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Mark
Driscoll Rejects McLaren But Embraces Contemplative
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Since
last Fall, when Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church, denounced some
of the teachings of emerging church leaders Brian McLaren and Doug Pagitt
at the Convergence Conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary,
his talk has been the topic of many discussions across North America.
People feel that such a denouncement by someone who had a role in the start
up of the emerging church is very noteworthy. (1)
However, while Driscoll has placed himself in what he considers a more
conservative and a biblical
form of the emerging church, evidence shows that when it comes to the
driving force behind the emerging church - mysticism - Driscoll embraces
the same spiritual technology as McLaren and Pagitt.
A "Recommended Reading List" on Driscoll's website shows
that Driscoll resonates with contemplative and emerging church leaders who
teach and adhere to eastern-style meditation.
Some may feel that a disclaimer on the site releases Driscoll from any
connection. The disclaimer states that "Mars Hill Church does not
endorse every thought, idea, principle, and/or method of every single title
or author on this list," but says the books are "good for those
who read with discerning minds as they worship God in spirit and truth....
Our heart in having this list is to help people live for Jesus and grow in
their relationship with Him as they are reaching their city with the
gospel." Unfortunately, several of the titles are not at all
"good for those who read" them, will not help them in their
"worship" of God, and rather than help them "grow in their
relationship with Him" will point readers toward a mysticism that runs
contrary to biblical truth.
A complete list of the recommended books (about 85
altogether) has several titles in question (about 1/4 of the list). For
instance, Driscoll includes three books by contemplative/centering prayer
advocate Larry Crabb. In Crabb's book, The Papa Prayer,
his propensity toward the mystical is quite obvious (see our report on this book). Crabb is a spiritual director for
the AACC (American Association of Christian Counselors). A statement in the
AACC Code of Ethics shows how it is influenced by contemplative pioneer
Richard Foster:
Although rooted primarily in an orthodox
evangelical biblical theology, this Code is also influenced (according to
the paradigm offered by Richard Foster) by the social justice,
charismatic-pentecostal, pietistic-holiness, liturgical, and contemplative
traditions of Christian theology and church history. (p.3, American Association of Christian Counselors, Code of
Ethics)
In Crabb's book, The Papa Prayer,
he says:
I've practiced centering prayer. I've
contemplatively prayed. I've prayed liturgically....I've benefited from
each, and I still do. In ways you'll see, elements of each style are still
with me (p.9).
Speakers who the AACC uses at events
would further confirm Crabb's affinity with contemplative and emerging
spiritualities. Some of those speakers include: David Benner, John Ortberg,
Gary Thomas, Leonard Sweet, and Dan Allender (Mars Hill Graduate School).
All of these fall in the mystical/contemplative camp.
For those who may still have doubts as to Crabb's stand, a 2003 Christianity
Today article titled "A Shrink Gets Shrunk," describes how
Crabb moved his focus from psychology to "spiritual direction."
The article says that Crabb "recites insights from an eclectic group
of thinkers he drew on to come up with his model of direction." This
group of thinkers includes an array of eastern mysticism proponents: Thomas
Merton, Eugene Peterson, Henri Nouwen, Brennan Manning, John of the Cross,
Michael Card, and Buddhist sympathizer Peter Kreeft. 1
While Driscoll does not include The Papa Prayer in his list of
books, this raises a valid question: Is it ok to promote some of the books
by those who propagate mystical spirituality as long as those particular
books don't? The problem this presents is that by placing these names in a
"Recommended Reading List," with a weak disclaimer, this puts
readers in harm's way. Secondly, whatever it was that Larry Crabb was
teaching in his earlier books (that Driscoll recommends) has somehow led
him to become a follower of Thomas Merton and other blatant mystics.
Reading Crabb's books will catch trusting readers off guard and could ultimately
lead them into the panentheistic spirituality of Thomas Merton. After all,
that is where it led Larry Crabb. To substantiate this statement, in 2002
Crabb wrote the foreword to a book written by David Benner. Benner's book, Sacred
Companions, openly promotes the teachings of Merton and is actually a
who's who of mystical and panenthestic writings such as atonement denier Alan Jones (Reimagining Christianity), Thomas
Keating and a host of like-minded writers. In that foreword, Crabb said
something that was in a sense prophetic of the emerging church. He stated:
The spiritual climate is ripe. Jesus
seekers across the world are being prepared to abandon the old way of the
written code for the new way of the Spirit (p. 9).
Benner's book is a manual for this new
emerging way that throws out the old way (the biblical way). As an example
of this, Benner praises a book by John Gorsuch titled An Invitation to
the Spiritual Journey. Benner says, "This little book
sparkles." In Gorsuch's book, the general gist of it is how mysticism
is uniting all the world's religions. He makes specific reference to Swami
Paramahansa Yogananda and comments that he was a great saint who brought
many people to God. In the back of Gorsuch's book there are also Tibetan
Buddhist meditations. Without a doubt, Gorsuch's book is a New Age book. It
proclaims the validity of all religions and also that God is in everything
and everybody. For Benner to say this book sparkles, means he embraces its
views - more importantly, not just in an intellectual sense but in a
mystical sense. So in essence, for Crabb to write the foreword to this book
speaks for itself.
It is interesting that one of the points Driscoll has against Brian McLaren
is McLaren's rejection of the atonement. Why interesting? In Driscoll's
"Recommended Reading List," he recommends five books by
Dan Allender. Allender, a promoter of the emerging church and contemplative
prayer movement, is the president of Mars Hill Graduate School. One of the adjunct
professors there is Brian McLaren, 2 and MHGS is a sponsor of McLaren's "Everything
Must Change" tour. In case there is any question as to MHGS' stand on
contemplative mysticism, here are a couple more examples. Their course, TCE
527 Kingdom of God, uses a text book by panentheist Thomas Keating, and
their spiritual formation course uses a textbook by Catholic proponent
Michael Downey.3 One Catholic news source describes Downey as "an
expert in the subject of contemplative prayer, draw[ing] on the writings of
America's great contemplative monk and author, Thomas Merton, to help us
learn how to make contemplation a part of life." 4 A word search on MHGS search engine brings up
favorable and supportive links to countless contemplative and emerging
authors and teachers: Doug Pagitt, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Keating,
McLaren - the list is extensive. Thus, it is not an exaggeration to say
that Allender is an evangelist for mystical spirituality and emerging
thought. Once again though, Driscoll says that these books help bring
people closer to Jesus. We would contend that this is another Jesus and
another gospel (II Corinthians 11:4) that these contemplatives draw people
toward.
Another author Driscoll recommends is contemplative promoter Ken Boa. Boa,
in his book, Conformed to His Image speaks favorably of the practice
of lectio divina, turns to Richard Foster for guidance, references mystic
Jean Pierre de Caussade, St. Ignatius Loyola's mystical practices, and
favorably refers to and/or quotes Julian of Norwich, Thomas Kelly, Thomas
Merton and Thomas Keating4 Driscoll is drawing his followers into the palm of
contemplatives, who incidentally would share much of the same philosophies
as McLaren and Pagitt.
Driscoll also recommends Brother Lawrence's book, The Practice of the
Presence of God. In one edition of that book, Lawrence is said to have
been "singing and dancing violently like a mad man" while in the
presence of God (1977, Image Books, p. 34) (see A Time of Departing).
It makes sense that Driscoll has also included Essential Kierkegaard in
his list. Soren Kierkegaard had an interest in mysticism as well. In a
dissertation at Purdue University called "Faith and nothingness in
Kierkegaard: A mystical reading of the God-relationship," the writer
says of Kierkegaard: "[H]e has marked structural similarities to
mystics such as [Miester] Eckhart, who is warmly received by the
Japanese philosophical tradition, particularly in the writings of its Zen
and Pure Land Buddhist representatives." (from chapter 2, Faith Undone by Roger Oakland) Oakland adds
about Kierkegaard: "[Peter] Drucker attested to Kierkegaard's mystical
affinities, saying he "stands squarely in the great Western tradition
of religious experience, the tradition of ... St. John of the Cross,"
a mystic in the 1500s" (Faith Undone, p. 25).
Another represented on Driscoll's list is author Gary Thomas. Thomas has
been the subject of Lighthouse Trails articles for two reasons; one,
because of his teaching on mantra meditation in his book Sacred Pathways,
in which he states:
It is particularly difficult to describe
this type of prayer in writing, as it is best taught in person. In general
however, centering prayer works like this:
Choose a word (Jesus or Father, for
example) as a focus for contemplative prayer. Repeat the word silently in
your mind for a set amount of time (say, twenty minutes) until your heart
seems to be repeating the word by itself, just as naturally and
involuntarily as breathing. (p. 185)
In addition, Thomas shares an affinity
with a woman named Mary Oliver McPherson. This is quite significant, but
most Christians don't realize it. In Thomas' book, Sacred Marriage
(the one Driscoll recommends), he speaks favorably of McPherson several
times. In McPherson's book, Conjugal Spirituality (the one Thomas references in Sacred
Marriage), McPherson comes out as an advocate for tantric sex (the
mixing of mysticism and sexual activity), as well as many other New Age and
mystical practices (please read our report on this. Gary Thomas has proven himself as a
staunch advocate for mystical practices time and again. As is the case with
Larry Crabb, his books do not belong on a recommended reading list.
Others on Driscoll's list include: the late Robert Webber, emerging church author Donald Miller, Buddhist-sympathizer Peter Kreeft, and a book titled The Celtic Way of Evangelism.
Some may be asking, Why does it matter which books Mark Driscoll
recommends? We believe it matters greatly. While Driscoll has announced
that he rejects some of the more aberrant theologies of McLaren and Pagitt,
to our knowledge he has never renounced contemplative mystical
spirituality, which is the very heartbeat of the emerging church. And yet,
a growing number of evangelical ministries are considering him a
trustworthy source in spiritual matters (see below for a partial list).
It is essential to understand that beneath the surface of contemplative and
emerging spirituality is a belief system that embraces a kingdom now,
dominionist theology that says we should not think about a terrible
end-time scenario for earth (Armageddon), a rapture that would remove
believers prior to God's wrath on the earth, and a second coming of Christ
who will establish the kingdom of God AFTER His return to a ill-fated
earth. What many Christians do not understand is that such thinking lines
up with New Age belief, and mysticism plays a huge role in their synopsis
of the future for planet earth. When enough people begin meditating (a
critical mass) and realize that all human beings and all creation are
divine and one, then the earth can be healed from its corruption. As any
bible believer can see, this is totally contrary to Bible prophecies about
the end of the age.
As Roger Oakland wrote about in his article Bible Prophecy on Trial, many
Christian leaders downplay and actually condemn those who study end-time
Bible prophecy. Mark Driscoll is no exception. On more than one occasion,
he has spoken negatively about those who want to talk about eschatology. On
his website, he states:
We are not eschatological Theonomists or
Classic Dispensationalists (e.g. Scofield) and believe that divisive and
dogmatic certainty surrounding particular details of Jesus Second Coming
are unprofitable speculation, because the timing and exact details of His
return are unclear to us.
Driscoll backs up this view as can be
seen on a YouTube session where Driscoll says those
eschatology-minded Christians who come to his church are not welcomed
there. In Driscoll's book (a title included in his "Recommended
Reading List"), Confessions of a Reformissional Rev, Driscoll
mocks the idea of a rapture for believers and a one-world government with
an Anti-christ who makes people wear a mark to buy, sell or trade (pp.
49-50). He added that this kind of end-time "mission" was not a
message from Jesus but rather one "concocted from a cunning
Serpent."
The reason we bring up Driscoll's distain for end-time perspectives is
because there is a growing connection between those who resonate with
contemplative spirituality and those who say we should not think about
Bible prophecy in relation to the end times. While the reasons for this
connection may not appear to be obvious at this point in time to many, we
believe, as stated previously in this article, that mysticism plays a
crucial role in what the Bible calls a great falling away (II Thessalonians
2). This why it is imperative that Christians take a critical examination
of contemplative spirituality and ascertain for themselves as to its
validity to the spiritual health of the body of Christ. The evidence is
there for those who take the time to investigate. The ramifications of
failing to do so could be absolutely enormous.
Related News:
The Emerging Church movement calls for biblical scrutiny by
Missourians by Roger Moran
Bible Prophecy on Trial by Roger Oakland
LTRP 2006 article titled "Mark Driscoll and Acts 29
Network - Promoting Contemplative" (The links to the contemplative
books on the Acts 29 website have since been removed. However, those
authors share the same spiritual proclivities as the ones discussed in this
current article.)
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Christian
and Secular Publishers on Contemplative/Emerging Frenzy
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When
it comes to publishers, there is no question about it - contemplative
prayer and emerging spirituality are on their minds, both the secular and
the Christian ones. 2007 saw the release of numerous titles that fall
within this category. It would be impossible to list them all, but here are
some of the ones that have caught our attention, and they may cross the
paths of you or your loved ones as well. We list these for the purpose of
warning.
Solo by Eugene Peterson - NavPress
Punk Monk: New Monasticism and the Ancient Art of Breathing by Pete
Greig - Regal Books
Kingdom Triangle
by J. P.Moreland
- Zondervan
Sex God by Rob Bell - Zondervan
An Emergent Manifesto of Hope by Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones -
Baker Books (Emersion)
Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren - Thomas Nelson
Water from a Deep Well by Eugene Peterson (foreword) and Gerald
L Sittser - InterVarsity Press
Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches by Robert Webber,
Mark Driscoll, Dan Kimball, et al - Zondervan
They Like Jesus but not the Church by Dan Kimball - Zondervan
The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch with Leonard Sweet (foreword)
The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual
Practices, Evangelism, and Justice by Tony Campolo - Jossey Bass
Soul Graffiti: Making a Life in the Way of Jesus by Mark
Scandrette - Jossey Bass
Coming in 2008
A Christianity Worth Believing: Hope-filled, Open-armed, Alive-and-well
Faith for the Left Out, Left Behind, and Let Down in us All by Doug
Pagitt - Jossey Bass
Christ of the Celts by J. Philip Newell - Jossey Bass
The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier by Tony
Jones - Jossey Bass
A Heretic's Guide to Eternity by Spencer Burke (The Ooze) -
Jossey Bass
The Promise of Paradox by Parker Palmer - Jossey Bass
Conscious Love: Insights from Mystical Christianity by Richard
Smoley - Jossey Bass
See also:
"Christian" Publishers that publish
contemplative/emerging books
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Moody Bible Institute Favors Mystic Henri Nouwen
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Leaders
at Moody Bible Institute have adamantly insisted they do not promote or endorse
contemplative spirituality. And in spite of repeated promotion of
contemplatives, such as Larry Crabb, Dallas Willard, Keri Wyatt Kent, and
Richard Foster, they have publicly stated they are against contemplative.
Lighthouse Trails offered on more than one occasion to send faculty and
staff complimentary copies of A Time of Departing to help explain
the dangers of this mystical belief system. That offer has not yet been
accepted.
Now, to kick off the new year, MBI's "Today in the Word" January
5th and January 9th editions are favorably referencing mystic Henri Nouwen.
1, 2
The quote by Nouwen on both days is taken from his book In the Name of
Jesus:
Henri J. M. Nouwen's book, In the Name
of Jesus, has many insights into leadership and humility, and
we're quoting it a second time (see Jan. 5): "[Christian leadership]
is not a leadership of power and control, but a leadership of powerlessness
and humility in which the suffering servant of God, Jesus Christ, is made
manifest....
Whoever at MBI quoted Nouwen from his
book perhaps did not read the section in the book called "The
Discipline: Contemplative Prayer" where Nouwen says: "For
Christian leadership to be truly fruitful in the future, a movement from
the moral to the mystical is required" (p. 32). Since the faculty and
staff at MBI find it perfectly acceptable to quote from someone who
believed that Jesus was not the only path to God (which Nouwen said), in
hope that we might be able to persuade some MBI students who may read this
column, the following is a statement by Ray Yungen about Henri Nouwen:
Unfortunately, this widely read and
often-quoted author, at the end of his life, stated in clear terms that he
approached God from a universalistic view. He proclaimed:
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. (Sabbatical
Journey, p. 51)
Nouwen's endorsement of a book by Hindu
spiritual teacher Eknath Easwaran, teaching mantra meditation, further
illustrates his universalistic sympathies. On the back cover, Nouwen
stated, "This book has helped me a great deal" (Easwaran,Meditation)
Nouwen also wrote the foreword to a book that mixes Christianity with Hindu
spirituality, in which he says:
[T]he author shows a wonderful openness
to the gifts of Buddhism, Hinduism and Moslem religion. He discovers their
great wisdom for the spiritual life of the Christian ... Ryan [the author]
went to India to learn from spiritual traditions other than his own. He
brought home many treasures and offers them to us in the book. (Ryan, Disciplines
for Christian Living, pp. 2-3)
Nouwen apparently took these approaches
seriously himself. In his book, The Way of the Heart, he advised his
readers:
The quiet repetition of a single word can
help us to descend with the mind into the heart ... This way of simple
prayer ... opens us to God's active presence.(p. 81)
But what God's "active
presence" taught him, unfortunately, stood more in line with classic
Hinduism than classic evangelical Christianity. He wrote:
Prayer is "soul work" because
our souls are those sacred centers where all is one, ... It is in the heart
of God that we can come to the full realization of the unity of all that
is. (Bread for the Journey,
1/15/97 & 11/16/97)
It is critical to note here that Nouwen
did not say all Christians are one; he said "all is one," which
is the fundamental panentheistic concept of God--the God in everything
unites everything. Like Thomas Merton, it was Nouwen's intent to make
mystical prayer a pervasive paradigm within all traditions of Christianity.
He felt the evangelical church had many admirable qualities but lacked one
vital one: mysticism. He sought to remedy this by imploring, "It is to
this silence [contemplative prayer] that we all are called." (The Way of the Heart, p.
66)
One of the most classic examples I've ever encountered that reveals
Nouwen's spiritual mindset is from his autobiographical book, Sabbatical
Journey. In it, he speaks glowingly of his encounter with author and
lecturer, Andrew Harvey, in April of 1996. Nouwen exclaimed, "I had
the deep sense of meeting a soul friend [mentor]." (p. 149)
What makes this comment so revealing about Nouwen's belief system is the
fact that Harvey is a world-renowned advocate of interspirituality through
mysticism. He has written thirty books on this subject, one of which bears
the following declaration that sums up the meaning of this term:
When you look past the different
terminologies employed by the different mystical systems, you see clearly
that they are each talking about the same overwhelming truth - that we are
all essentially children of the Divine and can realize that identity with
our Source here on earth and in a body. (Harvey, The Direct Path, p. 34)
It is important to note here that Andrew
Harvey is one of the teachers in ... the Living Spiritual Teachers Project.
The project's main goal is to promote mysticism as a bridge to
interspirituality. Members include Catholic and Buddhist nuns and monks as
well as Zen masters and the bestselling New Age author, Marianne
Williamson.
A skeptic might respond with the comeback that Nouwen liked Harvey as a
person, but didn't necessarily agree with his views. Nouwen himself put
this possibility to rest when he said:
Before driving home, Michael, Tom and I
had a cup of tea at a nearby deli. We discussed at some length the way
Andrew's mysticism had touched us." (SJ, p. 149)
The ramifications of Nouwen's thinking
are truly alarming and are foretold in I Timothy 4:1: "Now the Spirit
expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving
heed to deceiving [seducing] spirits and doctrines of demons." Yungen
connects the dots:
The operative word here is
"deceiving" or seducing which means to be an imposter or to
mislead. It is plain to see a real delusion is going on or, as Paul called
it, a seduction. How then can you tell if you are a victim yourself? It is
actually not that difficult.
The doctrines (instructions) of demons--no matter how nice, how charming,
how devoted to God they sound--convey that everything has Divine Presence
(all is One). This is clear heresy--for that would be saying Satan and God
are one also (i.e., "I [Lucifer] will be like the Most High,"
Isaiah 14:14). If what Henri Nouwen proclaimed is true when he said,
"[W]e can come to the full realization of the unity of all that
is," (Bread for the Journey, op. cit.) then Jesus Christ and
Satan are also united. That is something only a demonic spirit would teach!
An even more subtle yet seductive idea says: Without a mystical technique,
God is somehow indifferent or unapproachable....
And, we must not forget the most decisive indication of the Deceiver's
handiwork: the belief or doctrine in question will undermine the uniqueness
of Jesus Christ as both God and man and His atoning work on the Cross.
For MBI to give such credence to Henri
Nouwen really doesn't make any sense. Nouwen's propensity for the mystical
elements of spirituality, with panentheistic overtones, are quite evident
when one studies his writings. Even one of his biographer's noted that
Nouwen was enamored with Sri Ramakrishna who believed that all the world's
religions were valid revelations from God. Yet Nouwen esteemed him as an
important spiritual figure (from Wounded Prophet).
There is ample evidence to show why Henri Nouwen cannot be considered a
trustworthy source for biblical Christianity. Is it that MBI does not want
to look at the evidence because they are attracted to the same spirituality
as Nouwen, Crabb, Foster, and Kent? If this is not the conclusion that we
should reach, then what is it? That's the question. What conclusion should
we draw?
Notes:
Quotes by Ray Yungen take from A Time of Departing, 2nd edition.
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College Alert: Palm Beach Atlantic University Promotes
Contemplative/Emerging
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Palm
Beach Atlantic University is a Christian college in Florida. Their
"Guiding Principles" statement says:
Founded
under the providence of God with the conviction that there is a need for a
university in this community that will expand the minds, develop the moral
character and enrich the spiritual lives of all the people who may come
within the orbit of its influence, Palm Beach Atlantic University shall
stand as a witness for Jesus Christ, expressed directly through its
administration, faculty and students.
However,
as is the case with so many Christian colleges today, PBA has begun to
incorporate contemplative/emerging spirituality into their school.
Several courses at the University use textbooks by contemplative and/or
emerging church authors such as their Urban Christian Leadership course
UCMS2003 that includes a textbook by Brian McLaren (More Ready than you
Realize). PBA's School of Ministry courses SOM 2043 and SOM 2413
include contemplative prayer and emerging church textbooks Celebration
of Discipline by Richard Foster, Renovation of the Heart by
Dallas Willard, and In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen (also used
in ORL5103 and MIN4403). MLS (Ministry Leadership Studies) uses Nouwen's Wounded
Healer, Cross Cultural Studies (CCS4003) includes Alan Hirsch's Forgotten
Ways (foreword by New Age proponent Leonard Sweet). Biblical Studies
(BIB-SOM4033) is using J.P. Moreland's book Kingdom Triangle (where
his mystical propensities clearly show up). PBA's Lifetime Fitness 1091
course uses a textbook called Get Fit, Stay Fit, which has numerous
favorable references to Yoga and other eastern-style meditation techniques.
Where does Palm Beach Atlantic University stand when it comes to the
emerging church? A clue to that answer can be found at the PBA Men's and
Women's Conference taking place on January 16th. Pastor Scott Baugh of
Florida's The Journey church will be one of two featured speakers. On
Baugh's church website, he says his favorite books are: The
Jesus I Never Knew (Philip Yancey), Blue Like Jazz (Don Miller),
and Velvet Elvis (Rob Bell). All three of these fall in the
contemplative/emerging camp.
Finally, students at PBA will be introduced to more contemplative/emerging
spirituality through the University's chapel program. A calendar for 2008
shows other events that would fall into this category such as "Serve
God, Save the Planet"1 and Evangelical/Catholic Dialogue2
Christian parents looking for a solid, Bible believing college to send
their kids to should use caution and discernment when choosing a school.
PBA appears to be falling into step with countless other Christian learning
institutions that are jumping onto the contemplative bandwagon.
Update: Christian Research Service has informed us that in addition to promoting contemplative/emerging spirituality, Palm Beach Atlantic University is also teaching yoga classes. From the PBA website: "The fitness center is the most popular part of the Greene. Stocked with top-of-the-line cardio machines, machine and free weights, the fitness center helps enhance physical fitness and wellness. A variety of classes such as kickboxing, Pilates, abs, and yoga stretch are also provided for members. Numerous alumni, community individuals, and employee families purchase memberships to the facility each year to enjoy its outstanding equipment, cleanliness and friendly environment" (http://www.pba.edu/visitors/campus-services/greene.cfm?renderforprint=1).
See also http://www.pba.edu/visitors/campus-services/greene.cfm
Related stories:
Southern Baptist Convention 'List of Colleges and
Universities' Contains Schools Promoting Yoga/New Age
Will Prairie Bible Institute Ignore Contemplative Problem?
Just How Far Has Biola University Gone Into Contemplative
Wheaton College Promoting Contemplative Spirituality
Contemplative colleges database
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Ken Blanchard Joins "The Secret" Team For One Day
Seminar
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Popular
speaker and author for Christian conferences, Ken Blanchard, will be joining members of the New Age,
occultic book/DVD project The Secret on January 19th for a one day
seminar titled "Your Best Year Ever."
The Secret focuses on the "law of attraction" and was
produced by Australian-born screenwriter and producer Rhonda Byrne, who
after a series of setbacks in her own life, discovered that past
personalities like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, William Shakespeare,
Abraham Lincoln and others had this secret knowledge, and Byrne came to
believe that it "was part of every religion, including Christianity,
Hinduism and Buddhism."
One news source describes the film:
In the film, viewers learn to ask for
what they want. And, if they believe it, they will receive it.
It sounds simple enough, but here's the catch: If you're cynical, sad,
depressed and resigned that nothing will change, nothing will. Thoughts are
so powerful, the teachers insist, that you attract what you think about,
even if you don't want it. Get it?1
It's these "teachers," both
ones from the past and present day ones, that The Secret uses to
reveal this hidden knowledge. Present day teachers include Jack Canfield (Chicken
Soup for the Soul), John Gray (Men Are From Mars, Women Are From
Venus), and an assortment of philosophers, writers, and visionaries who
share their insights on The Secret:
"We have a magnificent inner
calling, vision, mission, power inside us that we are not honoring and
harnessing," says philosopher and "Secret" teacher John
Demartini in a recent telephone interview. "This movie brings it to
the forefront that we can [harness that power]."2
Larry King calls the DVD the "most
profound information he has run across in 40 years."
While most people may view the new DVD promoted heavily by Oprah as a safe
and effective method to reach their goals and aspirations, what they do not
know may hurt them spiritually. Rhonda Byrne, the author of The Secret,
is a disciple of a couple named Jerry and Esther Hicks. In the
Acknowledgements of The Secret, Byrne thanks the Hicks and "the
teachings of Abraham." Abraham is a group of spirit guides that Esther
Hicks channels for guidance on spiritual issues. On their website, they
state:
Abraham, a group of obviously evolved
teachers, speak their broader Non-physical perspective through the physical
body of Esther [Hicks]. Speaking to our level of comprehension, from their
present moment to our now, through a series of loving, allowing, brilliant
yet comprehensively simple, recordings in print, in video, and in sound -
they guide us to a clear connection with our Inner Being--they guide us to
self-upliftment from our total self [god-self].
Take a look at the book that influenced The Secret,
The Law of Attraction by Jerry and Esther Hicks. The foreword is
written by New Age guru Neale Donald Walsch.
The Secret is the basis for the upcoming "Best Year of Your
Life" conference, and it is unfortunate that two popular leaders in
Christian circles will be joining The Secret team as speakers at the
event - New Age sympathizer Ken Blanchard and pastor and speaker Miles
McPherson. Blanchard has a long history of promoting the New Age and
eastern style meditation. And yet, Christian leaders like David Jeremiah,
Max Lucado, and Rick Warren have considered Blanchard someone they can
promote.
For Blanchard to team up with The Secret teachers for this seminar
is quite disturbing and can potentially lead many Christians into thinking
that there is nothing harmful about The Secret. This conclusion
could be detrimental. Quotes at the end of the book (The Secret)
reveal a spirituality that Lighthouse Trails has frequently warned about.
Listen and decide for yourself:
"We are the creators not only of our own destiny but also of the
Universe ... We are all connected, and we are all One" (p. 175).
"No matter who you thought you were, now you know the Truth of Who You
Really Are. You are the master of the Universe. You are the heir to the
kingdom. You are the perfection of Life" ( p. 183).
"You are God in a physical body ... You are all power ... You are all
intelligence ... You are the creator" ( p. 164).
For
more information on The Secret:
Erwin McManus: The secret behind The Secret
The Secret: A new era for humankind
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Rethink Defends Convergence of Leaders
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In
November, a press release was issued regarding
the Rethink Conference, scheduled for January 17-19 at Robert
Schuller's Crystal Cathedral. The release defended the convergence of
a large number of leaders, including many evangelical leaders.
However, what the press release failed to
say is that a high percentage of the speakers promote eastern-style
meditation and/or contemplative spirituality. This means that the Rethink
Conference, which is said to offer new methods of handling the future, will
be a potential platform for mysticism and New Thought (New Age) ideas. Click here for more information on
Rethink.
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Book on the Emerging Church Issues Warning Around the World
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After just five months since its release date, Faith Undone has
traveled around the world and now has 20,000 copies in print, with over
16,000 either sold or given away. The book makes a well-documented and
serious case against the emerging church movement, showing that it is far
more than the discontent grumblings of young people looking for answers but
is in fact a calculated device by the devil to undermine the Gospel message
of Jesus Christ. Grounded in a centuries old mystical approach, this
movement is powerful yet highly deceptive. The path that the emerging
church is taking is leading right into the arms of an interfaith
perspective that has prophetically profound ramifications. Behind this
new kind of church is a well-designed strategy and maneuver by the prince
of this world to literally take apart the faith of millions. For a detailed chapter by chapter
synopsis, click
here.
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Falling Sparrow - Two true stories
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Announcing
Lighthouse Trails Publishing's Falling Sparrow series
Two new books (both true stories) added
to our Falling Sparrow collection:
 East Wind by Ruth Hunt:
Nine years in a Soviet
prison camp would seem an eternity to most of us. For Maria, it was an
investment in eternity. This is the true story of Maria Zeitner Linke-a
story of survival and courage in the death camps of Stalin's Gulag after
World War II. But more than that, it is the story of how one woman turned
her sorrow into an opportunity for growth, ministry, and strengthened
commitment to Jesus Christ. In nine years, Maria moved through six
different camps, including the infamous Buchenwald, which the Soviets had
taken over from the Nazis after the war. In the process, Maria touched the
lives of many people and helped them turn their own mourning into dancing.
This book, which will remind many readers of the works of Corrie ten Boom
and Alexander Solzhenitsyn, offers encouragement and hope to anyone who has
ever wondered, "How would I react if my faith were really put to the
test?" It comes to terms with the true meaning of "practicing
patience in tribulation."
The inspiring and
captivating true story of Diet Eman, a young Dutch woman who, with her
fiance' Hein Sietsma, risked everything to rescue imperiled Jews in Nazi-occupied
Holland during World War II. Throughout the years that Diet and Hein aided
the Resistance their courageous efforts ultimately saved the lives of
hundreds of Jews.
Click
here to see the entire Falling Sparrow series.
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Publishing News
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We also have added several items by
other publishers/producers to our online store. Each one was carefully
selected and has the same high quality as our own Lighthouse
Trails products:
THREE WAYS TO ORDER
DIRECTLY FROM LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS PUBLISHING:
2. Toll Free Order
Line: 866/876-3910
Quantity Discounts: 40% off retail for
orders of 10 or more copies, 50% off for international orders of 10 or more
copies
We ship within 24
hours of receiving order.
Lighthouse
Trails books are also available to order from most
bookstores (online and walk-in). If your local bookstore isn't carrying one
of our titles, you can ask them to order it for you.
SAMPLE CHAPTERS OF
LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS BOOKS:
Lighthouse Trails Publishing now has
sample chapters available online for most of the books we publish. We
believe you will find each of these books to be well-written, carefully
documented, and worthwhile. Click here to read some of the chapters.
Note: Lighthouse
Trails is a
Christian publishing company. While we hope you will read the books we have
published, we also provide extensive research, documentation, and news on
our Research
site, blog, and newsletter. We pray that the
books as well as the online research will be a blessing to the body of
Christ and a witness to those who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as
their Savior and Lord.
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Newsletter in Print - Coming Soon
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If
you would like to receive the Coming
from the Lighthouse newsletter in print form by mail, please
send an email to newsletter@lighthousetrails.com. Be
sure and include your mailing address in the email. We will be issuing a
printed newsletter several times a year for those who prefer that over the
email edition or for some reason need both.
Both email and printed editions
will be free.
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HOLOCAUST: LEST WE FORGET
A true story that will change
your life and challenge your faith ...
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The Other Side
of the River
by Alaskan Kevin Reeves
When mystical
experiences and strange doctrines overtake his church, one man risks all
to find the truth ... a true story.
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