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CONTACTING US
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Important
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Using Our Material
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Lighthouse
Trails Research Project exists as a service to the body of Christ, helping
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What is Contemplative
Spirituality?
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definition: contemplative spirituality: a
belief system that uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states
of consciousness (the silence) and is rooted in mysticism and the occult
but often wrapped in Christian terminology; the premise of contemplative
spirituality is pantheistic (God is all) and panentheistic (God is in all).
spiritual formation: a
movement that has provided a platform and a channel through which
contemplative prayer is entering the church. Find spiritual formation being
used, and in nearly every case you will find contemplative spirituality. In
fact, contemplative spirituality is the heartbeat of the spiritual
formation movement.
How Widespread Has Spiritual
Formation Become?
Read our list of
ministries that are promoting it. Please pray for the leaders of these
groups that their eyes may be opened.
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"More
people turning to spiritual [formation] directors"
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LTRP Note:
This article from a secular newspaper once again proves that spiritual
formation (i.e., contemplative spirituality) has entered the evangelical
church in a significant manner. Please see our links below this article for
more information on spiritual directors. Remember, the roots and nature of
contemplative spirituality is occultic and panentheistic. We believe
Richard Foster and Rick Warren have both played vital roles in bringing
this paradigm shift into the church. And yet, most Christian leaders and
pastors today will not acknowlege this and continue to promote the
teachings of both men. Thus, the results as reported on in the article
below.
Specialists provide guidance to those seeking deeper faith
By
Ann Rodgers, Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette
Ashes, which many Christians will receive
on their foreheads today to mark the beginning of Lent, are intended to
encourage repentance and renewal.
Those who want guidance in that process
can turn to spiritual directors. Most clergy aren't spiritual directors and
not all spiritual directors are clergy. They have special training in
guiding others into a deeper life of prayer and in seeking God's will.
"Ash Wednesday is a time of renewing
and turning away from that which is distracting us from God, and
recommitting to being in a relationship with God. That is what spiritual
direction is designed to support," said Liz Ellmann, executive
director of Spiritual Directors International, based in Bellevue, Wash.
Her organization includes 6,400 spiritual
directors from many faiths, though most are Christian and more than a third
are Catholic. Its website, www.sdiworld.org, includes a regional directory. Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10048/1036363-455.stm#ixzz0fomfqHJ1
More
on Spiritual Directors:
MOVE OVER PASTORS - "Spiritual Director": A New
Gift from an Ancient Tree
The Avalanche of Spiritual Formation
Saddleback Church IS a Contemplative Church
Richard Foster's Legacy Endures - Christian Leaders Help to
Make it So
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Cedarville University to Host Emerging Leader Jim Wallis in
"Biblical" Response to Poverty
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On March 11, 2010, at Cedarville
University Jeremiah Chapel in the Dixon Ministry Center, Cedarville
University will be hosting liberal emerging leader Jim Wallis. The event is
titled "A Critical Evaluation of Christian Responses to Poverty and
Affluence." The announcement on Cedarville's website states in part:
Marvin Olasky, founder and Editor in
Chief of World Magazine has
been called "compassionate conservatism's leading thinker" by
George W. Bush. Olasky's book, The Tragedy of American Compassion made such
a deep impression on Newt Gingrich that he sent a copy to every Republican
in the House of Representatives during the "Republican Take-Over"
of 1994. Olasky was instrumental in articulating the philosophy of charity
and service that led to the creation of the White House Office of
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Olasky's conservative credentials
are impeccable and he cares deeply about a Biblical approach to poverty.
Jim Wallis, founder and Editor in Chief
of Sojourners Magazine
has been called America's leading progressive evangelical by The Washington Post.
Wallis' book, God's
Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get it
spent 15 weeks on the New
York Times bestseller list. Wallis was picked by Time Magazine as one of
the "50 Voices for America's Future." He is known as perhaps the
leading figure and spokesperson for the "religious left." Wallis
currently serves on Barak Obama's Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood
Initiatives. Like Olasky, Wallis identifies himself as an evangelical and
he has built a reputation as a Christian advocate for the poor. (Click here to read the rest of this announcement.)
This is not
the first time that Cedarville University, once known for its conservative
and biblical reputation by many Christians, has shown a propensity
toward the emerging church leaders. Lighthouse Trails has written about
Cedarville on a number of occasions. Please refer to our links below for
some of these situations. As for the upcoming event with Jim Wallis,
readers here should be aware that Wallis has a major affinity with
atonement denier Brian McLaren, and his magazine, SoJourners, is a media
outlet for mystics, emerging leaders and New Age proponents.
In a February
11th announcement on the Cedarville University website, "SERIES TO ADDRESS A BIBLICAL RESPONSE TO
POVERTY," the announcement states that the issue of poverty
is a "heated discussion" among "church-goers." But this
is a misleading statement. It isn't the issue as to whether Christians
should help the poor (Christians traditionally have always believed in
helping the poor) or not. No. The issue that is "heated" is that emerging
leaders are rejecting the essential elements of Christianity (the Bible as
God's Word, the atonement, relationship with Jesus Christ vs esoteric
experiences induced by mysticism, Christ's literal return,
panentheism, universalism, etc). The insinuation of the Cedarville
announcement is that Jim Wallis will help to make the case for a
"biblical response" to poverty. The announcement says:
"This event is part of the University's Critical Concern Series, which
brings in noted scholars
to biblically analyze contemporary issues." But this
statement could be nothing further from the truth.
Interestingly,
in 2008, Cedarville attempted to bring in emerging leader Shane
Claiborne, who had Jim Wallis write the foreword of his book, The Irresistible Revolution.
The event was eventually cancelled after a number of complaints were
received at the university. But now, a man who resonates with Claiborne is
going to be bringing his ideas to the students at Cedarville. In our 2008
we stated:
While
Cedarville's Dean of Student Life (Dr. Purple) told Lighthouse Trails that
Cedarville is "very conservative," pointing students to a book
that is partially written by Wallis seems to give a different message.... Sojourners [magazine] would
not represent the views of a "conservative" Christian college by
any means, and it is a dichotomy for Cedarville to call itself conservative
Christian then introduce students to a book written by Wallis and Claiborne
in a favorable light, which CU is doing when it says that Claiborne is
"rooted in the values of the Christian faith."
Worth noting,
in 2009, Barack Obama named Jim Willis as part of his newly formed Faith
Advisory Council. 1
Past
Coverage on Cedarville:
Cedarville
University Controversy Escalates - Draws Broader Attention
Cedarville
University Bringing Emerging Church Activist to Campus
Cedarville
University Cancels Shane Claiborne Event
Cedarville University Heading
Down the Contemplative Road?
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The
Quantum Christ: Entering the World AND the Church Through Popular New Age
& Christian Leaders
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by Warren B. Smith
The New Age/New Spirituality is already
heralding quantum physics as a "scientific" basis for their
contention that God is not only transcendent but also
immanent-"in" everyone and everything. Physicist Fritjof Capra's
1975 best-selling book on quantum physics-The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels
between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism-was the first to
present this proposed scientific/spiritual model to a mass audience. In it,
Capra explains that he gained new spiritual insights through a mystical
experience he had sitting on a beach in Santa Cruz, California in 1969:
Five years ago, I had a beautiful
experience which set me on a road that has led to the writing of this book.
I was sitting by the ocean one late summer afternoon, watching the waves
rolling in and feeling the rhythm of my breathing, when I suddenly became
aware of my whole environment as being engaged in a gigantic cosmic dance.
. . . As I sat on that beach my former experiences [research in high-energy
physics] came to life; I "saw" cascades of energy coming down
from outer space, in which particles were created and destroyed in rhythmic
pulses; I "saw" the atoms of the elements and those of my body
participating in this cosmic dance of energy; I felt its rhythm and I
"heard" its sound, and at that moment I knew that this was the
Dance of Shiva, the Lord of Dancers worshipped by the Hindus.1
Commenting on his experience thirty years
later, Capra writes that back in 1970 he "knew with absolute certainty
that the parallels between modern physics and Eastern mysticism would
someday be common knowledge."2 In 1999, in a twenty-fifth anniversary
edition of his book, Capra reflects on the fact that The Tao of Physics had
sold more than a million copies over the years and had been translated into
at least twelve languages:
What did The Tao of Physics touch off in all these
people? What was it they had experienced themselves? I had come to believe
that the recognition of the similarities between modern physics and Eastern
mysticism is part of a much larger movement, of a fundamental change of
worldviews, or paradigms, in science and society, which is now happening
throughout Europe and North America and which amounts to a profound
cultural transformation. This transformation, this profound change of
consciousness, is what so many people have felt intuitively over the past
two or three decades, and this is why The
Tao of Physics has struck such a responsive chord.3
Capra adds:
The awareness of the unity and mutual
interrelation of all things and events, the experience of all phenomena as
manifestations of a basic oneness, is also the most important common
characteristic of Eastern worldviews. One could say it is the very essence
of those views, as it is of all mystical traditions. All things are seen as
interdependent, inseparable, and as transient patterns of the same ultimate
reality.4
Fritjof Capra then describes the union of
mysticism and the new physics as the "new spirituality" that is
"now being developed by many groups and movements, both within and
outside the churches." As an example of how this "new
spirituality" is moving into the church, he refers to one of Leonard
Sweet's "role models" and "heroes"-Matthew Fox:
On the other hand, I also believe that
our own spiritual traditions will have to undergo some radical changes in
order to be in harmony with the values of the new paradigm. The
spirituality corresponding to the new vision of reality I have been
outlining here is likely to be an ecological, earth-oriented,
postpatriarchal spirituality. This kind of new spirituality is now being
developed by many groups and movements, both within and outside the
churches. An example would be the creation-centered spirituality promoted
by Matthew Fox and his colleagues.5
A perfect example of Capra's
reference to how this quantum "new spirituality" is being
developed in churches is exemplified by Margaret Wheatley's appearance at
the Leadership Network's May 2000 "Exploring off the Map"
conference with Leonard Sweet and others. As described in the previous
chapter, Wheatley first encountered the "new science" in Fritjof
Capra's book The Turning
Point, as noted in the updated introduction of her book Leadership and the New Science:
I opened my first book on the new
science-Fritjof Capra's The
Turning Point, which describes the new world view emerging from
quantum physics. This provided my first glimpse of a new way of perceiving
the world, one that comprehended its processes of change, its deeply
patterned nature, and its dense webs of connections.6
To further illustrate how pervasive this
quantum spirituality has become in the church, consider an organization
called VantagePoint3. This South Dakota-based group has developed a
three-phase "spiritual formation" program called The
VantagePoint3 Process (or L3), which incidentally is being used by a
growing number of churches across North America. In the first
phase-"Emerging Leaders"-a quote and summation of Margaret
Wheatley is used to teach one of the points in that phase. The curriculum
quotes Wheatley from her book Leadership
and the New Science and emphasizes her view on
"relationship" and "interconnection."7 The fact that
this program points to Wheatley demonstrates yet another way that quantum
physics and quantum spirituality is already in the church. It is worth
noting that this curriculum uses Galatians 3:27-28 to partially summarize
what Wheatley has to say. But while Galatians 3 speaks of "Christ
Jesus," Wheatley's quantum "Christ" is the universal
"Christ" of quantum "oneness." VantagePoint3's use of
Wheatley to teach about "Christ" is a perfect example of what
Fritjof Capra described as this new spirituality being developed within the
churches.
The VantagePoint3 Process also cites materials by Leonard Sweet, Peter
Senge, and Ken Blanchard. All three were featured with Wheatley at the
"Exploring off the Map" conference organized by Bob Buford and
Leadership Network.
Another example of how quantum physics
has already entered the church is through the ministry of Annette Capps-the
daughter of best-selling author and charismatic pastor Charles Capps. There
are over 100,000 copies of Annette Capps' booklet Quantum Faith in print.
In the booklet, she presents a Christian faith compatible with the
so-called "scientific" principles of quantum physics and as such
is also compatible with the so-called "scientific" principles of
the New Age/New Spirituality. She even refers readers to New Age leader
Gary Zukav's book The
Dancing Wu Li Masters-An Overview of the New Physics.8 In her
booklet, she writes:
As I studied the theories of quantum
physics, I was reminded of a prophecy given by my father, author and
teacher Charles Capps, "Some things which have required faith to
believe will no longer require faith, for it will be proven to be
scientific fact."9
Obviously, authors like Gary Zukav and
Fritjof Capra have had a huge influence not only in the world, but also in
the church. Capra, a New Age physicist and Aquarian conspirator, is
mentioned frequently in Marilyn Ferguson's book The Aquarian Conspiracy.10 In addition,
countless books and articles have been written about the quantum aspects of
the "new science" and the "new spirituality" since the
publication of Capra's The
Tao of Physics and The Turning Point. Gary Zukav and his
writings on quantum physics were praised and featured years ago by Oprah
Winfrey on the Oprah Winfrey Show.11 William Young's best-selling book The Shack is just the
latest in a long line of books that deal directly or indirectly with
quantum physics and quantum spirituality. And like Margaret Wheatley's book
Leadership and the New
Science but on a much larger scale, Young's book is also having
great influence by subtly introducing quantum physics and quantum
spirituality into the church. To top this off, a New Age movie on quantum
physics [What the Bleep Do
We Know] has greatly influenced many people and has already
become an underground cult classic.
(taken from A "Wonderful" Deception, pp.167-171)
Notes:
1. Fritjof Capra, The Tao
of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and
Eastern Mysticism (Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, Inc.,
1999), p. 11.
2. Ibid., p. 323.
3. Ibid., pp. 324-325.
4. Ibid., p. 330.
5. Ibid., p. 341.
6. Margaret J. Wheatley, Leadership
and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World (San
Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Inc., 3rd ed., 2006), pp. 3-4, brought to my
attention by Discernment Research Group.
7. Emerging Leaders:
Relational Foundations of Leadership (Sioux Falls, SD, Vantage
Point3, 2006, http://www.vantagepoint3.org/fileadmin/main/tour/EMS3%20WebSamples.pdf),
p. 52; this information provided by Jennifer Pekich.
8. Annette Capps, Quantum
Faith (England, AR: Capps Publishing, 2003, 2007), p. 4,
booklet brought to my attention by Larry DeBruyn.
9. Ibid., p. 6.
10. Marilyn Ferguson, The
Aquarian Conspiracy, op. cit., pp. 145, 149-150, 152, 172, 261,
374.
11. Gary Zukav's first appearance on Oprah was in October 1998. This
propelled his book The
Seat of the Soul to the top of the New York Times best-seller list for two
years.
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Castles in the Sand visits New Moon vampire flick
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And
so it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
(Hebrews 9:27)
There were
approximately sixty people in the theatre watching New Moon, the
sequel to the vampire blockbuster, Twilight. Three quarters of the viewers
were female, and most of them ranged in age from twenty down to twelve.
I do not
normally watch movies with sorcery or magic, not even Lord of the Rings. A
wizard is a wizard is a wizard. The Bible is full of God's hatred for
sorcery. This would probably surprise most of the moviegoers-and quite a few
Christians, as well. The audience was there for a good time. The
crowd related to Bella, the teen human who wants to become a vampire.
I sat
there with two copies of Castles
in the Sand, the novel by Carolyn Greene. As I
watched the people enjoy the movie, trying hard to hear the
various comments, I asked the Lord to show me who was going to get these
books. Would it be the three young girls in the row in front of me?
The father with the two young children across the aisle?
The children
were six to eight years old. The vampire movie had no sex scenes, and very
little swearing. It did have vampires, werewolves, and a girl who wants to
become one of the undead.
Would teenage
female vampire fans like Castle
in the Sand? Absolutely. The book features a young
heroine who, like Bella, becomes involved in something with serious
ramifications. The novel takes place in a traditional Christian
college, and shows what is happening in churches, seminaries, and
Christian colleges everywhere. Vampires are fictional. Greene's novel,
while fiction, is true: Contemplative mystics continue
to expand their influence.[1] They are on the move even as
you read this.
The
vampires are undead, and will drain a person's lifeblood. The
contemplatives are persuasive, and may help you meet, deep
in meditation, a beautiful spirit being-who, really, is a chittering,
gibbering thing.
Fiction?
Sadly, no.
Contemplative
Spirituality, also known as spiritual formation, is primarily New Age
meditation presented with Christian terminology, with accompanying mystical
accoutrements. (The novel has already been left at one of these, a
labyrinth in my neighborhood).[2]
Author
Carolyn Greene wrote her book after watching how many
people accepted The
Shack's theology, even though it subverts Scripture.[3] Wanting
to warn people about contemplative meditation, she asked the Lord
for something to write, and He gave her Castles in the Sand. I have been giving
copies to people or leaving it in places. My hope is that the book will at
least get them wondering if meditation can sometimes have the spiritual consequences
Greene writes about.
The
crowd loved New Moon. It seemed as if many had already seen it, maybe a
number of times. The young girls who sat behind me sometimes said what was
going to happen while
the scene was taking place. The Twilight Series has many, many loyal fans.
The movies are money makers; everywhere people, mostly young girls, are
reading the novels.
In Castles in the Sand, this
popularity is briefly acknowledged. My favorite character,
the gum chewing, Bible loving, talkative student with the
Russian accent, Katy, is in Seattle. She is returning to the college
after a missions trip, and she goes into a store.
Carolyn Greene
writes: [Katy] looked into her wallet for cash, and finding some,
placed it into the waiting hand of the young clerk. Katy watched as the
young girl with blue hair and multiple piercings on her face completed the
transaction. A thick romance novel with a picture of a winsome looking
vampire on the front cover lay spread open on the counter beside her.[4]
(The
two young women strike up a quick friendship based on their mutual love
of...gum. Okay, back to Greene's novel-)
[The clerk]
smiled, showing a row of braces with blue elastics. "I'm really not
supposed to be chewing gum, but I can't help it.'"
Katy smiled
sympathetically. "Me too. Just like I can't stop talking about God. Do
you know God?" she asked.
"God? Oh
yeah, he's in the trees and the rocks. He's probably in this bubble
gum."
"No way,
my friend!" Katy said. "God made
the trees and the rocks and He loves you."[5]
***
The girl with
the braces and the vampire book makes a final appearance in, of all things,
the glossary at the end of the book.
During the
movie I went out into the lobby and approached the concession stand.
"Hey, are you a reader?" I asked the girl behind the counter. She
was maybe nineteen years old.
"Yeah, I
am." I gave her the book and a quick summation. I told her it was
about this girl who thinks she is talking to God but is talking to a demon.
"If it bores you, just give it to someone else." But even as I
said this, I knew that was extremely unlikely. As I walked back into the
movie, she was examining the book, and reading the back cover.
Vampires.
Werewolves. Italy. Forks, Washington. When the movie ended I walked up to a
couple who were still in their seats. "Are you readers?"
"No,
we're not waiters." He looked at me curiously.
"Readers.
Are you readers? I know you're not waiters." They accepted a copy of
the book. "If it bores you, give it to someone else."
That's
definitely what I'm going to do. Next, I think, is a liberal arts college.
I liked the people at the movie. Actually, I love the people that were
at the movie. I don't want any of them to perish. They're just regular
folks who fill up on movies and popcorn and novels and texting
and don't have a clue about the Savior.
Maybe, like
the gum chewing Katy in the book, I should have left a Bible tract. Maybe
the novel will speak to these folks. That is why I take the books to
unlikely places. And that is what I am praying for.
Endnotes:
1. Ken
Silva, http://apprising.org/2009/12/19/dangers-of-contemplative-spiritualitymysticism-lectio-divina/
Jan Markell, http://www.worldviewtimes.com/article.php/articleid-5749/Brannon-Howse/Jan-Markell
2. Castles in
the Sand visits a labyrinth! http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/castles-in-the-sand-visits-a-labyrinth/
3. Interview
with Carolyn A. Greene http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2010/01/09/write-unto-the-lord-interview-with-castles-in-the-sand-author/
4. Carolyn A.
Greene, Castles in the Sand, Lighthouse Trails Publishing, pg. 145
5. Ibid., pg.
145
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'Faith leaders' undermine God's plan for marriage
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by
Allie Martin - OneNewsNow
An official with the Institute on
Religion & Democracy (IRD) says it's a sad sign of the times
that a group of "faith leaders" in Iowa signed a document
declaring their support for same-sex "marriage."
The letter,
dated and made public on Tuesday, was signed by more than 160 faith leaders
and was presented to lawmakers during a news conference held by the
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. It says many faith traditions affirm that
"where there is love, the sacred is in our midst" - and goes on
to say: "This belief is the same for couples comprised of a man and a
woman, two women, or two men." (See earlier story)
Last year,
the Iowa Supreme Court struck down a law banning homosexual marriage in the
Hawkeye State. The Legislature has been encouraged to start the process of
putting a constitutional amendment before voters that would overturn that
ruling, but most Democrats - who hold the majority in both chambers - have
chosen not to act.
Alan Wisdom with the IRD says although the signers of the letter represent
what he calls a small fringe of the Christian community, some damage has
been done.
"It does give cover to the proponents of same-sex marriage to pretend
that they stand on equal religious ground," he explains. "They're
going to claim...there are some Christians over there who are opposed to
same-sex marriage, but [that] there are these other ones who favor it - as
if it were an even division."
That claim, notes Wisdom, is untrue. "The overwhelming majority of the
church in the United States and globally affirms the marriage of man and
woman," he emphasizes.
Wisdom says it also damages the church when pastors, who are charged with
defending God's Holy Word, promote unscriptural practices. (Source-OneNewsNow, Copyright 2007 American Family News
Network - Used by permission)
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Many Believers in South Africa are Jumping on the Bandwagon of
Dominionism
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by
Professor Johan Malan
Mossel Bay, RSA
Christians
are increasingly mobilised towards efforts of controlling and reforming the
world by reminding them of their long-forgotten dominion mandate. This is
particularly the case in the US and South Africa from where the global
Transformations Movement is orchestrated. Disciples of Christ have
allegedly, like believers in the Old Testament, neglected their biblical
mandate to rule over the world and are now held directly responsible for
the serious moral and spiritual crisis in which the world finds itself.
Joy
magazine in South Africa is one of many voices challenging Christians to
reclaim their God-given mandate which they have consistently shunned for
almost two millennia. One of the recent wake-up calls by which believers
are implored to assume their position as kings, can be seen in the Addendum
below. The following comments are made to expose the weaknesses and wrong
applications of the arguments in support of dominionism during the church
age, and to offer the correct biblical perspective on the end-time
revelation of God's kingdom:
The nature and fulfillment of the dominion mandate
The original mandate to subdue the earth and have dominion over it (Gen.
1:26-28) was given before the Fall. It was based upon the assumption that
human beings who were created in the image of God would always act in
accordance with the divine nature which was instilled in them. As children
of the light they were called upon to be co-rulers with God over His
creation. However, the depraved nature of humanity after the Fall rendered
them unfit to rule over the works of God's hand. Profs. John Walvoord &
Roy Zuck (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, p. 29) say: "Because of sin
all things are not under man's dominion (Heb. 2:8). But Jesus Christ will
establish dominion over all the earth at His second coming."
In
Hebrews 2:8 Paul further explains man's present status: "You have put
all things in subjection under his feet... But now we do not yet see all
things put under him." The fulfillment of the dominion mandate will be
Messianic and eschatological. Christians are not in control of the world
now and are nowhere commissioned to be so.
During
the church age true Christians have always been a small minority in the
world, and this situation will prevail until Christ comes (Matt. 7:14; Luke
13:23-24; John 3:19). We were called to be the light of a spiritually dark
world and the salt of a morally corrupt earth (Matt. 5:13-14). As such we
are in opposition to the works of darkness which are practised by the vast
majority of unsaved people (Eph. 5:11). The world will hate and persecute
us (John 15:18-19; 16:33) while we are shining as lights in the midst of a
crooked generation (Phil. 2:15).
During
the present dispensation we are not kings but witnesses for Christ who are
often despised by the world. As soldiers for the cross we are admonished to
put on the full armour of God to remain standing against the wiles of the
devil (Eph. 6:10-12). We have to contend against "the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of
disobedience" (Eph. 2:2). Even fellow-Christians will criticise and
reject us when we raise the standard of holiness to the level expected of
us by the Lord.
Spiritual
warfare in the church age is clearly applied to individual believers. We
are taught how to prevail over the temptations of Satan and to become
spiritually strong in the Lord. We are definitely not commanded to expel
Satan from communities, cities, regions or entire countries, thereby to
deliver the world from demonic bondages and strongholds as a prelude to
re-establishing the kingdom of God. The enemy might even laugh at organised
mass-meetings as efforts to bolster power against him and make him flee
from that area. He will be around until Christ comes to bind him in a pit
and to establish the kingdom of heaven. Until that time we, as individuals,
must stand fast in the liberty of Christ and always resist the devil.
Satan
rules in the hearts of unsaved people. Since they are in the majority he
has considerable influence on worldly affairs. We as Christians live in a
hostile environment and must learn to do so victoriously until the Lord
comes. Without succumbing to negativity we should rather expect more
problems in the world than believing that we can physically establish God's
kingdom before the coming of Christ. Click here to
read this entire article.
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Catholic Agenda Embedded in the Manhattan Declaration
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by Richard Bennett
Former Catholic Priest
for 25 years
Founder Berean Beacon
How many of
the Evangelicals who have signed MD have understood that what appears to be
a conservative, Bible-based concern over "justice and the common
good" -words that in America unmistakenly hearken back to the Preamble
to the U. S. Constitution-have here been formed into a deceptive tool to be
used against them. When Evangelical Christians sign MD, the Roman Catholic
social agenda with its enforced moral obligations is being advanced. That
agenda stands diametrically opposed to the Bible, to the U.S. Constitution,
and to the Bill of Rights. When fully formed, the larger
political-religious global institution envisioned by the Papacy will be
fully coercive, as it has been in every totalitarian regime.-Richard Bennett
Roman
Catholic Dual Purpose Behind the Manhattan Declaration
On November 20th, 2009, more than 150 people portraying themselves as
Christian leaders of Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical backgrounds
declared their unity because of moral issues. The signers who are uniting
themselves together in the Manhattan Declaration (MD) identify themselves
under the signed statement, "We are Orthodox, Catholic, and
evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental
truths about justice and the common good...."1 The Website of MD
states that the purpose of the document is "simply to speak with one
voice on the most pressing moral issues of our day...[MD is] simply a
statement of solidarity about only the social issues it addresses."2
And the document itself may not appear to have any objective other than
quoted. However, under the Website section entitled, "Message to all
signers of the Manhattan Declaration," the clearly stated purpose is a
call for a political movement. This shows that, in fact, the Manhattan
Declaration is only the latest step in the downgrade into implementing
Catholic social doctrine. There is yet another purpose; one primarily
stated in Vatican Council II and post-Vatican Council II documents. Through
the use of social issues, the Roman Catholic Church seeks to draw true
Evangelical Bible-believers into itself so that there can be no opposition
by them on the fundamental issues of the authority of the Bible alone and
the Gospel.
In order to
soften up the Evangelicals in their separation from the Catholics on
biblical doctrinal issues, particularly the authority of the Bible alone
and the Gospel, the Catholic modus operandi calls for using social issues
on which both Evangelicals and Catholics agree as preliminary common
ground. The major social issues selected by MD are acceptable, but what
gives away the underlying Catholic far left political agenda is some of the
vocabulary used. This vocabulary has a general meaning, to be sure, but in
the context of Roman Catholic social doctrine, it means something quite
specific. As Evangelicals are drawn together with Catholics on social
issues - like the social issues mentioned in this document - the ensuing
ecumenical dialogue "serves to transform modes of thought and behavior
and the daily life of their [Evangelical] communities [churches]. In this
way, it [ecumenical dialogue] aims at preparing the way for their unity of faith
in the bosom of a Church one and visible: thus 'little by little'...all
Christians will be gathered"3 into the Roman Catholic Church with its
dual authority base, false gospel, and accompanying far left agenda. The
Roman Catholic Church's primary goal is to make enforceable its claim that
it is the only true church of Jesus Christ and its pope, the claimed
"Vicar of Christ," has the right to judge everybody, as he did
during the Middle Ages. In order to accomplish this, the Papacy must do
away with the supreme authority of the Bible and the Gospel and it must
silence all who stand against it in this endeavor. This is the Roman
Catholic context in which the Manhattan Declaration is set. Please click here for the full document in PDF
format (printable).
More
on The Manhattan Declaration:
Manhattan Declaration: "Perhaps Millions" Being
Led Toward the New Age/New Spirituality
Evangelicals and Catholics Together and the Rejection of
End-Time, Bible-Believing Christians
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Universalism: The Gospel Message of Emergent and New Age
Spirituality
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by Sola Sisters
One of the greatest misconceptions in
this country today is that the New Age Movement of the 80's and 90's is (1)
a thing of the past and (2) has nothing whatsoever in common with
Christianity. Nothing could be further from the truth on either count.
Let me explain.
Most Americans today have sort of an
eye-rolling, amused response to the phrase "New Age."
Perhaps their minds are conjuring up an image of Shirley MacLaine on the
beach, talking to the sky, a spiritual eccentric who became the punch line
of many jokes for her interest in reincarnation and channeling. Perhaps
they think that, like Shirley MacLaine, the New Age has passed gently into
history, much like the rubix cube and Duran Duran. Well, the truth is
that the New Age is still very much with us today. It never really
went away, it just went mainstream. New Age practices or beliefs that
were once considered borderline occultic or kooky are now widely accepted
and embraced, including yoga, mantra meditation, muscle testing, acupuncture,
reiki, sustainable living and going green. Don't believe it?
Just pick up any newspaper or popular magazine today (Reader's Digest,
Ladies' Home Journal, Parade) and you will most likely read at least one,
usually multiple articles, on the benefits of these practices. Heck,
even my husband's Golf World had a lengthy article in the February 2010
issue on how golf courses around the country are trying to "go
green." Click here to continue reading.
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Dr. Oz Tells Millions of Americans: "Try Reiki!"
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"Dr OZ endorses
reiki on TV"
(from out side news
source)
"Dr. Mehmet Oz, a
renowned cardiovascular surgeon and host of the third (or possibly second)
most popular syndicated television program in America, this week introduced
millions of viewers to the natural healing practice of Reiki as part of a
program on alternative and natural remedies. The Dr. Oz Show included not
only a segment featuring a demonstration by Reiki author Pamela Miles, but
an emphatic recommendation to "try Reiki" as the #1 "Oz's
Order" at the show's conclusion."Cick
here to continue and to view the video.
For our research on Reiki, click
here.
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Nazarene Pastor Fired For Fighting Emergent Ideology
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by Manny Silva
Concerned Nazarenes
Disturbing trends
continue to develop in our denomination. Recently, I sent out a
prayer request for a pastor and his church that decided to leave the
Nazarene denomination, rather than stay and bow to emergent ideology and
priorities. Soon, I will be posting some information regarding those
who have been forced to leave their churches ("Divorced From The
Church"). More and more Bible believing Nazarenes are finding
themselves ostracized and are even being labeled as cult members, hateful,
dividers, "used by the devil"...etc. On and on it goes,
with no biblical justification! Students are subject to ridicule or
harassment for standing up against unbiblical teachings at their
universities.
The following story is
also another scenario, that of a pastor being fired for daring to speak out
against a movement which has not even been officially welcomed into the
Nazarene denomination. Please understand that it is the desire of
this pastor not to target leadership, but to make you aware of the
magnitude of this problem. Hopefully, some of you will begin to look
at this, and not be overcome by it:
The Story:
As many of you know,
Pastor Joe Staniforth joined Concerned Nazarenes - a group of Nazarenes
troubled by false teachings in our academic institutions and many of our
churches in the Western world. These teachings can be summed up as
"emergent ideology."
For more information
on the emergent church movement and the mission of Concerned Nazarenes,
please visit www.concernednazarenes.org or one of the websites listed
below.
In September 2008,
Pastor Joe and his wife Claudia answered God's call to work as
missionaries, evangelists and church planters on the Texas-Mexico border.
Although they've witnessed the Lord at work - especially in ministries in
Matamoros, Mexico - Pastor Joe became increasingly concerned about emergent
teachings in the Nazarene denomination. In obedience to the Lord's leading,
he began preaching against the ideology and practices of the emergent
movement . Please click here to read the rest of this story.
Related Information on the downslide of the Nazarene
denomination into emerging/contemplative:
Buddhist/Universalist
Sympathizer Woos Nazarene Students at NNU
G12
Master Plan Could Expose Thousands of Nazarenes to Contemplative/Emerging
Spirituality
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Saddleback Church in talks for Crystal Cathedral retreat
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By DEEPA BHARATH and
ERIKA I. RITCHIE
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Saddleback Church is
in talks with the Crystal Cathedral to buy a 20-acre property where the
cathedral has operated a retreat for more than 25 years.
Saddleback Church,
headed by Pastor Rick Warren, has been one of several parties interested in
purchasing the Rancho Capistrano property nestled in the hills adjacent to
the 5 Freeway in San Juan Capistrano, said John Charles, spokesman for the
Crystal Cathedral.
"They have shown
interest in it ever since that property went up for sale, which was two
years ago," Charles said. "But I don't know if they have put in
an offer or have even toured the property."
Saddleback Church
officials say they have been in discussions for 18 months. However, there
is no news to report, said spokesman David Chrzan.
"No agreement has
been reached or finalized," he said.
Crystal Cathedral
administrators announced earlier this month that they have started shutting
down all operations at their 20-acre campus in Rancho Capistrano, closing a
church, preschool, retreat area, soccer fields, camping grounds and a
conference and wedding center. The megachurch's continuing financial woes
have led to the sale of various properties, employee layoffs and suspension
of its "Glory of Easter" pageant this year. Click here to continue reading.
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Exposing the Quantum Lie: God is NOT in Everything - DeWaay
& Smith New Lecture Series
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A
4-DVD lecture series with Bob DeWaay and Warren B. Smith (from the 2009
Faith at Risk in Minneapolis, MN)
The church and the world are being
offered a new Christianity, and millions of people are buying into it. But
when the outer layers of this New Spirituality are stripped away, what lies
beneath is the Quantum Lie that started in the Garden of Eden. This
deception will play out as the Bible predicts until the return of Jesus
Christ to a world that has become completely deceived into believing that
God is in everything.
How
Eastern mysticism has been repackaged and presented as a new way to know
God.
DVD 2-Warren B. Smith: The Big Picture/A Wonderful Deception
DVD 3-Warren B. Smith: New Age Implications of
The Shack, The Message and The Purpose Driven movement and the
entrance of the Quantum Lie into the church
DVD 4-Bob DeWaay: Emergence Theory. How pantheism and panentheism have
entered the church, convincing millions that this New Spirituality is
exactly what the world needs to save itself
Bob DeWaay (B.A., North
Central Bible College; M.A., Bethel Theological Seminary). Bob is the
senior pastor of Twin City Fellowship in Minneapolis, MN, home of the Faith
at Risk conferences. He is the author of Redefining
Christianity: Understanding the Purpose Driven Movement and The Emergent Church: Undefining
Christianity. He is the founder of Critical Issues Commentary
and is a frequent guest on KKMS 980am in the Twin Cities.
Warren B. Smith (B.A., University
of Pennsylvania; M.S.W., Tulane University). Warren is a free-lance writer
and community social worker who was formerly involved in the New Age
movement. He is the author of Deceived
on Purpose, The
Light That Was Dark, Reinventing
Jesus Christ, and A
"Wonderful" Deception. Warren speaks frequently on
radio and at conferences, warning against spiritual deception in the
church.
Quantum
Lie Trio Pack
Save $10 plus FREE SHIPPING when you buy
the set
Two books and 4 DVDs for just $47.85
(regular price: $57.85) plus free shipping for U.S. customers ($10 shipping
discount for international customers)
Exposing the Quantum Lie with Bob DeWaay &
Warren B. Smith (4 DVD pack - 2010)
A "Wonderful" Deception by Warren B. smith
(book - 2009)
The Emergent Church by Bob DeWaay (book -
2009)
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Warren B. Smith and Ray Yungen Speaking in 2010
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Below is a partial speaking schedule for
Lighthouse Trails authors Warren B. Smith and Ray Yungen for 2010. If
you live near any of these areas, we hope you will get the chance to
attend. All these events are offered free of charge. If you are interested
in having Warren or Ray (or both) speak to your group, call us at
503/873-9092, or email at editors@lighthousetrails.com.
February 27, 2010 (9:00am-3:00pm)
Westminster,
California
Joint hosted: Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast & Calvary Chapel Cypress
All day conference with:
Warren B. Smith, Ray Yungen, Johanna Michaelsen, Chris Quintana
6400
Westminster Blvd, Westminster, CA
(714) 890-8026
February 28, 2010 (10am service - Ray Yungen and Warren B.
Smith)
DeVore Community Church of Devore
1431
Devore Road
Devore (San Bernadino), CA 92407
909 657-2163 or 909 835 0523
March 18-21
Red River Bible & Prophecy
Conference
Warren B. Smith, Jacob Prasch, David Hocking, Carl Teichrib, John Higgins
Presented
by: Cornerstone Baptist Church & Crossroads Christian Fellowship
Held at: Courtyard Marriot Moorhead
1080 28th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56560
701-232-5869 or 701-371-2416 (conference contact)
No Cost. Free will offering.
April
23 (7pm-10pm), April 24 (9am-10pm)
Last Days Bible Conference
Warren
B. Smith, James McCarthy, Rob Lindsted
Held at: Monterey Park Evangelical Free Church
3125 Catalina Blvd NE
Calgary, Alberta
(403) 948-5401
No cost. Free will offering
April
30-May 1
Discerning the Times Conference
Warren B. Smith, Rob Lindsted, John Plantz, Dave Dunn, Steve Herzig
Ramada Inn
806 Idylwyld Drive North, DIEFENBAKER ROOM
Saskatoon, Sask.
1-306-371-6877 (conference contact)
No cost. Free will offering.
May
29th (9:30-4:00)
Gold Country
Calvary Chapel
Warren B. Smith, Ray Yungen, Johanna Michaelsen
13026 LaBarr Meadows Rd
Grass Valley, CA 95949
530-274-2108
No cost. Free will offering.
July
25th
(8:30 and 10:30)
Candlelight Fellowship
5725
N. Pioneer Drive
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
208-772-7755
No cost.
August
12-14
Pastors
and Leaders Conference
Warren B. Smith, Xavier Reis
500
South Lee Ave
Olathe, KS 66061
Phone: (913) 829-9306
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Free Things from Lighthouse Trails
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1. FREE
PRINT NEWSLETTER: Starting January 2010, From the
Lighthouse print newsletter will be mailed to those requesting it. If you
would like to request the newsletter, please fill out our Newsletter Request Form.
2. FREE CATALOG: Fill
out our short form to receive a free catalog. Click here to access form.
3. FREE E-NEWSLETTER: Sign up to receive our free e-newsletter, delivered to
your email box 3-4 times a month.
4. FREE SAMPLE CHAPTERS:
Check out our free sample chapters of many of our books.
5. FREE SHIPPING OFFERS:
Lighthouse Trails has a growing number of FREE SHIPPING offers on our books, DVDS, and CDs.
6. FREE ONLINE E-BOOKS: Lighthouse
Trails currently has two free e-books. We also hope to soon be offering
some of our titles as Kindle books (digital books to be read on Kindle
machines) for low prices. We hope that in offering these digital versions
of our books, readers will have the chance to see the quality of our
workmanship before purchasing print versions. Click
here to see our available e-books.
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Women's Weekend Conference in Oregon Will Feature Lighthouse
Trails Author - Caryl Matrisciana
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NOTE: This women's
conference has limited space, and spots are filling up quickly. If you
hope to attend, please reserve your spot as soon as you can.
Lighthouse
Trails author, Caryl Matrisciana (Out of India), will be the guest
speaker at a women's weekend conference in Oregon this coming April. The
conference will be held at the Christian Renewal Center, a beautiful 40
acres of creeks, evergreens, and lodges, nestled in the Cascade foothills
near the Silver Falls State Park.
Caryl's topic
for the weekend will be "Finding Truth In a Confusing World."
Born and raised in India, Caryl saw first hand the effects that Hinduism
had on the people of that nation. After leaving India as a young adult,
Caryl became involved in the counter culture, only to find that elements of
Hinduism and the New Age were very much the same.
The weekend conference begins on Friday, April 16th with dinner at 6:30 and
goes until after lunch on Sunday, the 18th. The suggested donation per
person is $85, which includes 2 nights and 6 meals. A $25 deposit will
hold a spot for you. Registration forms are online at: http://www.christianrenewalcenter.org/retreatform.htm.
Or you may call 503/873-6743 and register by phone. Please let them know
that you heard about this through Lighthouse Trails.
Spots
will fill quickly for this special weekend, so if you are interested and
able, sign up soon. This is a great opportunity for solid teaching,
fellowship, and time in the Word and prayer. Plus the Silver Falls State
Park, just a couple miles away, is the home of the greatest concentration
of water falls in North America.
Click here to see photos of
CRC's facilities and grounds.
If
you are flying in for this event, you can call CRC to arrange for someone
to pick you up.
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Print Newsletter Available
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Lighthouse
Trails sent out the first issue of print newsletter this past week. If
you are on our customer database or if you requested it, you should have
now received your copy delivered to your home. You may also view (and
print) a low resolution copy of the print edition from a pdf file. Click here to access our
January/February print newsletter. You may print this and
distribute this any way you wish.
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Featured Resources
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Contemplative Spirituality: A belief system that
uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness
(the silence) and is rooted in mysticism and the occult but often wrapped
in Christian terminology. The premise of contemplative spirituality
is pantheistic (God is all) and panentheistic (God is in all). Common
terms used for this movement are "spiritual formation," "the
silence," "the stillness," "ancient-wisdom,"
"spiritual disciplines," and many others.
Spiritual Formation: A movement that has provided a platform and a channel through which contemplative prayer is entering the church. Find spiritual formation being used, and in nearly every case you will find contemplative spirituality. In fact, contemplative spirituality is the heartbeat of the spiritual formation movement. |
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