Liberty University

Letter to the Editor: Liberty University Taking Students on “Spiritual Journey” With Contemplative/Emergent Leader Richard Foster

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LTRJ Note: For 18 years, Lighthouse Trails has been warning about the contemplative prayer movement and its role in creating an “emergent” “progressive” church. Part of our investigative research scope has included Christian universities and seminaries, a majority of which now promote contemplative spirituality. Liberty University, one of the largest Christian universities in the U.S., … [Read more…]

The Significance of Understanding Quantum Spirituality and Leonard Sweet’s “More Magnificent Way” of Seeing Christ

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Over the past few decades, a number of New Age sympathizers have had a significant influence in the evangelical church. One of the chief is Methodist author, speaker, and teacher Leonard Sweet. Sweet openly calls the Father of the New Age Movement—the late Jesuit priest Teilhard de Chardin—“twentieth-century Christianity’s major voice.” Sweet also teaches the foundational New Age doctrine that God is “in” everyone and everything—that God is embedded in all creation. Brought forward and popularized by Rick Warren, Leonard Sweet and his New Age sympathies have not been adequately addressed by today’s pastors and church leaders. A look on Sweet’s website shows he has partnered with numerous popular figures such as Brian McLaren, Mark Batterson (Circle Maker), Erwin McManus, Mark Driscoll, Frank Viola, and Karen Swallow Prior (professor at Liberty University). The following booklet by Warren Smith reveals the “New Age Christianity” that Leonard Sweet has helped to bring into the church.

Chick-fil-A Listed as Sponsor of ‘Faith-Based’ Homosexual Film and Arts Festival

By Heather Clark Christian News Network An online petition has been launched over revelations that the popular evangelical-owned fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A has been listed as a sponsor of a “faith-based” homosexual film and arts festival. Level Ground began as a student-organized event in 2013, and was touted as the “world’s first faith-based LGBT film festival.” … [Read more…]

Liberty University Welcomes Socialist Bernie Sanders to Address Student Body: ‘We Have Same Goals’

LTRP Note: Liberty University is listed among the colleges in the Lighthouse Trails contemplative colleges list. It is said to be the largest Christian college in the world. As Lighthouse Trails has contended for many years, when a school starts going down the contemplative path, views on morality, politics, and spiritual matters begin to change, … [Read more…]

2014 LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS YEAR IN REVIEW—Part 3: Top 10 Articles on Christian Colleges

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1. Faith Baptist Bible College & Seminary “Crossed Off” “Good” College List – Hopefully Temporarily 2. “Christian Palestinianism” & Emergents Lynn Hybels and Jim Wallis Come to Multnomah University For “Justice” Conference 3.Liberty University Offering Yoga Classes . . . AGAIN! 4. Liberty University Hires Open Homosexual Advocate to Choreograph ‘Mary Poppins’ Production 5. Baylor … [Read more…]

That Time of Year Again~Looking for a Christian College This Fall For Your Child? Better Think Carefully About Which One to Attend

As Lighthouse Trails has reported over the last several years, a growing number of evangelical/Protestant colleges, seminaries, and universities are integrating contemplative spirituality and emerging ideologies into their schools. If you, or someone you know, are currently looking for a Christian school, we beseech you to check potential schools very carefully. Ask to see textbook lists, search their … [Read more…]

Glenn Beck Invokes Joseph Smith, Mormon Beliefs During Liberty University Speech

By Heather Clark Christian News Network LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty University and its president, Jerry Falwell Jr., recently invited Glenn Beck to take center stage to address thousands of students during its annual convocation ceremony, whose speech included references to Joseph Smith and Mormon theology. The outspoken conservative talk show host, and founder of the news outlet … [Read more…]

The Church in Crisis! – Liberty University Hires Open Homosexual Advocate to Choreograph ‘Mary Poppins’ Production

By Heather Clark Christian News Network LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty University, which is considered the world’s largest Christian university and whose motto is ‘training champions for Christ,’ has hired an open homosexual advocate to choreograph its upcoming Broadway-style presentation of Mary Poppins. The university recently published an article regarding the production, which it celebrates as … [Read more…]

Letter to the Editor: Liberty University Offering Yoga Classes . . . AGAIN!

To Lighthouse Trails: Just a quick thank you for all the work you do!  Your site has given me a wealth of information the past few years!!  It is my “go to” site for checking authors speakers and other matters. Heads up:  Liberty is offering yoga under the class name FLOW [see screen shot below]. … [Read more…]

Larry Crabb to Join Richard Foster’s Renovare Contemplative Conference – Christian Leaders Continue to Promote Crabb

I’ve practiced centering prayer. I’ve contemplatively prayed. I’ve prayed liturgically . . . I’ve benefited from each, and I still do. In ways you’ll see, elements of each style are still with me.—Larry Crabb in The Papa Prayer, p.9 I’m glad that as a conservative evangelical who still believes in biblical inerrancy and penal substitution, … [Read more…]

2012 YEAR IN REVIEW – Part 6 – CHRISTIAN COLLEGE/SEMINARIES COVERAGE IN 2012

(NON) Multnomah University Teaches Lectio Divina in Chapel Throughout 2012 (SOUTHERN BAPTIST) Inquiring About California Baptist University – Answer Not Good (BAPTIST) Campbell University in North Carolina Added to Contemplative College List (PRESBYTERIAN) What About Montreat College in North Carolina? (AMERICAN BAPTIST) Eastern University to Add Labyrinth With Grant From Calvin Institute (REFORMED) Reformed Theological … [Read more…]

Driscoll ‘sex talk’ pastor unwelcome at Falwell’s university?

By Art Moore  WorldNetDaily Accustomed to public controversy as an outspoken defender of traditional marriage in the secular Pacific Northwest, mega-church pastor Mark Driscoll apparently is meeting some resistance in the Bible Belt this month as he prepares to bring his orthodox but edgy and unconventional approach to faith and practice to the late-Rev. Jerry … [Read more…]

Mark Driscoll and Liberty University Are Good Match – Both Promote Contemplative Spirituality

The Associated Baptist Press article, Mark Driscoll’s visit to Liberty University making waves, caught our attention. Driscoll will be speaking at Liberty University as part of a promotional tour for his new book, Real Marriage. The article states: The conservative Christian school in Lynchburg, Va., is next up on a tour by the founding pastor … [Read more…]

Reader finds “An Afternoon with a Spiritual Formation Professor at a North American Bible School” to be “Junk”

After posting an excerpt of the Lighthouse Trails novel Castles in the Sand last week, which we titled “An Afternoon with a Spiritual Formation Professor at a North American Bible School,” we received the following e-mail from a pastor. You give some good information in your letters that is useful. Why the garbage that no one … [Read more…]

2011 YEAR IN REVIEW – Part 4 – CHRISTIAN COLLEGE/SEMINARY LT COVERAGE IN 2011

Labyrinths – Popping Up at Lots of Seminaries and Christian Colleges We believe that labyrinths will be showing up in more and more Protestant/evangelical schools and churches as contemplative spirituality sinks its teeth into modern day Christianity, holding on for the long haul. An Epidemic of Apostasy – Christian Seminaries Must Incorporate “Spiritual Formation” to … [Read more…]

Rick Warren Addresses Students at Liberty University

Tim Saunders Reporter/Lynchburg Bureau Chief LYNCHBURG, Va.— A best-selling author and founder of one of America’s largest churches visited one local hometown Monday. Rick Warren was in Lynchburg, speaking to students at Liberty University. During convocation Monday morning, Warren encouraged students to let God use their lives for a greater purpose. Click here to read … [Read more…]

Letter from the Editor: Friend’s Husband Angry at Lighthouse Trails – Says LT Lies About Liberty University’s Contemplative Propensities

Today, we received the following e-mail from a Lighthouse Trails reader. We have removed any identifying information so as to maintain the privacy of all parties. Please see our comments below the e-mail. To Lighthouse Trails: As a result of a casual conversation with a friend, I was telling her about your listing of contemplative colleges.  … [Read more…]

CrossTalk Calls Mark Driscoll and Liberty University To Task for Compromising the Faith

These two commentaries in from Ingrid Schlueter of CrossTalk: Mark Driscoll Church Plant Works with Hamas Front Group Click here to listen to the prayer at Harambee Church in Renton, Washington back in March. The sound of the Islamic call to prayer echoed through this Mark Driscoll, Acts 29 Network church at an Interfaith event … [Read more…]

Jonathan Falwell Becomes Vice-Chancellor at Liberty University

According to a press release from Liberty University (the largest evangelical university in the world), Jonathan Falwell has been named Vice-Chancellor for spiritual affairs at Liberty. His brother Jerry Falwell, Jr. is the current Chancellor at the school. Jonathan Falwell will be providing counsel and recommendations “on matters related to the doctrinal integrity of the … [Read more…]

Rick Warren and Other Contemplative Proponents at Thomas Road Baptist Innovate Church Conference

  Contemplative proponents Rick Warren and Lance Witt will be speaking at Thomas Road Baptist Church (home of the late Jerry Falwell) at the Innovate Church conference, starting Monday, August 11th going through Wednesday, the 13th. Rick Warren, who has been promoting contemplative for over a decade and whose website recommends some of the most … [Read more…]

Christian Colleges in Crisis

  In November 2004, Lighthouse Trails Research issued its first alert to Christian colleges that are promoting contemplative spirituality. The four colleges listed in that alert were San Fransisco Theological Seminary, Biola University, Bethel University, and Lincoln Christian College and Seminary. Since then, several other alerts have been issued. What has become all too painfully … [Read more…]