In 2006, Calvary Chapel made a public stand against contemplative spirituality and the emerging church; they also stated: “The teaching and positions of Rick Warren have come into conflict with us at Calvary Chapel. Pastor Chuck has directed us to discontinue this product effective immediately. Chuck Smith read Deceived on Purpose, A Time of Departing, and Faith … [Read more…]
By Roger Oakland Many who were once looking for the return of Jesus have fallen asleep. We now live in a period of time where numerous prominent Christian leaders are telling the Christian masses that paying attention to the signs of our times in light of the Bible is a waste of time. And many … [Read more…]
Lee Strobel is one of the most well-read Christian authors today. He is also one of the conference speaking teachers for Veritas Evangelical Seminary (co-founder Norm Geisler ), which is located on the Calvary Chapel Bible College grounds in California. Strobel is also a strong supporter of his son’s (Kyle Strobel) very contemplative ministry called … [Read more…]
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 Jones1 As we here at Lighthouse Trails have joined with other believers in exposing the … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: The New York Times article below, stating how more and more students attending Christian colleges are “coming out of the closet” and trying to get their Christian schools to accept and embrace the homosexual lifestyle, has come as no surprise to Lighthouse Trails. And we believe much of this occurrence can be attributed to contemplative … [Read more…]
According to the April 2011 issue of Pray!, the online magazine of NavPress, the organization is still promoting contemplative prayer. In 2005, Lighthouse Trails informed readers that NavPress (part of the long-standing Navigators) “has become a leading publisher for contemplative spirituality books” such as: When the Soul Listens by Jan Johnson, Dallas Willard Soul Guide by … [Read more…]
Faith Undone by Roger Oakland is back from press in its 8th printing. The book was released in 2007, and we believe it is still the most powerful and truthful book about the emerging church and the “new” spirituality that has overtaken much of the Christian church. Below is a chapter by chapter synopsis of this book. If you … [Read more…]
by Roger Oakland Stimulating images that provide spiritual experiences are an essential element of the emerging church. While many are bewildered as to why their churches are darkening their sanctuaries and setting up prayer stations with candles, incense, and icons, promoters of the emerging church movement say they know exactly what they are doing. Mark … [Read more…]
by John Lanagan My Word Like Fire Ministries No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) Perhaps stung by criticism about his Daniel Plan alliance with three well known New Age doctors, Rick Warren simultaneously addressed and sidestepped the meditation issue during a recent sermon.1 Warren never acknowledged … [Read more…]
According to a Christianity Today article, LifeWay Christian Stores (resource department for Southern Baptist Convention) has decided to end their “Read with Discernment” labels program that began in 2007.1 Books that LifeWay was carrying at that time by emerging church authors such as Rob Bell and Brian McLaren were suppose to receive labels telling potential readers that … [Read more…]
The “Gay Christian Network” will be hosting their annual Mountain Top Experience conference in January 2011. According to their website, contemplative/emerging Christianity Today editor Philip Yancey will be this year’s key note speaker: (click here). Little needs to be said here, but as Roger Oakland pointed out in his book Faith Undone, one of the propensities … [Read more…]
by Paul Proctor Used with permission. Churches use shocking billboards to get attention The Christian Post reports, “a megachurch in Southeast Michigan is making a lot of people uncomfortable with its new billboard campaign that proclaims that the church is for hypocrites, losers and liars.” NorthRidge Church’s pastor, Brad Powell, is quoted in the article, … [Read more…]
by Roger Oakland In the emerging culture, darkness represents spirituality. We see this in Buddhist temples, as well as Catholic and Orthodox churches. Darkness communicates that something serious is happening.1–Dan Kimball, author of The Emerging Church (foreword by Rick Warren) On October 12, 1998 in Glorieta, New Mexico, over 500 young leaders came together in … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: In relation to this article and the upcoming radio program on Thursday, September 9th on CrossTalk, it is worth noting that on the same day, Leadership Network (the launchers of the 1990s emerging church movement) is presenting an online, digital “conference” called The Nines featuring 100 evangelical pastors and leaders, some of whom are Rick … [Read more…]
Today, we received the following e-mail from a Lighthouse Trails reader. We have removed any identifying information so as to maintain the privacy of all parties. Please see our comments below the e-mail. To Lighthouse Trails: As a result of a casual conversation with a friend, I was telling her about your listing of contemplative colleges. … [Read more…]
To Lighthouse Trails: Do you know anything about Kenton Beshore of Mariners Church in Irvine, Ca. It is a mega-church that my daughter likes, but I don’t know too much about it. I could not find anything on it from the Lighthouse Trails site. Our answer: We are familiar with Mariner’s as it is the “mother” … [Read more…]
The following letter was sent to Lighthouse Trails this week from a Houghton College alumni couple. Because of our ongoing research on the slide by many Christian schools into the contemplative/emerging camp, we are posting this letter with the couple’s permission. We hope it will help those of you who are trying to warn loved … [Read more…]
The following pertains to our January 25 article, Buddhist/Universalist Sympathizer Woos Nazarene Students at NNU. NNU’s president, Dr. David Alexander, has issued the following response to an undisclosed number of concerned Nazarenes. We are posting this and also our comments and documentation about his response (see our commentary below Dr. Alexander’s response). From Dr. Alexander: Greetings from … [Read more…]
The 2009 National Worship Leader Conference took place on July 20-23 in Leawood, Kansas and brought together a convergence of contemplative/emerging speakers. Some will probably wonder though why popular trusted figures like Calvary Chapel’s Greg Laurie, 70s Jesus movement singer Evie, and Love Song lead singer, Chuck Girard, were part of the speaking/singing platform … [Read more…]
According to a June 23rdChristianity Today article titled, “Less Edgy Conferences,” the Zondervan-owned organization Youth Specialties is going to make “dramatic shifts” this fall at their National Youth Workers Conventions. The CT article, which is based on a pod-cast by Youth Specialties president, Mark Oestreicher, suggests that these changes being brought about could be because … [Read more…]
Many Christian-led conferences taking place throughout North America during the summer and fall of 2009 are providing platforms for speakers who are helping to further the new spirituality. In many conferences, the speaker line-ups are a blending of non-emerging/non-contemplative speakers with those who are of that camp. Doing this gives an unmerited credibility to the … [Read more…]
It was Shakespeare who said a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. In the case of the “new spirituality” that has pervaded so much of Christianity, emergent church by any other name is just as harmful. While some are saying they are not “emergent” but are emerging, the overall beliefs (and mission) … [Read more…]
Emerging/emergent spirituality is making serious inroads into Christianity. Churches and Christian colleges, unaware of the subtle undermining of such spirituality, are embracing teachers and leaders of this movement and pointing others to them. Often they are unaware of what these teachers really believe and teach. In light of an event (Movement 2009) scheduled to take … [Read more…]
The 2009 National Youth Workers Convention will take place this coming Fall in three major US cities. The conference is presented annually by Youth Specialties. As we have stated before, this is one youth worker convention that should be avoided. Attendees will receive a hearty dose of contemplative/emerging spirituality. Books, DVDs, seminars, and more will … [Read more…]
According to Mark Driscoll’s church calendar and other reports as well, Mark Driscoll will be speaking at Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral on June 14th. 1 While many evangelical leaders have promoted Driscoll, he has been the topic of a number of Lighthouse Trails articles. Driscoll was one of the early “emergent” leaders mentored by Leadership … [Read more…]
by Understand the Times with Roger Oakland The labyrinth is a maze-like structure used during times of contemplative prayer that is growing in popularity. The participant walks through this structure until he comes to the center, then back out again. Unlike a maze, which has several paths, the labyrinth has one path. Often prayer stations … [Read more…]
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 … [Read more…]
Lighthouse Trails would like to alert its readers that LifeWay Christian Stores has been informing interested customers that Lighthouse Trails books are “discontinued” or “out of print.” LifeWay Stores is the bookstore arm of the Southern Baptist Convention and has over 150 walk-in stores and a popular online store. Concerned customers have contacted Lighthouse Trails … [Read more…]
by Roger Oakland In the emerging culture, darkness represents spirituality. We see this in Buddhist temples, as well as Catholic and Orthodox churches. Darkness communicates that something serious is happening.1–Dan Kimball, author of The Emerging Church (foreword by Rick Warren) On October 12, 1998 in Glorieta, New Mexico, over 500 young leaders came together in … [Read more…]
Dan Merchant is the author of a new book titled Lord Save Us From Your Followers. Merchant’s book, published by Thomas Nelson, is similar in nature to Dan Kimball’s They Like Jesus But Not the Church. The message in Merchant’s book is basically that since the world doesn’t like Christians, it must be the fault … [Read more…]