Coming From the Lighthouse

                                          Printer Friendly Version (click here)          October 7, 2008

In This Issue -

Billy and Franklin Graham Join Emerging Church Leaders and The Shack Author at Catalyst Conference

Rick Warren On Christianity Today: "Interested in interfaith projects . . . we do serve the same Lord"

Lee Strobel Makes a Case for Early "Church Father"

Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) Continues on Contemplative Path

Gandhi's Love Letters to Hitler

Warren Smith DVD: Standing Fast in the Last Days

Out of India Has Gone to Press!

Warren Smith Speaking This Fall

Christian Resistance Book - A Must Read

Publishing News

Newsletter in Print

To Forward Newsletter

This week's newsletter has fewer articles than normal as we have been spending much time updating our research website. We hope the changes will make it easier for you to find information.

Currently, the site has several hundred pages and thousands of links. In addition, our blog carries nearly a thousand articles with new ones added each week.

Billy and Franklin Graham Join Emerging Church Leaders and The Shack Author at Catalyst Conference

Billy Graham, and his son Franklin, will be speaking at the upcoming Catalyst Conference on October 8-9. Possibly, the father/son Grahams are not aware of the teachings and the spirituality that the Catalyst Conference represents. Unfortunately, Catalyst will gain respect and audience by many trusting and unaware admirers of the Grahams for including them on their list of speakers.

One of this year's speakers is Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC. Batterson joined emerging leader Erwin McManus at McManus' 2008 Awaken event, and he points readers on his website to Eckhart Tolle, a New Age guru who is currently being heralded by Oprah Winfrey. Batterson says that Tolle's book, Practicing the Power of Now, is "instrumental in the way I think about life." His public recommended reading list also includes several other New Agers and mystics: Jack Canfield, New Age mystic Daniel Goleman (The Meditative Mind), mantra-meditation promoter Gary Thomas (Sacred Marriage, Sacred Pathways), Leonard Sweet, Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, and several others who fall in the New Age and/or emerging/contemplative camp.

Another speaker at this year's Catalyst is The Shack author William Paul Young. As Lighthouse Trails has indicated in several articles, The Shack has New Age implications that should concern discerning believers. Billy and Franklin's participation at Catalyst will no doubt result in thousands of people seeing that as a thumbs up for The Shack. Our most recent article on The Shack, "Update on The Shack: New Age Similarities, Popularity Continues, and Calvary Chapel Gives Official Statement," addresses where the book refers to God as "the ground of all being" that "dwells in, around, and through all things--ultimately emerging as the real" (p. 112); this is the ripe fruit of contemplative/emerging spirituality. One can find this language and definition of God in the writings of John Shelby Spong and Marcus Borg, and the concept overflows within the emerging camp. This description of God does not mean that God upholds everything; it means that God is the essence of all that exists (in other words, He dwells in all humans and all creation - read A Time of Departing for more info).

Another speaker at Catalyst 2008 is emerging leader Sally Morgenthaler. Morgenthaler wrote the foreword for Dan Kimball's emerging church book, Emerging Worship , and she resonates deeply with contemplative proponents like the late Robert Webber. Her own book, Worship Evangelism, carries an endorsement on the cover by New Age sympathizer Leonard Sweet as well as C. Peter Wagner. Morgenthaler is currently a "Visiting Professor" at the very contemplative Christian school, George Fox University, along with Dan Kimball and Leonard Sweet.1 In her book, Worship Evangelism, she references mystic Henri Nouwen as someone who can lead us into God's presence. Nouwen believed that Christian leaders had to move from the "moral to the mystical" in order to be effective (from In the Name of Jesus).

Jim Collins is also one of the speakers at Catalyst this year. He too resonates with contemplative/emerging "theologies." In our article, "Willow Creek Leadership Summit Starts Today - Speaker Promotes New Age," Collins' affinity toward mystical spirituality is brought out. In 1982, Collins took Michael Ray's course, "Creativity in Business." The course (and the book named after the course) "takes much of its inspiration from Eastern philosophy, mysticism and meditation techniques" (from the book). In one section of the book it talks about "your wisdom-keeper or spirit guide-an inner person who can be with you in life.... We meditate to unfold our inner being." The book also presents Tarot cards.

Collins was so inspired by Ray's course in 1982 that he wrote the foreword for Ray's 2004 book, The Highest Goal: The Secret That Sustains You in Every Minute. Collins says the book is "the distillation of years of accumulated wisdom from a great teacher." Collins says he discovered "the path to my highest goal" by reading the book. What is this highest goal that Michael Ray speaks of? Realizing the divinity within. And how is this realization obtained? Through meditation. In the book, Ray tells readers to "[p]ractice emptying your mind," "[e]xperience not thinking" and to "[m]editate regularly." Other quotes in the book include those of Eastern religion gurus such as Ram Dass, Jiddu Krishnamurti, and Swami Shantananda.

Catalyst has several other speakers who fall into the same camp as the speakers mentioned above. Clearly, participants at Catalyst will be introduced to many who resonate with the non-biblical beliefs of the emerging church and contemplative spirituality. And with the two Graham's names on the ticket, many of these participants will come to the event with open hearts and minds to all that is taught and said.

Rick Warren On Christianity Today: "Interested in interfaith projects . . . we do serve the same Lord."

 On October 1, 2008, Christianity Today released an article on their website titled: "After the Aloha Shirts." The article further reveals Rick Warren's hopes for an interfaith Purpose Driven new reformation. In the article, Warren states:

We need to mobilize a billion Catholics and Orthodox [believers]. I'm not really that interested in interfaith dialogue. I am interested in interfaith projects. Let's do something together. You are probably not going to change your doctrinal distinctives, and I'm probably not going to change my doctrinal distinctives. We have different beliefs. But the fact is, we do serve the same Lord. Let's work on the things we can agree on.1 

Below are other statements Rick Warren has made over the last few years to substantiate his view of a global church. You will see this "church" is not limited to born-again, biblical believers. On the contrary, it is a united religion suitable for the whole world and acceptable and complimentary to governments and businesses:

The small group structure is the structure of renewal in every facet of Christianity - including Catholicism.... I would encourage you to look at this evolving alliance between evangelical Protestants and Catholics, particularly in the evangelical wing of Catholicism. --Rick Warren at the Pew Forum on Religion, May 23, 2005

Who's the man of peace in any village - or it might be a woman of peace - who has the most respect, they're open and they're influential? They don't have to be a Christian. In fact, they could be a Muslim, but they're open and they're influential and you work with them to attack the five giants. And that's going to bring the second Reformation.at the Pew Forum on Religion

Last week I spoke to 4,000 pastors at my church who came from over 100 denominations in over 50 countries. Now, that's wide spread. We had Catholic priests, we had Pentecostal ministers, we had Lutheran bishops, we had Anglican bishops, we had Baptist preachers. at the Pew Forum on Religion(see Purpose Driven Catholics)

You've heard me say many times that the greatest thing you can do with your life is tell somebody about Jesus ... if you help somebody secure their eternal destiny, that they spend the rest of their life in Heaven not Hell ...your life counts, your life matters because nothing matters more than helping get a person and their eternal destiny settled. They will be forever eternally grateful....And I've always said that that was the greatest thing you can do with your life. I was wrong. There is one thing you can do greater than share Jesus Christ with somebody, and it is help start a church."- Sermon from 11/2003 when Rick Warren Announced His Global Peace Plan to Saddleback. Hear entire sermon - This portion starts around the 14 minute mark.)

In an interview in August 2006 with Charlie Rose, Warren stated that we don't have to have the same religion or moral beliefs to work with people on poverty, disease, etc. As an example he said he just met with the President of the gay-activist group ACT UP, and asked him, "Eric [Sawyer], how can I help you get your message out?" Sawyer answered, "Use your moral authority." Warren then said to Rose, "I'm working with these guys ... I'm looking for a coalition of civility, which means let's get back to the original meaning of tolerance."

In contrast, Scripture states:

"My kingdom is not of this world."--Jesus (John 18:36)

"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:5)

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Ephesians 5:11)

"He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." (John 1:10)

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."--Jesus (John 15:19)

"They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. (I John 4: 5-6)

"I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (John 17:14)

"[K]now ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? (James 4:4)

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (II Corinthians 6:14)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.--Jesus (John 3:7-8)

Lee Strobel Makes a Case for Early "Church Father"

Popular and prolific Christian figure, Lee Strobel, has made a case for an "early church father," Ignatius of Antioch (not Loyola). Strobel, author of nearly 20 books, is currently a member of Saddleback Church. He was a teaching pastor at Willow Creek for many years, then joined the teaching staff at Saddleback Church in 2000. (from Strobel's site)

Strobel was a speaker at Robert Schuller's Rethink conference in 2007 and spoke of the early church father, Ignatius of Antioch. (watch video) Strobel speaks as one with authority when he describes the life of Ignatius, but he has left out some vital information about the early post-disciple "church fathers."

In view of the ancient-future emphasis on "early church fathers" by major evangelical and emerging church leaders today, and in light of the ecumenical move toward Catholicism and the Eucharistic christ, further insight is important. Roger Oakland, in his timely and crucial book, Faith Undone, offers these comments:

Going back to the past to find experiences that will attract the postmodern generation is one goal of the emerging church movement. However, a serious question needs to be asked at this point. Why only go back to the Middle Ages, the turn of the first millennium, or the third century? Wouldn't this open the door for some devious doctrines that may have crept into the church? Why not just stay with Scripture in order to remain in the truth?

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (II Timothy 3:16)

Those convinced that great spiritual insight can be gleaned from church fathers and mystics often overlook such definitive, God-inspired instruction. The Bible is stable and eternal; thus the truths penned in it centuries ago are still relevant today. I propose it isn't biblical truths that emergents say we need to go hunting for in previous historical periods, but rather unscriptural methods, rituals, and mystical experiences to be gathered and brought into the present time.

Vintage spirituality proponents have an apologetic for those who question leaving scriptural doctrine behind for post-New Testament extra-biblical revelation. (The late emerging leader] Robert Webber wrote:

I once believed that the church became apostate at the close of the first century and hadn't emerged again until the Reformation. I jokingly say to my students, "We Protestants act as though Pentecost occurred October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther tacked his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenburg church." This attitude results in a negative view of the early church fathers and Christianity prior to the Reformation. The fact is that God's church has existed from the Pentecost described in Acts. We belong to the whole church and need, for our own spiritual health, to affirm every part of it.1

Webber recognized some are suspicious about taking instruction from the church fathers, especially when the church fathers are the fathers of the Catholic Church. In order to answer this concern, he wrote:

Because evangelicals fear that a respect for early church fathers will turn them into Roman Catholics, a distinction needs to be made between catholic and Roman Catholic. The early Fathers are catholic in the sense that they defined the classical Christian tradition for the whole church. This is a tradition, as I have been presenting, common to every branch of the church. Roman Catholicism, as such, is a tradition that has added to the common tradition. I believe in the common tradition and share that tradition with my Catholic brothers and sisters. But I do not believe in some of the added traditions of the Romanization of the church in the medieval era.2

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.

Webber's statement may convince some there is no danger in embracing the Catholic Church fathers from the first to third centuries who promoted many ideas without biblical basis. However, before you are convinced, consider another statement Webber makes:

The early Fathers can bring us back to what is common and help us get behind our various traditions, not in a sense that we deny our own tradition, but that we give a priority to the common teaching of the church. Here is where our unity lies. To summarize, the words One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic point to the oneness of the church, as a matter of faith. Christians do not believe something about the oneness of the church; they believe in the oneness of the church. Consequently, evangelicals need to go beyond talk about the unity of the church to experience it through an attitude of acceptance of the whole church and an entrance into dialogue with the Orthodox, Catholic, and other Protestant bodies.3

By Webber's estimation, listening to the Catholic Church fathers is as safe as mother's milk. He and other emerging church teachers insist there are so many spiritual insights to gain by studying the church fathers that we can only benefit from them.

This of course would be true if the church fathers point us to God's Word. But what if that is not the case? The unsuspecting could actually be led away from biblical doctrine toward the doctrines made up by man and even inspired by demons when trusted leaders and professors espouse these mystics as safe and equal to Scripture. If it can be shown that heretical teachings had already entered in through many of these early church fathers, shouldn't we be leery, to say the least?
With this in mind, let's look at these early Catholic Church fathers. The following is an excerpt from a lecture by the International Catholic University titled "Importance of Studying the Church Fathers." The author states:

But why do we study them? The Holy Father has given us the basic reasons. They are the framers of the structure of the Church built upon Christ Jesus as the cornerstone and the Apostles as the foundation. Specifically, they are the privileged witnesses to traditions. Founders, whether they be founders of institutions or founders of religious societies, always have a privileged position.... They were the closest to the sources; the early Fathers, referred to as Apostolic Fathers, personally knew the Apostles and the Disciples. They had access to the purity of the sources of the living tradition, the very teachings of those closest to Christ, and they were the ones that developed the first structures of the Church.4

If we embrace the teachings of these early church fathers, where will it lead us? Well, according to the author of this lecture, right into the arms of the Catholic Church:

The Church Fathers are the guarantors of an authentic Catholic tradition.... Many great Christian men and women have found their way either back to, or into, the Catholic Church through meditating and reflecting upon the writings of the Church Fathers. John Henry Cardinal Newman, a great nineteenth century English Cardinal who in his younger years was a member of the Church of England, fell in love with the writings and thought and spirit of the Church Fathers. And in his Apologia pro vita sua, he points out that he saw in them the true Church, the universal Church, the Catholic Church, and they became very instrumental in his acceptance and embrace of the Roman Catholic Church.5

For John Henry Cardinal Newman, his conversion to the Catholic Church took place after he began "meditating and reflecting" on the writings of the Catholic Church fathers. This same story can be repeated thousands and thousands of times now that we are in the 21st century....

The emerging church, through its emphasis on the teachings of the church fathers (the mystics), based upon a foundation that ancient-future faith is the answer to reaching the postmodern generation ... is leading possibly millions into the arms of Rome.

Do you recall what Paul prophesied would happen to the early Christian church? He stated:

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:28-30)

Paul actually warned the church that after he was gone, "grievous wolves" would enter the church and hurt believers. A look at church history validates Paul's prophetic warning. He said it would happen, and then it happened. Numerous church leaders emerged during the first to the third centuries. Scriptural principles were ignored, and many followed the experiential teachings of men who claimed they had discovered new and innovative methods to get in touch with God.

The reason why this happened is simple. We know God's Word is light. When we replace the Word of God with the words of man, which are considered to bring enlightenment, we have a perfect formula for returning to darkness. The early mystics added ideas to Christianity that cannot be found in the Bible--a recipe for spiritual detriment. Jude also warned about the coming apostasy in the early church:

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 4)

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 Chapter 5, Faith Undone)

Notes:

1. Robert Webber, Ancient-Future Faith, pp. 88-89, italics in original.
2. Ibid., p. 89.
3. Ibid.
4. Douglas Mosey, "Importance of Studying the Church Fathers" (International Catholic University, http://home.comcast.net/~icuweb/c01701.htm).
5. Ibid.

For further information on the Eucharist Christ, the early post-disciples church fathers, and the new evangelization program by the Catholic church, read Another Jesus by Roger Oakland.

Related Stories:

New Emerging Church Network - From the Frying Pan into the Fire

Messages from Heaven Now Online (free)

What Lies Behind Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ

Other articles on Eucharistic Adoration

Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) Continues on Contemplative Path

Gandhi's Love Letters to Hitler

Courtesy of The Berean Call

Warren Smith DVD: Standing Fast in the Last Days

Silverton, Oregon
October 2008

Lighthouse Trails Publishing is pleased to announce the release of Standing Fast in the Last Days DVD by Warren Smith.

On June 5th, 2008, former New Age follower Warren Smith spoke to 800 pastors at the 2008 Calvary Chapel Senior Pastors' Conference in Murrieta, California. Warren, integrating his compelling testimony into his talk, shares his deep concerns regarding the spiritual deception taking place in the church today. Covering topics such as the Emerging Church, Purpose-Driven, the New Age, and what is being called the New Spirituality, Warren exposes what may be the signs of a great spiritual falling away that the Bible has predicted will happen prior to Christ's return. Some of the topics Warren addresses are: the influence of Oprah Winfrey and Robert Schuller, a growing hostility toward biblical Christians, a plan for a false world peace, how mysticism is becoming an integral part of today's society, and the interspiritual, ecumenical movement that is gaining momentum and deceiving many.

$14.95 Retail * 57 minutes
For more information: Lighthouse Trails Publishing
Toll Free Order Line: 866/876-3910.
*************
Release Date: October 8th
PRE-ORDER
This product qualifies for quantity discounts (10 or more copies).

Out of India Has Gone to Press!

 Out of India by Caryl Matrisciana has gone to press. It will be ready for shipping on October 24th.

Product Information:
Apologetics Biography
248 pages
1st Edition
$12.95 Softbound, over 40 photos and illustrations
978-0-9791315-3-0
Revised & adapted from the best-selling book, Gods of the New Age (Harvest House 1985)
 

Warren Smith Speaking This Fall

September 5th -7th       **OVER**
Calvary Chapel Appleton

2008 Great Lakes Prophecy Conference
2136 E. Newberry St.
Appleton, WI 54915 (map
920-735-1242

September 20th     **OVER**
Calvary Chapel Placerville
6575 Commerce Way,
Diamond Springs, CA 95619
"Sounding the Alarm"
Saturday, 9:00am to noon
Sunday morning service

October 12th
Calvary Chapel Cypress
5202 Lincoln Ave Cypress, CA
714/236-1288
Sunday morning and Sunday evening

Nov. 1-2 (with Ray Yungen)
Big Valley Bible Church
226 Poplar
Lodi, CA
209-329-5084

November 9th
Calvary Chapel Woodland
1580 Case Place - Suite A
Woodland, CA  95776
(530) 661-7385

Christian Resistance Book - A Must Read

Publishing News

Newsletter in Print

Our print newsletter has been delayed. However, we are still taking names. If you would like to receive the Coming from the Lighthouse newsletter in print form by mail, please send an email to newsletters@lighthousetrails.com. Be sure to 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. We apologize for the delay.

 Both email and printed editions will be free. The first issue of the print newsletter has not yet been issued.