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Tony
Campolo is Speaking His Mind
About Mysticism, Interspirituality and More
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New
Book by Tony Campolo says mysticism [contemplative prayer] is the "common ground" between Christianity and Islam:
"Beyond these models of reconciliation, a theology of mysticism
provides some hope for common ground between Christianity
and Islam. Both religions have within their histories examples
of ecstatic union with God ...
I do not know what to make of the Muslim mystics, especially
those who have come to be known as the Sufis. What do they experience
in their mystical experiences? Could they have encountered the
same God we do in our Christian mysticism?" p. 149-150
(see Jim Ballard's book Mind Like Water for a description of
"ecstasy" with regards to meditation.)
According
to Tony Campolo, in his book Speaking My Mind, he has
several suggestions for Christians - the bottom line is he
believes we need to "redefine ourselves,"... "recast our opinions,"
and "entertain the possibility that we might be in error"
about particular issues. He says we need to stop being so
stubborn about these issues.
What
are those issues he speaks of? They are everything from mysticism to homosexuality and an array of other changes we need to make in our attitudes,
behaviors and ideas. With regard to mysticism (contemplative
prayer) he believes, "mysticism provides some hope for common
ground between Christianity and Islam." He asks and then later
answers the question, "Could they (Islamic Sufis) have encountered
the same God we do in our Christian mysticism?" His answer -
of course! Sound like Thomas
Merton? It should. Campolo emulates Merton, Schuller and a host of other New
Age, mystical leaders all rolled into one. And as far as
he is concerned, the real problem for the whole world lies with
"rigid" Christians who believe in the possibility of Jesus'
soon return. According to Campolo, they are to blame for wars,
and a host of other evils in the world. I am reminded, as I
read his book, of Alice
Bailey and Barbara
Marx Hubbard,whose clear and obvious hostility towards believers
shouted out from the pages of their writings.
The End of the World ... As We Know It
A growing number of well-known evangelical leaders today are
teaching thousands of people that the world has a serious
problem. The problem they describe is not what you might expect
to hear, especially from evangelical leaders. They believe
that those who claim Jesus is coming back soon and that the
Earth will face a horrible Armageddon or judgment are actually
the cause of the world's major problems and are prohibiting
a time of great renewal from taking place. Talk of biblical
end-time prophecy is considered by these men to be unnecessary
and downright dangerous.
Tony Campolo in his recent book, Speaking My Mind suggests that these types of end-time
thinkers are even the cause of wars. He says, "Their doctrines
are a major factor in determining a far-ranging set of consequences
that include American policies regarding militarism, the emergence
of evangelical Zionism, attitudes toward Palestinians and
the role of American geopolitics." (p. 207) He later says
their "impact on geopolitics can only lead to war." (p. 215).
Rick Warren suggests that Jesus doesn't want us to even think
about prophecy or His return. Warren tells us that it is none
of our business. He tells us that thinking about Jesus' return
is a ploy by Satan to get us distracted. (PDL, pp. 285, 286) Click here to read rest of article.
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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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