reading this and are anything but Nazarene,
it probably makes no difference. Whether you are Southern
Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Calvary Chapel, or one of many
other evangelical denominations, chances are you are either
facing this danger, or you will be soon.
(278) Did
Jesus
Teach the Divinity of Humanity? - Investigating the
intent of Jesus' statement, "You are gods" by Pastor
Larry DeBruyn, 8/3/10 Mystic, New Age, cultic and Word of Faith spiritualists
commonly assume that in the essence of their being they are
divine, that either they are or can become gods.[1] For example,
by employing The Third Eye mystics attempt to contemplate into a
consciousness of their divine nature.
(279) Evangelical
Christianity
Catapulted into Seeing "God" with New Interspiritual Eyes
by Ray Yungen, 8/13/10 Contemplative advocates propose that there has been something
vital and important missing from the church for centuries. The
insinuation is that Christians have been lacking something
necessary for their spiritual vitality; but that would mean the
Holy Spirit has not been fully effective for hundreds of years
and only now the secret key has been found that unlocks God's
full power to know Him. These proponents believe that
Christianity has been seriously crippled without this extra
ingredient. This kind of thinking leads one to believe that
traditional, biblical Christianity is merely a philosophy
without the contemplative prayer element. Contemplatives are
making a distinction between studying and meditating on the Word
of God versus experiencing Him, suggesting that we cannot hear
Him or really know Him simply by studying His Word or even
through normal prayer-we must be contemplative to accomplish
this. But the Bible makes it clear that the Word of God is
living and active, and has always been that way, and it is in
filling our minds with it that we come to love Him, not through
a mystical practice of stopping the flow of thought (the
stillness) that is never once mentioned in the Bible, except in
warnings against vain repetitions.
(280) A
Special Report: Christianity Today Treats Contemplative
Controversy as Legitimate Issue in Cover Story About Beth
Moore by Lighthouse Trails Editors, 8/16/10 In the August 2010 cover story of Christianity Today, the
magazine has brought out two things that the major Christian
media has thus far ignored - one, that Beth Moore, described as
"the most popular Bible teacher in America" by CT is a
proponent of contemplative prayer, and two, that there is a
debate over whether contemplative meditation is of Eastern
religious origin or not. This Lighthouse Trails special report
will look at both of these facets, Beth Moore's contemplative
propensities (incidentally, she is noted in CT for
influencing "millions" of women) and the vital question as to
whether contemplative prayer is indeed rooted in Eastern
mysticism.
(281) From
Truth
to a New Spirituality by Berit Kjos, March 10,
2008
To view a chart showing the transition from truth to a New
Spirituality, click the link above. This is a helpful tool when
trying to explain to others how this transition is taking place in
the world, and in the church today.
(282) Sexuality
in
the New Reformation by Roger Oakland, 8/24/10 It may seem out of place to include a section on sexuality in
[Faith Undone] on the postmodern reformation. However, one
aspect of the topic cannot be ignored, and it has become an
earmark in the emerging church-that aspect is related to
homosexuality.
(283) Letter
from
a Victim of "Spiritual Formation" in his Church from
Nick, a Lighthouse Trails reader, 8/25/10 I'm praying on once again opening dialogue with my Pastor (by
e-mail) and asking bluntly if the church is Emergent and/or
Universalist. I don't know if he's rationalized the
changes or truly doesn't see the danger involved, but his
ministry staff is all for it, and sadly even his wife (Creative
Arts Ministry Director). My heart goes out to him and yet I have
this need to have him say yes, so I can move on. I know
this is not right, yet I can't seem to help myself. God
continues to show me that this is not going away.
(284) A
Warning And A Plea by Ray Yungen, 9/3/10 Many people today believe that it is wrong to talk about and
warn of an endtime, apocolyptic time period. Rather, they say,
we should spend time meditating and employing our higher powers
to reach happiness and enlightenment in life. We each have a
choice to make. Do we seek after this consciousness, or do we
humbly call upon the living God and accept His free gift of
salvation and eternal life?
(285) Confronting
The Superstitious Church Of The 21st Century by G.
Richard Fisher, PFO, 1998 How do we go about resisting the superstition, the fads, the
nonsense and mysticism that has overtaken the Church at large?
1) A Total Commitment To The Doctrines Of Scripture.2) A Total
Commitment To The Local Church. 3) Total Commitment To and
Reliance On The Christ Of The Scriptures.
(286) Christian
Broadcast
Network (CBN) Peddling Contemplative Spirituality by
Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 9/6/10 You are probably aware that CBN stands for the Christian
Broadcasting Network, which was started by Pat Robertson[2], and
is very popular with-as well as highly influential within-the
more middle-of-the-road crowd of the charismatic and Pentecostal
movement; whereas the Trinity Broadcasting Network comprises
sort of the lunatic fringe, and the more heretical, of the Word
Faith movement. So you see, with CBN and its programming, we're
undoubtedly dealing here with a very large segment of Christians
within the church visible. Not long ago in Beth Moore Attacks
The Protestant Reformation, if you don't know Moore is a wildly
popular SBC Bible teacher who works closely with the
aforementioned Shirer, I reminded you that the crown jewel of
CSM is a form of meditation in an altered state of consciousness
known as Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP); i.e.
transcendental meditation lightly sprayed with Christian
terminology. It has become a real source of concern for those of
us in the ministry field of online apologetics and discernment
because this spurious CCP, which attacks the Reformation
principle of Sola Scriptura, is now even associated with people
around the neo-Reformed camp like "New Calvinists" such as Dr.
Tim Keller, and the controversial Mark Driscoll with his church
planting Acts 29 Network, which is already on the outskirts of
the Emerging Church.
(288)Eucharistic
Adoration
and the Emerging Church by Roger Oakland,
9/12/10 When Christians begin to chase after powerful mystical
experiences that supposedly bring them closer to Christ, this
becomes like a slippery slope that will have disastrous results.
The emerging church is on this slope.
(289) Jim
Wallis
and Soujourners making Muslim-Christians by Ken Silva,
9/25/10 That's precisely what's wrong with a lot of "mission" work in
the big tent way; there's no such thing as "a biblical faith"
that functions as part of "a Reformation movement within" a
pagan religion. You need to understand that apart from faith in
God through Jesus Christ all other religions, no matter how
noble they may appear on a purely human level, are idolatry i.e.
worship a false god that is, in reality, at least a demon.
(290) Dallas
Willard
Says: Follow the Example of Mystic Teresa of Avila by
Carolyn A. Greene, 10/3/10 Many Christian organizations, schools, and ministries are using
the writings of Spiritual Formation pioneer (and a colleague of
Richard Foster) Dallas Willard. Yet on his website, he tells his
readers to follow the example of Teresa of Avila. (source) If
you have not read the based on a true story novel Castles in the
Sand, we highly recommend it as it shows the truth behind
spiritual formation and focuses in particularly on Teresa of
Avila, a Catholic nun from several centuries ago who used
mystical experiences to "enter God's presence," even to the
point of levitating. Below is a chapter from Castles in the
Sand by Carolyn A. Greene. Then you decide if Dallas
Willard is giving sound advice when he says that Teresa of Avila
is an example to follow.
(291) The
Emerging
Church And Spiritual Evolution by Ken Silva,
10/5/10 I've told you here at Apprising Ministries that evangelicalism
made a horrible mistake when it embraced the sinfully ecumenical
neo-liberal cult of the Emerging Church-a veritable Trojan Horse
full of heresy-now blossomed into an Emerging Church 2.0 pushing
its new form of postmodern Progressive Christianity as "big
tent" Emergence Christianity.
(292) The
New
Age Movement: Who's Laughing Now? by Bud Press,
Christian Research Service, September 9, 2008 Years ago, many laughed and brushed-off the New Age Movement as
a mere fad that would eventually fade away. But behind the
scenes, it slithered into every strata of our society--homes,
elementary and high schools, bookstores, jobs, colleges,
universities, churches, and pulpits.
(293) Southern
Baptist
leader on yoga: Not Christianity by Dylan Lovan,
Associated Press, Oct 7, 2010 LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A Southern Baptist leader who is calling for
Christians to avoid yoga and its spiritual attachments is
getting plenty of pushback from enthusiasts who defend the
ancient practice. Southern Baptist Seminary President Albert
Mohler says the stretching and meditative discipline derived
from Eastern religions is not a Christian pathway to God.
(294) Ancient-Future
Spirituality
Not Biblical by Roger Oakland, 10/9/10 (Robert) Webber, like many emergent leaders, was trying to
differentiate between Roman Catholic and catholic (as a
universal body). However, the Roman Catholic Church does not
make this distinction because they claim an apostolic succession
of papacy (popes) beginning with the apostle Peter. Therefore,
all of Catholicism is Roman Catholicism. Some in the emerging
church do not show an attachment to the authority of the papacy
but embrace the practices and early history of the Catholic
Church as described above by Webber. But many Protestants who
began by attaching themselves to the history, teachings, and
practices of the early Catholic Church have now taken the
natural next step of becoming Roman Catholic. (For more on this,
see chapter 5, Faith Undone.)
(295) Biblical
Atonement
or New Age At-One-Ment? by Warren B. Smith,
10/14/10 This "Atonement," or "atoning," is when each person remembers
and affirms and experiences their "oneness" (at-one-ment) with
God and creation. The "Atonement" is the Course's key to undoing
"fear" and dispelling the illusion that man is "separate" from
God. The Course stresses that the healing of the world is
dependent upon each person's fulfilling their Atonement
"function" to teach this "oneness" to the world. When everyone
comes to understand that "all is love and all is God," then
"inner peace" and "world peace" will finally happen. Only "fear"
and the illusion of "separation" stand in the way of man's
attaining this peace for himself and his world. (For more on
this and the "false christ," read Warren B. Smith's new
Lighthouse Trails release, False Christ Coming: Does Anybody
Care?
(296) Emerging
Church
Leader Samir Selmanovic Worships With Witches by Ken
Silva, 10/15/10 Well, accolades from apostates aside, you should be able to see
that with FHM Samir Selmanovic is in violation of God's Word
with this interspiritual worship; it's well beyond simply
befriending people of other faith, which is desirable for the
Christian. No, with Selmanovic and others in the Emergent Church
we cross the line into participating in pagan religions, which
has always been something God forbids. O, but just because Jesus
wants us to know - what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons
and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons
(1 Corinthians 10:20), heretics like Selmanovic aren't going to
let a little thing like what the Lords says stop them because
they are - lovers of self (2 Timothy 3:2).
(297) Christians
Troubled
When They Learn The Truth About Yoga by Marsha West,
News With Views, 10/16/10 Believers are called to meditate upon the Word of God - an
external Word that comes to us by divine revelation - not to
meditate by means of incomprehensible syllables." -Albert Mohler
"All forms of yoga involve occult assumptions, even hatha yoga,
which is often presented as a merely physical discipline."
-Douglas Groothuis
(298) Fighting
Spiritual
Evolution In The Emerging Church by Ken Silva,
10/18/10 I want you to realize that the prevailing view in contemporary
educational institutions is postmodern. Emergent is postmodern
theology. I talked to a college professor from Japan who spoke
at a conference here in America that was attended only by other
college professors-Christian ones. He said almost to a person
those professors were postmodern. They were praising people like
Stanley Grenz for saving evangelicalism from irrelevance.
(299) COLLEGE
ALERT:
CMA Simpson University Students Seek Contemplative Chapel
Experience reported by Lighthouse Trails Research,
October 19th, 2010 Simpson University in Redding California (part of Christian
Missionary Alliance) is just one of countless Christian schools
that has gone into the contemplative/emerging camp. Please see
our links below this article for more information.
(300) In
Need
of a Pastor for Your Church? Try Looking at NON-Contemplative
Collegesby Lighthouse Trails Editors, 10/20/10 We received the following email today from a pastor in Belgium.
We are posting it because we believe there are many Christian
churches who start off with biblically-based pastors but end up
with pro-contemplative, pro-emerging replacement pastors because
they are often choosing new pastors from Christian colleges,
universities, and seminaries, of which the majority are training
future pastors right into the "new" spirituality. If your church
is in search of a new pastor, please use wisdom,
knowledge, and discernment, praying always that the Lord will
guide you. And if your particular denomination is one that
is especially bent toward the contemplative/emerging
spirituality (sadly, most of the denominations are this way -
some more than others), then you have a bigger challenge than
you may have realized.
(301) A
Glorious Destiny? by Roger Oakland, 10/22/10 Neale Donald Walsch, a prominent leader in the New Age, is one
of those with new reformation on his mind. He states: "We are
suggesting that people become modern day Martin Luther's and
take the five steps to peace and tack them up on church house
doors, as Martin Luther did with his 95 theses in 1517 in
Wittenburg, Germany, which started of course, the first
Reformation. Our intention is to stimulate the second great
Reformation of world religion. That is our intention, our goal
and our purpose. We intend to, in fact, inspire the second great
Reformation of world religion." Comments like the one above are
quite interesting because Walsch is not a Christian, but he
speaks of a religious reformation he is hoping to witness. But
Walsch's reformation does not include Jesus Christ.
(303) Atonement
Wars by Gary Gilley, 11/4/10 When Steve Chalk and Brian McLaren accused evangelicals who
believed in the substitutionary death of Christ of embracing a
form of Divine child abuse,[1] Christians everywhere did a
double-take. Having sung with gusto for years that great
line penned by Charles Wesley, "Amazing love, how can it be that
Thou my God shouldst die for me" Christians could not believe
that they were being accused of promoting child abuse by men who
claimed to be at least on the fringes of the evangelical
community. What McLaren and Chalk had done was bring
to the surface for all to see the long-standing debate by
theologians about the meaning of the cross. Almost
no one in Christian circles doubts the historicity of the
crucifixion, but why Christ died has long been contested.
Of late, due to the rising popularity of everything from the
Emergent Church to the Ancient-Future Faith movement to the New
Perspective on Paul, the significance of Christ's cross-work,
often called the atonement, has regained traction. In
particular what has often been called "penal substitution," that
the Son, "suffer[ed] instead of us the death, punishment and
curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for sin" has come
under intense attack.[2] It is the purpose of this study
to identify the various views held by Christians on the
atonement, analyze briefly the three major theories, and then
develop a biblical defense for penal substitution as the central
meaning and purpose behind the cross. Read Part
1 & Part
2.
(304) On
Spiritual
Formation by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, Contemplative
Spirituality, 11/11/10 Within evangelical movement, especially on the part of the
emerging church, we hear a lot of talk about "spiritual
formation."[1] The difference I have with the spiritual
formation movement is not regarding the destination-Paul wrote
that Christians need to grow-up "to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13)-but
over the journey, how emerging evangelicals are proposing we get
there. As the Holy Spirit incorporates Christ within and among
believers, He sets Christ-likeness as the objective for every
believer because that is the very meaning of the name,
"Christian."
(305) VCY
America/Lighthouse
Trails Radio Show on Those Who Claim Orthodox Christianity But
Promote Emerging/Contemplative by Lighthouse Trails
Editors, 11/17/10 On Tuesday, November 16th, Ingrid Schlueter invited Lighthouse
Trails editor Deborah Dombrowski on the CrossTalk radio
program to discuss Christian figures who claim to hold to
orthodox Christian doctrinal statements yet continually promote
the emerging/contemplative spirituality. You can listen to this
broadcast by clicking here.
(306) Author/Lecturer
Roger
Oakland Says Good-bye to Calvary Chapel by Lighthouse
Trails Editors, 11/23/10 The initial reaction by Chuck Smith over Faith Undone, released
in 2007, was very favorable. But that was not the consensus by
many in the movement. Roger had named names, including Rick
Warren as well as Chuck Smith's nephew Chuck Fromm (editor of
Worship Leadermagazine). Soon, Roger began feeling the heat for
speaking up. A number of events took place, many of which
Lighthouse Trails reported on as they occurred.
(307) Bible
Gateway
Now Gateway to Heretical Authors - Could Point Millions to
Emerging Teachings by John Lanagan, 11/28/10 For years Bible Gateway has been relied upon for accurate Bible
translation. In 2008, Bible Gateway was purchased by
Zondervan Publishing, and for some months now, Bible Gateway's
online General Store has served as gateway to a number of
heretical authors.
(308) The
Dangers
of Yoga - Introduction (MP3 Audio Message) by Chris
Lawson, Spiritual Research Network, 12/5/10 This introductory message entitled the Dangers of Yoga -
Introduction is for Christians and non-Christians alike. The
message includes an overview of why yoga is dangerous and why
Christians are deceived in their thinking that they can combine
yoga with the Christian faith. The message includes
definitions of Yoga, the biblical prohibition in Deuteronomy 18
condemning any and all involvement with the world of the occult,
"occultism" defined, the philosophy and practice of yoga cannot
be separated, the aim and purpose of all yoga - Kundalini
arousal and possession states [called Enlightenment in India],
overview of Dangers of Yoga series, and more.
(309) The
"Creeping"
Effect - The New Age and Evangelical Christianity by
Ray Yungen, 12/6/10 If you have ever wondered why New Age authors and their
teachings are creeping past many Christians, then maybe the
definition of creeping might help. The term means: slowly
advancing at a speed that is not really apparent until you look
back over a long time period. For instance, creeping inflation
is not noticed in the short term, but when one looks back over
twenty to thirty years, it is shocking. A meal that cost two
dollars in 1970 now may cost eight dollars-however, the increase
moved so slowly that the impact was diminished.
(310) Philip
Yancey
and the Gay Christian Network by Ken Silva,
12/8/10 ... here we have Philip Yancey, an alleged evangelical
Protestant and editor at large for Christianity Today magazine,
going to apostate Roman Catholic mystics to learn about prayer.
He even says that if we want to "go deeper" into
Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP), meditation in an altered
state of consciousness which is the crowning jewel of CSM,
"there's Thomas Merton."
(311) Spread
Of
Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism: Lectio Divina by
Ken Silva, 12/9/10 A main focus of the online apologetics and discernment ministry
Apprising Ministries has been covering the rise in popularity
within Protestant evangelicalism of practicing corrupt
Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) ala Living Spiritual
Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster and his spiritual twin
Dallas Willard. It's a rapidly spreading-and very dangerous-fad;
and if left unchecked by spiritually timid evangelical leaders,
at the very least CSM is going to be the cause of much division
within the church visible, and at its worst it will blur
doctrinal distinctives to the point of laying foundation for a
Global Religion.
(312) Mysticism
by Gary Gilley, 12/9/10
Article that catalogs the entrance of mysticism into evengelical
Christianity. Read Part
1, Part
2, Part
3, Part
4, & Part
5.
(313) The Emergent Church
Teaching On The Trinity "Loving Community" by Sandy
Simpson, 12/10/10 There is a fairly new teaching in the Emergent Church (EC) on
the Trinity as an example of a "loving community" thereby giving
evidence that anyone who names the name of Christ is to be a
loving community, in unity with "humanity".
(314) Max
Lucado's
Quoting Of Contemplative Mystics by Lighthouse Trails,
12/17/10 Cure for the Common Life, by author Max Lucado, is a book about
"living in your sweet spot." Lucado tells readers in chapter one
to "[h]eed that inner music," and quoting mystic Martin Buber
from his book, The Way of Man (a book on Jewish mysticism),
Lucado tells readers they each have a "divine spark." Buber had
panentheistic affinities as he embraced the teachings of
Hasidism (Jewish mysticism) and believed that this divine spark
that Lucado refers to is in every human being and every part of
creation. Through Lucado's book he quotes other mystics and
contemplatives: Saint Thomas Aquinas,Thomas Merton, Eugene
Peterson and Richard Foster.
(315) Letter
to
the Editor: Contemplative Prayer Alive and "Well" in American
Churches at Lighthouse Trails, 12/19/10 This fall I ordered Ray Yungen's book, A Time of Departing, and
was also sent Roger Oakland's book, Faith Undone. Thank
you! I first devoured Ray's book and finished Roger's this
morning. "Speechless" is how I feel! I hardly know what to
say, except that I am very grateful for their research and
writing. Ten years ago I may have wondered what it was
they were upset about; however, in recent years I can attest
personally to some of these atrocities within the church.
A few years ago, we were members of a PCUSA church in which the
associate pastor and his wife (dear friends) delved full-speed
into studies, sessions, and retreats on Prayer (contemplative,
meditative, breath, Taize, etc.). I participated but all
the while sensed there was something not right about all of
it. All of what Ray and Roger mention regarding
contemplative prayer and related mysticism is definitely alive
and well. And, we are in a mid-size midwest town.
(317) Considering
Reiki?
Watch This Video First posted by Lighthouse Trails,
12/29/10
Video on the practice of Reiki invading the churches as promoted
by the Emerging Church.
(318) The
Emerging
Church Is Unaware It's Dead by Ken Silva,
12/31/10 Its primary legacy is that through its core doctrine of corrupt
Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM), masquerading as
spurious Spiritual Formation ala Living Spiritual Teacher and
Quaker mystic Richard Foster and his spiritual twin Dallas
Willard, the Emergent Church leaders have been quite successful
in taking the focus off proper Christian spirituality; and
instead putting it upon mere subjective feelings.
(319) Spread
Of
Contemplative Spiritualiy/Mysticism: Lectio Divina by
Ken Silva, 1/1/11 It's a rapidly spreading-and very dangerous-fad; and if left
unchecked by spiritually timid evangelical leaders, at the very
least CSM is going to be the cause of much division within the
church visible, and at its worst it will blur doctrinal
distinctives to the point of laying foundation for a Global
Religion.
(320) Be
Prepared
- A Vast Number Are Coming in Christ's Name by Ray
Yungen, 1/7/11 I have heard two interpretations of Jesus' reply. The first
interpretation asserts various individuals will claim to be the
returning, incumbent Jesus Christ. The other view says a number
of messiah figures will appear and gather followers to
themselves in a similar fashion to cult leader Jim Jones or
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the guru leader who set up his idea of
utopia in Oregon. I now believe neither of these interpretations
encompass the bigger picture. It is in light of numerous New Age
statements that Matthew 24 takes on new significance.
(321) Baptism,
Bible
... and beer? by Patrick Condon, Associated Press,
1/7/2011 A Minnesota bar is one of the unconventional places of worship
around the country fostered by an evangelical movement known as
"the emerging church."
(322) The Truth Behind The
Postmodern Emergent Church by Sandy Simpson,
1/7/11 I am quite familiar with what drives the younger generation
today because it was what I had to repent of when I was a
youth. So I know the desire to try to justify yourself and
what you are doing because you want to be able to continue to do
those things while assuaging your conscience because so many
others are doing them along with you. I attempted some of
the same tactics when I had drifted away from the Lord early in
my life. But no amount of jury-rigging the truth can
change God's absolute truth. The bottom line is that, as
believers, we either have to choose to follow the foolishness of
men or the wisdom of God. 1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of
this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written:
"He catches the wise in their craftiness"; {Job 5:13}
(323) Does the
emergent church movement preach the gospel that saves?
by Mike Oppenheimer, 1/10/11 An appeal to pursuers of the new church movements. We have a
duty to be keepers, protectors and proclaimers of the gospel, it
is to be the same message that was given to the apostles nearly
2,000 years ago. What has saved us is to save others. This
gospel can be changed from applying new innovations. Even Brian
McLaren admits the way that emerging church presents the message
can be changing the gospel.
(324) Samir
Selmanovic,
The Emerging Church and Pagan New Humanism by Ken
Silva, 2/17/11 When we look at the bio on his personal website, we find that
Samir Selmanovic has "been integral to the birth of the emerging
church movement, serving as a member of the Coordinating Group
of Emergent Village, as well as representing emergents at the
Interfaith Relations Commission of the National Council of
Churches."[1] So, as one of the leaders within this EC-seeker
driven for the "counter-culture"-movement he's a primary source
as to what its warped and toxic theology is all about: The love
of the self (cf. 2 Timothy 3:2), i.e. mankind in love with its
own kind. We may indeed be living in the time when we'll at
least see the beginning of the end of the Age of Grace.
(325) The
New
Age Christian-An Accepted Oxymoron by Ray Yungen,
2/18/11 The current popularity with meditative mysticism presents a
very new and perplexing challenge for evangelical Christianity.
We are beginning to encounter the New Age or Aquarian Christian.
This new term describes someone who remains in his or her home
church and professes the Christian faith but has also
incorporated various aspects of the New Age or Aquarian mindset
into his or her life. New Age author David Spangler was very
optimistic about the possibility of this integration when he
wrote, "The point is that the New Age is here " it builds itself
and forms itself in the midst of the old."1
(326) PARENTS
BEWARE:
American Girl Doll Company Recommends Yoga, Mantras,
Meditation, and Breath Prayers by Lighthouse Trails,
2/27/11 American Girl is a doll company that has had a reputation for
selling wholesome dolls; for many Christian parents, American
Girl has been an alternative to Barbie Dolls. Once
included in American Doll's mission statement was the goal to
"reinforce positive social and moral values."1 That statement
was found on their website in 2000. But American Girl today is
reinforcing and promoting New Age practices.
(329) Postmodern
Liberalism
Pits Jesus Against The Bible by Ken Silva,
3/6/11 Unfortunately, we're living in a time of growing spiritual
blindness as Jesus sends 1 Peter 4:17 judgments against the
visible Christian church; this darkness is why mainstream
evangelicalism would make such a foolish decision to embrace the
sinfully ecumenical neo-liberal cult of the Emergent Church aka
the Emerging Church with its quasi-universalism in a new version
of postmodern Progressive Christian theology under their
spiritual circus "big tent" of empty Emergence Christianity.
Apprising Ministries brings you the following words of warning
circa 1985 by Dr. Walter Martin (1928-1989), a renowned defender
of what he so often referred to as "the historic orthodox
Christian faith."
(330) Nazarene
Pastor
Fired For Fighting Emergent Ideology by Manny Silva,
Concerned Nazarenes, 2/20/10 Disturbing trends continue to develop in our
denomination. Recently, I sent out a prayer request for a
pastor and his church that decided to leave the Nazarene
denomination, rather than stay and bow to emergent ideology and
priorities. Soon, I will be posting some information
regarding those who have been forced to leave their churches
("Divorced From The Church"). More and more Bible
believing Nazarenes are finding themselves ostracized and are
even being labeled as cult members, hateful, dividers, "used by
the devil""etc. On and on it goes, with no biblical
justification! Students are subject to ridicule or
harassment for standing up against unbiblical teachings at their
universities.
(332) The
New
Age Christian-An Accepted Oxymoron by Ray Yungen,
Lighthouse Trails Research, March 18, 2011 The current popularity with meditative mysticism presents a
very new and perplexing challenge for evangelical Christianity.
We are beginning to encounter the New Age or Aquarian Christian.
This new term describes someone who remains in his or her home
church and professes the Christian faith but has also
incorporated various aspects of the New Age or Aquarian mindset
into his or her life. New Age author David Spangler was very
optimistic about the possibility of this integration when he
wrote, "The point is that the New Age is here " it builds itself
and forms itself in the midst of the old."
(333) WIDE
IS THE GATE- The Emerging New Christianity by Caryl Matrisciana, 3/21/11 When Christianity starts to leave the
Bible out of the equation, apostasy isn't far off! YouTube
video featuring Caryl Matrisciana, Roger Oakland, Mike Gendron
and others.
(334) Body-Mind-Spirit
-
Changing Science, Changing Mindby Herescope,
3/29/11 The New Age Movement has always seen itself as being in charge
of the healthcare reform agenda. This may surprise people who
think that this is just a secular political agenda. From its
very beginning healthcare reform was intended to be the chief
conduit for global mind change. To the New Age "Aquarians,"
healthcare reform itself was viewed as a channel in an occult
sense, a pathway to communicate a New Age worldview. To pull off
this massive shift would necessitate a transformation from a
scientific paradigm to the mystical. Medicine needed to become
holistic with an active spirituality component - the New Age/New
Spirituality.
(335) David
Jeremiah's
Book Life Wide Open - Still Sold on His Website - Still
Includes New Agers by Lighthouse Trails, 3/29/11
Lighthouse Trails receives emails from time to time from
readers asking if there is still "a problem" with David Jeremiah
and his 2003 (redone in 2005) book, Life Wide Open. In the
second edition of A Time of Departingby Ray Yungen is an expose
about the book, and today some question as to whether our report
is still relevant has arisen. Because David Jeremiah continues
selling the book on his website and through the general book
marketing avenues (Amazon, etc), we believe our report remains
valid.
(336) How
the
"Quantum Christ" (God is in everything) is Tranforming the
World . . . and Entering the Church! by Warren B.
Smith, 3/30/11 In his 2009 book So Beautiful, Leonard Sweet underscores his
quantum "relational worldview"14 by favorably quoting from
William Young's The Shack regarding relationship.15 He also
tells readers to look to Margaret Wheatley's Leadership and the
New Science to further understand his quantum view on the
"spiritual and social significance of relationship."16 And he
still continues to refer readers back to his 1991 book, Quantum
Spirituality. While appearing to be somewhat of a 21st century
renaissance man who leaves everyone in the wake of his
postmodern intellect, Leonard Sweet's "scientific"
postmodern/quantum/New Age view on things raises some critical
questions-particularly in regard to his association with Rick
Warren. If Warren, Sweet, and other Christian leaders continue
to move the church towards the New Spirituality, how will it
ultimately play out? Will we see Warren, Schuller, Sweet,
McLaren, and other "New Light" leaders signing a mutual accord
someday affirming that God is "in" everything? Will that
proclamation be based on new "scientific findings" from quantum
physics? Will they explain that [Jesuit] Pierre Teilhard de
Chardin and the "God" of Neale Donald Walsch and William Young
had it right-that "the sub-atomic reality" is that God is in
every atom? That God really is-scientifically speaking-"in"
everyone and everything? But what about the inevitable reaction
that will come from those referred to by Rick Warren as
"fundamentalists"18 when they accuse Warren of flip-flopping?
Will Warren defend his new worldview by repeating what he said
at the Saddleback Civil Forum-that "sometimes flip-flopping is
smart because you actually have decided a better position based
on knowledge that you didn't have"? Armed with seemingly
scientific "facts" from quantum physics, will Warren defend his
new worldview by stating, "That's not flip-flopping. Sometimes
that's growing in wisdom"? Is this where Warren, Sweet, and
other Christian leaders will try to take the church? Are they
about to take a big "quantum leap" into the New Spirituality of
a New Age that is based on the findings of the "new science"?
Given the continued New Age implications of the emerging Purpose
Driven movement, it would seem that this is a real possibility.
(337) The
Visible
Church In An Accelerating Apostasy by Ken Silva,
Apprising Ministries, 4/2/11 Let me tell you something that I have learned; I know the
liberals. I know them well; I was one of them. And they are the
most dangerous, insidious, and all-pervading cult that's loose
in the United States right at this moment. They make the
Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Mormons, and all of the Mind
Sciences, and the Occult, look like Sunday School teachers. Do
you know why? Because these other people are outside the Church;
and these devils are in it! And they're doing it in Jesus' Name.
(338) Hazards
unfolded
by Emerging Church leaders by Richard Bennett,
4/4/11 It is quite difficult to define properly the Emerging Church
movement. The basic conviction behind the movement is that
Christianity needs to be reinvented to become relevant to our
postmodern generation.
(339) Bryan
and
Hope Colleges Added to Contemplative Christian School List
by Lighthouse Trails, 4/15/11 Bryan College has been added to our list of Christian colleges
and seminaries that promote contemplative/spiritual
formation. We also added Hope College of Holland, Michigan
to our contemplative list today. A look at their 2010 textbook
list shows evidence that the teachers at Hope College are
turning to contemplative advocates to teach Hope College
students.
(340) Knowing
the
True Christ in an Age of Counterfeits on Crosstalk
Radio, Date: April 21, 2011 • Host: Ingrid Schlueter
• Guest: Warren Smith
Warren Smith (B.A. University of Pennsylvania; M.S.W. Tulane
University) is a free lance writer and community social worker who
was formerly involved in the New Age movement. He has served as a
program coordinator for people with special needs, directed
several homeless programs, and has worked most recently as a
Hospice social worker in New Orleans and on the California coast.
He has written extensively on the subject of spiritual deception
and has been widely interviewed on radio and television. He is
author of The Light that was Dark, Deceived on Purpose, A
Wonderful Deception and False Christ Coming: Does Anybody Care?
Having been saved out of the New Age movement, Warren Smith knows
that there are many "christs" in the world today. As we are about
to observe Good Friday and the resurrection of Christ, Warren
underscores the importance of knowing the true and risen Christ,
not a counterfeit. The discussion begins with mention of Shirley
McClain. She may not have been taken seriously years ago because
of her New Age beliefs yet she was recently on the Oprah Winfrey
Show. Why? It's because some New Age teachings are no longer
considered "fringe" but are now mainstream. Smith proves the point
when he references Purpose-Driven author Rick Warren who has
brought in three New Age doctors into his church through his
"Daniel Plan". From there the discussion moves on to Marianne
Williamson and her deceptive book, A Return to Love: Reflections
on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, the deceptive use of
Bible terminology by New Age proponents, the experience that
pointed him to Christ, the ties that the Emergentmovement has with
the New Age, and more. Also mentioned was Chuck Klein's
Understanding the Times conference on April 30th in Cedarburg,
Wisconsin. Pastor Larry Debruyn, Sarah Leslie and Warren Smith
will be speaking on counterfeit spirituality. Listen: RealAudio
| Windows
Media | MP3
(341) Celebrating
the
Resurrection, But Denying the Atonement by Lighthouse
Trails, 4/24/11 As we here at Lighthouse Trails have joined with other
believers in exposing the truth about the emerging
/contemplative spirituality, we have come to learn that the core
of the New Age believes that the teachings of the East and of
the West must be fused and blended before the true and universal
religion-for which the world waits-could appear on earth. In
other words, all religions must come together under the umbrella
of metaphysics (mysticism). While the average Christian would
agree that this doesn't line up with Scripture, the Christian
church has been overtaken by this very concept, but in a
deceitful and often subtle manner. The underlying layers of this
dark and anti-Christ theology rejects the very thing that can
save a soul-the atonement for sin on the Cross by Jesus Christ.
He was a substitute, and He took our place. Without that
atonement, we are lost forever.
(342) Altered
States:
A Different Gate - The sober Christian in a spiritually
inebriated age by Sarah Leslie and Pastor Larry
DeBruyn, 4/28/11 New Age Movement (NAM) rose in prominence during the late
1970s, and remains popular today. One component of NAM
spirituality was meditation associated with "Transcendental
Medication" (TM), a Hindu religious practice that was
popularized and introduced to the Western culture by the Beatles
and their personal guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1914-2008).[1]
The Maharishi is credited with introducing Hindu mysticism to
western culture along with that religion's spiritual disciplines
such as Yoga. A savvy marketer, he seized every opportunity to
repackage Hindu spirituality to sell to American culture, one
part of which consisted of meditative techniques that promised
practitioners "increased creativity and flexibility, increased
productivity, improved job satisfaction, improved relations with
supervisors and co-workers," and so on.[2] At that time TM was
marketed so as not to appear as a religion, but propagandized to
be a way to realize "better health, stress relief and spiritual
enlightenment."
(343) Defend
The
Deity Of Christ by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries,
5/5/11 Do you see now; the Bible teaches that Jesus always has been
God, and when He was born of the Virgin Mary, He then became
Man. Whether someone wants to believe this or not is between
that person and God. However, if they choose not to believe what
God's Word says they should stop telling people that the
Christian Church "made this doctrine up." Yet this is precisely
what skeptics, the Mind Sciences-like Christian Science and the
Unity School of Christianity-are telling people around you.
(344) The
New
Look of Christian Missions by Roger Oakland,
5/18/11 Emerging spirituality is changing the way missions is being
conducted. The idea is that you can go for Jesus, but you don't
have to identify yourself as a Christian or part of the
Christian church. This concept spills over into some missionary
societies too, where they teach people from other religions they
can keep their religion, just add Jesus to the equation. They
don't have to embrace the term Christian.
(345) Yoga
in
the Church by Lighthous Trails, 5/21/11 More than ever, Yoga has entered the Christian church.
Lighthouse Trails receives reports nearly daily of Christians
who are practicing Yoga and churches that are allowing Yoga to
be practiced at their churches. Yoga is the heartbeat of
Hinduism, a belief system that completely contradicts biblical
Christianity and puts practitioners in harm's way. Yoga is a
gateway into eastern mysticism. If you have loved ones who are
getting into Yoga, please warn them of its dangers.
(346) Manchester
Cathedral Transforms into a Serpent's Casino - A study in the
paradigm shift of the Emergent church by Mike
Oppenheimer, 5/22/11 Sacred space, inclusive gospel, pilgrimage, spiritual formation
are all recognized words found in emergent/new age teaching.
This is a church that has been refashioned to be something to
everyone and stands with next to nothing that Christianity holds
to. While one can read of a very short statement of faith that
is orthodox, it is missing important details. What they practice
is in contradistinction to what they claim to believe.
(347) The
Cost
for Being Careless About the Gospelby Lighthouse
Trails, 6/14/11 You may recall that in the Old Testament the Israelites took
great pains in transporting the Ark of the Covenant. According
to the instructions given by God to Moses (Exodus 25:13-15), the
Ark was to be carried by staves (poles) on the shoulders of the
Levites (1 Chronicles 15:15). However, in 1 Chronicles 13:7-10,
contrary to Moses' specific instructions, they put the Ark on a
cart to be pulled by oxen. But the unexpected happened. When
"Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled
. . . the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he
smote him" (1 Chronicles 13:9-10). The Levites, who were the
"pastors" of that day, were careless about following Moses'
instructions; and it ended up costing a life. The Ark of the
Covenant was a type and foreshadowing of the Gospel. It was
sprinkled with blood to symbolize Christ's death on the Cross.
Today, similar to back then, so many pastors and Christian
leaders have become careless about the Gospel. If you are one
who has grown careless with the Gospel, isn't it time to make
some changes and return to following the instructions of the
Lord?
(348) Letter
to
the Editor: Pastor Stopped Purpose Driven/Emergent Teachings
After Learning of the Errors by Lighthouse Trails,
6/15/11 Concerning the last article here, by Steve Muse, I want to
share a word of encouragement to him and to you! After
learning in the past year of the attacks on the people of God,
the church, from reading at Lighthouse Trails website, God led
me to share with my three pastors . . . Senior, and two young
assistants . . . the information I learned from you. In
the past few months, they have stopped the "Emergent, Rick
Warren, and all of the other false teachings, and are once again
preaching and teaching the Word of God!! And guess
what?! Souls are being saved so wonderfully that it is
almost too much to take in . . . the change is so dramatic that
all I can do is praise our Wonderful Lord as I stand in awe at
His marvelous Grace!!
(349) TRAVESTY
at
LIFEST - PARENTS: Don't Send Your Kids -
Radical-Emergent/Liberal Jim Wallis to Speak at Lifest (What
is Luis Palau Doing There?) by Lighthouse Trails and
VCY America, 6/17/11 From Ingrid Schlueter at VCY America: Each summer, Oshkosh,
Wisconsin, hosts the "Lifest"Christian music festival. This
festival, which is expecting as many as 70,000 in attendance,
has put Jim Wallis on the docket of speakers for July 9th.
Wallis' upcoming appearance at Lifest proves that he is an
individual who continues to secure his position as the leading
voice of the political arm of the emergent New Spirituality
movement. Those who recognize his name probably know him through
his 40 year relationship with the "Sojourners" organization. As
an establishment liberal, he weaves his brand of social justice
into the Bible, all the while blaming Wall Street for the ills
of American society and calling for state-sponsored
redistribution of wealth. Click here to listen to an interview
between Ingrid Schlueter and Mare Danielsen regarding the
beliefs of Lifest speaker Jim Wallis.
(350) LABYRINTHS
in
the Spirit of Life event, are prayer Paths that Promote the
Occult by First Plumbline Apologetics, 6/18/11 What is a Labyrinth? A maze, a prison, a sacred precinct, a
place of peace... the labyrinth is an enigma and a riddle, one
that has puzzled historians for centuries. Where did it come
from, how was it used? Why is it making a comeback?
(351) How
Much
Does the Gospel Weigh? by Lighthouse Trails,
6/20/11 In last week's article, "The Cost for Being Careless About
Gospel," we established how the Gospel is a standard and
the central theme of the entire Bible. We can think of it like a
balancing scale, weighing truth against error. But how much does
the Gospel weigh? That might sound like a foolish question, but
let's take a moment to see how a balancing scale works.
Basically, it is an arm extending from both sides with a fulcrum
in the middle. A standardized weight is then placed on one side,
and subsequently everything placed on the other arm of the scale
with be measured and valued by that standardized weight. A false
scale, as Proverbs states, uses a deceptive weight purported to
be a standardized weight when it really is not. Consequently,
everything weighed on that scale for the next five, ten, or a
thousand years will have an erroneous result. A false scale just
keeps on lying because the standard is wrong.
(352) New
Book
and Upcoming Conference Bring More Confusion Out of Calvary
Chapel Movement by Lighthouse Trails, 6/24/11
In 2006, Calvary Chapel made a public stand against
contemplative spirituality and the emerging church; they also
stated: "The teaching and positions of Rick Warren have come
into conflict with us at Calvary Chapel. Pastor Chuck has directed
us to discontinue this product effective immediately. Chuck Smith
read Deceived on Purpose, A Time of Departing, and Faith Undone
and found them right on. In a number of radio programs, Smith
favorably acknowledged the work of Lighthouse Trails, and in
private e-mails to editors at Lighthouse Trails, he made his
support of our work and warnings to the body of Christ evident.
But over the past few years, several confusing things have taken
place that leave many wondering just what direction the Calvary
Chapel movement is really heading. An upcoming conference called
Twelve: 2011 Global Online Gathering held by Saddleback Church and
Rick Warren is another example of why many people are becoming
increasingly confused about Calvary Chapel.
(353) WIDE
IS
THE GATE - The Emerging New Christianity Vol.1 by
Caryl Productions, 6/27/11 Once there were two Church choices, Roman Catholicism and
Protestantism, but in recent decades Christianity has been
redefined giving rise to unprecedented quasi-Christian spiritual
philosophies and practices. Claiming to be "revivals" are these
the counterfeits Jesus warned would occur before His return?
(Luke 18:8) Many so-called Christian leaders are introducing
innovative teachings based on new Bible translations and
paraphrases that alter the timeless truths of Holy Scripture. A
more progressive spirituality, with roots in eastern mysticism,
is replacing faith in God's Word. This "New Christian
Spirituality" poses as a more relevant "New Gospel" for today's
Postmodern culture that prefers subjective and emotional
feelings, rather than absolute truths. Biblical Truth is the
foundation for knowing God. His promises and prophecies. At
Pentecost, the Church was given the Holy Spirit of Truth to be
guided into all Truth. Jesus Christ, Who is Truth Incarnate,
taught that after His death, resurrection and ascension to
Heaven, He would bring His Church to His Father's house before
returning with them to govern the world for a 1000 year Kingdom
period. Biblical faith trusts God's promise to fulfil these
prophecies. However many within the Emerging, Seeker-friendly,
Purpose Driven, New Apostolic, Roman Catholic, Protestant,
Reformed, neo-Evangelical, Charismatic and Pentecostal Churches
deny many teachings and Prophesies in God's Word as literal
Truth. Many promote the false gospel of transforming the world
for the common good, encouraging a "working together", and
bringing about social justice on planet earth. Through modern
marketing techniques and business management skills a global
agenda of faith, commerce and government is being orchestrated
for churches to partner with other faiths for world peace and
unity. This man made utopia will usher in the reign of
Antichrist and his kingdom, preceding the coming of the True
Jesus Christ and the True Kingdom of God on earth.
(354) Maintream
Evangelicalism
Embracing Contemplative Mysticism by Ken Silva,
6/29/11 The EC would prove to be a Trojan Horse where Satan has been
able to off-load his ne0-Gnostic mystic corruption Contemplative
Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM), an infestation of which is now
becoming pandemic within the very heart of the church visible.
I've told you before that this spurious CSM-the refried Roman
Catholic mysticism "discovered" by Living Spiritual Teacher and
Quaker mystic Richard Foster, and now perpetrated as supposed
Spiritual Formation with an able assist from his spiritual twin
SBC minister Dallas Willard, was a core doctrine in the EC right
from its hatching in hell.
(355) Contemplative
Spirituality
Lands on Charles Stanley's In Touch Magazine . . . Again
by Mike Stanwood, 6/30/11 Is this the kind of example of biblical Christian living that
Charles Stanley's readers have come to expect to see in his
magazine? Unfortunately, this is not the first time an article
promoting contemplative/emerging figures has emerged from the In
Touch magazine.
(356) Seven-Eleven
Songs by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 7/2/11 Some songs, that repeat . . . repeat . . . and repeat . . . the
same seven-word lyrics eleven times or more, are called
"seven-eleven" songs. As with repetitive praying (Jesus warned
about this when He said, "And when you are praying, do not use
meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose
that they will be heard for their many words," Matthew 6:7.),
questions surround the musical mechanism of repetitive praising,
singing, or chanting, as a means of inducing consciousness of
God.
(357) TBN
Hosts
"Ancient Wisdom" Author Laurie Beth Jones by
Lighthouse Trails, 7/3/11 On June 30th, TBN (Trinity Broadcasting) hosted an event that
focused on Christian counseling. One of the speakers was
"Ancient Wisdom" author Laurie Beth Jones. A little
research on and quotes by Laurie Beth Jones describing her
spirituality. Her Mission: "To inspire the divine connection in
all of us" (from back cover, Jesus, Entrepreneur: Using Ancient
Wisdom to Launch and Live Your Dreams)
(358) Does
the
ministry of "the four living beings" justify lyrical
repeating? by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 7/12/11 Some songs, that repeat . . . repeat . . . and repeat . . . the
same seven-word lyrics eleven times or more, are called
"seven-eleven" songs. As with repetitive praying (Jesus warned
about this when He said, "And when you are praying, do not use
meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose
that they will be heard for their many words," Matthew 6:7.),
questions surround the musical mechanism of repetitive praising,
singing, or chanting, as a means of inducing consciousness of
God.
(359) Is
the
"Emerging Church" the Latest Postmodern Fad? by Dr.
Ron J. Bigalke, CARM, 7/12/11 What is the "Emerging Church"? Is the movement another fad that
is popular currently but will be soon forgotten? Certainly, we
can recall many recent crazes of our own lifetime. It seems, in
their search to be relevant, many pastors and church leaders are
always seeking new methods to grow the church. The contemporary
church is inundated with those seeking new methods and means of
church growth. Whatever pragmatic approaches allow one to
accomplish church growth, it is accepted. However, time and
again in the Bible, it is primarily the preaching of the
Word-the enunciation of words-that God uses to draw the lost to
Himself.
(360) The
"New"
Emerging Theology Breeds Atheism in a Generation of Young
People by Lighthouse Trails, 7/25/11 One day we received a call from one of our readers who wanted
to share some news concerning his pastor's son. He told us the
son, after sitting under Dallas Willard for four years in
university, declared himself to now be an atheist. How could
this have happened? The boy was raised in a Christian home.
Dallas Willard claims to be a Christian. While we do not know
the details of this boy's story, the following fictionalized
account could very well be his story and that of many other
young Christians today.
(361) The
Shack
Bible by Ken Silva, 8/3/11 Yes, you read that right. Get on your heavy mud gear as
Apprising Ministries takes you off-road mentally mudding deeply
into the postmodern Wonderland of Humpty Dumpty language where
the meanings of words descend into its muck and mire.
(362) YOGA:
Posture
to Apostasy - Can yogic practices be integrated with the
Christian faith? by Pastor Larry DeBruyn,
8/15/11 East is east, and west is west, and if Christianity is to
remain Christian, "the twain," meaning yoga and Christianity,
should never be integrated. The soul that is engaged to Jesus
Christ cannot commit spiritual harlotry by flirting with the
yogic practices intended to introduce them to Hindu gods. As
John the Apostle wrote: "Little chidren, guard yourselves from
idols" (1 John 5:21).
(363) Southern
Baptist
Convention Rejects Gender-Neutral NIV Bible But Embraces The
Message, Renovare Bible, and Contemplative Books by
Lighthouse Trails, 9/4/11 While the SBC's willingness to stand up against this new
translation Bible translation is worth noting, we are puzzled
that they find nothing wrong with Eugene Peterson's translation
The Message paraphrase and Richard Foster's Renovare Spiritual
Formation Study Bible. On their LifeWay Resources website, they
sell The Message and the Renovare "Bible." They also carry the
New Men's Devotional Bible (NIV), which includes "contributions"
by New Age sympathizer Rob Bell. They also carry books by
contemplative authors such as Gary Thomas, including his book
Sacred Pathways where he tells readers to repeat a word for
twenty minutes and Sacred Marriage where he references several
times a tantric sex advocate.1 They carry books by
contemplative proponent Pete Scazzero including Emotionally
Healthy Spirituality, a resource for those wanting to practice
contemplative prayer. To get a good glimpse at Scazzero's
propensities, check out his favorite books section on his
website - it's a plethora of mystics, emergents, and New Agers
sympathizers. And there are countless other examples of
contemplative authors that LifeWay is selling. A search on the
store website will bring these up.
(364) Ron
Luce
Of Teen Mania Leading Your Youth Into Spiritual Bondage
by Ken Silva, 6/22/11 Here's yet another example of how evangelicalism is spiritually
passing your youth through the fire of Molech. "Youth ministers"
like Ron Luce-a regular on Trinity (Blasphemy) Broadcasting
Network steeped in the Word Faith heresy-are leading your youth
right back into the spiritual bondage of CSM and its crown
jewel, a form of meditation in an altered state of consciousness
commonly known as Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP), which
flowered through the antibiblical monastic traditions of
apostate Roman Catholicism.
(365) Turning
to
Contemplative Mysticism or a Relationship with Jesus Christ?
Which Will it Be? by Ray Yungen, 9/25/11 If you have read A Time of Departing, the book I wrote about
contemplative spirituality, and are left wondering about your
relationship with God, remember that knowing Jesus Christ is not
merely religion or spirituality but is rather a personal
relationship with Him.
(362) Just
Say
No To Contemplative/Centering Prayer by Ken Silva,
10/24/11 The crown jewel of CSM is a supposed spiritual discipline known
as Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP); however, this is
actually a form of meditation while in an altered state of
consciousness-i.e. transcendental meditation-lightly sprayed
with Christian terminology. No way around it; warped "wordless"
prayer.
Updated! (363) The
Social
Gospel, Yesterday and Today by Gary Gilley, Think On
These Things, October/November 2011 - Volume 17, Issue 5 - Read Part
1 & Part
2. What is unfolding before us is what the Emergent leader Brian
McLaren terms "missional." Missional, McLaren tells us, is "a
generous third way," between the conservative "personal Savior"
gospel and liberal version of it.[35] McLaren further explains,
"My missional calling: blessed in this life to be a blessing to
everyone on earth" My mission isn't to figure out who is already
blessed, or not blessed, or unblessable. My calling is to be
blessed so I can bless everyone."[36] He continues, "From this
understanding we place less emphasis on whose lineage, rites,
doctrines, structures, and terminology are right and more
emphasis on whose actions, service, outreach, kindness, and
effectiveness are good". (In order) to help our world get back
on the road to being truly and wholly good again, the way God
created it to be""[37] Rob Bell adds, "For Jesus, the question
wasn't how do I get into Heaven? But how do I bring heaven
here?...The goal isn't escaping this world but making this world
the kind of place God can come to. And God is remaking us into
the kind of people who can do this kind of work."[38] The
rationale of McLaren and Bell is a mere echo of the original
founders of liberalism.
(364) "Contextualization"
of
the Gospel - A Free-Falling Catastrophe by Roger
Oakland, 11/5/11 While reaching today's generation for the cause of Christ is
something we as Christians should all desire, we must remember
Jesus Christ challenged us to follow Him and be obedient to His
Word. Scripture commands us to "be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans
12:2). But the emergents are leading followers in the opposite
direction, teaching that the Word of God needs to be conformed
to people and cultures instead of allowing it to conform lives
through Jesus Christ. Reimagining Christianity allows a
dangerous kind of freedom; like cutting the suspension ropes on
a hot air balloon, the free fall may be exhilarating but the
results catastrophic.
(365) An
Epidemic
of Apostasy - Christian Seminaries Must Incorporate "Spiritual
Formation" to Become Accredited by Lighthouse Trails,
11/16/11 What do the two accreditation organizations - Association of
Theological Seminaries and Association for Biblical Higher
Education - have in common? Both associations require schools
that wish to be accredited to include Spiritual Formation within
the school's infrastructure. Just what exactly does that mean
for these 350 some seminaries and Bible colleges? Well, it means
that if they want to receive and maintain their accreditation,
they are going to have to incorporate Spiritual Formation (i.e.,
contemplative spirituality) into the lives of their students.
(366) The
"Selection
Process" - New Age Eschatology by Warren B. Smith,
11/26/11 SELF-described "futurist" and "conscious evolutionist" Barbara
Marx Hubbard writes that in 1966 she heard an "inner voice" that
came in response to a question she had asked aloud and directed
to God-"What is our story? What in our age is comparable to the
birth of Christ?" After asking the question she said she fell
into a dreamlike state and was given an intense vision of the
future.
(397) Letter
to
the Editor: Heartbroken in Southern California at
Lighthouse Trails, 11/27/11 I am tired"and very heartbroken"I never thought it was going to
be like this. I thought the "them" would not be inside the
Church. The Lord has given me a crash course on Jude, 2 Peter,
and 1 Tim.
(398) "A
Whole
New Species of Church Is Emerging" by Tamara Hartzell,
Lighthouse Trails, 12/9/11 There is a "Christian" book that epitomizes the current path of
the counterfeit Christianity, which is emerging as the old faith
crumbles away. Although there are many such books published now,
Growing Spiritual Redwoods by William Easum and Thomas Bandy
provides a clear illustration of the "new way of thinking," and
has been acclaimed as "perhaps the best book about church
transformation."Bill Easum is "one of the pioneering pastors of
the church growth movement," and is "one of the most highly
respected church consultants and Christian futurists in North
America." Tom Bandy "consults with congregations for church
growth and transformation," and "congregational and
denominational leaders regard Tom as one of the leading thinkers
and writers today."4 The two joined forces to form Easum, Bandy
and Associates, which consults "with churches of every size and
culture" and links "countless" leaders through "one of the
largest religious interactive websites in North America."In
spite of the blatant (New Age) New Spirituality in their book,
Growing Spiritual Redwoods has received high praises by men who
are popular leaders themselves in today's Christianity. Rick
Warren, Lyle Schaller, and Leonard Sweet-whose own books are
self-evident that he has fallen for the (New Age) New
Spirituality-have given this book the following endorsements:
(399) Moody
Publishers
Releases Prayers for Today: A Yearlong Journey of
Contemplative Prayer by Lighthouse Trails,
12/13/11 What we are going to address in this article is the new book
that Moody Publishers just released in September, Prayers for
Today: A yearlong journey of Contemplative Prayer. This is not
going to be a full fledged book review. It doesn't need to be to
prove our point. The book is a collection of various prayers by
a wide assortment of writers (e.g. the prayer of confession, the
prayer of thanksgiving, the prayer of renewal, etc). Near the
end of the book, Kurt Bjorklund, the author, has a section
titled "Works Cited." He lists "the sources for prayer utilized
in this book." There are around 70 sources. It is from these
sources that the prayer collections are gathered. At least a
dozen of these are books by contemplative authors who Lighthouse
Trails has written about in the past: Richard Foster, Brennan
Manning, Ken Boa, Leighton Ford, Max Lucado, Meister
Eckhart, Thomas Aquinas, Teresa of Avila, and Mother Teresa, all
strong advocates of contemplative prayer.
(400) Labyrinths
-
Popping Up at Lots of Seminaries and Christian Colleges
by Lighthouse Trails, 12/14/11
Speaking of Christian seminaries and spiritual formations, check
out some of the seminaries that now have labyrinths, a tool used
for contemplative prayer, but we hope you won't consider going to
these schools. We believe that labyrinths will be showing up in
more and more Protestant/evangelical schools and churches as
contemplative spirituality sinks its teeth into modern day
Christianity, holding on for the long haul.
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary - Columbia, SC
Lutheran Theological Seminary - Philadelphia, PA
Eastern Mennonite Seminary - Harrisonburg, VA
San Francisco Theological Seminary - San Francisco, CA
Phillips Theological Seminary - Tulsa, OK
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary - Louisville, KY
(Accredited with ATS)
Eden Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary - Decatur, GA (Accredited with ATS)
- Presbyterian
Luther Seminary - St. Paul, MN - Lutheran
Lancaster Theological Seminary - Lancaster, PA
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary - Elkhart, IN
Manchester College - North Manchester, IN (Church of the
Brethren)
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Northwestern University - Evanston, IL
Abilene Christian University - Abilene, TX (Church of Christ)
(401) On
Theosis,
or Divinization by Pastor Larry DeBruyn for
Contemplative Spirituality, Mysticism, 1/11/12 As defined by the Orthodox Church, deification (theosis)
postulates that a Christian can become subjected to "God's full
and perfect penetration . . . in which [state of being] the
operations and energies of human nature cease, having been
replaced by the Divine Operations and Energies." Though it has
been part of "the spirituality" of the Orthodox Church for
centuries, belief in divinization or theosis is emerging amongst
today's evangelicals.
(402) Six
Years
Later - Focus on the Family Still Defending Contemplative
Prayer by Lighthouse Trails, 1/14/12 LTRP Note: The following letter to the LT editor and the
response this person received from Focus on the Family is used
with permission from our reader. Important to note that FOF's
response is similar to the response FOF was giving back in 2006
(when we received a letter from them) when asked why they were
promoting Richard Foster and Gary Thomas and where they stood
regarding contemplative spirituality in general. In comparison,
the 2011 response from FOF is more detailed than the 2006 letter
from the same FOF staff member (Tim Masters from the Executive
Office) but is essentially saying the same thing. Worth noting,
the arguments that Masters gives in defense of contemplative
prayer have been scripturally refuted by Lighthouse Trails
authors, showing how contemplative advocates have taken Bible
verses and used them out of context. We have given references to
a number of those refutations below.
(403) 100
Top
Contemplative Proponents Evangelical Christians Turn To Today
by Lighthouse Trails, 1/15/12 Over the years, many of our readers have asked for a list of
authors who are promoting contemplative prayer. Well here is a
list we have compiled. This is from 10 years of research
at Lighthouse Trails. The list includes those authors who
directly teach contemplative prayer as well as those who have
consistently promoted contemplative prayer teachers. All of the
names below are in one of these two categories. If you are a
skeptic, this is not guilt by association, but is rather guilt
by promotion or proxy. It is not possible to list every single
contemplative prayer advocate, as the number of those in this
category increases weekly with new book releases. Some of these
names are not "evangelical" Christians but are to be found in
either the Catholic camp or the New Age camp. We include those
in this list because they are names that are being recommended
or referenced by evangelical/Protestant leaders. We have found
these names below to be the most influential in this area. At
times, we will replace names with others as they come to our
attention. If you need information on any of these names below,
you can find most of them using our blog search engine or our
research site Topical Index.
(404) 50
Top
Organizations With a Significant Role in Bringing
Contemplative Spirituality to the Church by Lighthouse
Trails, 1/21/12 From 10 years of research at Lighthouse Trails Research
Project, we have found the following fifty organizations to have
had a significant role in bringing contemplative spirituality
into the evangelical/Protestant church. If you do not know or
understand the implications of this, we urge you to educate
yourself as soon as possible.
(405) Lectio
Divina:
A Doorway to Contemplative and Centering prayer by
Lighthouse Trails, 2/2/12 Lectio divina! There's a lot of talk about it these days.
Numerous books have been published and more are on the way. An
increasing number of evangelical/Protestant figures are writing,
endorsing, and teaching it. Some people think lectio divina
simply means to read a passage of Scripture slowly (or "praying
the Scriptures") then ponder or think on that Scripture. That
can be a part of it. But if you ask mystics or contemplatives
what it entails (- and who would know better than they?), they
will tell you that lectio divina (pronounced lex-ee-o di-veen-a)
always includes taking a passage of Scripture (or other
writings), reading it slowly, then working your way down until
you have just a word or small phrase from the passage that you
are meditating on (repeating over and over).
(406) The
New
Look of Christian Missions by Roger Oakland,
2/9/12 Emerging spirituality is changing the way missions is being
conducted. The idea is that you can go for Jesus, but you don't
have to identify yourself as a Christian or part of the
Christian church. This concept spills over into some missionary
societies too, where they teach people from other religions they
can keep their religion, just add Jesus to the equation. They
don't have to embrace the term Christian.
(407) Olivet
Nazarene
University 105th School Added to Lighthouse Trails
Contemplative School List by Lighthouse Trails,
2/11/12 On Saturday morning, Lighthouse Trails received an e-mail from
a concerned parent whose child is attending Olivet Nazarene
University. The parent told us that Richard Foster's book
Celebration of Discipline is part of a required Freshman course.
We have also discovered that Spiritual Formation (i.e.,
contemplative spirituality) is integrated in various aspects of
the school including their Christian Education program,
Practical Ministries, Youth Ministry, and the School of
Theology. Thus we have added Olivet Nazarene University to our
list of Christian schools that promote Spiritual Formation.
(409) The
Submerging Church by Josaph M. Shimmel, 2/29/12
What are Emergent Church leaders teaching that has so many of
our current generation tuned in to their "doctrine," but tuned
out to holy scripture? How have Emergent leaders captured the
hearts and minds of unsuspecting people all over the world,
departing from many of the clear teachings, commandments and
warnings found in the pages of the bible? Often preferred to be
understood as a "conversation" or a... Go to the link above
to order this DVD.
(410) "Deliteralizing"
the
Bible: from Plato to Peterson - Scripture amidst the Shadows
by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 3/2/12 Increasingly, evangelical-emergent leaders are viewing the
Bible as "metaphor"-to be constituted of less than literal
language from which the reader subjectively derives spiritual
meanings. To fully grasp the sense of God's Word, the reader
must do so through the lens of the metaphor.[2] This "new
hermeneutic" asserts that ignoring the nuances of metaphor makes
the Bible unintelligible. For example, Eugene H. Peterson
(well-known composer of The Message) states in Eat This Book
that "if we do not appreciate the way a metaphor works we will
never comprehend the meaning of the text."
(411) "The
Lord's
Prayer" in The Message by Gary F. Zeolla, 3/2/12
"The Lord's Prayer" is the simple prayer that Jesus gave to us as
an example of how to pray. Most Christians have it memorized. But
maybe the prayer as Jesus gave it to us is too "outdated" or hard
to understand for today. At least, that is the attitude of some
Bible versions. They feel a need to alter it to make it updated
and easier to understand. The Message (MSG) by Eugene Peterson is
one such version. This article will compare The Lord's Prayer as
it appears in the MSG to an actual literal translation of the
Greek text. For the latter, I will use The Lord's Prayer as it
appears in my forthcoming Analytical-Literal Translation of the
New Testament: Devotional Version (ALTD).
(412) Young
Life's
History of Embracing Contemplative Authors Continues
by Lighthouse Trails, 3/8/12 No one can doubt that Young Life, a 72 year old Christian
organization that reaches out to young people, has a heart
for kids. Volunteers and paid staff work diligently week after
week in communities throughout America, Canada, and over 60
other countries to help get teens on the right path in life. In
the course of a year, hundreds of thousands of kids come into
contact with Young Life. Unfortunately, while their zeal to help
kids is commendable, Young Life has been turning to
contemplative mystics for guidance and spiritual instruction for
at least two decades.
(413) Saddleback's
Interfaith
Initiatives Pastor Teaches Kingdom Circles (the New Emerging
Missiology) by Amy Spreeman, Stand Up For Truth,
3/13/12 With all the buzz about the interfaith aspect of Saddleback
Church's P.E.A.C.E. Plan and the controversy over the King's Way
initiative that partners Rick Warren's church together with the
Islamic community, many question just how Saddleback is reaching
Muslims after promising not to convert anyone to Christianity.
Could it be that not converting anyone is one reason Pastor
Warren is getting so many questions about Chrislam?
(414) Evil
Men
and Imposters Grow Worse and Deceive by Heidi Swander,
March 21, 2012 I've been memorizing the tiny book of Jude in the last few
weeks. It is amazing to me to think of Jesus' brother writing to
first century Christians and saying, "For certain men have crept
in unnoticed . . . ungodly men who turn the grace of our God
into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus
Christ," (v. 4). It's amazing because it sounds like the DVD
I've just previewed; a new and timely video entitled, The
Submerging Church: How the Emerging Church is Drawing Multitudes
Away from Biblical Christianity. What we're
observing in the 21st century was already prevalent at the
inception of the church.
(415) Romantic
Panentheism:
A Review of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp by Bob
DeWaay, 3/22/12 Let me state this clearly: Ann Voskamp has written a book
sharing her pain and offering help through her discovery of
eucharisteo_ (to give thanks). She chose a literary style that I
and other reviewers found difficult to work with, but the style
she chooses is her prerogative. Where her work warrants
challenge is in her reliance on panentheism, romanticism,
sensual language and those whose viewpoints she approvingly
cites. What follows is my evaluation of Voskamp's contribution,
and, through my analysis I intend to protect her readers from
the errors she has introduced.
(416) Today's
Evangullible
Church by Warren B. Smith, 3/27/12 In today's evangullible church, countless believers are
yielding to the temptations of our Adversary and falling away
(Luke 8:13). Giving in to the compromised teachings of the
emerging apostate church, once faithful believers are succumbing
to the deception that Jesus warned would come in His name
(Matthew 24:3-5). Those who could have been overcomers become
succumbers-unless, of course, they remember what they received
and heard, and hold fast, and repent (Revelation 3:3).
(417) Kundalini
Energy
(the effects of Soaking Prayer) by Ray Yungen,
3/27/12 Because "soaking prayer" is becoming increasingly popular, and
because we believe the effects of it are potentially dangerous
(kundalini), we are posting this warning by Ray Yungen. As well
as the links below this article, we have information on our
research site about "soaking prayer."
(418) Theater
Church
- Spectacles, Stories and Diminishing Scripture by
Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 4/9/12 It is impossible to see how the emotiveness and imaginings of
theater church will serve in any way to promote the mind of
Christ in believers by reining their thoughts into obedience to
Him. So, "Believers, Beware!" EXODUS THIRTY-TWO may soon be
coming to a theater-church near you!
(419) Mark
Driscoll
and Liberty University Are Good Match - Both Promote
Contemplative Spirituality by Lighthouse Trails,
4/10/12 While there has been some efforts, including a ballot, to stop
Driscoll from speaking at Liberty University (Liberty is
co-sponsoring the event), Lighthouse Trails can see how Mark
Driscoll and the Liberty University of today are a good match
with respect to contemplative spirituality - they both promote
it. When all is said and done, contemplative is such a
significant issue (given that its roots are anti-Gospel) that to
share this propensity with each other, as Driscoll and Liberty
do, from our point of view, makes the two entities on the same
page. In other words, Driscoll is there because the school
resonates with him.
(420) Henry
Blackaby's
Mysticism-Lite Negates Sola Scriptura by Ken Silva,
4/12/12 The central issue with the Blackabys, as well as with gurus
teaching the Contemporary Spirituality/Mysticism of
Foster-Willardism, is that their "experience" always ends up
interpreting the Bible for them. However, this is absolutely
backward-and sure to lead to spiritual disaster. In fact, this
is really the exact same dead-end road that would end up
producing the centered on the self (i.e. mankind) theology of
apostate Roman Catholicism in the first place.
(422) Revisting
Awana's
Move Toward Contemplative - And Another Look at "Perspectives
on Children's Spiritual Formation by Lighthouse
Trails, 4/14/12 Update April 2012: Because Awana's book, Perspectives on
Children's Spiritual Formation is circulating the market, and
because we hear from Lighthouse Trails readers who ask about
Awana and their promotion of Spiritual Formation (i.e.,
contemplative), we are reposting this information about this
book. Prior to posting this revisit article, we contacted
Broadman and Holman, the publishers of the book, and learned
that the book is still in active print.
(423) Contemplative
Prayer by Gary Gilley, 4/17/12 Of all the spiritual disciplines the Spiritual Formation
Movement promotes, none is more important than prayer and the
intake of God's Word. On the surface we would expect little
resistance to these two disciplines since they have been
recognized as essential to spiritual growth by virtually all
Christians from all traditions. Sadly, upon closer examination
we discover that what is meant by most evangelical Christians
when they reference prayer and Bible intake is not always what
the leaders within spiritual formation mean.
(424) God
in
Everything? The Premise of Contemplative Prayer by Ray
Yungen, 4/18/12 The physical world, human beings, and everything that is are
all forms of the Ultimate Reality, all expressions of God, all
"one with the Father." He means not all Christians but all
people. This is nothing less than Hindu samadhi with Christian
spray paint. Those in this movement who are honest have no
qualms about acknowledging this-as one adherent did so aptly
when he confessed, "The meditation of advanced occultists is
identical with the prayer of advanced mystics." (Ray Yungen, A
Time of Departing, 2nd ed. 2006, pp. 28-32)
(425) Jesus:
The
illumined Illuminator by Marsha West, at Forgotten
Word Ministries, 4/30/12 Contemporary Christianity is following "every wind of doctrine"
in spite of the fact that Scripture warns about taking this
route. Self-professed Christ followers no longer "endure sound
teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for
themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Tim. 4:3).
Regrettably, many believers have embraced neo-Gnosticism. One of
the many obstacles the first century Church faced was
Gnosticism, a heresy that held that salvation was only available
to those who possessed the hidden truths of Christ.
(426) The
Great
Evangelical Disaster by Jan Markell, May 1, 2012
Dr. Frances Schaeffer correctly summed things up years ago when he
said, "Here is the great evangelical disaster -- the failure of
the evangelical church to stand for truth. The evangelical church
has accommodated the spirit of this age. First there has been the
accommodation of Scripture, so that many who call themselves
evangelicals hold a weakened view of the Bible and no longer
affirm the truth of all that it teaches." How did we get here?
Paul Smith -- brother of Calvary Chapel founder Chuck Smith --
brilliantly documents the decline and fall of evangelicalism in
his new book, New
Evangelicalism:
The New World Order.
(427) Clowning
Around
in the Pulpit: Fresh Expression of Emerging Church Ecumensim
by Christ Lawson, Spiritual Research Network, 5/2/12 This issue contains an example of rife apostasy that will shock
the uninformed and serve as a sober reminder of the battle for
truth that we are all in. The title of my article is Clowning
Around in the Pulpit: Fresh Expressions of Emerging Church
Ecumenism. What you read is what I saw personally in Scotland.
This is just a sampling of what is really occurring in the
United Kingdom as far as apostasy.
(428) The
Origins
Of Contemplative/Centering Prayer by Ken Silva,
5/4/12 You also need to realize that this spurious CSM, with its
spurious spiritual practices aka "disciplines," is actually
absolutely hostile to the historic Christian faith and still
very much an integral part of the theology of the neo-liberal
cult operating openly now within the Emerging Church. In laying
out this case as would a prosecutor in a court of law I'll call
upon a couple of these leading EC authorities as expert
witnesses concerning the origin of CCP, being its one of their
core practices.
(429) A
Global Religion - Is God in Grafitti? by Ray Yungen,
5/9/12 What is happening to mainstream Christianity is the same thing
that is happening to business, health, education, counseling,
and other areas of society. Christendom is being cultivated for
a role in the New Age.
(430) Beware
Of
Emerging Spirituality and Emergence Theory by Ken
Silva, 5/11/12 Along the lines of the Apprising Ministries post The Emergence
Of A New God, here we'll hear a bit more about the mystic mush
god with a man-shaped hole in its heart, now being preached by
the sinfully ecumenical Emergent Church aka the Emerging Church
(EC). The EC is far from dead.
(431) Updated!Quantum
Mysticism
In The Church: Cosmos, Codes, And Cryptologies by
Gaylene Goodroad, 5/12/12 - Read Part
1, Part
2, Part
3, Part
4, Part
5, Part
6, Part
7, Part
8 & Conclusion.
Initially, terms such as Chaos Theory, Metacosm, and
Hyperdimensional or Holographic Universe seemed starkly
out of place. Familiar with the bizarre teachings and science
fictionesque concepts of Tom Horn (the subject of two previous
Herescope articles),[ii] the more I read, the more I began to
see other ominous connections between Horn, his collaborators,
and New Age physics.[iii] These men are not only taking their
readers beyond physical realities, but beyond what is written in
Scripture.[iv] Read Part
1 & Part
2.
(434) Seminary
President
in Iowa Warns Against the New Spirituality and Spiritual
Formation by Dr. James Maxwell III, President Faith
Baptist Bible College and Seminary, Ankeny, Iowa, 5/26/12 Like many false teachings, The New Spirituality uses Christian
terms and practices but infuses into them meanings far different
from what we find in Scripture. Even some evangelicals have
embraced various forms and teachings of this movement. In this
article Dr. James D. Maxwell III, the president of Faith Baptist
Bible College and Seminary, exposes the dangers of The New
Spirituality and offers suggestions for how believers should
respond to it.
(435) Catholic
Mysticism
and the Emerging Church by Richard Bennett,
5/29/12 Mysticism attempts to gain ultimate knowledge of God by a
direct experience that bypasses the mind. Catholic mysticism
working together with the Emerging Church, needs to be
reexamined. Old-time mystics such as Loyola, Teresa of Avila,
and John of the Cross need to be examined again along with
modern so-called evangelical mystics such as Richard Foster. All
of this, and more, is accomplished in this professional
presentation along with graphic inserts of persons and events.
An analysis is also made of Phyllis Tickle who has surfaced as a
formidable leader of this toxic movement. The fall from power of
Tony Jones, a former leading light of the movement, is also
documented. As we reexamine this topic we notice that show has
been viewed more than 13,800 times on You-Tube alone. As you
watch and listen to this distinctive DVD, we encourage you to
make it known by forwarding its URL to others. YouTube
video.
(436) Sacred
Reading
(Lectio Divina) by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things,
6/15/12 As we have seen in the last two Think on These Things articles,
"Spiritual formation is viewed by a growing number of
evangelicals as an ancient ministry of the church, concerned
with the 'forming' or 'shaping' of a believer's character and
actions into the likeness of Christ." [1] Spiritual
formation is distinguished from biblical discipleship primarily
by its source of authority and its methodology. On the one
hand, discipleship as defined by the Bible turns to the Word of
God as the final and ultimate authority over all matters of life
and godliness. This means that if one truly desires to be
a follower of Jesus Christ, he will turn to the inspired
Scriptures to determine both truth and how to "observe all that
I [Christ] commanded you" (Matt 28:20). Spiritual
formation pays lip-service to Scripture but the true source
behind the movement is the extrabiblical teachings and
experiences of those in the past who supposedly have discovered
the "secret" of deeper intimacy with God. Bruce Demarest says it
this way: "For our help, [in the context of growth in the
Spirit] we can turn to our Christian past - to men and women who
understood how the soul finds satisfaction as we grow in God,
and how His Spirit finds a more ready home in us."
[2] Richard Foster and Gayle Beebe concur: "Through
their reflections, the great saints witness to the work of the
Holy Spirit and, when we study them, guide our spiritual life as
well." [3] While Scripture is referenced by
spiritual formation leaders, it is Scripture filtered through
the experiences and insights of the "spiritual masters," as they
are often called, that set the pace in spiritual
formation.
(437) Wide
is
the Gate: The Emerging New Christianity, Vol. 2 by
Caryl Matrisciana, 6/25/12
This DVD (in five parts, 216 minutes total) lays bare today's
deceptive movements and the popular trends that are leading an
undiscerning church away from biblical Christianity and into the
ecumenical unity of the one-world religion of the coming
Antichrist. It gives an urgent warning to believers and calls for
a return to the faith once-for-all delivered to the saints. Watch
the preview here.
(438) Yoga
in
the Church: A Conspiracy Leading to Strong Delusion?
by Dave Hunt, 6/27/12 We are the most highly informed and sophisticated society in
history and are currently in the midst of a hi-tech explosion
beyond anyone's wildest imagination only a few years ago. Yet at
the same time, increasing millions in the West are buying into
yoga, an occult practice that has been part of primitive
Oriental superstitions and religions for thousands of years. Why
is this happening? Finding an answer to that question will give
us a good start toward understanding what yoga really is, why it
is so appealing, and the havoc it is wreaking upon our culture.
(439) Where
Are
We Going? by David Dombrowski, 7/3/12 At Lighthouse Trails, we have dedicated ourselves over the
years to expose the delusions that have crept into the church
and to exhort believers to cling to the Gospel message as our
only true assurance of safety. May I say, too, that most of the
opposition (and often the most vehement) we have encountered
comes from those who call themselves Christians.
(440) Emerging
Spirituality
- Bridging the Gap between Good and Evil by Roger
Oakland, 7/6/12 The serpent's temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden, that we
can be like God, remains with mankind to this very day. Satan's
plan is to lessen or eliminate (he hopes) the gap between
himself and God.
(441) Are
all
angels safe? by Marsha West, 7/13/12 Sadly, many Christians who have embraced The Silence aka
contemplative, or centering, or breath prayer are woefully
unaware that what they're practicing is unbiblical meditation.
And then we have "Christian yoga" spreading like a wild fire
through the Christian community. I realize that this may not go
over well with some readers, however, even if your yoga class is
led by a Christian and held in a church, it is taboo! The bottom
line is this: Angels would not, could not, promote anything God
expressly forbids - and He forbids His children to have any part
in pagan religious practices, nor are we to embrace the world's
philosophies.
(443) Biola's
New
Gay and Lesbian Student Group - A "Fruit" of Their
Contemplative Propensities? by Lighthouse Trails,
7/25/12 LTRP Note: Regarding the article below about Biola University,
we find it little wonder that Biola University now has a
homosexual student group that has formed on campus. Biola has
been promoting contemplative spirituality for several years, and
as we have often indicated, when people being embracing
contemplative/emerging spirituality (as Biola has done),
spiritual (and morality) outlooks change. One of the "fruits" of
contemplative spirituality, aside from interspirituality, is a
change and leniency in attitudes toward homosexuality. Roger
Oakland talks about this in Faith Undone in the section on the
new sexuality (see excerpt below). Thus, Biola, perhaps
unwittingly, has provided a breeding ground for homosexuality
for students. Whether homosexuals have come to Biola to
infiltrate it or whether already existing Biola students have
decided to begin living a homosexual lifestyle (likely both
senarios have occurred), the fact is when Biola entered the
contemplative arena, they entered into a realm that produces
dramatic and devastating results. When you've got Christian
figures such as Dan Kimball, Philip Yancey, Tony Campolo, Mark
Driscoll, and other popular authors who have become advocates
for the "new" sexuality (some of them outrightly promoting a
laxed view on the homosexual lifestyle), you are going to see
countless Christian youth turning toward homosexuality. Why
can't parents see this before putting their kids into
contemplative colleges. Your child may come home at Christmas
break, not just practicing mantra meditation and yoga but also
telling you he or she is now gay or lesbian.
(444) Exposing
the
Quantum Lie: God is NOT in Everything by Bob DeWaay
and Warren B. Smith, 7/28/12 - These are 4 video preview clips
(each about 10 minutes long) taken from Bob DeWaay and Warren B.
Smith's lecture series, Exposing the Quantum Lie: God is NOT in
Everything. You can get the entire 4 lectures at the Lighthouse
Trails
store.
(445) New
Zealand
Pastors Create Sports Bar Church Service Complete With Beer
Drinking by Christine Thomasos , Christian Post
Reporter, 8/1/12 Pastors Calvin Culverwell and Vic Francis will officially turn
Albany Sports Bar in Auckland, New Zealand into a house of
worship on Sunday. After the initiative was in the works for a
year, the Albany Sports Bar will officially serve as a church on
the first Sunday of each month beginning on Aug. 5.
(446) The
Cross
is Barbarity & a Slaughterhouse Religion - So Says
Emerging Church Leaders by Roger Oakland from "Faith
Undone", 8/7/12 The heart and core of the Christian faith is based upon Jesus
Christ's shed blood at Calvary as the only acceptable
substitutionary atonement for mankind's sins. The Gospel message
requires this foundation. The Bible says the wages of sin is
death-thus every person alive should receive the penalty of
spiritual death because none of us is without sin, since we are
born with our sin nature intact. Satan hates the Gospel message.
He understands what the Gospel means, and his agenda is to
deceive mankind from understanding and believing so they can
suffer eternally with him. While Scripture is very clear about
the necessity of Christ's death in order for us to be saved,
some believe this would make God a blood-thirsty barbarian.
Embedded within the structure of the emerging church is just
such a belief.
(447) Former
New
Age Follower Shares Testimony and Warning by Warren B.
Smith (From
False
Christ Coming: Does Anybody Care?), 8/8/12 As New Age believers years ago, my wife and I had no reason to
doubt any of the "new revelation" that was coming our way. When
we were students of A Course in Miracles in the early 1980s, it
never occurred to us that Helen Schucman had received her
spiritual dictation from anyone other than the real Jesus
Christ. As members of A Course in Miracles study group, we
studied what the "Jesus" of the Course said and applied his
teachings to our lives. Having never read the whole Bible for
ourselves, we thought the Course was helping us to understand
what the Bible was "really" saying. We accepted the Course's
interpretation of the Bible completely. It had a certain logic
and seemed to make sense. We believed we were on the right path.
Meaningful "coincidence" that had led us to the Course, and the
supernatural signs that often accompanied our study appeared to
confirm that we were spiritually where we were supposed to be.
(448) Letter
to
the Editor: Eastern University to Add Labyrinth With Grant
From Calvin Institute at Lighthouse Trails,
8/13/12 Hi Lighthouse Trails: I've read your blog and appreciate very
much all of the information and insights you share with your
readers. I wanted to update you on a recent development on the
university where my _______ attends. I recently read a
press release that they are building a labyrinth, and this
caused me great concern. Of course, that is the school
that Tony Campolo helped to form. Even more unsettling is
the organization that they received the grant from [Calvin
Institute]. . . . My hope is that it will not be a
requirement for the students, but I still find it quite sad, and
almost a rebellion from their Protestant background. My thought
is that you might use this to sound a warning when and if
appropriate. I am thankful for organizations such as yours
that work to get the word out to others.
(449) "A Utopian Kingdom and
Global Healing?" by Roger Oakland, Understand The
Times, 8/18/12 The emerging church talks a lot about the kingdom of God on
earth, but in language and philosophy much different from the
Bible. One emergent writer hopes the emerging church will handle
the problems of this world in a manner that is "smarter" and
"more effective" than those who have gone before.
(450) New
Theology,
Gnosticism and the New Age by Gene K. Smith,
2006 Most Christians don't really want to talk about "negative"
issues such as sin and Satan. Most would rather believe the
modernist Post Millennial view that the all church members are
truly Christian. Many still believe that mankind can, by his own
efforts, eliminate evil, poverty, war, etc. and then usher in
God's eternal Kingdom for all. But God's unchanging Word
presents a different scenario ...
(451) Quantum
Mysticism
Conference DVDs by Herescope, 8/21/12 Discernment Ministries held a very special research conference
in Niles, Michigan June 21-23. Niles is the new home of our
ministry's library, the Opal Reddin Library, which archives over
40 years of research material in the Latter Rain, Dominionism,
Third Wave and New Apostolic Reformation. We heard
incredible sessions from Warren Smith, Dr. Martin Erdmann,
Pastor Larry DeBruyn, Gaylene Goodroad, Jewel Grewe, Pastor Jeff
Whittaker, and Sarah Leslie, which covered:
· The emerging eschatology involving the return of
space alien creatures, Nephilim and Mayan legends in December
2012. · The rise of Quantum Spirituality, merging quantum physics
with eastern mysticism and postmodern evangelicalism. · Technocracy and Transhumanism and how the this is changing
the church and the world. · The latest research on the New Apostolic Reformation and the
Latter Rain false apostles and prophets. · How Hollywood is being used by the Quantum Spirituality
advocates to create stimulating new imagery to promote pagan
mythologies and idolatries. · How evangelical leaders are using ancient occult writings,
apocryphal writings, astrology and modern UFO lore to build upon
Scripture.
(452) Letter
to
the Editor: Tens of Thousands Introduced to Contemplative
Advocates Gungor and David Crowder at Greg Laurie's Harvest
Crusade at Lighthouse Trails, 8/28/12 Our Comments: This is another strong indicator that mainstream
evangelical Christianity is going contemplative. In this
particular case, tens of thousands of people were introduced to
contemplative advocates Michael Gungor and David Crowder.
Regarding the connection between the band Gungor and Calvary
Chapel, in June 2011 Lighthouse Trails wrote an article titled
"Another Calvary Chapel Hosts a Gungor Concert". The article
pointed out that Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale and Calvary Chapel
St. Petersburg (both in Florida) had hosted events with Michael
Gungor's band.
(453) To
Open
Worship Perry Noble's Newspring Church Rocks Kiss by
Ken Silva, 8/29/12 This is Perry Nobles' NewSpring Church worship band playing
Rock And Roll All Night by the secular rock band Kiss. And if
you're not familiar with this ode to hedonism, no need to worry,
NewSpring Church even supplies the lyrics for your"*cough*
entertainment"
(454) Solitude
and
Silence by Gary Gilley, 8/30/12 But when the leaders of the Spiritual Formation Movement speak
of quiet and solitude they are referencing something very
different from a "quiet time" comprised of Bible reading and
prayer.
(455) Lectio
Divina:
What it is, What it is Not, and Why It is a Dangerous Practice
by Lighthouse Trails, 8/30/12 Lectio Divina - There's a lot of talk about it today; umpteen
books are published and more are on the way about lectio divina;
and an increasing number of evangelical/Protestant figures are
writing about it, endorsing it, and teaching it. Some people
think lectio divina simply means to read a passage of Scripture
slowly (or "praying the Scriptures") then ponder or think on
that Scripture. That can be a part of it. But if you ask mystics
or contemplatives what it entails (And who would know better
than they?), they will tell you that lectio divina (pronounced
lex-ee-o di-veen-a) always includes taking a passage of
Scripture (or other writings), reading it slowly, then working
your way down until you have just a word or small phrase from
the passage that you are meditating on (repeating over and
over). Basically, you are coming up with a mantra-like word or
phrase that has been extracted from a passage of Scripture,
which, according to contemplatives, if repeated for several
minutes will help you get rid of thoughts and distractions, so
then, they say, you can hear the voice of God and feel His
presence.
(456) Southern
Baptist
Convention Rejects Gender-Neutral NIV Bible But Embraces The
Message, Renovare Bible, and Contemplative Books by
Lighthouse Trails, 9/23/12 While the SBC's willingness to stand up against this new
translation Bible translation is worth noting, we are puzzled
that they find nothing wrong with Eugene Peterson's translation
The Message paraphrase and Richard Foster's Renovare Spiritual
Formation Study Bible. On their LifeWay Resources website, they
sell The Message and the Renovare "Bible." They also carry the
New Men's Devotional Bible (NIV), which includes "contributions"
by New Age sympathizer Rob Bell. They also carry books by
contemplative authors such as Gary Thomas, including his book
Sacred Pathways where he tells readers to repeat a word for
twenty minutes and Sacred Marriage where he references several
times a tantric sex advocate.1 They carry books by
contemplative proponent Pete Scazzero including Emotionally
Healthy Spirituality, a resource for those wanting to practice
contemplative prayer. To get a good glimpse at Scazzero's
propensities, check out his favorite books section on his
website - it's a plethora of mystics, emergents, and New Agers
sympathizers. And there are countless other examples of
contemplative authors that LifeWay is selling. A search on the
store website will bring these up.
(457) Be
Still
- Contemplative, or Listening Prayer and Psalm 46:10
by Pastor Larry DeBruyn for Contemplative Spirituality, 9/23/12 "Be still, and know that I am God . . ." (Psalm 46:10). Those
promoting contemplative or "listening" prayer refer to this
Scripture as a biblical endorsement for pursuing this spiritual
discipline. As a precondition for experiencing Soul-to-soul
communication from God, contemplative Christians advocate
cultivating quietude for the purpose of creating a spiritual
tabula rasa (i.e., Latin for blank slate) in which personal
communication from God can be received. Influential Christian
leaders and spiritual directors encourage listening prayer
(praying without words) as a means to experience "God's guidance
in everyday life." At face value, Psalm 46 verse 10 appears to
endorse this increasingly popular but ancient and mystical way
to pray.
(459) Profane
Preachers
Contribute to Killing the Conscience by Marsha West,
The Christian Post, 9/29/12 There seems to be a growing trend in the Church for the clergy
to feed the sensual appetite through their sermons. What we are
dealing with are pastors who have dirty minds and potty mouths.
The word that best describes them is profane.
(460) "Prepare
to
chill out, D.C.: Eckhart Tolle, spiritual mega-teacher, making
his first D.C. appearance" with comment by Lighthouse
Trails, 10/1/12 "Christ is your God-essence or the Self, as it is sometimes
called in the East. The only difference between Christ and
presence is that Christ refers to your indwelling divinity
regardless of whether you are conscious of it or not, whereas
presence means your awakened divinity or God-essence." (Eckhart
Tolle, The Power of Now, p. 104) LTRP Note: The following
article is posted not as an endorsement but rather for research
and informational purposes. Lighthouse Trails has posted
articles about New Age guru Eckhart Tolle before (especially
after the big promotion Oprah gave him a few years ago), and we
find it worth noting that the visit by Tolle to Washington
DC takes place the day after the first presidential debate for
this election. As we have often reported, the new age/"new"
spirituality permeates our Western society including those who
govern our countries. See the "Related Articles" below for
important information and documentation.
(461) The
Labyrinth
Journey: Walking the Path to Fulfillment? by Carl
Teichrib, Forcing Change, 10/9/12 Understand, Christians looking for ways to bring in new
relevancy within church worship did not "rediscover" the
labyrinth as a spiritual tool. As we shall see, it's been part
of the esoteric world for a very long time. Which is why, today,
labyrinth walks and "prayer journeys" are being promoted by
Rosicrucian groups [4], at New Age festivals and celebrations
[5], and throughout the neo-pagan world. Not surprisingly, one
of America's largest witch, shaman, and neo-pagan assemblies,
the 2005 Pagan Spirit Gathering at Wisteria, OH, held a
night-time Summer Solstice Labyrinth ritual, which was described
as a "transformative, walking meditation through an all night
labyrinth formed by 1000 lighted candles".
(462) The
Social
Gospel, Yesterday and Today by Gary Gilley,
11/2/12
What is unfolding before us is what the Emergent leader Brian
McLaren terms "missional." Missional, McLaren tells us, is "a
generous third way," between the conservative "personal Savior"
gospel and liberal version of it.[35] McLaren further explains,
"My missional calling: blessed in this life to be a blessing to
everyone on earth" My mission isn't to figure out who is already
blessed, or not blessed, or unblessable. My calling is to be
blessed so I can bless everyone."[36] He continues, "From this
understanding we place less emphasis on whose lineage, rites,
doctrines, structures, and terminology are right and more emphasis
on whose actions, service, outreach, kindness, and effectiveness
are good". (In order) to help our world get back on the road to
being truly and wholly good again, the way God created it to
be""[37] Rob Bell adds, "For Jesus, the question wasn't how do I
get into heaven? But how do I bring heaven here?...The goal isn't
escaping this world but making this world the kind of place God
can come to. And God is remaking us into the kind of people who
can do this kind of work."[38] The rationale of McLaren and Bell
is a mere echo of the original founders of liberalism. Read
Part
1 & Part
2.
(463) The
Idolatry
of "I am!" by Larry DeBruyn, Guarding His Flock
Ministries, 11/15/12 One of my seminary professors stated in a theology class, "God
created man in His own likeness and image, and man has been
returning the compliment ever since." Again, like one pundit put
it, "Man is the ape that wants to be God." In many ways, shapes,
and sizes, the "man-is-God" teaching still comes to us.
(465) Spiritual
Formation
at Worship by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things,
October/November 2012 - Volume 18, Issue 5 The “face” of the Spiritual Formation
Movement, as well as contemplative spirituality and emergent
Christianity, is often first noticed within evangelical churches
by the incorporation of traditional Roman Catholic and Eastern
Orthodox practices and liturgies. Many of these practices are
being introduced at special events and eventually find their way
into the regular services of the church. Worshippers are often
confused by what they are experiencing and do not understand
what is taking place. It should be understood that when
traditions borrowed from errant groups such as Catholics and
Orthodoxy are taken into evangelical worship and life, and are
done so without a careful examination of Scripture, what is
being adopted is more than just methods. There is a
comprehensive, and in many ways wrong, theology upon which these
practices rest. Methods do matter, and we are naïve to think
that we can take techniques from false religions and not
eventually embrace their theology.
(466) Should
Christians
Do Contemplative Prayer? That's a Good Question! by
Lynn Lusby Pratt, 11/21/12 The process itself is the same for mystics of all religions-in
Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, in Hinduism with transcendental
meditation and yoga, in Sufism (Islamic mysticism), in the
meditation of New Age spirituality, and in contemplative prayer.
Participants are advised to choose a “sacred
word.” But the repetition renders any words
meaningless (ask a psych prof), so it doesn't really matter
whether a Christian says "Jesus loves me" or a Buddhist says
"Hail to the Lotus." The repetition induces an altered state of
consciousness in which the practitioner senses a "union with the
divine," having presumably contacted the god of choice.
(467) Christian
Mysticism by Pastor Daryl Hilbert, 11/26/12 ... in one degree or another, Christian Mysticism does not rely
upon the Scriptures for its truth and spirituality, but rather
upon one’s own feelings, impressions, and intuitions.
(468) How
the
"Quantum Christ" (God is in everything) is Tranforming the
World . . . and Entering the Church! by Warren B.
Smith, 3/12 The New Age/New Spirituality is already heralding quantum
physics as a "scientific" basis for their contention that God is
not only transcendent but also immanent "in" everyone and
everything. Physicist Fritjof Capra"s 1975 best-selling book on
quantum physics "The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the
Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism "was the
first to present this proposed scientific/spiritual model to a
mass audience. In it, Capra explains that he gained new
spiritual insights through a mystical experience he had sitting
on a beach in Santa Cruz, California in 1969...
(469) The
Top
50 "Christian" Contemplative Books – A "NOT
RECOMMENDED Reading List" and 25 Christian "Bridgers" to Them
at Lighthouse Trails, 12/10/12 LTRP Note: Ray Yungen and the editors at Lighthouse Trails have
put together our Top 50 "Christian" Contemplative Books - A "Not
Recommended Reading List." If your pastor, your professor, your
children, or your friends are reading any of these books, then
they are being led down a path that will take them toward a
mystical, panentheistic spirituality where only deception
lies in wait. And keep in mind, if they are reading other books
that are pointing to the books and authors below, this may
ultimately have the same results.
(470) Fantasy
or
Reality? - Where is your faith? by Sarah Leslie,
12/10/12 The Emerging Fantasy-Driven Worldview - With the rise of
interest in the Mayan calendar date of Dec. 21, 2012 among
Evangelicals, there is a concurrent noticeable shift in
perceptions of reality. What is reality? What is fantasy? Are
church people mixing the two together in strange new ways?
(471) Emerging
Christianity by Berit Kjos, 2006 Those who read A New Kind of Christian and its popular sequel
will be caught up in an unusual dialogue. Identifying with the
"Christian" teacher Neo and others who model the "new" Christian
beliefs, readers are encouraged to challenge God, question His
commands, twist disturbing truths, and pursue visions that fit
contemporary culture. Read Part
1, Part
2 & Part
3.
(472) COMPARISON:
“New
Spirituality” Leaders Reject and Ridicule the Second
Coming of the Lord VERSUS Bible Prophecies Standing in Stark
Contrast by Lighthouse Trails, 12/23/12 Many people feared that the world would come to an end on
December 21, 2012 because of Mayan calendar "prophecies." Many
New Agers believed that the 21st would be significant in seeing
a global wide spiritual epiphany. In the midst of all this,
there is the issue of the return of Jesus Christ. What do New
Spirituality “ leaders have to say about the end-times
and the return of Jesus Christ versus what does the Bible have
to say? There is a vast difference in the two. The Bible
tells us that in the last days men will be scoff and scorn the
idea of Jesus Christ returning.
(473) The
Post-Truth
Transformation of a Wordless "Faith" by Tamara
Hartzell, 12/24/12 In today's shifting Christianity, people think it is simply a
matter of "moving the fence" in order to be more inclusive. They
don't understand that we can't broaden the truth of Who the Lord
Jesus Christ is any more than we can broaden the truth of Who
God is. The Word of God tells us the truth of Who the Lord Jesus
Christ is, and, again, the truth and faith that are in the Word
of God give us the Christian faith, not the faith of another
religion. In other words, the truth of Who the Lord Jesus Christ
is gives us the Christian faith. This is the faith that is given
to us by God in His Word. The Lord Jesus Christ does not 'move
the fence;' that is, He does not change the truth of Who He is
to be more inclusive. The truth is what it is whether people
believe it or not.
(474) "The
Lord
is my Shepherd! I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1) by
David Dombrowski, Lighthouse Trails Research, 12/30/12 Many people feared that the world would come to an end on
December 21, 2012 because of Mayan calendar "prophecies." Many
New Agers believed that the 21st would be significant in seeing
a global wide spiritual epiphany. In the midst of all this,
there is the issue of the return of Jesus Christ. What do New
Spirituality “ leaders have to say about the end-times
and the return of Jesus Christ versus what does the Bible have
to say? There is a vast difference in the two. The Bible tells
us that in the last days men will be scoff and scorn the idea of
Jesus Christ returning.
(475) Ignatius
by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things, December/January 2012/2013
- Volume 18, Issue 6 One of the most popular and strongly promoted activities within
spiritual formation is known as “The Spiritual
Exercises of Ignatius Loyola.” As the name implies,
these are exercises or activities invented by the Roman Catholic
monk Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century to enhance spiritual
life, first his own and then that of the monks within his
monasteries. The exercises are complicated and difficult, and
were practiced almost exclusively by Catholic monks for over 400
years until the birth of the modern Spiritual Formation Movement
in the latter part of the 20th century. Today there is no doubt
more interest in the exercises than at any other point in
history. To grasp Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises, we
will begin with a short history of Ignatius, including the
society of monks he founded, move to the original 16th century
exercises as found in Ignatius’s book, examine their
modern application especially among Protestants, and then
discuss why the Exercises are of deep concern to lovers of
biblical Christianity.
(476) A
Brief Snyopsis of The Emerging Church by Pastor Daryl
Hilbert, 1/1/13 How do we respond to the Emerging Church Movement? Answer: the
same way the Scriptures have always exhorted believers to
respond, by putting forth an emphatic effort and strenuous
struggle on behalf of the truth, by contending earnestly for the
faith once for all handed down to the saints, and
metaphorically, by waging war for the truth.
(477) “Reimagining”
God by Tamara Hartzell, 1/6/13 In today’s shifting Christianity, people think it is
simply a matter of “moving the fence” in
order to be more inclusive. They don’t understand that
we can’t broaden the truth of Who the Lord Jesus
Christ is any more than we can broaden the truth of Who God is.
The Word of God tells us the truth of Who the Lord Jesus Christ
is, and, again, the truth and faith that are in the Word of God
give us the Christian faith, not the faith of another religion.
In other words, the truth of Who the Lord Jesus Christ is gives
us the Christian faith. This is the faith that is given to us by
God in His Word. The Lord Jesus Christ does not “move
the fence!” That is, He does not change the truth of
Who He is to be more inclusive. The truth is what it is whether
people believe it or not.
(478) The
Cross
versus the “Higher Self” by Ray
Yungen, 1/17/13 The New Age and Christianity definitely clash on the answer to
the question of human imperfection. The former [the New Age]
espouses the doctrine of becoming self-realized and united with
the universe, which they see as God but in reality is the realm
of familiar spirits. On the other hand, the Gospel that
Christians embrace offers salvation to humanity through grace
(unmerited favor). Romans 3:24 boldly states:
“… being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” In
Romans 6:23 we read: “For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.” This gift is not earned or given as a reward
for earnest or good intentions as Scripture clearly states.
(479) The
Postmodern
Deconstruction of Biblical Truths by Prof. Johan
Malan, Mossel Bay, South Africa (December 2012) We are living in a time of the most immense and relentless
attacks on the Christian faith since the beginning of the church
dispensation. The present onslaught does not primarily occur on
the physical level in order to persecute and torture Christians,
but rather on the spiritual and doctrinal level with a view to
utterly deceiving them. These assaults constitute a determined
and final effort by the kingdom of darkness to completely
obliterate the Christian faith and replace it with the
Antichrist’s alliance of false world religions.
(480) The
Emerging
Church And The Wild Goose Chase Into Postmodern Progressive
Christianity by Ken Silva, 6/5/11 The sinfully ecumenical neo-liberal cult of the Emergent Church
aka the Emerging Church continues on their foolish Wild Goose
Chase; so here at Apprising Ministries I continue tracking the
destruction in the wake of The New Downgrade And Its Apostles Of
Unbelief. As I do you’ll come to see that the
EC’s new postmodern version of Progressive Christian
theology under their spiritual circus “big
tent” Emergence Christianity depends upon philosophy
and not Biblical theology.
(481) Soaking
– the Trendy Approach to a Holy God by Kevin
Kleint, 1/29/13 During my stint at the Elijah List (2001-2008), the practice of
“soaking” grew immensely in popularity among
the “prophetic” church, and continues to
grow now. Usually, the “soaker” has a
“soaking” CD playing in the background that
is conducive to the “soaking” experience.
Most of the time, these CD’s have music playing, with
a “prophet” or “prophetic
person” either speaking,
“prophesying” or singing with the music.
Elijah List contributors such as Todd Bentley, Stacey Campbell
and the Kansas City prophets (Mike Bickle, Bob Jones, Paul Cain,
etc.) have released entire “worship” CD
series created for this very purpose. To the spiritually young
and immature, the practice of
“soaking” seems SO RIGHT. They think:
“Who wouldn’t want to get in contact with
God’s Holy Spirit? What better way to experience the
Presence of God? The people who practice it prophesy a LOT and
they seem so ‘spiritual’, this MUST be the
right way to do things ……
Right?” Unfortunately, Wrong.
(482) The
Post-truth
Transformation of a Wordless Faith at The Berean Call,
2/5/13 In today’s shifting Christianity, people think it is
simply a matter of “moving the fence” in
order to be more inclusive. They don’t understand that
we can’t "broaden" the truth of Who the Lord Jesus
Christ is any more than we can broaden the truth of Who God is.
The Word of God tells us the truth of Who the Lord Jesus Christ
is, and, again, the truth and faith that are in the Word of God
give us the Christian faith, not the faith of another religion.
(483) LifeWay
Stores
Drops “Warning” Labels on Emergent Books
– Says Not Relevant Anymore by Lighthouse
Trails, 2/11/11 According to a Christianity Today article, LifeWay Christian
Stores (resource department for Southern Baptist Convention) has
decided to end their “Read with Discernment”
labels program that began in 2007.1 Books that LifeWay was
carrying at that time by emerging church authors such as Rob
Bell and Brian McLaren were suppose to receive labels telling
potential readers that they should used discernment when reading
the books as the books “may have espoused thoughts,
ideas, or concepts that could be considered inconsistent with
historical evangelical theology.” But, says
Christianity Today, LifeWay has decided to end the warning
program. Chris Rodgers, LifeWay’s director of product
standards and customer relations, said: “We have been
thinking about doing away with them for some time . . . They
have kind of become irrelevant.”
(485) The
Eerie
Silence of a Silent Church by Warren B. Smith, author
of False
Christ
Coming: Does Anybody Care?, 3/1/13 Why is there almost no call for spiritual discernment within
the Church? . . . Why are there so few warnings about a
counterfeit “new gospel” movement that
maligns the person of Jesus Christ and threatens the lives of
His followers?
(486)The
Real
Roots of the Emergent Church (Film) by Elliott Nesch,
Holy Bible Prophecy, 3/4/13 Film: This Christian documentary film The Real Roots of the
Emergent Church will take an honest look at the leaders of the
Emerging Church movement such as Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt,
Tony Jones, Rob Bell, Tony Campolo, Steve Chalke, Peter Rollins,
Dan Kimball, Richard Rohr, Phyllis Tickle, Spencer Burke and
others. Who are they and what are they teaching? Become familiar
with the postmodern Emergent Church and its popular tactic of
literary deconstruction applied to the Bible. This film takes an
in-depth look at what the Emerging Church believes concerning
the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, absolute truth,
hell, homosexuality, mysticism, contemplative prayer, other
religions, and eschatology in comparison to the Bible. Much more
than candles and couches! Participants: Eric Ludy, Joe Schimmel,
Chris Rosebrough, Bob DeWaay, Gary Gilley, Ray Yungen, Robert
LeBus, Jay Peters, James Sundquist, and Elliott Nesch.
(487) The
Rise
of Apocalyptic Paganism in the Church: Bible Prophecy
in Crisis by Herescope, 3/7/13 The eschatological teachings of the postmodern evangelical
church are in a state of revision and flux. It is no longer
possible to categorize endtime teachings according to the old
standard recognizable Postmillennialism, Amillennialism and
Premillennialism. There are emerging permutations in these
teachings, hybrid eschatologies that blend in New Age
evolutionary progression, quantum physics (including quantum
spirituality), “incarnating” Christ,
“Forerunner Eschatology,” science fiction,
UFO lore, secret codes, and ancient pagan mythology, astrology
and apocryphal writings. The result is a prophecy mish-mash.
These strange new configurations of eschatology are apocalyptic
in nature and go far beyond the descriptions of an apocalypse
that are found in Scripture alone. Postmodern endtime prophecy
no longer reflects the humble Gospel message of salvation, nor
does it find hope in the soon return of Jesus Christ.
(488) Questions For Those
Considering Yoga (4:18) - Video by Chris Lawson,
3/8/13 It is for good reason that Christian pastors in India have been
found to weep over the ignorance of Christians in the West that
do yoga for "exercise." Christian or non-Christian, it seems
that most people in Western civilization have never been
properly warned about the dangers of yoga. Asking simple
questions, Chris Lawson presents various straightforward
considerations that people should seriously think about before
launching themselves - and those around them - into influences
that the the world of yoga can produce within them, upon them
and through them.
(489) John
Piper
Says No to Catholic Contemplatives But Yes to Protestant
Contemplatives by Lighthouse Trails, 3/11/13 This past week we received an e-mail from a reader who brought
to our attention a video online showing where popular Calvinist
teacher John Piper is asked the question: “Is there
such a thing as contemplative prayer or Christian meditation in
the Reformed and Puritan tradition?”
(490) Emerging
“Progressive”
Spirituality: Joining the New Age with Christianity, and
Christian Leaders Say OK by Lighthouse Trails,
3/21/13 No one group understands emerging
“progressive” spirituality as much as those
in the New Age. That’s because it is their religion.
So when the evangelical emerging church movement rose to the
forefront, New Agers must have found it quite intriguing and
most likely rewarding to see their belief system finally take
root in Christianity.
(491) Reputedly
Conservative
Churches Embrace 'Holy Yoga' by Dr. Paul M. Elliott,
4/3/13 "Holy Yoga" is a syncretistic mingling of Hinduism and
Christianity. It is a latter-day manifestation of the same evil
spirit that drove King Ahaz of ancient Judah. We find the sad
record of his syncretism in 2 Kings chapter 16 and 2 Chronicles
chapter 28. Ahaz saw and admired a great pagan altar in
Damascus. So, he decided to have a copy of it made in Jerusalem
and set up in the temple alongside the brazen altar of the one
true and living God. Ahaz caused the Levitical priests to offer
sacrifices upon it.
(492) Contemporary
Christian
Divination: The False Claims and Practices of Christian
Mystics by Bob DeWaay, 2007 Those today who are evangelical Christians, who know God
through the gospel, yet dabble in the practices of the pagans,
are spiritual “sons of Jeroboam.” They are,
like Jeroboam, very creative in making Christianity relevant to
the current culture. The problem is not Western rationalism as
the contemporary mystics all claim. They are fighting an
obsolete battle. The prevailing culture in America is very much
“spiritual.” They claim the need for
mystical experience to fight against modernity when they are in
a post-modern culture that has embraced the East. The danger
today is not that people think that the material realm is all
there is, it is that they think they can contact the spiritual
realm their own way. They are practicing divination.
(493) How
to
Know When the Emerging Church Shows Signs of Emerging Into
Your Church (Booklet) by Lighthouse Trails,
4/7/13 I am convinced we are seeing apostasy underway, exactly as the
Scriptures have forewarned. This means that this current trend
is not likely to disappear. We must continue to proclaim the
truth in the midst of deception with love.
(494) Christians
mystically
encountering God by Marsha West, RenewAmerica,
4/16/13 For a couple of decades there has been a big push by numerous
evangelical leaders to incorporate pagan practices into the
visible Church. These unbiblical practices have their origins in
Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, likewise the
New Age movement. Roman Catholic Trappist Monks fully embraced
Eastern religion's pagan practices. Through the writings of
Thomas Merton, Basil Pennington, William Menninger and Thomas
Keating these practices have been introduced into mainline
Protestant churches as well as independent, nondenominational,
charismatic and Pentecostal churches.
(495) NEW
PRINT
BOOKLET TRACT: The New Missiology – Doing Missions
Without the Gospel by Roger Oakland, 4/27/13 Emerging “progressive Christianity” is
changing the way evangelical/Protestant missions is being
conducted. The idea is that you can go for Jesus, but you
don’t have to identify yourself as a Christian or part
of the Christian church. This concept spills over into some
missionary societies too, where they teach people from other
religions they can keep their religion, just add Jesus to the
equation. They don’t have to embrace the term
Christian.
(496) Christian
Colleges
that Promote Contemplative by Lighthouse Trails,
4/29/13
A list of "Christian" colleges that promote Emerging Church,
Contemplative Prayer and Spiritual Formation.
(498) Fasting
and
Spiritual Direction by Gary Gilley, Think On These
Things, April/May 2013,Volume 19, Issue 2 The list of spiritual disciplines that has been adopted within
the Spiritual Formation Movement is almost endless. We could
analyze the divine office, Benedict’s Rule, use of the
Rosary and prayer ropes, monasticism, journaling, the Eucharist,
and pilgrimage, among many others. But we will conclude our
study of the disciplines with fasting and spiritual direction.
(499) Avoiding
the
Dangers of Yoga, Mysticism, New Age and the Occult by
Chris Lawson, 5/10/13 Some portions of these articles were originally published in
2010, under the title "Defining Deception: What Is Yoga,
Mysticism, New Age and The Occult?" The following, which is part
one of this two-part series, covers the terms
“Mysticism” and “Yoga.”
Part two of this series (see below) covers the term
“New Age (New Spirituality/New Gospel/Contemplative
spirituality) and the term “Occult.”
Biblical warnings against these philosophies and the spiritual
practices they entail are given throughout both articles.
Read Part
1
& Part 2.
(501) Letter
to
the Editor: Christian & Missionary Alliance OK With Ruth
Haley Barton and Other Contemplatives by Lighthouse
Trails, 5/16/13 Two and a half years ago the leadership of the Western PA
District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance invited Ruth
Haley Barton to speak to its pastors and lay delegates at its
annual District Conference. I sat in amazement as I watched my
fellow pastors nod their heads in affirmation as Mrs. Barton
said Moses went in to the desert to meditate. I
didn’t see my fellow pastors turn to the book of
Exodus to read the account of Moses. My Bible says Moses
went to the desert to escape being killed by Pharaoh.
(502) Harding
University
& School of Theology – Another Christian
University Added to Contemplative Colleges List by
Lighthouse Trails, 5/20/13 After a concerned parent contacted us, we researched Harding
University in Arkansas and Harding School of Theology in
Tennessee (both under the same umbrella) and discovered that
Harding needed to be added to our list of Christian schools that
are promoting contemplative spirituality. Both the University
and the School of Theology have integrated Spiritual Formation
(i.e., contemplative) into their schools.
(503) Moody
Pastors
Conference Teaching Lectio Divina This Week ;
And Seven Years of Warning by Lighthouse Trails Go Unheeded
by Lighthouse Trails, 5/22/13 On May 20-23, Moody Bible Institute held its annual Pastors
Conference (this year called re|Focus). Keynote speakers
included Alistair Begg, Voddie Bauchman, Michael Easley (former
Moody Bible Institute president) and a number of other
evangelical pastors and speakers. On Tuesday, during one of the
breakout sessions, Peter Spychalla, Director of Prayer
Ministries, East White Oak Bible Church in Illinois gave a
teaching on the contemplative practice called lectio divina (see
page 35 of brochure)
(504) Will
Assemblies
of God Leaders Ignore Contemplative Evidence? by
Lighthouse Trails, 5/26/13 LTRP Note: This an update to our previous articles regarding
Assemblies of God’s invitation of contemplative leader
Ruth Haley Barton to their 2013 General Council conference.
Please see the links at the bottom of this page for a
chronological listing of articles relating to this matter.
(505) Contemplative
Spirituality
Concerns Part 1 (Video) by Chris Lawson, Spiritual
Research Network, 5/31/13 Many people today - Christians and non-Christians - are
engaging in Contemplative Spirituality practices. What many do
not realize is that the Spiritual Formation "centering prayer"
movement, with its mystical and occult methods and techniques,
is part of a global Interfaith system of spirituality, a
spirituality that is rooted in Eastern mysticism and
philosophies such as pantheism (All is God, God is all), monism
(All is one) and panentheistic (All in God, God in all)
evolutionary occultism (the "hidden" things, "universal cosmic
energies," quantum spirituality, etc). This short introductory
video speaks to fact that the "centering prayer" and
"meditation" movements within the the New Spirituality/New
Gospel/New Age movement are hostile to the Person, nature and
work of Jesus Christ and the biblical Gospel.
(506) The
New
Missiology: Doing Missions Without the Gospel (Tract)
by Roger Oakland, 6/4/13 Emerging "progressive Christianity" is changing the way
evangelical/Protestant missions is being conducted. The idea is
that you can go for Jesus, but you don't have to identify
yourself as a Christian or part of the Christian church. This
concept spills over into some missionary societies too, where
they teach people from other religions they can keep their
religion, just add Jesus to the equation. They don?t have to
embrace the term Christian.
(507) Coming
to
Christ Through Mysticism? by Roger Oakland,
6/9/13 The spiritual formation movement teaches that if people
practice certain spiritual disciplines, they can become like
Jesus and model their lives after Him. But being born again and
having the indwelling of Christ is not a prerequisite. Neither
is receiving Him as Lord and absolute Savior. What spiritual
formation offers is an alternative to God’s plan of
salvation revealed in Scripture.
(508) Concerns
Grow
as Moody Presses Forth Down Contemplative Path by
Lighthouse Trails, 6/10/13 As we explained in our May 22nd article,
“Moody’s Pastors’ Conference
Teaching Lectio Divina This Week” we have been warning
Moody Bible Institute and Moody Radio (owned by MBI) for seven
years. Moody has rejected our warnings, has refused to accept
our free, non-obligatory copies of A Time of Departing and Faith
Undone, and has continued to promote contemplative spirituality.
(509) New
Age
“Christianity”? by Roger Oakland,
6/13/13 The amazing thing to me is how quickly Christianity has been
changed in such a short period of time. Why has this happened?
Does it have something to do with the Word of God being
undermined? It seems to me that Christians have joined hands
with the New Age, and we now have a New Age Christianity that
the Bible warns us about.
(510) NEW
BOOKLET
TRACT: An Epidemic of Apostasy – How Christian
Seminaries Must Incorporate “Spiritual
Formation” to Become Accredited by
Lighthouse Trails, 6/16/13 What do the two accreditation
organizations—Association of Theological Seminaries
and Association for Biblical Higher Education—have in
common? Both associations require schools that wish to be
accredited to include Spiritual Formation within the
school’s infrastructure. Just what exactly does that
mean for these 350 some seminaries and Bible colleges? Well, it
means that if they want to receive and maintain their
accreditation, they are going to have to incorporate Spiritual
Formation (i.e., contemplative spirituality) into the lives of
their students.
(511) "Contextualization"
of
the Gospel: A Free-Falling Catastrophe by Roger
Oakland, 6/19/13 If Paul had been adjusting (contextualizing) the Word of God to
fit the culture and context of the lives of those he spoke to,
he would not have said “the aroma of death leading to
death.” He took the spiritual state of these people
very seriously, and he had full confidence that God’s
Word, unaltered and unchanged, could reach into the heart and
soul of any person who would receive Christ by faith. Whether a
person is young, mentally challenged, or of a different culture
or ethnic group, the Gospel is God’s Gospel, and He
made it so that all who receive it by faith will understand His
love and forgiveness and have eternal life. . . .
(512) The
Truth
About Energy Healing (Booklet) by Ray Yungen,
Lighthouse Trails, 6/25/13 New Agers and occultists believe that man has more than one
body, that there are other invisible bodies superimposed on the
physical body. They refer to one of these as the etheric body
and believe there lies within it energy centers called chakras
(pronounced shock-ras). The term chakra means whirling wheel in
Sanskrit, the ancient Hindu language. They were seen by those
with clairvoyant powers as spinning balls of psychic energy. It
is taught that there are seven chakras, which start at the base
of the spine and end at the crown chakra at the top of the head.
(513) The
Duty
And Danger Of Opposing The�Emergent� Movement by Bill
McCumber, 6/28/13 The duty is simple. The gurus and leaders of this emergent
movement, conversation, dialogue�call it what they will�do not
base their teachings and writings upon Scripture but upon their
own opinions. They do not submit to the authority of the Bible
but seek to impose their authority upon the Bible. They dismiss
the clear witness of the Bible to itself as the inspired Word of
God. When this has been done the witness of the Bible to God, to
Jesus Christ and to salvation from sin is rejected outright or
dangerously distorted.
(514) The
Labyrinth
Journey: Walking the Path to Fulfillment? (Booklet) by
Carl Teichrib, Lighthouse Trails, 7/2/13 Beyond all of this, just as walking the labyrinth is used for
initiation in cults, it serves as a catalyst to draw people into
more serious forms of New Age or eastern-style meditation
cloaked under terms like �the silence,� �centering prayer,� or
�contemplative prayer.� Yes, the majority of Christians would
affirm that their labyrinth prayer walk is completely focused on
Jesus Christ. That may be true, but it doesn�t excuse the fact
that the labyrinth is, by its theological nature, an
inter-religious and deeply mystical device. If God is going to
bless the labyrinth experience, how is He going to deal with 2
Corinthians 6:14-16?
(515) Author
Phyllis
Tickle brings emergent church discussion to Menucha lectures
at Understand The Times, 7/5/13 Phyllis Tickle, a lively authority on the future of the
Christian church, will present the 2013 Wright Lectures on Oct.
13-15 at Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett.
Attendance is limited to 60 people, and registration is open.
Tickle will speak on two of her books, "The Great Emergence" and
"Emergence Christianity: What It Is, Where It Is Going and Why
It Matters." She will offer extended question and answer periods
and encourage small group conversations on the implications of
what participants are hearing. Tickle is an Episcopal lay
minister and founding editor of the religion department at
Publishers Weekly. She says the Christian church is entering a
post-denominational period against a backdrop of sociological
and cultural shifts that have created a distrust of all
institutions. Mainline churches are becoming less hierarchical
and more communal, she says, allowing Protestantism to renew and
redefine itself. "Wherever it's going, there's every reason
right now to rejoice," she says. "God is doing a new thing
amongst us and it's call emerging or emergent
Christianity."
(516) YOGA
and
Christianity � Are They Compatible? (Booklet) by Chris
Lawson, Lighthouse Trails, 7/7/13 Western Culture Embraces Yoga: It is no secret that Yoga is
taking Western civilization by storm. In just a little over a
hundred years, a mystical revolution has occurred that millions
of Westerners have wholeheartedly embraced. Amazingly, the
Western Judeo-Christian view is in the process of a paradigm
shift toward the same perspective as yogic India.
(518) From
the
Frying Pan into the Fire: Women of Faith Partners with New Age
Advocate Roma Downey by Lighthouse Trails,
7/25/13 We fear we must say yes to John Lanagan�s question. Women of
Faith is going from the frying pan into the fire. In a June 21st
Christian Post article, �Mark Burnett, Roma Downey Partner With
Women of Faith, �Believe God Can Do Anything� Tour,� it
explains how Women of Faith �has partnered with �The Bible�
producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey to incorporate parts of
the highly successful History Channel program into its
�life-changing� tour. That probably sounds UN-alarming to most
people. After all, what could be wrong with a program
called The Bible? And the series (now seen by over 100
million people), The Bible, is being promoted widely by
many Christian organizations and ministries with a broad
marketing target.
(519) The
Spirituality
of Teresa of Avila � A Mystic to Whom Contemplatives Turn
by Lighthouse Trails, 7/27/13 Castles in the Sand by Carolyn A. Greene is a story based on
true facts and addresses the fast growing contemplative prayer
movement within the evangelical/Protestant church. The story is
about a 21st century Christian college girl who is introduced to
the writings of a 15th century mystic girl, Teresa of Avila in
her Spiritual Formation class. Teresa of Avila is one of
the ancient mystics to whom modern day contemplatives turn. For
example, Richard Foster includes her in Devotional Classics,
Sanctuary of the Soul, and Longing for God. We think when
you read this chapter of Castles in the Sand, you will see how
the spiritual practices of Teresa of Avila line up with the
occult but not with biblical Christianity. If you didn�t get a
chance to read chapter one when we posted it, here it is
again: (chapter one). Below is an excerpt to chapter two with a
link to the entire chapter.
(520) An
Epidemic
of Apostasy � How Christian Seminaries Must Incorporate
�Spiritual Formation� to Become Accredited (Booklet)
by Lighthouse Trails, 8/1/13 Spiritual Formation: A movement that has provided a platform
and a channel through which contemplative prayer is entering the
church. Find spiritual formation being used, and in nearly every
case, you will find contemplative spirituality and its
�pioneers� such as Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, and Henri
Nouwen. Spiritual Formation is based on �spiritual disciplines�
that can be practiced by people of any faith to make them more
�Christ-like.� Rebirth through Jesus Christ and regeneration
through the Holy Spirit are not essential. Rather it is a
works-based �theology� that has strong roots in Roman
Catholicism and ancient paganism.
(521) WHO
GOES
THERE? Encountering voices in the silence of contemplative
prayer by Larry DeBruyn, 8/22/13 If whispers repeat the Word of God, then they are unnecessary.
If whispers contradict the Word of God, then they are heresy. If
they add to the Word of God, then they point to Scripture�s
inadequacy and insufficiency. To this point Proverbs warns: �Add
thou not unto his [God�s] words, lest he [God] reprove thee, and
thou be found a liar� (Proverbs 30:6, KJV). � DeBruyn
(522) The
Stillness
and Lectio Divina at a Mennonite �Biblical� Seminary?
by Menno-lite, 8/29/13
The seminary for the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren
Churches is there to equip and educate future pastors, leaders,
missionaries, counsellors and teachers for ministry within the
Mennonite Brethren constituency. This fall, one of the courses
offered by the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary to equip
future pastors and teachers and missionaries is listed on the CMU
2013-14 COURSE TIMETABLE: BTS-5960M Being with God in Stillness
and Scripture (1.0 credit hour) This course will draw on biblical,
historical and experiential resources for developing a
conversational relationship with Jesus Christ through the
practices of stillness, and `sacred reading� of Scripture (lectio
divina). Students will complete several assignments after
participating in a one-day workshop. (In 2013 this workshop will
be offered in two Ontario locations.) Instructor: Andrew
Dyck
http://www.mbseminary.ca/cmu-courses Is this really a biblical
practice?
(523) The
Quantum
Christ: Entering the World AND the Church Through Popular New
Age & Christian Leaders by Warren Smith,
8/30/13 The New Age/New Spirituality is already heralding quantum
physics as a �scientific� basis for their contention that God is
not only transcendent but also immanent��in� everyone and
everything. Physicist Fritjof Capra�s 1975 best-selling book on
quantum physics�The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the
Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism�was the
first to present this proposed scientific/spiritual model to a
mass audience. In it, Capra explains that he gained new
spiritual insights through a mystical experience he had sitting
on a beach in Santa Cruz, California in 1969
(525) The
Metaphysical
Explosion & the Higher Self � A Path to Spiritual
Enlightenment or a Road to Dangerous Deception? by Ray
Yungen, 9/7/13 After 25 years of research, I fully understand why so many
people have embraced metaphysics (mysticism) and why they seek
transformation for humanity as a whole. By and large, they have
rejected orthodox (old paradigm) Christianity as being
unacceptable, but still want to retain spiritual meaning and a
utopian vision in their lives. In addition, they see metaphysics
as helpful towards improving the quality of their daily lives,
whether it be better health, more loving relationships, inner
peace, or guidance for success and prosperity. They would think
it the height of ignorance and folly to condemn such seemingly
wonderful ways to better the human condition.
(526) Drinking
to
the Gospel: Presbyterian Church in New Zealand Embraces
Alcohol to Evangelize, Attract Members, Make Money at
Understand The Times, 9/13/13 With promotional events like "Wine and theology evenings" and
"Beer and barbeque" church services, congregants of New
Zealand's dying Presbyterian Church are now embracing alcohol as
an evangelism tool to attract more members and increase their
bottom line according to a new study coming out of that country.
Highlighting new research by religion expert, Dr. Geoff
Troughton of Victoria University of Wellington, in a Medical
Xpress report on Tuesday, revealed that the Presbyterian
Church's anti-alcohol campaign had slacked off radically since
the 1990s to shore up their bottom line and attract more people
to the dying church. "Some churches are now experimenting with
using alcohol as an evangelization tool. Rather than seeing
alcohol consumption as a marker of secular culture in need of
change, it has become part of efforts to promote Christianity.
'Wine and theology' evenings and 'beer and barbeque' church
services are among the methods being explored," said Troughton
in the report.
(527) Emergent
Church:
Is The Bible Inerrant by Ken Silva, 9/21/13 As a pastor-teacher sent by Christ someone is welcome ask me
the exact same question: �Do you believe that the Bible is the
inerrant Word of God?� Answer: Absolutely; it is the only Book
inspired the one true and living God�the Creator of mankind�and
as such it is the sole source of authority for how God wishes
all of His creation to live their lives, no matter what culture
they may be part of. My reason for stating it like that is
because this is exactly how Jesus Christ of Nazareth approached
Holy Scripture, and no one has the right to call themselves
Christian without having the same view of the Scriptures that
His Master had.
(529) Letter
to
the Editor: The Affects of �Spiritual Formation� in a
Christian Church at Lighthouse Trails, 10/10/13
From Lighthouse Trails I ordered the book by Ray Yungen For
Many Shall Come In My Name. This is where I first was
introduced to the concept or should I say the term Centering
Prayer. The subject matter so moved me that I ordered 10
copies and provided it to my pastor to distribute it to the
ministry team at church. Thinking maybe they were unaware of the
direction the church was moving in. Looking back I never
realized how naïve I was! How unprepared! I believed that the
books would be read and I would receive some type of response.
Negative! Upon giving the Pastor the book and its copies, the
reaction was not what I hoped for. He looked at the back and
said that it had no supporting commentaries[endorsements] on the
back. Looking inside, he said it looks like he�s probably a
Baptist. Getting over the shock of that statement, or should I
say trying not to show how much that statement shocked me, I
told him that the supporting commentaries might get me to read
the book, but it would be the contents that would make or break
the book for me. He thanked me and took the books with a
promise of getting back to me.
(530) The
Advent
of the �Ancient Wisdom� by Ray Yungen, 10/11/13
A Time magazine article on what America believes reveals that
fourteen percent of the U.S. population sees God as �a Higher
Power or Cosmic Force.�9 This would confirm the number that
Eckhart Tolle spoke of (thirty million New Agers). How would any
movement achieve such an enormous following so quickly? What is
it that drives such rapid growth? The answer to this question
cannot be ignored or dismissed as irrelevant. (For more
information, read Ray Yungen�s book, For
Many
Shall Come in My Name)
(531) Is
Your
Church Doing Spiritual Formation? by Lighthouse
Trails, 10/14/13 Is your church involved in a Spiritual Formation program? If
so, you might want to ask the question, what does Spiritual
Formation look like? It�s a fair question, and one, that if not
asked, could end up surprising you when your church changes in
ways you never imagined. In a 2002 Christianity Today article,
it stated: �Spiritual Formation is in.� The article reveals who
is largely responsible for starting the movement: "Now many
evangelical seminaries offer programs in spiritual formation.
Renovare, which Richard Foster and others founded in 1989 to
cultivate spiritual formation (especially among evangelicals),
today offers retreats and resources worldwide."
(533) Letter
From
Focus on the Family Confirms Past Reports � They DO Promote
Contemplative Spirituality by Lighthouse Trails,
10/18/13 Recently, Lighthouse Trails received a letter from one of our
readers who sent us a letter she had received in 2012 from Focus
on the Family after she inquired about their views on
contemplative spirituality. On a number of occasions in the
past, Lighthouse Trails has issued reports showing Focus on the
Family�s promotion of contemplative spirituality. In more than
one instance, Tim Masters (in the Office of the President), on
behalf of Focus on the Family, has written to Lighthouse
Trails and/or LT readers expressing the organization�s
acceptance of contemplative.
(534) Mega-Pastor
Steven
Furtick Faces Examination by Trinity Foundation,
10/30/13 Elevation Church Pastor Steven Furtick has attracted some
unwanted attention. WCNC reporter Stuart Watson recently
uncovered Furtick�s large $1.7M house tucked in the woods away
from public scrutiny and doubly hidden in a specially created
trust. The expose asks a lot of questions about how mega-pastors
with a ready-made audience can profit from book royalties.
It also raises questions about the suitability of compensation
committees comprised of fellow pastors with a vested interest as
contrasted with a long-held church tradition of elders and
deacons having decision-making authority.
(535) Does
God
Sanction Mystical Experiences? by Ray Yungen,
11/9/13 Nowhere in the Bible is the silence equated with the �power of
God,� but the message of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18) most
certainly is!
(536) Sojourners
Founder
Jim Wallis� Revolutionary Anti-Christian �Gospel� (and Will
Christian Leaders Stand with Wallis?) by M. Danielsen,
Lighthouse Trails, 11/23/13 LTRP Note: We first posted the following commentary in June
2010. We felt it was timely to post it again for those who have
forgotten about it or for those who have not yet read it,
especially in view of Jim Wallis� SoJourner magazine�s
endorsement of Brian McLaren�s new CANA Initiative, which we
wrote about yesterday. If you want to know where things are
going, this article will be most �enlightening.�
(537) Letter
to
the Editor: A New Believer Shocked to Learn New Age Practices
in Christian College by Lighthouse Trails,
11/24/13 No question about it in my mind � this is the great falling
away happening before our eyes. I was also once a member of the
Anthroposophical Society � an offshoot of the Theosophical
society. The mystical Christ being preached more and more is the
same as the anthroposophical Christ taught by Rudolf
Steiner, a gnostic version of Christ.
(538) Another
Jesus
Calling (Book) by Warren B. Smith, 11/25/13 For those who have read Jesus Calling and
been troubled by it but didn�t know why, �Another Jesus�
Calling will give substance to your concerns and will equip
you to help your friends who may be reading Young�s book also.
And if you have read Jesus Calling and see nothing wrong with
it, consider the claims of �Another Jesus� Calling. Beyond all
this, �Another Jesus� Calling serves as a discernment tool in
rightly handling the Word of God. You will lay down this book
with renewed understanding of the essential role of the Bible
and the Gospel message in keeping on (or returning to) the
right path.
(540) Letter
to
the Editor: Campus Crusade for Christ �Gospel Message�
Includes Spiritual Formation/Contemplative Spirituality
by Lighthouse Trails, 11/28/13 A couple years ago Campus Crusade for Christ changed their
60-year-long name to CRU in order, they said, to reach more
people for Christ. What they don�t realize is that the �Christ�
of contemplative prayer is not the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
The �Christ� of contemplative prayer will introduce adherents to
Henri Nouwen, who stated near the end of his life after years of
practicing contemplative mysticism.
(541) Letter
to
the Editor: Church of 43 Years Builds Labyrinth, Promotes
Mystical Rituals and Social Gospel by Lighthouse
Trails, 12/5/13 I left my church of 43 years, because they were promoting books
like Ruth Haley Barton�s �Solitude and Silence�; they had built
a Labyrinth next to the Memorial garden where my parents ashes
lay and were performing mystic rituals along with contemplative
prayer and Spiritual Formation.
(542) Embracing
Contemplative
Shows Ill Effects at Moody Bible Institute in Ecumenical �Road
to Rome� Event by Lighthouse Trails, 12/14/13 For over seven years now, Lighthouse Trails has followed Moody
Bible Institute�s continued promotion of contemplative
spirituality. Although the organization has denied that they are
promoting contemplative, the evidence has consistently existed.
Those who have a good understanding of contemplative
spirituality are aware of the inevitable outcome for followers
of contemplative. This outcome is a change in spiritual attitude
that leads to the following � ecumenism (a joining together of
all religious traditions, in particularly Catholicism first,
then Islam), interspirituality (all paths lead to God),
panentheism (God is in all), and eventually universalism (all
are saved, regardless of belief � thus no need for the Cross).
(543) Biblical
Discipleship
� Prayer by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things,
November/December 2013 - Volume 19, Issue 5 The Spiritual Formation Movement has rocked the church. Ancient
disciplines, most often practiced within the monastic movement
in the early centuries of Christianity, have been dusted off,
repacked, and resubmitted to believers as the means for
obtaining spiritual growth. There is increasing discussion about
fasting, journaling, pilgrimage, simplicity, solitude, silence,
contemplative prayer, and spiritual direction in Christian
literature. What can be learned from this renewed interest in
spiritual formation and what are the dangers? The last eight
editions of �Think on These Things� have been written to
interact with the history, teachings and dangers of the
Spiritual Formation Movement. I want to now turn from the
disciplines practiced in modern spiritual formation to the
biblical alternative to spiritual formation, as described in the
earlier articles. We will examine the means, or disciplines if
you choose, which the Word of God clearly identifies as ways God
has designed for His people to be transformed into
Christ-likeness and to experience intimacy with Him.
(544) Letter
to
the Editor: Where Can My College-Age Child Receive a Four-Year
Degree? by Lighthouse Trails, 12/20/13 We appreciate your attention to the wayward teaching at many
Christian schools, but have a serious question. The
list of non-contemplative schools is mostly Bible
colleges. What would you suggest to a student who is not going
into full-time ministry, is looking for a liberal arts or
sciences degree, and quite frankly, needs the fellowship of
other believers at his age? Our son will latch onto campus
lifestyle, is involved at church, but is not inclined to seek
philosophy or meditative styles. He�s a straight shooter who has
been in Christian schools all his life. Our initial
thoughts are to consider a Bible school for a semester or two
prior to going to a Christian university, or to be extra
critical of which professors and classes are taken for Bible
requirements. What would you do?
(545) Holiday
Cheer
& Christianizing "Shiva" - Lord of Yoga? by Chris
Lawson, 12/23/13 "Yoga may for a time provide seemingly beneficial health and an
abundance of physical energy. However, in the end there is a
trade off, the human soul and spirit become spiritually defiled.
Moreover, a built in hostile resistance against the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and His Word becomes a subtle, and even blatant,
reality in the life of the practitioner. When one engages in
Yoga, biblical discernment goes out, and human will softness and
the free acceptance of New Age spirituality comes in. In the
end, the forces of darkness have their way - the practitioner of
Yoga is enslaved to the will of hostile baleful entities.
Although all might seem well and happy on the outside, the
internal life of the striving yogi becomes dismantled, piece by
piece, year after year, until at last, the soul is damned in its
rejection of Christ the Savior of the world." - Chris
Lawson
(546) The
Present
of �His Presence� - �Emmanuel� � God is with us! by
Larry DeBruyn, Herescope, 1/1/14 As biblical as Pratico�s statement is, it is deficient in one
major aspect. Not only is God �with� us, but under terms of the
New Covenant, He�s �in� us! He�s present in/with us at all times
and through all the experiences of life, death and eternity.
That is why the Lord Jesus described that which He would give to
believers eternal life (John 3:15, 16, 36; 6:40; 10:28; 17:2-3).
In continuum, the Lord�s presence resides with/in believers from
now into eternity, and this divine presence we cultivate by
faith in God�s Word, not by invoking it.
(547) T.A.
McMahon
on "Social Gospel" In "Wide Is The Gate" by T.A.
McMahon, 1/2/14
Question: I�ve been watching the Wide Is the Gate
video series with some friends. We watched �Youth Movements and
the Social Gospel� from volume 2 in which T. A. McMahon states:
�in trying to solve the problems, fix the world, many Christians
don�t realize that they�re actually going to be helping the
Antichrist develop his kingdom.� My friends were disturbed by this
statement and understood it to mean that Christians should not
help with anything that makes the world a better place. The world
is destined to be destroyed and only those who are going to follow
the Antichrist want to make it better. Is this what you
meant?
(548) An
�Enlightened�
Race? by Caryl Matrisciana, 1/5/14 I see many similarities in the United States, and in the
Western world at large, to German society in the 1930s.
Christians by the carloads rush from one conference to another
to learn about community, leadership, small groups, and the
like. But I propose that what they are getting isn�t training to
be good leaders but rather subtle induction to being good
followers, lulled to lay aside independent thinking. �Follow,
follow, follow!� chants the chorus of today�s leaders, all the
while singing the praises of Eastern concepts and mystical
practices. Our way of thinking�and not thinking�is being
radically altered, and the majority of people, including
Christians, don�t even see what is happening. (Extracted from
Out of India by Caryl Matrisciana, pp. 213-216)
(549) John
Piper
And Linger Conference With Ihop�s Stephen Venable And His
Contemplative Teaching by Ken Silva, 1/18/14 Yesterday Apprising Ministries told you about John Piper And
Stephen Venable Of IHOP Together At Linger Conference. The
upcoming Linger Conference (LC), scheduled for February 14-15,
2014. features NC mentor John Piper, a well-known charismatic,
and current Acts 29 president and �reformed charismatic� Matt
Chandler. Also at LC will be Stephen Venable, who is �a
missionary at� IHOP currently serving �as an instructor� at IHOP
University. In addition, he�s �part of the senior leadership
team of the Antioch Center for Training,� which is an extension
of IHOP. The truth is, Stephen Venable is as dedicated to IHOP
as it gets.
(550) Understanding
Mantra
Meditation and Altered States by Ray Yungen,
1/21/14 The meditation most of us are familiar with involves a deep,
continuous thinking about something. But New Age meditation does
just the opposite. It involves ridding oneself of all thoughts
in order to still the mind by putting it in the equivalent of
pause or neutral. A comparison would be that of turning a
fast-moving stream into a still pond. When meditation is
employed by damming the free flow of thinking, it holds back
active thought and causes a shift in consciousness. This
condition is not to be confused with daydreaming, where the mind
dwells on a subject. New Age meditation works as a holding
mechanism until the mind becomes thoughtless, empty and silent.
(551) Letter
to
the Editor: Evangelical Free Church Snowballing into Spiritual
Deception Through Contemplative/Emerging by Lighthouse
Trails, 1/22/14 I never thought I would be writing you, but I would like to
tell you how much I appreciate your efforts, for few are those
doing your type of ministry, certainly not in my experience,
especially at the local level by church leadership! Let me get
straight to the point of my writing�my wife and I have been
attending an Evangelical Free Church for approximately five
years now, but recently things are beginning to snowball in
several areas.
(553) Biblical
Discipleship
� Prayer by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things,
November/December 2013 - Volume 19, Issue 5 The Spiritual Formation Movement has rocked the church. Ancient
disciplines, most often practiced within the monastic movement
in the early centuries of Christianity, have been dusted off,
repacked, and resubmitted to believers as the means for
obtaining spiritual growth. There is increasing discussion about
fasting, journaling, pilgrimage, simplicity, solitude, silence,
contemplative prayer, and spiritual direction in Christian
literature. What can be learned from this renewed interest in
spiritual formation and what are the dangers? The last eight
editions of �Think on These Things� have been written to
interact with the history, teachings and dangers of the
Spiritual Formation Movement. I want to now turn from the
disciplines practiced in modern spiritual formation to the
biblical alternative to spiritual formation, as described in the
earlier articles. We will examine the means, or disciplines if
you choose, which the Word of God clearly identifies as ways God
has designed for His people to be transformed into
Christ-likeness and to experience intimacy with Him.
(554) �Christian
Palestinianism�
& Emergents Lynn Hybels and Jim Wallis Come to Multnomah
University For �Justice� Conference by Lighthouse
Trails, 2/15/14 On February 21st and 22nd, Multnomah University (formerly
called Multnomah School of the Bible) in Portland, Oregon, once
considered a biblically-based evangelical school, will be
hosting the simulcast Justice Conference with speakers Lynn
Hybels and Jim Wallis (both emergent leaders who are part of the
�Christian Palestinian� movement). Other emergents such as N.T.
Wright will also be at the Justice Conference.
(555) Pastor
Steven
Furtick�s �House from Heaven� by Herescope,
2/19/14 My intention in drawing attention to the controversy over
Furtick�s house-scandal is because what�s happening with him and
Elevation Church are symptomatic of what is going wrong in
evangelicalism. As a whole and for the most part, excepting, of
course, Samaritan�s Purse and many other good and godly missions
and ministries, the evangelical movement does not have a good
reputation among outsiders. As far as the movement�s PR is
concerned, rotten apples are spoiling the whole, and millions of
followers are allowing it to happen. So it becomes incumbent
that these wealth-gospel ministers and ministries be held up to
the scrutiny of Holy Scripture to see how God�s word indicts
their obvious and blatant spiritual shenanigans.
(556) How
Elevation
Church, Pastor Furtick produces 'spontaneous' baptisms
by Stuart Watson / NBC Charlotte, 2/23/14 To get those thousands of baptisms takes a lot of planning. And
Elevation produced a document to show other churches how they
could do likewise. It�s titled �Spontaneous Baptisms � A How-To
Guide� and the church shared it freely on the Sun Stand Still
website. But parts of the mass baptism guide have drawn sharp
criticism � from other Christians. Page one shows that the first
people instructed to respond to Pastor Steven�s call to baptism
were not converts suddenly inspired but Elevation volunteers
carefully planted in the crowd.
(558) Multi-Sensory
Worship:
Prayer Stations, Icons, Incense, and Candles by Roger
Oakland, 3/7/13 Stimulating images that provide spiritual experiences are an
essential element of the emerging church. While many are
bewildered as to why their churches are darkening their
sanctuaries and setting up prayer stations with candles,
incense, and icons, promoters of the emerging church movement
say they know exactly what they are doing.
(559) Hegel�s
Marxist
Dialectic � a Tool Used By the Emerging Church to Bring About
a �New World Order� by Mike Oppenheimer, 3/17/14
One of the earliest forms of employing the dialectical method
was the Dialogues of Greek philosopher Plato. in which the
author sought to study truth through discussion in the form of
questions and answers. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, thought
of dialectic as the search for the philosophic basis of science,
and he frequently used the term as a synonym for the science of
logic.
(560) Biblical
Discipleship
� Fellowship by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things,
March/April 2014 - Volume 20, Issue 2 As we continue to pursue the specific means found in Scripture
that the Lord has given us to aid in spiritual growth, we now
turn to the subject of fellowship. We are reminded at this point
that some within the Spiritual Formation Movement claim that
virtually anything can become a means of spiritual formation.
But without specific biblical support it is presumptuous on our
part to infuse some activity, no matter how spiritual or pious
it may seem, with qualities which aid our progressive
sanctification. If we are to be true to the inspired text of
Scripture we must search for instruments which the Holy Spirit
has explicitly proclaimed to be means of promoting discipleship.
So far we have found that both biblical prayer and the
Scriptures are two such activiti
