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Great Discernment Tools!


When The Ends AND The Means Are Unjustifiable
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.


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 as John Wimber, Paul Cain and 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 the Word Of Faith Movement, the Vineyard movement, the Toronto "Blessing", the Brownsville "Outpouring" and on down the line to latest Todd 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 our Todd Bentley section. Yet the leadership of the New Apostolic Reformation has 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.

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The Handkerchief Phenomenon
Addendum to “A Whole Lot Of Wishful Thinking These Days

by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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Baha’i & YWAM's "Indigenous People's Movement" (IPM)
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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 what YWAM, The Emerging Chuch, the WCGP and others are teaching that are almost exactly what the Baha'i teach.

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Three Fallacies Of Third Wave Spiritual Warfare Teachings 
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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The Duties of Christian Leadership 
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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. 

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Smack Dab in the Middle of the Apostasy 
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

Christianity Today ran the following article:

'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.

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Marriage
 A Biblical Illustration Of Our Faith Commitment To Jesus Christ For Salvation 
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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The New Powerless Gospel
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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?

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Leviathan

by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

This creature that existed, and may yet exist, is used as a description of the might and power of the enemy.

 

Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, With His fierce and great and mighty sword, Even Leviathan the twisted serpent; And He will kill the dragon who lives in 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 13:1 And the 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 horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous 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.

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Pre Millennial and Post Millennial Doctrines Do Not Mix 
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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New Age & Eastern Mysticism in the Churches
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".

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"He Was A Murderer From The Beginning" 
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

John 8:44  You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning,

not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Revelation 21:8  But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters

 and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Revelation 22:15  Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers,

the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

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Exposing the "I Am God" Blasphemers 
by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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Why False Teachers Have So Many Followers 
by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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; but whoever 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.

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False Apostles
  of the New Apostolic Reformation
by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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 are equal with the the foundational Apostles.  The NAR proponents go even further! They claim to be GREATER than the original Apostles.

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  Jude Study
6 DVD Series
(DVD 1) Jude Lesson 1 - Verses 1-4
 (DVD 2) Jude Lesson 2 - Verses 5-10
(DVD 3) Jude Lesson 3 - Verse 11
(DVD 4) Jude Lesson 4 - Verses 12-15
(DVD 5) Jude Lesson 5 - Verses 16-19
(DVD 6) Jude Lesson 6 - Verses 20-25

 by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

This DVD set is a message based on this article.

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
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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ESC Vs ISC

Entertainment-style Christianity
vs. Interactive-style Christianity
by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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Drunk

Saturate 2020 adherants are those who are drunk and think they can save the planet
by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based on this article.

Commentators seem to think that this section of Habakkuk was addressing the Ceasars and 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 heretical distinctives of 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.

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Saturate
                  2020
A Warning about Saturate 2020
by Sandy Simpson & Marco Quintana
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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Christocentric
Should Biblical Churches Be Christocentric?
by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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Laodicea

The Letter to Laodicea
Is a Warning to the TRUE Church Today
by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable
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 the 
Word of Faith movement.  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 the Latter 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 Church and 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 the seven 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 the letters to the churches apply 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 is the true Church today that has allowed the movements mentioned above to infiltrate and take over the agenda for what is called "Christianity" today.

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 Overseer
The Overseer
A Study Of Titus 1:6-11

by Sandy Simpson
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This DVD is a message based on this article.

In Titus 1:6-11 Paul tells Titus to appoint "overseers" in the churches.  The word "overseer" is episkopos in Greek and means bishop, curator, superintendent, guardian, watchman. Overseers are to be shepherds to the sheep, watchmen, guardians.

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Jesus Cares
Jesus Cares for You
by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based o
n this article.

Read Passage: John 6:1-15

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".

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Boykin DVD

General Jerry Boykin and his ties to The Knights of Malta and Rick Joyner

compiled by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based on tis article.

This paper exposes what General Boykin has been doing in Calvary Chapels and his associations.

He is Grand 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.

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Jonah
Two Lessons from Jonah
by Sandy Simpson
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This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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Synergy
What Does The Bible Teach About "Synergy"?

by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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. 

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Uprade your Old Hymns
Upgrade Your Old Hymns For The New Paradigm!
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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Almost Saved
Almost Saved
by Sandy Simpson
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This DVD is a message based on this article.

“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)

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Noise
"Silence the noise of your songs"
by Sandy Simpson, 5/26/19
Downloadable

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.

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Good Church
How To Find A Good Church
by Sandy Simpson, 2003

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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.

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Walking the Waves

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.

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Deliverance
Deliverance! 
A Biblical Guide To Freedom from "Another Spirit" 
The Possible Consequence of the Unbiblical Practice of "Slain In the Spirit" 
by Sandy Simpson
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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.

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Dominionism
A Short History of Dominionism
by Sandy Simpson
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This DVD is a message based on this article.

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”.

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Maturity Training
Maturity Training
by Sandy Simpson
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This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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Johnson
Bill Johnson Quotes
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

In this article, I will detail some false ideas, especially from Johnson’s books.

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The Use of Invective
The Use of Invective
in Apologetics
by Sandy Simpson
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This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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10 Questions
Ten Questions
For those who Claim the "Supreme Beings" of the Nations are the True God
by Sandy Simpson

This booklet is taken from 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 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.

 
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Real
                  Revival DVD
Real Revival
by Sandy Simpson
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This DVD is a message based on this article.

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".

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Peter Popoff
Peter Popoff
Back to his old tricks!
by Sandy Simpson
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This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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Occulte DVD
Occult Practices in the Churches
How the occult has been fully integrated into many Christian lives and fellowships
by Sandy Simpson
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This DVD is a message based on this article.

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.

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New Important Book!
Dominion Book
Dominionism!
How Unbiblical Action Can Change The Churches
by Dr. Orrel Steinkamp & Sandy Simpson
Downloadable

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

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Seeds
Seeds, Soil & Fruit
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.
Downloadable

Bad seeds from a bad tree yield bad fruit.

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.

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Will the Real Blasphemers Please Stand Up?
by Sandy Simpson
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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!

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"Glitter Christians"
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

Glitter Christians. 

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. 

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The articles below are now also available on MP3 CD or MP3 DVD!
Perfect travel listening material!

"Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind" (Rom. 12:2)
Studies in worldview.
By Sandy Simpson

(1) "They Will Believe The Lie"
(2) Satan, The First Postmodernist
(3) A Tale Of Two Kingdoms
(4) One Of Satan's Final Masquerades
(5) Nightmarchers And UFOs On The Big Island
(6) The Missionaries Brought A Foreign God
(7) Monotheism In Ancient Cultures
(8) The History Of The Knowledge And Worship Of God
(9) Replacement Theology On Steroids
(10) Catholic Syncretism
(11) The Gospel Entrusted To The Saints
(12) The Responsibilities Of A Good Shepherd
(13) "... and all liars"
(14) Four Books That The Enemy Has Used To Corrupt Christianity
(15) Glitter Christians
(16) Is It Possible To Believe In Jesus ... And NOT Be Saved?
(17) Testing The Spirits


Studies in Worldview MP3 CD
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Studies in Worldview MP3 DVD
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Screwtape Legacy
by Sandy Simpson
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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.

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Bradford Pear Christianity
by Sandy Simpson
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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.

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The Lord's Prayer, Our Prayer
by Sandy Simpson
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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.

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The Fallacious Arguments of Neo-Universalists
by Sandy Simpson
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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.

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The future of apologetics and discernment ministries
by Sandy Simpson
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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. 

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Church History & The Core Doctrines
by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable
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. 

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Weight of Glory

The "Weight of Glory"
by Sandy Simpson
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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.

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Eternity
Did God Put "Eternity In Their Hearts"
or "The World In Their Hearts"?
by Sandy Simpson
Downloadable
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".

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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�?. 

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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. 

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"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. 

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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:

Holy Ghost Movie Expos"
Reviewed by Tim Wirth & Sandy Simpson
A Simply Agape Project Production

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. 

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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! 

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�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; 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?�. 

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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!�

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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We need a firm foundation to weather the storm of false ideas
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (KJV)
Matthew 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
© 1787 Joseph Funk & Robert Keene

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.

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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

Given the definitions of "karma" above, this same idea, usually without the reincarnation aspect in Christian circles, has been taught for decades in New Thought movements such as the Positive Thinking/Positive Confession teachings of Norman Vincent Peale & Robert Schuller, the Word of Faith ideas of Essex Kenyan, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn, the mixture of Eastern Mysticism and Christianity by Korean false teachers such as the "force of faith" Paul Yongii Cho, and newer renditions and fusions by people like Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, T.D. Jakes (recently agreeing with Oprah Winfrey who teaches karma on her WHO network), and others such as Ernest Angley, John Bevere, Markus Bishop, Juanita Bynum, Morris Cerullo, Kim Clement, Paul Crouch, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, Marilyn Hickey, Brian Houston, Rodney Howard-Browne, Larry Huch, Bishop Eddie L. Long, Clarence McClendon, Joyce Meyer, Myles Munroe, Steve Munsey, Mike Murdock, Rod Parsley, Peter Popoff, Fred Price, Oral Roberts, R.W. Shambach, Robert Schuller, Karl Strader, Robert Tilton, Paula White, Ed Young and many others.

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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.

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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!

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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."

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"... 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). 

Only $10. plus s/h. for US. 

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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. 

Only $10. plus s/h. for US. 

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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.

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"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"?

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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.


Testing Music In The Church
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on these articles: Testing Music In The Church, Testing Music In The Church-Part 2, and Worship Song Ratings.

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. 


Examine Yourselves & Hold On!
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on the articles "Examine Yourself To See If You Are In The Faith" and "Hold On!"

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.

Gohere for ordering details! 


What's Up With Christian Bookstores?
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

Go here for ordering details! 


The ElijahList
The biggest promoter of false prophecies in cyberspace!
2004-2007
by Sandy Simpson

This 2-DVD set is a message based on this article.

Go here for ordering details! 


The ElijahList
The biggest promoter of false prophecies in cyberspace!
2008
by Sandy Simpson

This 2-DVD set is a message based on this article.

Go here for ordering details! 


The Extreme Prophetic
by Sandy Simpson

This DVD is a message based on this article.

Go here for ordering details! 



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.

Go here for ordering details!


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.

Go here for ordering details. 


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.

Go here for ordering details!


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.

Go here for ordering information.


Finish The Race!
Go On To Maturity!
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).

Go here for ordering details.


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.

Go here for ordering details.


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".

Go here for more details and how to order!


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!

Go here for more details and how to order!


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!

Go here for ordering details!


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.

Go here for more details and how to order!


LIVING WATER 2003
Discernment Conference
Featuring Bill Randles, Gary Gilley
& Ray Yungen
3-DVD Set

Go here for information!


DISCERNMENT 2001
Conference
Featuring Dave Hunt, Duane Magnani, Mike Oppenheimer, Jacob Prasch, Jewel Grewe & Bill Randles
6-DVD Set & 2-VHS Sets

Go here for information!


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.



Articles on the Emergent Church movement, contemplative prayer and other aspects of the New Age flooding the churches.
Go directly to these exposes:
Rob Bell, Richard Foster, Steven Furtick, Tony Jones, Dan Kimball, Brennan Manning, Brian McLaren, Beth Moore, Doug Pagitt & Leonard Sweet


Satan, The First Postmodernist by Sandy Simpson

For the full article go here.  For ordering information on the 2-DVD series called "From Church To Emerging Church" go here.

The article called "Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Wake Up Leonard Sweet!" by Sandy Simpson can be read here.

(1) The Emerging Church by Mike Oppenheimer, 8/16/05 
The Emergent church and their intent on Reinventing Christianity.
Part 1 - Now Ready For Prime Time Players
Part 2 - The Issue of other Religious Practices as Worship in the Church.
Part 3 - The Emergence of the "Mystical Church" 
Part 4 - East Meets West

(2) New Age/Eastern Mysticism In The Churches by 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 Church by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 11/05 
A series of articles on the Emerging Church. 

EMERGENT CHURCH: IS THE BIBLE INERRANT?
EMERGING WITH CHRIST'S "UN-CHRISTIAN" APPROACH TO CHRISTIANITY
EMERGENT CHURCH: THE EMERGING CULT
EMERGENT CHURCH: WHAT GOSPEL?
EMERGENT CHURCH: GURU BRIAN MCLAREN

(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.

(8) Eastern Regional Watch Ministries (ERWM) - Emerging Church by Steve Muse
Great apologetics site on Emerging Church.

(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.

(10) Dr. Larry Spargimino Interviews Warren Smith About Present Day 'Repackaging of the New Age' - Part One by Southwest Radio Church Ministries, 12/17/05
RealPlayer - Windows Media Player

(11) Dr. Larry Spargimino Interviews Warren Smith About Present Day 'Repackaging of the New Age' Part Two by Southwest Radio Church Ministries, 12/17/05
RealPlayer - Windows Media Player

(12) Crosstalk's Ingrid Schlueter Interviews Brian Flynn About 'Christian' Yogaby VCY America, 12/17/05

(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.

(14) The Emerging Church Markets Catholicism by Richard Bennett, Berean Beacon, PDF, 01/25/06

(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

(1) A GREAT Compromise
Christian yoga or New age influences in the church.
(2) Yoga is for Christians too
Can yoga be adopted into the Christian faith?
(3) Christian Yoga, a long Stretch toward God
Conclusions to the issue of mixing spiritual beliefs.

(19) A How Can These Things Be? - Purpose Driven, Emergent, Transformational, & New Age in the Church by 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. 

(20) Emergent Evangelical Prophet Tony Campolo by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 02/05/06 
Also read Part 4

(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.

(24) Emerging Church Deception
Good web page on Emerging Church issues. 

(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.

(31) Series Of Radio Programs & Transcripts On The Emerging Church by Roger Oakland, Understanding The Times, 5/06 

The Reinvention Of Christianity - 5/29/06 
MP3AudioTranscript
The Emerging Church And Bible Prophecy - 5/30/06
MP3AudioTranscript
A Great Delusion - 5/31/06 
MP3AudioTranscript
The Reemerging Of The Emerging Church - 6/1/06 
MP3AudioTranscript
Directing Light Into Darkness - 6/2/06 
MP3AudioTranscript

(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 Hindu by 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

(68) The Critical Question Before The Church by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 12/12/06 
The Emergent Church is not a move of God.

(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?

(72) Eastern Mysticism in Evangelicalism interview with Sarah Leslie and Ingrid Schlueter, 1/2/07 
This is an audio interview available in these formats: RealAudio | Windows Media | MP3 | Order Tape or CD

(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.

(76) Online Christian Bookstores Continue to Promote Yoga and the New Age Movement by Bud Press, Christiani Research Service, 1/22/07 
They continue to do it, despite the Biblical warnings against it.

(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. 

(73) An Open Rebuttal to Rev. Jerry Falwell's Commentary, The 'Emerging Church': Straying from the Gospel by Paul Proctor, 4/07 
Though it is laudible that Falwell has seen some problems in the Emerging Church, his statement leaves room for major false teaching to continue. 

(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 Bible by 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." 

(101) Ken Blanchard Endorses Book 'Inspired' by Hindu Guru Co-founder of Lead Like Jesus continues down New Age road by Bud Press, Director, Christian Research Service, November 26, 2007 
But now, over two years later, Ken Blanchard has not kept his promise. He continues down the broad New Age road. He is hindering the furtherance of the gospel, and is causing the unwary to stumble along the way.

(102) Pastor John MacArthur of Grace To You Refutes Doug Pagitt, Emergent church leader by John MacArthur, Grace To You, 11/07 
This is a video clip of MacArthur refuting Pagitt's promotion of Yoga in churches. 

(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.

(117) Your Local Christian Bookstore Could Be Dangerous to Your Spiritual Health by Orrel Steinkamp, The Plumbline, Volume 13, No. 2, March/April 
Gone are the days when filling your cart at a Christian bookstore is safe for your spiritual health. 

(118) Potentialy Harmful, and Dangerous Spiritual Practices Researched 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 Story by 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. 

(140) Spirituality & Sex - The God of Sex versus Sex God by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 9/08 
Read Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3

(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.

(153) A Personal Testimony: Why Christian Leaders Should Not Promote Henri Nouwen by For the Author, 12/12/08 
Please read the important article at Lighthouse Trails
Why Christian Leaders Should Not Promote Henri Nouwen that inspired the diatribe which follows.

(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.

(157) The Emerging Church by Mike Oppenheimer, 1/09 
(1) The Emergent church's view on the Bible
(2) The underlying problem with the Emergent Church movement?

(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.

(159)  The Emergent Church Could Submerge Yours! by Jan Markell, Olive Tree Ministries, 3/12/09 
What are the signs that you may be in an Emergent Church?

(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."

(163) Spiritual Formation? - Another name for Contemplative Spirituality by Lighthouse Trails, 4/09 
Those who are teaching "spiritual formation" believe we cannot be "deep" Christians without it. 

(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. 

(184) Are Christian and Emerging Leaders Heading Toward a False Christ Through Quantum Spirituality? byWarren Smith, 7/11/09 
[The question must be asked] Are they [Christian and emerging leaders] 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"? 

(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..

(190) New YouTube: Ray Yungen on the Emerging Church & Interspirituality at Lighthouse Trails, 7/23/09 
The following is a 10-minute YouTube preview of Ray Yungen's DVD from the New Face of Mystical Spirituality series. 

(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. 

(199) The Emergent church?  The New Apostolic Reformation? How would you know if your church partakes of these false doctrines? by Last Days Alert, 8/28/09 
If your church has replaced their teaching format, introduced new spiritual classes or changed their worship style, I urge you to research the authors in your church book store and also the guest speakers to find out if they belong to the Emergent Church or The New Apostolic Reformation.

(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?

(216) The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines - A Critique of Dallas Willard and The Spirit of the Disciplines by Bob DeWaay, 12/09 
Practices called "spiritual disciplines" that are deemed necessary for "spiritual formation" have entered evangelicalism. 

(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.

(219) Journey Into Wholeness or Journey Into Worldliness? - A comment on "40 Days of Reflection & Growth" (Spiritual Formation) being taught at Trevecca Nazarene University by Sandy Simpson, 12/15/09 
The bottom line is that this EC type of questionnaire gets the student to look within themselves for the answer instead of to the written Word.  This can only lead to more confusion and will certainly not lead to spiritual formation. Part 1 - Journey Into Wholeness or Journey Into Worldliness? - A comment on "40 Days of Reflection & Growth" (Spiritual Formation) being taught at Trevecca Nazarene University by Sandy Simpson, 12/15/09 
Part 2 - Pragmatic Methodology versus Practical Theology - a comment on "Finding Your Spiritual Gifts" by C. Peter Wagner by Sandy Simpson, 1/18/10 

(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.

(222) Nazarene Church Has Lost It's Way by WordPress.com, 1/16/10 
Blog detailing the Nazarene denomination's fall into apostasy. 

(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.

(237) Misguided Shepherds: Christian leaders who have given in to Contemplative Spirituality by Lighthouse Trails, 2/10 
David Jeremiah of Turning Point Ministries walk toward contrmplative spirituality.

(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."

(247) Jan Markel interview with Pastor Bob DeWaay and his trip to an Emergent Conference at Critical Issues Commentary, 3/29/10 
This is an MP3 file. 

(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.

(252) YOGA: All the things they failed to warn you about! at Spiritual Research Network, 4/8/10 
A page with many articles on the dangers of Yoga and Christian Yoga. 

(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. 

(263) ON CREATION 2010 - "Contemporary Christian Music Sways Youth to Worldly Lifestyles, Doctrinal Confusion and New Age Spirituality" by Ellen Pope, Free-Lance Writer, 5/25/10 
We believe the following commentary is thought-provoking and useful in further understanding the methods of the new spirituality. Keep in mind that a growing number of Christian musicians are becoming involved in the contemplative emerging movement. 

(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.

(287) Christian Yoga Classes At Your Church? - Churches That Promote Yoga and so-called "Christian Yoga" by Spiritual Research Network, 9/10/10 
The ministry of SRN does not endorse YOGA practice in any form.  This page lists churches / ministries that undiscerningly provide YOGA classes for Christians and church-goers.

(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.

Updated! (302) Quantum Physics and the New Spirituality - From Cosmos, To Chaos, To Consciousness: Part 1 By Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 10/23/10 - Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 & Part 6.
Only in the eternal Logos of God do we find the revelatory and reasonable account for the origin of everything. But into the perceived orderly working of the universe, some physicists have thrown a proverbial "monkey wrench."

(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.

(316) What is Contemplative Spirituality and Why is it Dangerous? by John Caddock from 1997, 12/20/10 
One of the best articles we have ever read on Contemplative Spirituality.

(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.

(327) Emerging Church Infiltrates Nazarene Church, Are You Next? by Southwest Radio Ministries, 3/2/11 
Audio program on YouTube talking about the invasion of Emerging Church into the Nazarene denomination. 

(328) Understanding the Age of Aquarius and Metaphysics by Ray Yungen, 3/4/11 
The Age of Aquarius is when we are all supposed to come to the understanding that man is God.

(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.

(331) Mennonite Blog Follows and Reports on Mennonite Brethren's Slide into Contemplative by A Ministry in His Service, 3/10/11 
LTRP Note: The following article intro is from Menno-Lite, a blog that is faithfully  reporting on the Mennonite Brethren's slide into the contemplative camp.

(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 Mind by 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 Gospel by 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.

(408) Reader finds "An Afternoon with a Spiritual Formation Professor at a North American Bible School" to be "Junk" by Lighthouse Trails, 2/11/12 
After posting an excerpt of the Lighthouse Trails novel Castles in the Sand last week, which we titled "An Afternoon with a Spiritual Formation Professor at a North American Bible School," we received the following e-mail from a pastor.

(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.

(421) Joe Schimmel's Submerging Church Capsulates the "New" Spirituality Exposing Mark Driscoll, Rick Warren, Rob Bell, and Bono by Joe Schimmel, 4/13/12 
A fantastic  and vital contribution! Schimmel has brought together his own research from the last 30 years with the warnings of Lighthouse Trails, Roger Oakland, Ray Yungen, and Warren Smith and has connected all the dots.-David Dombrowski, Lighthouse Trails Chief Editor

(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

(432) Roman Catholic Mysticism And Emergence Christianity by Ken Silva, 5/12/12 
Video teaching. 

(433) Chuck Swindoll - Still Pointing to Henri Nouwen - Confusing Message Being Sent by Lighthouse Trails, 5/23/12 
Just this week, on Swindoll's website in an article he wrote, "Segments of Solitude," he is again pointing his readers toward Henri Nouwen.

(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.

(442) Video Clip: Contemplative Prayer, Mysticism, & Kundalini Coming into the Church video clip from The Submerging Church DVD with Joe Schimmel, 7/15/12 
This short video sample is from The Submerging Church with Joe Schimmel. For more information or to order this entire 2-DVD set, click here

(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.

(458) The Submerging Church: How are the Emergent Church and the Purpose Driven Movements Related? by Joe Schimmel, 9/24/12 
Video clip from "The Submerging Church". 

(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.

(464) Calvary Chapel & Purpose Driven Pastors Doing Yoga? by Chris Lawson, Spiritual Research Network, 11/16/12 
Vimeo video. 

(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.”

(484) "LECTIO DIVINA" List - Who is Promoting it? by Lighthouse Trails, 2/26/11 
This list is taken from our Lectio Divina: What it is, What it is Not, and Should Christians Practice it? Print Booklet Tract. This list will be updated as needed. You can read that booklet by going here

(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. 

(497) Christian Colleges that DO NOT Promote Contemplative by Lighthouse Trails, 4/29/13 
A list of "Christian" colleges that DO NOT 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

(500) SPECIAL FOLLOW-UP REPORT: Lighthouse Trails Statement to Assemblies of God Response Regarding Invitation of Ruth Haley Barton by Ray Yungen & Lighthouse Trails, 5/13/13 
To begin, we want to clarify that the names we mention below are not people who are loosely and inadvertently associated with this mystical spirituality but rather are practitioners and dedicated advocates of it.

(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.

(517) Exposing the Quantum Lie: God is NOT in Everything (Video Preview Clips) by Bob DeWaay and Warren B. Smith, Lighthouse Trails, 7/12/13 
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.

(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

(524) When Mysticism Fills the Vacuum of Nominal Christianity by Ray Yungen, 9/4/13 
Why are the mainstream denominations so open to meditative and holistic practices?

(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.

(528) Biola Conference Welcomes Ruth Haley Barton as it Continues Heartily Down Contemplative Path by Lighthouse Trails, 10/9/13 
On October 16th, Biola University will host its Torrey Conference 2013, and contemplative teacher Ruth Haley Barton will be a featured speaker at the event. 

(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."

(532) Only 1 in 3 Young Born-Again Evangelicals Believe Jesus Is Only Way to Heaven, Apologist Says at Understand The Times, 10/15/13 
Young American born-again believers are moving away from a biblically-centered worldview, with only one in three affirming that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, according to Steve Cable, senior vice president of Probe Ministries. 

(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.

(539) Mennonite University Considering Policy Change to Allow Homosexual Faculty by Heather Clark, Christian News Network, 11/26/13 
LTRP Note: Another example of a contemplative college that changes its views on homosexuality.

(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.

(552) Updated! Dave & Tom Classic - The Seduction of Christianity (Part 1) by Dave Hunt and Tom McMahon, The Berean Call, 1/31/14 - This page has the transcript and MP3 of this discussion. - Also read Part 2

(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. 

(557) Letter to the Editor: Radio Bible Class � Continuing to Go Contemplative � And Pushes �As Below, So Above� at Lighthouse Trails, 2/26/14 
We would like to assist in continuing to illustrate that RBC [Radio Bible Class] has yet to cease from �going contemplative� � regardless of their statements to the contrary. We offer two recent examples from their Our Daily Bread (ODB) product.

(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 activities. Now we will examine another, that of fellowship with other believers, and the body of Christ.

(561) Mark Driscoll's Distorted View on Noah and Salvation . . . (And How Some People Have a Very Strange Idea as to the Meaning of God�s Salvation) by Lighthouse Trails, 3/30/14 
LTRP Note: With the release of the Hollywood movie Noah and its blasphemous representation of God�s truth as told in the Bible and an outright attack on Bible-believing Christians, coupled with emerging Christian figures (such as Mark Driscoll who misses the point while trying to make a point in his claims that Noah was not a righteous man1), the article below by Dr. Harry Ironside is timely.

(562) Visualizing Jesus? by Caryl Matrisciana, 4/7/14 
To a person such as myself, who has been exposed to the Hindu concept of maya (that life is an illusion), this method becomes particularly suspect. Can we mentally create an �envisioned Jesus� to speak to us at our whim? What makes us think we can manipulate the God of the universe to appear at our every request? How can we be sure we�ve contacted the real Jesus?

(563) Why Yoga Cannot Be Christianized! (Audio) by Chris Lawson, 4/8/14 
Yoga poses (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama) are based upon Yoga's pantheistic occult evolutionary philosophy. They are designed to work together, as a New Age occult Worldview. And Christians are trying to mix the poses and breathwork with their Christian beliefs?

(564) They Say God Would Never Send His Son to a Violent Death For the Sins of Mankind at Lighthouse Trails, 4/18/14 
LTRP Note: As you read this article by Roger Oakland, remember that as millions of proclaiming Christians give remembrance this weekend to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, countless pastors, teachers, and leaders will be promoting contemplative spirituality, which is a driving force behind the view that is addressed in this article. Thus, we ask the question this time every year, do they not realize that by promoting contemplative spirituality, they are in essence, by proxy, denying the atonement? Next time your pastor or Sunday school teacher favorably quotes Henri Nouwen, Brennan Manning, or any number of contemplative mystics or encourages the practice of lectio divina or walking the labyrinth, consider sharing this article with that pastor or teacher.

(565) Understanding the Difference: Biblical Atonement or New Age At-One-Ment? by Warren B. Smith, 4/19/14
The Course also teaches that while �Christ� is in Jesus, so �Christ� is in everyone�and that the �Christ� in everyone is their divine connection with God and with each other. The Course further teaches that a �slain Christ has no meaning.�4 It states that wrong thinking has produced the misperception that man is a �sinner� and that he needs an external Christ to save him from his �sins.� The Course teaches that salvation has nothing to do with Jesus� death on the cross. Salvation comes from what the Course calls the �Atonement� (�at-one-ment�) process.

(566) From Truth to a New Spirituality by Berit Kjos, March 10, 2008 
The occult quotes listed under Transition and New Spirituality were dictated by seducing spirits channeled by influential occultists such as Alice Bailey (spirit guide Djwhal Khul) and Neale Donald Walsch (a counterfeit "God"). These revealing messages were compiled by our friend and fellow-researcher Tamara Hartzell and explained in her insightful report: "Are you 'Being led away with Error of the Wicked' to the New Age Ark of Oneness?" The endnotes are numbered as they appear in her report. 

(567) The Real Roots Of The Emergent Church Documentary (Video) by Elliot Nesch, 5/2/14 
Expose of the EC. 

(568) The Mission Of The Church Is To Preach The Gospel by Ken Silva, 5/4/14 
But historically, conservative Christianity has always seen social improvement as taking a backseat to the church�s true calling of proclaiming the gospel and making  disciples.  It has never seen the social  agenda as an end in itself � until now.  The social gospel became the hallmark of the liberal church,�because the liberals had emptied their message and ministry of  biblical truth and were left with no other �good news� than solving physical problems.  Sadly, evangelicals today are increasingly adopting the missional, social gospel of liberalism.

(569) Major Christian conference accused of 'pushing mysticism' - Controversial prayer technique at evangelical gathering by Jim Fletcher, 5/5/14 
A major Christian church-leadership organization, which brought thousands of pastors and church workers together in Carrollton, Texas, this week, raised the eyebrows of some attendees because of its promotion of �contemplative spirituality.�

(570) That Time of Year Again~Looking for a Christian College This Fall For Your Child? Better Think Carefully About Which One to Attend by Lighthouse Trails, 5/6/14 
As Lighthouse Trails has reported over the last several years, a growing number of evangelical/Protestant colleges, seminaries, and universities are integrating contemplative spirituality and emerging ideologies into their schools. If you, or someone you know, are currently looking for a Christian school, we beseech you to check potential schools very carefully. Ask to see textbook lists, search their websites to see if they have spiritual formation programs, and find out who speaks at their student chapels. It would also be a good idea to contact the school chaplain and ask some good questions.

(571) Mennonites Teaching Contemplative Spirituality to Children by Lighthouse Trails, 5/16/14 
Are the Mennonites who are teaching contemplative spirituality to children leading them astray?

(572) Campus Crusade for Christ �Gospel Message� Includes Spiritual Formation/Contemplative Spirituality by Lighthouse Trails, 5/17/14 
I am a semi-retired pastor who has been growing more and more troubled by the trend in evangelical churches toward new age, emergent, and eastern mysticism. We were looking for some sound material to give to a Korean lady who is showing interest in Christianity. We went to Power to Change, __________  (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) to secure something useful for this purpose. We were sold a booklet titled �Knowing Jesus Personally.� It was looking good as we studied the content, until we came to the chapter on being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

(573) One Woman�s Story About Jesus Calling: A Surprise I Never Expected That Changed My Life! at Lighthouse Trails, 5/21/14 
Over the past month, God has opened my eyes to see just how deceived I have been when it comes to what I read, what I listen to, and who I go to for Godly wisdom. As a Christian, my greatest desire is to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, the REAL Jesus Christ. In order to pursue that, I must know the Truth, I must know Jesus Christ, I must know the Word of God. I would like to share my testimony with you in regards to this past month and talk about how God has rekindled a deep desire in me for the Truth. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, �If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.� John 8:31 & 32.

(574) The New Age/New Spirituality�s Alternative to Armageddon � The Selection Process by Warren B. Smith, 5/31/14 
In this future described by Hubbard�s �Christ,� anyone who refuses to see themselves and others as �God� and �Christ� will be removed by the �selection process.� Those professing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior would be subject to this process.

(575) Oprah Winfrey to portray God in film adaptation of The Shack by BreathCast News, 6/12/14 
It appears Hollywood is not slowing the trend of christian faith inspired films as the global hit "The Shack" will soon be heading to the big screen. Originally a book written by William P. Young, it will be adapted into a film directed by Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker and will star Oprah Winfrey and British actor Idris Elba, best known for his role of Russel 'Stringer' Bell in HBO's "The Wire." 

(576) Letter to the Editor: What To Do When Christian Charities, Such as Compassion, Turn Contemplative/Emergent by Lighthouse Trails, 6/21/14 
While Lighthouse Trails does not make recommendations for churches and organizations (largely because we do not have the manpower to follow up on such recommendations to confirm whether a particular church or organization is still biblically based), we do bring warnings to the body of Christ about groups that have strayed from a biblical viewpoint and become ecumenical, contemplative, emerging, and a part of the liberal social justice movement.

(577) The Dangers of Spiritual Formation?�And Some Ways it is Influencing Your Children by Berit Kjos, 8/9/14 
Spiritual Formation has become a widely used term that was introduced to the evangelical church in the 1970s, primarily through a Thomas Merton disciple named Richard Foster and his longstanding, best-selling book, Celebration of Discipline. Today, there are few venues in the church that have not been influenced by the Merton/Foster model of Spiritual Formation.

(578) Baptist Church Cancels Gungor Concert for Rejecting Genesis as Literal By Heather Clark, Christian News Network, 8/10/14 
LTRP Note: Lighthouse Trails has posted other articles in the past (see links below) about the �Christian� band called Gungor in connection with its contemplative/emerging beliefs and the appearances at some Calvary Chapel churches (including Greg Laurie�s Harvest Crusade). For those who would like more information on the biblical account of creation, please watch Roger Oakland�s lecture series, Searching for the Truth on Origins.1 Also, Larry DeBruyn�s article �The Music and the Mystical� is very insightful regarding the �Christian� music being presented in many evangelical settings today. In a related post, read this story from 2012: Letter to the Editor: Tens of Thousands Introduced to Contemplative Advocates Gungor and David Crowder at Greg Laurie�s Harvest Crusade

Updated! (579) The low-information evangelical by Marsha West, 8/12/14 
Being that the Lord condemns paganism, His people are to have nothing to do with it. No dabbling! Steer clear of anything to do with mantra meditation. Methods such as contemplative prayer...centering prayer...breath prayer...are forbidden! Even though this will ruffle some feathers, my advice is to steer clear of "Christian" yoga. "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." (Eph 5:11)  Read Part 1 & Part 2

(580) The �Tree of Contemplative Practices� � Is Your Church Practicing Some of These? by L. Putnam, 8/13/14 

The attractive Tree of Contemplative Practices is laden with enticing fruits for contemplative meditators to partake of. But, beware! For this is not a tree with fruits one should be snared into sampling, but rather this is a tree that is full of toxic fruits. To find out why please read on!

(581) Discernment Detractors: Calling Good Evil by Warren B. Smith, 8/17/14 
While our Adversary furiously attempts to undermine the importance of discernment by ridiculing it, we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).

(582) How the New Age Has �Creeped� Into the Church by Ray Yungen, 8/21/14 
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. This same kind of movement has happened within our society and has gradually become mainstream. What was once seen as flaky is normal today�even useful. This trend is impacting evangelical Christianity at only a slightly lesser degree than secular society. The reason for the slight variance is that many, perhaps most, Christians have not yet grasped, or come to terms with, the practical mystic approach that New Age proponents have already incorporated into the secular world, as well as Christendom.

(583) Contemplative Spiritual Formation in Mennonite Sunday School Curriculum by Menno-Lite Blog, 9/9/14 
The September issue of the Mennonite Brethren Herald[1] is promoting a long awaited new curriculum for children from age 3 to grade 8. Shine has been in the works for three years, and is now available and coming to Sunday School classrooms in a Mennonite church near you. ... The article explains the importance of one of the aspects of this curriculum � the spiritual formation of children: Why is spiritual formation for children important, and why do you call it that now instead of �Sunday school�?

(584) Roots of the Spiritual Formation Movement by Gary Gilley, 9/12/14 
For these reasons, and perhaps several more, I do not see any diminishing of the influence of spiritual formation on the church in the decades to come. This is certainly one of the greatest threats facing biblical Christianity today. May the Lord raise up a generation that will return to the Sacred Text and stand once again on Sola Scriptura.

(585) We Are Not Abandoned - The Culture Which Gave Rise to Mark Driscoll by Herescope, 9/18/14 
Compare Peter Drucker's remarks to Mark Driscoll's. Does "organized abandonment" equal "blessed subtraction"? This is the question we will be addressing in this post. Read Part 1: The Culture Which Gave Rise to Mark Driscoll  - We Are Not Abandoned - What "blessed subtraction" and "anonymous" mean and Part 2: The Culture Which Gave Rise to Mark Driscoll "Under the Bus" and "Off the Map" - The Out-of-Control Bus That Runs Over Sheep

(586) Church of Tares: Purpose Driven, Seeker Sensitive, Church Growth & New World Order (Video) by Elliott Nesch, 9/20/14 
Can the Church borrow the marketing tools of the world and apply them to the Church? What is the history of the Church Growth movement and its false premises? Who is involved in the new evangelicalism and second reformation? Why are these movements embracing contemplative mysticism? How does this movement play into the New World Order? These questions and more are answered in Church of Tares: Purpose Driven, Seeker-Sensitive, Church Growth & New World Order. Church of Tares chronicles the man-centered pragmatism of these evangelical Christian movements in comparison to the Bible's instruction for building the Church of Jesus Christ. As a sequel to The Real Roots of the Emergent Church, Church of Tares documents the connections between the liberal Emergent Church movement and the Church Growth movement. Both movements' leadership were discipled by business management guru Peter Drucker, who was attracted to the megachurch movement as a social phenomenon that could bring about his "new society" and New World Order. Megacurch pastors Rick Warren and Bill Hybels as well as Leadership Network founder Bob Buford all acknowledge Drucker (who professed not to be a Christian) as their mentor and have built their organizations upon his secular business management philosophies rather than the foundation of Jesus Christ. The fruit of these movements is great compromise of the Gospel and the Great Commission. Rick Warren claims to be ushering in a new spiritual awakening and second reformation with his P.E.A.C.E. Plan. But this reform appears to be a social reformation rather than a spiritual one by joining together in ministry with unbelievers to fight global giants. Such compromise has led to the affirming response letter to the Common Word document which declares Muhammad to be a prophet and the Bible and Qur'an to be of the "same Divine origin." Written, edited, narrated and directed by Elliott Nesch. Original interviews with: Paul Smith, leader in the Calvary Chapel movement founded by his brother Chuck Smith, who also wrote the foreword to Paul Smith's book New Evangelicalism: The New World Order. Phil Johnson, executive Director of Grace to You, a Christian tape and radio ministry featuring the preaching ministry of John MacArthur. http://teampyro.blogspot.com Chris Rosebrough, Captain of Pirate Christian Radio and Host of the Fighting for the Faith radio program, holds a degree in Religious Studies and Biblical Languages from Concordia University. http://www.fightingforthefaith.com Joe Schimmel, Senior Pastor of Blessed Hope Chapel in Simi Valley, California, head of Good Fight Ministries and producer of such films as The Submerging Church and They Sold Their Souls for Rock and Roll. http://www.submergingchurch.com & http://www.goodfight.org Gary Gilley, Senior Pastor of Southern View Chapel in Springfield, Illinois, and author of several books including This Little Church Went to the Market: The Church in the Age of Entertainment. Bob DeWaay, former Senior Pastor of Twin City Fellowship in Minneapolis, Minnesota, author of Redefining Christianity: Understanding the Purpose Driven Life Movement, The Emergent Church -- Undefining Christianity as well as over 90 articles on important theological issues through Critical Issues Commentary (http://cicministry.org/). Ray Yungen, speaker, research analyst and author of A Time of Departing and For Many Shall Come in My Name. James Sundquist, founder of Rock Salt Publishing and author of Who's Driving the Purpose Driven Church? http://www.perfectpeaceplan.com Eric Ludy, bestselling author of dozens of books on Christian thought and living, the President of Ellerslie Mission Society, teaching pastor at the Church at Ellerslie, the lead instructor in the Ellerslie Leadership Training. Robert LeBus, Bible researcher, apologist and evangelist.

(587) Christian meditation: what's biblical and what's not by Marsha West, 9/23/14 
In Joshua 1:8 God said: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it." So, what exactly did God have in mind when He told Joshua to meditate on His word? Well we can be certain of one thing. The Lord was not suggesting that Joshua sit in the lotus position and repeat a mantra until he attained altered states of consciousness. "These help bring one into states other than normal waking consciousness, in which a person becomes open to mystical experience, the spirit realm, or cosmic consciousness," warns Bill Muehlenberg.  The sort of meditation God had in mind was not Eastern meditation. He has made it clear that His people are not to adopt pagan practices and those who do are out of His will. The purpose of eastern-style meditation is to "seek the God within." That's pantheism, brethren. People who hold this view believe that God is all and all is God. "A tree is God, a rock is God, an animal is God, the sky is God, the sun is God, you are God, etc." The biblical view is that God is separate from His creation. Genesis 1:1-30 

(588) Contemplative Music for Children? by Berit Kjos, 9/25/14 
While Christian contemplative music specifically for children has not become popular yet within the evangelical church, there is plenty of music designed to help children meditate in New Age, Catholic, and mainstream (Episcopal, Orthodox, etc.) circles. One CD, Children�s Yoga Songs and Meditations plays songs repeating various mantras such as �Om,� �Sa Ta Na Ma� (a form of Kirtin Kriya yoga), and other Hindu and Buddhist chants.

(589) Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? - Important Reasons Why They Shouldn�t (Booklet) by Lighthouse Trails, 10/2/14
Is your church involved in a Spiritual Formation program? If so, you might want to ask the question, what exactly is Spiritual Formation? 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.

(590) Evangelical Christianity Being Catapulted into Seeing God with the New Eyes of Contemplative Prayer by Ray Yungen, 10/8/14 
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.

(591) Letter to the Editor From Missionary Couple: Young Missionary Women From AIM (Adventures in Missions) Being Taught Contemplative Prayer by Lighthouse Trails, 11/16/14 
LTRP Note: We have removed a couple identifying elements in this letter to protect the identity of a group of young missionary women who responded favorably to warnings about contemplative prayer practices that they have been taught by their missionary sending organization.

(592) Should Christians Practice Martial Arts? (MP3) with Gaylene Goodroad, 11/28/14 
Program Description: Tom continues his discussion with Gaylene Goodroad, author of My Life in "The Way" and former second-degree black belt sensei nidan. Is it true, as the saying goes, that "nobody fools Chuck Norris"? Or has he been deceived by the Eastern philosophies of his profession? Listen to Part 1 & Part 2

(593) Letter to the Editor From a FORMER Contemplative: Focus on the Family�s �Father Gilbert�s Mysteries� Points Listeners to Contemplative Prayer by Lighthouse Trails, 12/2/14 
LTRP Note: This is perhaps one of the most significant letters we have ever received, not just because it exposes more of Focus on the Family�s contemplative propensities, but because it  shows the results (i.e., the �fruit�) of practicing contemplative prayer. This �fruit� is precisely why Lighthouse Trails has been crying out a warning for nearly 13 years.

(594) Mennonite Magazine Offers: �Find Yourself a Thin Place this Christmas� by Menno-Lite, Lighthouse Trails, 12/13/14 
In an article called Have a �thin� Christmas in the December 2014 issue of the MB Herald, readers are encouraged to find God in the �thin places� this Christmas.

(595) Letter to the Editor: There is No Doubt That Moody Has Gone Contemplative � This Year�s Radio Programs Proves It by Lighthouse Trails, 12/20/14 
LTRP Note: Lighthouse Trails first brought up the issue of Moody Bible Institute (and Moody Radio) heading in the contemplative direction over eight years ago (see links below). At one point, Moody issued a statement titled �Moody Responds to Lighthouse Trails,� denying our claims. That statement remained on their website for over 5 years. We noticed recently that the statement has now been removed. But even though Moody has denied that they are going contemplative, we have watched in dismay as they have  continued to do so. This past week, we were notified by two different Lighthouse Trails readers that Moody�s radio program Midday Connection has brought on as a radio guest James Bryan Smith 9 times this year to do a series on contemplative spirituality. Smith is a founding member of Richard Foster�s contemplative-pioneering organization Renovare and a minister of the United Methodist Church. He is also the author of a number of works promoting and/or teaching Spiritual Formation and contemplative spirituality. You can read one article we wrote about him here. The book by Smith that is discussed below that is being used by Moody in a series is titled The Good and Beautiful God. This is the first in a series by Smith called The Apprentice Series. There is also The Good and Beautiful Life and The Good and Beautiful Community. The Good and Beautiful God teaches the contemplative practice called lectio divina and espouses the teachings of Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. It appears that Moody is pulling out all the stops when it comes to contemplative spirituality. And we know what that means�an eventual distancing from the biblical Gospel. Drs. Harry A. Ironside (early 1900s) and Dwight L. Moody (1800s � founder of Moody Bible Insititute and Moody Publishers (also going contemplative), were both preachers at Moody Church. Can you imagine their shock and horror if they were here today to witness this apostasy at one of the most historically trusted Christian organizations? 

(596) �Hip� Church Gives Biblical Christians New Label: �Hater� by Jim Fletcher, 12/23/14 
Oddly, within American evangelicalism and media circles, a concept and term have emerged that place conservative Christians on the outside, in effect, becoming �other.� And we all know what happens when a group is labeled �other� (see Jews, World War II). Sometime back, the progressive mega church pastor, Steven Furtick (Elevation Church, Charlotte, North Carolina), mentored as he is by evangelical bigwigs like Rick Warren and Bill Hybels, felt bold enough to post a YouTube video in which he sneeringly challenged what I�d call traditional Christians to basically get out of the way, because their time is past. 

(597) Letter to the Editor: The �Mentoring-Leadership� From the Past Four Decades That Has Caused Downward Paradigm Shift at Lighthouse Trails, 2/21/15 
What captured my attention was not the movement!  It was the �mentoring-leadership� shown at high seminary levels of the eventual blending of Catholicism (the late Dr. Chuck Colson spoke at one of D.T.S.�s graduations), contemporary �Christian� music, and charismatic leaders into the mix of evangelism, counseling, and music fields including dozens of nationally known evangelicals.  It was not surprising, therefore, to see the very rapid acceptance of marginal Christianity in the leadership of Hybels, Warren, Bright, and now emergent leaders such as Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, and the more extreme theological departures of such leadership. My heart is very saddened with the compromise of the late Howard Hendricks (at one time one of my four favorite teachers at seminary).  I had written to him but was given mild rebuke for being critical of the PK movement.  I filed it away but now see the �rubbed shoulder� philosophy affecting virtually every former evangelical leader including Dr. Erwin Lutzer and others. The purpose of this e-mail is to encourage someone there to put together a booklet that synthesizes these trends into one gradual, but obvious, move into apostate Christianity.

(598) IF: Gathering Leader/Pastor Melissa Greene�A Female Version of McLaren, Bell, Rohr, and Merton at Lighthouse Trails, 2/24/15 
Today, we received this letter to the editor: Recently my church hosted an IF Gathering conference.  I had already done research and found some disturbing facts about some of the various speakers.  I wrote a letter to the leadership detailing all the information I had gathered.  I thought I would pass it along for your info.  NOTE: Melissa Greene, one of the IF Team � she has a very revealing message that is posted on her profile page which is linked to the IF Gathering page.  In her message she references several New Age and Emergent authors including , Richard Rohr, Phyllis Tickle, Brian McLaren, Frederick Buechner and Rob Bell� Her ending comments on her message are pretty shocking.  If you have someone on your staff who has the time to listen to it, I think it would be worth the time.

(599) Destroying Your Christian Faith Through Yoga - Theological Implications (MP3) by Chris Lawson, 3/7/15 
MP3 Sermon 

(600) Biblical Principles That Cut Through Ecumenical New Age Christianity by Chris Lawson, 3/25/15 
MP3 Sermon 

(601) Christian Pastors and Leaders � Exchanging the Word of God for a �New� Way of Doing Things by David Dombrowski, 4/13/15 
The church of today is very much astir. Everywhere we turn,  embellishments are being added to Christianity as if to improve it. The old ways do not seem to satisfy anymore. A great influx of new teachings and practices have exchanged the God of old as depicted in the pages of the Bible with a deity much more palatable to the post-modern mind. Brennan Manning illustrates this when he stated in one of his books, � . . . the god who exacts the last drop of blood from His Son, so that His just anger, evoked by sin, may be appeased is not the God revealed by and in Jesus Christ. And if he is not the God of Jesus, he does not exist.�  This �progressive� contemplative/emerging church has gone so far as to place in pulpits men who blaspheme God and who deny the atonement. But let us step back for a moment to see how emerging thought has developed. Such a statement did not come out of the blue, but as Ray Yungen suggests, a �creeping� effect made it all possible.

(602) Mennonites Walk Ruth Haley Barton�s Mystical Bridge by Lighthouse Trails, 4/15/15 
Ruth Haley Barton, founder of The Transforming Centre[1], was trained at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation which teaches: �This mystical stream [contemplative prayer] is the Western bridge to Far Eastern spirituality � It is no accident that the most active frontier between Christian and Eastern religions today is between contemplative Christian monks and their Eastern equivalents.� �Tilden Edwards, Shalem Founder[2] Barton, who could not find peace or direction in her Baptist roots or through reading the Bible and praying, found fulfillment through spiritual direction. Now she incorporates a blend of Eastern and Roman Catholic contemplative spirituality and monastic practices in her retreats and books on practicing the presence of God in the silence and sacred rhythms of prayer. Lately she has been very instrumental in leading entire Protestant and Anabaptist church congregations and their leaders into these same practices through spiritual direction and discernment seminars.This year, the Mennonites have once again[3] brought in Ruth Haley Barton to help them make decisions in the silence regarding some very important upcoming issues that include LGBTQ and anti-Israel BDS resolutions. How tragic to see an entire church delegation over looking all that is necessary in their discernment process (the Bible), thereby shunning to declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) in seeking guidance from an apprentice of Thomas Merton and Tilden Edwards. 

(603) The Labyrinth Journey: Walking the Path to Fulfillment? at Lighthouse Trails, 4/27/15 
The following article is also in booklet form. Click here to see if there are labyrinths in your region. The number of them is growing significantly as contemplative spirituality continues overtaking many denominations and ministries.

(604) Letter to the Editor: �Awakening America Alliance� Brings SBC President Ronnie Floyd Together with New Age Roma Downey by Lighthouse Trails, 4/28/15 
I�m sending you this e-mail (see below) that I got from the �Awakening America Alliance� about their recent biennial �RESET SUMMIT� held in Atlanta, Georgia. �Awakening America Alliance� states this as their ultimate goal: �The Alliance�s ultimate goal is serving kingdom initiatives for spiritual awakening and missional living. The Reset Summit is a part of their pursuit of a fresh Christ-Awakening across the nation�in every state, every county, every church, and every heart. Gathering leaders from these various spheres of influence not only builds relationships, but reflects one of their foundational principles��history is transformed among friends.� I am sending you this because I noticed that participants included Roma Downey (and husband Mark Burnett)! This is a conference for national Christian leaders, and Ronnie Floyd (President of the Southern Baptist Convention) along with other denominational prayer and church leaders participated. What is Roma Downey doing at a National Christian Leader�s conference for an American �spiritual awakening�?

(605) A Fortress of Solitude � Entering the SILENCE by Mike Oppenheimer, 5/4/15 
Jim Burns is President of HomeWord and Executive Director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University. His radio broadcast is heard on over 800 stations a day (including Calvary chapels KLHT in Hawaii) and heard around the world via podcast at HomeWord.com So when I heard Burns interview with Ruth Haley Barton giving her such a great review I was very concerned. 

(606) God�s Desire and A Warning and a Plea by Ray Yungen, 5/5/15 
Just what exactly is God�s desire for mankind? Does He want to send people to Hell? Does He want anyone to live eternally without Him? Scripture is very clear about this when it says: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9) God makes a strong plea to all people, giving them every opportunity to receive Him. It is God�s desire that none should perish eternally. That�s why he offered His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ�the only perfect sacrifice for mankind�s sin: Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Jesus] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (Romans 5:18) What it comes down to is the preaching of the higher self versus the preaching of the Cross. The New Age is saying that God is the higher self in man�that God is just a meditation away.

(607) IF it is of God�Answering the questions of IF:Gathering (Booklet) by Cedric H. Fisher, 5/9/15 
IF:Gathering came in like a storm, one of those winter events that seem to appear out of nowhere. No one saw it coming. A team of highly popular women�authors, bloggers, and speakers coming together�what a great idea. But it wasn�t novel. Professing Christians have been making pilgrimages for decades to high-energy conferences with a star list of speakers and singers. As with so many of these other conferences, IF purported to do the work of God. However, IF was unique in that it was mostly a digital event. It was greatly effective. The IF:Gathering held its second event in February of 2015 and involved 1200 women at the physical location, with a possible 100,000 or more watching by 40,000 live links in more than 120 countries. The ongoing influence of IF after the conference has the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of women all while flying under the radar of pastors and church leaders who may be accepting IF:Gathering at face value, not knowing anything about this group of high energy talented women leaders.

(608) C3 Presence Conference 2015 HeresyReel: Day 1 Session 4 � Phil Pringle by Churchwatcher, 5/12/15 
This is one of a series of articles covering the absurdity preached at Presence Conference 2015. We are broadcasting these HeresyReels to discourage you from accepting the messages from the clearly false teachers invited to speak at these C3 Presence Conferences  �  remember, just because they are �popular� does not mean they are legitimate.

(609) Quantum Christianity: Has the gateway to heaven been discovered? by Albert James Dagar, Media Spotlight 5/13/15 
It is my hope that those who read this will at the very least  question  what  they  hear  from  well-known  teachers within  the  Body  of  Christ,  and  will  study  God�s  Word diligently  to  show  themselves  approved�workmen  who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. God�s mysteries in relation to His creation are to remain mysteries  until  He  reveals  all  He  wishes  to  reveal  to  His resurrected  saints.  What  happens  in  the  quantum  realm stays in the quantum realm. Let�s live in the real world in which He desires us to move in obedience to Him.

(610) What's New with the New Age? with Warren Smith (Part 1), 5/16/15 
(Tom McMahon) Today and next week I�ll be discussing an important topic with a friend of mine who is an author of numerous books, including The Light That Was Dark: From the New Age to Amazing Grace , and Deceived On Purpose , as well as another very valuable book that we discussed in detail when he was on with me last, and the book is Another Jesus Calling . But the topic for today and for next week, the Lord willing, is sorcery, and my guest is Warren Smith. Warren, thanks for joining me on Search the Scriptures 24/7. 

(611) Questions on the New Age (Video) by Ray Yungen, 5/17/15 
A five part serious answering questions about New Age spirituality and its effect on the world and the churches. View Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5

(612) The Ultimate New Age Deception: Many Shall Come, Saying �I Am Christ� by Ray Yungen, 5/27/15 
I believe the Bible contains an important signal that the changes of times and seasons may indeed be at hand. In Matthew 24:3-5, which is a chapter dealing with the tribulation period, Jesus spoke these revealing words to His disciples concerning the signs of His coming and the end of the world (age): "And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign [indication] of thy coming, and of the end of the world [age]? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.� 

(613) A Fortress of Solitude � Entering the SILENCE by Mike Oppenheimer, 6/1/15 
Jim Burns is President of HomeWord and Executive Director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University. His radio broadcast is heard on over 800 stations a day (including Calvary chapels KLHT in Hawaii) and heard around the world via podcast at HomeWord.com So when I heard Burns interview with Ruth Haley Barton giving her such a great review I was very concerned. Read Part 1 - A Fortress of Solitude � Entering the SILENCE & Part 2 - Man's Wisdom or God's

(614) Be Still and Know That You are Not God!�God is Not �in� Everyone and Everything (Booklet) by Warren B. Smith, 6/22/15 
Our Spiritual Adversary would have everyone believe that we are all �one� because God is �in� everyone and everything. Using every promotional means possible�including a creative and ingenious perversion of quantum physics�he is attempting to convince the world and the church that while Jesus was Christ, so is everyone. And while Jesus was God, so is everyone else. To underscore this heretical New Age doctrine of God and Christ �in� everyone, he would have us further believe that nothing of any significance happened on the Cross of Calvary. However, the Bible makes it very clear that something extremely wonderful and overwhelmingly significant did happen on the Cross of Calvary. For it was on that Cross that Jesus Christ died to save the world as He defeated sin (1 John 2:2), death (2 Timothy 1:10), and the Devil himself (Hebrews 2:14). As the one and only Christ, He is our Rock (1 Corinthians 10:1-4), He is our Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11), and in every sense of the word He is the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14).

(615) Perilous Times and the True Purpose and Dangers of Yoga (MP3) by Chris Lawson, 6/26/15 
This past Friday I visited one of the wealthiest churches in Newport Beach, California.  With full permission from the "Holy Yoga" instructor, I sat quietly in the back of the church Yoga Class. I simply attended the class as an observer and I quietly wrote down some notes.  I was as transparent and kind and respectful as possible when I arrived early and I personally asked the instructor for permission to observe the class. Permission was granted. I then sat as silently as is humanly possible as an observer, sitting near the back of the yoga class. After about 15 minutes I was told to leave. Why was I told to leave? I was told to leave because I was "making people feel uncomfortable." Uncomfortable? Yes, "uncomfortable." For taking notes on "Holy Yoga", and as a Christian and former attendee of this church? Again, I simply went to observe the "Holy Yoga" class. Even the church website invites us to this class - "All generations and levels of experience are welcome!" As I sat and observed the blending of Yoga with Christianity, and was then asked to leave the Holy Yoga class, my concerns for the spiritual safety of the attendees was thoroughly validated - again!  (Perhaps more details on this later!) 

(616) Christian Colleges Falling Deeper into Apostasy As They Cave in to Supreme Court Ruling by Lighthouse Trails, 7/9/15 
Quick to jump on the band wagon for accepting the homosexual lifestyle is Baylor University, (the largest Baptist university in the world). According to a July 8th 2015 Time magazine article titled �This University Has Dropped Its Ban on �Homosexual Acts,��  Baylor �dropped a prohibition on �homosexual acts� from its sexual conduct policy�this past May. But Baylor is not the only one. A Christianity Today article, dated July 8th 2015, titled �Hope College and Belmont to Offer Benefits to Same-Sex Spouses� explains how Belmont University (in TN) and Hope College (MI) are �extending benefits to same-sex spouses of employees after last month�s Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.� By the way, you can be sure Christianity Today isn�t too upset about these changes�they�ve been promoting the emerging church and contemplative spirituality for a long time. Wheaton College has already headed down this path showing acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle, and many others will follow suit. And remember, those colleges are training the next generation of pastors and church leaders so the affects will undoubtedly be remarkable. It appears it is too late to stop the tide of what is happening to Christian colleges. But at Lighthouse Trails, we will continue to send out a warning to parents and grandparents to keep their kids out of these schools and try to find ones that are in a fast-diminishing group of biblically based colleges. At the very least, we hope parents and grandparents will make sure their college-age kids and grandkids are well equipped to live in a world that rejects Christ and in a church that ignores spiritual deception.

(617) Letter to the Editor: Looking for Good Bible Based Children�s Curriculum by Lighthouse Trails, 7/12/15 
To Lighthouse Trails: I am coordinator of my church�s children & youth ministries, and I am looking for solid, Bible-based children�s and youth curriculum. I would appreciate any suggestions you may have.  I am so skeptical of much of the curriculum out there now especially with so much of the emergent ideas creeping in. Thank you for any input you can offer. Our Comment: The publishers on the following list are Christian publishers that have been publishing contemplative and emergent materials for several years: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/publishers.htm.This list includes Zondervan, NavPress, Thomas Nelson (and Tommie Nelson), and InterVarsity. Baker Books and Multnomah publishers are also on the list as they too now publish that type of material. If curriculum is used from any of the publishers in this list, there will most likely be threads of contemplative/emergent ideas woven throughout much of their material. The list of publishers on this page �  http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/publishersgood.htm � do not publish contemplative, emergent material to our knowledge. However, many of them are smaller publishers and may not have study curriculum. We do mention Harvest House and Barbour publishing on this list; however we include them with a cautionary note. Sadly, we removed Moody Publishers from this list some time ago. As with all things, use discernment and weigh all things against Scripture. As Christians, we must �Test all things� and �Try the spirits� through the screen of Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1).

(618) In Case You Still Aren�t Sure About The Shack and Its Author . . . by Lighthouse Trails, 7/17/15 
In case you still aren�t sure about William Paul Young and his book The Shack�in case you still have some doubts as to whether Young is really of a New Age/New Spirituality persuasion�in case after reading articles at Lighthouse Trails revealing Young�s anti-biblical views on atonement and the Cross�and in case after reading Warren B. Smith�s booklet The Shack and Its New Age Leaven that documents Young�s affinity with New Age thinking, then perhaps his recently posted �Twenty Books Everyone Should Read� list on Young�s blog will convince you that The Shack or any of Young�s writings should not be sitting on the shelves of Christian bookstores and North American pastors� offices and should never have become a New York Times best-seller having found itself there through primarily Christian readers (not to mention the big plug it received from endorsements by Eugene Peterson [The Message] and Calvary Chapel speaker Gayle Erwin. You can see the entire list of Young�s recommended books by clicking here. Below we are giving you a partial list of the authors whom William P. Young recommends. After looking at this list, you decide for yourself.

(619) Would Jesus Magnify His Presence Above the Word of God? by Warren B. Smith, 7/22/15 
In Jesus Calling, �Jesus� promotes the experience of his presence above God�s Word. Psalm 138:2 tells us: "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."  Because God has magnified His Word above His name, this lets us know we will never experience His presence in any way that is not totally consistent with the truth of His Word. Thus, we can know that any presence that comes calling and claims the name of �Jesus� as its own but does not line up in every way with God�s Word is not the presence of God. God will never put His name or experiencing His presence above His Word.

(620) The New Age Then and Now - Acts 19 (Audio) by Chris Lawson, 7/23/15 
We live in a world that is hostile to the biblical Jesus Christ of Nazareth. So too, many of us have experienced growing hostility from non-Christians and from apostate Christian churches that have become theologically offensive to Jesus Christ. This audio message considers various topics in the Christian missions life, cross-cultural work, spiritual warfare, and the biblical injunction to confront teachings that are hostile to biblical revelation. Topics mentioned: - Boldly reasoning, speaking and persuading individuals to repent of sin and believe in the biblical Gospel, instead of ecumenical Interfaith �dialogue.� - The danger of Occult healing arts, lying signs and wonders, and demonic manifestation and possession states that deceptively mislead people under the guise of being "gifts of the Holy Spirit." - The problem of New Age and ecumenical Christian churches engaging in dialogue and alleged �Gay Christian� workshops. Teachings and people mentioned: New Thought Metaphysics (Warren Felt Evans, Phineas Quimby), Christianized Metaphysics for Evangelical Ecumenism (Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuller), Mormonism (Brigham Young, Joseph Smith), Evolutionism, Hinduism, Yogi�s, Theosophy and Occultism (Helena P. Blavatsky, Annie Besant), Mind Science Cults (Christian Science - May Baker Eddy), Guru�s (The Beatles and the Hare Krishna cult), Modern Occultism (George Gurdjeiff), Theosophical Society (Helena P. Blavatsky, Annie Besant, Nicholas Roerich), Spiritism, Spiritualism and Christian Spiritualism (Moses Hull), Rudolph Steiner (Anthroposophy and the Anthroposophical Society), Rosicrucian Movement (Max Heindel and the Order of the Rose Cross), Unity School of Christianity (Charles and Myrtle Fillmore), Church Universal and Triumphant (Elizabeth Claire Prophet), Science of Mind and Religious Science (Ernest Holmes), Religious Science (Terry Cole Whitaker), The Sleeping Prophet (Edgar Cayce), George Baker (aka �Father Divine�), Scientology (L. Ron Hubbard), Erhard Seminars Training (Werner Hans Erhard), Foundation of Human Understanding (Roy Masters), The Silva Method (Jose Silva), The Aquarian Conspiracy (Marilyn Ferguson), The Master Plan (Alice Bailey), Unitarianism (Richard Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller), Templeton Prize (John Marks Templeton, Bill Bright and Charles Colson), Word of Faith Movement (Prosperity Gospel - Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Marilyn Hickey, Oral Roberts), and more.

(621) Video: Ray Yungen on the Emerging Church & Interspirituality � Committing Spiritual Adultery at Lighthouse Trails, 7/29/15 
The following is a 10-minute YouTube preview of Ray Yungen�s DVD from the New Face of Mystical Spiritualityseries. This one is on the Emerging Church and Interspirituality.

(622) A Trip to India�to Learn the Truth About Hinduism and Yoga (Booklet) by Caryl Matrisciana, 8/25/15 
Thirteen years had passed since my family had left India. Now I found myself on an airplane returning there. I was filled with excitement and nostalgic memories. Would I bump into old friends with whom I had lost contact over the years? Would anything have changed? I was travelling with a small group of international cult experts. We had received a grant enabling our research group to travel around India, visiting gurus and their ashrams.

(623) Letter to the Editor: Please Send Your Evidence and Examples for Calvin College ASAP by Lighthouse Trails, 8/30/15 
Dear Lighthouse Trails: You list Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI, as being contemplative, formation.  Please give me evidence, examples of this, also any emergent info, too on them.  ASAP, please. Our Response: Finding evidence and examples to show Calvin College�s contemplative/emergent persuasions is NOT like finding a needle in a haystack. This college is saturated with evidence and examples. Here are a few ...

(624) The New Age Desire versus God�s Desire by Ray Yungen, 9/14/15 
What it comes down to is the preaching of the higher self versus the preaching of the Cross. The New Age is saying that God is the higher self in man�that God is just a meditation away.

(625) �Contemplative Spirituality � the Source of the Catholic Church�s Expansion� by Ray Yungen, 9/24/15 
I had always been confused as to the real nature of this advance in the Catholic church. Was this just the work of a few mavericks and renegades, or did the church hierarchy sanction this practice? My concerns were affirmed when I read in an interview that the mystical prayer movement not only had the approval of the highest echelons of Catholicism but also was, in fact, the source of its expansion. 

(626) Be Still and Know That YOU Are God? Is That Really What Scripture Says? by Warren B. Smith, 10/1/15 
Eileen Caddy�s New Age understanding of the �God within� and �oneness� started with an inner voice that told her �Be still and know that I am God.� Like Caddy, so many people who have been raised in today�s church have been similarly deceived into believing that the �be still� verse from Psalm 46:10 is God�s heavenly instruction to enter into solitude and silence so they can hear His voice. Ironically, the real meaning of this verse has nothing to do with sitting in silence, practicing the presence, or any meditative practice. Undiscerning church leaders have misappropriated Psalm 46:10 to justify contemplative prayer. They now use this verse to incubate a �conversation with God.�

(627) Letter to the Editor: Left Standing Alone After Challenging Pastor Over C&MA Emergent Teachings at Lighthouse Trails, 10/3/15 
At some point, I began to see, through Lighthouse Trails, a few things on the Alliance and its ties with the emergent church and spiritual formation. As I really began to dig, I was horrified. I called four C&MA seminaries to ask them if they offered classes on Spiritual Formation. I was told very enthusiastically, yes they offered many classes in Spiritual Formation. When I called Simpson University, I was even told that if I wanted to dig deeper into that sort of thing, they recommended Bill Johnson�s [Bethel Church] School of the Supernatural.

(628) YOGA: Exercise or Religion�Does it Matter? (Booklet) by Ray Yungen, 10/9/15 
The Yoga boom, which began in the 1990s, is changing the very social fabric of our society in a way that will last well into the future. People need to be aware that Yoga serves spiritual ends and also need to realize just what the nature of that spirituality entails. Yoga is the religion of namasté (i.e., man is God). The fact is, there is no need for the Cross of Jesus Christ in Yoga. To the contrary, Scripture tells us: . . . that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.(Ephesians 2:7)

(629) Letter to the Editor: Heartbroken in Leaving Her Southern Baptist Church Over Deception Issues at Lighthouse Trails, 10/19/15 
At that time, I had to leave on a trip for a family matter.  Before we returned from that trip, I checked the local newsletter online and saw the announcement that the pastor had cancelled Prayer Meetings and instituted Cottage meetings to teach Richard Foster�s book on Contemplative Prayer.  I was heartsick. 

(630) Spiritual Formation Versus The Life of Christ�Which One Will You Choose? by Lighthouse Trails, 11/9/15 
Spiritual formation is sweeping quickly throughout Christianity today. It�s no wonder, when the majority of Christian leaders have either endorsed the movement or given it a silent pass. For instance, in Chuck Swindoll�s book So You Want to Be Like Christ: 8 Essential Disciplines to Get Your There, Swindoll favorably quotes Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. Swindoll calls Celebration of Discipline a �meaningful work�1 and Willard�s book The Spirit of the Disciplines �excellent work.�2 In chapter three,�Silence and Solitude,� Swindoll talks about �digging for secrets . . . that will deepen our intimacy with God.�3 Quoting the contemplative poster-verse Psalm 46:10, �Be still, and know that I am God,� Swindoll says the verse is a call to the �discipline of silence.�4 As other contemplative proponents have done, he has taken this verse very much out of context.

(631) �Too Much God Talk�: Rob Bell�s �Progressive� Successor Steps Down from Leading Mars Hill by Heather Clark, 1/26/15 
GRANDVILLE, Mich. � Kent Dobson, who took over the leadership role at Mars Hill in 2012 after controversial author and speaker Rob Bell left the congregation he founded, has now also decided to step down, stating that �being a pastor is not who I am.� �My place here has not felt right, like I was wearing someone else�s suit that didn�t quite fit and I tried to get it tailored and maybe I had shoulder pads from the 90�s or something. I don�t know,� he told the congregation on Sunday. �It just felt like it didn�t quite fit me so well.� Dobson said that he feels restless and uncomfortable around �too much God talk.� �I�ve felt restless, but I�ve always felt restless and a bit homeless when it comes to church and when it comes to God talk,� he explained. �When I hear too much God talk, I start to feel like (shudders) [it�s] too much religion. I don�t know; it gives me a restless feeling. A lot of times I feel like an outsider at my own party.� 

(632) What Christian Leaders Need to Know � The Final Outcome of Practicing Contemplative Prayer: Interspirituality by Ray Yungen, 12/5/15 
LTRP Note: With more than 90% of the Christian colleges and seminaries now bringing in contemplative spirituality via Spiritual Formation programs, and with Christian leaders such as Rick Warren and Beth Moore endorsing the movement, and with countless pastors giving it a thumbs up to their congregations, isn�t it time professors, pastors, and leaders understand what the final outcome of contemplative prayer is? Isn�t it time they understand that leading Christians and church goers down this path is leading them away from the Cross, not toward it. At Lighthouse Trails, we believe it is beyond time for this understanding to occur.

(633) Are Christian Leaders Leading the Church Down the Broad Road of Delusion? by Warren B. Smith, 12/9/15 
Traditional Christian believers frequently mention the analogy of the frog that is so slowly and gradually boiled in a kettle of water that it dies before ever realizing what is going on. Yet many believers fail to realize that the very same thing is happening to them as they tell that story. How else do you explain the rapid rise of the �new gospel� movement with hardly a word of concern within the Church about what�s been happening? As �new gospel� advocates continue to publish bestselling books and flock to the airwaves in ever-increasing numbers to advance their cause, there is a strange silence within Christianity. Does the Church have any idea what is going on?

(634) Children at Risk: Mudras, Chakras, Mantras: Deceptive Meditative Techniques by L. Putnam, 12/19/15 
A recent Facebook Post captioned: �Help Your Child Achieve Calmness!� showed a picture of a little girl sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, hands out, and with her fingers fixed in a mudra position.  What finger position is that?  To be precise, it is the �Gyan Mudra� or �Chin Mudra� finger position in which the index finger touches the thumb tip to form as perfect a circle as possible with the other fingers extending upward. Why do people do this?  Yoga aficionado Gertud Hirschi, in her book Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands,  tells us why: �We can effectively engage and influence our body and our mind by bending, crossing, extending, or touching the fingers with other fingers.�  Hirschi goes on to pinpoint just what this finger position really means: �The thumb is symbolic of cosmic (divine) and the index finger is symbolic of individual (human) consciousness.  The ultimate goal � is oneness of humanity with cosmic consciousness.� 

(635) Letters to the Editor: Anne Graham Lotz Promoting Circle Making at Lighthouse Trails, 1/6/16 
LTRP Note: Lighthouse Trails  has received a number of e-mails in the last few days (see two of them below) regarding the issue of Anne Graham Lotz promoting circle making recently. This is taken from emerging church leader Mark Batterson�s book, The Circle Maker.  Please read 2 articles we have on circle making: The Circle Makers by Cedric Fisher and The Native Spirituality �Medicine Wheel� and The Circle Maker by Cree author Nanci Des Gerlaise.

(636) Catholic Contemplative Meditation Techniques Explode Top Down Among Alliance Denominational Leaders by Orrel Stienkamp, 1/9/16 
Maybe you haven't heard much about Catholic Contemplative PrayerfSpirituality. Generally it hasn't reached congregational level that much. But Catholic Contemplative prayer techniques and spirituality is often hidden by the code word �Spiritual Formation.� This incursion into Evangelical training and leadership training, nevertheless is deep and broad. This includes many traditional evangelical denominations and non denominational mega churches. Rick Warren promotes it. lI�IOP and Bill Johnson�s Redding movement. It can be discovered by perusing course offerings and especially required reading in Spiritual Formation offerings and leadership courses in the majority of Evangelical Schools and seminaries. In my case in the large church I attend it appeared out of nowhere in a study book �Emotionally Healthy Spirituality� calling us to get off the fast paced life style. But Peter Scazzaro, the author, told our class directly on a DVD that he was introducing us to Contemplative Prayer. The Pulpit ministry followed the book thematically but avoided terms like contemplative and centering prayer and nobody knew what was actually going on, thankfully. But once again in the small groups the Scazzaro's bibliographies were loaded with quotes of the most famous Catholic Contemplative authors, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Richard Rohr Thomas Keating and others. But until recently I never thought that it had burrowed deeply across the board among virtually all evangelical leadership groups from say Focus on the Family to Fuller Seminary.

(637) Letter to the Editor: �Christian� Psychology Going Contemplative? at Lighthouse Trails, 1/14/16 
Many Christians seek the help of psychologists or counselors. While psychology generally does not lead one to Christ or point to His Word and typically has a humanistic foundation, and while many Christian counselors do not offer biblically based counsel as well, things have gotten even worse as Lighthouse Trails has witnessed over the last 15 years as both camps are moving more and more into the New Age/contemplative meditation camp. 

(638) Letter to the Editor: Anne Graham Lotz Responds Regarding Promotion of Honi, the Mystic and Prayer Circles at Lighthouse Trails, 1/16/16 
LTRP Note: The following is from a Lighthouse Trails reader who had written to Anne Graham Lotz regarding her recent promotion of Honi, the mystic, and prayer circles. You may wish to refer to our two previous posts on this situation: Letters to the Editor: Anne Graham Lotz Promoting Circle Making  and Letters to the Editor: Anne Graham Lotz Promoting Circle Making.  Also read: Please read 2 articles we have on circle making: The Circle Makers by Cedric Fisher and The Native Spirituality �Medicine Wheel� and The Circle Maker by Cree author Nanci Des Gerlaise. 

(639) Authors To Avoid: Who is Bringing the �New� Spirituality Into the Church? by Chris Lawson, 1/16/16 
Each of the following authors professes to be Christian and/or uses biblical terminology in his or her writing, yet promotes at least one of the following serious false teachings: contemplative spirituality (i.e., Spiritual Formation), the emergent, progressive �new� spirituality, the seeker-friendly, church-growth movement (e.g., Willow Creek, Purpose Driven) and/or Yoga. (This list is from the booklet A Directory of Authors: Three NOT Recommended Lists.)

(640) Meditation and Experience by Herescope, 1/24/16 
Spiritual meditation, as it is commonly practiced around the world, is done for the purpose of achieving an experience of the presence of God. This "presence" feeling, often described as a sense of oneness with the Divine, can create a powerful psychological and physical sense of peace. This much-desired spiritual experience thus serves to validate one's faith -- if one "feels" God's presence then that means one is on the right path to a higher form of spirituality. Thus meditation becomes a discipline, a device, even an art, whereby man believes he can do things to achieve inner peace and a unity with God. 

(641) Is The Emerging Church History, or Has it Entered Your Church? by Roger Oakland, 2/29/16 
Recently, I read a Facebook post by a southern California pastor stating that the �emerging church� was no longer a problem for him or his church. He also stated that the �emerging church� was just another passing fad that had come and then disappeared never to be heard of again. His church was going to focus on what was positive and insinuated that �hyper discernment ministries� were scaring his sheep into believing they were living in the last days and that apostasy was rampant. The comments by this pastor are not uncommon. In fact, there are few shepherds today who are warning the sheep in their flocks of the dangers that lurk not only outside the fold but also within their own fold that they are called to protect. A good shepherd must keep watch over his flock as there are many wolves lurking around seeking whom they may devour. Ignoring these dangers does not make the problems go away. Sheep can easily be misled by false unbiblical teachings that act as a grain of arsenic in a milk shake. The milk shake may look and taste good, but the grain of arsenic will be enough to kill someone.

(642) Looking for a Christian College for Your Child in 2016 � Better Be Careful! by Lighthouse Trails, 3/6/16 
Spring 2016 is almost here, which means parents will be diligently helping their college-age children search for Christian colleges, seminaries, and universities for enrollment for this coming fall. As many of you know, Lighthouse Trails has been researching Christian colleges for 14 years. Three years ago, we published a report called An Epidemic of Apostasy, which revealed that the majority of Christian colleges, seminaries, and universities had begun to incorporate contemplative spirituality (through Spiritual Formation programs) into their schools. The report showed how much of this was happening because accreditation associations were requiring schools to include Spiritual Formation in the lives of their students if they wanted to be accredited. 

(643) Roots of the Spiritual Formation Movement by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things, August 2014 - Volume 20, Issue 4 
During the past two years most of the articles sent out by Think on These Things have dealt with the issue of the Spiritual Formation Movement. And while we have examined the birth of the modern movement as well as its key beliefs, leaders and teachers, both past and present, we now want to turn our attention in this final article to their ancient roots. Coupled with this it would be of value to discuss the attraction of the movement, especially for evangelicals. Having already documented in previous articles serious errors in doctrine and practice, why do so many evangelicals embrace the disciplines and look to the so-called �spiritual masters� for guidance? These issues of origin and attraction overlap but we will look at them separately for clarity�s sake.

(644) Kyle Odom, the Man Who Shot Idaho Pastor, Says Meditation Started it All by Lighthouse Trails, 3/11/16 
LTRP: A �manifesto,� written by former Marine Kyle Odom, the 30-year-old man who shot Idaho pastor Kyle Remmington, reveals that his life started to change drastically when he began doing meditation while in university to relieve stress. The meditation experiences led him to come into contact with familiar spirits (which he thought were aliens) and eventually led to two suicide attempts and then the shooting of Pastor Remmington. While Lighthouse Trails is not saying that every person who practices meditation is going to go crazy and start shooting people, we stand by our warning of 14 years that meditation does introduce meditators to demonic realms. For most, this realm seduces people into a complacent deception, and they may even appear more peaceful. For other meditators, like the student at Le Tourneau Christian University who graduated and told his parents he was now an atheist, they turn away from their Christian faith. Satan has many different methods of stealing a soul. And for some, these demons torture and torment a person, until they can eventually become like Kyle Odom. The occult (Satan�s domain) is not to be tampered with. When you consider that over 90% of the Christian colleges and seminaries are introducing contemplative spirituality (a belief system that incorporates meditation) to the lives of their students, it should make every Christian shudder and every Christian leader repent for allowing this into the church (not to mention how it has entered secularism even more so). Remember when Richard Foster told his contemplative followers that they needed to say a prayer of protection before practicing contemplative prayer. Why would one need to do that . . . unless he is entering demonic realms? Meditation leads one to believe that God is in everything and all is connected together (this belief is an anti-christ religion, and that is why when people practice meditation, they are going to be influenced by familiar spirits).

(645) Fortune Magazine: �Meditation Has Become A Billion-Dollar Business� by Jen Wieczner, Fortune, 3/16/16 
In 2015 the meditation and mindfulness industry raked in nearly $1 billion, according to research by IBISWorld, which breaks out the category from the alternative health care sector.

(646) The Defiling Influence of Spirit Contact by Chris Lawson, 3/18/16 
We are living at a time where contact with the spirit world is commonplace. Even in many Christian settings, where spiritistic activity and occult literature are condemned, �messages� and so-called �words from God� that have been communicated to humans by fallen angels (and peoples� vain imaginations) are misleading people on a grand scale. Furthermore, the amount of heretical practices and material that countless ministries and leading names in the Christian bookstore industry, create and promote, both locally and globally, is staggering.

(647) A History of AWANA�s Contemplative Tract Record and the Implications of Their New CEO by Lighthouse Trails, 3/19/16 
For over a decade  now, Lighthouse Trails editors have been concerned about the direction that the AWANA children�s club is heading. Today, in this report, we want to first give an overview of our past decade of reporting on AWANA, and then we want to share some new information that should concern every parent and grandparent who has a child or grandchild in AWANA.

(648) Watkins� 100 Most Spiritually Influential People of 2016 � How Many Names Do You Know? by Miscellaneous, 5/11/16 
Watkin�s Mind Body Spirit Magazine released its 2016 top 100 most spiritually influential people alive today. If you have been reading Lighthouse Trails for some time, you will recognize several names. One thing all of these names have in common is an affinity toward mysticism. Sadly, a number of these New Ager/New Spirituality names have had significant influence, either directly or indirectly, on the Christian church in the last several years: e.g. Thomas Keating, Richard Rohr,  Julia Cameron (The Artist�s Way), Pope Francis, Rhonda Byrne (The Secret), and Rob Bell. Click here to read how Watkin�s determined who should be on the list. 

(649) Spiritual Formation Leader, Larry Crabb, Says �The greatest need in modern civilization is the development of communities.� by Lighthouse Trails, 5/14/16 
Larry Crabb�s recent remarks perfectly illustrate the �fruit� of contemplative spirituality � a move away from the Gospel and personal salvation through Jesus Christ and a move toward an emerging, ecumenical all-paths-lead-to-God kind of mentality. Where did Christ or the disciples ever say man�s greatest need in in the development of communities?

(650) Evolution�s Role in a Quantum Spirituality by Caryl Matrisciana and Roger Oakland, 5/31/16 
There is a clear but complex marriage between physical evolution and transcendental evolution. Ironically, while forcing out creationism, many scientists and educators push for an equally religious alternative. They cling to the Eastern concept that the next stage of man�s evolution will arrive in spiritual terms. Many �prophesy� a development�a quantum leap from biological evolution into a sort of �mystical emergence.�

(651) Southern Baptist Leaders Call for a �Great Awakening� in US�But SBC Continues Promoting the Anti-Gospel New Spirituality at Lighthouse Trails, 6/16/16 
The article quoted several Southern Baptist pastors attending the summer event who named numerous sins from which Southern Baptists and Christians in general needed to repent: pride, racism, apathy, and so forth. While these are all sins that Christians do need to repent of if they are guilty of them,  there was no mention of one sin that is having detrimental effects within SBC and the Christian church at large. We are referring to the Southern Baptist�s sinful embracing of the �new� anti-Gospel spirituality, which includes occultic prayer practices (contemplative) and emergent/social justice/anti-Christianity ideologies. We present two pieces of evidence to show both of these are true statements.

(652) Is God in Graffiti? at Lighthouse Trails, 8/22/16
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. 

(653) Letter to the Editor: Received Flyer on Sarah Young�s Newest Booklet at Lighthouse Trails, 9/14/16
To Lighthouse Trails: The Prophecy Conference in Appleton Wisconsin was excellent. Thank you for recommending that we attend. We could only attend Friday�s sessions but it was well worth going. Coming home with our new copy of the expanded second edition of Another Jesus Calling, we were met with a brochure from Family Christian in our mailbox. On page six, we found a prebuy offer for Sarah Young�s new book called Jesus Always. It�s another 365 day devotional with new revelations from Sarah�s �Jesus.� We were shocked. Why we were shocked, I don�t know at this point. It�s obvious that these attacks on the Body of Christ are now unrelenting. It seems that facts, reason, and truth simply don�t matter any more. And so the delusion grows ever stronger for those who refuse to receive a love of the truth. Thank you again and again for fighting the good fight. It was a blessing to be able to thank Warren Smith in person. He is such a dear brother in Christ. We continue to pray for you all. P.M.

(654) Something to Think About � Richard Rohr, the New Age, and Young Evangelical Christians by Lighthouse Trails, 9/25/16
When you consider that Catholic contemplative mystic Richard Rohr once said in an interview that his publisher told him his largest audience was young evangelical Christians, and when you know what Rohr truly believes in and stands for, how can mature Christians stand by and say nothing? Our Christian leaders not only remain quiet on these issues, they help promote people like Rohr by quoting them in their books and sermons and then blame traditional biblical Christianity for being the cause of so many young people leaving the faith. But young evangelicals (like your children and grandchildren) are walking away from true Christianity and into the arms of anti-biblical emergents because Christian leaders, pastors, colleges, seminaries, and para-church organizations are pointing them in that direction.

(655) The Goal of Contemplatives: Changing the Consciousness of Humanity � One Contemplative Prayer After the Next by Ray Yungen, 9/29/16
Sue Monk Kidd became enamored with contemplative spirituality while attending a Southern Baptist church. We could possibly dismiss that and say she was just an untaught member of the laity who was spiritually lacking in discernment. Maybe her spiritual dryness was a result of her not being grounded firmly enough in the faith. But what about the leaders and pastors whom so many look up to and who are considered trusted individuals in the church? Surely they are able to discern what is spiritually unsound. It seems safe to make this assumption. Right? Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. 

(656) Letter to the Editor: �It truly was a time of departing for me!� at Lighthouse Trails, 10/3/16
I will be forever grateful to Ray Yungen and this book for being the instrument God used to open my eyes to this new/old teaching that is consuming churches everywhere. Every Christian in America needs to know about this � even if you�re in a good church. Even good pastors can be fooled by it because it�s so subtly deceptive. And it�s absolutely pervasive. It is everywhere. So arm yourself with knowledge, and A Time of Departing is a great place to start!

(657) Christian Leaders Finally Beginning to Speak Out About Jesus Calling, Saying: �WE LOVE IT!!� at Lighthouse Trails, 10/15/16
On a fairly new Thomas Nelson web page, the mega publisher of Jesus Calling has posted a number of �Endorsements� for Jesus Calling by Christian and other religious and secular leaders. The list of endorsers includes: Max Lucado, Roma Downey, Josh Warren (CEO, Purpose Driven Communications), Mark Batterson (The Circle Maker author), Melinda Gates (Bill Gates� wife), Rev. James Martin, SJ (a Jesuit priest), best-selling author Shauna Niequist, O.S. Hawkins (author of The Joshua Code and The Jesus Code), Dr. Jack Graham, singer Sheila Walsch, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Lee (speaker for �There�s Hope in America television series), Kathy Lee Gifford, country singer Charlie Daniels, singer Reba McEntire, James Robison (who works closely with Beth Moore), Mike Gallagher (from Salem Radio Network), veteran Christian singer Phil Keaggy, and numerous other evangelical, Catholic, and secular personalities.

(658) Spiritual Formation - A Dangerous Substitute For the Life of Christ by Lighthouse Trails, 10/31/16
"Sometimes we think of spiritual formation as formation by the Holy Spirit. Once again. That�s essential. . . . But now I have to say something that may be challenging for you to think about: Spiritual formation is not all by the Holy Spirit. . . . We have to recognize that spiritual formation in us is something that is also done to us by those around us, by ourselves, and by activities which we voluntarily undertake . . .There has to be method."�Dallas Willard, �Spiritual Formation: What it is, and How it is". Aside from the fact that Spiritual Formation incorporates mystical practices into its infrastructure (remove the contemplative aspect and you don�t have �Spiritual Formation� anymore), Spiritual Formation is a works-based substitute for biblical Christianity.

(659) Christianity is Missing Out on Something Vital - Is This True? by Ray Yungen, 11/17/16
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 in the New Testament and divination in the Old Testament.

(660) Remembering the Enticing Appeal of Richard Foster and Beth Moore’s Be Still Film by Lighthouse Trails, 11/19/16
In 2006, a DVD film was released by Fox Entertainment called Be Still. Lighthouse Trails wrote extensively about it at the time, warning our readers that the DVD was an infomercial for contemplative prayer. Recently, a caller who very much understood the deceptive dynamics of the contemplative prayer (i.e., Spiritual Formation) movement, reminded us about the film, and we e-mailed her a copy of all the transcripts (we had transcribed the entire film in 2006). The film includes Richard Foster, Buddhist-sympathizer Catholic convert Peter Kreeft, Dallas Willard, Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Michelle McKinney Hammon, Max Lucado, and Calvin Miller.

(661) Jesus Calling Messages Compared to Channeled Spirit Messages (Audio) by Chris Lawson, 1/2/17
Examining Sarah Young’s “listening prayer�? method and her own words:
- Crafty teachings embraced in Christian churches.
- The danger of “channeled�? literature such as God Calling (Edited by A.J. Russell)
- Sarah’s Young claims she was inspired by God Calling to write her “Christian�? devotional, Jesus Calling.
- Destructive heresies, “deceptive words,�? and the exploitation of Christians in the Christian Marketplace.
- Extensive listing of “channeled�? entities, including various demon spirits named and masquerading as numerous biblical personalties, including “Jesus.�?
- Direct quotes from Sarah Young’s Q&A Interview’ from CBN, and other mentions from Christianity Today.
- Damage control for Sarah Young’s “False Christ�? implemented by the publisher of Jesus Calling.
- Direct quotes from The Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs and The Donning International [New Age/Occult] Encyclopedic Psychic Dictionary - explaining “literary mediumship,�? “listening�? prayer, and “clairaudience�? - that are virtually identical to Sarah Young’s alleged contemplative “listening prayer.�?
- There are only three options as to what Jesus Calling really is: (1) personal human delusion, (2) total deception writing, or (3) spiritistic communication under the guise of “Jesus Calling.�?
- Massive documentation refuting Jesus Calling on the SRN webpage titled ‘Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: Another New Age Jesus’.
- Article by Lighthouse Trails Editors titled, ‘About That Jesus Calling - Ten Things You Might Not Know’.
- Mention of numerous New Age metaphysical terms (buzz-words) found in Jesus Calling, given by Sarah Young’s “Jesus,�? to Sarah Young.
- Will Sarah Young and her publisher who is doing damage control confess and repent from what they have done - in plain site!
Scriptures in order of mention: 2 Peter 1:12 - 2:3; Jude 1-4, 24-25; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4, 12-15; Matthew 7:15-23; Psalm 46; Genesis 3:1-5; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 1 John 3:24 - 4:6; Matthew 24:1-3, 11, 23; Matthew 7:1-5, 15-23

(662) The Real Roots of the Emergent Church (Video) by Elliot Nesch, 1/7/17
Because diversity characterizes the Emergent Church movement, it is difficult to paint everyone in the movement with a broad brush. Some have observed that defining the Emergent Church is like nailing jello to a wall. All participants agree on their disillusionment with the institutional church, but do not all agree on where the church is destined to go from here. They share a common concern with many evangelicals over the state of the modern church, especially the mega-church phenomenon and “seeker-friendly�? churches. For this reason, many evangelicals who observe the Emerging Church are fascinated by it, drawn to its creative approaches to worship, genuineness of many of the leaders and desire to reach Gen Xers. However, these evangelicals fail to look beyond it to understand its underlying theology, or lack thereof. 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! Subjects of this film were contacted for direct interviews. Doug Pagitt, Tony Jones and others were contacted in April 2011. No response. At a Love Wins book signing, Rob told us he would be willing to do an interview and to contact his church which was done several times with no response. We do not fault them for that knowing they are all probably very busy people. But for this reason we have resorted to their own public statements. This film is our way of joining the conversation. Participants: Eric Ludy, Joe Schimmel, Chris Rosebrough, Bob DeWaay, Gary Gilley, Ray Yungen, Robert LeBus, Jay Peters, James Sundquist.

(663) The Desert Fathers and the Methods They Used by Ray Yungen, 1/9/17
In many ways, the Desert Fathers were like Cain—eager to please but not willing to listen to the instruction of the Lord and do what was right. One cannot fault them for their devotion, but one certainly can fault them for their lack of discernment.

(664) Mysticism: Its Origin and Impact on Contemporary Christian Thought by Zachary Doppelt, 1/22/17
Within Evangelical Christianity there has been a resurging interest in the writings of the mystics and their intuitive approach to God. This has been noticeable with the growing interest in authors such as Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen and Thomas Merton, as well as the leadership of such scholars such as Bruce Demarest. While many evangelicals may not be familiar with each of these names, many books being written today cite these authors as influential, often because these authors purport a form of deeper spirituality. Sometimes this spirituality is seated in the emotions and is predominantly experiential; however for some it is far more intricate and complex.

(665) Chuck Swindoll’s Ministry Says Stop Sending Lighthouse Trails Booklets by Lighthouse Trails, 1/26/17
Since early 2016, Lighthouse Trails has been sending out short letters and topical booklets that we publish to dozens of Christian leaders in America. Thus far, we have received a few responses, usually short notes from the ministry office thanking us for sending the materials. This week, we received an e-mail from Chuck Swindoll’s ministry telling us to remove him from our list and to no longer send him materials.  The e-mail stated: Please remove Chuck Swindoll and Insight for Living Ministries at PO Box 5000, Frisco, Texas 75034, from Lighthouse Trails Publishing’s mailing list. As a not-for-profit ministry, we strive to use every penny wisely and imagine that you do too.  Because of the time and effort required to process the huge amount of correspondence we receive, we respectfully request that you remove our organization from your mailing list.  This may also help you save some printing and postage costs.  Thank you for taking the time to update your records.  We sincerely appreciate your prompt assistance with this matter. While we do not want to be presumptuous in thinking that busy successful Christian leaders would even want to give Lighthouse Trails a moment of their time, we do find it disconcerting (though not really surprising) that Chuck Swindoll has refused our booklets. Swindoll is discussed in Lighthouse Trails articles partly because of a book he wrote titled So You Want to Be Like Christ: Eight Essential Disciplines to Get You There (see Ray Yungen’s article below).   It’s a sad state of affairs when leaders have the time to read Henri Nouwen, Mother Teresa, Richard Foster, and Dallas Willard, and other contemplative authors but not enough time to read  material that questions the contemplative prayer movement. Nevertheless, at their request, we will remove Chuck Swindoll’s name from our leader’s list. But this does not remove him or other Christian leaders from being responsible for what they are doing and teaching or from having to answer one day to the one Who judges all things. We told Chuck Swindoll’s office that we would let our readers know of its request.

(666) A Time of Departing and New Spirituality Terms - The Emergent Trojan Horse Has Unloaded Its Cargo! (Audio) by Chris Lawson, 2/3/17
Terms, concepts and practices you should be aware of and warned about! For more information please see Ray Yungen's excellent book entitled A Time of Departing. Book description at Lighthouse Trails: "A revealing account of a New Age spirituality that has infiltrated much of the church today. Exposes the subtle strategies to compromise the gospel message with Eastern mystical practices cloaked under evangelical terminology and wrappings.
Topics include: Contemplative Prayer, Yoga, Labyrinths, Spiritual Directors, Reiki, Desert Fathers, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Disciplines, Purpose Driven and the Emerging Church Book description at Amazon: "A revealing account of a New Age spirituality that has infiltrated much of the church today. Exposes the subtle strategies to compromise the gospel message with Eastern mystical practices cloaked under evangelical terminology and wrappings. Topics include: Contemplative Prayer, Yoga, Labyrinths, Spiritual Directors, Reiki, Desert Fathers, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Disciplines, Purpose Driven, and the Emerging Church. Some questions this book answers ... What exactly is contemplative spirituality and how is it New Age? Who are some of the major proponents of contemplative prayer and how are their teachings entering the church? Is Rick Warren s Purpose Driven paradigm promoting the contemplative prayer movement? What is wrong with Christian yoga? What is the emerging church really all about and why is it spiritually dangerous?"

(667) Evangelical Universities & Seminaries Offering Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation – Going into the Deeper Waters of Contemplative Spirituality by Lighthouse Trails, 2/9/17
Over the past decade, while most evangelical colleges, seminaries, and universities have allowed the influence of the Spiritual Formation movement into their schools to one degree or another, not all of them had gone so far as to create a Master’s Degree program in Spiritual Formation. In fact, ten years ago, there weren’t that many schools that had Spiritual Formation degree programs. But things are changing rapidly. Today, a large number of the evangelical seminaries and universities have such degree programs.

(668) Biola University Brings in Emergent Speaker for Students, as Pathway to Apostasy Continues by Lighthouse Trails, 2/28/17
On February 22nd, 2017, Biola University hosted a one-evening live recording of the renowned public radio podcast “ON BEING with Krista Tippett.�? During the event, which was free to attend to all Biola students and others, Tippett interviewed artist Enrique Martinez Celaya. Biola, a Christian university, began wandering into the contemplative/emergent camp many years ago, particularly via their Spiritual Formation program at the Talbot School of Theology, but it has now spread into other areas as well.

(669) Potentially Harmful and Dangerous Spiritual Practices (Audio) by Christ Lawson, 3/3/17
Potentially Harmful and Dangerous Spiritual Practices Warning About New Age, Holistic, Mystical/Occult Practices. Spiritual-Research-Network.com See detailed list of Potentially Harmful and Dangerous Spiritual Practices.   Watch video on Vimeo! I consider all of the ‘Potentially Harmful and Dangerous Spiritual Practices’ that I mention (and many more) to have the potential to be spiritually harmful, if not downright exceedingly dangerous. I am issuing these warnings because many New Age, holistic and mystical/occult spiritual practices we warn about include either one, two, three—or all four of the following components of the occult/psychic worldview: Mystical and supernaturalistic health related methods. Founded on occult principles. Dangerous forms of occult and mystical practices. Based on the writings and beliefs associated with either paganism, spiritism, occultism or mysticism. Furthermore, many undiscerning Christians and churchgoers are involving themselves these days with potentially dangerous and dangerous mystical/occult practices. Just because something "feels good" or can bring "healing" does not necessarily mean it is of God - even if it is found in a church or prayer setting.

(670) William Paul Young (THE SHACK AUTHOR) & His Connection with Panentheist Richard Rohr by Lois Putnam, 3/4/17
LTRP Note: The Shack movie is about to be released. Millions of Americans will go to theaters to watch the movie. Most likely, the majority of them will be church goers and proclaiming Christians since The Shack book is vetted as a Christian story. Recently, a church contacted Lighthouse Trails and ordered 300 copies of Warren B. Smith’s booklet The Shack and Its New Age Leaven. If you have family, church members, pastors, and friends who might be considering attending this movie, please pick up some copies of the booklet and pass them out. As you can see from the piece below by Lighthouse Trails author Lois Putnam, William Paul Young resonates with panentheists (God is IN all), and we know from our research that The Shack resonates with this concept too. Please do what you can to warn everyone you know. The false “Christ�? of The Shack has big plans to deceive many. If you can’t afford to buy the booklet, you can print the content from our blog; but we believe this very inexpensive booklet is a better way to go (in a published bound format, it helps give credibility to the material and the source).

(671) “Shack�? Author Paul Young States in Just-Released Book—Christ Is “In�? Every Single Human Being by Warren B. Smith, 3/10/17
YOUNG PUBLICLY ENDORSES UNIVERSAL SALVATION In his just-released book, Lies We Believe About God, best-selling author Paul Young openly describes himself as a universalist. In chapter 13, Young would have us believe it is a “lie�? to tell someone, “You need to get saved.�?1 Young asks himself the rhetorical questions, “Are you suggesting that everyone is saved? That you believe in universal salvation?�?2 He answers, “That is exactly what I am saying!�?3 Young then goes on to teach that “every single human being is in Christ�? and that “Christ is in them.�?

(672) An Appendix on the Al Mohler Situation: “The Contemplative Christian (The Christian of the Future?)�? by Ray Yungen, 3/18/17
LTRP Note: In view of our recent post on Albert Mohler who promoted the book The Benedictine Option (a book that encourages contemplative prayer practices), we are posting this article by Ray Yungen from his book A Time of Departing so readers who are unfamiliar with the contemplative prayer movement can gain better understanding. Within the evangelical world, contemplative prayer is increasingly being promoted and accepted. As a result, it is losing its esoteric aspect and is now seen by many as the wave of the future. One can’t help but notice the positive exposure it is getting in the Christian media these days. In Today’s Christian Woman, a popular and trusted Christian magazine, feature titles make the appeal to draw closer to God. The author of one such article says, “Like a growing number of evangelicals, I’ve turned to spiritual direction because I want to know God better.�?1 But without exception, every person she cites is a dedicated contemplative, one being Ruth Haley Barton, author of Invitation to Solitude and Silence. Barton was trained at the Shalem Institute (founded by panentheist Tilden Edwards); and in fact, that organization was featured in the article as a resource for the reader. However, considering the content of many statements on the Shalem Institute website, how could Shalem even be listed as a resource for Christians? 

(673) Hillsong United promotes New Age Jesus of ‘The Shack’ at Understand the Times, 3/29/17
This is an excellent article that reveals the true theology of the popular musical group Hillsong. The fact that support is shown for "The Shack" shows no biblical discernment. Sad to say many megachurches embrace both Hillsong and The Shack as a means of drawing crowds.

(674) Have You Heard the Term, “Thin Places�?? by Roger Oakland, 3/31/17
Mantra-style meditation is actually divination, where practitioners perform rituals or meditation exercises in order to go into trances and then receive information from spiritual entities. Campolo elaborates on the fruit of mysticism, an atmosphere he calls “the thin place�?: The constant repetition of his name clears my head of everything but the awareness of his presence. By driving back all other concerns, I am able to create what the ancient Celtic Christians called “the thin place.�? The thin place is that spiritual condition wherein the separation between the self and God becomes so thin that God is able to break through and envelop the soul.1 This term “thin place�? originated with Celtic spirituality (i.e., contemplative) and is in line with panentheism.

(675) Our Daily Bread (i.e., Radio Bible Class) Still on the Contemplative/Emergent Path by Lighthouse Trails, 4/1/17
It was ten years ago that Lighthouse Trails wrote its first article about Radio Bible Class ministries (now called Our Daily Bread Ministries). That article shocked many readers because Radio Bible Class is a ministry that has been around since 1938 when Dr. Martin DeHaan founded it in 1938. It has been considered a staple of Christianity with the highly popular Our Daily Bread booklets. According to one source, 10 millions copies of the booklets are published per issue in 37 languages. 1 Our Daily Bread Ministries also has two universities: Our Daily Bread Christian University and Christian University GlobalNet. There is also a publishing arm of Our Daily Bread Ministries, Discovery House, plus radio and television programs. If you add up the years, the printings, and the programs, it is safe to say that Radio Bible Class/Our Daily Bread has influenced hundreds of millions of people. We’ll get to the point. When Dr. Martin DeHaan ran the ministry until 1965, there were no signs that things were amiss. When his son Richard DeHaan took over running it until 1985, things did begin to change. But the biggest change (from a negative point of view) began to take place when grandson Mart DeHaan began running the ministry. He was replaced by his brother Rick in 2011, but sadly the emergent/contemplative focus that came in during Mart’s watch has remained today as one of our readers reminded us this month. You can read our previous articles here to get a recap on what has been taking place.

(676) Letter to the Editor: Please Add BiblicalTraining.Org to Colleges/Schools Promoting Spiritual Formation (Contemplative Prayer) at Lighthouse Trails, 4/5/17
I have been studying Bill Mounce’s “Basics of Biblical Greek�? textbook. It is an excellent course of study, but Mr. Mounce puts a plug for his website biblicaltraining.org. Though they are a Calvinist-based ministry, there are some good apologetic things and history things that I’ve looked at. I was shocked though when in their Foundations area (designed for new or young Christians) they have an entire course on Spiritual Formation. I thought it might just be a bad choice of words so I checked the syllabus. It turns out the instructor quotes Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, and references the “Nine Sacred Pathways.�? 

(677) Contemplative Spirituality Concerns Pt. 2 - Thomas Keating's Endorsement of "Kundalini Energy" - The "Serpent Power" of Hinduism (Video) from Chris Lawson, 4/9/17

(678) ‘I Have Deep Regrets’: Graphic Artist Who Designed ‘Shack’ Novel Renounces Book by Heather Clark, Christian News, 4/11/19
The graphic artist who helped design the controversial best-selling novel “The Shack�? has come forward to express his regret for being a part of the project out of his concern that it contains false doctrine. “[O]ver 10 years ago, I was captivated by the story and felt honored to be part of the graphic creation of the book. I was so drawn into it, wanting to know the God it portrayed,�? Dave Aldrich of Aldrich Design posted to social media on Tuesday. “The Shack’s story wonderfully painted this picture to me of an incredibly knowable and loving God, one full of forgiveness, but without being judgmental.�? He said that the novel led him into reading other authors such as Rob Bell and Brian McLaren, and he found himself at the edge of accepting universalist beliefs before he came to realize the danger. “I thank the Lord that He pulled me back from that edge,�? Aldrich wrote.

(679) The Cross is Barbarity & a Slaughterhouse Religion – So Says Emerging Church Leaders by Roger Oakland, 4/17/17
Some emerging church leaders do say they love the Cross, but an underlying theme is gaining momentum among them. It says Jesus’ going to the Cross was an example of sacrifice and servanthood that we should follow; but the idea that God would send His Son to a violent death for the sins of mankind—well, that is not who God is. A loving God would never do that! Such a violent act would make Christianity a “slaughterhouse religion.�?1 Liberal theologian and pastor of the Riverside Church in New York City, the late Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969), believed that the doctrine of the atonement, where “Jesus suffered as a substitute for us�? because of our sins, is a “precivilized barbarity.�?2

(680) Why One Should Not Glean From Jennifer Kennedy Dean’s Prayer Studies by Lois Putnam, 4/22/17
On a recent Sunday morning a vivacious older lady stood in front of a congregation, of what can only be termed a solid gospel preaching, mission minded church, and announced to the women that all should sign up for its newest Bible study program that would begin shortly.  Touting both Set Apart, and Living a Praying Life she stated that the author –Jennifer Kennedy Dean–was also part of the National Day of Prayer. At my seat –I was writing down the information–for I knew my immediate assignment as a discerning Christian was, as Acts 17:11 instructs, to look into Dean to see if all she’s taught and written stands up to scripture.  In short, “Should one glean or be learning from this writer Jennifer Kennedy Dean?�? So that very afternoon I began my investigation.  And it wasn’t long into my research that I found “red flags flying!�?   So what was it that made me know that Dean, and her numerous books were  something that I should not be buying into, nor following? 

(681) The New Age World Today’s Children Have Been Born Into by Berit Kjos, 4/25/17
During a flight delay in Chicago in the late nineties, I spent my time browsing the airport bookstore near my terminal. When a young woman next to me picked up a copy of Conversations With God, the first book in the popular series by Neale Donald Walsch, I had to ask, “Are you familiar with that book?�? “A friend told me I should read it,�? she answered. She then told me she was a Christian. “But it’s not about Christianity,�? I warned her. “It may sound good and use a lot of Christian words, but its message turns God’s truth upside down.�? She thanked me and put the book back. My thoughts drifted back to a Christian conference some years earlier where several publishing house editors had concluded that the “New Age movement had peaked.�? No need for more books on that topic, they said, for the faddish seductions of the “beautiful�? side of evil would soon fade away.2 They couldn’t have been further from the truth. While those early blooms of occult enticements might have peaked in interest among Christians, the seeds of deception sown during the 1960s and 1970s had already taken root in well-cultivated soil across America. Since then, the poisonous fruit disseminated through The Beatles, Napoleon Hill, Shirley MacLaine, Marianne Williamson, Hindu gurus, goddess worshippers, and countless other spiritual advocates of New Age spirituality has sprouted everywhere—in schools, churches, movie theaters, television, books, the news media, and the Internet. Syncretism, mysticism, and a subjective self-focused spirituality have become the norm.

(682) The Shack’s Universal Papa by Warren B. Smith, 4/30/17
In his book Unshackled, Pastor Larry DeBruyn describes how William P. Young’s “Papa�? bears a striking resemblance to “the name, nature, and nurturing potential�? of this Polynesian Earth goddess Papa.7 Quoting from a source on Hawaiian gods and goddesses, DeBruyn cites the references they make to the “comfort,�? “care,�? “guidance,�? and “unconditional love,�? that are given to people “in times of crisis and grief�? by this Hawaiian Papa and how her “intervention instills calming reassurance and healing.�?8 Young seems to parallel the same script as The Shack story wholly revolves around the comfort, care, guidance, and unconditional love that is given by Papa to his main character, Mack, during his time of crisis and grief—how Papa’s intervention instills calming reassurance and the ultimate healing of Mack’s “Great Sadness.�?9

(683) Letter to the Editor: AWANA Now Teaching Children to Hear the Voice of God at Lighthouse Trails, 5/2/17
LTRP Note: Today, the church is “reaping the fruit�? of nearly 40 years of Spiritual Formation influence (since Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline was released in 1978). Lighthouse Trails has warned its readers on a number of occasions about the direction AWANA children’s club is going with regard to contemplative spirituality (i.e., Spiritual Formation) (see links below). In the following letter to the editor, you can see that AWANA is now teaching children to “listen to God�? (the goal in contemplative prayer). We thought AWANA clubs was to teach children the Word of God through memorization. Since when did they take it upon themselves to teach children to listen to God voice?  If you have children or grandchildren who participate in AWANA, we strongly urge you to examine all AWANA literature and teaching tools carefully as well as discuss your concerns with your children’s AWANA leaders and make sure they understand the dangers of contemplative spirituality. The big emphasis in today’s church is, “Hear God’s Voice!�? It’s all about feel-good and mystical experiences.  What a tragedy the focus isn’t on “Know God’s Word.�? Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth�? (John 17:17).

(684) Quantum Christianity: Has the gateway to Heaven been discovered? by Albert James Dager, 5/5/17
New Agers have taken the research into quantum theory, and in particular string theory, to mean that we are all part of one big whole—a universal consciousness that is reflected in the macro world which we perceive as reality. To them, what we see and experience with our senses is not true reality; true reality is a tenuous, vibrating expression of magnetism, light and energy—a “Force�? that permeates the universe. Some Christians have taken a cue from New Age quantum spirituality to suggest that the New Agers are\ correct in many of their assessments, but that they have merely missed the mark on the spiritual reality of that “Force�? having personality—that the Force is “God.�? To New Agers, and mind-science practitioners, among others, the concept of “god�? is that of a universal “all mind,�? which encompasses everything and everyone as “god�?—a form of pantheism. The study on which we are about to embark will be found fascinating and even strange—surreal in many respects. But before we address the mystical—and  articularly the Christian mystical—beliefs associated with the quantum realm, we must take a short course in quantum theory.

(685) When a Young Girl Meets a Mystic and Is Introduced to Lectio Divina by Carolyn A. Greene, 5/8/17
LTRP Note: The following is an excerpt from Carolyn A. Greene’s novel, Castles in the Sand, the first novel published that addresses the contemplative prayer (spiritual formation) movement. In this excerpt, the young Christian Teresa [Tessa], now attending a Christian college, is in her dorm room, thinking about her new spiritual director, Ms. Jasmine, who has promised to teach her students how to enter the “inner life�? just like the mystics of the past. For Tessa, a lonely foster girl who lost her parents years earlier in a tragic accident, this talk of a better, more fulfilling life was just what she was looking for.

(686) The Blood of the Saints by Ray Yungen, 5/12/17
One of the main tenets of New Age thought is peace, goodwill, and the unity of all humanity. Remember, the Age of Aquarius is to be the Age of Oneness. In context with this idea, the New Age term cleansing is quite disturbing. A number of books make reference to those who are laggards when the New Age reaches its maturity. New Age leaders consider these resisters as eventually the only hindrance in allowing this global oneness to occur.

(687) “Shack�? Theology: Where Is the Devil? by Warren B. Smith, 5/13/17
The Shack’s author, William P. Young, quotes C.S. Lewis favorably and frequently in his books, but The Screwtape Letters by Lewis is not one of the books from which he has quoted. I bring up Lewis, not as an endorsement, but to point out a discrepancy. The Screwtape Letters is a novel that presents some of the many ways Christians can be effectively seduced and deceived by Satan and his demons—a subject that is completely ignored in The Shack and in Young’s other books. The discrepancy is that Young  chooses quotes from authors like Lewis to serve his own personal and theological agenda while conveniently ignoring writings by the same author that actually contradict his agenda. The Screwtape Letters is a perfect example.

(688) Emergent IF: Gathering Conference Coming to a Town Near You (Coming For Your Daughters and Granddaughters)! by Lighthouse Trails Editors, 5/23/17
Have you heard of the IF: Gathering? If you haven’t, you most likely will soon enough. The women’s movement started just a few years ago but is already making some big inroads into the evangelical scene. On the outer appearance, this looks like a legitimate Christian movement – the women who lead and speak at IF: Gathering are young and vibrant; they talk about Jesus, they go to church; some of them homeschool their kids—it all looks so Christian. But underneath this outer thin Christian layer lies an emergent atmosphere . . . and the target is your young evangelical daughters and granddaughters.

(689) What Your Church Needs to Know Before Doing a Priscilla Shirer Study by Lighthouse Trails, 6/3/17
This week, our office received a call from a woman who was concerned that her church is going to be doing a study using material by Priscilla Shirer. Our caller wanted to get some information she can show her pastor as to why her church should not be doing a Priscilla Shirer study. Because Priscilla Shirer is a contemplative proponent, we concur with our caller’s concerns. In John Lanagan’s booklet,  Beth Moore & Priscilla Shirer – Their History of Contemplative Prayer, Lanagan shows how both Moore and Shirer have been advocates of contemplative spirituality for quite some time. In that booklet, and this is what we want to focus on in this article, Lanagan discusses a woman named Jan Johnson. Because Priscilla Shirer embraces and has gleaned spiritually from Johnson, we need to take a closer look at what Johnson believes.

(690) William Paul Young’s Christless “Shack�? by Warren B. Smith, 6/13/17
According to William P. Young, The Shack was written to help his “mostly grown children�? understand his theology—what he believes.5 He describes what he wrote for them in The Shack as “theology wrapped in story.�?6 But what kind of “theology wrapped in story�? never names the name of Jesus Christ? What kind of Jesus is he presenting to his kids and to his millions of readers? The answer is that he is presenting “another Jesus�? who is a pantheistic, universal, Christless “Jesus.�? While the apostle Peter was commended by the Lord Jesus Christ for recognizing and openly acknowledging Him as “the�? Christ, William P. Young would not receive that same commendation. People may love The Shack, but The Shack’s “Jesus,�? is not Jesus Christ. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 1:9-11)

(691) Does Your Pastor Know That Yoga And Christianity Are Not Compatible? by Chris Lawson, 6/18/17
LTRP Note: We are hearing more and more reports about evangelical churches embracing Yoga. If your church is entertaining the idea of introducing Yoga classes to the church or if you know of a local church that is doing this, please give that pastor a copy of this booklet and ask him to reconsider. To order copies of YOGA and Christianity – Are They Compatible? in booklet form, click here. Those churches that welcome Yoga will in time be drawn in to the “new�? spirituality and away from God’s Word. This is serious, and there is no time to waste. If you cannot afford to buy a booklet for a pastor, e-mail us his name and address, and we will send it for you at no cost to you. Let’s do what we can to stop Yoga from entering so many churches. We were told a story this week about a place of business where the owners said that all employees had to begin Yoga classes in order to reduce stress. While one employee who was a Christian refused to participate, he observed that eventually two of the non-Christian employees became Hindu. Shockingly, the owners of the business were Christians.

(692) Letter to the Editor: Former New Age Follower Shares Vital Information With Her Pastors and Church Leaders at Lighthouse Trails, 6/21/17
Several years ago, I learned that our church was planning to do a labyrinth walk.  A pattern had been set up in one of the rooms, and stations were placed along the path at which to perform rituals and meditate. From my experience in the New Age prior to becoming a Christian, I knew this was something Christians should not be doing.  I found information on the Internet about the background and purpose of the labyrinth, which I presented to our pastor. Some years later, I came across Warren Smith’s book, Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose-Driven Life.  It caught my attention, as our church was studying, The Purpose-Driven Life. As I read the book, I could see that quotations used were by New Age or non-Christian people.  Also, the statement that “God is in everything and everyone�? is not true.

(693) Sad News About Charles Stanley’s In Touch Magazine by Lighthouse Trails, 6/29/17
Lighthouse Trails has watched in dismay over the past few years as Charles Stanley’s In Touch magazine has made the decision to promote contemplative/emergent names. When our editors picked up a copy of the August 2013 issue and saw a feature article written by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, we decided to call In Touch Ministries to find out who was responsible for the content in the magazine. Sadly, the response we received from the editorial department at In Touch left us with a sinking feeling that the evangelical church has been seduced and there was no turning back.

(694) Dear Ladies—Are You a Discerning One or a Deceived One? by Lois Putnam, 7/8/17
“Yet Another One—An Undiscerning Believer—Is Being Deceived!�? Not long ago a dear friend wrote me an e-mail that she titled: “Yet Another One.�?  In her note she wrote that a former pastor’s wife had just messaged many on Facebook touting “Jesus Calling.�?   Now this seasoned pastor’s wife seemed to have absolutely no clue or discernment that there were any problems with Sarah Young’s devotional Jesus Calling.  Sadly, she had never read Warren Smith’s classic critique: Another Jesus Calling.

(695) Sorceries or Salvation—Which Will It Be? by Ray Yungen, 7/10/17
Salvation is having personal faith and trust in the person and finished work (sacrifice) of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have “peace with God�? (Romans 5:1), are “forgiven�? (Ephesians 5:4), and are “reconciled�? to God (2 Corinthians 5:18) only by Him. That’s where our faith or trust is to be directed. The notion of achieving Christ consciousness (as offered in the New Age) is just not compatible with being redeemed by Christ’s precious blood. The two just don’t mix. 

(696) Shack Author Says “ I Want to Be More Like Oprah�? by Warren B. Smith, 7/15/17
Oprah Winfrey interviewed Shack author William Paul Young on July 9, 2017 on her Super Soul Sunday television program that was broadcast on her OWN network. Young and Oprah appeared to be like two peas in a New Age pod as they talked of child abuse, traded spiritual quips, and seemed to continually marvel at the other’s brilliant insights. At one point midway in their conversation, Young answered his own rhetorical question regarding where Jesus dwells—he stated that “Jesus dwells in our hearts.�? His quick, authoritative response was consistent not only with Oprah’s longstanding New Age beliefs but also with The Shack’s “Jesus�? who presented this same New Age heresy when he stated that God “dwells in, around, and through all things.�? This false teaching is the foundational teaching of the New Age/New Spirituality/New World Religion. The Bible is very clear that God is not “in�? everyone and everything.

(697) David Jeremiah: “Appreciates Sarah Young and Jesus Calling�? by Amy Spreeman, Berean Examiner, 7/16/17
Pastor David Jeremiah recently worked with JesusCalling.com to produce a podcast titled, Keeping Hope In A Darkened World. In addition to promoting his new book, the pastor also promoted Sarah Young, the author of the Jesus Calling books, studies, devotionals, calendars, and coloring book. The transcript of the interview regarding his admiration for the multi-million dollar Jesus Calling empire is as follows: Narrator: “As a pastor and a teacher, Dr. Jeremiah advocates daily prayer and scripture reading. He appreciates how Sarah Young has helped many with their prayer lives through the words of Jesus Calling.�? Dr. Jeremiah: “When I read Sarah’s work, it’s pretty obvious to me why it’s been so highly regarded and received. She makes prayer very personal. Sometimes prayer isn’t personal, sometimes prayer can be very cold and empty. Maybe that’s why a lot of people have a hard time sustaining any kind of a prayer ministry. What Sarah has done has made it possible for people to say, “I talked to God today…I communicated with my Father.�? That’s what prayer is supposed to be and she has moved the ball down the field quite aggressively in that direction.�?

(698) Letter to the Editor: Even Good Churches Being Affected by Contemplative Authors at Lighthouse Trails, 7/25/17
Dear Lighthouse Trails, I visited a church in my area for the first time today. When I looked online at the church’s doctrines before my visit, the doctrines looked very biblically sound. The church’s site clearly states that the pastor preaches from the Bible verse by verse, and he did. With all of the faithfulness to the Word of God that I observed, I was very surprised to glance at some bookshelves, which was the church library for this small church, and see one of Dallas Willard’s books on the shelf! I didn’t get a chance to look through the other books, but I wish I had now for the purposes of this letter. The pastor even attended Bob Jones University, which I know you have listed as not being contemplative. These contemplative books clearly seem to be getting into the hands of pastors and Christians everywhere. A pastor’s seminary and even an individual’s denomination doesn’t seem to dictate who is reading them. As I was thinking about my experience today and doing some research on your site, I found this list of The Top 50 “Christian�? Contemplative Books – A “NOT RECOMMENDED Reading List�? and 25 Christian “Bridgers�? to Them and am planning to share this list with the pastor from the church I visited today and others. I pray that more Christians will realize that many popular authors and teachers are leading the church toward a new, mystical spirituality and away from traditional, biblical Christianity. I pray that Christians will take heed, compare every teaching and practice of men to the Word of God, and warn others so that more know will know what is happening today within the Church.

(699) Guest Commentary on Andy Stanley’s Sermon: “Speaking the Way the First Century Christians Did�? - Guest Commentary by Don Jasmin, Fundamental Baptist Ministries, 8/4/17
Let’s truly speak like the first century Christians spoke, not like Andy Stanley and the worldly emergent Christians and the New-Evangelical imitators do today. In Acts chapter two, the Apostle Peter preached a classic sermon dealing with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ based on Ps. 16:8-11, where he spoke “freely�? about David’s decease—Acts 2:29—and Christ’s resurrection—Acts 2:30-36.

(700) Yoga - The Bare Facts by Bayith Ministries, 8/12/17
An email discussion in seven parts: (1) Introduction; (2) Basic Yoga Theory; (3) Yoga and the Brain; (4) Warnings from Yogis; (5) Western Yoga and Kundalini; (6) A Kundalini Testimony; (7) Some Conclusions. 

(701) SHACK THEOLOGY: Universalism, TBN, Oprah, and the New Age (Booklet) by William B. Smith, 8/17/17
I have written a number of short articles pertaining to The Shack and its author William P. Young. My intention has been to shed some light on the leaven of universalism that is at the heart of the book’s often errant theology. This booklet presents seven of these articles.

(702) Is Your Child or Grandchild Heading to Christian College This Fall? – 9 Things You Should Do Before He Goes by Lighthouse Trails, 8/18/17
Fall is quickly approaching, and by now, if you have a child or grandchild who is going to attend Christian college this year, he or she is most likely enrolled and ready to go. As Lighthouse Trails has reported over the last several years, the majority of evangelical/Protestant colleges, seminaries, and universities are now, to varying degrees, integrating contemplative spirituality and emerging ideologies into the lives of their students. With this in mind, you might consider doing the following nine things so that you and your child can know what to expect in that school and how to deal with it:

(703) Pressing On Through It All (Book) by Warren B. Smith, 8/19/17
Dangers of Inner Healing, Visualization, Guided Imagery and Occultism - From a teaching given the 2016 Sanctuary Conference titled, The Christianising of Occult Techniques

(704) Taizé Worship – Growing in Popularity, But Roots Are in Mystical Monasticism by Chris Lawson, 8/28/17
The worship practiced at Taizé has attracted many people from around the globe and from many different denominations. While many of the words found in Taizé worship music are words found in Scripture or words that do not necessarily contradict Scripture, the Taizé songs and worship services themselves are centered around contemplative, ecumenical, and oftentimes emergent spirituality themes. The emphasis is not on the teaching or exhortation of the Word of God but rather is to help participants “experience�? God through sensory-focused music and singing.

(705) Prairie Bible Institute: A Rose By Any Other Name OR A Deception By Any Other Name – It’s All the Same at Lighthouse Trails, 9/4/17
Lighthouse Trails has researched and reported on Prairie Bible Institute a number of times over the past several years (e.g. our article: “COLLEGE ALERT: Letters to Lighthouse Trails Prove Prairie Bible Institute (Alberta) Has Gone Emergent�?) And even though school leadership has, at times, insisted they were not contemplative or emergent, every time we have observed them, we have come to the same conclusion – that’s exactly what they are. “Christian Formation�? is just another term for Spiritual Formation or Spirituality. It is rooted in contemplative spirituality. In Prairie’s description for the Christian Formation program, it says students will: “Engage with Christians of the past that have thought deeply about Christian growth and formation�? (emphasis added). Which Christians of the past? (Or the present?) We can gain some insight into who PBI is turning to for spiritual guidance by looking at PBI’s current textbook list for 2017. These may or may not be books being used in PBI’s Christian Formation program, but they are books being used in the school. One thing we’ve learned over the years, when  a school is immersed in contemplative spirituality, it isn’t just in the Spiritual Formation program; rather, it is integrated throughout the school.

(706) The First and Final Deception by Berit Kjos, 9/9/17
We need to show our children how to be in the world but not of the world. We can be God’s ambassadors in an increasingly corrupt land, but we cannot allow its darkness to quench His light in us. We can demonstrate God’s concern for the poor, but we can’t compromise with a counterfeit social gospel and New Age solutions.

(707) Popular Books That Introduce Children to the Occult and 5 Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Kids (Booklet) by Berit Kjos, 9/10/17
God’s enemy fights as hard as ever to win the hearts and loyalties of our children—and he has added all kinds of high-tech tools to his arsenal. To resist his strategies, they first need to understand them and have in their hearts the Word of God. That’s why God told His people long ago to base all conversation on His unchanging truth and to teach His truth diligently to our children (see Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Everything we say must reflect the reality of God—His love, His omnipotence, His promises, and His warnings. To prove that our God is far greater than the plethora of alternatives that are out there, our lives must demonstrate faith in the midst of difficulties and His triumph in the midst of turmoil. This is possible, not by our own strength, but by His power and grace. Then, seeing His greatness, children learn to trust His promises.

(708) Wm. Paul Young Teaches New Age Lie About Separation on TBN by Warren B. Smith, 9/23/17
Invoking a vision that was reputedly given by God to friend and fellow author C. Baxter Kruger, Young described this alleged lie as the “lie of separation.�? But as a former New Ager, I recognized what Young was calling the “lie of separation�? was in and by itself a lie. What he was teaching had nothing to do with biblical Christianity and everything to do with the false teachings of the New Age/New Spirituality/New World view. In fact, what Young was attempting to convey to countless TBN viewers was the same thing I had been taught and was teaching when I was in the New Age—that there is “no separation�? between God and creation because God is “in�? everyone and everything.

(709) On Christian Mysticism: A Conservative Evangelical Perspective (Book) by Bruce Norman MacPherson, 10/5/17
Many Christians are "climbing over the fence" to reach intimacy with God but are in severe danger because they are entering the dark realm of mysticism. It is the wrong path and will not lead to God. It looks enticing, but stop! Don't go there! Christian mysticism is a cancer subtly invading Christianity, and it needs to be unmasked. This book is a call to a return to basic Christianity! To Christian Formation that is truly rooted in the Bible.

(710) Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up – A Woman Whose Friend Pulled Her From the Fire by Mary, 10/6/17
LTRP Note: The following story was submitted by a Lighthouse Trails reader and was written by her friend who just passed away. We are posting it as an exhortation to those who feel discouraged in trying to talk to friends, family, and church members about spiritual deception. We must pray to the Lord for courage and never think it’s better to remain silent when someone we know is heading in the wrong direction spiritually. Had it not been for an “outspoken�? friend, Mary might not be with the Lord today.

(711) Meditation’s Role in the End of the Age by Ray Yungen, 10/10/17
Throughout my Christian life I have periodically heard fellow Christians suggest we are in the last days. Often these comments were initiated from current cases of violent crimes, sexual perversions, war, or natural disasters. Since I knew history had repeatedly encountered these calamities, such predictions of Christ’s imminent return rang hollow. 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.

(712) The Impact of Practical Mystics versus Cults by Ray Yungen, 10/14/17
Evangelical scholar David L. Smith correctly assessed the powerful, yet subtle, impact New Age spirituality is having on society when he made the following observations: Not since Gnosticism at the dawn of the Christian era has there arisen a philosophy as pervasive and threatening to orthodox Christianity as the New Age movement . . . It would be difficult to find any area of life, which has not been touched or redirected to some degree by the concepts of this movement.1 Smith recognizes that, rather than just a small segment, the overall social fabric of society is being impacted. This movement has clearly evolved well past the subculture stage into something much more dynamic and sophisticated. This stunning change has been brought about by the rise of a new breed of mystic—one that presents mysticism as a complement to secular goals and one that is adept at easing the public’s natural impulse to reject the strange and unfamiliar. 

(713) Revealing Quotes by Influential Contemplatives at Lighthouse Trails, 10/15/17
These revealing quotes are from well-known figures who have significantly influenced the religious landscape in today’s culture. Sadly, they have helped to mislead millions with their promotion of contemplative prayer (a mystical, panentheistic-rooted practice).

(714) Lighthouse Trails Sends Out 6th Letter to 160 Christian Leaders by Lighthouse Trails, 10/24/17
On October 23rd, Lighthouse Trails sent out the 6th letter plus two booklets to 160 influential Christian leaders in the evangelical camp. We began mailing out short letters and Lighthouse Trails booklets in February 2016 to a list that started with 100 names. To learn more about this project, click here to read the first letter we sent out. To see our current list in PDF, click here. Not all the names in the list are those in deception. This list has a variety of persuasions within the evangelical camp. We are compelled to send each of these people specific information on various important issues that are basically not being addressed in the church today. If you have a name and mailing address of an influential pastor, author, or leader whom you would like us to add to our list, you can e-mail that to editors@lighthousetrails.com and we will include him or her on the next mailing. We must have a good mailing address (only U.S. addresses at this time) to add a name to the list. If you print the leaders list, please consider praying that some of these individuals may understand the urgency of our warning.

(715) On Meditation: What it is. . .by W.H. Griffith-Thomas, 10/31/17
In light of the contemplative spiritual movement’s influence over evangelicalism among its publishers, educational institutions, churches and pastors, this writing by Dr. Griffith-Thomas is reproduced. From Scripture he informs seekers about what meditation is. In discussion about contemplative spiritually many of us have warned, and justifiably so, about the dangers of meditation and what contemplation is not. Yet in this chapter titled “Meditation�? written a century ago, Thomas in his book Grace and Power reminds seeking readers about what Godly meditation is. Read this and be blessed! 

(716) “God’s Dream�? – From the “Jesus�? of Jesus Calling – A Deceptive Scheme by Warren B. Smith, 11/2/17
Consistent with many other New Age implications contained in her channeled messages, Sarah Young’s “Jesus�? introduces the New Age idea of “God’s Dream�? in Jesus Calling when he states: I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach.1 In Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids, the January 6th message/devotion is titled—and has “Jesus�? telling the children—“Dare to Dream My Dream.�?2

(717) Labyrinths Have Found Their Place in the Christian Church by Lighthouse Trails, 11/5/17
We received the top two photos this week from a reader. Below that are photos of various labyrinths in churches across North America. We have posted these, not to single out these particular churches, but rather to show examples of how many denominations have now incorporated the contemplative mystical practice of walking the labyrinth. And this is only showing some of the churches that have labyrinths on site. There are countless churches, ministries, and denominations that may not necessarily have labyrinths on site, but pastors and leaders encourage their congregations or followers to use them (e.g., the Reformed Church of America), or they encourage their congregations to visit retreat centers that have them.  Carl Teichrib has written an excellent article/booklet on labyrinths that is worth the read.

(718) What You Need to Tell Your Local Public School Officials About Children and Mindfulness Meditation by Lighthouse Trails, 11/15/17
Today we received a call from a concerned woman who found out that a local public school was about to introduce mindfulness meditation to children at the school. She called the school and has been granted a 5-minute time slot at an upcoming school meeting to explain why the school should not teach mindfulness meditation to children. During our phone conversation with the concerned woman, we developed a short outline of how to address this issue with school officials. Meditation (and Yoga) will soon be practiced in most public schools in America. Whether you have children at a public school or not, do what you can to help prevent your own local public school from incorporating meditation into the lives of the children. And keep in mind, it’s just a matter of time before Christian schools will be introducing mindfulness meditation and Yoga as well. We know this because the condition of today’s North American Christianity is of such a nature that Christians are being persuaded to go along with the culture; and, of course, with contemplative meditation so prevalent in the church, Christians are being conditioned to accept all forms of New Age meditation.

(719) Reiki in the Church! – Is Disciples of Christ An Indicator of Things to Come for the Evangelical Church? by Lighthouse Trails, 11/17/17
The denomination, Disciples of Christ (aka The Christian Church or The Disciples) is a mainstream evangelical group that has ties with the World Council of Churches and is known for its ecumenical efforts. But even though one would expect to find a liberal, emerging viewpoint within the denomination, it came as a surprise to us to learn that the group has some strong ties to the occultic practice called Reiki, which is a form of  New Age “energy healing.�? Is this connection to Reiki an indicator of what is to come for the evangelical church?

(720) Mysticism Takes the Place of Christianity – Hostility Against Believers Will Grow by Lighthouse Trails, 12/2/17
This week, two items on the Internet were brought to our attention, both of which may seem to be unrelated to each other but in actuality have a connection that we find to be an eerie reminder of the days in which we live. The first item is a Tweet written earlier this week by Lynne Hybels (wife of the mega church founder of Willow Creek, Bill Hybels). The Tweet stated: 25 yrs ago I lost the Christianity of my youth. Found a deeper faith embracing silence, centering prayer, doubt, mystery, Jesus. Recognized my own deep brokenness & moved toward the brokenness of the world. 25 yrs later, the world’s overwhelming pain pushes me again into silence. As many of you may know, Lynne Hybels is part of the emergent church and someone who has proven herself to be against the nation of Israel. If someone were to ask us what are two of the main characteristics of the emerging church, we would say mysticism and an anti-Israel sentiment. 

(721) Theology to Justify Abortion by Pastor Jim Jenkins, 12/3/17
The occasion for my controversial remarks to a group of pastors happened shortly after the grand opening of the new Planned Parenthood facility in Eugene, Oregon. The mayor (the former head of the local Planned Parenthood organization) had been effusive in her praise of the work of Planned Parenthood. The ceremony was replete with all the trappings one might expect at the opening of a hospital or new school. So a few days later, when I was attending the monthly meeting of the district pastors in the denomination I served for over thirty years, I brought up the very troubling article that was featured in the Register Guard newspaper titled “Local Clergy Persons Christen New Planned Parenthood facility.�?[3] There was a picture of joined hands obviously belonging to clergy bedecked in clerical robes and, yes, they did in fact have some form of liturgical rite to “bless the ground�? of a building that would be used to facilitate termination of babies. When I voiced my concern to my fellow pastors about “christening�?an abortion facility, nearly every one of them began to squirm and divert their eyes from me. The message was clear. “Don’t go there… Let’s talk about something else.�? I then described what actually takes place in late term abortions, and not a few of my colleagues gave a look that said, “It’s inappropriate and I am offended that you would bring this up.�?

(722) New Age Jesus Calling "Messages" Received via Sarah Young's Contemplative Prayer Method - This is Identical to Passive, Telepathic-Psychic Literary Mediumship! by Chris Lawson, 12/16/17
This eleven part audio series by Chris Lawson is being broadcast from Atascadero, California on Radio Refuge throughout the months of November and December.  Each episode is ten minutes in length and includes a short content overlap to assist new listeners. This message is also available under the title Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling Messages Compared to Spirit Channeled Messages  Note for Jesus Calling devotional readers: This series includes direct quotes from Jesus Calling author Sarah Young, from her personal interviews with news correspondents, which are then compared to definitions from The Donning International Encyclopedic Psychic Dictionary (June G. Bletzer, Ph.D.).

(723) It's Christmas! “Harry Potter�? Visits “The Shack�? at Herescope, 12/20/17
Looks like the concept of “god�? in the book and movie The Shack is spreading.[1] Fiction and fantasy have merged. J.K. Rowling, author of the occult Harry Potter series of books, popular reading among even many Christians, has announced that like The Shack, she believes “God is a Black Woman.�?[2]  (Rowling’s declaration, as well as The Shack‘s fiction, reminds me of The Black Madonna.)[3] Both Rowling and Wm. Paul Young write from a worldview where almost anything or anyone, even God, can be imagined to be whatever mythmakers want or need her/him/them to be; kind of like Christmas, upon a whim, when we wish upon a star, Christ can become Claus. From Disneyworld to Star Wars, magic creates myths.

(724) Letter to the Editor: Removed Children From 4-H After Flyer Arrives Announcing Mindfulness for 4-H by Lighthouse Trails, 1/18/18
“The more you practice mindfulness, the easier it will be to be mindful when you are in a stressful situation.�? – 4-H club flyer, 2018 (Kentucky) Dear Lighthouse Trails: Recently, we took our young children out of 4 -H and not too soon!! I have attached the flyer that came out this weekend to every family here [Kentucky] involved in 4-H. Keep in mind that this is elementary age children! In case it didn’t come through, it’s an entire flyer telling/teaching the children how to practice “mindfulness “ . . .

(725) Contemplative Prayer or the Holy Spirit – It Can’t Be Both by Ray Yungen, 1/19/18
Sue Monk Kidd (author of The Secret Life of Bees) became enamored with contemplative spirituality while attending a Southern Baptist church. We could possibly dismiss that and say she was just an untaught member of the laity who was spiritually lacking in discernment. Maybe her spiritual dryness was a result of her not being grounded firmly enough in the faith. But what about the leaders and pastors whom so many look up to and who are considered trusted individuals in the church? Surely they are able to discern what is spiritually unsound. It seems safe to make this assumption. Right? Unfortunately, this is no longer the case.

(726) Letter to Editor: Pastor Studying at Christian College in Maine Discouraged by Lack of Discernment at Lighthouse Trails, 1/23/18
Note to Lighthouse Trails: As a pastor, I decided to go back to seminary for some extra courses that were offered at a Christian college in Maine as the price was right. I shortly noticed very real problems when one course was using a book authored by a Catholic apologist (unsaved), and this was the only book that was to be used. There was no response when I brought up the issue. The second course was on theology, who’s teacher apparently had Masters degrees in many areas of religion but had no knowledge of contemplative spirituality or anything else going on in the churches today. When I approached him to warn him of his using material by several of these authors (e.g., Brian McLaren, Andy Stanley) etc., he brushed me off as a simple laymen pastor who knows nothing. Sad to think of how far back this country has fallen, but even more sad at the lack of discernment in our seminaries and our churches.

(727) Moody Publishers in 1995 Drops “The Light That Was Dark�? by Warren B. Smith – Says New Age Not An Issue Anymore by Lighthouse Rails, 2/11/18
In 1992, Moody Publishers published Warren B. Smith’s autobiography, The Light That Was Dark. The book chronicled Warren’s years in the New Age movement and then he and his wife (Joy) becoming believers in Jesus Christ. While The Light That Was Dark was selling well amidst Warren being interviewed on over 250 radio and television shows (interestingly only one by Moody), three years after the book was released, Moody pulled the book off the market telling Warren that the New Age was not an issue any longer.* That was 27 years ago. Fast forward to today – and where is Moody Publishers and the church at large in relation to the New Age movement that Moody said was no longer an issue that needed to be addressed in the church?

(728) Bad News for Gaither Followers – Gloria Gaither Praises New Age Teachers Sue Monk Kidd and Richard Rohr by Lighthouse Trails, 2/17/18
Gloria Gaither is the author of many influential songs including “There’s Something About That Name.�? She writes glowing reviews of the two books listed below. One by Richard Rohr, a Roman Catholic priest and the other by Sue Monk Kidd who believes herself to be a goddess. These book reviews are from Bill & Gloria Gaither’s Homecoming Magazine website.

(729) Would Jesus Magnify His Presence Above His Word? by Warren B. Smith, 2/20/18
In Jesus Calling, “Jesus�? promotes the experience of his presence above God’s Word. Psalm 138:2 tells us: I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (emphasis added) Because God has magnified His Word above His name, this lets us know we will never experience His presence in any way that is not totally consistent with the truth of His Word. 

(730) Exposing the Quantum Lie – God is NOT in Everyone! at Lighthouse Trails, 2/22/18
Four 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. This profound, insightful, and biblical material is absolutely vital to understanding what is happening in the church today. You can get the entire 4 lectures at the Lighthouse Trails store. It’s on sale now too and contains about 4 hours of lecture material by Smith and DeWaay.

(731) Many Just Now Learning About the Dangers of Spiritual Formation by Lighthouse Trails Editors, 3/16/18
Today, our office received a phone call from a woman who had signed up through her church (with her husband) to take a college course from a local Christian seminary. The course is being held at her church and is on Spiritual Formation. The woman said she was unfamiliar with what Spiritual Formation was when she started the course, but from the pastor’s description of what the course would be about, it sounded like a good thing. However, as she began reading the required textbooks (by Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, and Eugene Peterson), she grew increasingly uncomfortable and concerned. A search on the Internet for some of the terms and ideas being used led her to Lighthouse Trails.

(732) “Father of the New Age Movement�? – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin – on List of “40 Influential Christian Books�? by Lighthouse Trails, 3/19/18
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, often called the “Father of the New Age movement,�? is on a list of “40 influential Christian books�? on two popular Christian news sites, The Christian Post and The Christian Examiner. The article, which provides the list, states: Every thoughtful Christian can probably appreciate these 40 volumes in the journey to grow into a deeper understanding of life and existence through the Bible. . . . These books have influenced countless Christians across vast periods of time. Along with Chardin’s name are other New Age/panentheist-promoting names such as Brennan Manning, Matthew Fox, Henri Nouwen, and Pope Francis.* Any discerning “thoughtful Christian�? will understand the implications of Chardin’s and these other names being on a list that purports to represent Christianity and influence “countless Christians.�?

(733) Emergent Eschatology: The Road to Paradise Imagined by Bob DeWaay, 4/6/18
After publishing my book1 about the Emergent Church, I attended an Emergent conference in Chicago, where Dr. Moltmann spoke to his dedicated following—250 Emergent leaders. One such follower, Danielle Shroyer, had published a book about his theology, describing it as "neo-Hegelian, panentheistic, universalism."2 The front cover of the book contains an endorsement by Moltmann. Interacting with various Emergent leaders confirmed how foundational Moltmann's theology and its unique eschatology is to their movement.  By attending that conference and hearing Moltmann in person I verified what is contained in this chapter. He did teach universalism. He does teach a cosmic reconciliation of all things to God without a future, cataclysmic judgment. As I show in the following research, G. W. F. Hegel's philosophy includes the idea that all contradictions must synthesize into a progressively better world. Those who follow this idealistic philosophy claim that it is not necessary to choose between theism and atheism because the synthetic reconciliation will happen no matter what. They believe it is built into the very being of the cosmos. We can either help it along or hinder it, but it will happen.

(734) Understanding Paul’s Appeal at Mars Hill – And How the Emerging Interpretation Really Got it Wrong by Mike Oppenheimer, 4/14/18
Editors Note: Today, it is common to hear the argument that since Paul quoted pagan poets in Acts 17, it’s OK for Christians to quote those who teach false doctrine. Adherents of the emerging church and contemplative spirituality have basically turned Acts 17 into a license for a free-for-all kind of “I can quote anybody I like, because Paul did�? attitude. In this article/booklet, Mike Oppenheimer takes a close look at this section of Scripture to see if this is really the example Paul was setting and also shows, on the grander scale, the outcome of practices where the Gospel is being diffused and Christianity is being absorbed into the beliefs of a particular culture.

(735) The Conscious Discipline Program’s Link to A Course in Miracles and Mindful Meditation by Lois Putnam, 4/15/18
Conscious Discipline, the creation of Dr. Becky A. Bailey, is a program used in hundreds of educational settings the world over–Head Start, private schools, day cares, Montessori schools, Christian schools, public schools and more. This discipline program loudly touts its shift from a reliance on “fear to love,�? and from “punishing to teaching.�? Shockingly, this seemingly wonderful program is filled with principles and teachings directly out of the New Age “Bible�? — A Course in Miracles! 

(736) Oneness vs. Separation Heresy “Now�? in the Church (Bookelt) by Warren B. Smith, 4/23/18
On the March 12, 2017 episode 5 of Trinity Broadcast Network’s long running Restoring The Shack television series, Shack author Wm. Paul Young stated that it is a “lie�? to believe that God is “separate�? from His creation.2 Invoking a vision that was reputedly given by “God�? to friend and fellow author C. Baxter Kruger, Young described this alleged lie as the “lie of separation.�? But as a former New Ager, I recognized what Young was calling the “lie of separation�? was in and of itself a lie. What he was teaching had nothing to do with biblical Christianity and everything to do with the deceptive anti-christ teachings of the New Age/New Spirituality/New Worldview. What Young was attempting to convey to countless TBN viewers was the same thing I had been taught when I was a part of the New Age movement—that there is “no separation�? between God and creation because God is “in�? everyone and everything. But God is not “in�? everyone and everything.3

(737) About the Occult concepts and practices in the church by Mike Oppenheimer, 4/28/18
Both Helena Blavatsky and Alice Baily spoke of a universal church, a church that would come under the masters teachings and practices at the end of the 20th century, This would be done through the disciples who are following these (ascended) masters. “towards the close of this century … This Church will be nurtured into activity by the Christ and His disciples when the outpouring of the Christ principle, the TRUE second Coming has been accomplished�? (Alice Bailey, The Externalization of the Hierarchy, Lucis Publishing. p. 69.) The Jesus of this counterfeit spirituality, a universal church is one of the masters, he as an enlightenened soul became god like all the masters. He teaches others to become masters. Anyone who supports this concept shows they have a flawed view of God, they have a complete misunderstanding of the eternal one, the creator. How do you worship God in truth if you believe that you are gods too? Scripture tells us man is NOT God.

(738) Letter to the Editor: Yoga/Qi Gong Meditation Practices Took Her Away From Christ by Vanessa, 4/30/18
After 1-2 years of practicing “chair yoga,�? attempts at meditation (it didn’t work for me), and a Chinese practice called qi gong . . . I completely turned my back on ANY Christian ways I might have had! I quit Bible reading, study, most praying; my Christian life just disappeared. These two life views CANNOT be done together—either you’re a New Ager involved in stuff like this or a Christian; you cannot be both . . . I should know (having gone through this before). Recently, I disavowed my Yoga/qi gong practices and “went home�? to be a sheep in HIS Pasture . . . My spirit is at peace again. Yoga/qi gong takes OVER your mind, body and spirit.

(739) Jesus Calling, Contemplative Prayer, the New Age, and Psalm 46:10 by Warren B. Smith, 5/17/18
Countless references to meditating, being quiet, being still, relaxing, resting, letting go, and reciting Psalm 46:10 are found throughout God Calling and Jesus Calling. They are all suggested ways of entering into “the silence�? to experience God’s presence. The New Age/New Spirituality likewise places great emphasis on these same ways of entering the silence in order to experience God’s presence. The reason so much emphasis has been put on stillness and invoking Psalm 46:10 in the New Age/New Spirituality is because stillness has provided a “channel�? for supernatural communication. What I came to realize years ago was that the silence allowed deceptive spirits to establish contact with those of us who were naïve and undiscerning “listeners.�? The conditions of stillness, openness, and receptivity were ideal for deceptive spirits to inject ungodly thoughts and understandings into our minds. And now the same thing is going on in the church which sees no need to test the spirits.

(740) Why Jesus Is No Longer the Only Way for Many American Christians at Understand the Times, 5/23/18
Comment from UTT: This article indicates that the trend being promoted by the emerging church that Jesus Christ is not the only way for salvation is being widely accepted by those who call themselves Christian. Without question, this is the apostasy the Bible foretold would happen in the last days.

(741) They Call It “Bibliolatry�? (Bible Worship) – But Could it Be a Contemplative Smoke Screen? by Lighthouse Trails, 5/30/18
In an article titled “How Evangelicals Became Over-Committed to the Bible and What Can Be Done About It,�? Biola University professor J.P. Moreland says that evangelical Christians are too committed to the Bible.

(742) The pantheistic revelation of the new age movement by Mike Oppenheimer, 6/20/18
Throughout history people using all kinds of means have had perception change, call it a paradigm shift or a revelation. They see everything as one, the oneness of life invades their thinking it is a very powerful paradigm.“This universal "I" includes not only every person, but also every thing (e.g., soil, wooden boards, raindrops). As one NDEr puts it, "we are all part of one big, living universe.... I look at a forest or a flower or a bird now, and say, 'That is me, part of me. ("Raymond moody a nd Paul Perry The light beyond p.42) “I walked out into the field out into the meadow and the hayland, where the hay had been freshly  cut climbed up upon a sack of hay lying there flat on my back dreaming. Watching the wildlife, the swan, the Cranes, the Geese, the Ducks all winding their way to the northland, to their home breeding ground.  And I remember the thought came to me what guides those birds back to the same place that their parents had deposited the eggs from they came. What is it that will cause them in the fall to come back to the Wintry quarters? “There was a question in my mind. Has man lost something that the birds have? From that moment on I began to think and feel and endeavor to interpret the meaning of nature. It became a part of me I began to realize that I was a product of nature. Not something … setting aside on the mountain the high spot to judge the rest of the animals on the earth. “For I too was product of nature perhaps no better than the old cow on the hillside. Being a product of nature it behooved me to cooperate with nature.�? (audio of Shaklee's leader banquet Minneapolis in 1971).

(743) Who Were the Desert Fathers? (Video) by Jacob Prasch, 6/22/18

(744) From the New Age to Amazing Grace by Warren B. Smith, 6/24/18
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. But at the height of our involvement with the Course, the Lord intervened.

(745) MINDFULNESS—What You May Not Know and Should Have Been Told (Booklet) by Lighthouse Trails, 7/12/18
Currently, “mindfulness�? is being introduced to tens of thousands of public schools across America. One group alone, Healthy Schools Program, which includes mindfulness as part of its program, is in over 30,000 public schools (that’s about one third of all public schools in America).1 Programs such as Healthy Schools* claim that children behave better and think more clearly when they incorporate mindfulness exercises into their school regime. Researcher and author Ray Yungen states: In recent years, a type of meditation known as mindfulness has made a surprising showing. Based on current trends, it has the potential to eclipse even Yoga in popularity. You will now find it everywhere that people are seeking therapeutic approaches to ailments or disorders. . . it is presented as something to cure society’s ills.2 School administrators, principals, teachers, and other school officials are being told that mindfulness is safe, is not religious, and is not the same as eastern or Buddhist meditation. This booklet will examine several aspects of mindfulness and will help to show why mindfulness meditation should not be brought into the schools and taught to children.

(746) Jesus Calling Devotional Bible by Sarah Young - Reviewed by Warren B. Smith, 7/14/18
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and the true Jesus does not contradict Himself regarding His last words before ascending into heaven or any other matter. Nor does He put forth untrue, disparaging remarks about Abraham and Isaac. While it is not the purpose of this article to catalog all the concerns that arise when reading Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling Devotional Bible, these two examples alone should be enough to keep any sincere believer far away from the Jesus Calling Devotional Bible.

(747) “GOD’S DREAM�?—Satan’s Ultimate Scheme (Booklet) by Warren B. Smith, 7/17/18
Google the term “God’s Dream,�? and you will immediately find countless references on Christian websites to this popular spiritual term. An ever-increasing number of Christian authors, pastors, youth leaders, evangelists, bloggers, musicians, and everyday believers are using the term “God’s Dream�? as if it has some sound scriptural basis. It doesn’t. Keep looking, and you will find that the concept of “God’s Dream�? is also presented by a wide variety of New Age leaders, authors, gurus, bloggers, and false Christs. Most Christians using the concept of “God’s Dream�? are unaware it is an overlapping New Age term that can be traced at least as far back as the early 1900s where it was referenced in two New Age magazines published for those interested in the occult teachings of Theosophy and the coming of a false Christ named Maitreya. “God’s Dream�? was the title of a poem that prefaced an article about practical theosophy in a 1904 issue of New Century Path magazine.�?1 “God’s Dream�? also appeared in an article about reincarnation in a 1916 issue of The Theosophical Path magazine.

(748) Taizé—A Community and Worship: Ecumenical Reconciliation or an Interfaith Delusion? (Book) by Chris Lawson, 7/23/18
Over 100,000 young people visit Taizé Community in France every year. Many of them are from Christian homes.  What's more, an increasing number of churches are introducing Taizé worship practices in their church services. Just what exactly is Taizé? Chris Lawson uncovers the truth about this interfaith community.

(749) Is the “Emerging Church�? a Thing of the Past? by Roger Oakland, 8/3/18
Recently, I read a Facebook post by a southern California pastor that the “emerging church�? was no longer a problem for him or his church. He stated that the emerging church was just another passing fad that had come and then disappeared never to be heard of again. His church was going to focus on what was positive and insinuated that “hyper-discernment ministries�? were scaring his sheep into believing they were living in the last days and that apostasy was rampant. The comments by this pastor are not uncommon. In fact, fewer and fewer shepherds today are warning the sheep in their flocks of the dangers lurking not only outside the fold but also within the fold. A good shepherd must keep watch over his flock as many wolves are lurking around seeking whom they may devour. Ignoring these dangers does not make the problems go away. Sheep can easily be misled by false unbiblical teachings that are like a grain of arsenic in a milk shake. The milk shake may look and taste good but the grain of arsenic will be enough to kill someone.

(750) Dispelling the Rumor That God Can Be Found “Only in the Silence�? by Lynn Lusby Pratt, 8/9/18
LTRP Note: From Beth Moore to Chuck Swindoll to Dallas Willard, Christian leaders are telling us we can’t really know God without the silence (stilling the mind). But is this really a biblical mandate?

(751) Jesus Movement of 70s Not Same as Emerging Church Today by Rita, 8/27/18
Do you remember “the Jesus Movement�? of the late 60s and early 70s? The Lord brought to my mind something, and I thought I would share. I don’t know what was taking place where you lived in that era, however, where I lived, kids were bringing God’s Word with them to school. God’s Word was vitally important to them during that time. I am quite sure you realize that this new movement [the emerging church] does not emphasize God’s Word and, in fact, encourages reading nearly everything BUT God’s Word. I was just amazed at the difference between the two movements!

(752) Catholic Mysticism and the Emerging Church (Audio) by Richard Bennett, 8/28/18
Catholic mysticism has helped mightily to transform the New Age Movement from being counter-culture to being embraced by Evangelicals, and Western civilization as such. Catholic mysticism has affected almost every facet of life without being noticed or perceived.

(753) Welcome to the New (Contemplative) Christianity – Just Breath In . . . Breath Out by Lighthouse Trails, 9/13/18
The acceptance of contemplative prayer has hit an all-time high in the church. And is it any wonder? Christian media, Christian publishers, pastors, mission societies, Bible societies, authors, radio hosts, youth leaders, women’s group leaders, and Christian ministry leaders are all promoting it more than ever.  The video below that was posted on Charisma Magazine’s website on September 10th is yet another example of how Christian media (Charisma being one of the most popular Christian magazines today) is doing their part to get masses of Christians  involved with contemplative prayer (remember our recent article on YWAM’s goal to get all YWAMer’s doing contemplative prayer).

(754) Popular Christian Magazine – RELEVANT – Tells Millennials to Practice Breath Prayers and Mindfulness Meditation at Lighthouse Trails, 9/17/18
A summer 2018 Relevant Magazine article titled “Why Learning to Breathe May Be the Best Way to Pray,�?  tells readers that, "Breath prayer [are] an ancient Christian prayer practice with origins in the lives of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, is a vehicle we can use to live out Scripture’s call to “pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) . . .  Breath prayer offers stressed-out Christians a simple way to respond to stress by turning our attention to the presence of God and reaching out to Him for grace." Relevant Magazine* is listed on the Lighthouse Trails “50 Top Contemplative-Promoting Organizations�? and has a long history of promoting contemplative prayer.

(755) Some Thoughts Worth Considering on "Pub Theology" by Larry DeBruyn, 9/25/18
First, Pub Theology is not church. If it is, then where’s the reading of Scripture, the apostles’ teaching, prayer and observance of the Lord’s Table? (Acts 2:42) But on this point, we can be certain that the band will avoid any impression of being too “churchly or preachy.�? But beer steins are no substitute for communion cups. In fact, to the true church, the apostle Peter announced that, “the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries�? (1 Peter 4:3). Second, Pub Theology is not theology. Reportedly, the band’s opening song was Joan Osborne’s one-hit wonder, “What if God was one of us?�? The lyrics add, “Just a slob like one of us.�?[2] Imagine . . . God being a slob like the rest of the inebriated crowd at the bar. Given such a humanizing of God, what we’re dealing with is not Pub Theology, but pub idolatry. “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things�? (Romans 1:23). Do you think Joan Osborne’s lyrical questions in any way resemble or affirm the great Christological passages of the New Testament? (John 1:1 ff.; Colossians 1:15-17; Philippians 2:5-11). By the way, these cited passages are comprised of theological statements extracted from early Christian hymns. Would the pub theology band sing them? I’d think they’d estimate that the lyrics of these biblical hymns are far too dogmatic, stodgy, and preachy for the “boys�? at the bar! Third, Pub Theology is not Christian outreach. To attain a “spiritual�? end, it employs carnal, fleshly, and worldly means. But the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord�? (Ephesians 5:18-19). If the song “What if God was one of us?�? gives any indication, probably none of the other music the band plays includes “psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.�?

(756) Warning: Hymary.org (Via Calvin College) Tainting Old Hymn With Contemplative Advice by Lighthouse Trails, 9/30/18
Lighthouse Trails has known for several years that Calvin College is a contemplative-promoting institution, but it looks like that influence has seeped into a ministry of Calvin College, Hymnary.org, an online resource that provides the lyrics and information for thousands of hymns. A Lighthouse Trails reader brought to our attention this week that on the hymn page for a hymn written in 1862 by Joseph H. Gilmore, Hymnary.org wrote an introduction paragraph on Lectio Divina. While there is nothing in Gilmore’s hymn, He Leadeth Me, or in his biographical information, to suggest that this hymn has anything to do with contemplative prayer or that Gilmore wanted the words of the hymn repeated over and over for the intent of getting singers of the hymn to enter some sort meditative state, Calvin College and Hymnary.org have taken the liberty of tying the hymn to the contemplative practice of Lectio Divina. On the “Leaders Notes�? on the He Leadeth Me page at Hymnary.org, it states: Lectio Devina (sic) is a common devotional practice in which one spends a significant amount of time reflecting and meditating on one verse of Scripture, or a short passage. It is amazing what the Holy Spirit can say to us when we take time to listen and ponder, but also, like Gilmore, what we hear when we least expect it, such as when we read through as familiar a passage as Psalm 23.

(757) The Emergent Church’s War on the Word by Gregory Reid, 10/1/18
It was, of course, inevitable that the Emergent Church would begin to have babies that were even more unbiblical than itself. Andy Stanley is one of those spiritual offspring of a departure from biblical faith and adoption by experiential religious deception. In 2016, he told a group of pastors at the Southern Baptist Convention that they needed to get the spotlight off the Bible (August 2016 “Onward�? conference). Now his spiritual “children�? are following suit.

(758) “Together 2018�? – “A New Jesus Movement�? for a Mystical All-Inclusive “Christianity�? by Lighthouse Trails, 10/18/18
Nick Hall’s Together event is back again (October 20-21), this year as Together 2018 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas (which can hold around 1/2 million people). On the event’s Facebook page, it reads: Love Matt Chandler? See him and many more for free on October 20-21 as we bring the nation together for an event that we believe will spark another Jesus movement!! Join us for this FREE EVENT at Texas Motor Speedway in Dallas-Fort Worth as we #MoveCloser to Jesus and the world around us! Visit togethergeneration.com to learn more! On the promotional video (near the 26-second mark) on the Facebook page, it calls this effort “a new Jesus movement�? (obviously referring to the Jesus movement of the 1970s). On the promotional video below, it lists the line up of speakers and musicians which includes a conglomeration of popular evangelical and charismatic celebrities including Bethel Music from Bill Johnson’s extreme charismatic, contemplative Bethel Church, Jesus Culture (an offshoot of Bethel Church), Hillsong, Francis Chan (who recently said God was going to kill those who criticize Christian leaders), Priscilla Shirer (a long-time strong advocate for contemplative prayer), her father Tony Evans, Ravi Zacharias (who will share a platform with “anyone�? in order to share “his�? message), and Loren Cunningham (founder of YWAM, which recently announced it wanted “all�? YWAMers to practice contemplative prayer).

(759) Letter to the Editor: My Former Baptist Pastor Went From Spiritual Formation Into the Orthodox Church by Lighthouse Trails, 10/20/18
Yesterday, I was reading 1 Corinthians 1 and 2, where Paul is writing about the wisdom of God versus the wisdom of the world. I was reminded of our former Baptist pastor in the early ’80s who was highly intellectual, which attracted a lot of people from academia in our college town. (Although that wasn’t the attraction for my husband and I; we are those who Paul would call “not wise after the flesh.�?) He eventually took a pastorate in another state in the mid-’80s and moved away. Since he came to mind while reading 1 Corinthians, I wondered how he was doing these days and looked him up. I was shocked, dismayed, and heartbroken to learn that he is now an Orthodox priest! How could one be a Baptist pastor for 38 years and then turn to Orthodoxy? . . . I remember he highly respected Bible scholars of “higher criticism.�? It seems that he eventually got discouraged and disillusioned and (by 2000) left his Baptist church to do some soul searching. And this is where he absolutely took a wrong turn. Instead of turning to Scripture and studying God’s Word for answers, he began delving deep into “church�? history. This took him further down the road to the Ancient Fathers and the more he read, the more he was convinced that the true church was in Orthodoxy. By February 2007, he was ordained a priest in the Orthodox church.

(760) Roma Downey Promotes New Age Doctrine (God “In�? Everyone & Everything)—Christian Leaders Say Nothing by Lighthouse Trails, 11/2/18
Proclaim 19: First she’s there; now she’s gone, or is she? New Age sympathizer Roma Downey was scheduled to speak at the National Religious Broadcaster’s 2019 convention, Proclaim 19. Sharing the docket with her are highly popular evangelical names like John MacArthur, Rick Warren, Greg Laurie, and Kirk Cameron. Lighthouse Trails reported on the story with the release of Greg Reid’s booklet, Butterfly Illusions (which unveils the strong New Age messages in Roma Downey’s new book, Box of Butterflies). Shortly after the release of the booklet, Lighthouse Trails learned that Roma Downey’s name (along with her husband Mark Burnett) had been removed from the speakers list for Proclaim 19. Calls to the NRB office in Washington, DC by Lighthouse Trails editors provided no answers as to why Downey’s name was gone other than being told “it has not yet been decided�? if she will be speaking there.

(761) Note and Photos to the Editor: Roma Downey Says Oprah Winfrey on Fire With the Holy Spirit at Lighthouse Trails, 11/6/18
Note from LT reader: [Contemplative proponent] Priscilla Shirer [see photo below] with Roma Downey at a [spring 2018] charity event where Roma said Oprah was full of the Holy Spirit.

(762) Assemblies of God megachurch pastor warns yoga has “demonic roots�? at The Word Like Fire, 11/15/18
According to the Springfield News Leader: A pastor of an Assemblies of God megachurch recently took aim at yoga, saying it has “demonic roots�? and warning Christians to avoid the popular activity. Pastor John Lindell told the attendees of James River Church in Ozark — which has a congregation of about 10,500, according to a 2016 report — that the positions in yoga were “created with demonic intent to open you up to demonic power because Hinduism is demonic.�?

(763) “Temple Prostitutes�? – Another “Fruit�? of Contemplative Spirituality by Lynn Lusby Pratt, 11/18/18
That title was a crack I made around 2006 when I became aware of the new wave of false teaching entering the church. One aspect of that teaching hinted that our experience with Jesus was (should be?) sexual. (Christians who use a mantra, as in contemplative prayer, and go into an altered state of consciousness sometimes have erotic experiences, which they mistakenly believe to be “union�? with God/Jesus.) There was new interest in/promotion of the “bridal mysticism�? of medieval nuns like Teresa of Avila: “Body and spirit are in the throes of a sweet, happy pain…and a spell of strangulation…swoon-like weakness…�? There were quotes in Christian books, like Tony Campolo saying, “There is nothing wrong . . . with eroticism in worship.�? And Ann Voskamp: “Mystical union…. God as Husband in sacred wedlock, bound together, body and soul… To know him the way Adam knew Eve. Spirit skin to spirit skin…�? Ken Wilson: “I was having feelings of connection with the divine… [that] reminded me very much of the amorous feelings I have for my wife.�? You may not have connected the dots, but go back to the Old Testament (and general history) as a reminder that pagan religions typically include sexual ritual. And when believers in God step away from God’s path, it inevitably trends toward an “anything goes�? sexual culture. There are loads of Scripture warnings against following pagan practices (ex: Deuteronomy 12:30-32)—not to mention any number of explanations of failures to obey those warnings (ex: 1 Kings 14:22-24). And at some point, says 2 Kings 23:7, the quarters of shrine prostitutes were actually “in the temple of the Lord�?! Click here to continue reading.

(764) Would Jesus Magnify His Presence Above His Word? by Warren B. Smith, 12/31/18
In Jesus Calling, “Jesus�? promotes the experience of his presence above God’s Word. Psalm 138:2 tells us: I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (emphasis added) Because God has magnified His Word above His name, this lets us know we will never experience His presence in any way that is not totally consistent with the truth of His Word. Thus, we can know that any presence that comes calling and claims the name of “Jesus�? as its own but does not line up in every way with God’s Word is not the presence of God. God will never put His name or experiencing His presence above His Word.

(765) Happy New Year from the New Age "Christ" - AGAIN! by Herescope, 1/9/19
Eleven years ago on January 3, 2008 this blog reported that Oprah Winfrey was providing a highly visible platform for her longtime friend Marianne Williamson to teach New Age spirituality to the masses. Here is how Warren B. Smith described this pivotal event: "On New Year’s Day, New Age leader Marianne Williamson got the new year off to a rousing start on Oprah & Friends XM Radio as she began to systematically teach the New Age principles of A Course in Miracles.... Both Oprah Winfrey and Marianne Williamson have openly stated that they believe the principles of A Course in Miracles can change the world."

(766) Divination Is Forbidden By God by Chris Lawson, 10/30/16
Divination: any attempt to foretell the unknown by occult means. It is very clear that the God of the Bible strictly forbids all forms of divination.  This includes all forms of mediumship, channeling, witchcraft [Wicca], occultism, psychic, fortune telling, tarot cards, reading tea leaves, etc.  Divination is forbidden by God because it unlocks the door to the world of the demonic and spiritual deception. Leviticus 19:31  - Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 20:6 - And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. 1 Samuel 15:23 - For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 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.  The following list clearly shows the may ways that divination has been practiced throughout the ages.

(767) Letter to the Editor: My Christian University Professor Graded Harshly for Mentioning Lighthouse Trails by Lighthouse Trails, 1/25/19
LTRP Note: The following letter to the editor is posted with permission. It is written by a graduate student of a Christian university. We find the professor’s remarks to this student provocative, especially considering what we discovered after reading the professor’s post. Please see our comments after the two posts below.

(768) Out of My Mindfulness – Part 1 by Lynn Lusby Pratt, 2/1/19
ACLJ attorney Jay Sekulow’s bulletin of December 11, 2018 focused on complaints about Buddhist/Eastern meditation being forced on school kids. More from that in a minute. Various “relaxation” programs have been appearing in the public schools for years. Most parents and teachers didn’t pick up on the religious implications because (1) parents often didn’t even know this was going on; (2) most of us are naïve/uneducated about Eastern religions/the occult/New Age; and (3) the language describing these programs has been deliberately disguised. Clear back in 1981, Jack Canfield (the Chicken Soup for the Soul guy) was interviewed by Science of Mind magazine. He described how to blur the terminology to get these practices accepted in the schools: “If we…point out to educators that they have an ‘essence’ that can be invoked through ‘meditation’. . . they’ll be put off by the buzzwords. But if we give them an experience that leaves them feeling better about themselves . . .” (Dec 1981, p 108. Quoted in Ray Yungen’s For Many Shall Come in My Name).

(769) Understanding the Spirituality of Sue Monk Kidd (author of The Secret Life of Bees) by Ray Yungen, 2/4/18
Sue Monk Kidd’s spirituality is spelled out clearly in her book When the Heart Waits. She explains: "There’s a bulb of truth buried in the human soul [not just Christian] that’s “only God” … the soul is more than something to win or save. It’s the seat and repository of the inner Divine, the God-image, the truest part of us". (emphasis mine)1 Sue Monk Kidd, an introspective woman, gives a revealing description of her spiritual transformation in her book God’s Joyful Surprise: Finding Yourself Loved. She shares how she suffered a deep hollowness and spiritual hunger for many years even though she was very active in her Baptist church.2

(770) Emergent Eschatology: The Road to Paradise Imagined by Bob DeWaay, 2/12/19
"because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:31) After publishing MY BOOK1 about the Emergent Church, I attended an Emergent conference in Chicago, where Dr. Moltmann spoke to his dedicated following—250 Emergent leaders. One such follower, Danielle Shroyer, had published a book about his theology, describing it as "neo-Hegelian, panentheistic, universalism."2 The front cover of the book contains an endorsement by Moltmann. Interacting with various Emergent leaders confirmed how foundational Moltmann's theology and its unique eschatology is to their movement. By attending that conference and hearing Moltmann in person I verified what is contained in this chapter. He did teach universalism. He does teach a cosmic reconciliation of all things to God without a future, cataclysmic judgment. As I show in the following research, G. W. F. Hegel's philosophy includes the idea that all contradictions must synthesize into a progressively better world. Those who follow this idealistic philosophy claim that it is not necessary to choose between theism and atheism because the synthetic reconciliation will happen no matter what. They believe it is built into the very being of the cosmos. We can either help it along or hinder it, but it will happen. Since I wrote this book, the movement has continued and in many ways is now a version of theological liberalism. LeRon Shults has moved to Europe and is now an atheist. Theological liberalism and political liberalism are hardly different. When we hear the term "progressive," we should realize that the definition of "progress" is that of Hegel and his various followers (theistic or atheistic). The reason for the heated passion we see in political debate is that those who are not joining the progressive agenda are seen to be hindering the process of social and spiritual evolution that will supposedly make the new cosmos a paradise for all.

(771) The "Goddess" Running for President - Marianne Williamson: "Spiritual Guru" & "High Priestess" by Herescope, 2/21/19
"Women must remember the sacred nature of our Goddess self...."~Marianne Williamson[2] "There is an underground of people in America who are seeking higher wisdom.... My campaign for the presidency is dedicated to this search for higher wisdom. Its purpose is to create a new political possibility in America -- where citizens awaken, our hearts and minds are uplifted...." ~Marianne Williamson, Marianne2020.com Marianne Williamson, self-proclaimed "goddess," "priestess," prolific New Age author and speaker, and "F.O.O." (friend of Oprah Winfrey)[3] has launched her bid to become the U.S. President. She is being called "a bit of a wildcard."[4] So far the press is not giving her candidacy a lot of attention. And she seems to acknowledge she isn't really a serious candidate. She might just be a front for Oprah running, or a sidekick for another candidate. Or maybe she hopes to garner enough political credibility for herself that she could eventually head up a newly created Peace Department. Whatever the case, she is serious about inserting her own brand of spirituality into the Progressive mix brewing up on the Democrat side. And this could be the most important takeaway from her candidacy.

(772) How To Know When the Emerging Church Shows Signs of Emerging Into Your Church (Booklet) by Roger Oakland, 2/25/19
It was six years ago in January 2013 that Lighthouse Trails began publishing topical booklets. In February of that year, we released one by Roger Oakland called How To Know When the Emerging Church Shows Signs of Emerging Into Your Church. This booklet has been invaluable to many because it lists several of the signs that show if your church is going down the emergent path. Some people have tried to say that the “emerging church” is dead, gone, a thing of the past. But that is anything but the truth. While names and terms have been at times altered by emergent change agents, this ecumenical, mystical, interspiritual emergent “church” is still alive, and these signs are still happening (even more so) in churches across North America.

(773) Marianne Williamson: If I Am President, I Will Take Control of Your Children and Make Them New Agers by Lighthouse Trails, 3/11/19
Course in Miracles promoter, Marianne Williamson, who is running in the 2020 presidential election, has big plans for the children of this country if she is elected. Among other things, part of those plans is to make sure children in American public schools are trained in mindfulness meditation. While tens of thousands of public schools in the U.S. are already teaching children mindfulness meditation, no doubt, with a New Age president, every school would be including it. As president, I would advocate for the following: Mindfulness training in the schools.—Marianne Williamson, 2019 (source) Williamson also promises to advocate for “universal pre-K.” This would help make sure that children as young as 3 and 4 would be placed into the public school system. Advocates of universal pre-K believe they need more time with America’s children and want to get their hands on them much earlier than 5 or 6 (Kindergarten). Parents beware. If Marianne Williamson (or another candidate with her “values,”) becomes president, this country’s children will be at even greater risk than they are now. And you can be sure, she will not be advocating for homeschooling families.

(774) Eastern Meditation Sneaks into the Church by Prof. Johan Malan, 3/18/19
There is a widespread resurgence of Eastern meditation among nominal Christians in the West. In many churches and other Christian circles, prayer is increasingly replaced by meditation, which is also described as contemplation, centring prayers, or quiet prayers. Meditation is often accompanied by Yoga relaxation exercises and relaxed breathing in order to promote a mental shift from the rational left brain to the intuitive right brain. The basic objective with meditation – whether it be Hindu-based Transcendental Meditation (TM), Buddhist, Islamic or ‘Christian’ meditation – is to acquire a situation of complete rest in your body, soul and spirit, thereby eliminating stress and facilitating contact with deeper, more creative levels of your consciousness. Rational thinking is intentionally suppressed and switched off while you transcend to mystical spheres to make contact with your deeper self. According to Naomi Humphrey (Meditation – the inner way) meditation helps to deliver you from spiritual and mental bondage, and also from fear, by enabling you to transcend to a new perception of reality. The result is a holistic way of life in which spirit and matter become integrated. The inner journey: Meditation has an inner focus. You are not searching for a God who is outside of you, but learn to overcome the barrier of domination by human thoughts to discover God deep within yourself. This is an Eastern practice aimed at self-deification. A Roman Catholic priest and practitioner of meditation, Adrian B. Smith, says in his book, TM – an aid to Christian growth, that he accepts this Eastern concept of God: "The great religions of the East are more accustomed to seeking the God who is within, both within the cosmos and within one's own depth. This leads more easily to an interior form of prayer – or centring prayer… The Judeo-Christian tradition looks more often to the God without… TM can, by developing a consciousness of the depth within us, lead us to greater interiority – to an experience of God's presence deep within us." According to him, meditation also leads to greater unity and harmony in the world: "People who are enlightened experience a new harmony with other people and with the cosmic world. They have entered a new era of harmonious relationships which is one of the fruits of the Kingdom." During daily meditation, usually two sessions of 15 to 20 minutes in a seated position with your eyes closed, a mantra is used to obtain an altered state of consciousness. A mantra is a short phrase or a single word which is repeated over and over until your rational thoughts have been put to rest to allow for a deep spiritual consciousness. The manta is repeated until your own thoughts fade away and are replaced by a mystical experience in which you receive inspirational suggestions (brainwaves) and thoughts of an unknown origin.

(775) Letter to the Editor: Yoga at Our CMA Church in Canada Broke Our Hearts at Lighthouse Trails, 3/24/19
LTRP Note: We are posting this letter to the editor not to single out this one particular Christian & Missionary Alliance church because the CMA denomination from top leadership down has embraced contemplative spirituality (see links below), and thus, it is no surprise that Yoga would enter in as well. This is happening in numerous other evangelical and Protestant denominations also. As you can see from this letter to the editor and the ones listed below, these letters to Lighthouse Trails are written by CMA members who have witnessed first-hand what is happening in CMA. We are compelled to also point out that every CMA college has now embraced contemplative spirituality (via Spiritual Formation programs) (as you can see on our Contemplative Colleges list).

(776) Was Jesus was a socialist? by Mike Oppenheimer, 4/2/19
Socialism becomes the majority trend to the naïve youth being educated in the new America. Even some inside the church have accepted this premise of Jesus being a socialist, who taught the principles of socialism. The church needs to have some solid answers for this position that the early church practiced socialism. First, socialism is a government run policy (it is soft communism which is anti-God) it is not something run by the church. On that alone we have a major divide that should prevent Christians from accepting it. The claimed goal of “Socialism’ is to cure the unfairness that has taken place, to bring about economic equality. The belief is that wealth should be collected by the government and evenly distributed to members of society that are poor. What they do not tell you is that it keeps a major portion of the population on the lower end never to rise any further. It squashes anyone who wants more The true facts are always ignored, Socialism depends on the rich and once the rich are gone, no more socialism, turmoil results.  Read Part 1 & Part 2.

(777) Roma Downey’s Financial Contribution to New Ager Marianne Williamson Raises Many Questions by Lighthouse Trails, 4/4/19
Evangelical leaders such as Rick Warren, Greg Laurie, and David Jeremiah have shown public support for Roma Downey and her books, movies, and other media work for a number of years now. Lighthouse Trails has attempted to alert these leaders and the church at large that while Downey may be a sincere person, she is a New Age sympathizer and has consistently supported those sympathies. This week, a Lighthouse Trails reader sent us a link to a March 27, 2019 article from the Center for Public Integrity that disclosed that Roma Downey contributed $2600 to Marianne Williamson’s 2014 run in California for Congress. Proof of this contribution can be seen on a government website (Federal Election Commission) that shows a tax record for Marianne Williamson for the year 2013 (when the contribution by Downey was made – see page 135 of the report). Marianne Williamson is one of today’s foremost New Age leaders and is running for president in 2020. It was because of Williamson that the New Age “Bible,” A Course in Miracles (see video), became popular in mainstream America after Williamson’s book Return to Love (promoting A Course in Miracles) was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. A Course in Miracles has the quintessential New Age message that God dwells in every human being and that each person has a Christ consciousness. It is this same New Age “God” who believes that “the era of the single savior is over”(1) and that Hitler actually did the Jews a favor by killing them.

(778) Esoteric Evolution by Sarah Leslie, Herescope, 4/12/19
This is an abstract of a thesis.[1]  This abstract represents a summary of four decades of prior published writings by this author and her associates known as the Iowa Research Group and Discernment Research Group. The thesis itself has already been written. The substance of this abstract can be found in published material referenced in these footnotes, and its documentation includes the embedded hyperlinks and footnotes which lead to other prior published writings and vast amounts of original source material. In other words, this abstract represents a rather unorthodox presentation of a thesis which has not necessarily been published in printed form in scholarly journals, nor in a book. But, rather, a substantive portion of this thesis and its accompanying documentation has been published previously online on the Internet, particularly on the scholarly research blog Herescope. This abstract provides an overview of evolution as a cosmological and metaphysical paradigm that seamlessly unites science with spirituality in a manner that corrupts the truth. Evolution is more than an alternative to the creation story. Evolution is not just a scientific concept; it is a spiritual worldview.[2] This abstract is not by any means complete, nor exhaustive. This is simply a broad overview of the topic of spiritual evolution, particularly its mysticism and esoteric applications to postmodern life in both the culture at large and also the church.

(775) Celebrating the Atonement and the Resurrection While Promoting Contemplative – A Profound Contradiction by Lighthouse Trails, 4/25/19
In 1922, liberal pastor and theologian Harry Emerson Fosdick stated the following words in his sermon titled “Will the Fundamentalists Win?”: “It is interesting to note where the Fundamentalists are driving in their stakes to mark out the deadline of doctrine around the church, across which no one is to pass except on terms of agreement. They insist that we must all believe in the historicity of certain special miracles, preeminently the virgin birth of our Lord; that we must believe in a special theory of inspiration-that the original documents of the Scripture, which of course we no longer possess, were inerrantly dictated to men a good deal as a man might dictate to a stenographer; that we must believe in a special theory of the Atonement-that the blood of our Lord, shed in a substitutionary death, placates an alienated Deity and makes possible welcome for the returning sinner.” Fosdick considered the doctrine of a blood atonement a “slaughterhouse religion”.

(776) Hear About the New Age Movement! (Video) by Warrren B Smith, 4/27/19
For those who want to read the back story, Warren has published his testimony of coming out of the New Age Movement in his groundbreaking book The Light That Was Dark: From the New Age to Amazing Grace. His many other books and booklets can be accessed HERE. Over the past fourteen years Warren B. Smith has been a frequent contributor to the Herescope blog, both in writing and research. He has authored many articles about the New Age Movement, and has also written about how it has been entering the evangelical church world. Warren Smith YouTube channel HERE.

(777) The “Jesus” of “Jesus Calling” Tells Us to “Laugh at the Future” by Warren B. Smith, 5/8/19
The “Jesus” of Jesus Calling completely contradicts the sober warnings of the true Jesus Christ in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 when he states: “The future is a phantom, seeking to spook you. Laugh at the future!”1 In the Bible, Jesus Christ makes it clear that the future is no laughing matter. In Matthew 24 and in other verses, He describes the serious events that will transpire at the end of time as very real and not a phantom. He tells His disciples to “not be troubled” by these future happenings, but He does not tell them to take the future lightly or to laugh at the future. Rather, He tells them to watch and be ready and to not be deceived by the false Christs and false prophets that will come in His name (Matthew 24:3-5, 24, 42, 44).

(778) Ravi Zacharias, What Part of Contemplative Prayer Don’t You Understand? by Lighthouse Trails, 5/23/19
The headline of this article may seem disrespectful at first glance, but we say it with all sincerity and not meaning to sound derogatory. At Lighthouse Trails, we won’t pretend it isn’t discouraging when after 17 years of ministry, evangelical leaders (those men and women with all the influence and platform – the ones who are followed by millions) will not speak up and warn about contemplative spirituality. Many of them can’t because they are promoting it. But then there are those who don’t outright promote and might even say if asked, “Oh no, I don’t adhere to any kind of New Age mystical prayer practices.” But those very ones who say such things turn around and allow contemplative spirituality to be promoted in their very own organizations. A case in point is Ravi Zacharias.

(779) The Desert Fathers—Borrowing From the East by Ray Yungen, 6/14/19
Catholic priest William Shannon in his book, Seeds of Peace, explained the human dilemma as being the following: "This forgetfulness, of our oneness with God, is not just a personal experience, it is the corporate experience of humanity. Indeed, this is one way to understanding original sin. We are in God, but we don’t seem to know it. We are in paradise, but we don’t realize it."1 Shannon’s viewpoint defines the basic underlying worldview of the contemplative prayer movement as a whole. One can find similar quotations in practically every book written by contemplative authors. A Hindu guru or a Zen Buddhist master would offer the same explanation. This conclusion becomes completely logical when tracing the roots of contemplative prayer. Let us look at the beginnings of this practice.

(780) Be Still and Know That You are Not God!—God is Not “in” Everyone and Everything by Warren B. Smith, 6/19/19
Our Spiritual Adversary would have everyone believe that we are all “one” because God is “in” everyone and everything. Using every promotional means possible—including a creative and ingenious perversion of quantum physics—he is attempting to convince the world and the church that while Jesus was Christ, so is everyone. And while Jesus was God, so is everyone else. To underscore this heretical New Age doctrine of God and Christ “in” everyone, he would have us further believe that nothing of any significance happened on the Cross of Calvary. However, the Bible makes it very clear that something extremely wonderful and overwhelmingly significant did happen on the Cross of Calvary. For it was on that Cross that Jesus Christ died to save the world as He defeated sin (1 John 2:2), death (2 Timothy 1:10), and the Devil himself (Hebrews 2:14). As the one and only Christ, He is our Rock (1 Corinthians 10:1-4), He is our Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11), and in every sense of the word He is the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14).

(781) Purpose-Driven Mandate: Those Who Focus on Bible Prophecy “Not fit for the kingdom of God” by Roger Oakland, 6/24/19
Many who were once looking for the return of Jesus have fallen asleep. We now live in a period of time where numerous prominent Christian leaders are telling the Christian masses that paying attention to the signs of our times in light of the Bible is a waste of time. And many of them take it a step further and accuse those who believe what Bible prophecy says about the end of the age of being negative and self-centered. In the still-popular Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren was actually laying ground-work for the emerging church’s new reformation, a reformation that rejects thinking about the return of Christ and works more at convincing the multitudes that Christ is already in them as a global christ-consciousness. As you will see in the following documentation, Warren has a low regard for Bible prophecy. Perhaps this helps explain why so many who once were anticipating the return of the Lord have become occupied with worldly ambitions.

(782) Letter to the Editor: Churchless in North America at Lighthouse Trails, 7/14/19
We are writing this letter to encourage others in their journey to find a Bible-believing church that values sound biblical doctrine and the authority of Scripture.  We became aware of a significant shift in our C&MA [Christian & Missionary Alliance] church after they picked-up a new hip pastor from a California mega church.  Some of the first things we noticed included the new lingo and dress-down look, the extensive use of The Message, the feel good TED Talks salted with a few out-of-context Scriptures, the kicking out of the old worship team and the bringing in of the very loud rock-band-style worship along with smoke and lights, the removal of mailboxes in order to bring in the Emerging pastor’s book table, removal of crosses and Bibles (one day, we led a couple to Christ and could not find one Bible in the church to give them), the embracement of native-related issues with an actual smudging ceremony performed in the sanctuary, the supporting of community organizations that embrace abortion and homosexuality, the social-gospel message, SHE conferencing, and the promotion of Yoga, etc.  The list is endless and goes on and on, typical for a lot of mega churches (emerging/seeker sensitive/purpose driven).

(783) Enneagram: Pagan Mysticism Promoted as Christian Growth by Bob DeWaay. 7/28/19
Enneagram is relatively new to evangelicalism but is now becoming popular and can be found in some evangelical colleges and universities. Before describing the Enneagram and its accompanying teaching, I need to document my sources and define some key theological categories. The three books that are part of this review include: Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert, The Enneagram A Christian Perspective, (Crossroad 2019 translated from the 1989 German edition); Christopher L. Heurtz, The Sacred Enneagram, (Zondervann, Grand Rapids, 2017); and Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, The Road Back to You - An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery, (InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, 2016). In this article, references to these books will be bracketed with page numbers. To understand my critique of Enneagram we need to understand two important religious worldviews. The first is the worldview I endorse and is the view of Christian theism through the ages. Christian theism says that the Triune God of the Bible existed as God from all eternity. God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit existed before anything was created. This means that God is non-contingent. God was perfect in all His divine attributes before anything was created. Once God created, He was and always is transcendent to the creation. The transcendent Creator cannot be dependent on His own creation. This quality is called "aseity" in Christian theology. A view that is very popular today denies the transcendence of God in important ways. This view is called panentheism. A simple way of explaining panentheism is that "God is in everything." Though the Enneagram authors I review here do not claim a certain view, their teachings and desire to incorporate Buddhism and other philosophies of the East indicates panentheism. Today's popular panentheism rejects the idea that history is linear—having a beginning in creation out of nothing and ending in eternal judgment. I wrote about this in my book on the Emergent Church. Also, God being in everything helps give credence to the idea of social and spiritual evolution which is popular with religious ecumenists such as these authors.

(784) Beware: Mindfulness Meditation, Especially for Children, is Dangerous by Lighthouse Trails, 8/2/19
As a fast-growing number of public schools are incorporating mindfulness meditation into the lives of the school children, few seem aware of just how dangerous meditation can be, especially for children. The following is an extract from our 2018 booklet on mindfulness as a reminder to parents and grandparents. Numerous research reports show that meditation can be dangerous, especially for the vulnerable and weak (a category in which children fit). A preface to an article titled “Meditation is Touted as a Cure for Mental Instability but Can It Actually Be Bad for You” written by Dr. Miguel Farias* states: If it’s so powerful, might meditation also do harm to sensitive souls? [While] researching a mass murder, Dr. Miguel Farias discovered that, far from bringing inner peace, [meditation] can leave devotees in pieces.

(785) Letter to the Editor: Continuing Concern About Moody Bible Institute at Lighthouse Trails, 8/12/19
LTRP Note: When we received the following note this past week from a reader, we were reminded again about Moody Bible Institute and some of its professors. Moody, which claims to be a Bible-based learning institution, has an obligation to its donors and students to not veer from biblical truth and to make sure the school only uses professors who adhere to this framework.

(786) “Liberal Christians Gather at Wild Goose Festival to Pray — and Plan” at Lighthouse Trails, 8/26/19
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 8:8 LTRP Note: The following news story is posted for informational and research purposes and not as an endorsement of either content or the source. It is worth reading this article (written earlier this summer) because it is a glimpse of the face of today’s emergent church and just how influential it really is. Roger Oakland laid it out in Faith Undone (2007) and Warren Smith defined it in A “Wonderful” Deception (2009). Both men were trying to warn the church of what was coming and how it would come, but few pastors and leaders listened. Now, as the church slept, the enemy has crept in – big time.

(787) The Tragic Influence of Catholic Priest Richard Rohr’s Mysticism on Millennial Evangelicals by Lightouse Trails, 9/27/19
An April 2019 Religion News Service article titled, “For Millennials, Mysticism Shows a Path to Their Home Faiths” reveals how young (millennial) evangelicals are “[d]iscovering the Christian mystical tradition through the work of Franciscan friar Richard Rohr.” The article states: [Anthony] Graffagnino [28] was one of a number of millennials drawn to The Universal Christ—a four-day conference in New Mexico’s capital last month led by Rohr, one of the preeminent Christian contemplatives of the last century. . . . millennials are increasingly finding contemplative spirituality appealing. Whether it’s in the stillness of silent meditation, walking a labyrinth, or centering prayer; the practice of engaging with scripture through Lectio Divina, the Ignatian tradition’s Daily Examen; or a combination of Buddhist mindfulness, Kundalini breath work and Taizé prayer, many young adults are happy (to borrow a line from Van Morrison) to sail into the mystic. . . . The contemplative tradition is “expansive enough… that it leaves room as you grow,” he said. “To be Christian is to see Christ in everything.” (source) Lighthouse Trails has been warning about Catholic priest and mystic Richard Rohr’s influence over young evangelical men for awhile now. Ray Yungen reported in his book Simple Answers that one of Richard Rohr’s publishers told Rohr that his biggest group of followers is comprised of young evangelical men. (source) That means that many of the sons and grandsons of evangelicals are under the influence of a man who is panentheistic, New Age-sympathizing, and a mystic.

(788) Spiritual Experiences: What Spirit? (Video) by Warren Smith, 10/5/19
The following lecture is by former New Age follower Warren B. Smith. For many other lectures by Warren, visit his new YouTube channel. Once on that channel, you can subscribe so that you can get notifications whenever a new video by Warren is posted.

(789) Diaprax Goes To Seminary by Paul Proctor, 10/6/19
I mentioned in a previous article that many churches and organizations not officially belonging to the Willow Creek Association were now adopting Willow Creek’s ways. It shrewdly allows them the social and financial benefits of compromise without the carnal stigma of being affiliated. An example of this can be found in a recent Baptist Press article by Richard D. McCormack entitled: 'Interactive Team-Building Seminar' Called Cutting-Edge Way of Learning'  http://www.baptistpress.com/bpnews.asp?ID=14603 Mr. McCormack reports that a workshop was held at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas for the purpose of introducing a 'new style of learning' based on a program called 'EPIC'. (Experience, Participate, Image-Rich and Connection) John Herring, pastor of discipleship at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala. was quoted as saying "it is the model of things to come for teaching in our churches". Little does he know that what seminar leaders Leonard Sweet and Keith Kline were teaching is Diaprax.

(790) Mike Oppenheimer and Ray Yungen on Mysticism and God’s Word (Video) at Lighthouse Trails, 10/9/19
Mike Oppenheimer and Ray Yungen discuss mysticism and the emerging church movement in comparison to God’s Word.

(791) Unlocking “the Secrets”—How Silly! by Lynn Lusby Pratt, 10/12/19
I talk a lot about the trendy but biblically erroneous teachings on new spiritual technologies. The suggestion that we can finally unlock the “secrets” to a full life of faith capitalizes on our culture’s desperate search for purpose and prevalent “fear of missing out.” But not only is it dangerous for Christians to go looking for these things; if we just back up and look at the lives of a few Bible heroes, the logic even becomes downright silly! Let’s see… Joseph—Should we label him ineffective, spiritually lacking? After all, he didn’t have the Catholic mystics to lead him into self-torture, levitation, and erotic encounters with entities. Joshua—Look what all Joshua accomplished. His only “secret” was to obey God’s commands and be bold. Could he have accomplished more if he’d done lectio divina?

(702) The Shameful Social Gospel by T.A. McMahon,The Berean Call, 10/19
For various reasons, Christians of different sorts have tinkered with “the gospel of Christ” as though it needed adjustments. Not major alterations, most will tell you, but just some minor tweaking here and there. The changes often begin by one’s declaring that there is no real change involved, simply a shift in emphasis. Yet no matter what the rationale may be, the end result is being “ashamed of the gospel of Christ.”

(703) The Enneagram—An Enlightening Tool or an Enticing Deception? (Booklet) by Lighthouse Trails, 10/31/19
Today, there is an increasing amount of interest by Christians in the Enneagram, a nine-pointed diagram used to determine personality traits and character tendencies. While it may seem harmless and nothing more than a useful tool, the Enneagram is a seducing lure to deception and an example of what the Bible refers to as “the wiles of the Devil.” In this booklet, we hope to show how this tool is drawing participants away from biblical truth and in an enticing but dangerous direction.

(704) Beyond a Doubt: Contemplative Prayer EQUALS New Age Meditation by Ray Yungen, 11/7/19
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. In fact, New Agers see contemplative prayer as one of their own practices. Why would both New Agers and Christians claim contemplative prayer as their own? Certainly you will not find the New Age movement promoting someone like Dwight Moody or Harry Ironside, but you will find many instances such as this in which New Age therapist Jacquelyn Small cites contemplative prayer as a gateway to the spirituality to which she belongs.

(705) Letter to the Editor From Dallas Theological Seminary Student—DTS Does Advocate for Contemplative Spirituality at Lighthouse Trails, 11/12/19
The relationship Dallas Theological Seminary has with contemplative spirituality has been debated on Lighthouse Trails, and defended by DTS. As a current student, I can confirm some departments and professors do advocate explicitly for the contemplative brand of spirituality.  The school requires four semesters of spiritual formation. Students must engage with the curriculum as prescribed, but additional work is optional for those wishing to receive academic credit.  The first semester spiritual formation material encourages students to study Adele Calhoun, Marcia Ford, Richard Foster, Donald Whitney, Dallas Willard, PT Forsyth, Paul Pettit, James K.A. Smith, Gary Thomas, and others. “Silence” is listed as a discipline in the curriculum itself, and the workbook asks students to rate their own engagement with this and other practices.

(706) The New Age Road to a U.S. “Department of Peace” at Lighthouse Trails, 11/17/19
Marianne Williamson, “unveiled” her plans for a Department of Peace in the United States. But as you will read in the following article by former New Age follower Warren B. Smith, Williamson’s Department of Peace has been in the making for many years. Regardless of who becomes the next president, efforts by Williamson and numerous members of Congress and others are not going away until the Department of Peace is established. And as Smith lays out, this department will be anything but peaceable for Bible-believing Christians.

(707) Letter to the Editor From Man From India: Yoga is a Doctrine of Demons! at Lighthouse Trails, 11/24/19
I am from a Hindu background. The word Yoga has developed from the word Yog. Yog means union. So when you do Yoga, you can expect your spirit to be in union with “divine spirit” completely. According to Bishnu Puran, one of the Hindu scripture yoga is “complete union between spirit of god and man.” So when you do Yoga, you are focusing on uniting with some spirit. We know it is not the Spirit of the Lord God.

(708) Biblical Christianity – The Biggest Obstacle to the New Age by Ray Yungen, 12/10/19
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.”

(709) GC2 Conference on Mental Health Includes “Spiritual Formation” Teachers Rick Warren and Ruth Haley Barton by Lighthouse Trails, 12/21/19
On December 12, 2019, Christianity Today posted an article by “new” Christianity pastor Ed Stetzer, giving a recap of the GC2 Summit that took place on December 6th. The article, titled “Lies Pastors Believe, Part One,” states: Two months of planning for our GC2 Summit on Facing Hard Truths & Challenges in Pastoral Ministry couldn’t have prepared us for what we saw God do this past Friday. Over 400 leaders joined us in person and nearly 80 livestreamed in from all over the world to hear pastors and counselors talk about leadership, burnout, and mental health. If you were unable to join us, you can purchase the full day’s recordings through the GC2 website. They will be available until January 10, 2020. The messages from leaders such as Rick Warren, Derwin Gray, Ruth Hayley Barton, Drew Hyun, David Wang, Philip Ryken, Margaret Diddams, and others reflected the most important messages pastors need to hear today. With at least three of the nine speakers being strong advocates for Spiritual Formation (a synonym for “contemplative spirituality”)—Rick Warren, Ruth Haley Barton, and David Wang (a pastor of Spiritual Formation)—it is clear that organizers of GC2 believe Spiritual Formation is a crucial element of “the most important messages pastors need to hear today.”

(710) “Roma Downey and Lightworkers Media Options Bestselling Author Debbie Macomber’s ‘Angels Everywhere’ Book Series” at Lighthouse Trails, 12/27/19
LTRP Note: The following news clip is posted for informational and research purposes and not as an endorsement for either the content or the source. Lighthouse Trails has been issuing warnings about the New Age propensities of Roma Downey for the last few years because of the promotion of Ms. Downey by popular Christian leaders such as Greg Laurie and David Jeremiah.

(711) Catholic Priest Believes Francis Chan Heading Into Catholic Church Based on Eucharistic Sermon by Lighthouse Trails, 1/15/20
Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love, is one of the most popular authors and speakers within the evangelical church today. He has been the subject of a number of Lighthouse Trails articles based on his ecumenical activities as well as statements he made threatening that God will destroy those who challenge Christian leaders. Last week, Chan gave a sermon promoting the Catholic view of communion (i.e., the Eucharist), which led to several online responses, one of which was a Catholic priest who weighed in with a YouTube video* expressing his zeal and belief that Chan is about to convert to the Catholic faith.

(712) Mysticism in the Church: 10 Things to Watch For by Lynn Lusby Pratt, 1/20/20
As unsettling changes take place in your Christian environment, you might find yourself in this scenario: (1) In my Christian reading, I get a gritty feeling about a phrase here or a teaching there. Then . . .(2) I sense that new meanings are being applied to established Christian terms. Then . . .(3) I find outright heresy in books and/or sermons. (4) I notice certain names repeated in those sermons or in the endnotes of books. (5) I voice concern to my minister, but he’s dismissive: “Now, now, we can’t all agree on everything.” (6) I see acceptance of practices that I’ve discovered are misleading: Eastern wellness techniques . . .(7) and contemplative prayer . . .(8) and interspirituality. (9) But I also wonder if I’m missing out, if I’m not as spiritual as others who are having “experiences.” (10) I come to realize that I can’t blindly follow authorities; they may be losing their grasp of the Scriptures. I’ll get into the Word for myself, stay connected to the church [the body of Christ] and to the real Jesus.

(713) The New Age Christian—An Accepted Oxymoron by Ray Yungen, 1/24/20
The current popularity with meditative contemplative mysticism presents a very perplexing challenge for evangelical Christianity. We are now encountering the New Age or Aquarian Christian. This 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 What has fueled the momentum of this trend is the buffet-style dining approach that has become a hallmark of American religious sensibilities in the last thirty years—you take what you want and leave the rest. Americans are picking and blending religions as if they were ordering espressos: pick your espresso blend, but you still get coffee—pick your spiritual path, but you still get God. Whatever suits your spiritual tastes, you bring together. The result is hybrid New Age spirituality.

(714) Christian Colleges and Seminaries in More Trouble Than Ever As Many Plunge Into Emergent Spirituality by Lighthouse Trails, 1/30/20
For nearly 18 years, Lighthouse Trails has been reporting on the slide that evangelical colleges, universities, and seminaries have been taking into the contemplative/emergent/ecumenical river. It would be great if we could say there’s been a real turn around and things at these colleges are getting better. It would be great if we could say that your college-age child is safe in most Christian colleges today. And it would be great if we could say that these schools have realized the error of their ways and have made dramatic efforts to get back on the biblical course. Unfortunately, we cannot say any of these things because they simply are not true. We were once again reminded of how far off the track evangelical schools have gone when earlier this month we received an e-blast from Christianity Today announcing a 50%-off tuition special for qualifying students to Seattle Pacific University. That will sound very enticing to parents who are looking for Christian education for their college-age children at affordable rates. But let’s take a glance at what these children will be introduced to if they attend Seattle Pacific University: At SPU’s Center for Biblical and Theological Education, students will be introduced to various forms of contemplative spirituality, and faculty members are being trained to pass them on. For instance, in a 2019 faculty retreat syllabus, the list of activities at the retreat include lectio divina, praying with icons, sabbath keeping, Ignatian Spirituality, and Prayer of Examen. At the upcoming 2020 Winter Discernment Weekend, prospective students will be introduced to “Guided Prayer” and Lectio Divina. “Spiritual Formation” and contemplative spirituality are integrated throughout the spiritual infrastructure of SPU. Faculty Staff Bulletins are peppered with recommendation and accolades for Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, and numerous other hard-core mystics and panentheists.

(715) D is for Deception – The Language of the “New” Christianity by Kevin Reeves, 2/12/20
A number of years ago, a book written by emerging-church leaders Brian McLaren and Leonard Sweet was released. The book was called A is for Abductive: the language of the emerging church. Going through the alphabet, the authors identified many terms they hoped would be picked up by the younger generation, thus creating a unique emerging spiritual atmosphere. They called it a “primer with a mission.”1 That mission that McLaren, Sweet, and other like-minded change agents embrace has been successful in bringing in a new kind of “Christianity,” which is not biblical Christianity but rather a “New” Christianity now permeating the halls of Christian colleges, seminaries, evangelical churches, small groups, ministries, and organizations. We have compiled in this booklet common terms and their basic meanings to help uncover the true meaning behind some of the deceptive language of the “New” Christianity (i.e., the New Spirituality).

(716) Letter to the Editor: Is the EFCA Lining Up With the Emergent Church? at Lighthouse Trails, 2/18/20
LTRP Comments: We agree that there are some EFCA leaders and pastors who are not promoting or embracing emergent church teachings or heading in that direction. However, we also share your concerns about EFCA as a whole and about their present leadership and direction. What we were observing in 2013 and 2014 regarding the EFCA has now borne its emergent “fruit.” As you can see in this 2011 recommend resources list, EFCA had made the decision to go down the contemplative mystical path. And now today, as you have pointed out, partly through EFCA groups like Creo Collective, they have followed the “natural” course that contemplative leads to—emergent, “progressive,” social justice; and based on what has happened to so many other denominations, we predict it will only get worse for the EFCA. Once a group starts down the contemplative path, only a determined and committed effort and desire to stop will keep that group from going full-blown emergent, socialist, and ultimately anti-Gospel.

(717) Lilly Endowment’s Contemplative-Focused Clergy Renewal Program Updated Lists by Lighthouse Trails, 2/22/20
In 2013, we posted an article titled “What’s Up with Lilly Endowment – Funding Pastoral Sabbaticals with a Contemplative Agenda.” Below is a copy of that article (with excerpts from a related 2007 article). In it, it provides a link to the list of churches whose pastors were “winners” of the 2012 Lilly Endowment grants. Last week, we received a call from one of our readers asking for current lists. We have placed the links for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 at the end of the article. If you are in a church where your pastor is planning to go on a sabbatical, whether it is sponsored by Lilly or not, find out if he is going to be spending part of his sabbatical time at a monastery or a contemplative retreat center and reading contemplative-influenced books. If he is, then very likely he will come back with an entirely different spiritual outlook—one that looks more like Catholic mystics Thomas Merton and Richard Rohr than the biblical apostles Peter, John, and Paul.

(718) LECTIO DIVINA – What it is, What it is not, and Should Christians Practice it? by Lighthouse Trails, 2/26/20
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 really 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, and repeating it as you work your way down to where 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 (going into the silence).

(719) Lent and Contemplative – A Likely Match by Lighthouse Trails, 3/3/20
According to Wikipedia, Lent is: . . . a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks (40 days) later on Holy Thursday, the memorial of the Lord’s supper the Thursday of Holy Week before Easter Sunday. The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, doing penance, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, almsgiving, and denial of ego. This event is observed in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Presbyterian, Oriental Orthodox, Reformed, and Roman Catholic Churches. Some Anabaptist and evangelical churches also observe the Lenten season.1 While the Bible does not give any instruction to practice or participate in Lent, many churches do. In fact, since the contemplative prayer movement has come into full swing, more and more churches are observing Lent. And, in fact, Lent is often being used as the open door to bring contemplative prayer into a church. This is largely done through the multitudes of books from religious publishers who have now become conduits for contemplative spirituality.* Here are the titles of some books currently on the market that incorporate contemplative into Lent ...

(720) The Goal of Contemplatives: Changing the Consciousness of Humanity – One Contemplative Prayer After the Next by Ray Yungen, 3/15/20
Two authors from Great Britain portrayed a stunningly clear picture of New Age spirituality. They explained: [T]he keynote of it appears to be a movement for synthesis derived from an understanding of the underlying unity behind all things and the sense of oneness that this brings. This oneness of all life is the crux of the New Age movement.1 Catholic priest, the late Basil Pennington defined the contemplative spiritual worldview in his book Thomas Merton My Brother. He related: The Spirit enlightened him [Merton] in the true synthesis [unity] of all and in the harmony of that huge chorus of living beings. In the midst of it he lived out a vision of a new world, where all divisions have fallen away and the divine goodness is perceived and enjoyed as present in all and through all.2 The first viewpoint describes God as the oneness of all existence. In Merton’s new world, God is perceived as being present “in all and through all.” It certainly appears that the same spirit enlightened both parties. The only difference was Merton’s revelation worked in a Christian context just as Alice Bailey predicted. Unfortunately, this context is now commonplace in Catholic circles, becoming so in mainline Protestant churches, and being eagerly explored and embraced by an ever-increasing number of evangelical Christians.

(721) Passion Conference Louie Giglio Gives Thumbs Up to Enneagram—Could Influence Scores of Young Evangelicals by Lighthouse Trails, 4/21/20
Louie Giglio is an extremely popular megachurch pastor and author as well as the founder and leader of the Passion conferences, which have drawn in hundreds of thousands of mostly young people since 1997.(1) On the week of March 16th, Giglio (a Calvinist) was a guest on emergent social-justice “Gospel” advocate Ian Morgan Cron’s Enneagram podcast. A week later, part 2 of the interview took place. While it of no great surprise that Giglio (who has shown himself to be part of the ecumenical, “new” spirituality in more ways than one(2)) would form an attachment to Morgan Cron’s Enneagram, it is most unfortunate: because of Giglio’s vast following, the Enneagram has now received a substantial thumbs up in the evangelical world, especially among young evangelicals. So not only are Giglio’s followers being influenced by Calvinism and the New Spirituality, they are also being led into New Age-rooted practices. For those who are unfamiliar with the Enneagram, Lighthouse Trails released a booklet in October of 2019 titled The Enneagram—An Enlightening Tool or an Enticing Deception?.

(722) Is Christianity Missing Out on Something Vital? Contemplatives Say “Yes” by Ray Yungen, 5/6/20
Contemplative advocates propose that something vital and important is 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 in the New Testament and divination in the Old Testament.

(723) “Over 100 Pastors Sign Letter to Ohio Board of Education Opposing Yoga, Meditation Being Taught in Schools” by Heather Clark, 5/8/20
More than 100 pastors recently signed a letter to the Ohio Board of Education, which was also sent to 39 school districts, to express opposition to yoga and transcendental meditation being taught in schools as they are rooted in Eastern religion and are a spiritual practice at their core. The letter, signed by 105 pastors from various denominations, notes that yoga has been taught during school hours in Clear Fork, Galion, Lexington, Lucas, Mansfield and Shelby counties and asks for an assurance that such practices will be discontinued. “Yoga is not merely an external physical practice with a purely physiological effect, but rather an internal spiritual practice advertised as being able to provide the power to change an individual and transform the world,” it reads. “Specifically, yoga’s ‘stretching’ and ‘breathing’ components, called ‘asanas’ and ‘pranayama’ in Sanskrit, are intended to be spiritually transformative.”

(724) Warning: Zondervan Introduces Its First-Ever Film, Nine: The Enneagram Documentary— to Release in Theaters Fall 2020 at Lighthouse Trails, 5/21/20
LTRP Note: The news release below regarding the Christian publisher, Zondervan, is posted for informational and research purposes. Lighthouse Trails warned about the Enneagram in our booklet, The Enneagram—An Enlightening Tool or an Enticing Deception? (written by Lois Putnam), which we released last Fall. Obviously, when one of the largest evangelical publishers releases a film (their first film ever) on the Enneagram, it’s clear this is a fast-growing trend within evangelicalism. We believe the Enneagram (as is Lectio Divina) is a gateway “tool” to further integrate the occultic contemplative prayer movement into the church, a movement that has so significantly influenced millions of Christians.

(725) Letter to the Editor: Kaiser Permanente Among Those Pushing Mindfulness and Meditation Due to Coronavirus at Lighthouse Trails, 5/23/20
LTRP Note: While New Age meditative practices (including “mindfulness” meditation) have integrated into all facets of our Western society, including the church, for some time, there has been an even stronger push for them since coronavirus began. Purveyors of eastern-style meditation are using the elevated levels of stress that the “pandemic” has caused to sell the idea that we need meditation practices to help alleviate that stress. The following letter to the editor gives one example (see links below for other examples).

(726) A Fortress of Solitude … Entering the SILENCE by Mike Oppenheimer, 6/2/20
God can speak to us at anytime, we are not required to be silent. It usually occurs when we are learning, reading or active and ministering. Job 38:1-3 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” Job did not enter silence, yet we have the longest conversation recorded in the Bible. The only silence should be from those who are promoting this Catholic monk practice in the church.  Read Part 1 & Part 2.

(727) The Enneagram by Gary Gilley, 6/13/20
The Enneagram is a complicated and esoteric system that would require years of training to understand and implement properly; and even then, there exist vast differences among Enneagram experts.  This is in direct contrast to the relative simplicity, clarity, and perspicuity of Scripture.  Additionally, when all the smoke has cleared and the theories exposed, the Enneagram is nothing more than human ideas, conjectures and general observations, cobbled into such a muddled system that even the experts can’t agree. Most importantly, the Enneagram is claiming territory over which God’s Word has staked its claim:  salvation, sanctification, knowledge of self, and knowledge of God. Read Part 1 & Part 2.

(728) Contemplative Prayer – Does Our Intent to Find Jesus Justify the Method? by Lighthouse Trails, 6/19/20
[I]f you were to jump off a cliff with the intent to fly saying the word “fly, fly, fly” as you jump off and someone else jumped off the same cliff with the intent to hit the bottom saying “fall, fall, fall” as he jumps off, in either case both will hit the bottom. – Ray Yungen If our intent is to find Jesus, is the method of going about this acceptable, even if the method might happen to be a Buddhist meditation style. Brian Edgar, former Director of Theology and Public Policy for the Australian Evangelical Alliance believes it is ...

(729) The Shack and a New Age View of the Trinity by Mike Oppenheimer, 8/25/20
Today, the word Trinity, or Trinitarian theology, is taking on a whole new meaning, one of which most Christians are unaware but one that is working its way into the church through the highly popular book, The Shack. Let me explain. Many people have defended their admiration for The Shack, saying it is “just a novel.” But Shack author William Paul Young admits that The Shack is more than a novel; he considers it a theological book ...

(730) Overcomer or Succumber? by Warren B. Smith, 8/30/20
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour ​is not in vain in the Lord.—1 Corinthians 15:58 overcome—to get the better of in a struggle; to conquer. succumb—to give way (to), to yield, to submit (to succumb to persuasion). Today’s Evangullible Church 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).

(731) Letter to the Editor: Liberty University Taking Students on “Spiritual Journey” With Contemplative/Emergent Leader Richard Foster at Lighthouse Trails, 9/10/20
For 18 years, Lighthouse Trails has been warning about the contemplative prayer movement and its role in creating an “emergent” “progressive” church. Part of our investigative research scope has included Christian universities and seminaries, a majority of which now promote contemplative spirituality. Liberty University, one of the largest Christian universities in the U.S., has been on the contemplative/emergent path for many years. We take this matter extremely serious because the “fruit” of contemplative prayer in a person’s life is the formation of a “new” spiritual outlook that resembles more of a New Age thought (interspirituality and panentheism) than a biblical one. As for contemplative pioneer, Richard Foster, please read our article/booklet “A Serious Look at Richard Foster’s “School” of Contemplative Praye.” and make sure your children and grandchildren are not being influenced by a deceived school.

(732) Where Are We Going? by David Dombrowski, 10/18/20
What will be the end of this resurrected city of Babylon? Revelation says, “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her” (Revelation 18:8), and again it says, “for in one hour is thy judgment come” (Revelation 18:10). Apparently, the judgment to come will be speedy and severe. So, while we can only speculate on the details of what will happen, we can be sure that a massive delusion will encompass the world and that severe judgment will also take place. Just knowing this, let us, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, cling all the more dearly to the Word of God and the Gospel message. Jesus died on the Cross to save sinners and rose from the dead to conquer death; our hope is in Him and nowhere or no one else. And while it is scary to think of persecution of the believers, it is more frightening to think of God’s judgment on those who abandon God’s Word for a lie. May we remember that no matter what we might suffer as Christians, the safest place to be is in God’s will. Knowing this, let us encourage one another with the comfort and hope that is in the Lord. And let us be assured that we know where are we are going. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:13-14

(733) Letter to the Editor: Our Sad Departure From the Church of the Nazarene Over Unbiblical Teachings at Lighthouse Trails, 11/30/20
LTRP Note: For over a decade, Lighthouse Trails has been issuing warnings regarding the Church of the Nazarene’s embracing of contemplative and emergent teachings (i.e., Spiritual Formation). We have focused largely on the numerous Nazarene universities that have been training future Nazarene pastors with these unbiblical teachings. In 2004, our editors spoke with Dr. Jim Diehl (then a General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene) who called us because he read A Time of Departing (the book that exposes contemplative spirituality) and found it right on. We told him at that time what was happening in the Nazarene schools. Sadly, the many warnings by LT and others for so many years have gone unheeded. The following letter by a Nazarene couple is further proof of that. Dear Lighthouse Trails: I have been a fan of your ANA (Anti New Age) materials for a while.  You have been the center of a lot of books, booklets, and research as our family has been reconsidering our membership in the Church of the Nazarene.  We recently left the denomination and ordered some booklets to give out to the board to help us explain why.  The new pastor did not even allow us one last meeting with them!

(734) Enneagram Divination by Herescope, 12/10/20
It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The graphic exhibit above is from the Winter 1998 issue of Gnosis magazine, which billed itself “A Journal of the Western Inner Traditions.” This is an occult periodical titled with the ancient word gnosis, the Greek word for knowledge.[1] Gnosticism was a potent heresy in the early church, and it has shown up in many guises throughout church history.  This Gnosis cover image depicts an utterly unclothed woman in a trance (I covered her up). This image is credited to have come from a Tarot card deck, which is witchcraft.[2] The magazine contains an article about G.I. Gurdjieff titled “Oracles Within: The Inner Animal Teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff” which has to do with shapeshifting, from the very deepest dregs of Satanism. In case our readers have never considered the utter depth of depravity of man described in the verses in Romans 1, particularly verse 23 (“And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things”) the exhibit below from page 36 of the article about Gurdjjieff in Gnosis magazine illustrates it (again I covered up the nakedness): “

(735) Clamoring Like Seals by CrossWise, 1/10/21
Hubbard understands those of her elite group as the ones that must wield the sword, and etc., as per above: We, the elders, have been patiently waiting until the very last moment before the quantum transformation, to take action to cut out this corrupted and corrupting element in the body of humanity. It is like watching a cancer grow; something must be done before the whole body is destroyed.9 These “defective seeds” must go, for “it is a case of the destruction of the whole planet, or the elimination” of this one-fourth of the population.10 But there is a silver lining! Her readers are not charged with this act.11 They can just sit passively by—sort of like what some did during World War II, I suppose. …We are in charge of God’s selection process for planet Earth. He selects, we destroy. We are the riders of the pale horse, Death. We come to bring death to those who are unable to know God. We do this for the sake of the world… Now that [the planetary system] is being born into its universal, whole-conscious phase, the disconnected must be destroyed.12 While it’s the elders that do the cleansing, it is the others still alive that will be tasked with the reconstruction: You do not have to participate in the destruction. You are to be responsible for the construction which shall begin as the tribulations come to an end.13 You didn’t expect the elders—the elites—to clean up, did you?

(736) The Social Gospel: Imposing a Cultural Mandate into the Great Commission by Gary Gilley, 1/13/21
It has proven almost impossible for the Church to keep the biblical command of the Great Commission in balance with the Cultural Mandate, once such a mandate is accepted as part of the mission of the Church. Those  following  this  philosophy would abandon the Christ-given mission of making disciples for the task of improving society. Those churches and Christians who saw the error of the social gospel continued to center their lives and ministries on the Great
Commission. It is the descendants of these very churches and believers who are now being influenced to widen their understanding of the calling of Christ to include a social improving agenda. Unless there is a return to the biblical mandate given in the New Testament, the evangelical Church is in danger of repeating the same error of the 19th and 20th century Church  with  predictable results.

(737) Agnes Sanford and her Unbiblical Inner Healing method's by Mike Oppenheimer, 1/16/21
Certain people have a great influence in the era of modern Christianity, some are not a good influence. One of them is Agnes Sanford. She was born in 1897, the daughter of a Presbyterian missionary in China, and the wife of an Episcopal rector. She is considered to be one of the principal founders of the inner healing movement and one of the more influential shapers of the modern charismatic movement. She introduced to the body of Christ numerous non-Christian teachings, philosophies into the Church through the 1960’s to about 1980, and though she is gone she is still is an influence today. She was also a promoter of the Manifest sons of God heresy found in the Latter Rain movement by William Branham. She wrote many books in her religious career, you can literally find the same ideas she wrote of in mystical and new age literature that has been written prior. Sanford is most known by her first book, “The Healing Light”, ( old over half a million copies since 1947 when it was originally published), and ending with her last book, “The Healing Gifts of the Spirit” which contained a mixture of metaphysical concepts and Mind Science. She included an endorsement in the front of her last book “The Healing Gifts of the Spirit” by “The American Theosophist.” They wrote: “... an inspiring handbook for developing one’s own capabilities for richer living and giving .” Theosophists are Spiritist’s who are part of the New Age Movement, they are not a good endorsement. She believed what we hear from so many others today,that Christians today should do the same miracles that Jesus did ( Sealed Orders, pp. 13, 26).No doubt many who say this have read her books.


(738) InterVarsity’s “2030 Calling” – Raising Up Young Evangelicals to Be the Mystics of Tomorrow by Lighthouse Trails, 1/17/21
For many years, Lighthouse Trails has tried to warn the church about evangelical publishing houses that are releasing countless materials which promote and teach contemplative spirituality. One of the publishing companies that is at the forefront of this effort to bring the New Age/new spirituality practice of contemplative prayer into the church is InterVarsity Press which has a particular focus on young evangelicals. In light of this, our concerns have only heightened upon learning of InterVarsity’s “2030 Calling,” especially when we consider how contemplative spirituality is one of the most robust vehicles that lead young evangelicals into an anti-biblical, anti-moral, “progressive,” pro-emergent outlook. What is Contemplative Prayer? For those unfamiliar with the term “contemplative prayer,” it is a mystical prayer practice which uses repetition of a word or phrase to enter the “silence,” “stillness,” or so-called “sacred space” in order to, supposedly, hear the voice of God. In fact, contemplative proponents like Beth Moore say you cannot even be close to God without this inner stillness. However, as author and researcher Ray Yungen points out, it is a great deception for Christians to believe this is a safe and legitimate method of communing with God, and no where in Scripture are we admonished to do this. In actuality, though one’s intent may be to seek the Lord, practicing something that is virtually identical in method to eastern meditation practices such as Transcendental Meditation is dangerous and will get the same result as TM practitioners—and that is to reach a spiritually demonic realm. And as Yungen explains, the “fruit” of practicing contemplative prayer is interspirituality (all paths lead to God), panentheism (God is in all), and universalism (all are saved).

(739) Letter to the Editor: K.P. Yohannon (Gospel for Asia) Going Contemplative? at Lighthouse Trails, 2/10/21
LTRP Note: The following letter to the editor is written by one of our readers out of a deep sadness and concern that K.P. Yohannon, in his 2020 book, Never Give Up, is showing a strong affinity to contemplative mystics. In that book, Yohannon says he is learning things from the Desert Fathers and the early mystics (calling them “incredible Christians” and “giants of the faith” pp. 92-93) that no one had told him about in his earlier Christian years. How tragic that a Christian man who grew up in a country that is mostly Hindu is pointing his followers to mystics who embraced practices similar to those in Hinduism as Lighthouse Trails has documented for nearly two decades. And with popular evangelical leaders like Calvary Chapel pastors Skip Heitzig and Chip Lusko and Bible Answer man Hank Hanegraaff endorsing the book, many unsuspecting Christians will now be introduced to the contemplative mystics and their practices. Lighthouse Trails has obtained its own copy of Never Give Up and confirms what is being said in this letter and even more so.

Updated! (740) Agnes Sanford and her Unbiblical Inner Healing method's by Mike Oppenheimer, 2/14/21
Certain people have a great influence in the era of modern Christianity, some are not a good influence. One of them is Agnes Sanford. She was born in 1897, the daughter of a Presbyterian missionary in China, and the wife of an Episcopal rector. She is considered to be one of the principal founders of the inner healing movement and one of the more influential shapers of the modern charismatic movement. She introduced to the body of Christ numerous non-Christian teachings, philosophies into the Church through the 1960’s to about 1980, and though she is gone she is still is an influence today. She was also a promoter of the Manifest sons of God heresy found in the Latter Rain movement by William Branham. She wrote many books in her religious career, you can literally find the same ideas she wrote of in mystical and new age literature that has been written prior. Sanford is most known by her first book, “The Healing Light”, ( old over half a million copies since 1947 when it was originally published), and ending with her last book, “The Healing Gifts of the Spirit” which contained a mixture of metaphysical concepts and Mind Science. She included an endorsement in the front of her last book “The Healing Gifts of the Spirit” by “The American Theosophist.” They wrote: “... an inspiring handbook for developing one’s own capabilities for richer living and giving .” Theosophists are Spiritist’s who are part of the New Age Movement, they are not a good endorsement. She believed what we hear from so many others today,that Christians today should do the same miracles that Jesus did ( Sealed Orders, pp. 13, 26).No doubt many who say this have read her books.
Read Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3.

(741) Does ‘Vision Casting’ Have Anything To Do With Abiding In Christ And Bearing Much Fruit? by Mike Ratliff, 2/24/21
I have always listened closely to the direction the Lord has lead me as I become troubled by something I have heard someone preach or someone asks me a question that causes me to become troubled in my spirit or circumstances become skewed in such a way that the Holy Spirit uses that to get my attention and through these various “things” and many others, I start praying, asking for direction, looking deeply into the Word, asking godly counsel from men I know who do the same thing. This post below was written and put online back in August of 2015…. We had just moved from Deer Creek to Yukon and were not yet settled where we would attend church. I was researching this when I heard a sermon from one of the pastors of a church we were looking at. What I heard troubled my spirit and this post was the result. If you are serious about your walk, and you should be, then you probably already know that the visible church is full of man-centered preaching and teaching. Vision Casting is just one of the man-centered teachings that come from this. On the other hand, a genuine God centered handling of worship and preaching and teaching will always be about God, the Son, the Holy Spirit, all bound to the Word of God and the message will be bound to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, not in any way some sort of motivational pep-talk to get people busy being religious.

(742) InterVarsity Press Calls on Christians to Engage in Lectio Divina—Leading Them Down a Road of Peril at Lighthouse Trails, 4/29/21
Long-time Lighthouse Trails readers are well aware that InterVarsity Press (one of evangelical Christianity’s biggest publishers) began down the contemplative spirituality path many years ago. But most Christians are not aware of this and many turn to publishers like IVP for their spiritual nourishment. But doing so leads to spiritual disaster rather than spiritual benefit.

(743) The Nature Behind Contemplative Prayer: The Heart of Occultism by Ray Yungen, 6/12/21
Many Christians might have great difficulty accepting the assessment that what is termed Christian mysticism is, in truth, not Christian at all. They might feel this rejection is spawned by a heresy-hunting mentality that completely ignores the love and devotion to God that also accompanies the mystical life. To those who are skeptical, I suggest examining the writings of Philip St. Romain, who wrote a book about his journey into contemplative prayer called Kundalini Energy and Christian Spirituality. This title is revealing because kundalini is a Hindu term for the mystical power or force that underlies Hindu spirituality. In Hinduism, it is commonly referred to as the serpent power.

(744) Mindfulness: What You May Not Know And Should Have Been Told by Lighthouse Trails, 6/28/21
Currently, “mindfulness” is being introduced to tens of thousands of public schools across America. One group alone, Healthy Schools Program, which includes mindfulness as part of its program, is in over 30,000 public schools (that’s about one third of all public schools in America).1 Programs such as Healthy Schools* claim that children behave better and think more clearly when they incorporate mindfulness exercises into their school regime. Researcher and author Ray Yungen states: In recent years, a type of meditation known as mindfulness has made a surprising showing. Based on current trends, it has the potential to eclipse even Yoga in popularity. You will now find it everywhere that people are seeking therapeutic approaches to ailments or disorders. . . it is presented as something to cure society’s ills.2 School administrators, principals, teachers, and other school officials are being told that mindfulness is safe, is not religious, and is not the same as eastern or Buddhist meditation. This booklet will examine several aspects of mindfulness and will help to show why mindfulness meditation should not be brought into the schools and taught to children.

(745) After Ignored Warnings by LT, Gungor Worship Leader Tweet Says Buddha, Muhammad and You Are Christ at Lighthouse Trails, 8/4/21
LTRJ Note: In 2012, Lighthouse Trails tried to warn the church about the contemplative-promoting band, Gungor, in our article titled Tens of Thousands Introduced to Contemplative Advocates Gungor and David Crowder at Greg Laurie’s Harvest Crusade. Our warning was ignored by Christian leaders such as Greg Laurie and certain other large Calvary Chapel churches. As for Michael Gungor, we do not find it surprising that after practicing contemplative prayer all these years, he moved into the interspiritual (i.e., all paths lead to God) camp. As Ray Yungen pointed out so succinctly, this is the “natural” course contemplative practitioners tragically take. And this is why, after nearly 20 years, Lighthouse Trails continues warning the church about occultic mystical practices such as centering prayer and contemplative spirituality. The following news story is posted for informational and research purposes.

(746) Sarah Young’s New Agey Mystical Moonlight Conversion by Warren B. Smith, 9/8/21
In the original introduction to Jesus Calling, Sarah Young described how it was a walk in “God’s glorious creation” that led to her mystical moonlight conversion—that her “heart” was “converted” to “Jesus” when she “felt” “enveloped” by the “warm mist” of His “Presence.” Her account is reminiscent of how many of us fell prey to deceptive spiritual experiences rather than heeding warnings from the Word of God about “another Jesus,” “another gospel,” and “another spirit.” (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6-7; 1 Timothy 4:1). Note how Young clearly transitions right from “it was God’s glorious creation that helped me open my heart to Him” into her walk in the “snowy mountains” with its “cold moonlit beauty.” It is a continuous flow from one paragraph to the next.

(747) Contemplative Prayer or the Holy Spirit – It Can’t Be Both! by Ray Yungen, 9/17/21
Two authors from Great Britain portray a stunningly clear picture of New Age spirituality. They explain: [T]he keynote of it appears to be a movement for synthesis derived from an understanding of the underlying unity behind all things and the sense of oneness that this brings. This oneness of all life is the crux of the New Age movement.1 Catholic monk M. Basil Pennington defined the contemplative spiritual worldview in his book Thomas Merton My Brother. He related: The Spirit enlightened him [Merton] in the true synthesis [unity] of all and in the harmony of that huge chorus of living beings. In the midst of it he lived out a vision of a new world, where all divisions have fallen away and the divine goodness is perceived and enjoyed as present in all and through all.2 The first viewpoint describes God as the oneness of all existence. In Merton’s new world, God is perceived as being present “in all and through all.” It certainly appears that the same spirit enlightened both parties. The only difference was Merton’s revelation worked in a Christian context just as occultist Alice Bailey predicted. Unfortunately, this context is now commonplace in Catholic circles, becoming so in mainline Protestant churches, and being eagerly explored and embraced by an ever-increasing number of evangelical Christians.

(748) Shamanism Revived - The Seduction Of Christianity Audio Book - Chapter Nine by Dave Hunt, 9/18/21
The Bible clearly states that a great Apostasy must occur before Christ's second coming. Today, Christians are being deceived by a worldview more subtle and seductive than any before. What are the dangers in the growing acceptance and practice of:

* Positive and possibility thinking
* Healing of memories
* Self-help philosophies
* Holistic medicine

The seduction of Christianity will not appear as a frontal assault or oppression of our religious beliefs. Instead, it will come as the latest fashionable philosophies offering to make us happier, healthier, better educated, and even more spiritual. A compelling look at the times in which we live and a clear call to every believer to choose between the original and the counterfeit.

(749) Another Shack Betrayal: A Cat Named Judas by Warren B. Smith, 11/4/21
The name Judas has been described as the most hated name in all the world. Except for Shack author William Paul Young and maybe a few exceptional others, hardly anybody ever names anyone or anything Judas. It is one of those forbidden names like Jezebel or Lucifer that people would never dream of naming their child, their dog—or their cat. The very name denotes a sense of treachery and betrayal. After all, Judas was the one who openly betrayed Jesus and paved the way for His crucifixion. So what was William Paul Young thinking? Why does The Shack’s most endearing character—Missy—have a cat named Judas?1 And it seems especially odd to have a cat with that name in a family where the mother’s faith is described as “deep”2 and Missy is asking sincere questions about Jesus’ death.3

(750) Concerns About the Lectio 365 App (aka: Pete Greig and Lectio Divina) by Lighthouse Trails, 11/11/21
This group is connected with Pete Greig (Red Moon Rising) whom we warned about several years ago. Greig is a founding “team” member of Lectio 365 and has proven himself to be a long-time strong emergent contemplative proponent. https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=4009. A perusal of the Lectio 365 website reveals just as many concerns as back when we first warned about Greig.  Plus, the site is promoting Greig’s book, https://www.24-7prayer.com/redmoonrising showing that the propensity has not changed (for the good) over the years. In fact, it has only gotten worse, which is what happens with contemplative prayer. Here you can see that they are promoting Black Lives Matter: https://www.24-7prayer.com/justice. Thus it would stand to reason that they are promoting Critical Race Theory as well. And, of course, the Lectio 365 app is inspired by the practice of Lectio Divina. https://www.24-7prayer.com/lectio365-resource. Sadly, many young people are attracted to groups like this. Below is the content of our article on Lectio Divina. See also the links below that for documentation.

(751) The Global Church Network: Is It a New Age Path to “Back-door” Ecumenism? by Cedric Fisher, 2/15/22
This article is about the largest pastor’s network, also called a church, that appears to have the goal of becoming the global church. Professing Christians should know that there must be a one-world government to fulfill the prophesies of Revelation 13. They should also know that there must also be a one-world church or religion to compose the False Prophet’s kingdom. Thus, when a rapidly growing entity fraught with heresy and New Age/Christianity, joined by over 2500 denominations and ministries, including many heads of denominations, notorious politicians, journalists, and other secular icons, rises up to loom over all the other church networks, it is significant. I took a closer look at this network. This article presents some of my discoveries. I concluded that it is a dangerous organization based on Leonard Sweet’s influence alone. Why are the heads of denominations, including the Assemblies of God, Church of God, Nazarene, et al, joined with this network?

(752) Video Critique: The Chosen—Calling John the Baptist “Creepy John” and Jesus and John the Baptist Arguing About Herod at Lighthouse Trails, 2/24/22
Did you know that in the hugely popular series, The Chosen, the apostle Peter continually calls John the Baptist “creepy John”? Yet the Bible highly esteems John the Baptist saying he would “be great in the sight of the Lord” and come in the spirit and power of Elijah—Luke 1:15-17. Did you know that in The Chosen, Jesus and John the Baptist get into an argument about whether John should confront Herod or not. But would the Bible’s John of the Baptist, who said he was not even worthy to untie the laces of Jesus’ sandles, argue with Jesus Christ, and is there any hint in God’s Word that Jesus disapproved of John the Baptist’s confronting a leader who was committing adultery? The following video, done by a man who gave us permission to use his video, shows and discusses these scenes and others from The Chosen. As did our booklet, The Chosen Series: 10 Critical Concerns,1 the video below provides ample evidence that The Chosen discredits God’s Word.

(753) NAMB & David Platt Church Plant Promotes Enneagram For Church Training by Capstone Report, 3/22/22
A church in Virginia planted by the New City Network–a partnership funded by NAMB and McLean Bible Church promotes the use of the Enneagram in its new member training class. Conservative Christian experts warn of the dangers of the Enneagram. SBC Presidential candidate Willy Rice is vice chairman of the NAMB trustees charged with oversight of NAMB.

(754) Christianity’s ‘Trip’ To The East by Don and Joy Veinot – Midwestern Christian Outreach, 3/28/22
“[M]any of the leading voices in the spiritual formation movement stress the need for more intuitive interpretations of spirituality. They encourage believers to incorporate a wide variety of extrabiblical spiritual practices, such as contemplative prayer, silence, meditation, creative expression, and Yoga. In fact, some of the most popular methods of spiritual formation have been lifted from Catholicism, new age mysticism, or other religions and rebranded with biblical-sounding terminology.” The 1960s and ’70s was a time of great transition for Western culture – and in our opinion, not in a good way. Sadly in our view, America led the way down that slippery slope. Social mores and long-held religious tenets were challenged and often discarded by young people, which raised the eyebrows of former generations and truly frightened many parents.

(755) Lesbians And Homosexuals To Train Leaders At AWANA ‘Child Discipleship’ Conference at CRN, 3/29/22
“It is clear the direction the ministry is moving—the same direction that the rest of mainstream Evangelicalism is going. Ultimately, this is going to have an effect from the top down and it will make its way into your church if it is not stopped.” AWANA is a program used by many Evangelical churches as a tool to train children in various areas of discipleship, primarily, Scripture memorization. While churches use the program in varying degrees—ranging from nothing more than practicing and reciting Scripture to using the full curriculum—it should be noted that the direction the ministry is going is troubling, to say the least.

(756) New YouTube Channel for Ray Yungen Lectures by Chris Lawson, 4/7/22
Lighthouse Trails friend, author, and ministry colleague Chris Lawson (director of Spiritual Research Network) has created a new YouTube channel for Ray Yungen’s lecture and conference videos. We want to thank Chris for providing this resource; and we hope you will get a chance to check it out. For those who are not familiar with Ray’s work, he has played a major role for the last 20 years in the ministry of Lighthouse Trails helping to equip the church in understanding and avoiding spiritual deception. The lectures on the YouTube channel contain vital information and documentation that continues to be relevant today. Ray passed away in 2016, but his legacy of discernment lives on.
Ray Yungen’s YouTube channel.

(757) Sorceries or Salvation—Which Shall It Be? by Ray Yungen, 4/10/22
Just what exactly is God’s desire for mankind? Does He want to send people to Hell? Does He want anyone to live eternally without Him? Scripture is very clear about this when it says: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) God makes a strong plea to all people, giving them every opportunity to receive Him. It is God’s desire that none should perish eternally. That’s why He offered His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ—the only perfect sacrifice for mankind’s sin: Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Jesus] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (Romans 5:18) What it comes down to is the preaching of the higher self (as taught in contemplative spirituality) versus the preaching of the Cross. The New Age says that God is the higher self in man—that God is just a meditation away.

(758) The Enneagram Is The Face Of God And The Body Of Christ? by Marcia Montenegro – Midwest Christian Outreach, 4/26/22
The distortions of God continue unchecked in the culture of the Enneagram celebrities. A recent example is Rev. Michael John Cusick, M.A., L.P.C., founder and CEO of Restoring the Soul, an organization in Colorado. IAN CRON recently promoted Michael John Cusick on his Typology podcast. In doing a bit of research on Cusick and his organization, I came across his podcast, “Episode 100 – Kelley Gray, ‘5 Ways the Enneagram Can Strengthen Your Marriage, Part II: Understanding How Your Partner Handles Conflict’” on Luminary.

(759) “Progressive” Christianity—After Our Children and Grandchildren by Berit Kjos, 5/4/22
Today’s “progressive” emerging churches have little love for the old certainties that have grounded genuine Christians in God’s revealed truth for 2000 years. They say those precious guidelines don’t fit the new dialectic and collective ways of thinking. Today’s entertainment-driven Christians prefer “feel good” assurances stripped of unwanted references to sin, guilt, or moral boundaries.

(760) Letter to the Editor: I Discovered the Christian College I Was Attending Was “Woke”! by S.M., 5/11/22
I am grateful to God for using you and your website to open my eyes on so many spiritual war fronts. The reason I am writing this e-mail is because I am looking for a list of Christian higher education establishments that have signed on with the woke movement. I recently applied to a “Christian” college (College of Bbiblical Studies [CBS], Houston) after first pre-checking the name of the institution against your list of Christian colleges that promote spiritual formation. I thought I was safe since it was not on the list, but boy was I wrong! I recently watched a DVD titled Enemies Within the Church, and I was struck when they noted that woke “Christian” colleges and seminaries focused heavily on philosophy and worldviews rather than Scripture. I was dumbfounded when I heard this because one of the required classes I had signed up for at CBS seemed to be heavily focused on philosophy and worldviews. This greatly concerned me, so I dug a little deeper and found that one of the professors teaching at CBS actually wrote the book Woke Church.

(761) The Big Picture: How the World and the Church Are Being Deceived: Ten Spiritual Devices by Warren B. Smith, 5/22/22
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11) Many years ago, I was recruited into the New Age movement to help implement its deceptive peace plan. The same devices used to deceive me into accepting its teachings are the same devices being used today to deceive the world—and the church. These devices are preparing everyone for a seemingly “wonderful” peace plan that is being euphemistically described as God’s Dream for the world. The following are ten of these deceptive spiritual devices.

(762) Sarah Young’s Heretical Book ‘Jesus Calling’ Has Sold 40,000,000 Copies by Protestia, 6/4/22
It can’t be denied: The Jesus of Sarah Young sounds suspiciously like a twenty-first century, Western, middle-aged woman. ~ Tim Challies In an announcement betraying the sad state of affairs in the Christian World, Publishers Weekly has announced that Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling devotional has sold over 40,000,000 copies across all formats and editions. Three years ago it had sold 30,000,000 copies, meaning that it shows no sign of slowing down and is one of the best-selling ‘christian’ books of all time.

(763) Dallas Jenkins’ “definitive (final) comments” on the Mormon issue exposed presented by The Word Like Fire Ministries, 6/5/22
Video is done by a former Mormon whom we have featured before. Recently Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, has tried to wiggle out of some of his comments such as Christians and Mormons “love the same Jesus.” This excellent and short video demonstrates that, in spite his masterful effort at muddying the waters, Jenkins did make these claims. Click here to watch the video.

(764) Letter to the Editor: Diana Butler Bass and Westmont College Steered Daughter Away From the Faith at Lighthouse Trails, 6/6/22
Dear Lighthouse Trails: I thank you for the work you are doing for God’s kingdom. I enjoy your newsletters and have been taught many things to steer clear of because of your faithful and great teaching. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Our daughter, unfortunately, attended a Christian college in the mid 90s (Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California), and they steered her away from the faith. I still don’t understand exactly what they taught. But I do know that her mentor and one of her professors (a Ms. Diana Butler—you’ve probably heard if her) really did a number on her. Anyway, I digress and just wanted to not only ask for the information in the book, A Time of Departing, but also to say thank you. May I ask that you and your team please pray for our daughter’s salvation.  We want so desperately for her to seek the Lord. She isn’t receptive to our views at all. We’re praying for a miracle. C.H.

(765) Evangelical Race Consultant Says Only ‘Redeemed’ (Woke) White People Should Be Hired And Promoted At Seminaries by The Dissenter, 6/26/22
The IF Gathering conference has been a blemish on the Evangelical Church since it started in 2014 hosting people from nearly every aberrant theological sect of Christendom while avoiding any actual gospel content. The annual conference exists to advance the “woke church” movement, the Prosperity Gospel, and charismatic charlatanry into mainstream Evangelicalism and includes speakers ranging on the spectrum from extremely troubling views to rank heretics.

(766) Christianity Is Missing Out on Something Vital – Is This True? by Ray Yungen, 8/13/22
Contemplative advocates propose that something vital and important has been 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 in the New Testament and divination in the Old Testament.

(767) Letter to the Editor: The Salvation Army Continues on the Ecumenical Road at Llighthouse Trails, 10/25/22
LTRP Note: Lighthouse Trails first wrote about the Salvation Army’s move into the contemplative/emerging camp in July of 2006 in an article titled, “Salvation Army Joins the Contemplative/Emerging Ranks.” Later that year, we reported on Salvation Army’s partnering with Pete Greig’s emergent 24/7 Prayer and Boiler Rooms movement. In 2008, we reported that Salvation Army had linked arms with Rick Warren’s ecumenical PEACE coalition. In 2009, we showed Salvation Army’s connection with the ecumenical G12 Master Plan and in 2010, SA’s involvement with the G8 World Religions Summit. Then in 2019, showing TSA’s prolonged ecumenical propensity, we posted an article titled “World Leader of Salvation Army Meets With Pope Francis/Vatican to Discuss Ecumenical Plans.”

(768) Letter to the Editor Reveals Salvation Army Pushing Yoga, Meditation, and Mystic Henri Nouwen at Lighthouse Trails, 11/21/22
I am enclosing some magazine articles put out by the Salvation Army during the summer of 2022. One of them is from Peer magazine that is for teenagers and college-age kids. The article from that magazine is about [the Catholic contemplative mystic] Henri Nouwen. The other article, “Meditation in Movement,” is from SAconnects and is an article about so-called “Christian Yoga.”

(769) Jackie Hill Perry Repents Of Using And Promoting The Enneagram, Calls It Demonic by The Dissenter, 1/12/23
“If we could just get her to repent of all of her other false teachings, such as Same-sex-attracted Christianity, feminism, the social gospel, and charismaticism, and get her to step down and sit under solid Bible teaching, she might become credible.” The Enneagram, which is touted as a way–apart from the Scriptures–to gain insight into one’s “true self,” restoring balance and developing more desirable qualities to one’s personality and reaching a state of spiritual “freedom,” is a system of personality typing and self-awareness that was developed in the 20th century by George Gurdjieff and Oscar Ichazo. Its origins have been linked to Gnostic principles and teachings, but its compatibility with Christianity is highly contested by Bible-believing Christianity.

(770) What Christian Leaders and Pastors Need to Know – The Final Outcome of Practicing Contemplative Prayer by Ray Yungen, 1/18/23
The final outcome of contemplative prayer is interspirituality. If you have truly grasped the portrait I have tried to paint in my books and articles, you have begun to see what this term signifies. The focus of my criticism of mystical prayer must be understood in the light of interspirituality.

(771) Evolution & the New Age Movement by Sarah Leslie, Herescope, 1/20/23
Over the past several decades America has undergone a profound transformation from a culture that was primarily Christian to one that is now largely pagan. One of the primary reasons for this change has been the widening influence of Eastern mysticism. A central tenet of all Eastern religions is the belief that man is evolving.

(772) Christianizing the Force by Sarah Leslie, Herescope, 1/20/23
During the past few years, many strong voices within the Church have sprung up, sounding the alarm concerning the spiritual dangers of Yoga. They expressed concern as so-called “Christian” Yoga groups cropped up all over the country seducing unsuspecting believers away from the simplicity in Christ. Many of these discerning speakers and authors have not made the connection with the Martial Arts to its Eastern mother, Yoga.

(773) What is the “He Gets Us” campaign? by Sandy Simpson, ACT, 2/4/23
There is a new campaign called “He Gets Us” presenting a false Jesus.  It is funded to the tune of $1 billion and promotes a “Woke” Jesus.  A $20 million ad buy will be spent on ads during the Superbowl. Following the money and backers leads to organizations such as Servant Christian Foundation #1, whose donors remain anonymous.  However, this organization’s website is linked to The Church of the Servant #2 and The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology #3.

(774) He Gets Us Exposed: The Money And Marketing Behind The $20 Million Superbowl Ads by Ray Fava – Evangelical Dark Web, 2/10/23
“In attempting to brand Jesus as rebellious, radical, and anti-establishment, the He Gets Us campaign, initiated by the Servant Foundation, is going to squander what they forecast to be a billion dollars by 2025 on a puerile advertising campaign that misapplies Scripture and slanders Christ. Moreover, it is reliant upon pro-abortion creatives, Mormons, and apostates to create a presentation that will fail to lead people to Christ. God’s word does not come back void, but one must utilize Scripture for this to be true.” While watching or attending sporting events in America, the people have become exposed to the He Gets Us campaign. Whether via commercials or through stadium advertising, messages about Jesus are presented in the most trifling manner with banal statements like “Jesus left it all on the field” to more unscriptural statements like “Jesus was a refuge” and “Jesus was fed up with politics, too” in vain attempts to make Jesus more relatable to a modern audience.

(775) Bible Project’s Tim Mackie And Contemplative Prayer by John Lanagan – The Word Like Fire, 3/6/23
“Why do Mackie and Tyler Staton not know this about Keating? Sure, Keating can speak “Christianese” if that is what his audience requires. He can speak of Trinitarian love, or about Christ with seeming sincerity. But it doesn’t take much effort at all to learn about Keating’s actual theology.” “And that’s because the Divine Presence is always with us. This can be understood as the glorified Christ, or as the Holy Spirit, or as the Trinity, or as the Higher Consciousness, or as the One Self, or as the Higher Self.” – Contemplative prayer advocate Thomas Keating. Yikes! Unholy.

(776) Will “Revival” in Christian Colleges Bring About a Generation of Mystics — With “Woke,” Not Biblical, Values? by Lighthouse Trails, 3/8/23
One of the things we find interesting about the current “wokeism” movement that is infecting numerous Christian colleges and universities today is that we often hear some news source or pastor or other Christian figure ask, “How did all these schools become woke so fast.” What much of the church leadership is not doing is “connecting the dots.” One of the “fruits” of a school going contemplative is “wokeism.” Some of the other “fruits,” (which actually help define “Christian wokeism”) of the contemplative movement are: A move from a biblical creation view to a more humanistic evolutionary opinion. This explains why so many young people attending contemplative schools come away four years later as atheists, leaving behind the faith of their youth and their parents. Moving away from an exclusive view that Jesus is the only door to salvation and embracing a more inclusive idea that all paths lead to God. A spiritual outlook that takes on Buddhist and/or New Age-type characteristics. Changing morality views from a conservative stance to a more liberal stance (which spills over into the political arena as well – e.g., abortion). A relaxed, even embracing, view on homosexuality and other sexual deviances. Social justice taking the place of biblical true justice. Dismissing the idea that Israel and the Jews have a significant role in Bible prophecy for the endtimes which often leads to antisemitic sympathies. A diminishing view on the inerrancy of the Bible.

(777) The Bible Project’s Tim Mackie Believes Penal Substitutionary Atonement Stems From Pagan Sacrifice Rituals by John Lanagan – The Word Like Fire, 3/17/23
“In his denial of the Penal Substitutionary Atonement, Tim Mackie is following in the footsteps of The Shack author William Paul Young, and many others.” Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:16) Concerns about Bible Project and its co-founder Tim Mackie continue to grow. The recent discovery of Mackie’s advocacy of anti-biblical meditative practices has been stunning.

(778) Makes No Sense for Contemplatives to Celebrate Easter by Lighthouse Trails, 4/7/23
The Church’s fixation on the death of Jesus as the universal saving act must end, and the place of the cross must be reimagined in Christian faith. Why? Because of the cult of suffering and the vindictive God behind it.1—Alan Jones, Episcopal contemplative priest. 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, cunning manner. And it 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.

(779) Visio Divina: A Mystical Practice by Any Other Name Is Still a Mystical Practice at Lighthouse Trails, 4/15/23
The term was not typically used in the English form until the 21st century and most of that use has occurred in just the last few years. Today, dozens and dozens of books have been published which include the term. In the Preface (written by editors) of Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit (a book written by the late Catholic mystic Henri Nouwen), it states: Although the editors have used the term visual divina for many years in workshops and retreats, visio divina—the Latin version of sacred seeing—has started to appear on Web sites devoted to contemporary prayer and meditation. The postmodern practice of visio divina, combined with the ancient practice of lectio divina, provides an integrative, sensory, spiritual approach to connecting with divine creativity and presence in sacred word and image. (p. 137) The book also states: The ancient practice of meditating on visual images has recently been identified as visio divina (divine or sacred seeing). In our world of many words, sitting in silent reflection with an image may aid in the descent of your mind into the heart. (emphasis added) We know from studying contemplative spirituality for over twenty years that the “descent of your mind into the heart” is contemplative language referring to the altered state of consciousness that is reached during mystical meditation.

(780) “Asbury Students, Professor Join Tony Campolo’s Pro-gay, Progressive Protégé, Shane Claiborne, to Discuss ‘Revival’ in Viral Video” at Lighthouse Trails, 5/2/23
LTRP Note: The following out of house article by Christian News Network is from February 16th, 2023, but even though it is over two months old, we believe it is another piece of the puzzle regarding the “Asbury revival.” For those who are not familiar with the names Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo, you may visit our research site and use the search engine to find ample information about both of them. They are part of the emergent/progressive/woke church. You may also wish to read our March 6th article “Will ‘Revival’ in Christian Colleges Bring About a Generation of Mystics — With ‘Woke,’ Not Biblical, Values?”

(781) Why Do Evangelical Churches Look So Much Like The Secular Culture Around Them? at CRN, 5/4/23
“It’s high time for us to rise up, dust off our Bibles, and stand firm on the solid rock of God’s Word. We must reject the temptation to bow down to the idols of modern culture and instead be unwavering ambassadors for Christ. Our mission is to spread the Gospel, call sinners to repentance, and uphold the truth that there is no salvation apart from Jesus.” As the eschatological clock continues to tick, and as we ever approach Christ’s return, it seems like every self-promoting, virtue-signaling Evangelical has jumped on the bandwagon of ever-shifting cultural movements. These trends, ranging from the use of preferred pronouns to a misguided “compassion” for mothers willing to take their unborn children to be killed on the altar of convenience, have been creeping into our churches and our homes watering down the truth of God in His word and robbing Him of His glory in creation.

(782) Is Your Church Doing “Spiritual Formation”? (Important Reasons Why They Shouldn’t) by Lighthouse Trails, 5/22/23
Lighthouse Trails wrote this report in 2014. Since then, we have watched “Spiritual Formation” explode within the church. After over twenty years of warnings, to our dismay, the issue has not been challenged or even questioned by most of today’s Christian leaders and pastors. Is your church involved in a Spiritual Formation program? If so, you might want to ask the question, what exactly is Spiritual Formation? 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.

(783) The Story Of Us: We Preach Not Jesus, But the Story Of Us: We Preach Not Jesus, But Ourselves by Shane Rosenthal, 7/13/23
“Rather than focusing on Christ’s death, burial and resurrection as testified by a multitude of reliable witnesses and written in advance throughout the Scriptures, many Christians today have chosen to proclaim a different gospel entirely. This new and improved gospel is The Story of Us. This story is one that is perceived to be much more credible and effective than the story of Jesus, because, unlike the story of Jesus, it can’t be refuted. The end result is that we’ve inverted Paul’s statement in 2Cor 4:5—we preach not Jesus, but ourselves.” In her book, Spirituality for Dummies, Sharon Janis writes, “In a nutshell, spirituality relates to your own personal experience and relationship with the divine…Dogma can muddy the waters of a spiritual path.” Similarly, in his book Conversations with God, Neale Donald Walsch writes that “leaders, ministers, books, and even the Bible itself are not authoritative sources.”…

(784) A Dangerous Walk With Eugene Peterson by Warren B. Smith, 7/24/23
The danger of entrusting one’s Christian walk to Eugene Peterson and his Message translation was dramatically underscored in a 2007 book Peterson wrote titled The Jesus Way.

(785) Russell Moore’s Church-Teaching Partner Says New Age Breathing Techniques Originate In Jesus by The Dissenter, 8/25/23
A few months ago, I published a video on Twitter of a man named Curtis Chang who made the asinine argument that getting the COVID vaXX was just like Jesus saving people—the vaccine “redeemed an abortion” the same way Jesus redeems sinners. That was literally his argument. Chang, a contributor at the pro-evolution BioLogos organization and the author of several books, including The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self, has joined forces with former SBC ERLC head, Russell Moore, and progressive grifter, David French, to create a curriculum for churches to teach congregants about politics.

(786) Christian Journaling, Mystical Spirituality, And New Revelations From God? by Chris Lawson, 9/6/23
Spiritual Journaling, spirit journaling, Christian Journaling, and newfound daily devotional “revelations” have become excessively popular. Many people claim receiving direct spirit revelations from God, and others, messages from Jesus Himself. Others claim to receive prompts from the Holy Spirit through Christian Journaling, which many are not from God. Some famous Christian authors even give no scriptural warnings as they teach people how to listen for “messages from God.” These practices can be spiritually hazardous!

(787) Christian-Cloaked Occultism by The Dissenter, 9/13/23
“These practices, seductive as they may be, drift away from the core biblical teachings and often have more in common with New Age or occult beliefs than they do with orthodox Christianity. It’s a growing concern that necessitates unwavering discernment.” In Part XIII of our hard-hitting series on the Snares of the Modern Church, we unmask one of the most pernicious yet insidious traps that have ensnared unwitting believers—occultism. Yes, you read that right. We’re talking about occult practices that have slithered their way into modern Christianity, camouflaging themselves as “spiritual disciplines” or “deep prayer methods.” From Lectio Divina promoted by well-known figures like John Piper, to Contemplative Prayer endorsed by many leaders including the late Tim Keller, these practices have wormed their way into mainstream Christian thought.

(788) Meditation’s Role in the End of the Age by Ray Yungen, 9/18/23
Throughout my Christian life I have periodically heard fellow Christians suggest we are in the last days. Often these comments were initiated from current cases of violent crimes, sexual perversions, war, or natural disasters. Since I knew history had repeatedly encountered these calamities, such predictions of Christ’s imminent return rang hollow. 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.

(789) InterVarsity Press Claims Success of Their New-Age Promoting Enneagram Book, The Road Back to You by Lighthouse Trails, 10/12/23
Last week, a news release from InterVarsity Press, arrived in our inbox (Lighthouse Trails is on their e-mail list in order to track their continual flow of contemplative/emergent/New-Age sympathizing books). The news release was announcing the seven-year anniversary of the release of their book, The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and is a book about the Enneagram. The release states: "Self-awareness seems like the thing that everyone wants but yet it may be the very thing that is still elusive to so many of us.  Seven years ago, The Road Back to You was published and it became an instant hit. The book introduced the enneagram to thousands of people within months and then just kept going and going. I don’t think that’s because the Enneagram was already popular. Most people didn’t know what the Enneagram was until they read the book. What I believe happened is that people learned about the Enneagram and then discovered that the Enneagram led them toward greater self-awareness. The kind of self-awareness they had been looking for."

(790) The Dangers Of Spiritual Formation And Spiritual Disciplines by Mike Ratliff, 11/8/23
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees: 21 “Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch”? 22 Which deal with everything destined to perish with use, which are in accordance with the commands and teachings of men; 23 which are matters having, to be sure, a word of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Colossians 2:20-23 (LSB) As we have been seeing, in the attacks on the Church by what is now called “Progressive Christianity,” what the enemies of God’s Truth are actually constructing is a Spiritual Labyrinth whose complexity is designed to confuse and deceive.

(791) Bill Gothard on Visualization as “One of the Most Basic Aspects of Faith” by Don and Joy Veinot, 12/2/23
Bill Gothard’s unique and at times, unbiblical teachings have impacted churches, homeschool groups, and Christians far beyond the over two and a half million that have attended his Basic Seminar. If his teaching on authority is applied consistently, Jesus was a sinner, visualization is “one of the most basic aspects of faith,” and First Century authoritarianism is the biblical model for Christians and the church. We decided to post an excerpt of our updated and newly released book, A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard and His Cultish Teaching. This comes from chapter three, “The Emerald City.”

(792) The Mystical Revolution: How Millions of People Have Been Introduced to the Aquarian Age by Ray Yungen, 1/13/24
Most people understand there’s been a number of revolutions over the past forty years or so, beginning in the ’60s. For instance, there’s been the sexual revolution, the feminist revolution, and what you might call the drug revolution. These were social movements that changed and altered society to a significant degree. Before this time period, people more or less stayed with convention. They more or less conformed to society’s expectations and codes of behavior. There were technical revolutions and philosophical revolutions in the past, but the revolutions we have had since the 1960s have turned society in a totally new direction.

(793) Overlapping Narrative for a False Christ by Warren B. Smith, 3/17/24
The following is an extract from the 2023 Lighthouse Trails book written by seven LT authors, A New Narrative for a “New” World. This portion below is by former New Age follower, Warren B. Smith. While reading this, test yourself to see how many of these terms you recognize and how many you may have heard in a church or Christian setting.


Rob Bell

(1) Deconstructing Rob Bell's False Gospel by Chris Rosebrough, Fighting For Faith, July 21st, 2009 
In this version of his Fighting for the Faith podcast from his Pirate Christian Radio apologist Chris Rosebrough does a serious and thorough deconstruction of the gospel-less gospel of Rob Bell, a popular icon in the egregiously ecumenical Emerging Church aka Emergent Church-morphing into Emergence Christianity (EC). How refreshing to hear Rosebrough bring our attention to the critical importance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as he reminds the Body of Christ that "the Gospel is not a side issue. The Gospel is at the very heart and center of Christianity; you get the Gospel wrong, you are sending yoursefl-and other people to Hell."

(2) What Does Rob Bell Think about the TNIV? comment by Roger Oakland, Understanding The Times, 9/19/10 
The clip that you are about to watch is of paramount importance. If ever there was someone speaking Jesuit "speak" the speaker on the clip is speaking Jesuit "speak". Question: Why is the Word of God under so much attack? Why are those who stand up for the Word of God under attack? Answer: Satan hates the Word of God. He hates God. There is an organization that wants to set up the kingdom of god with out God. Hello! You can read about this organization in the book of Revelation. Why would anyone want to take the word man (http://www.av1611.org/) out of the Bible? Could it be to hide the fact that there is a man who will someday say that he is god. This man will be embodied by Satan. Hello! If our web site is down following this alert, you will know what happened. God says He will protect men (women) (children) from wolves who are wolves although they look like shepherds or even the sheep. Come on Bible believing Christians. Wake up! Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18) Taken from the Holy Bible and not the TNIV ... Check It Out!

(3) Everything is not Spiritual - A Critique of Rob Bell's Pan-Spiritual Worldview by Pastor Larry DeBruyn for The New Spirituality, 2/12/11 
Among emergent church leaders there exists a growing trend to merge the secular with the sacred, to mix unspiritual and spiritual together. Emergent reality is viewed to be One, to be a monistic whole.

(4) Rob Bell Teaching Universalism by Ken Silva, 2/26/11 
Two years ago in Rob Bell And Christian Universalism I began to show you that Rob Bell is as much a universalist as his friends comprising the unholy EC trinity of apostates, Living Spiritual Teacher and EC guru Brian McLaren, universalist Emerging Church pastor Doug Pagitt, and his friend Tony Jones, the progressive "theologian in residence" at Solomon's Porch.

(5) Love Wins, A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived by Rob Bell - Reviewed by Steve Blackwell
In the sixties we were bombarded with "love," and we have seen what that experiment has produced; a whole generation of babies murdered in the womb. Today, love is in the air once again, and Rob Bell has captured the essence of this love fest by making scandalous claims against God. He has put words into the mouth of God that are pure and simple lies; Rob has made God a liar. Rob's definition of love has been plucked out of thin air, and can nowhere be found in the document given to us by God Himself. Rob's definition of love comes not from the Living God, so it must come from another source. Where, or who, might that source be. There is only one other source; if it is not from Heaven then, it is from Hell; if it is not God, then it is Satan. This is a trustworthy saying, because it comes from the Book of Truth, the Bible, God's own words.

(6) Rob Bell the wolf exposed by Nazarenepsalm113, March 16, 2011 
MSNBC Host Makes Rob Bell Squirm: "You're Amending The Gospel So That It's Palatable!" 

(7) If Rob Bell and Neale Donald Walsch are Right, Then Hitler Will Be in Heaven! by Lighthouse Trails Research, 3/20/11 
If Rob Bell is right, in his new book Love Wins, then Adolph Hitler (murderer of over 6 million Jews) will be in Heaven. According to the prolific New Age author Neale Donald Walsch (author of the best-selling Conversations with God), Hitler will indeed be in Heaven. He says God told him so. The following excerpt from Warren Smith's book False Christ Coming: Does Anybody Care? has some interesting insights and quotes about Walsch's views on Hitler.

(8) Brian McLaren Takes On Al Mohler Over Rob Bell by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 3/23/11 
With this in mind, I'll bring to your attention that guru McLaren has decided to wade into the minor flap raised by one of his disciples, the Emerging Church rock star pastor Rob Bell, with his new book of mythology called Love Wins. The saga of Mohler and McLaren begins with Mohler's article We Have Seen All This Before: Rob Bell and the (Re)Emergence of Liberal Theology where he correctly showed that Bell's musings are indeed quite similar to what the late cult expert Dr. Walter Martin labeled, "The Cult of Liberalism."

(9) Open Rebuke by Paul Proctor, News With Views, 3/23/11 
The Emerging Church controversy has caught the attention of the mainstream media again and in a big way with the latest book from Rob Bell, entitled, "Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived" - a "universalist" view from a popular "Christian" author and pastor that has already drawn numerous objections from many evangelical leaders including several sharp commentaries from the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, R. Albert Mohler Jr. - the latest of which appeared in the Baptist Press, titled, "Rob Bell and the (re)emergence of liberal theology."

(10) Love Wins, A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived by Rob Bell - Reviewed by Beret Kjos - Read it here or here.

(11) "Is Rob Bell teaching Universalism?  Are people saved after death?"by Alex Carmichael, CARM, 4/6/11
From a Biblical perspective, all one really needs to counter Bell's claim that there is the possibility of a sinner coming to saving faith in Christ after death is to look at one verse, to see if that hypothesis holds any water.  And that verse is (Hebrews 9:27). (Hebrews 9:27, NKJV) says:  "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment," This is a key verse in refuting Bell's claim. 

(12) First Sermon By Rob Bell At Mars Hill Bible Church by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 4/11/11 
If one doesn't recognize here that Bell is praising "the mystics" for their supposedly superior spiritual understanding, which is but a reimagined Gnosticism, I personally believe it's simply because they just do not wish to see. And a classic symptom of the deception one receives as they continue on in this unbiblical practice of meditation in altered states of consciousness is a distorted view of the actual nature of unregenerate mankind.

Updated! (13) Rob Bell needs to hear the Gong! by Mike Oppenheimer, 4/19/11 
The newest philosophy from Mars Hill. Read Rob Bell needs to hear the Gong!, The tragedy of not understanding the gospel & Without Faith there is no salvation - the fatal flaw of universalism.

(14) New Zondervan CEO Fan Of Rob Bell by Ken Silva, 5/7/11 
It's critical that you recognize that for years now postmodern progressive liberal leaders in the Emerging Church have been using the exact same strategies to take over the younger sectors of mainstream evangelicalism. This is the proper backdrop to consider New Zondervan CEO Scott Macdonald says he's a fan of Rob Bell.

(15) The Unbelief Of Rob Bell by Ken Silva, 5/9/11 
Rob Bell's denial of eternal punishment goes hand in hand with a warped view of the gospel" Having rejected biblical authority, Bell has set himself up as his own authority.

(16) Hell-Questioning Pastor Resigns From Michigan Megachurch by Billy Hallowell, The Blaze, 9/23/11 
GRANDVILLE, Mich. (The Blaze/AP) - An evangelical pastor (Rob Bell) who started a firestorm earlier this year with his book that questions traditional Christian beliefs about hell is leaving his Michigan megachurch to share his message with a broader audience.

(17) 'Love Wins' raised hell for Rob Bell at Mars Hill, The New Yorker says by Matt Vande Bunte, MLive, 11/29/12 
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Fallout from Rob Bell’s bestselling “Love Wins” book pushed him to leave the West Michigan megachurch he founded, according to The New Yorker. And the television show Bell went to work on in California has stalled, Kelefa Sanneh writes in the magazine’s Nov. 26 issue. In a profile of Bell called “The Hell-Raiser,” Sanneh chronicles the former Mars Hill Bible Church pastor’s personal “search for a more forgiving faith," and concludes that he might fit better on the beaches of southern California than in a West Michigan pulpit.

(18) Rob Bell to Teach Teens That Christian Beliefs About Hell are ‘Misguided and Toxic’ at Lighthouse Trails, 3/9/13 
Author and speaker Rob Bell is set to release a teen version of his book Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived nationwide next month. In a promotional video created for Love Wins: For Teens, Bell explains that the book is designed to teach youth that God is the life of the party, rather than the one that spoils everyone’s fun.

(19) Rob Bell Emerges Out of the Closet . . . and the Wool (Again) by Elliott Nesch, 3/19/13 
The Emergence Christianity leaders continue to come out of the closet, and out of their sheep costumes, as one after another they end up mirroring Western postmodern culture in support of gay marriage.

(20) Accommodating the Culture: The author of Sex God endorses same-sex marriages by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 3/21/13
As one who has followed Rob Bell’s career for almost a decade, from the time he was the youth pastor at the church I grew up in, Calvary Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then as the founding pastor of the Mars Hill Bible Church in suburban Grandville of the same city, I wondered when he, as he seemed so bent to be culturally relevant, would finally out what he really thought about same sex marriages.[2] Well, now he has, and not surprisingly, at least to me (I spotted him as a false teacher a decade ago, for false teachers always seem engaged to the culture more than to Christ), he recently endorsed same sex marriages in the friendly confines in of all places, the liberal Grace Cathedral in San Francisco during a forum held Sunday, March 17, 2013.[3] In this endorsement he has taken cue from political leaders (the President comes to mind, as also recently, Hillary Clinton), for they too are ever testing the political winds of fortune to see which direction they’re a’ blowing.

(21) No Hell Bell Comes Out in Support of Homosexuality by The Berean Call, 4/1/13 
Rob Bell, author of the best-selling and controversial book Love Wins , which challenges the Christian teaching of Hell, came out in support of homosexual marriage on Sunday and called “narrow” Christians to repentance.

(22) Rob Bell Debates Homosexuality vs. The Bible (VIDEO) at Lighthouse Trails, 6/5/13
LTRP Note: The following is from Stand Up For the Truth radio program. We apologize for the occasion in the interview where Rob Bell swears. It is shortly after the 16 minute mark so you could mute the video at that point. We do believe this is an interview worth watching, however. We would like to point out also, for those who may think that Rob Bell is in a minority extreme group for thinking the way he does, that popular evangelical leaders such as Tony Campolo, Philip Yancey, Dan Kimball, and others have all played a part in bringing about this paradigm shift within evangelical Christianity. It’s not just Rob Bell and Brian McLaren 

(23) Rob Bell's 'Love Wins' Nudged 1,000 People to Leave Mars Hill Bible Church, Says Michigan Megachurch Successor at Understand The Times, 11/21/13
Mars Hill Bible Church, the congregation founded by author Rob Bell, lost about 1,000 people over their former pastor's controversial 2011 book, Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, according to the Grandville, Mich., megachurch's new pastor Kent Dobson. Dobson was chosen by Mars Hill Bible Church in 2012 to replace Bell, who founded the congregation in 1999. "I would say about 1,000 people left (over 'Love Wins'), and that's okay. I don't think even a lot of them left in anger," he added. "They just thought 'Well, Mars Hill's not the place I thought it was.' Surely some people were upset, but on the other hand it wasn't exactly a mass exodus. Rob had been saying everything in that book for five years."

(24) Rob Bell Is Now Walking With Oprah Winfrey Through The New Spirituality by Ken Silva, 4/16/14 
Neo-gnostics like Oprah Winfrey, and possibly Bell himself now, are trying to get others to understand that it doesn�t so much matter what you believe about God as long as you believe the world is spiritual. I showed you before, also using her own words, that Oprah Winfrey is not a Christian�though �she was raised Baptist.� 

(25) Rob Bell and Oprah Wrap Up New Age Tour�EQUALLY YOKED by Lighthouse Trails, 11/22/14
This past weekend, former evangelical pastor Rob Bell and former television icon Oprah wrapped up their national 8-city �Oprah�s The Life You Want Weekend� New Age tour. Joining Bell and Oprah on the tour were other two New Age sympathizers �  Deepak Chopra and Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love). There was a time, not too many years ago, when Bell�s best-selling book Velvet Elvis was being read by millions of young evangelicals, and the book was touted by Christian leaders and college professors. It was a disaster in discernment in the church as even back then Bell was promoting the New Age. In a 2007 article, a Lighthouse Trails stated, �Velvet Elvis and Bell�s Noomas are a trojan horse that will deliver to young unsuspecting kids from Christian homes a hearty helping of the New Age (i.e., mysticism and panentheism). And if they are introduced to the New Age under the guise of Christian literature, many of them will be seduced by �doctrines of devils.'� Bell, who stepped down from the evangelical pastorate in 2011, has finally openly shown his true New Age colors by yoking himself with Oprah Winfrey, the most influential New Ager in the world today.

(26) Rob Bell promotes �Mother God� and �apophatic meditation� in new �Liturgists� show at Understand The Times, 7/25/15 
In addition to (or perhaps because of) his new The Rob Bell Show on Oprah Winfrey�s OWN channel, Rob Bell has been busy with his ZIMZUM of Love book promotions and now his new The Liturgists program, a podcast he has quietly launched with a dozen or so other theological partners who �do not actively promote our names and personal images� for ego reasons. What do The Liturgists talk about when they talk about God the Father? Well actually, they talk about God the Mother.  That�s not a typo.

(27) Universalist Rob Bell Jumps on Mysticism Bandwagon at Understand The Times, 8/4/15 
Hipster preacher Rob Bell is mashing up quantum physics, Jewish Kabbalah and Catholic mysticism to explain humanity's future evolution.  In his 30-city "Everything is Spiritual" tour, the former megachurch pastor and short-lived Oprah Winfrey Network talk-show host delivers a two-hour monologue aimed at a millennial generation less interested in sin and judgment and more attuned to science and cosmic connections. "A bunch of the old stories that we used to rely on just aren't working anymore," Bell told a crowd of almost 500 during a tour stop in Durham. "I want to take a stab at a new story." Wearing a gray denim jacket, a white collared shirt, chinos and ankle boots, Bell used only one visual aid: a large dry-erase board in the shape of a long, skinny triangle. In the far left corner he drew a small black dot representing the Big Bang. Moving to the right, as the universe expanded over the course of his talk, he sketched milestones of evolution over 13.8 billion years.

(28) Insider�s View of Rob Bell�s Stop in SF for �Everything is Spiritual Tour� at Lighthouse Trails, 8/19/15 
LTRP Note: We post this because it is important for people to understand what the deception looks like that young Christians are being saturated with through individuals such as Rob Bell. Bell�s tour, Everything is  Spiritual, is panentheistic in nature but disguised in some Christian vernacular.

(29) Rob Bell: 'I Don't Use the Word Christian, Jesus Would Be Mortified Religion Started in His Name' at Understand the Times, 6/8/16 
What a novel idea to not call those who follow Jesus Christ and His Word Christians.  What does Rob Bell believe that those who follow Jesus Christ should be called?

(30) Rob Bell's 'Love Wins' Revealed 'Startling' Multitudes of People Backing Universalism at Understand the Times, 9/21/18
A modern Christianity professor and author who opposes universalism admitted that he was "startled" by how many people came out supporting the belief following Rob Bell's 2011 book, Love Wins. Michael McClymond, the author of The Devil's Redemption: A New History and Interpretation of Christian Universalism, said in an interview with The Gospel Coalition posted last week that ever since he was a student he has been engaged with biblical studies on the topic of salvation. "Several years ago what really surprised me was not Rob Bell's book, Love Wins (2011), with its well-worn and hackneyed arguments. Instead, I was startled by the multitude of people I thereafter encountered holding that universalism was biblical and evangelical teaching," said McClymond, who teaches at Saint Louis University in Missouri.


Richard Foster

(2) Response To A Defender Of Richard Foster by James Sundquist, 12/04 
The departure from these teachings by Richard Foster and the host of teachers he promotes is the reason we must withdraw from them. "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."  II John 2:10-11 Thomas Merton, Morton Kelsey, Basil Pennington, Benedictine Monks, Ignatius Loyola, Brennan Manning, Isaac Pennington, Basil Pennington, Madeleine L'Engle, Thomas Keating, Harvey Cox, Agnes Sanford, Madame Guyon, John of the Cross, Evelyn Underhill, Thomas Kelly, Tilden Edwards, William Vaswig (also of Renovare who, like Foster learned his meditation from Agnes Sanford and a great admirer of occultist Carl Jung and his "sitting in silence" therapy), Karen Mains, Lynda Graybeal, Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Meister Eckhart, George Fox, Henri Nouwen,  Teresa of Avila, Brother Lawrence (who also taught the emptying of the mind), Julian of Norwich, Siang Yan Tan (psychologist), Lao-Tse (Taoism), Zarathrustra (Zorastrianism) and a host of other "masters" or "spiritual directors" (past or present) of the Traditions of Discipline that Richard Foster promotes and endorses do not bring this doctrine, so none of them, or their teachings should be brought into our houses or houses of worship.  And by doing so, we do become partakers of their evil deeds....yes false doctrine is evil deeds.    We must command them as Paul did Timothy to the Ephesians to "Not teach false doctrines any longer!"" Richard Foster's teachings whether or not he says otherwise, are a blend of Eastern mysticism and gnosticism...another Jesus and another gospel.  Oh foolish Americans, who hath bewitched you?

(3) Renovare' Renovates The Bible by Dave Hunt, The Berean Call, August 2005 
God never adjusts Himself or His Word to the tastes of men. He never changes anything to appeal to the corrupt appetites of the ungodly in any age-all must come to Him on His terms. He commands all men everywhere to repent because of coming judgment (Acts 17:30, 31). "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD"" (Is 55:7). There is no softening of the gospel to make it "seeker friendly."

(4) Richard Foster and Gnostic Mysticism by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 05/19/06 
There are those who have been offended that I dared enter the Contemplative Temple and touch their "anointed" Buddha Thomas Merton. But here is another example of the reimagined Gnostic mysticism currently being taught to your pastor through Living Spiritual Teacher Richard Foster. Through his books the Guru of Contemplation has introduced Evelyn Underhill as an expert witness on the subject of alleged "Christian" mysticism. Therefore we have just as much right to read and interpret her materials as Foster himself does.

(5) A Call To Repentance by Dave Hunt, The Berean Call, 11/06 
Some of the worst heretics and practitioners of the occult, while claiming to be Christians, have gotten together in what they call the Chrysostom Society. It began with Richard Foster, Calvin Miller, and Karen Mains, joined later by Eugene Peterson. "They felt it was really important to just get together, write together, and believe in each other as practitioners of a craft to the glory of God."(Mars Hill Review, 1995, "A Conversation with Eugene Peterson.") It is a "craft," all right. 
Truth has been assassinated by political correctness, the gospel has fallen victim to "we must not offend other religions," God is being mocked, and eternal souls are being robbed of the salvation that is only in Jesus Christ. That tragedy prevails in nearly all churches. Let us weep and repent for the church, for our country, for ourselves, and speak the truth in love. 

(6) Reiki, Thomas Merton and Richard Foster by Ray Yungen, From the Lighthouse, 11/07 
This is why it is so important to understand the connection between the writings of Richard Foster and Brennan Manning with Merton. Promotion indicates attachment, and attachment indicates common ground. Something is terribly wrong when a Reiki master and two of the most influential figures in the evangelical church today both point to the same man as an example of their spiritual path. (from chapter 5, A Time of Departing) To understand more about the connection between Foster, Manning, and Merton, read A Time of Departing in its entirety.

(7) Richard Foster by Roger Oakland, Understanding The Times, 4/1/08 
Richard Foster, a promoter of contemplative prayer is a student of Thomas Merton. In a previous program we documented that Merton learned his procedures for contemplative prayer from Buddhists and Hindus. So what about Foster? Does he also believe you can Christianize messages from demons?

(8) Richard Foster: The Bible a reliable guide despite inconsistencies by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 3/18/10
It's not evangelical Protestant Christianity; and worse, this highly subjective CSM is truly hostile to the proper Christian spirituality of Sola Scriptura. Here's a couple of examples from Foster. The first is from a 2005 piece in Quaker Life called The With God Life: An Interview with Richard Foster.  While hawking The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible, which had just come out, the Quaker mystic tells us how the experience-oriented Quakers subjectively approach God "in the gathered silence."

(10) Richard Foster's Renovare Turns to Panentheist Mystic Richard Rohr and Emerging Darling Phyllis Tickle For New Book Project by Lighthouse Trails Editors, 9/15/10 
... take a look on the 25 Books form page and see the list of members on the 25 Books Editorial Team. Of course, there is Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. But look at two other names: Phyllis Tickle, the emerging church's darling "mentor" (who once said that Brian McLaren was the next Luther), and Richard Rohr, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation. For those who still have yet to be convinced that Richard Foster is indeed a New Age sympathizer, this should seal the verdict by the fact that Tickle and Rohr are included in an editorial board to decide which 25 books Christians should read.

(11) Richard Foster on Meditation AKA Contemplative Prayer by Ken Silva, 12/7/10 
Richard Foster: Contemplative Prayer immerses us into the silence of God. How desperately we in the modern world need this wordless baptism" Contemplative Prayer is the one discipline that can free us from our addiction to words. Progress in intimacy with God means progress toward silence" It is recreating silence to which we are called in Contemplative Prayer"

(12) "Inward Journey" Taught By Mystics Like Richard Foster Is Divination by Ken Silva, 11/5/11 
The following quote is from Richard Foster - Celebration Of Deception Evangelical Mysticism, an important Critcal Issues Commentary article by Christian apologist Bob DeWaay. It also highlights another aspect of the rancid fruit of CSM; a growing rebellion within evanjellyfish against Sola Scriptura. With this article DeWaay sends a clear Biblical warning concerning a core teaching of spurious CSM.

(13) Richard Foster's Contemplative Prayer or Terror? by Roger Oakland, 11/14/11 
Proponents of contemplative prayer say the purpose of contemplative prayer is to tune in with God and hear His voice. However, Richard Foster claims that practitioners must use caution. He admits that in contemplative prayer "we are entering deeply into the spiritual realm" and that sometimes it is not the realm of God even though it is "supernatural." He admits there are spiritual beings and that a prayer of protection should be said beforehand something to the effect of "All dark and evil spirits must now leave."1 Where in Scripture do we find such a prayer? Where in witchcraft?

(14) Richard Foster's Renovare President Admits They Have Taught Spiritual Formation to "Hundreds of Thousands of People" by Lighthouse Trails, 12/10/11 
Renovare, as many of you know, is Richard Foster's organization and his mainstay platform for promoting contemplative spirituality. In a November 2011 letter to supporters, Renovare president Christopher Webb states the following: "At this writing I am attending a gathering of national ministries that promote Bible reading and engagement; spiritual formation is at the very top of the agenda. Last week I spoke at a conference for three hundred pastors; spiritual formation was the number one concern. In the few weeks before that I led a retreat for spiritual directors, spoke at a congregational conference, and addressed a denominational gathering; in each case, spiritual formation was at the heart of the conversation." Webb admits that "Renovare has played a crucial role in focusing the attention of pastors, churches, seminaries, and denominations on spiritual formation," saying that they have taught the "basic principles of [spiritual formation] to hundreds of thousands of people." Webb adds "But more than this, we've advocated for the central importance of formation in Christlikeness to the wider Church."

(15) Richard Foster's Renovare Promoting Emerging Heretic Tony Jones by Ken Silva, 12/30/11 
Now to be sure, we're not the least bit surprised that Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster would recommend the warped work of apostate Dr. Tony Jones, heretical "theologian in residence" at the social gathering (not a church in the Biblical sense) of his equally heretical friend and "pastor," universalist Doug Pagitt. I mean, not when at least two state conventions in the Southern Baptist Convention quite specifically recommend both guru Foster and wannabe guru Jones as you'll see clearly documented in Alabama Baptist Convention (SBC) Encourages You To Learn Lectio Divina From Apostate Tony Jones. Nah, really comes as no surprise at all.

(16) The Roots of Spiritual Formation by Lighthouse Trails, 4/15/12 
To understand spiritual formation, all one needs to do is understand the spirituality of Richard Foster. Lighthouse Trails has documented his beliefs through A Time of Departing and Faith Undone, as well as through numerous articles on the Lighthouse Trails Research site. In this particular article, let us turn to a small book Richard Foster wrote called Meditative Prayer. Foster says that the purpose of meditative prayer is to create a "spiritual space" or "inner sanctuary" through "specific meditation exercises" (p. 9). Foster references several mystics in the book who can point the way to these exercises: Madame Guyon, Teresa of Avila, Francis de Sales, Henri Nouwen, and Thomas Merton. Foster breaks the contemplative process down into three steps.

(17) Renovare To Hold Contemplative Retreat at the Billy Graham Training Center – A Big Green Light For Contemplative Prayer by Lighthouse Trails, 6/24/13 
This coming October contemplative pioneer, Richard Foster’s Renovare team will hold their Life With God Retreat at the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove. Those who are familiar with the infrastructure of Richard Foster’s spirituality will understand that the teachings that are represented at Renovare do not line up with traditional evangelical teachings. While the doctrinal statements on paper between Renovare and many evangelical/Protestant churches may look similar, what is believed, taught, and emphasized in reality is much different as Lighthouse Trails has documented for 11 years now. The model of spirituality that Richard Foster and Renovare have drawn from is developed by Catholic monks who because of their mystical practices embrace panentheism (God is in all people and all  things) and interspirituality (all religions lead to God at the mystical level).

(18) Larry Crabb to Join Richard Foster�s Renovare Contemplative Conference - Christian Leaders Continue to Promote Crabb by Lighthouse Trails, 3/10/13 
On April 3rd, Richard Foster�s Renovare organization will be presenting the Formation for Whole Life conference in Houston, Texas. According to several sources, including Rick Warren, Christianity Today, and Lighthouse Trails, Richard Foster is a key player in the contemplative prayer movement (aka: Spiritual Formation movement). Speakers at this year�s Renovare conference include contemplative figures Ruth Haley Barton, Mark Scandrette, Richard Foster, and Kyle Strobel. Joining the team of speakers will be Larry Crabb, a popular evangelical author and speaker, who years ago switched from a psychology focus to a focus on Spiritual Formation (i.e., contemplative prayer).

(19) "What is Renovaré / the Renovaré Bible?" by GotQuestions, 3/3/15 
For these and other reasons, Renovaré is considered by some to be a theologically dangerous movement. Like many parts of the contemplative spirituality movement, Renovaré preys upon the spiritually hungry and points them not to the cross of Christ or God's inerrant Word but to man�s traditions and emotional human experience. The wise and discerning Christian will examine carefully all claims of the Renovaré movement and compare each with Scripture. That which contradicts the Word of God must be rejected.

(20) A Serious Look at Richard Foster�s �School� of Contemplative Prayer (Booklet) by Ray Yungen, 9/1/15 
"[W]e should all without shame enroll as apprentices in the school of contemplative prayer."1�Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline: :the Path to Spiritual Growth Christianity is not complete without the contemplative dimension."2�Richard Foster In Portland, Oregon there is a large bookstore devoted entirely to New Age spirituality. Every Eastern mystical and metaphysical topic under the sun is found there. Interestingly, there is a sizable section on contemplative prayer with Catholic monk Thomas Merton having a whole shelf devoted just to his writings. Why would a New Age bookstore give valuable space to a topic that purports to be Christian? That is a legitimate question. May I suggest the reason is that the �Christian� mystical tradition (i.e., contemplative prayer) shares a sense of profound kinship with the Eastern mystical tradition. There is ample evidence to support this claim.

Updated! (21) Fostering a new Spiritual Discipline: Follow me into ... the quiet zone by Mike Oppenheimer, 2/3/16 - Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 & Part 5.
Richard Foster is known for his book �Celebration of Discipline.� Few are aware that it contains numerous New Age teachings in it. Foster�s book Celebration of Discipline, has sold several million copies, was selected by Christianity Today as one of the top ten books of the 20th century. Christianity Today named it number eleven in the "Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals." Despite their endorsement, it is a book that should be avoided at all costs. This may sound harsh to some but if you hear what Foster teaches it become apparent, it is not what the Bible teaches.

(22) Thomas Merton, Richard Foster, and a Sufi Master by Ray Yungen, 2/5/17
LTRP Note: Keep in mind three things as you read this article: 1) a strong link exists between Thomas Merton and the evangelical church, and that link is Richard Foster (author of Celebration of Discipline); 2) Richard Foster once said Thomas Merton “stands as one of the greatest twentieth-century embodiments of spiritual life as a journey�?(1); 3) the current “Spiritual Formation�? movement within Christianity was spawned by Richard Foster and Dallas Willard, and both men were ignited by Thomas Merton. As you read this account of Thomas Merton, know that this same spiritual outlook that is described below has entered the church in no small way. Maybe it’s time you ask your pastor, “What do you think about Richard Foster and Celebration of Discipline?�?

(23) Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, Richard Foster – Are We Wrong in Calling Them Emergent/Contemplative? by Lighthouse Trails, 8/20/17
The real crux of this matter comes down to the contemplative prayer movement, which because it has its roots in panentheism (God in all) and interspirituality (all paths lead to God)  as we have been able to document in our writings these past many years, it is basically a synonym for the emerging church. In fact, without contemplative prayer, the emerging church would not have had the success (if you will) that it has had because contemplative prayer is the force that drives it. And given the fact that there are so many variables equal between the two, if someone is a proponent of contemplative prayer, we classify him as part of the emerging church. Many people mistakenly think that the emerging church would just be those of the caliber of Brian McLaren or Rob Bell. But we cannot agree with this at all. We believe the documentation we have gathered these past 15 years clearly shows that the two movements are one in the same.

(24) Luis Palau’s Son (President of the Luis Palau Association) Teams Up With Richard Foster’s Renovare by Lighthouse Trails, 11/26/17
Richard Foster’s founding contemplative organization, Renovare, has announced their upcoming (June 2018) celebration of the 40th anniversary of Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline. Kevin Palau, son of the world-wide known evangelist Luis Palau and president of the Luis Palau Association, is listed on the Renovare website as one of the speakers for the June 2018 event.

(25) Friends of the Inner Healing Teaching of Agnes Sanford by Mike Oppenheimer, 1/28/21
Agnes Sanford was also a mentor to Richard Foster. Foster, a former Quaker who relied on the “inner light.” Dave Hunt and Tom McMahon in Occult Invasion quotes Richard Foster who wrote, " I have been greatly helped in my understanding of the value of the imagination in praying for others by Agnes Sanford .... This advice. [of] prayer through the imagination . . . pictur[ing] the healing ... and much more, was given to me by Agnes Sanford . (Foster, Celebration, pp. 36.136.) Foster endorsed Sanford and her books and wrote I have discovered her to be an extremely wise and skillful counselor in these matters” and calls her book The Healing Gifts of the Spirit “an excellent resource ” (Celebration of Discipline, 1978, p. 136, footnote 1). An entire chapter by Sanford is found in his book Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home and another chapter by her in Spiritual Disciplines. Sanford delved deeply into New Thought, Jungian psychology, and other dangerous fields. She said that she got her doctrine of a “spiritual body” within the physical body from New Thought teacher Emmet Fox (Sealed Orders, p. 115; quoted by Berean Call).

(24) “My Difficult Lonely Journey of Trying to Warn the Church of Apostasy and Apathy” at Lighthouse Trails, 12/14/21
Around 2006, having moved north of Toronto, we started going to _____________, and we liked it there; even though Brethren do not traditionally have pastors, this one did. Anyways, as a bit of a speaker sometimes, I was asked to lead a home Bible study. The book I was to use was on prayer by a fellow I had never heard of named Richard Foster. The Chapel had also recently (prior to us joining the church) used Rick Warren’s book, A Purpose Driven Life. While reading Foster’s book, I was shocked by its content. It was speaking about Catholic mystics and popes in glowing terms and then about Ignatius of Loyola and his spiritual disciplines. Fortunately, the Internet was available, and I researched the author and the persons referred to like Merton and Henri Nouwen. Most of the elders of the church were in the Bible study I led, and they got an expose of the author and the book. Sadly, I don’t think most of them agreed with me or cared. Later, I got an earful for daring to research the author. There were and are still some in that church who care for the truth but many just want to be told pleasant words by which to live by preachers who take anecdotes from life and apply it to believers. Nice people, but prophecy is considered a dubious topic.

(25) Judgment Day! Chapter Three: Who Inherits the Promised Land? (Video) by The Berean Call, 11/6/23
This is the most comprehensive examination to date of ancient biblical prophecy and modern-day Middle East politics regarding Islam, Israel and the nations—which includes the United States of America! Painstakingly researched using up-to-the-minute data, Judgment Day! is sure to become a respected resource for scholars, analysts, pastors, professors, politicians, and lay people alike. Amazing historical facts and firsthand, eyewitness insight make this book a thrilling, sometimes troubling read—but one necessary for a heavenward understanding of the prophetic times in which we live. ... "those who still claim to be Evangelical Christians are denying the veracity of scripture especially when it comes to Israel. A case in point is the Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible edited by Richard J Foster (and) Eugene Peterson author of The Message (Bible) a blasphemously perverted version of the New Testament."


Steven Furtick

Furtick is a mixture of Emergent Church, Word of Faith and New Apostolic false doctrines.

(1) Why is Steven Furtick Acting Like a Cult Leader? by Crosswalk, 3/20/15 
Charlotte pastor Steven Furtick and his Elevation Church are making waves this week as more is revealed about Elevation�s odd fixation on their �Lead Pastor� as well as some of the questionable practices of the church, including �spontaneous baptism.� Indeed, many people are sounding the alarm and calling Pastor Furtick a �cult-leader in the making,� though Elevation Church describes him as a visionary they need to unequivocally support. Reformation 21�s Todd Pruitt and Matthew Paul Turner both share a page from Elevation�s Sunday school coloring book that�s been circulating around. The image depicts the Elevation congregation looking up at Furtick in the pulpit. The text reads, �We are united under the visionary,� and �Elevation Church is built on the vision God gave Pastor Steven. We will protect our Unity in Supporting His Vision.� Of this, Matthew Paul Turner writes, �While the grownups are listening to Pastor Steven preach, the little ones are in Sunday school learning about �unity.� I actually cringed when I saw this. Not even the fundamentalist church I was raised in featured coloring pictures of our pastor. There�s nothing good or holy or trustworthy about this kind of b.s. It�s dangerous religion. It�s the kind of evangelical brainwashing that all of us should be calling out. This should make us angry. Because its wrong. And because it�s not Christianity.�

(2) Steven Furtick by Matt Slick, CARM, 3/20/15 
First of all, Furtick is not very doctrinally minded; otherwise, he wouldn't allow a heretic such as T. D. Jakes (who denies the Trinity) to preach in his church.  Furtick affirms the Trinity and the deity of Christ11, but as a pastor he is required to uphold orthodoxy and not promote preachers who deny even one essential christian doctrine.  This is a very serious issue. Second, he violates scripture in his promotion of women pastors.  This is also a serious issue, and I politely offer to publicly debate Pastor Furtick on this topic.12  My goal is promote God's truth, not man's opinions. Third, his mockery of the doctrines of grace is shameful.  We are not saying he must affirm the doctrines of grace as found in Calvinism, but his disdainful attack upon them and those who hold to those doctrines is a serious concern.  It shows a lack of pastoral care for Christians who don't agree with him on these issues, and it risks violating Scripture. So, Pastor Steven Furtick, if you are interested I would be glad to talk to you about these issues.  I invite you to do so in Christian love and concern, letting the Bible be our guide.

(3) �Hip� Church Gives Biblical Christians New Label: �Hater� by Jim Fletcher, 3/20/15 
Sometime back, the progressive mega church pastor, Steven Furtick (Elevation Church, Charlotte, North Carolina), mentored as he is by evangelical bigwigs like Rick Warren and Bill Hybels, felt bold enough to post a YouTube video in which he sneeringly challenged what I�d call traditional Christians to basically get out of the way, because their time is past.

(4) Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick - Reviewed by Ken Silva

(5) T. D. Jakes, Rob Bell, and Steve Furtick Make it Onto Oprah�s New Age Super Soul 100 List of �Awakened Leaders� by Lighthouse Trails, 11/10/16
Along with T.D. Jakes, Steve Furtick, and  Rob Bell are some other names you might recognize. Remember, week after week, millions of North Americans still follow Oprah. Even many Christians read the materials of these listed below and find themselves enamored with the people and the teachings of the New Age. Deepak Chopra, Caroline Myss, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Michael Beckwith (from The Secret), Eckhart Tolle, Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love), Esther Hicks (The Secret), Gary Zukav, Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul), Pastor John Gray (from Joel Osteen�s Lakewood Church), Marianne Williamson (A Course in Miracles teacher), Tony Robbins.

Updated! (6) The Elevation (church) of Steven Furtick by Mike Oppenheimer, 12/30/20
Steven Furtick has been a rising star in Christian circles for some and now he has arrived on TBN, replacing of all people Kenneth Copeland who has been there since their inception. Don’t think this will bring any improvement to TBN, it will not. What he brings is a more subtle and acceptable non-biblical teaching to the younger generation. Earning a master’s degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, which after watching his sermons did not help as this man’s understanding of Scripture is shallow. He tends to have a narcissistic view that finds a way into his stories, as applications, as he transfers his own theology to Scripture. Furtick uses a Seeker Driven model, motivational speech, mixing human wisdom and copying word faith philosophy to express his interpretations of the Bible to his audience. Regardless, Furtick is a popular pastor in America. His church comes in third behind Hillsong and Bethel in popularity. The fact that Oprah Winfrey who does not endorse real Christianity approves of Furtick (as she did Joel Osteen) should be a red light to anyone that loves God’s Word. Her network named Steven Furtick to their Super Soul 100 Influencers list in the Soul Teachers category in 2016. He joins New Agers like Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, Tony Robbins, Rob Bell; a host of non believers, not a group one would normally want to be associated with unless they are willing to compromise.
Read Part 1 & Part 2.

(7) 81,000 Words!? An Analysis Of Steven Furtick’s Last 10 Sermons Should End His Career by Protestia, 7/2/21
“Stay far away from this deceitful man who rejects God’s word for his own popularity.” An analysis of the 10 hours of ‘Pastor’ Steven Furtick’s sermons has revealed woeful unfaithfulness to the scriptures and a watered-down message of sin and repentance, according to YouTuber Colin Miller. Using a software program, Miller uploaded nearly 10 hours of audio into an application that could detect and extract all the usages of certain words and phrases from his teaching, enabling him to track his usage and do a word analysis in order to see what sort of things are important, or in this case unimportant to Elevation Church.

(8) Major Heresy with minor Bible teaching by Mike Oppenheimer, 7/11/21
Steven Furtick has 13,000 in attendance each week in his services and far more on the internet. When he says “See, I think Jacob – his name means supplanter, but his new name Israel is almost just as bad . It means struggles with God.” Actually ‘Israel’ means 'Prince of God' a name God gave him as a blessing, and to a nation. His teaching is at best guesswork, and he more often personalizes the text and reads himself into the Scripture passage. At worst it is like this… “It’s always been in you. There’s nobody who can leave my life who can keep God from keeping his covenant with me. I’m not in covenant with a person. I’m not in covenant with a political party. I’m in covenant with God Almighty! I am God Almighty!” “Get that off you! That’s not your name. That’s not your station. That’s not your end. It’s in me! It’s in me! It’s in me! It is God who worketh in you! It’s always been in you.” Declaring himself to be “God Almighty” (not you but himself) is blasphemy. Make no mistake this is what he meant as you listen to how he said it, he is arrogant, showing the spirit it was said in; and God is not an ‘it, nor was he always in 'you.'’

(9) Steven Furtick And Other Heretics Win ‘Christian Music’ Dove Awards For 2021 at CRN, 10/27/21
“The commercialized Christian music industry not only enables this idolatry but promotes it to the degree that God’s glory is robbed from Him at many levels, including in churches. The vast majority of Christian contemporary music is produced by celebrity artists who’ve compromised on biblical truths in order to serve their own selfish desires.” As if the celebrity Christian lifestyle alone wasn’t enough to cause most Bible-believing Christians to [become sick at their stomachs], the fact that almost all of them are rank heretics should leave us with no other choice.

(10) Could Elevation Church Replace The Scandal-Plagued Hillsong On The World Stage? at CRN, 4/9/22
Steven Furtick is a charismatic Word of Faith pastor who has aligned himself with many of the giants in the prosperity gospel, including Word of Faith Oneness pastor, T.D. Jakes, and has been praised by former Hillsong NYC [disgraced] pastor, Carl Lentz who stated, “your church and your life are such good examples of what happens when you mix unadulterated focus on JESUS, ferocious faith and availability with the grace of God…absolutely anything is possible.” As Hillsong Church has been plagued by multiple scandals over the last several years including its latest scandal involving its top leader, Brian Houston, the international organization now appears to be crumbling before our eyes opening the doors for another corporate conglomerate to fill its shoes.

(11) Would You Pay $2480.30 For Tickets To A Steven Furtick/ Elevation Worship Concert? by Protestia, 10/18/22
Steven Furtick is the Lead Pastor of Elevation Church. As head of a Southern Baptist-associated, 25,000-member multisite campus with 17 locations, he is known for having the term “narcigesis” (narcissistic exegesis) named after him based on his inability to exegete scripture in a way that doesn’t make every story revolve around him…” Last year we criticized the expensive prices that tickets to see Steven Furtick and The Elevation Worship band cost, questioning whether or not it made sense from a financial or spiritual perspective. Individual tickets ranged from about $38 for the nosebleeds, up to $195 for front-row access, with most tickets in the 50-110$ range.

(12) Pastors, Ditch The Metrosexual Persona: God Calls You To Be A Faithful Shepherd And Steward Of His Word by The Dissenter, 1/9/23
“The infamous Steven Furtick, Judah Smith, the disgraced former Hillsong pastor, Carl Lentz, and many, many more, share the same dangerous and insidious personality – one of ego, entitlement, and a thirst for power at any cost. But their egos and proclivity for self-promotion are not their only danger—these pastors also share a matching doctrine of deception and error, one that is designed to lure the unwary into their web of lies and manipulation.” As the shadows lengthen and the veil between worlds grows thin, a new and terrifying force has emerged from the depths of the church. It is the rise of the metrosexual pastor, a creature of preening vanity and superficiality, whose hunger for attention and adoration knows no bounds.

(13) Steven Furtick Sells Tickets For Worship Service Tour For Hundreds Of Dollars Each by The Dissenter, 3/8/23
Steven Furtick is a perfect example of what Jude tells us in verse 12, “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.” If there has been a more blatant example of Matthew 19:24 being played out in modern times than the Furtick family, I’ve not seen it. Jesus’s words were clear, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

(14) Heresy Alert! Steven Furtick Says Whatever God Is, ‘You Are Too’ by Protestia, 2/15/24
God is perfect. God is sinless. God is omnipresent. God is omnipotent. God is omniscient. God is omnibenevolent. God is a million other things that we are not, and any suggestion to the contrary is rank heresy.’ Steven Furtick is the Lead Pastor of Elevation Church, a former Southern Baptist-associated, 25,000-member multisite campus with 17 locations. He is known for having the term “narcegesis” (narcissistic exegesis) named after him based on his inability to exegete scripture in a way that doesn’t make every story revolve around him and you.


Tony Jones

(1) Tony Jones' continuous leftward slide into apostasy by Marsha West, 12/1/08
Emergent Church guru Tony Jones, the former national coordinator of Emergent Village, has been holding the issue of homosexuality "in abeyance" because "homosexuality is one issue that I don't want to get wrong." On November 23 he came out with his personal view on this hotly debated topic. Drum roll please"" He's for it. After years of pondering and praying, praying and pondering, he managed to come up with the wrong answer. How do I know this? Because his "revelation" doesn't line up with Scripture.

(2) Heretic Alert: Tony Jones by Chrystal, Slaughter of the Sheep, 2/6/09 
Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." I don't really believe I need to post any commentary on Emergent church author and speaker, Tony Jones.  His nonsense speaks for itself.  However, I will say a few words on one of his latest posts from his blog.  He maintains that original sin is not Biblical. What he has effectively done to those who put credence in his words is amputate the whole of salvation and Christ Jesus' atoning work from the Bible, and has set them on a works-based path that will lead to nothing but destruction.

(3) The Emergence of a new god by Apprising Ministries, 9/10/09 
In articles such as Christianity 21: Emerging Voices Of A Pseudo-Christian Faith and Tony Jones And Christianity 21: The Future Of Apostate Christianity, a while back, Apprising Ministries first brought this upcoming Emerging Church C21 conference to your attention.

(4) Tony Jones Argues For Open Marriage And Polyamory by Ken SIlva, 8/11/11 
Behold where the Emerging Church will now begin trying to move the younger sectors of evangelicalism, who like the leaders in the neo-liberal cult within the EC, largely do not hold to sola Scriptura themselves: open marriages and practicing polyamory (many partners). Here you have a professor of Christian spirituality with a well known ostensibly evangelical seminary arguing against monogamy.



 Dan Kimball

(1) 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.

(2) Emerging Church Quotes compled by Sandy Simpson, 12/08 
Quotes by Emerging Church leaders. 

(3) The Emerging Church by Dan Kimball - Reviewed by Gary Gilley 

(4) The Emerging Church by Dan Kimball - Reviewed by Steve Muse 

(5) They Like Jesus, But Not The Church by Dan Kimball - Reviewed by Lighthouse Trails Research 

(6) Follow Up: Dan Kimball and the Emerging Church by Lighthouse Trails Editors, 11/22/10 
This is a follow up to the recent radio show between VCY America and Lighthouse Trails. If you haven't already listened to it, you can do so here.  Below we are providing some documentation to support what was said on the radio show.



 Brennan Manning

(1) Beware of Wolves in Sheep's Clothing by Mike Gendron, Proclaiming The Gospel
In the last ten years, he has become a popular speaker in many "evangelical" churches. Manning was ordained to the Franciscan priesthood after graduating from St. Francis Seminary in 1963. Later he was theology instructor at the University of Steubenville (a Catholic seminary and catalyst for Mary to be named co-redeemer). After being treated for alcoholism and leaving the Franciscan Order in 1982, he married Roslyn Ann Walker. The marriage has since ended in divorce but his popularity as a writer and speaker continues to grow despite his proclamation of "another" gospel.

(2) Brennan Manning�s �New Monks� & Their Dangerous Contemplative Spirituality (Booklet) by Lighthouse Trails, 8/26/13
Little did I know when I began to read The Signature of Jesus, the time and effort that would be involved in understanding it. I am not a theologian by training. My background is in technical management in electronic component manufacturing. However, I stumbled onto something that I became convinced was very dangerous and little understood.

(3) Letter to the Editor: Brennan Manning Book Review by John Caddock Saved Me From Years of Wandering in the Wilderness by Lighthouse Trails, 2/19/21
LTRP Note: The following letter to the editor is one we received a few years ago, referring to a book review about Brennan Manning’s book, The Signature of Jesus. The review was written by John Caddock and was the first piece we ever read on the Internet refuting contemplative prayer shortly after we met Ray Yungen and read his then-unpublished manuscript A Time of Departing over twenty years ago. This book review by Caddock has opened the eyes of many people and is still doing so today as this letter reveals. Below the letter is the full review. As with all our blog articles, you can print it freely. It is also available in booklet format for those needing that. We are reposting this because the contemplative prayer movement is having more negative impact in the church than ever before, and the influence of pioneers like Brennan Manning remains robust. Keep in mind that while many of our long-time readers are fully aware of the dangers of the contemplative prayer movement and have personally stayed clear of it, there is probably not one of them who does not have a family member or friend who is not delving into this. We have gone through a mystical occult paradigm shift, and there is no turning back.


Brian McLaren

(1) Brian McLaren In Denial by Rev. Ken Silva, December 30, 2005 
As the "New Christianity" of the growing synchronistic ecumenical religion of Purpose Driven new Evangelicalism within the Emergent Church takes deeper root we see more and more leaders within the Body of Christ in apparent denial concerning an emerging New Downgrade No-Controversy. For example, Brian McLaren, a leading churchman in the Emergent convoluted conversation, is in denial about the vicarious penal substitutionary atonement of Christ Jesus on the cross.

(2) Brian McLaren And Hell by Rev. Ken Silva, December 30, 2005 
Prominent Emergent Church theologian Brian McLaren has said: "For many Christians, their faith is primarily about what happens to people after they die. That distracts them from seeking justice and living in a compassionate way while we're still alive in this life. We need to go back and take another look at Jesus' teachings about hell. For so many people, the conventional teaching about hell makes God seem vicious. That's not something we should let stand."

(3) Brian McLaren And Evangelical Panentheism by Rev. Ken Silva, 1/18/06 
In Brian McLaren And The Emerging Church I began to explore what McLaren's particular theology has been emerging into, and now beginning with this series we start putting all the pieces together. As I previously stated I am not someone prone to conspiracy theories so what I offer is something I was most definitely not looking for. However, what I am going to be showing you is based on my careful and personal analysis of what McLaren himself writes as well as what those he associates with and endorses have said in their own books.  Also read Part 2, Part 3,Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6

(4) An Emerging Pastoral Assessment by Rev. Ken Silva, 1/30/06 
I feel led to present the following pastoral assessment for the edification of the true Body of Christ as evidence of the devastating results that the counterfeit Christian teachings of men like Brian McLaren have already been having on the Christian witness among our youth. You are about to see a living testimony of what has been happening within our Lord's Church because our leaders failed in recognizing the new liberalism which is now being spread like the black plague of theology throughout Evangelicalism by this Emerging Church movement.

(5) Brain McLaren: Turning Aside To Myths by Rev. Ken Silva, 2/10/06
I will have to admit that I find it a little odd looking around at the various writings about Brian McLaren where his non-stand about homosexuality (or about anything else for that matter) actually has surprised people. There is little chance that McLaren is ever going to come down on the side of what the Bible says about this forbidden lifestyle because of his own views on Scripture. In fact, this becomes near impossible now through his involvement with "living spiritual teachers" like Alan Jones and Marcus Borg. You see their warped view of Christian spirituality, twisted as it is by the practice of neo-pagan mysticism only figures to draw McLaren further away from believing what Holy Scripture says. This is also tied to how McLaren approaches the Bible because the Emergent spiritual director follows a very allegorical "Alexandrian School" approach to Holy Scripture so he would not readily see what it clearly appears to be saying when read at face value. Read Part 1 & Part 2

(6) Brain McLaren: A Prime Example Of Diaprax by Sandy Simpson, 2/16/06 
I have written in a previous article called The Emerging/Emergent Church - and their use of "diaprax" briefly detailing the use of the Hegelian Dialectic and praxis (diaprax) by New Apostolic and Emerging Church leaders.  What I want to show in this article is a perfect example of diaprax in the teachings of Brian McLaren, a main leader in the Emerging Church.  If you want to read the entire transcript of "An New Kind Of Christian - Part 1", a video teaching by Brian McLaren, you can access it here.  I also urge you to watch the video for yourself which is available online here.  When you watch be aware of the intentional and even unintentional uses of brainwashing techniques.  I will only quote certain parts of McLaren's teachings to emphasize the use of diaprax as well as other false teachings.

(7) Examining the Theology and Dangers of Contemplative Emerging Church Spiritualityby Spiritual Research Network, 2/06 
Brian McLaren Confused About Homosexuality? This ought to be a very clear warning to the entire Evangelical Church how bad Mr. McLaren's theology is.

(8) Christianity Defaced as Leader of Emergent Church Movement Embraces Mysticismby Richard Bennett, 3/06 
The Emerging Church movement has hailed as its "manifesto" Brian McLaren's book, A Generous
Orthodoxy.

(9) Brian McLaren - Emerging, But Into What? by Lighthouse Trails 
A good page of artilces on McLaren. 

(10) Brian McLaren - A True Son Of Lucifer by Jacob Prasch, Moriel Ministries, 3/06 
But with no biblical compass for determining the direction in which he is misleading his followers because of his dismissal of propositional truth, truth itself can not be a factor in McLarens unsolvable equation in his delusional fantasy world where two plus two can equal six or co-equally can equal ten if you feel that works for you. Objective reality is assassinated by a subjective morality that in the end is by any biblical standard - no morality at all; Post modernism comes to church.

(11) The Emergent "Jesus Worldview" by Discernment Research Network, 6/6/06 
Herescope has warned about a "biblical worldview" and a "Christian worldview" in previous posts because these terms are loaded with extra-biblical agendas and meanings, particularly dominionism. The other day we encountered the phrase "Jesus worldview" from none other than Brian McLaren of Emergent Church fame.

(12) Brian McLaren: The Emergent Cult Leader by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 7/19/06 
Brian McLaren is beyond question a leading authority in the Emergent Church and is influencing thousands through his speaking engagements and numerous writings. In his latest book The Secret Message of Jesus McLaren apparently has "discovered" what has escaped the Church of Jesus Christ for nearly two thousand years until he happened to come along. In typical fashion McLaren tries to hide his criticism and contradiction of the historic orthodox Christian faith behind "if," but it becomes clear enough that these are his own personal beliefs.  Right in line with other religious cult leaders McLaren shows he doesn't think the Church has correctly understood the message of Jesus down through the centuries when he writes: "if this reading of the Gospels is accurate, why didn't scholars see it a hundred or five hundred or eighteen hundred years ago?"

(13) Brian McLaren: Sower Of Confusion by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 8/7/06 
Brian D. McLaren is Chair of the Board of Directors of Emergent Village as well as an author published by Zondervan. He is also among Adjunct and Visiting Professors, along with his good friend Leonard Sweet, at George Fox Evangelical Seminary, a school designed to demonstrate "the meaning of Jesus Christ by offering spiritual formation and education for ministry." McLaren's website lists him as speaker, emergent networker, Christian activist." He also just happens to be a "Christian" minister of the Gospel who openly denines the vicarious penal substitutionary atonement on the Cross of Jesus Christ: "I'm sure that [justification by grace through faith in the finished atoning work of Christ on the cross] is a facet of the gospel, and it's the facet that modern evangelical protestants have assumed is the whole gospel, the heart of the gospel. But what's the point of that gospel?"

(14) Emergent Church: All Faith Traditions Emerging by Rev. Ken Silva on August 11, 2006 
In this short piece I remind you of the "historic" meeting between leaders of these two Emergent "faith traditions" in January of this year. We are headed toward a universal inclusivism that Landres himself says is "blurring the line between the 'sacred' and the 'secular';..." This is not in any, way shape or form, Christian theology and yet Emergent Guru Brian McLaren says: "I'm thrilled with the possibility of developing friendship and collaboration in ways that help God's dreams come true for our synagogues, churches, and the world."

(15) Emergent  Inclusiveness and Brian McLaren by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 9/4/06
One of the most prominent leaders within the Ecumenical Church of Deceit is Emergent leader Brian McLaren. McLaren is slated as plenary speaker at Going Forward Together: Third Millennium Christianity taking place November 16-19, 2006 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia.Lord willing I'll have more on this later but for now I have been trying to warn the Body of Christ about this neo-liberal cult of the Emergent Church which is attempting to bring inclusivism into the Lord's Church. Years ago Dr. Walter Martin preached a message called The Spirit of the Age in which he said the spirit of the age was universalism. It turns out Martin was right and as he further warned that it is "actually quite hostile to the historic orthodox Christian faith."

(16) Brian McLaren: Save The Planet by Slice of Laodicea, 9/11/06 
Below Steve Muse of Eastern Regional Watch wrote: "I came across this article yesterday, Evangelical Author Puts Progressive Spin On Traditional Faith by Caryle Murphy of the Washington Post, which clearly reveals Brian McLaren's heart and mind with regard to Evangelical Christianity." In this article Murphy unknowingly brings out just how far away from the Christian mission the Emergent rebellion against the Bible led by McLaren has now strayed.

(17) Report On Brian McLaren, Emergent Church Leader by Jewel Grewe, Dicernment Ministries Newsletter, Volume 17, Number 6, Novemeber/December 2006
On October 24, 2006 Brian McLaren spoke at the Wake Divinity School, Wait Chapel, North Carolina. A friend of Discernment Ministries went to hear this talk and below are some notes taken during this event.

(18) Brian McLaren And The Clarity Of Scripture by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 12/06
Read this whole series.

  1. Brian McLaren And The Clarity Of Scripture 1
  2. Brian McLaren And The Clarity Of Scripture 2
  3. Brian McLaren And The Clarity Of Scripture 3
  4. Brian McLaren And The Clarity Of Scripture 4
  5. Brian McLaren And The Clarity Of Scripture 5
(19) A New Vision For God's Kingdom on Earth by Lighthouse Trails Research, 1/30/07 
"Imagine a World, A New Vision for God's Kingdom on Earth" - These are the words used to describe the upcoming "Big Event 2007" with Brian McLaren held at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, Severna Park, Maryland in February. With workshops titled "What are the world's greatest problems?" and "Youth in Today's Challenging World," at a quick glance to most, the conference would seem benign. But just what does this mean, "A New Vision for God's Kingdom on Earth," or as a PowerPoint presentation* says about the event, "the kingdom of God is here now"?

(20) Brian McLaren: Postmodern Christianity Understood as Story by Jennifer Riley, Christian Post Reporter, Mon, Feb. 18 2008 02:43 PM ET
He (McLaren) suggested that the mainline become more flexible in practice while evangelicals "loosen up" on some of their doctrinal system.

(21) "Reframing Jesus" by Herescope, 2/29/08 
Be prepared for a total makeover of Christianity in Brian McLaren's most recent book, Everything Must Change.

(22) Formula Zero - Racing towards oblivion - Who is Brian McLaren? by Neil Richardson, Vanguard Newsletter, Issue 23, July 2007
Brian McLaren's brand new formula of Christianity when tested by the Word of God proves to be, like the first chapter of A Generous Orthodoxy, nothing but a big zero. He dismantles every single major doctrine of the Bible: the
authority of Scripture, the nature of God and Creation, the nature of Man and Sin, who the Lord Jesus is, why He died, who the Holy Spirit is, what His work is in converting unbelievers, what the unchanging Gospel is that we proclaim, what being part of the Body of Christ means, how truth and unity must connect, the doctrines of hell and the devil.

(23) Updated! How "Everything Must Change" - A Pastor Reports on Brian McLaren's "Everything Must Change" Tour by Herescope, 6/2/08 - Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 & Part 5.
The emergent community's fixation with non-Biblical practices rooted in the Middle Ages has been responsible for leading many sincere pilgrims to explore the "ancient-modern" church through candles, incense, adoration of icons and relics, etc. The audience was repeatedly encouraged to cast off their old "framing story" (the way they see the world) including such bad things as doctrinal and systematic Bible study, since (according to emergent thought) nothing can be definitely known. Therefore, any positive statements that sounded like confidence in the existence of absolute truth were scoffed at as being "narrow minded and proud".

(24) McLaren's "Everything Must Change" Tour by Pastor Jeffrey Whittaker, 6/08 
We've all heard it said: "The more things change, the more they remain the same". The Bible says it another way in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10: The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us. I found that the essence of these statements are still proving to be axiomatic after my experience at the "Everything Must Change" conference held at Goshen
College in Goshen, Indiana with emergent church leader Brian McLaren. I sat through session after session listening to the emergent "gospel"; complete with medieval chants and choruses of despair, apologies to the Native American
Indians of the St. Joseph River Valley, as well as to "Mother Earth" for scarring her through our mining and oil drilling operations. The sarcasm with which traditional Scriptural positions were discussed, coupled with repeated swipes at
Christians who were (in McLaren's opinion) waiting to be "snatched away", "evacuated", or "beamed up", brought one particular Scripture passage constantly to my heart and mind.

(25) Transformation Of The Church by Jeff Whittaker, Herescope, 10/14/08 
Pastor Whittaker gives a lively and animated report of his personal experience attending Emergent church leader Brian McLaren's "Everything Must Change" conference in Goshen, Indiana. His entertaining and eye-opening report details the extent to which this movment has adopted the non-biblical practices and doctrines of earth-centered spirituality.

(26) The Mindset Of Mockers In The Last Days by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason Ministries, 11/6/08 
The Bible speaks a lot about  scoffers and mockers in the last days, those who question the word because they have departed from the faith.

(27) THE COMING KINGDOM - Evolution or Revolution? by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, November 17, 2008 
According to Brian McLaren, "the Second Coming Jesus"-once held by an evangelical consensus to be one of the five fundamentals of the Christian faith-needs rethinking.

(28) Brian McLaren and his views on hell and the atonement and other issues by Nazarenepsalm113, March 31, 2009 
Unbeliever Brian McLaren and his views on hell and the atonement. Scary that this guy was voted one of the top influential evangelicals by Time Magazine.

(29) Brian McLaren Wants End Time Believing Christians Robustly Confronted by Editors at Lighthouse Trails, 5/4/09 
In an April 2009 article in Sojourner's magazine by emerging church leader, Brian McLaren, McLaren clearly has targeted Christians. But not just any Christians. McLaren is talking about Christians who believe Jesus Christ is coming back again, suggesting that these type of Christians are the reason there is no peace in the Middle East. He says what these end-time believing Christians are doing is "terrible," "deadly," and "distorted."

(30) Brian McLaren of Emerging Church to Celebrate Ramadan by Apprising Minsitries, 8/17/09 
Ramadan is the Muslim holy month of fasting for spiritual renewal and purification. It commemorates the month during which Muslims believe Mohammed received the Quran through divine revelation, and it calls Muslims to self-control, sacrificial generosity and solidarity with the poor, diligent reading of the Quran, and intensified prayer. This year, I, along with a few Christian friends (and perhaps others currently unknown to us will want to join in) will be joining Muslim friends in the fast which begins August 21. We are not doing so in order to become Muslims: we are deeply committed Christians. But as Christians, we want to come close to our Muslim neighbors and to share this important part of life with them" (Online source)

(31) Brian McLaren Imagining A Different God by Ken Silva, 9/4/09 
Today McLaren informs us that: "Sister Joan Chittister writes a provocative reflection on God and evolution, and on the God of evolution, here. (Thanks Mike Todd!) There are strong resonances between what Joan is saying and what my upcoming book explores. Most of us grew up learning about the God of Laws, the God who made sense in Sir Isaac Newton's mechanistic universe. (Nothing expressed this contextualization better than the little booklet "Four Spiritual Laws," which could have been called "Four Spiritual Mechanisms.") Now, we are struggling to imagine a bigger God, a God who makes sense in the evolutionary universe of Darwin, Einstein, LeMaitre, Hubble, Heisenberg, and Kuhn "" (Online source)

(32) Brian McLaren and Evangelical Pantheism by Ken Silva, 9/09
A mystic himself McLaren also associates with such as Living Spiritual Teacher Alan Jones and "Progessive Christian" scholar Marcus Borg, another Living Spiritual Teacher, who will all take us into the void of a bankrupt New Age of Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM). In truth we're encountering a neo-paganism consistent with Eastern religions e.g. Buddhism and Hinduism all mixed up into a new Gnosticism, which then emerges as a pseudo-Christianity teaching that within all mankind is the indwelling spark of the divine; i.e. that on some level, man is also like God. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 & Part 4

(33) Liberalism 2.0 - The New Progressive Christian Theology by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 3/16/10 
Since this attempt at "transforming Christian theology," to use McLaren's friend progressive/process theologian Dr. Philip Clayton's term, is still developing I would say there is a level of sincerity in McLaren's posture of asking questions. However, don't kid yourself, such as these new Gnostics believe that they're on a mission from God and they're not about to stop actively promoting what some are beginning to call a "big tent" version of Christianity. Let's be clear; this is absolutely not merely a rehash of liberalism, rather, it's an attempt to cobble together a new, more user-friendly, version of it.

(34) Brian McLaren:12 Step groups may help us escape Bible by John Lanagan, My Word Like Fire, 3/23/10 
In his book, A New Kind of Christianity, Emergent leader Brian McLaren attacks Biblical understanding, and tries to revise both God and the Bible. In his chapter on reinterpreting God's Word, he notes, "Even for those of us on this quest, breaking out of centuries-old habits won't be easy""

(35) Apostatizing from the Apostle - Oh, and By the Way, from Jesus Too! by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 4/3/10 
An ideology contending that Paul somehow obstructs the understanding of Jesus is not a new. At core, liberal Christianity disdains Paul's message. Professing Christians can show themselves to be "enemies of the cross of Christ" (Philippians 3:18), and because they are, they will seek to dismiss Paul's letters as relevant to a "Jesus-only" faith. But at stake in the debate about whether Paul hinders or helps our understanding of the life and mission of Jesus is the authority that his writings, as well as those of Peter, Matthew, and John, will play in that understanding. If these apostolic writings are dismissed, then Christians will be removed from "the foundation of the apostles and prophets," will be without "Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone," and will be "foreigners and aliens" in the world (Ephesians 2:20, NIV).

(36) Brian McLaren Spreading Division In Christianity by Apprising Ministries, 4/7/10 
McLaren's idea of writing a scholarly approach to "Christian Faith of tomorrow" seems to involve mischaracterizing Christians, setting up and knocking down a laughable straw-man argument that we view Scripture through a "Greco-Roman" lens, spewing forth vitriol at fellow Christians - all the while holding forth a smug attitude of false humility and piety.

(37) Brian McLaren Inadvertantly Reveals Who He Worships by Ken Silva, July 16, 2010 
The god Of Mysticism's Mystery Not The One True And Living God Revealed In The Bible. Apprising Ministries reminds you that just about a year ago Living Spiritual Teacher and Emerging Church guru Brian McLaren placed up the video below, which he tells us was "a song i've written over the last few days "" It's actually an ode to his god whom we find out McLaren refers to as Majestic Mystery. So as you can see from our opening text above, McLaren and the Mystics have now inadvertently revealed just who it is that they are worshipping"

(38) Why Are Women of Faith Promoting Mystic/Emerging Brian McLaren? by John Lanagan, My Word Like Fire Ministries, 10/15/10 
Who owns Women of Faith? Founded by Christian 12 Step advocate and author Steve Arterburn, Women of Faith was purchased by Thomas Nelson Publishers in 2000. Many of the books promoted by Women of Faith are, logically enough, published by Thomas Nelson. Incredibly, one author who has a number of books for sale in the Women of Faith bookstore is apostate Brian McLaren. In describing McLaren's The Secret Message of Jesus, we are informed: "When Brian McLaren began offering an alternative vision of Christian faith and life in books such as A New Kind of Christianand A Generous Orthodoxy, he ignited a firestorm of praise and condemnation that continues to spread across the religious landscape. To some religious conservatives, McLaren is a dangerous rebel without a doctrinally-correct cause. Some fundamentalist websites have even claimed he's in league with the devil and have consigned him to flames." [1] "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:5) As noted in the article, Women of Faith Spread The Message, this organization is already exposing thousands of women, many of them new believers, to Eugene Peterson's deceptive paraphrase,The Message.

(39) Brian McLaren and Richard Foster's Editorial Team Agree with Lighthouse Trails - Contemplative Prayer and Eastern Mysticism Are Same Thing by Lighthouse Trails, 11/2/10 
To those who know and embrace the glorious Gospel of Christ, there can be no fellowship with religions that reject the very foundation of the biblical Christian faith. Something is radically wrong when someone who claims to be a Christian has a sense of solidarity with someone who has a view that man is divine (i.e., man is God). Shear logic should point out the truth of what we are trying to say. Lighthouse Trails' hope is that you look at this issue with an open mind and honest discernment. The truth is in plain view.

(40) Time's Up Brian McLaren by Ken Silva, 1/20/11
Well, looking again at Brian McLaren's non-stand about homosexuality (or about anything else for that matter), you need to understand this. There was always little chance that McLaren is ever going to come down on the side of what the Bible actually says about the deviant and sinful lifestyle of having sexual relations with another of the same sex, i.e homosexuality, because of his own warped and toxic views concerning the inspired texts of Holy Scripture. You should know that McLaren sees the Bible in a very allegorical "Alexandrian School" approach to Scripture so he would not readily see what it clearly appears to be saying when simply read at face value.

(41) The Crossless Gospel by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things, February/March 2011 - Volume 16, Issue 6 
In Brian McLaren's The Secret Message of Jesus he claims to have discovered the true gospel that Jesus came to give.  According to McLaren this message has been missed by Christians for generations but fortunately for all of us he and a few of his friends in the emergent church movement have been able to break Jesus' code and unravel His true, but secret, message. I should clarify at this point that in no sense do I view McLaren as an evangelical; I believe he and the emergent church are old fashioned liberals with new window dressing.  Be that as it may, many in evangelical circles are listening to him and therefore his positions need to be addressed. Read Part 1 & Part 2.

(42) Brian McLaren Takes On Al Mohler Over Rob Bell by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 3/23/11 
With this in mind, I'll bring to your attention that guru McLaren has decided to wade into the minor flap raised by one of his disciples, the Emerging Church rock star pastor Rob Bell, with his new book of mythology called Love Wins. The saga of Mohler and McLaren begins with Mohler's article We Have Seen All This Before: Rob Bell and the (Re)Emergence of Liberal Theology where he correctly showed that Bell's musings are indeed quite similar to what the late cult expert Dr. Walter Martin labeled, "The Cult of Liberalism."

(43) Connecting the "Dots" on Brian McLaren by Michael Theophilus (a Christian pseudonym), 5/13/11 
First, let me say that this research report is prepared under the Christian pseudonym, Michael Theophilus, i.e., Michael (who is like God-made in "our image") and Theophilus (lover of God). The main reason for the pseudonym is that the author is not intended to be the subject nor the focus of this report. Rather, it is this Watchman's prayer and wish that the reader's entire focus be on the information that is revealed in this report so that my fellow Watchmen may sound theirs alarms as the Lord directs them to do so. PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to connect the dots, i.e., the false teachers (heretics and apostates), some of whom are currently in "the church" with one another, as well as revealing some of their connections with others who claim no Christian beliefs, but rather are shown and/or are known to be Satanically connected directly or indirectly through their occultic (New Age, Gnostic, etc.) writings and/or affiliations, e.g., Brian McLaren being connected to Barbara Marx Hubbard and both of them being connected to Lucis Trust.

(44) Albert Mohler Gains Brian McLaren's Empathy For Mohler's "Progressive" View on Christians and "Homophobia" at Lighthouse Trails, 6/25/11 
A Southern Baptist seminary president has reaffirmed confusing and controversial comments he made earlier when he called for his fellow Baptists to repent of a "form of homophobia."

(45) An Open Letter to Brian McLaren by Jim Fletcher, 8/19/11 
Jim Fletcher is right. Friends of Israel today are treated like we have a mental disease. Even within evangelicalism, we are scorned and marginalized. What is our crime? I guess it's our interpretation of the Bible for we see Israel's land as God-given, not a piece of property that can be divided up and handed over to terrorists. I have written and spoken on Emergent Church issues for years and have aimed often at one of its leaders, Brian McLaren. Most of those in this stream consider Israel to be an inconvenience at best and dangerous at worst. Sister ministry leader Jim Fletcher expresses my sentiments about McLaren and his followers who claim that friends of Israel are worse than Muslim terrorists. Thanks, Jim. 

(46) Conference To Indoctrinate Children Into Brian McLaren Mythology by Ken Silva, 9/7/11 
In this way, Living Spiritual Teacher and EC guru Brian McLaren, universalist EC pastor Doug Pagitt, and his friend Dr. Tony Jones, the progressive "theologian in residence" at Solomon's Porch headed by Pagitt-along with a whole host of Emergent apostates-were given virtually free reign over what are now a new generation of teachers.

(47) Brian McLaren:12 Step groups may help us escape Bible by John Lanagan, My Word Like Fire, 5/23/10
In his book, A New Kind of Christianity, Emergent leader Brian McLaren attacks Biblical understanding, and tries to revise both God and the Bible. In his chapter on reinterpreting God's Word, he notes, "Even for those of us on this quest, breaking out of centuries-old habits won't be easy"In the same paragraph, McLaren makes an interesting statement. "No wonder those of us who want and need to change our approach may need to form twelve-step groups to deprogram our thinking."

(48) Like We Said, Brian McLaren Wants the Minds of Your Children and Grandchildren by Lighthouse Trails, 4/7/12 
On May 7-10 2012, in Washington, DC, Brian McLaren will be a speaker at the Children, Youth, and a New Kind of Christianity event. He will be joining other emergent leaders - Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, Samir Selmanovic and other "progressives." In the video below (a promotional for the event) McLaren tells viewers that they are holding the conference so they can figure out how to get their message into children's curriculum. And, no doubt, they will do it. After all, virtually all of the large Christian publishers are now publishing emerging/contemplative material.

(49) May 2012 Conference To Indoctrinate Children Into Brian McLaren's Mythology by Ken Silva, 4/19/12 
Now you have the necessary backdrop to see what's going on-and what's at stake-with this piece from American Baptist Press Conference seeks to nurture children, youth in 'new kind of Christianity'. 

(50) Conference Seeks to Nurture Youth in a New Kind of "Christianity" by The Berean Call, 4/25/12
TBC: McLaren's purpose is to "reach" Christian youth with his ideas, which in practice deviates little from far left politicians, and is devoid of the hope of the Gospel. For example, the speakers at this apostate event include Rev. Jeremiah Wright and speaker's topics include: Ivy Beckwith, "Godspell, Footloose (the original) and a New Kind of Children and Youth Ministry," Susan Burt, "Opening the World of Faith by Nurturing the Imaginative, Questioning Spirit," Patricia Lyons, "Harry Potter, God and Youth: Using Fiction to Transform Young Readers into Young Theologians," Dave McNeely, "A New Kind of Sexuality: Finding a Framework," Melinda Melone, "Welcoming Rainbow Kids: Resources and Approaches for Working with Youth in the GLBTIQA (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Transexual, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, Ally) Community.

(51) Emerging Church Guru Brian McLaren On Why He Rejects Biblical Teaching On Homosexuality by Ken Silva, 9/16/12 
The link takes us to NPR and Embracing Diversity In A 'Multi-Faith World' where Pagitt's pal Brian McLaren admits that he's gay affirming now because he didn't want to believe Biblical theology concerning homosexuality ...

(52) Brian McLaren Leads Ceremony At Son's Same-Sex Wedding by Ken Silva, 9/26/12 
Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christian and a prominent Christian speaker, led a non-traditional marriage commitment ceremony this weekend, according to The New York Times. Held at the Audubon Naturalist Society in Chevy Chase, Maryland, this ceremony included "traditional Christian elements," but no bride. And the groom-one of them-was McLaren's son, Trevor McLaren. The Timesreports that Trevor McLaren wed Owen Ryan Saturday in Washington, D.C., followed by the afternoon commitment ceremony.

(53) Brian McLaren tour focuses on inter-faith relations at Understand The Times, 10/25/12 
Emerging church leader Brian McLaren will be visiting six English cities this winter. He'll be picking up on the themes of his new book, "Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?" The tour has been organised by Greenbelt in partnership with book publisher Hodder & Stoughton. McLaren will be joined in each city by a faith leader from a non-Christian faith tradition. Together, they will explore Christian identity in a multi-faith world and respectful engagement between the faiths.

(54) Smilingly Leading You To Hell by Forgotten Word Ministrires, 12/1/12 
Brian McLaren may well be the nicest guy around. He recently faced a good bit of criticism for leading a commitment ceremony following his son’s same-sex wedding—a ceremony that included “traditional Christian elements.” In the aftermath, McLaren was as nice as he has ever been. On his blog he answered a former fan who now understood that he could no longer see McLaren as a mentor. This person was reeling, trying to figure out who could now help guide him in his understanding of the Christian faith. McLaren’s answer was nice; it had the appearance of humility and genuinely sorrowful affection. Yet it was radically opposed to the Bible. He rashly changed the way we interpret Scripture, denying what the Bible makes so clear. If you allow him to, Brian McLaren will “nice” you straight to hell.

(55) Brian McLaren addresses SDA conference by The Berean Call, 10/7/13 
Brian McLaren is making inroads with his unbiblical Gospel in many places, including the Seventh day Adventists. Here are some excerpts from the 2013 Adventist Forum Conference

(56) Are You a Laggard? If So, You Are in the Way of the New Spirituality �Christ� & the Emerging Church by Ray Yungen, 10/11/13 
In view of Brian McLaren�s recent plea for money in order to re-organize the emerging church and his comment about �laggards,� this article by Ray Yungen is a must read.

(57) Brian McLaren�s Mystery Project Out of the Bag � Cana Initiative � A Gathering of Emergents by Lighthouse Trails, 11/21/13 
If you want to understand where the emerging/emergent/contemplative/progressive church is heading and how they are going to get there, just read the chapter by chapter synopsis of Faith Undone. Pay attention to the sections that talk about the denial of the atonement of Jesus Christ for our sins and the kingdom of God on earth now (prior to Christ�s return) being established. We don�t know how much money Brian McLaren and his wife donated to kick off the new initiative, but we do know he and the others means business.  Watch in the future to see how many books are published by CANA initiators. In the past decade, numerous publishers have provided ample platform for McLaren and the others. Some of the more outstanding publishers catering to emergent have been: Wiley & Sons, Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, Baker (Emersion Books), Intervarsity Press, and NavPress. McLaren�s most recent book, Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?: Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World  and his 2014 upcoming book We Make the Road by Walking: A Year-Long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation are examples of what we have to look forward to from these CANA Initiators.

(58) Brian McLaren�s Palestinian Justice Speech by Menno-lite, 6/6/14 
The Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) regional conference recently took place this last April at First United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon[1]. It was called Seeds for Justice and Hope for Palestinians and Israelis � What is required of US? Since there are quite a few Mennonites who are fond of both Brian McLaren and Sabeel, it is fitting for this blog to draw attention to what was taught during McLaren�s one hour plenary session.  Read Part 1 & Part 2

(59) McLaren's "Palestinian Justice" Speech, part 1 by The Berean Call, 9/3/14 
The Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) regional conference recently took place this last April at First United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon[1]. It was called Seeds for Justice and Hope for Palestinians and Israelis � What is required of US? During the first half hour[2], McLaren�s talk began with his background in the Plymouth Brethren, Darby, dispensationalism, and the Jesus people movement. From there he went to questioning his beliefs in the Bible, fast-forwarding to Greenbelt to Sabeel to Israel � all parts of his journey to rethinking and writing. Unfortunately, McLaren�s experiences on his quest left him with a jaded perception of �church� as a place where there are questions you can�t ask and explanations you can�t give. Through his doubting and rethinking process, he concluded that in the same way that the Christian religion created Europe and failed Europe, the Christians created the injustice that currently exists in Palestine.

(60) Brian McLaren and a New Era of Bible Reading at The Berean Call, 11/12/14
We've moved into a new era of approaching the Bible, controversial Christian author and speaker Brian McLaren says. It's an era that could see Christians abandoning the idea that there is one "right" way of interpreting Scripture � an era he calls Bible 3.0. Bible 3.0, as McLaren characterises it, is an approach that sees the Bible less as inerrant and more as being "in conversation with everything and everyone." It is an approach to Scripture that has been made necessary, if not inevitable, by the unprecedented access readers of the Bible have to a broad range of readings and interpretations of the Bible through the internet. Whereas in the past, Christians might have had to go to another denomination's church or part of the world to hear a different take on Scripture, today the internet allows us to immediately access a myriad of different interpretations of the same text.

(61) Brian McLaren, You Have Missed the Boat With Your “All-Inclusive Reformation�?—Homosexuals and Feminists: Yes; The Bible and White Christian Men: No by Lighthouse Trails, 11/10/17
As groups around the world celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with highly ecumenical events and speeches, Brian McLaren, once likened to Luther,1 has outlined his view of what the next reformation will look like in an article he wrote on November 1, 2017 titled, “The Last Reformation … and the Next Reformation.�?  A disgruntled former evangelical Christian, McLaren says that the first reformation was led by white European men whose belief of an inerrant Bible was “papal authority with paper authority.�? In contrast, McLaren says the next reformation will be much different: "The last reformation is associated with one “great man�?–Martin Luther. He was joined by other “great men�? – all white and European. The next reformation will be associated not with one “great man�? but with many diverse people–especially women and people of color. The contribution of Liberation Theology, Black Theology, Feminist/Eco-Feminist/Womanist/Queer and related theologies will be as central to the next reformation as white European theology was to the last reformation.2"



 Beth Moore

ACT Note: Though not a recognized EC leader she endorses Be Still DVD and eastern religious style "prayer". 

(1) 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."

(4) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) Beth Moore Exposés by PFO, 6/6/10
She is a best-selling author whose Bible study books and workbooks have sold more than 10 million copies, and who leads the pack of authors at LifeWay, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. She is said to be an "evangelical superstar" and "one of the most respected and sought-after Bible teachers," whose conferences draw women - and some men - by the thousands. She's Beth Moore, the blond, petite 52-year-old with a Texas accent, who has become a Christian darling among believers of all denominations.  Unfortunately, what she does deliver in her many resources is a lack of discernment, an unhealthy ecumenism, careless use of words, and a poor exegesis of the Word of God. In 2007, following repeated requests for a critique of Beth Moore, PFO offered its first article which examined both the teaching found in her best-selling book, When Godly People Do Ungodly Things, and her unorthodox associations.  Because of the popularity of that initial evaluation, PFO received calls for additional articles surveying her unabashed mysticism and faulty biblical interpretations. 

(5) Beth Moore Praises Brother Lawrence And Obscures The Reformation by Ken Silva, 9/5/11 
Interstingly enough, both of them are pretty iffy about Reformation theology, most specifically that the Roman Catholic Church teaches another gospel. This clip below is from the Be Still DVD, which is an ode to the unbiblical practice of Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP).

(6) SBC Lifeway Bible Teacher Beth Moore Praising Apostate Mystic and Contemplative Prayer by Ken Silva, 12/21/11 
In the section of the Be Still"And Know That I Am God DVD called Cloud of Witnesses: Contemplative Figures Throughout History, i.e. so-called "Christian" mystics, SBC Bible teacher Beth Moore gives us some very revealing information concerning a growing rebellion against Sola Scriptura within "Protestant" evangelicalism.

(7) Beth Moore: God's Vision For The Church Includes The Roman Catholic Church "Denomination" at Apprising Ministries, 12/23/11
Video clip. 

(8) Beth Moore The Mystic by Ken Silva, 1/12/12 
As I pointed out in Beth Moore Seeking Direct Revelation From God At Passion 2012 Moore tells us herself she was apparently doing so along with the other speakers: "I didn't take many pictures during the sessions because I didn't want to be distracted and miss God. I wanted to worship and to receive a word myself! I know you get that." (Online source) It seems to me that if she meant in Scripture then she wouldn't have to worry about "missing" what God has to say and can "receive a word" from God at any time, no? 

(9) Straightening Out Beth Moore On Discernment by Ken Silva, 2/19/12 
The Roman Catholic Church condemned the Gospel of Jesus Christ; this was at the very heart of the Protestant Reformation. So we have to ask: Does SBC Bible teacher not know this? And we also need to ask: Why does Lifeway, publishing arm of the SBC, promote Beth Moore's heretical view on its website?

(10) Beth Moore's Classic Chat With God by Ken Silva, 8/19/12 
The reason I brought this up is because charismatic big names in the SBC, e.g. like Rick Warren and Beth Moore, have been led by their subjective feelings-allegedly by God-to become protholics. They're not really Protestant, and not quite Roman Catholic. Unfortunately, all who follow feelings eventually end up there. Don't you think it's rather odd that two of the most visible voices in the SBC, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, actually repudiate the Protestant Reformation with their sinful ecumenicism? Yet, Warren and Moore will often claim to be receiving direct revelation form God. In fact, you'll hear Beth Moore below even tell us that Jesus "can be the bossiest thing." This video is Moore's infamous "Hair Brush Story," which she retold on Life Today January 11th of this year. Seems in April of 2005 she was at the Knoxville airport waiting to board the plane when apparently God took over control of her ...

(11) Beth Moore and Ken Silva Discuss Her Demonic Vision by Ken Silva, 9/26/12 
The Roman Catholic Church long ago condemned the Gospel of Jesus Christ; this was at the very heart of the Protestant Reformation. Beth Moore needs to be brought to account for this demonic vision and to repent of her sinful ecumenical teaching. And shame on the SBC for not only promoting it, but even charging people for it!

(12) Beth Moore Bio by Matt Slick, CARM, 1/14/13 
We must be very careful when listening to a teacher.  Beth Moore, in my opinion, is not to be trusted to properly teach from the word of God.  She is leading many astray with her approval of contemplative prayer, personal revelations, and faulty biblical exegesis.  Yes, I know that many claim to have been helped by her.  That is fine.  But, the experience of feeling helped is not where truth lies.  Rather, it is God's word that is the standard of what is good and bad, not if we are helped through the wolf of pop psychology in Christian terminology.  Therefore, I cannot endorse Beth Moore.

(13) Examining Beth Moore's statement: the 'Bride is paralyzed by unbelief' by The End Times, 7/8/13 
Last night, I was thinking about something Beth Moore said. I want to look closely at the content of what Beth Moore said in this example I will show you. I am personally offended by it and I'm spiritually grieved by it.

(14) Beth Moore's 'Twelfth Month Redemption' by Don't Not Be Surprised, 12/12/13 
She tells her viewers that she used a search on Bible Gateway to find every instance of the 'twelfth month' in Scripture. Then she looked up these passages and found that many of them described some type of reversal in circumstances. This, she concludes, must mean that God offers reversals of fortune in the twelfth month of the year. Thus, everyone who has had a difficult and trying 2013 needs to pray that God would redeem the year in this final month of December. Moore's attempt to universally apply a principle that God redeems an entire year in the twelfth month is pure manipulation of the biblical text that could lead many of her devoted followers into despair if they find that such a reversal does not happen to them. 

(15) Beth Moore Worships At Joel Osteen's Church As Pastrix Christine Caine Preaches by Ken Silva, 12/24/13 
Certainly we should be able to see that Joel Osteen Moving One Step Closer To Mainstream Evangelicalism when someone as revered in conservative Christian circles as Beth Moore feels comfortable enough to announce she was going to go and join in fellowship with 1) someone like Osteen and his false gospel, and 2) with women in rebellion against God�s Word.

(16) Future Outpouring �Prophecy� Of Beth Moore by Ken Silva, 3/24/14 
Moore tells us, �In mid-November of 2012, God dropped a word so convicting on my heart,� so �I knew God was talking to me� and � I have rarely � if ever � received clearer orders from God.� In her post Moore speaks of a �fresh work of Christ� bringing a �revival� through the �wind� of the Holy Spirit, i.e. a new outpouring.

(17) Is Beth Moore�s �Spiritual Awakening� Taking the Evangelical Church Toward Rome? by Lighthouse Trails, 8/14/14 
Editor�s Note: Lighthouse Trails bears no animosity toward Catholics. We have a genuine love and concern for them. However, we are obliged to speak up about the teachings of the Catholic Church, especially as we witness the �emerging� of Protestantism and Catholicism, which is taking place via Christian leaders today.

(18) Beth Moore Talks 'Unity' with Word Faith Teacher Joyce Meyer by Do Not Be Surprised, 8/15/14 
Is this what Beth Moore meant when she claimed to have received personal, direct revelation from God to "stop sowing over and over again in the same field"? Is this the unity of which Moore spoke at James Robison's Awaken Conference? It certainly seems that way.

(19) Beth Moore & Priscilla Shirer�s History of Contemplative Prayer and Why War Room Should Not Have Used Them (Booklet) by John Lanagan and the Editors at Lighthouse Trails, 9/22/15 
Contemplative prayer, which Priscilla Shirer refers to as her �brand new way� and Beth Moore says is essential in really knowing God, is in reality an ancient prayer practice that is essentially the same as New Age or Eastern meditation though disguised with Christian terminology. Those who participate and enter the contemplative silence, as it is called, open themselves to great deception.

(20) The Beleaguered Disciple: One Woman�s story of finding discernment and losing Beth Moore at The Pen, 10/10/15 
The bottom line is this.  I don�t care if Beth Moore studies are actually �good� and do not contain false teaching � one cannot separate the studies from what Moore says and does elsewhere, with whom she associates.  She associates with Joyce Meyer, Christine Caine, Joel Osteen, James Robison, and Hillsong.  This is associating with false teaching at best, heresy at worst.

(21) Letter to the Editor: Churches in Deception Covering Their Tracks and Targeting Women at Lighthouse Trails, 3/214/16 
It used to be on a church website somehow�some slide, or announcement, etc.�but then later it  was hidden in the links, or the church bulletin, or the  women�s ministry where a Beth Moore book was listed. Now in the bulletin, when it is a Beth Moore book, they only label the study with a title or theme name.  But when I  Google that name, I get a book title by Beth Moore.  They are hiding it deliberately.

(22) Letter to the Editor: Serious Concerns Over Beth Moore’s New Series, “Entrusted�? at Lighthouse Trails, 12/8/16
LTRP Note: We find it noteworthy that on the eve of our going to press with Roger Oakland’s new book, The Good Shepherd Calls, we read this letter to the editor that arrived in our inbox this morning. The things this letter talks about are some of the same things Roger discusses in the book. What’s more, this letter to the editor is more proof that it isn’t just Lighthouse Trails, Understand The Times, and a handful of other discernment ministries that see what is coming about. (Those whom we challenge and critique want people to think that it is indeed just a handful, but it isn’t.)  Based on the phone calls, e-mails, letters, and social media comments for nearly 15 years, it is clear that many Bible-believing Christians understand the times in which we live and see the apostasy coming upon the church. As for the letter below, we commend this woman for speaking up and warning her church members.

(23) Women can teach, but not Beth Moore by Sandy Simpson, 8/11/17
False teaching disqualifies anyone from teaching!  Let’s look at what Beth Moore is teaching.

(24) Beth Moore Preaches About As well As A Dog Can Walk On Its Hind Legs by Protestia, 11/19/20
That is to say, not very well. You want to hear some bad preaching? We have some bad preaching for you. In a newly unearthed clip, Beth Moore – both the doting perfect princess of Lifeway/SBC proper and the red-headed stepchild of the faithful remnant within, preached a sermon in March 2020 at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. She was introduced by Senior Pastor Charlie Dates in glowing terms as “Auntie Beth,” who commended her to his congregation “I hope you will receive with me with all the honor in the world, the esteemed privilege we have to hear from one of God’s leading women in the world, Beth Moore.” If the name Charlie Dates sounds familiar, you likely know him from an article we wrote where we relayed that, being an SBC Executive Committee Panel Member, he said the SBC “Don’t Need Black Faces with White Theology/Voices/Ideas Leading the Convention.” But in the clip below, Moore makes this fascinatingly bizarre and eisegetical connection between Noah getting drunk at some point after becoming a farmer and…Christians getting drunk off their own fruity giftedness? And something about getting lit and being alone? Who are the sons covering Noah’s nakedness? Is that metaphorical too? What in world is going on here? The historical-grammatical method is far, far away from this one.

(25) Beth Moore Says God Is Judging His People Because They ‘Sinned Grievously’ By Supporting Trump at Christian Research Network 1/23/21
“God is judging the Church for sinning “grievously” by “wedding evangelicalism to a political party.” Because, it wasn’t about protecting religious freedom — that we all know is now gone. It wasn’t about protecting unborn life — that we now know will be in greater danger. It wasn’t about protecting the consciences of people who don’t want to be forced to deny reality when it comes to sex and gender.” Beth Moore is the Southern Baptist Convention’s top lady-preacher and prime merry-andrew of Evangelicalism. Beth Moore, like her spiritual brother, Russell Moore (no relation), has lead the charge in opposing conservative policies in the political realm, primarily railing against the evil orange man, daily. Today, she has what she’s been asking for. Moore has repeatedly lambasted conservative Evangelicals who supported Donald Trump while giving approval to those who support the pro-sodomy, pro-abortion anti-religious freedom political party. The Democrats, unlike the Republicans, stand for everything that God is against. In fact, the Democrat party platform is like the antithesis to the 10 Commandments. Yet, Beth Moore, like the growing swaths of leftist Evangelicals, are increasingly encouraging “political diversity” and giving approval to leftists.

(26) Birds Of A Feather: Karen Swallow Prior Defends Beth Moore, Slanders The Church by Protestia, 4/7/21
“False teachers like Beth Moore and Karen Swallow Prior for too long have ignored the Word of God’s clear proclamations regarding men and women in the church (and by extension the family), and have led the Southern Baptist Convention downhill to the point where the denomination may not be salvageable.” In an op-ed published at Religion News Service, SEBTS professor, notorious functional egalitarian, Karen Swallow Prior, blamed the Southern Baptist Convention (her denomination) for “leaving women to fend for themselves” and basically forcing Beth Moore to leave rather than see Moore’s ministerial ambitions stifled.

(27) Beth Moore Now In Open Rebellion To The Bible at CRN, 4/12/21
“I beg your forgiveness where I was complicit. I could not see it for what it was until 2016. I plead your forgiveness for how I just submitted to it and supported it and taught it. I trusted that the motives were godly. I have not lost my mind. Nor my doctrine. Just my naivety. And, dudes, do not DM me. Spend your energy tending to your house.” In a showcase of how progressive Beth Moore has become, the lady preacher, err Bible teacher, and famous Never Trumper, attacked the biblical doctrine of complementarianism as a “doctrine of MAN.” In her Twitter thread against complementarianism, Beth Moore cites 2016 as year she changed.

(28) Beth Moore Demeans Godly Women As ‘Just Packing The Brothers’ Lunchkits at CRN, 5/13/21
“Beth Moore likes to build straw men so she can tear them down while she laughs and mocks faithful leaders and Christians in the Church and now, other women who choose obedience over rebellion.” Beth Moore has been on the attack against Scripture for a long time. Last year, Moore launched her tirade against the Word of God by attempting to pit Paul against Jesus implying that the two contradicted each other in the Bible. Now, she openly denies the objective interpretation of Scripture based on authorial intent which has been practiced by the Church as long as the Scriptures have been around.

(29) Beth Moore’s Living Proof Ministry Is In The Red. Is Her Ministry Empire In Danger? by The End Time, 6/15/21
“Beth Moore’s departure from the SBC, strategically announced just prior to the SBC annual meeting, in fact gives her more flexibility and latitude than ever. Sadly, her forty-year unbiblical influence leaves SBC messengers to clean up her mess in attempts to retake the ship and steer it from shoal infested rocky waters to deeper, calmer seas.” The 2021 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention is occurring in a few days (June 15-16). Messengers from member churches from all over the United States have poured in to Nashville in order to attend…

(30) The Most Popular False Teacher In Evangelical Circles at CRN, 7/24/21
In one of the rare situations where Beth Moore actually wrote something biblically sound and true — a clear position on the sinfulness of homosexuality — she later retracts the statement and insists that she’s “exceeded Scripture” and then said that by writing that, she was “doing more harm than good.” Beth Moore started out in the early 1990s primarily as a women’s Bible-study teacher.

(31) Beth Moore Affirms Divorce For Women Who Don’t Want Sexual Relations With Husband at CRN, 7/31/21
“She kicks against the goads with God’s word anyway, and she does so in the name of Jesus–something she complains about other people doing.” Beth Moore is championing a new cause: sexual coercion. If it isn’t one thing, it’s another–from denying the sinfulness of homosexuality to promoting feminism, you can rest assured that if she’s on it, her position is probably unbiblical.

(32) Commentary: Has Beth Moore Inadvertently Become a Proponent of Critical Race Theory (CRT)? by L. Sharp, 8/17/21
The CRT lie is that every white person is inherently racist (whether they know it or not) [and in] a “perpetual state of guilt and apology to people of color. . . . It doesn’t matter if they never felt or acted as if they were superior to others because they were white; they are white, and therefore, according to CRT, they are racist.” Beth Moore has been moving away from the Bible for a while now. Lighthouse Trails has documented over the years her becoming a proponent of contemplative prayer, “emergent” doctrine, and ecumenism (most notably with Roman Catholicism). See link: https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?s=beth+moore Beth Moore publicly announced on March 9, 2021 that she was “no longer a Southern Baptist” See link: https://religionnews.com/2021/03/09/bible-teacher-beth-moore-ends-partnership-with-lifeway-i-am-no-longer-a-southern-baptist/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInIm4-fSL8gIVwj2tBh0Sewj5EAAYASAAEgLqNvD_BwE Recently, on Twitter (July 21, 2021), she decided to vent her frustrations, specifically aimed at the fact 6 Southern Baptist Seminary Presidents had signed a statement in Nov. 2020, declaring that Critical Race Theory (CRT) was “incompatible with the Baptist Faith & Message”. This Nov. 2020 statement was a shift from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) 2019 statement calling CRT “insufficient to diagnose and redress the root causes” of societal ills, but could be used as an “analytical tool to aid.” Perhaps her criticism of the SBC has escalated, after the more recent June 2021 SBC Convention, where the SBC shifted very clearly toward non-support of CRT.

(33) The Increasingly Uncharitable Political Posturing Of Beth Moore by Peter Heck, 8/24/21
“When proclaiming what those Scriptures teach is “godly,” believers should be dutifully committed to speaking only where it speaks, and identifying as our opinion where it doesn’t.” A lot was made recently of a state senator in Texas bastardizing the Word of God in spectacular fashion as she made her case for securing election integrity. There’s nothing quite like ripping a Bible verse out of context to support one’s political agenda to get a bevy of online Twitter theologians worked into a lather. It’s not that I don’t think such a galling misapplication of Scripture needs correcting; it’s more that I’m perplexed at the selective application of outrage and contempt over the offense. Consider that just a few days after the Texas clip went viral, well-known Bible teacher Beth Moore decided it appropriate to use her own social media account to adulterate a teaching of Christ Jesus Himself.

(34) Beth Moore Says Abstaining From Gay Sex Is A ‘Sacrifice’ For Gay Celibates at CRN, 10/9/21
“Moore explains that homosexuals who choose not to practice their sin are actually “sacrificing” themselves for this cause.” Beth Moore has said some of the most ludicrous things over the years, but until recently, nobody would have suspected that she had completely sold herself out to the LGBTQ agenda. The militant gay mafia would have everyone believe that homosexuality and other sexually deviant behaviors are normal and natural, and therefore, should be accepted and celebrated by everyone — including Christians.

(35) Beth Moore is finally "home" by Elizabeth Prata, The End Time, 12/25/21
I am not remarking on a liturgical service or anything about Anglicanism. I am saying that Beth Moore’s departure from the SBC to a place where her heart’s desire has always been to serve in a place the Bible forbids has finally been satisfied. She is finally “home”. Recently Beth Moore departed Lifeway, renounced being a Baptist, and loudly left the Southern Baptist Convention. In June she declared on her Twitter that she had found a “small liturgical church” in her area. Beth has been mightily enjoying this small, liturgical church. It is an Anglican church. Anglican, not Episcopalian.

(36) Beth Moore Scolds Men Who Believe Women Shouldn’t Post Immodest Pictures On Social Media at CRN, 2/11/22
“The raging feminist wing of professing Christendom always likes to come in and defend the indefensible. First up, Beth Moore…” First, I want to start by stating that the problem of immodesty is not unique to women–there are plenty of men who do the exact same thing. It is unclear why some give a pass to men while not to women. However, in the context of this latest incident, the men involved would not give a pass to men.

(37) Beth Moore Preaches Sunday Morning At Baptist Megachurch In Houston, Belittles Her Husband at CRN, 8/9/22
Beth Moore’s feud with the Southern Baptist Convention didn’t last long. After last year’s departure from the denomination, because it would not allow women to preach in pulpits, she announced that she was “no longer a Southern Baptist” and canceled her contract with LifeWay. Apparently, that hasn’t stopped her from preaching in Baptist pulpits. ... She then followed up her Sunday morning sermon by belittling her husband on Twitter.

(38) The “Jesus is my boyfriend” syndrome at Famine In The Land, 8/12/22
Jesus is not your boyfriend – “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11. By pandering to her Twitter fan club, Beth Moore reveals her distorted, irreverent, and false view of who Jesus is. Mark and avoid this deluded teacher.

(39) Paula White Joins Forces With Demonic ‘Moonies Cult’ at CRN, 8/19/22
New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) queen Paula White demonstrated a further lack of biblical discernment and an increasing glut of demonic hand-holding when she got up on stage and gave a keynote address at the World Christian Leadership Conference which took place August 11-15, 2022. The conference was founded by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the widow of the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, co-founder of the Universal Peace Federation and the World Unification Church.

(40) Beth Moore Heads Preaching Conference At Gay-Affirming ‘Christian’ University by Marsha West, 9/17/22
Baylor launched a website on sexuality last week which appears to take a softening stance on homosexuality. The website states that it is “committed to providing a caring, loving and supportive community for students in all aspects of their lives, including the development of their sexuality.“ Beth Moore is one of Evangelicalism’s foremost progressive activists who has used her platform to advance some of the most godless ideologies in the Church which are contrary to the doctrines taught in Scripture.

(41) Beth Moore Chastises Christians Who Publicly Humiliate Heretics by Protestia, 1/21/23
“Writing articles or sharing pictures or memes of why Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, or some false teacher who says he’s the second coming of Christ, is a virtue, not a vice, and is a work of the spirit. The fact that she’s mad about it is very, very telling.” Days after Beth Moore took exception to Jonathan Edwards’s sermon ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’ for very BethMoorish reasons, she took to Twitter to chastise those who would publicly humiliate heretics and share pictures and memes about why they are so bad.

(42) Beth Moore Rants Over Women Not Being Allowed To Preach In The SBC On The Podcast Of An Advocate For ‘Gay Christianity’ by The Dissenter, 3/5/23
Preston Sprinkle is the founder of the Center for Faith, Sexuality, & Gender, a ministry dedicated to advocating and promoting “Side B” “gay Christianity.” Similar to Revoice, of which he is also an original advisory board member, Sprinkles’ ministry promotes the aberrant belief that one can continue living as an open homosexual so long as they don’t engage in homosexual sex. And it was to Preston Sprinkles’ podcast that Beth Moore turned to complain about the Southern Baptist Convention’s decision to take a harder stance against women preaching.

(43) Imam Stands In Pulpit At Beth Moore’s Church And Preaches From The Koran by The Dissenter, 9/2/23
“Beth Moore’s church has now invited a Muslim Imam to come deliver a sermon and offer a prayer of worship in front of the church. This Imam came and took the pulpit…” Beth Moore, when she apostatized a few years ago and left a somewhat biblical denomination for a completely apostate denomination, made it clear that her intentions were to continue to rebel against God by performing the function and role of a pastor, which the Scriptures reserve for men.

(44) Debunking Leftist Myths About Jesus – Jesus Was A Feminist by The Dissenter, 12/16/23
“Jesus did not come to promote a revolt against societal norms but to offer a radical transformation of the heart, one that transcends social and political structures and exposes the deadening rot within our very being.” In the battleground of contemporary Christian discourse, figures like Beth Moore and Kristin Du Mez emerge not as benign participants but as antagonists, waging a calculated campaign to hijack Christianity in service of their feminist agenda. With the assistance of effeminate men masquerading as leaders of the Evangelical Church, Beth Moore now brazenly flouts biblical mandates (1 Corinthians 14:34), trading biblical fidelity for egalitarian feminism.



 Doug Pagitt

(1) Doug Pagitt and the Emerging Church Gay Agenda by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 8/26/10 
A couple of these apostate EC elite I mentioned above would be the heretical quasi-universalist Emerging Church pastor Doug Pagitt, who heads the Emergent Solomon's Porch, and his equally heretical "theologian in residence" Tony Jones. As I showed you in Emergence Christianity Theologian Tony Jones And His Unrepentant Homosexual Christians Jones has played the man and gone on record that he personally affirms a lifestyle of having sexual relations with another of the same sex, i.e homosexuality, is a viable one for the regenerated Christian. Doug Pagitt, not so much; although the evidence I brought out in Doug Pagitt, The Emerging Church, And Affirming Homosexuality leaves little doubt that Doug Pagitt's in agreement with his friend Tony Jones.

(2) The Kind Of Christianity Doug Pagitt Offers by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 9/1/10 
Apprising Ministries has told you before that the sinfully ecumenical Emerging Church, which has now blossomed into a full-blown neo-liberal cult that's operating within mainstream evangelicalism itself, would prove to be a Trojan Horse unloading critical-thinking skills numbing Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism under the guise of so-called Spiritual Formation ala Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster and his spiritual twin Dallas Willard. Online apologetics and discernment ministries tried to warn you that the primary goal of the Emergent Church has been to attack the Protestant Reformation-specifically Sola Scriptura-but, unfortunately, the warnings went unheeded. Instead mainstream evangelical churches made the horrible decision to use their Young Adult and Youth ministries as spiritual guinea pigs feeding them on materials from apostate EC leaders. Two of the most notorious of these would be the heretical quasi-universalist Emerging Church pastor Doug Pagitt, who heads the Emergent Solomon's Porch, along with his equally heretical "theologian in residence" Tony Jones; two-thirds of the unholy trinity of the Emerging Church, with the other being guru Brian McLaren. Sadly, these men will have much to answer for having caused so many to make shipwreck of their faith (see-1 Timothy 1:19).

(3) Toxic Theology Of Doug Pagitt by Ken Silva, 9/3/10
Here I agree that Pagitt is quite right; pagan religions are "not at all in contrast with [his] Christianity"; however, this is not even remotely close to the historic, orthodox, Christian faith once for all delivered to the saints. 

(4) Articles on Doug Pagitt by Apprising Ministries, 9/20/10 
A number of articles on Pagitt. 

(5) Doug Pagitt and homosexual sin by Ken Silva, 10/12/10 
In Doug Pagitt And The Emerging Church Gay Agenda I reiterated that online apologetics and discernment ministries tried to warn you the primary goal of the EC has been to attack the Protestant Reformation-specifically Sola Scriptura-but, unfortunately, the warnings went unheeded. As I pointed out before, this is the reason why God moved me to begin covering the issue of a growing acceptance within evangelicalism that the deviant and sinful lifestyle of having sexual relations with another of the same sex, i.e homosexuality, is a viable one for the regenerated Christian.

(6) Doug Pagitt Excited About Interfaith Powwows At Solomon's Porch by Ken Silva, 2/3/11 
The link takes us to the You Tube clip below, which in part we have because Fuller Seminary Sponsors Emerging Church Heretic Doug Pagitt; such is the growing syncretism within rapidly apostatizing evangelicalism. As you'll see Pagitt's excited that tonight the "Holistic, Missional, Christian Community" Solomon's Porch kicks off its new "Thursday Torah Teaching with Rabi Joseph Eidelheidt [sic]"[1] series at something called "Solomon's Porch Gathering Space." 



 Leonard Sweet

(1) Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Wake Up Leonard Sweet!
by Sandy Simpson, 11/27/05 
This article will expose Leonord Sweet as a postmodernist who apparently is so caught up in his postmodern paradigm shift that he is unable to think clearly at all, let alone teach.  On his The Double Ring Video by Leonard Sweet, Sweet's SoulCafe, 1998, Vol. 3 which I have transcribed here in totality, you can hear the bell toll twice announcing the demise of Christianity falling headlong into a global apostate end times false religion.

(2) 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.

(3) Eastern Regional Watch Ministries (ERWM) - Emerging Church by Steve Muse
Great apologetics site on Emerging Church.

(4) Leonard Sweet: Quantum Spirituality and 
a Christ Consciousness! by Lighthouse Trails
Leonard Sweet (endorsed by Rick Warren) thanks New Agers for helping him find the "New Light"

(5) Engineering The Emergent Experience by Watcher's Lamp, 2/12/07
In a classic case of the dialectic process, Leonard Sweet has declared, " "the old model of church is killing the West," at a conference at Baylor University. Sweet continues to state, "in the midst of an ever-changing culture, and more specifically, postmodernism the church must become missional, relational and incarnational, rather than remain attractional, propositional and colonial." In layman's terms"the emergent way is in, the seeker-sensitive is out. Perhaps the seeker-sensitive way is the first step toward the emergent way, with the final destination for Rome ?

(6) Rick Warren and Leonard Sweet Together Again -- Sweet: Reinvent yourself for the 21st century or die by Lighthouse Trails Research, 5/07
The 2007 Catalyst Conference will be taking place this October, and long-time colleagues Rick Warren and New Age sympathizer Leonard Sweet will be speakers.

(7) New Age Sympathizer Leonard Sweet To Speak at Pastor Skip Heitzig's Calvary Chapel Church from Warren B. Smith's book, A "Wonderful" Deception, 3/26/2010 
LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS REPORT:This coming June, Calvary Chapel Albuquerque (a veteran Calvary Chapel church pastored by Skip Heitzig) will host the National Worship Leader Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico and will feature New Age sympathizer and emerging church leader, Leonard Sweet. The NWLC event will take place in three different U.S. locations with Sweet participating in two of them.

Updated! (8) Leonard Sweet Quotes compiled by Sandy Simpson. 3/10 
This is a page containing a number of quotes proving Leonard Sweet, probably the leading spokesman promoting Emergent Church, is a false teacher. I will comment in blue about each quote.  The issue of Sweet being invited into many churches and Christian universities to speak has become even direr as recently he was invited to speak at a Calvary Chapel conference.

(9) David Spangler, Leonard Sweet and Quantum Spirituality by Ken Silva, Apprising Ministries, 5/2/10
Apprising Ministries has been telling you in posts like Liberalism 2.0 The New Progressive Christian Theology and Brian McLaren Addresses TransFORM East Coast Conference that, while the spiritually obtuse within evangelicalism would like to think so, the neo-liberal cult of the Emerging Church is not dead at all. In fact, the just wrapped up TransForm East Coast conference launches the Emergent Church 2.0 with a  new more clearly defined progressive/neo-liberal theology aka Emergence Christianity.

(10) On Emergent Church leaders calling apologetics and discernment ministries "Online Discernment Ministries" (ODM) by Sandy Simpson, 5/14/10 
It does not surprise me at all that prominent Emergent Church (EC) leadership and others associated with that movement would use name calling as a way to try to shut up opposition to their false teachings.  This is typical for Christian liberals.  Rather than answer to what they have been writing in their books and teaching on in public for years, they resort to name calling.  The term they are using lately is ODM meaning online discernment ministries.  They use that term in a disparaging way but the term itself shows that they do not know how to do research and are not interested in the facts about many apologetics ministries.

(11) Letter to George Fox University regarding Leonard Sweet by James Sundquist, 6/4/10 
Dear President Robin Baker, Chuck Conniry, Dean, Faculty and Administration of George Fox University and fellow defenders of The Faith: Please find attached my response to Chuck Conniry and Randy Woodley of George Fox University, the complete comprehensive full report on Leonard Sweet vs. Scripture. In particular, I respond to Randy Woodley's accusations.

(12) Leonard Sweet, Frank Viola and the Third Way by Ken Silva, 6/8/10 
This would be the third way, the alleged "new reformation" of the Emerging Church 2.0 with its Emergence [theory] Christianity that's slithering its way deeper into the mainstream of the squishy evanjellyfish community; and, maybe into your own local church. If I were you, I'd be closely checking the theology of your Worship leaders and Youth pastors by asking some very hard, and precisely defined, questions. It's an incontrovertible fact that this spiritual skubalon has been coming out of mainstream evangelical publishing houses for years now aimed right at that demographic; you ignore this at their peril. 

(13) Quantum Spirituality Has Entered the Church Through Christian Leaders by Warren Smith, 7/20/10 
Leonard Sweet is definitely one of the point men for today's emerging/postmodern/Purpose Driven Church. As Rick Warren has aligned himself with Sweet, it is important to remember that Sweet has described former and present New Age figures as his "heroes" and "role models." He has openly acknowledged that his quantum "new cell theory" understanding of "new light leadership" was formulated with the help of veteran New Age leader David Spangler. Additionally, Sweet describes mystical New Age priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin as "Twentieth-century Christianity's major voice." And while Sweet's almost "in your face" New Age sympathies are there for all to see, Rick Warren, and other Christian figures continue to hold him in high esteem. But it is just business as usual as Warren's apologist tells us that "Doctrinally/theologically, Leonard Sweet is about as Christian as anyone can get."

(14) Moriel and Way of Life Ministries Report on Concerns Over Calvary Chapel Embracing of New Age Sympathizer Leonard Sweet at Lighthouse Trails Research, April 26th, 2010 
Moriel has received a number of inquiries and comments regarding the invitation by Skip Heitzig extended to Leonard Sweet, the New Age Christian mystic usually identified with the "Emergent Church", a movement against which senior Calvary pastor and founder Pastor Chuck Smith publicly opposed. The event is to be held at Calvary Chapel, Albuquerque along with the so-called music ministry of a Roman Catholic worship leader in what has been described as the first official New Age/Ecumenical event to take place at a Calvary Chapel. This despite the majority of Calvary Chapel pastors not subscribing to the event's Ecumenical agenda who support the expressed position of Pastor Chuck Smith opposing tenets and practices of the Post-Modern mysticism defining the Emergent Church, seeking to prevent it from entering into Calvary Chapels. The announcement follows a public financial scandal reaching the secular press at the same church in 2008. Moriel cannot speak for Skip Heitzig and we urge those contacting us to rather direct their comments and questions to him. Moriel and Jacob Prasch do dismiss Leonard Sweet as a dangerous deceiver, and although not opposed to Catholic people we reject Ecumenical union of any kind with Roman Catholicism. We also firmly endorse the position expressed by Pastor Chuck Smith in opposition to this "emergence" which was undertaken by him in a personally painful yet noble and necessary reaction to its attempted influx into a Calvary Chapel in California. Moriel and Jacob Prasch also sanction the caveats issued to Calvary Chapel pastors by former New Ager Warren Smith who was invited by Chuck Smith to address a major Calvary Chapel pastors conference regarding these faulty trends.

(15) Leonard Sweet and His Quantum Spirituality
Date: September 09, 2010 
Host: Ingrid Schlueter, Crosstalk Radio 
Guest: Sandy Simpson 
Listen: RealAudio | Windows Media | MP3 | Order Tape or CD

(16) 10 Minute Video Preview - Part 4 - Exposing the Quantum Lie by Warren Smith, 9/10/10
Warren Smith continues to expose the Quantum Lie, and a lot more proponents come onto the scene as the big picture begins to unfold. Watch how The Shack, The Truth Project, The Secret, Rick Warren, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Neale Donald Walsch and others all begin to be "on the same page" in terms of belief. For the Full DVD please see http://www.lighthousetrails.com.

(17) Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Professor Earl Creps Promote Contemplative Spirituality by Lighthouse Trails, 9/10/10 
While Creps ends that discussion with "I am painfully orthodox doctrinally," resources he offers throughout his blogs and websites would paint another picture. Under Apologetics Resources, Creps recommends Leonard Sweet's book, Quantum Spirituality. Listen to Sweet, as he describes the New Light in his book: "I have followed those 'New Light leaders' ... [S]ome of those who led [me] into new light are: ... Matthew Fox, Richard Mouw, Rowan Williams." Others that Leonard Sweet thanks include: Morton Kelsey, M. Scott Peck, Walter Bruggemann, Ken Wilber, Thomas Berry and many other New Age sympathizers.

(18) Giving Leonard Sweet a nudge by Ken Silva, 9/14/10 
So his theology hasn't changed despite what he said in his rather patronizing A Response to Recent Misunderstandings filled with postmodern Humpty Dumpty language; the truth is, Christian missionary Sandy Simpson of the respected online apologetics and discernment ministry Deception In The Church put together Leonard Sweet Quotes, and nothing he quotes Sweet as saying there, or in my Emergence Christianity: Quantum Shift To Panentheism, has been retracted. 

(19) Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Gives Favorable Review of Book by New Age sympathizer Leonard Sweet by Lighthouse Trails, 2/23/11 
In the January 24th issue of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Towers magazine sits a review of Leonard Sweet's recent book, Jesus Manifesto (p. 11). The review states that Sweet's book "can be a good resource for young and old Christians alike." The review was written by Towers managing editor Aaron Cline Hanbury who on his own blog recommends "grounded" Christians read Rob Bell's book, Velvet Elviswhere Bell tells readers to study New Age mystic and tantric sex advocate Ken Wilber for three months for a "mind-blowing introduction to emergence theory and divine creativity [panentheism (God in all) and pantheism (all is God)]" (p.192 V.E.). 

(20) 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.

(21) Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Gives Favorable Review of Book by New Age Sympathizer Leonard Sweet by Lighthouse Trails, April 1, 2011In the January 24th issue of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Towers magazine sits a review of Leonard Sweet's recent book, Jesus Manifesto (p.11). The review states that Sweet's book "can be a good resource for young and old Christians alike." The review was written by Towers managing editor Aaron Cline Hanbury who on his own blog recommends "grounded" Christians read Rob Bell's book, Velvet Elvis, where Bell tells readers to study New Age mystic and tantric sex advocate Ken Wilber for three months for a "mind-blowing introduction to emergence theory and divine creativity [panentheism (God in all) and pantheism (all is God)]" (p.192 V.E.).

(22) Leonard Sweet Set For Adrian Rogers Symposium by Ken Silva, 8/18/11
I told you we were headed into a land where words have no fixed meaning; as we're told Leonard Sweet is "one of the top Evangelical leaders." Essentially the word has become meaningless; and Sweet is a minister in the rather liberal United Methodist Church.
(23) The "Energymatter" Jesus excerpt from Tamara Hartzell's new online book: "Reimagining" God: Turning the Light off to Look for "Truth" in the Corner of a Dark Round Room, 1/25/13
A relevant discussion of the "new gospel" taught by Leonard Sweet and other evangelical and New Age leaders. Excerpt is from Chapter 5, p. 136.
 

(24) Incarnating Christ excerpt from Tamara Hartzell's new online book: "Reimagining" God: Turning the Light off to Look for "Truth" in the Corner of a Dark Round Room, 2/5/13
Not only is today's shifting Christianity obviously changing its methods and message in its purposeful shift to darkness, but it is also changing to "another gospel, another spirit & another Jesus," as well as another "Christ" and another "God."

(25) Leonard Sweet: Changing The Emergent Leopard�s Spots by Discerning The World, 3/5/15 
Like Leonard Sweet who hails New Ager, David Spangler, Willis Harman, M, Scott Peck, Matthew Fox and other contemplatives as the �New Light Leaders� and among the most creative religious leaders in America today, (who) . . . . are . . . . carving out channels for new ideas to flow, (2) Sephan Joubert has his own little crowd of Emergent contemplatives whom he lusciously hails as �Today�s new saints [who] are those who in solitude find peace and quiet with God and manifest it in genuine ways.�  Leonard Sweet 2015However hard they may try to persuade their followers that their association with well-known contemplatives and New Agers does not defile their own spotless anti-Emergent character, they need to explain why they are still tenaciously, happily and openly fraternizing with the leaders of the Mosaïek Church in Fairland, Johannesburg who are all full-blooded contemplative emergents.  (Please see the billboard on the left announcing Leonard Sweet�s visit to the Mosaïek Church on March 10th, 2015).

(26) Letter to the Editor: Ravi Zacharias to Share Platform with New Age Sympathizer Leonard Sweet at Synergize 2016 at Lighthouse Trails, 6/21/16 
Ravi Zacharias was general editor of Walter Martin�s 2003 revised,updated, and expanded edition of Martin�s classic reference book originally published in 1965: �The Kingdom of the Cults.� In the �General Editor�s Introduction� of that 2003 edition, Ravi Zacharias  credits Martin as contributing to his own thinking on the task of apologetics and says he considers it a �distinct honor� to have been asked by Walter Martin�s family to become general editor of the updated edition of Martin�s classic reference book. Ravi Zacharias also says in that General Editor�s Preface (2003): �Of one thing we can be sure: Where we find truth, often in close proximity we also find a way that distorts and faults . . . the power to deceive is enormous.� How can Ravi Zacharias have written that in 2003 and be willing to speak at a conference with Leonard Sweet? 

(27) On Leonard Sweet: Connectness Or Correctness – Which Will It Be? by Tamara Harzell, 9/6/17
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.�? (2 Timothy 4:2-4) Sadly, it has become quite obvious that the time has already come. Openly preferring the fables of man’s imagination to the doctrinal truth of God’s Word, today’s shifting Christianity is heaping to itself teachers to scratch its itching ears. People are choosing to be led in “a way that seemeth right unto a man�? rather than in the way that is right unto God as set forth by God in the Word of God. In Leonard Sweet’s 2009 book, So Beautiful: Divine Design for Life and the Church, which, sadly, is just as anti-truth, anti-God, anti-Christ as everything else that caters to today’s epidemic of itching ears, this “[r]enowned professor and theologian�? —who has worked for “years as a mentor to pastors�? and “is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences, state conventions, pastors’ schools, retreats�? as well as “a consultant to many denominational leaders and agencies�? —asks a question that effectively sums up the new way of thinking: “What if we were to think connectness rather than correctness?

(28) The Significance of Understanding Leonard Sweet’s “More Magnificent Way of Seeing Christ” (Booklet) by Warren B. Smith, 3/8/19
Over the past few decades, a number of New Age sympathizers have had a significant influence in the evangelical church. One of the chief is Methodist author, speaker, and teacher Leonard Sweet. Sweet openly calls the Father of the New Age Movement—the late Jesuit priest Teilhard de Chardin—“twentieth-century Christianity’s major voice.” Sweet also teaches the foundational New Age doctrine that God is “in” everyone and everything—that God is embedded in all creation. Brought forward and popularized by Rick Warren, Leonard Sweet and his New Age sympathies have not been adequately addressed by today’s pastors and church leaders. A look on Sweet’s website shows he has partnered with numerous popular figures such as Brian McLaren, Mark Batterson (Circle Maker), Erwin McManus, Mark Driscoll, Frank Viola, and Karen Swallow Prior (professor at Liberty University). The following booklet by Warren Smith reveals the “New Age Christianity” that Leonard Sweet has helped to bring into the church.

(29) How the “Quantum Christ” (God is in everything) Is HAS Transformed the World . . . and Entered the Church! by Warren B. Smith, 9/21/21
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. (from chapter 13 of A “Wonderful” Deception by Warren B. Smith)


 New Sandy Simpson Messages
in Books, CDs & DVDs

NEW BOOK!
Reverse Paradigm Shift

by Sandy Simpson

We live in a topsy-turvy world of opposing ideas.  It is easy to get lost and overwhelmed.  We as Christians often don’t realize how much we have been diapraxed by the world, the flesh and the devil.  Our paradigm has been altered to such a degree that, without the solid foundation of Scripture, we are often set adrift without the anchor God has provided us.  Our paradigm is our worldview, our understanding of reality.  Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the written eternal Word, we really have no hope of understanding reality, our cultures, or our lives.  I have written this book to clue the reader into some of the issues that surround the modern born-again believer and how to reverse the shift that has exponentially changed our perspective in some cases.  Fortunately, in the foreknowledge of our Lord, He provided us with a roadmap to navigate our fallen world.  We don’t need a new map, as Emergent Church advocates claim.  We need the tried and true map of the ages.  There is “nothing new under the sun”.  There have always been false prophets and false teachers who are there by the will of the enemy to mislead and ultimately destroy the faith of many.  We are clearly living in the Apostasy foretold in the Bible that has been growing preceding the appearance of the Antichrist.  We need to carefully test ourselves to be sure we are in the Faith, and then hold on to the hope we have in Christ. 

Only $18. plus s/h. for US. 

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