Posts Tagged ‘Ray Yungen’

LTRP Note: In 2002, when the first edition of A Time of Departing by Ray Yungen was released, Lighthouse Trails sent a copy of the book to Rick Warren, hoping to warn him of this  mystical spirituality that was fast moving into the evangelical church via Richard Foster and other contemplative pioneers. Rick Warren sent LT a personal note thanking us for the book saying, “I agree this is a hot topic!” Little did we know at the time that Rick Warren was fully aware of the contemplative prayer  (spiritual formation) movement already- years before The Purpose Driven Life was released (same month that A Time of Departing was released), in Rick Warren’s first book, The Purpose Driven Church, Warren said that the spiritual formation movement (ala Richard Foster and Dallas Willard) was a “valid message for the church” and has “given the body of Christ a wake up call” (PDC, p. 127). From the time A Time of Departingwas first released (2002) until its second edition  four years later, a lot has come to the surface, so much so that the 2nd edition of Yungen’s book carries an entire chapter on Rick Warren’s promotion of contemplative spirituality. In fact, Rick Warren is one of the most influential and powerful proponents of the contemplative prayer movement (as well as the emerging church movement) on the scene today.  The article below reminds us of this and why it should not be so. Keep in mind that Richard Foster is not the only contemplative figure whom Rick Warren  promotes. There are many: Henri Nouwen, Gary Thomas, Tricia Rhodes, Adele Calhoun, Leonard Sweet, and Mark Driscoll – just to name a few.

by Christine Pack
Sola Sisters

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.

But in today’s undiscerning church, this pagan practice has been flowing into churches because its proponents insist that this is a Christian practice and has been practiced by Christians for centuries. After all, what could be wrong with something called “Spiritual Formation,” right? It sounds kind of Christian and churchy, doesn’t it? And we know there’s something about Christ being formed in us (Gal 4:19), so that has to be what this is talking about, right?

Wrong.  Spiritual Formation is a series of disciplines which supposedly aid in “spiritual development,” and which are generally thought to be Christian because these disciplines were formed centuries ago by monks in Roman Catholic monasteries. There’s just one problem here, but it’s a biggie: these Roman Catholic monks, who were known as the Desert Fathers, cloistered themselves in the Middle East and Egypt; and, because of their close proximity to eastern cultures, ended up being heavily influenced by paganism to the point of grafting pagan practices into their prayers, chiefly, mantra meditation.  So in essence, these “spiritual disciplines” that are part of today’s “Spiritual Formation” programs are classic, eastern occultic practices that have simply been “Christianized” with a sprinkling of the magic pixie dust of Christian terminology.  But make no mistake, these practices areoccultic. Click here to continue reading this article.

Related Information:

Saddleback Church IS a Contemplative Church

Merton & Nouwen: Sacrificing Truth for Mystical Experiences

On Saturday February 27, 2010 Lighthouse Trails authors, Warren B. Smith and Ray Yungen will be speaking at the Defending the Faith conference at Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast in Westminster, California. Smith and Yungen will be joined by author of The Beautiful Side of Evil, Johanna Michaelsen, and Pastor Chris Quintana. In addition to the four lectures, there will be a Question and Answer time at the end. The day-long event (9:00am – 3pm) is free and open to all.

Warren B. Smith is a former New Age follower and the author of a number of books, including Deceived on Purpose and A “Wonderful” Deception. His writings expose the New Spirituality that has entered the church. Ray Yungen has researched the New Age and contemplative spirituality for over 25 years and is the author of A Time of Departing and For Many Shall Come in My Name. Check out their websites for more information about their ministries and their books and DVDs: www.newagetograce.com and www.atimeofdeparting.com.

Address of Conference:

Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast

6400 Westminster Blvd, Westminster, CA

Phone: (714) 893-4141

“[A] wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.” Ecclesiastes 8:5

In these new YouTube video clips, Mike Oppenheimer (Let Us Reason Ministries) and author Ray Yungen (A Time of Departing) discuss mysticism, the emerging church, and contemplative spirituality and how they relate to God’s Word. In essence, contemplative spirituality says, “The Gospel gets in the way.”

Below is part one.  Click here for part two. Filmed in Idaho by Candlelight Productions for Concerned Nazarenes. Used with permission. YouTube Video clips compiled by “Luke.”