Printer Friendly Version (click here)                April 13, 2009

In This Issue - click choice

Emergent/Mystical Leaders at Baylor University

Eastern Meditation: Pope's Way of the Cross Adopts an Eastern Viewpoint

Makes No Sense for Contemplatives to Celebrate Easter

US Priest Who Became a "Christian Muslim" is Defrocked

Labyrinth: A Road to Rome

Another Jesus or the True Jesus - Whom Are You Serving?

Critics of Teaching Children Transcendental Meditation Are Threatened

Rick Warren's Statements on Homosexual Marriage Cause Confusion

Are Christians Driving Church Numbers Down?

McCartney, Starr Reunite for Lynch Foundation Benefit

Video Clip: Emerging Church - Roger Oakland

GLSEN and the Hitler Youth

Lighthouse Trails 1st Fiction

Publishing News

Who We Are

CONTACTING US

As we mentioned last week, we are returning to a weekly newsletter instead of a monthly newsletter. As you can see, there are still many articles to read. This is because mystical spirituality (or as we also call it "the new spirituality") is quickly overtaking all facets of our society. Please help your children, teens, family members, and loved ones to understand the dangers of this spirituality and help them to see it is unbiblical by its very nature and its practice.

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  ... So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:14-15, 17

Emergent/Mystical Leaders at Baylor University

Tony Jones and Doug Pagitt were recently speaking at Baylor University. Jones stated on a blog that the occasion was the paperback release of his book, The New Christians. We would like to direct your attention to the Lighthouse Trails book review of this book. And if you know any students at Baylor University, please warn them that Baylor may be heading into the emergent/contemplative camp. On another blog posting Jones discussed his visit to Baylor. He states:

For the third year in a row, I've spent the past few days in Waco, TX at Baylor University. As a yankee, I hear all sorts of stereotypes about things and places Southern. But, with the exception of some rather rude treatment by a Baylor professor at the Wheaton Theology Conference a couple years ago, I have been hospitably received by all of the Baylorites I've met.... But Baylor, and its affiliated seminary, Truett, is not the stereotypical "Texas Baptist" institution that you might think. Instead, Truett is more like my alma mater, Fuller -- it's evangelical, but open and moderate.

Both Jones and Pagitt have each written a number of books, most of which promote mystical spirituality. One of the things Pagitt is known for is that his church, Solomon's Porch in MN, has had yoga classes: "When people discover we are a church with a yoga class ... they sometimes assume that we're simply out to appeal to the cultural creatives and the neo-hippies." (p. 53, Reimagining Spiritual Formation)

In addition to Jones' frequent promotion of mystical prayer, last year he "came out of the closet" and said that the homosexual lifestyle could be considered a biblical lifestyle:

I now believe that GLBTQ can live in accord with biblical Christianity (as least as much as any of us can!)," writes author and church leader Tony Jones, "and that their monogamy can and should be sanctioned and blessed by church and state.1

The Baylor University website is peppered with contemplative influences. Contemplative authors' names sit on a number of recommended reading lists (Nouwen, Benner, Brueggemann, etc.) and speakers have included New Age sympathizer Leonard Sweet and emergent Brian McLaren. On a Christian Ethics "Sabbath Study Guide" on Baylor's website, breath prayers and lectio divina are encouraged. 2

This coming fall incoming Baylor freshmen will be attending a Freshman retreat. If you have a son or daughter who will be starting Baylor University this fall, it might be a good idea to check things out - find out where the retreat will be held and what activities students will participate in. And please make sure your student understands the unbiblical nature of the spiritual formation/ contemplative/ emergent belief system.

Eastern Meditation: Pope's Way of the Cross Adopts an Eastern Viewpoint

By John Thavis
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- This year's meditation for Pope Benedict XVI's Good Friday Way of the Cross has a distinctly Asian perspective, referring to Hindu scriptures, an Indian poet and Mahatma Gandhi....

Indian Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati wrote the meditation on the 14 stations, to be read as the pope leads the candelit "Via Crucis" at Rome's Coliseum.

The pope chose Archbishop Menamparampil, a 72-year-old Salesian, after hearing him deliver an impressive talk at last year's Synod of Bishops on Scripture. The archbishop took it as a sign of the pope's interest in Asia....

He quoted a prayer from the Hindu holy writings, the Upanishads: "Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality." Click here to read this entire article.

More on Catholicism and contemplative spirituality

Makes No Sense for Contemplatives to Celebrate Easter

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.--Alan Jones 1

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.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinthians 5:21

US Priest Who Became a "Christian Muslim" is Defrocked

 
LTRP Note: The following out-of-house news story is a follow up of our June 18, 2007 article "Episcopal Priest: 'I Am Both Muslim and Christian' -- OK With Emerging Church." We have posted our 2007 article below this current one because of its relevancy.

"US priest who became a 'Christian Muslim' is defrocked"
By Ecumenical News International

A US Episcopal priest who has been banned from practicing as a cleric for claiming loyalty to both Christianity and Islam says she still believes it is possible to have dual religious loyalties - writes Chris Herlinger.

"I'm sad at the loss of this cherished honour of having served as a priest," said Ann Holmes Redding, quoted in a newspaper interview with the Seattle Times after the announcement on 1 April 2009 that she could no longer remain an Episcopal (Anglican) cleric.

The decision was made by Bishop Geralyn Wolf of the Episcopal diocese of Rhode Island. Redding was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1984 and lives in Washington State, but had kept her canonical ties in the state of Rhode Island.

Redding has said that being a Muslim has made her a better Christian. "Some people don't need glasses, some people need single lenses. I need bifocals," she told CNN in a television interview.

The statement issued by the Rhode Island diocese said that Bishop Wolf found Redding "to be a woman of utmost integrity and their conversations over the past two years have been open, honest and respectful". "However," the statement concluded, "Bishop Wolf believes that a priest of the Church cannot be both a Christian and a Muslim." As a result, Wolf imposed what is officially called "a sentence of deposition", in accordance with the canonical laws of the Episcopal Church. Click here to read this entire article.

Our June 2007 article:

"Episcopal Priest: 'I Am Both Muslim and Christian' -- OK With Emerging Church"

The June 17th [2007] 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. She practices both religions daily. 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 the emerging church. And we must make one thing clear at the onset. If there is a promotion of contemplative (i.e., spiritual formation), then there is a promotion for emerging spirituality (the belief system of the emerging church). That is because the premise of contemplative is the premise of emerging, and both end up in the same camp - interspirituality of which Redding is a perfect example.

Some may be thinking right now, the emerging church proponents may be practicing mystical exercises but they would never agree with Redding that you can be both Muslim and Christian. And here is the essence of our report: They do agree with Redding! Even Rick Warren agrees with Redding in a roundabout way. And here is how we can say this:

When Rick Warren told an interfaith audience at the 2005 UN Prayer Breakfast that God didn't care what religion they were they just needed to add Jesus to their lives, what he meant was that you can stay Hindu, or Buddhist, or Muslim, but you need Jesus. It's called the New Missiology. It believes that:

1. You can keep your own religion - Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Mormonism - you just need to add Jesus to the equation. Then you become complete. You become a Buddhist with Jesus, a Hindu with Jesus, a Muslim with Jesus and so on.

2. You can throw out the term Christianity and still be a follower of Jesus.

3. In fact, you can throw out the term Christian too. In some countries you could be persecuted for calling yourself a Christian, and there is no need for that. Just ask "Jesus" into your heart, you don't have to identify yourself as a Christian.

Rick Warren isn't the only one promoting the new missiology. In fact, momentum is growing daily, and new missiology evangelists are increasing by number steadily. While Don Miller, author of the very popular, Blue Like Jazz says "the beginning of sharing my faith with people began by throwing out Christianity" (p. 115), and Brian McLaren says "It may be advisable in many (not all!) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish contexts," Baker Books new release, An Emergent Manifesto of Hope takes the belief to astounding new heights(see our book review).

In the Manifesto, under the chapter "The Sweet Problem of Inclusiveness," the following statements are made. These are all in context and from the same author, Muslim-raised Samir Selmanovic who later served as a Seventh Day Adventist pastor and now is part of Emergent Village:

"Christianity's idea that other religions cannot be God's carriers of grace and truth casts a large shadow over our Christian experience" (p. 191).

"The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not Christianity but rather the kingdom of God" (p. 192).

"To believe that God is limited to it [Christianity] would be an attempt to manage God. If one holds that Christ is confined to Christianity, one has chosen a god that is not sovereign. Soren Kierkegaard argued that the moment one decides to become a Christian, one is liable to idolatry" (p. 193).

"Is our religion the only one that understands the true meaning of life? Or does God place his truth in others too? ... The gospel is not our gospel, but the gospel of the kingdom of God, and what belongs to the kingdom of God cannot be hijacked by Christianity" (p. 194).

The message that Selmanovic is preaching is none other than what Alice Bailey calls the rejuvenation of the churches, where Christianity will be melded into the other religions of the world, ultimately leading to a universal global religion, and in which the gospel message of Jesus Christ will be completely compromised. Ray Yungen, in his book, A Time of Departing, explains this in depth.

Some may think that Selmanovic's anti-Christian statements are isolated, that other emerging leaders don't carry it that far. But they do. Dan Kimball's book, They Like Jesus But Not the Church is a perfect example of this hammering away at Christianity -- the only belief system with the truth and the only one that offers salvation freely through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Kimball condemns what he calls fundamentalists (which he defines as Bible literalists), and yet leaders like Josh McDowell and others commend and endorse him. Erwin McManus says it is his goal to "destroy Christianity" yet David Jeremiah and others promote him.

If Christianity is redefined as "just one of the great religions," the obvious next step will be "Jesus is just one of the great masters among many."

Emerging spirituality, which is being promoted by anyone who promotes contemplative spirituality (whether they realize it or not) or who promotes the emerging church, is quickly overtaking much of mainstream Christianity, right before our very eyes. If your pastor or youth leader is telling your church to be involved with spiritual formation, they are taking you down a road the same as Samir Selmanovic when he says he seeks "to bring progressive Jews, Christians, Muslims, and spiritual seekers of no faith to become an interfaith community for the good of the world. We have one world and one God," and when he says "Imagine: One humanity, One pulpit, A rich diversity of voices, All learning from one another and cherishing the traditions of
one another."1

Jesus asked the question "[W]hen the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). That's a sobering question that we should ponder.

For more information:

A book review: They Like Jesus But Not the Church

Emergent Manifesto: Emerging Church Coming Out of the Closet

Church-less Christianity - Christ-izing Other Religions

Roger Oakland's book, Faith Undone, is a riveting expose' on the emerging church. One of the things discusses is the new missiology and the rejuvenation of the churches.

Related Quotes:
"I'm not talking about a religion this morning. You may be Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or Baptist or Muslim or Mormon or Jewish - or you may have no religion at all. I'm not interested in your religious background. Because God did not create the universe for us to have religion."-Rick Warren, 2005, United Nations interfaith prayer breakfast

Labyrinth: A Road to Rome

Another Jesus or the True Jesus - Whom Are You Serving?

The apostle Paul was a man with a passion for the truth. While his ministry clearly focused on proclaiming the saving grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he was also concerned when he saw the truth being compromised by Satan's subtle deceptive plan. While Paul made every effort to teach the church at Corinth the truth about Jesus and His death on the Cross to save them from their sins, false teachers and false doctrines had infiltrated the church. Obviously some were being led astray. Thus, he expressed his concerns:

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (II Corinthians 11:3-4)

The urgent message Paul delivered to the Corinthians is the same message I believe God wants proclaimed today.

Satan's plan to deceive has not been altered throughout the ages. His efforts to produce "another gospel" inspired by "a different spirit" that seduces people into believing they know Jesus Christ when in reality they do not, are not new. Current trends indicate we may be headed down a similar pathway leading toward a strong deception that has the potential of deceiving the whole world.

Jesus made it clear there are serious consequences for those who think they have believed in Him but instead have been deceived by an experiential form of Christianity centered on the miraculous instead of an understanding of the Gospel. Proclaiming these thoughts in a message referred to as "The Sermon on the Mount" recorded in the Book of Matthew, Jesus said:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)

These sobering words should be a reminder to all those who profess the name of Jesus to pay close attention to the statement Jesus made. Imagine what it would be like to be a sincere Jesus follower, then find out you were not following Jesus. While it is possible to encounter miraculous experiences in the name of Jesus, it is not these experiences that qualify anyone to go to heaven or validate their walk with the Lord. Instead one could spend eternity in hell.

I am reminded from Scripture, contending for a faith based on God's Word is not an option. As Jude wrote:

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 3-4)

My love and compassion for those who have been deceived compels me to share this message. The subject of where human souls spend eternity is a serious matter. The Bible teaches that Satan is the instigator and author of deception. His goal is to destroy mankind and take as many lost souls hostage with him to hell as he can. As believers in Jesus Christ, we must warn those who are in spiritual deception in an attitude of love.

The Bible teaches that the end times will be characterized by a strong spiritual delusion that blinds many from the true Gospel and also leads those who have believed into apostasy. As Jesus warned:

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. (Matthew 24:23-25)

I challenge everyone to first, consider carefully and honestly what God has revealed in His Word. Second, consider the facts presented in light of current trends. May the light of God's Word shine bright and reveal the truth. (from Another Jesus)

Critics of Teaching Children Transcendental Meditation Are Threatened

LTRP Note: The following article is a follow-up to a previous article about the surviving Beatles working together with the David Lynch Foundation to raise money to teach children around the world Transcendental Meditation.

The article below states that the David Lynch Foundation threatened a group that was speaking up against teaching mysticism to children. Researcher Ray Yungen, when hearing this story, said it made perfect sense. Recently, when Yungen was researching the top two major chain bookstores in the country (both of which begin with the letter "B"), because of the upcoming Easter religious holiday they each featured a table with the theme Faith, Religion, and Inspiration. At the first store, there were forty-six titles on the table, none of which represented evangelical Christianity. Rather there was books on Wicca, two or three by channeled entities, the Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, and Marianne Williamson. In essence, mysticism was the overriding theme. In the second store, there were forty titles on this table, with only eight or nine representing evangelical Christianity. The rest represented predominately Hinduism (Autobiography of a Yogi) and Buddhism. This illustrates, like none other, that the paradigm shift Lighthouse Trails has been warning about for the past seven years is already here! Even the most hardened skeptic would have to acknowledge that something dramatic and unprecedented has taken place.

"David Lynch Foundation Bullies Anti-TM Webcast Offline"
by Watcher's Lamp

In anticipation of the David Lynch Foundation's star-studded benefit concert to promote Transcendental Meditation in public schools, cult recovery expert John Knapp organized a no-cost webcast, TELL TM, HANDS OFF OUR SCHOOLS! that was scheduled to take place April 2, 2009. Panelists included University of So. Carolina sociologist and researcher Dr. Barry Markovsky, and Dr. Meera Nanda, author of Prophets Facing Backward.

Here's the details from the Knapp Family Counseling website:

Join us for a free Web Event, April 2, 8 pm EST, to learn a side of the Transcendental Meditation story they won't tell you.

Concerned scientists question research claiming benefits. Former members allege secret agendas. Clergy are unsure if TM contradicts their religion.

In this atmosphere, the David Lynch Foundation sponsors Paul McCartney & Friends in concert April 4, 2009. Reminding many of Tom Cruise's marketing for Scientology.
DLF states this "World Harmony Concert" will raise millions to introduce "TM/Quiet Time" into public schools.

We believe this violates the separation of Church & State. Many consider meditation valuable. Our concern is religious meditation forms do not belong in public schools.

On the eve of the webcast, General Counsel for the David Lynch Foundation contacted John Knapp and warned of potential legal action against Knapp and the panelists. Click here to read this entire article.

Rick Warren's Statements on Homosexual Marriage Cause Confusion

Are Christians Driving Church Numbers Down?

McCartney, Starr Reunite for Lynch Foundation Benefit

By Elysa Gardner
USA TODAY

April 6th - NEW YORK - Saturday night's benefit concert for the David Lynch Foundation was billed as Paul McCartney & Friends: Change Begins Within. McCartney may not have shown up until nearly three hours into the show, but the message of change - specifically, through meditation - was a constant throughout the evening.

So was Lynch himself. The celebrated filmmaker, whose credits include twisted classics such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet, welcomed the sold-out crowd at Radio City Music Hall by extolling the benefits of transcendental meditation. His foundation focuses on providing at-risk young people access to the practice; the concert raised an estimated $3 million....

The headliner also performed tunes inspired by Lennon and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, with whom the Beatles, Donovan and Horn studied TM in India more than four decades ago. That trip was mentioned repeatedly during the evening's more reflective and nostalgic moments.

There were, in addition, TM testimonials from Mike Love and Russell Simmons, and film clips showing grateful educators and their blissed-out students. Click here to read this entire article.

Related:
Surviving Beatles reunite to promote kid's meditation

Book Recommendation: Out of India

Video Clip: Emerging Church - Roger Oakland

We have now placed another 10-minute video clip from Roger Oakland's 4 DVD series on the Emerging Church on YouTube.  This clip is from DVD #3: The Emerging Church: The Road to Babylon. Central to the emerging church is the idea that one can get closer to God through contemplative mystical practices that are rooted in an experience-based eastern (remove mystical--redundant) religious spirituality. These practices have been introduced to both mainstream and evangelical Christianity through Roman Catholic monks and priests who promote what they call spiritual disciplines (which were originally practiced by mystics and the Desert Monks of the third century).

In The Emerging Church--Road to Babylon, Roger Oakland addresses this fast growing emerging church movement, showing how it is seducing this generation and leading it toward a false one world religious system and a utopian kingdom of God that emerging proponents say will be established here on earth by human effort. Click here for ordering and other information on this series. Each DVD in this series is 70 minutes long. To view this video clip and other Lighthouse Trails video clips on YouTube, click here.

GLSEN and the Hitler Youth

Lighthouse Trails First Fiction

Publishing News