In 2009, we witnessed a huge growth in the contemplative/mystical New Spirituality in the Christian church.
This is not just some kind of fad or an isolated phenomenon. It is building momemtum month by month, and more and more people are seeing this mystical spirituality as a valid and powerful way to experience the presence of God. Many influential and respected people within Christianity view this practice as being perfectly in accordance with orthodox Christianity. However, there is no way one can reconcile interspirituality (the “fruit” of contemplative) with the preaching of the Cross and still remain faithful to biblical fidelity.
One of the things we have noticed in 2009 is a significant blurring of the lines between outright New Age/New Spirituality and this new Christianity. An example of this blurring came to our attention just as we were about to release this newsletter. In Charles Stanley’s January 2010 In Touch magazine, it features an article titled, “I Didn’t Want to Be a Christian, But . . . how running away can take you on an unexpected journey” by Joseph Bentz. In the article, Bentz (author of Silent God) highlights the spiritual journeys of two women, one of whom is Anne Lamott (Traveling Mercies). Most In Touch readers are probably not familiar with any problems associated with her name. But Lamott, mentioned in several Lighthouse Trails articles, reveals her true spiritual sympathies when she endorsed the back cover of the made-popular-by-Oprah book, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book is about Gilbert’s search for spirituality, which took her to India and eastern meditation. Her book is a virtual primer on New Age thinking. Lamott not only endorsed the back of her book but also has spoken with her at various events. Of Gilbert’s book, Lamott states: “This is a wonderful book, brilliant and personal, rich in spiritual insight.”1 William Paul Young includes Lamott in his New Spirituality book, The Shack, as someone he is “grateful” for.
While we are not suggesting that Charles Stanley is a contemplative now because of the inclusion of this article, we believe it is a perfect example of a steady blending of contemplative and New Age to the point where eventually no one will notice the difference, and what will be known as Christianity will be mystical. This will fulfill Jesuit mystic Karl Rahner’s sentiments when he said “The Christian of tomorrow will be a mystic, one who has experienced something, or he will be nothing.”2
We at Lighthouse Trails are confident that the information that we put forth is very credible and documentable. Over the past year, we have received much opposition. One source referred to our efforts as “nonsense.” Another source publicly suggested that we were “haters.” Even though some may perceive our passion and persistence as being negative or hateful, on the contrary, it is actually our love for fellow humanity that propels our efforts. If you look carefully at what we say in our books and newsletters, you will not find contempt or vindictiveness toward individuals but rather a challenge to their positions on the issues concerned.
Paul says in II Thessalonians 2 that the spiritual platform that will be reigning during the latter times prior to the time of Christ’s return will be the mystery of iniquity, which we believe is occult mysticism. There are two reasons why we believe this. First, the word mystery comes from the word mysterion in the Greek (meaning mysticism or hidden, i.e., occult), and second, the man of sin cannot show himself to be “God” in any other way except through the occult because that is what the occult proclaims – that man is God. And it is this very underlying nature of contemplative/emerging spirituality that has presented itself as a new and better kind of Christianity that the church needs. But it actually reflects occultism and rejects the preaching of the Cross.
An example of this is when Thomas Merton, who could legitimately be called the father of modern contemplative prayer, said that if we all knew who we really were, we would fall down and worship each other because the pure glory of God is in us – in everyone of us.3
Merton’s panentheistic views acquired from his mystical experiences gave him a very solid belief in the divinity of man. With contemplative prayer as his tutor, an atoning sacrifice for mankind (the Cross) waned in insignificance to his way of thinking to the point that when a Sufi master (Islamic mystic) told him that Islam did not believe in an atonement for sin or the “theory of redemption,” Merton replied: “Personally, in matters where dogmatic [doctrine] beliefs differ, I think that controversy is of little value.” Merton explained that such doctrines take away from the “spiritual realities” (mystical experiences) and that “much more important is the sharing of the experience of divine light, . . . It is here that the area of fruitful dialogue exists between Christianity and Islam.”4
It is in that context that we believe that the man of sin is going to proclaim himself to be God and dispel the “gospel myth.” And this is why we don’t stop what we are doing. This is our motivation and the calling we believe God has placed upon us.
In 2010, it is our hope that we can continue to warn others about the spiritual deception taking place today. It is also our desire that we can encourage believers in Christ to stand strong in defending the faith and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only avenue through which salvation can come.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
Notes:
1. from Elizabeth Gilbert’s website
2. Ignacio Larrañaga, Sensing Your Hidden Presence, p. 11, citing Rahner.
3. (from A Time of Departing, quoting Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander -1989 edition, pp.157-158)
4. Yungen, A Time of Departing, pp. 59-60 citing from Rob Baker and Gray Henry, Editors, Merton and Sufism, pp. 109-110.
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12-14
