{"id":2039,"date":"2008-02-11T23:57:56","date_gmt":"2008-02-12T03:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/?p=2039"},"modified":"2026-07-19T14:22:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T21:22:02","slug":"special-commentary-christianity-today-blames-bloggers-for-resistance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/special-commentary-christianity-today-blames-bloggers-for-resistance\/","title":{"rendered":"SPECIAL COMMENTARY: Christianity Today Blames “Bloggers” for Resistance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Popular Christian magazine conveys inaccurate message–it’s more than just “bloggers” who are concerned about contemplative\/emerging spirituality in the colleges and universities.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Christianity Today<\/em> headline for the February 11th online edition reads “Braking for Bloggers.”<\/span><\/strong><\/a> The article is about Cedarville University cancelling<\/span><\/strong> emerging church activist Shane Claiborne, who was supposed to speak at Cedarville yesterday. The cancellation took place one week after Lighthouse Trails released an article titled “Cedarville University Bringing Emerging Church Activist to Campus<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.” That article, and others written by other ministries, resulted in numerous people contacting Cedarville with concerns over the Claiborne event.<\/p>\n

If one was to read the CT article, “Braking for Bloggers,” it would be easy to get the impression that resistance against emerging and contemplative spirituality is limited to a few “vigilante” bloggers. The article starts out by identifying resisters as “a small but vocal number of bloggers.” A few paragraphs later, Carl Ruby, Cedarville VP for student life, is quoted as saying:<\/p>\n

“Nearly all of the opposition to Claiborne’s visit came from off campus,” he said. “The reaction from both faculty and students has been along the lines of, ‘We are a university … We need to be having these kinds of conversations on campus if we are going to adequately equip the next generation of Christian leaders.'”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The CT article stated that one Cedarville student believed his peers “were upset … because the administration was bowing to the will of various bloggers, thus sheltering them.” And finally, at the end of the article, Shane Claiborne was quoted as calling these resisters “vigilante voices” who Cedarville was too insecure to stand up to.<\/p>\n

However, CT’s estimation that the cancellation took place because of a few vigilante bloggers is inaccurate at best, and deceptive at worst. But they are not alone in this type of reporting. For several years now major leaders and organizations have been saying the same thing about those who are challenging their teachings and drift toward the paradigm shift of emerging\/contemplative. For example, in November of 2006, Lighthouse Trails posted an article titled, Mr. Warren … excuses, excuses.<\/span><\/strong><\/a> Rick Warren had been videotaped while in Syria and later said it was “bloggers” who had criticized him for comments he made minimizing Christian and Jewish persecution in that country. In our report, we stated:<\/p>\n

It is worthwhile to note that those whom Rick Warren refers to as “bloggers” include many reputable and long standing ministries and organizations, some of which are news agencies, radio ministries, discernment ministries, and publishing companies. The implication in using the term “bloggers” is that there is no credibility or stability, thus they should be ignored. With the exception of Lighthouse Trails (just under 5 years old), these other ministries have been around a very long time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And this is the point we want to make in today’s rebuttal: In their use of the term “bloggers,” CT is more than implying that those who are challenging emerging\/contemplative spirituality (promoted by Claiborne and many others) are not qualified to say anything at all.<\/p>\n

It is true that Lighthouse Trails has a blog. But so does Rick Warren.1<\/span><\/strong><\/a> But he is never referred to as a “blogger,” just Dr. Warren, Pastor Warren, America’s pastor, and so forth. Christianity Today<\/em> has a blog as well,2<\/span><\/strong> but they are not referred to as bloggers but rather editors, vice presidents, CEOs, and such. 3<\/span><\/strong><\/a> Thus, this article “Braking for Bloggers” is inaccurate. Lighthouse Trails is a publishing house, 4<\/span><\/strong><\/a> with editors, authors, and researchers. One “vigilante” mentioned in the CT article does have a blog, but has been a radio program producer and host for many years. But that<\/em> is never mentioned.<\/p>\n

The CT article doesn’t line up somehow. In one statement, it quotes Dr. Ruby as saying that most of the opposition about Claiborne came from outside the university, and clearly the message in the CT article is that the only ones causing dissention are “bloggers.” Yet, the article contradicts itself. Listen:<\/p>\n

The Claiborne lecture was only one episode in the ongoing story of Cedarville’s efforts to pinpoint its doctrinal commitments in the face of what some perceive to be the school’s move away from orthodoxy. Divisions came to a head when two professors were fired last year over their disagreements with two other professors who were sympathetic to the Emergent movement. 5<\/span><\/strong><\/a> Author Donald Miller’s visit to Cedarville in the spring of 2006 also provoked complaints.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So we are just wondering, were those two professors bloggers also? Hmmmm. Maybe not; just maybe there is a growing number of believers who are finding out what the real agenda is to Purpose Driven, emergent, contemplative, and they are saying “No More!” in their Bible-based organizations. The simple fact is this: While the majority of proclaiming Christians seem to be drawn to Purpose Driven and spiritual formation (i.e., contemplative), there is indeed a growing number of believers who see these teachings as contrary to the Word of God. They are not just a few dissident radicals, but those who know that the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, which declares He is the only way of salvation, is precious and worthy to be defended.<\/p>\n

To those professors and students at Cedarville and other Christian colleges and universities who have spoken up, even at the risk of being fired or ridiculed, we thank you and want you to know there are more than just a few bloggers out here who see what you do. And to those professors and students who do not see the harm in supporting and promoting the emerging, contemplative leaders, we ask you to look at more than just deeds being performed in the name of social justice and remember the creeds<\/em> that our forbearers died for in defending the Gospel of our Lord and Savior. If God saw fit to preserve the Bible throughout the many centuries when so many tried to snuff it out, surely we, as His body, can see fit to believe it. And by His grace, we will have the strength and wisdom to do so.<\/p>\n

For related news:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Christianity Today <\/em>Proclaims Ancient Future Church At Hand”<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Mt Vernon Nazarene University Invites Shane Claiborne<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Contemplative Colleges Database<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

EMERGENT MANIFESTO: Emerging Church Comes Out of the Closet<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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