While many Christians are beginning to see the unbiblical nature of the teachings of certain emerging church leaders, countless churches and church leaders are inadvertently following the emerging church through their participation of Purpose Driven Life. Rick Warren has and continues to show support for even the most avid emergent leaders. In this week’s edition … [Read more…]
Thomas Keating, a Catholic monk, has been a significant influence in bringing contemplative spirituality to mainstream Christianity. It’s no secret that he is a promoter of Eastern mysticism, yet his books are found in countless Christian bookstores. Lifeway Stores says that Keating falls within the parameters of their policy on which books to sell. They … [Read more…]
Keating, Sweet, Blanchard and Nouwen “consistent with basic tenets of the Christian faith?” The infiltration of New Age books in online Christian bookstores is a growing concern for many discerning Christians. American Family Association and LifeWay Stores have two of the more popular online stores for Christians, and both stores contain some of the most … [Read more…]
On Sunday night, Dan Kimball, author of The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations, wrote to Lighthouse Trails regarding an article that Kimball wrote on labyrinths in 2001. Kimball stated to us that his article is no longer posted on his website, and he wondered why we still had a link to it. The … [Read more…]
In our recent article, Jesus Camp, Film Reveals the Mystical and the Militant, Not Biblical Christianity, it was clear to see that children have become victims to contemplative spirituality and the New Age. As we mentioned in the article, kids are being led into dangerous meditative trances. Another example of this is an upcoming conference … [Read more…]
“In the early Middle Ages, there lived a group of hermits in the wilderness areas of the Middle East. They were known to history as the desert fathers. “They dwelt in small isolated communities for the purpose of devoting their lives completely to God without distraction. The contemplative movement traces its roots back to these … [Read more…]
Letter written by Julian Avery of Hendersonville, Tennessee: I am writing in reference to an article in the Star News dated Sept. 6th, 2006, titled “Church planter focuses new congregation on P.E.A.C.E. vision.” It is unfortunate that Michael O’Neals P.E.A.C.E. plan does not state the first priority of a church is to lead people to … [Read more…]
Jesus Camp, a new film about Christian camps for kids (released this month September 2006), is already stirring up a lot of controversy. Concerns and criticisms are coming from both secular and evangelical sides. New Age website Spirituality and Practice), while saying the film is important because of what it reveals, calls the movie “scary” … [Read more…]
Jesus Camp, a new film about Christian camps for kids (released this month September 2006), is already stirring up a lot of controversy. Concerns and criticisms are coming from both secular and evangelical sides. New Age website Spirituality and Practice), while saying the film is important because of what it reveals, calls the movie “scary” … [Read more…]
According to her website, Liz Babbs is an “award-winning author, performer, broadcaster and spiritual mentor [who] travels extensively raising awareness of issues of health and spirituality.” Her book, Into God’s Presence, can be found in Christian bookstores and through various Christian ministries. Organizations like American Family Association (AFA), Christianbook.com, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, and Lifeway … [Read more…]
“The Barbarian Way was, in some sense, trying to create a volatile fuel to get people to step out and act. It’s pretty hard to get a whole group of people moving together as individuals who are stepping into a more mystical, faith-oriented, dynamic kind of experience with Christ. So, I think Barbarian Way was … [Read more…]
You may not have one at your church yet, but one thing is for sure – labyrinths are growing in popularity. A google search shows 116,000 web pages on labyrinths in the spring of 2004. A year later that number climbed to over 300,000. Today, that number is over 1,300,000. While this is certainly not … [Read more…]
by Larry DeBruyn Are “breath prayers” a method by which we can become best friends with God? To direct people on a spiritual journey for 40 days, Rick Warren wrote The Purpose Driven Life. The bestselling book has impacted millions of persons. Some of Pastor Warren’s purpose involves his recommendations for “Becoming Best Friends with … [Read more…]
Is Dallas Willard a proponent of contemplative spirituality? It seems to be a question that many ask. The UCLA professor and long time working companion of Richard Foster really doesn’t deny it, but yet the question still keeps getting asked. But it is a question that needn’t be asked, for Willard has made it clear … [Read more…]
Today, Get Religion posted an article titled “Purpose-Driven Response.” The writer stated that Rick Warren has written a response to the Wall Street Journal article, which recently came out talking about what happens to those who resist Purpose Driven. In today’s Get Religion article, Warren stated that the WSJ article was filled with errors and … [Read more…]
Brennan Manning, a popular writer and speaker, is considered by many to be a kind of expert on the topic of God’s grace. Philip Yancey, editor for Christianity Today magazine, says “Brennan Manning [is] my spiritual director in the school of grace.” On the back cover of Manning’s book, Ragamuffin Gospel, Max Lucado states: “Brennan … [Read more…]
S.H.A.P.E., the new book written by Erik Rees (with a foreword by Rick Warren) and published by Zondervan as a “Purpose Driven Resource,” is now released. In Rick Warren’s e-newsletter this week, he highlights the book in an article titled Why Must I Understand My S.H.A.P.E.? The book is sold on Rick Warren’s website with … [Read more…]
This is a follow up of our September 17th report, David Jeremiah Proposes “Major Paradigm Shift” For His Church. To hear this sermon where David Jeremiah discusses Erwin McManus’ book, The Barbarian Way, click here. Go to the one hour and nine minute mark to hear this section.
The following is an excerpt from Trapped in Hitler’s Hell. Lighthouse Trails Publishing released this true story of Holocaust survivor and Jewish believer, Anita Dittman, earlier this year. It’s a story every Christian should read. We must not forget what happened not too many years ago. People are so easily deceived. Many believed Hitler was … [Read more…]
by Queen of Peace A number of articles are beginning to appear on the Internet suggesting that the current Islamic-Pope Benedict controversy may soon be resolved by a coming peace plan that will be initiated by the Roman Catholic Mary – the Queen of Peace. This plan would be mutually agreeable to Rome and Islam. … [Read more…]
by Understand the Times with Roger Oakland The Roman Catholic Church’s belief that the “presence” of Jesus Christ becomes manifest by the mystical process of transubstantiation during Mass has been foundational to their faith for centuries. According to the Roman Catholic Church, a Roman Catholic priest supposedly has the authority and the power to conjure … [Read more…]
Wooddale Church (Pastor Leith Anderson) of Minneapolis, MN is one of America’s largest evangelical churches with over 12,000 people attending. We post this information because so many Christians and churches around the world look up to these mega churches for leadership and direction. Starting October 1st, Wooddale Church will have a Sunday evening meeting called … [Read more…]
The Shadow Mountain pastor draws from Erwin McManus’ book, The Barbarian Way If you attended Shadow Mountain Community Church this weekend, then according to an email we received, you would have heard the second part of Pastor David Jeremiah’s series called Journey with Jesus. But the title of this series is a bit misleading – … [Read more…]
The Shadow Mountain pastor draws from Erwin McManus’ book, The Barbarian Way If you attended Shadow Mountain Community Church this weekend, then according to an email we received, you would have heard the second part of Pastor David Jeremiah’s series called Journey with Jesus. But the title of this series is a bit misleading – … [Read more…]
Zondervan Publishing, new owners of the National Pastors Convention (once owned by Youth Specialties), is now presenting National Pastors Retreats. Ruth Haley Barton, who has partnered with Zondervan, is the featured speaker at these upcoming retreats. The theme of the retreats is “Experiencing a Deeper Connection with God” will surely introduce pastors to contemplative spirituality. … [Read more…]
Mark Driscoll, emerging church leader and owner of Acts 29 Network, and soon to be speaker at John Piper’s Desiring God conference, has strong connections to both contemplative spirituality and the emerging church. Acts 29 has partnered with Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Western Seminary doesn’t hide the fact that it is a promoter of … [Read more…]
by Paul Proctor Want a shock? Go to your favorite Christian website, more specifically, to the page where they sell books. Type the names of known heretics and false teachers into the site’s search engine; names of authors from the church growth movement, emerging church movement, Word Faith movement and even the New Age and … [Read more…]
Moody Bible Institute has been around for a very long time and has enjoyed a respected reputation in the Christian community at large. Their mission statement admirably says they exist “to equip and motivate people to advance the cause of Christ through ministries that educate, edify and evangelize.” However, as with so many Christian colleges … [Read more…]
A four part article on the TrueU (Focus on the Family) website written by J. P. Moreland (professor at Talbot School of Theology), espouses the spiritual disciplines (i.e., contemplative spirituality). Moreland says, a “Christian spiritual discipline is a repeated bodily practice” and leaves one to view the Christian life as regimented rituals that just might … [Read more…]
Last year, Crystal Cathedral announced that the Institute for Successful Church Leadership was over. The Institute had been in existence for 35 years and was influential in many Christian leaders’ ministries. In speaking of Rick Warren, Schuller stated: And there’s Rick Warren, a pastor who today is phenomenal. He came to our institute time after … [Read more…]
