To Lighthouse Trails: Thanks for sending the link to your notice about Warren Smith’s new book on the Jesus Calling devotional. The first time I saw it was when a Christian woman who had been helping my mother once a week brought it in to read to her. The woman was so enamored by it … [Read more…]
By Roger Oakland As the world continues to plunge into further darkness and despair, “new” spirituality leaders say it is the church’s fault, particularly that of rigid Christians who won’t bend their beliefs or convictions. While Christians certainly are not without sin, true believers are not causing the world to fall apart. It is happening for one … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: The following news article shows how Bible prophecy of the days before Christ’s return is again being fulfilled. In the Catechism of the Catholic church, homosexuality is a “mortal sin” (a sin, they say, that will condemn you and send you to hell). Now the Catholic church is being led by a man who implies … [Read more…]
This past weekend, Lighthouse Trails received the following letter from one of our readers: To Lighthouse Trails: Please listen to the sermon dated August 21st [at Grace to You]. I was shocked when John MacArthur promoted Dallas Willard. Has anyone else contacted you concerning this endorsement? After receiving this letter, we found the August 21st 2013 Grace to … [Read more…]
by Bob DeWaay Missionary or Missional? For hundreds, if not thousands, of years Christians have used the term “missionary” to describe one who goes out to preach the gospel to an unsaved world headed toward judgment—repentance for the forgiveness of sin found in the death and resurrection of Christ. The mission of the missionary was … [Read more…]
Lighthouse Trails has watched in dismay over the past few years as Charles Stanley’s In Touch magazine has made the decision to promote contemplative/emergent names. When our editors picked up a copy of the August 2013 issue and saw a feature article written by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, we decided to call In Touch Ministries to find out who … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: This letter comes as a response to our recent article titled “Cincinnati Christian University (and Seminary) Added to Contemplative Colleges List.” Ozark Christian College is of the same denominational affiliation as Cincinnati Christian University. Dear Lighthouse Trails: I appreciate your website and your willingness to enlighten people of the errors of darkness that … [Read more…]
by Roger Oakland The emerging church talks a lot about the kingdom of God on earth, but in language and philosophy much different from the Bible. One emergent writer hopes the emerging church will handle the problems of this world in a manner that is “smarter” and “more effective” than those who have gone before. … [Read more…]
June 2013 Update: In 2008, Lighthouse Trails wrote an article about the contemplative propensities of the FGBC (Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches). We have posted that article below this update. Please note that many of the FGBC links on the 2008 article have been removed by FGBC and CE National. This update will discuss two items. … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: We post the following news story with sadness. Yet, we have anticipated this coming for a while now as we began to see Alan Chambers, the founder of Exodus International and a former homosexual-turned-Christian, lean toward minimizing the serious and multi-faceted ramifications of homosexuality. We remember, back in the early days of Lighthouse Trails, … [Read more…]
By Roger Oakland You may not have heard the term before, but contextual theology is a prominent message from the emerging church. In his book, Models of Contextual Theology(1992), Stephen B. Bevans defines contextual theology as: …a way of doing theology in which one takes into account: the spirit and message of the gospel; the … [Read more…]
The contemplative prayer movement is rushing into the evangelical/Protestant church, gaining more momentum with each passing day. Lighthouse Trails has established the fact that this is becoming a significant movement. Just since the beginning of 2013, we have shown numerous examples of Christian organizations and denominations that are now accepting contemplative spirituality. Some of those we have documented this year so … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: In view of Brian McLaren’s recent plea for money in order to re-organize the emerging church and his comment about “laggards,” this article by Ray Yungen is a must read. by Ray Yungen One of the main tenets of New Age thought is peace, goodwill, and the unity of all humanity. Remember, the … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: Below is a follow-up article to journalist Jim Fletcher’s previous article “Calvary Chapel Breached,” regarding the situation with North Coast Calvary Chapel’s recent invitation of a Palestinian activist. Just prior to the event, Calvary Chapel founder Chuck Smith made a public statement against the North Coast event. Also read our article, “Further Implications of Calvary Chapel North … [Read more…]
#1: Dear Lighthouse Trails: I graduated from an Independent Christian College over 10 years ago and since that time, I have noticed the Independent Christian denomination is slipping into the Spiritual Formation category at its main Seminaries and at this years NACC they are having Ann Voskamp as a speaker. I am surprised such a … [Read more…]
The New Missiology – Doing Missions Without the Gospel written by Roger Oakland is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklet. The booklet is 14 pages long and sells for $1.95 for single copies. Quantity discounts are as much as 50% off retail. Below is the content of the booklet. To order copies of The New Missiology … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: While some try to insist that the “emerging church” is dead, we say it is alive. That can be proven by all the emergent books pouring off the presses of evangelical publishing houses. While the book below came out seven years ago, its influence continues on, forming (and misinforming) the next generation of … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: Show us a Christian college that is becoming laxed in its views toward homosexuality, and we’ll show you a college that has been promoting contemplative spirituality for some time. They go hand in hand. Liberty University is just such a place. By Heather Clark Christian News Network Lynchburg, Virginia – Liberty University is coming … [Read more…]
To Lighthouse Trails: Eli Lilly, a major pharmaceutical company, in conjunction with Christian Theological Seminary (a liberal seminary in Indianapolis, IN) is funding pastoral sabbaticals. It appears it is just a part of a national program. Seems highly suspect to me. I wouldn’t be looking twice except that I know a local pastor applying for … [Read more…]
QUESTION: IS THE NAZARENE CHURCH STILL PROMOTING THE EMERGING CHURCH AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY? SIDE ONE: “Our General Leaders have taken a very clear stand concerning the emergent church.” – Nazarene District Superintendent SIDE TWO: “I grew up a Roman Catholic and later became an Anglican priest (it was the closest I could get to being … [Read more…]
Kay Arthur Will be Sharing the Platform Again With Contemplative/Emergents at the Break Forth in Canada in 2013. Why does it matter? In 2007, Bible teacher Kay Arthur shared the platform at the Canadian Break Forth conference with mystic Tony Campolo and other emergents. Lighthouse Trails spoke with Ms. Arthur’s assistant that year. We were told that … [Read more…]
In a article titled “How Evangelicals Became Over-Committed to the Bible and What Can Be Done About It,” Biola University professor J.P. Moreland says that evangelical Christians are too committed to the Bible. He states: “In the actual practices of the Evangelical community in North America, there is an over-commitment to Scripture in a way that is false, … [Read more…]
The reason Christian leaders aren’t taking the New Age more seriously is because figures, like [Rick] Warren, are not ringing out a warning and are themselves being influenced and deceived by the New Age. – Warren B. Smith Ten years after the first edition of Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life was released, Zondervan has … [Read more…]
By Roger Oakland In an article titled “Christ-Followers in India Flourishing Outside the Church,” the following statement is made regarding the research of Herbert Hoefer, author of Churchless Christianity: In striking research undertaken in the mid-eighties and published in 1991, Herbert E. Hoefer found that the people of Madras City are far closer to historic Christianity … [Read more…]
To Lighthouse Trails: I have browsed your web-page. Thank-you for the reminder to take the bible seriously I am however saddened at the approach you seem to take – dividing people into groups, particularly “sound/orthodox thinker” and “Heretics” (I paraphrase – but it is the impression given). Surely the reality is that we are all … [Read more…]
By Roger Oakland (author of Faith Undone) Over 400,000 churches have now participated in Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven program. Quite obviously, millions of Christians have bought into the idea that the details of Christ’s return are none of our business, and we must help usher in a new reformation to eradicate the global problems facing … [Read more…]
After being alerted by a concerned parent who’s child attends Campbell University in North Carolina, and after doing our own research, Lighthouse Trails has added Campbell University to its Contemplative College list, a list that includes the names of Christian colleges, seminaries, and universities, which promote spiritual formation (i.e., contemplative spirituality). In virtually every case where a college … [Read more…]
To Lighthouse Trails: In your list of schools that either do or don’t promote Contemplative practices or spirituality, I saw nothing about our [child’s] school, Montreat College, where ___ is studying in their Worship Arts program. It has existed there in North Carolina for many years. Any insight, opinion, or guidance you could provide regarding this school … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: Regarding the article below about Biola University, we find it little wonder that Biola University now has a homosexual student group that has formed on campus. Biola has been promoting contemplative spirituality for several years, and as we have often indicated, when people being embracing contemplative/emerging spirituality (as Biola has done), spiritual (and morality) … [Read more…]
In answer to an e-mail we received this past week asking if Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS is a contemplative school, we responded: As to your concern whether contemplative is being taught at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS, the sad truth is the seminary is promoting contemplative spirituality. Here are a few links from … [Read more…]