Top 10 In-House Stories in 2007
The Secret: “A New Era for Humankind” The Secret makes no secret about it’s intentions: to let the world know that humanity is on the brink of a new era. This new era will open up to humanity unleashed power, riches, creativity and all that we ever dreamed of. A “secret” that has been locked away for centuries is now available to all.
Celebrating the Resurrection, but Denying the Atonement? Those who believe in the true elements of contemplative/emerging spirituality say that God would not send His Son to a violent death on a Cross to bear the sins of others. They say Jesus is their model but cannot say He is their Lord. By Christian leaders embracing spiritual formation as they are now doing in large numbers, they are inadvertently denying the atonement.
What’s Sex Got to do with it? The New Age movement has now permeated all areas of our society. Virtually nothing has been untouched by the tentacles of this occultic, meditation-driven spirituality, and it has entered the Christian church through contemplative prayer (i.e., spiritual formation). But there is another area that mysticism has united with … and that is the sexual realm. The marriage of the two is referred to as tantra (or tantric sex), and before you stop reading this article, thinking “What has sex got to do with exposing contemplative and the New Age?” we must tell you will all soberness, this mystical sexuality is growing faster by the day, and it may affect the lives of countless Christians.
Awana Embraces Contemplative Spirituality! Awana is showing signs that it is becoming a contemplative organization. A new book Awana is carrying called Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation openly promotes contemplative spirituality.
Rethink Conference with Erwin McManus and Robert Schuller – Could Have Far-Reaching Effects In January 2008, the Rethink Conference will take place at Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral. According to Church Communication Network (CCN), the event will be hosted by Robert Schuller and Erwin McManus.
Moody Bible Institute Defends Position on Contemplative After Lighthouse Trails writes a series of articles on MBI’s ties with contemplative, they write a letter to Lighthouse Trails and post it on their website, denying that their use and promotion of contemplatives like Henri Nouwen, Dallas Willard, Keri Wyatt Kent, and others means they are heading in that direction.
Why Focus on the Family Should Not Promote and Sell Gary Thomas’ Books Sacred Marriage, Sacred Parenting, and Sacred Pathways – Most likely, you have heard of at least one of these books. The author, Gary Thomas, is touted by Rick Warren, Focus on the Family, and a host of other Christian well-known ministries. Last year, Lighthouse Trails wrote a special report on Focus on the Family because of their promotion of Thomas and his book Sacred Parenting. FOF answered Lighthouse Trails stating that they saw nothing wrong with Thomas, and they were not interested in looking at the documentation that proved otherwise. As we have shown in the past, Gary Thomas is an advocate for mantra meditation.
Rick Warren Plays “Catch Me if You Can” While Promoting Mysticism As Rick Warren moves ahead toward his global peace agenda, working with virtually anyone or any group who rallies behind him, he has moved to the forefront of evangelical leaders who are propagating the contemplative prayer movement (i.e., spiritual formation). In essence, he has become an evangelist for contemplative spirituality. For those who realize that contemplative (that is mystical meditation) is the driving force behind the kingdom-now, heaven-on-earth emerging church movement, this is an alarming deduction.
No Repentance from Willow Creek – Only a Mystical Paradigm Shift Recently, headlines about Willow Creek filled the front pages of several online news outlets. The caption stated: “A Shocking Confession from Willow Creek Community Church.” Some wondered if Willow Creek’s pastor Bill Hybels was repenting from past errors in ministry techniques.1 But a Lighthouse Trails commentary showed that this “shocking confession” was actually a re-enforcement of Willow Creek’s efforts to “transform this planet” through contemplative and emerging spiritualities.
World Net Daily Interviews Rick Warren – The Truth Behind the Words In December 2007, WorldNet Daily released three articles resulting from an interview conducted at Saddleback with Rick Warren. Much of the content in the articles has been written about by numerous other media outlet over the last few years. But one particular section of article #1 originated from a letter that Rick Warren wrote to Lighthouse Trails in 2005. And that letter was filled with statements that covered up something most people do not know.
