Category: —Contemplative Churches

Episcopal Church May Be Dying Out . . . But Evangelical Church Shares Same “Missing” Link

According to various reports, it appears the long-standing Episcopal Church is dying out. A December 27, 2024 Federalist article titled “The Destruction of a Beloved New York Choir School Epitomizes the Fall of the Episcopal Church” states: It is hardly…

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Letter to the Editor Warning: Craig Groeschel’s Life Church Introducing New Age/Contemplative Practices to Tens of Millions Through Its YouVersion Bible App

LTRP Note: The following letter to the editor is addressing very legitimate and documented concerns about Life Church, one of the largest evangelical churches in America with over three dozen locations throughout the country and an influential global outreach. Lighthouse…

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Visio Divina: A Mystical Practice by Any Other Name Is Still a Mystical Practice

LTRP Note: The following letter to the editor is asking about a practice called visio divina. Below her letter are our comments, and below that is our article/booklet on Lectio Divina. Dear Lighthouse Trails: I’m attending a Bible study at…

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Letters to the Editor: Author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer, Bringing “Renewed” Contemplative Spirituality Into the Churches

LTRP Note: Please see editors notes below this letter. Dear Lighthouse Trails: Today my neighbor who’s in an emergent church . . . told me his church started a sermon series called “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.” Hmm . ….

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Question: Are Christian Contemplation and Eastern Mysticism the Same Thing?

Recently, we received an e-mail from a reader who is trying to explain to some people in a prominent Christian organization who are practicing contemplative prayer that contemplative prayer (i.e., Christian contemplation) is no different than Eastern meditation (i.e., mysticism)….

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Remembering Ray Yungen and Richard Foster’s “School” of Contemplative Prayer

Three years ago today author and researcher Ray Yungen passed away at the age of 64. As regular Lighthouse Trails readers know, it was through Ray’s work that Lighthouse Trails began nearly 18 years ago. Interestingly, on the eve of…

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Letter to the Editor: Churchless in North America

Dear Lighthouse Trails: We are writing this letter to encourage others in their journey to find a Bible-believing church that values sound biblical doctrine and the authority of Scripture.  We became aware of a significant shift in our C&MA [Christian…

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Letter to the Editor: The New Age/New Spirituality in Christian & Missionary Alliance Forced Me to Leave

LTRP Note: The following letter to the editor was written in response to our recent post “Letter to the Editor: Yoga at Our CMA Church in Canada Broke Our Hearts.” Dear Lighthouse Trails: I too was once in a C&MA…

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Welcome to the New (Contemplative) Christianity – Just Breathe In . . . Breathe Out

The acceptance of contemplative prayer has hit an all-time high in the church. And is it any wonder? Christian media, Christian publishers, pastors, mission societies, Bible societies, authors, radio hosts, youth leaders, women’s group leaders, and Christian ministry leaders are…

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Yoga at T.D. Jakes’ Church . . . And the Rest of the Story

In an August 13th Christian Post article titled “Serita Jakes’ Endorsement of Yoga at Potter’s House Sparks Debate,” popular pastor T.D. Jakes’ wife is reportedly promoting Yoga to congregants at Jake’s church. The CP article begins: Serita Jakes, wife of…

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Willow Creek Has A Lot More to Repent of Than Sexual Abuse Cover-Ups

An August 8, 2018 Christianity Today article titled Willow Creek Elders and Pastor Heather Larson Resign over Bill Hybels chronicles events that led to Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels’ resignation from the megachurch due to numerous women having come forth…

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Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? (Important Reasons Why it Shouldn’t)

By Lighthouse Trails Editors Is your church involved in a Spiritual Formation program? If so, you might want to ask the question, what exactly is Spiritual Formation? It’s a fair question, and one that, if not asked, could end up…

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