Dear Lighthouse Trails readers:
We cannot assume that we are “safe and sound” in our various, differing evangelical fellowships, regardless of the name under which we gather. One of the largest evangelical fellowships in Canada, EFC, (Evangelical Fellowship of Canada), under which 45 denominations identify together as “evangelical,” representing nearly two million Christians, has openly embraced contemplative prayer, quoting the likes of Richard Foster and promoting Spiritual Formation, Lectio Divina, labyrinth prayer walking, the enneagram, and more.
Taking Issue With Faith Today‘s January – February 2024 Issue
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s Flagship Magazine Faith Today Promotes “Spiritual Formation” and Guru Richard Foster.
Regarding the article – “Deeper in the Life of Faith,” p. 45-47.
Faith Today magazine states in their article:
In his classic guidebook for spiritual growth, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster describes the practice of spiritual direction as “A beautiful expression of divine guidance through the help of our brothers and sisters.”
Much concern has been expressed, over the past few decades, regarding the ideological practice of Spiritual Formation propelled and propagated by Richard Foster, as well as concerns about Richard Foster himself. I needn’t go into detail here, as research information abounds. [LT: See here and here.]
My concern, as a member of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, is even seeing Richard Foster’s name mentioned in a favorable quote, not to mention the equally concerning subject of Spiritual Formation.*
Considering the expansive coverage and influence the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has within the evangelical movement in Canada, this fact is highly disconcerting, considering the possible trajectory of evangelicalism in the years ahead.
One of the men featured in the Faith Today article is Bob Stiles, who studied at Tyndale University. Tyndale, a flagship religious educational center for EFC, surprisingly not only teaches Spiritual Formation for certified licensing but includes courses on the Enneagram, another hot-button topic in Christian circles today, of which abundant information is available on its extremely egregious content and root source. In the Faith Today article (p. 46), Referring to Stiles, the article states:
[I]t can be helpful to explore untried spiritual disciplines. “Incarnational things . . . like walking the labyrinth, [Stiles states]. But he also commends contemplative things, “like focusing on a holy word – grace, peace, love, shalom – anything that takes [our minds] to love of the Trinity and just being silent. When the inevitable distractions come into our minds just focusing on our breathing – breathe in love and breathe out peace.”
Another featured figure in the article is Robert Osborne who commends practicing the “Daily Examen” created by Jesuit Ignatius of Loyola,** another highly controversial figure who was a primary forefather contributor to the modern “contemplative prayer” movement.
The article also features, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Ann Beals of the Sozo Centre for Soul Care. On the website, it states:
The Sozo Centre focuses on four dimensions of spiritual formation and soul care: raising awareness for churches and pastors, creating community, equipping and experiencing, and engaging in soul care.
Trigger Words – ‘Spiritual Formation‘ – ‘Sacred Spaces‘ -‘ Integrated Life-Rhythms‘
Is this the possible trajectory of evangelicalism in the years ahead? By the looks of this Faith Today article, the answer is yes!
From Daryl
LTRP Note: The Faith Today article to which Daryl is quoting from also promotes and quotes Ruth Haley Barton, one of the contemplative prayer movement’s most influential leaders. The article also refers to “Spiritual Directors” frequently. Many people do not realize that that term is primarily used within the contemplative camp, and these directors are said to help those practicing contemplative prayer to “discern” the meaning of their mystical contemplative experiences.
We did a search on Faith Today’s website (in the digital library) to gauge just how integrated contemplative spirituality was in this denominational magazine. We found hundreds of instances in dozens of issues dating back to at least 2013 favorably referencing figures such as Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Richard Rohr, and Richard Foster and terms such as Spiritual Formation, Lectio Divina, labyrinths, the Desert Fathers, Spiritual Disciplines, and more.
If you find you do not understand many of the terms being used in today’s church and culture, an excellent resource packed with the terms of the “New” spirituality (contemplative, New Age, NAR, emergent, etc) is LT’s book, A New Narrative for a New World.
*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.
**The founder of the Jesuits, Ignatius Loyola, created “spiritual exercises” that incorporated mysticism, including lectio divina. Today, millions of people worldwide practice the “Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola.” See Roger Oakland’s report: Understanding The Jesuit Agenda and the Evangelical/Protestant Church.
Thank you so much for looking into this, and affirming the concerns expressed. This issue is huge, considering the reach (in terms of Canadian population) as to the influence this organization has with like minded ‘Pentecostal’ & ‘Charismatic’ populations in Canada. I know the AOG in the U.S. fair no better with their alignment and involvement in such as Empower 21, and other similar issues to those addressed here. I’ve labelled this Pentecostal ecumenism. Thanks again Deborah & staff, forever grateful, deeply appreciative. God bless, Daryl. I do have a blog site, researching issues in the christian church, listed below. Sorry if it’s duplicated.