Dear Lighthouse Trails:
Respectfully, it isn’t criticism to point out error. It is Scriptural to point out error and warn others. See Acts 16:17.
In regard to using the following Scriptures to promote contemplative prayer—Psalm 62: for God alone my soul waits in silence. Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 36:7: Be still and rest in the Lord—those are the same Scriptures that contemplative’s always use, along with Matthew 6:6. None of those Scriptures promote contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer is never mentioned or taught in Scripture.
Matthew 6:6 is a good example of how contemplatives twist Scripture. They use Matthew 6:6 to try and convince Christians that Jesus meant for us to do contemplative prayer, which involves the quieting of the mind by repeating a word or phrase over and over to enter the silence and true self. [6] But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
They leave out verse 5 (the true context of why Jesus instructed us to pray in secret was to protect us from becoming full of pride and wanting only to be seen by others while we pray). [5] “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
They leave out verses 7 and 8, where Jesus instructs us to NOT use vain repetitions and to NOT be like those who practice such things. [7] And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. [8] “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
The contemplatives completely ignore what Jesus instructed in verses 9-13 as His model for prayer. They do this because contemplatives have created their own model for prayer that is completely foreign to what Jesus taught the disciples and is recorded for all of us to learn from Him. [9] In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. [10] Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. [13] And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
Jesus doesn’t mention one time any of the techniques that contemplative prayer practitioners teach. He doesn’t instruct “quietening the mind.” Nothing about “repeating a word or phrase for 20 minutes.” Nothing about “the cloud of knowing.” Nothing about “the silence.” Nothing about “the true self.”
None of these techniques or methods are taught or mentioned in the Gospels, the book of Acts, or the Epistles (the letters to the churches).
Foundation and roots matter.
Although he is personable, likable, and a good communicator, John Mark Comer’s teaching may be more dangerous than those of the same “wayward way” because his books, videos, and website possibly reach more people, especially younger Christians and non-Christians than those who preceded him.
John Mark Comer, author of Practicing the Way (PTW) and Relentless Elimination of Hurry (REOH), is this generation’s bridge or link back to Dallas Willard (Comer calls Willard “my intellectual father” (pg 231 PTW); Richard Foster (Comer wrote in PTW that he attended Foster’s final public teaching and “it was a holy moment for me” (pg 83 PTW); Henri Nouwen (Comer wrote in REOH that Nouwen is “one of the master teachers of the way of Jesus” (pg 135 REOH) and “one of the greatest followers of Jesus of the 20th century” (pg 136 REOH); Rob Bell (Comer opens PTW with a quote he got from Rob Bell (pg x and endnote pg 235); Karl Rahner (Comer is all with Rahner’s “The Christian of the future will be a mystic or he will not exist at all” (pg 51 PTW).
John Mark Comer’s teachings in his books, videos, website, and those he quotes and references introduces a new generation to spiritually dangerous content, practices, and teachers. Comer is a major bridge or link back to the foundation and roots of the Spiritual Formation movement and Contemplative Spiritualty, and a bridge or link all the way back to the Desert Fathers, who according to Fr. Ken Kaisch, “It was a time of great experimentation with spiritual methods. Many different kinds of disciplines were tried, some of which are too harsh or extreme for people today. Many different methods of prayer were created and explored by them” (Fr. Ken Kaisch Finding God, pg 191). In his writing, Comer often refers to ancient practices, ancient wisdom, ancient tradition, ancient rhythm, ancient spirituality (as if ancient equals biblical).
There’s plenty of content available on the Internet by people who have done the research and have reported their findings concerning John Mark Comer’s teaching. Lighthouse Trails has a very good booklet on John Mark Comer’s Practicing The Way book. I highly recommend it. The booklet is titled: Practicing John Mark Comer’s WAYWARD WAY.
I highly recommend Lighthouse Trails books, booklets, and videos and especially those by Ray Yungen. Ray was researching, documenting, and warning the church, all around the world, about Spiritual Formation and Contemplative Prayer and Contemplative Practices as far back as 1984 (over 40 years ago).
Ralph L.
(photo from istockphoto.com; used with permission)
