The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible
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Biblical Examination of The Renovare Spiritual Formation Study
Bible by Berean
Call |
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Richard Foster Bible called the Renovare Study Bible, has
been released by Harper SF in 2005. The Renovare "Bible"
focuses on Richard Foster's six disciplines (from his book Streams of Living Waters),
one of which is the contemplative practice. Thomas Kelly is
quoted in that book as saying:
"Deep
within us all [all human beings] there is an amazing inner sanctuary
of the soul, a holy place, a Divine Center"
See Sample of the Renovare Study Bible
Edited and compiled by universalists, catholics and contemplatives, this bible will be read by thousands of evangelical Christians.
What is the With-God Life that Richard Foster refers to?
Read
this interview with Richard Foster on the With-God Life and
the Renovare Bible.
Is the term Jesus Christ being replaced with the word Life to give it a more generic, ecumenical appeal?
Walter Brueggemann endorses back cover of Alan Jones interspiritual book, Reimagining Christianity, in which Jones says the doctrine of the Cross is a vile doctrine. (Please note that emerging church leader, Brian McLaren, also endorses Jones' book.)
An Analysis
Richard Foster's 2005 Renovare Spiritual Formation Study Bible (RSFSB) is published by Harper San Francisco (a Rupert Murdoch company), and based on Amazon book ratings for popularity, this one is popular.
On the publisher's website, a list of those who endorse the book include Brennan Manning, Tony Campolo, Dan Kimball and Max Lucado (all promote contemplative spirituality).
But these aren't the things we must look at to properly review this "Bible." Rather, an examination of some of those who wrote the book as well as a look at the work itself will give the most accurate analysis.
The RSFSB focuses on Richard Foster's six disciplines (from his book Streams of Living Waters), one of which is the contemplative practice. Thomas Kelly is quoted in that book as saying:
"Deep within us all [all human beings] there is an amazing inner sanctuary of the soul, a holy place, a Divine Center."
Kelly is also quoted in the RSFSB as is trappist monk Thomas Merton, who said he wanted to be the best Buddhist he could be and that he was impregnated with Sufism.
The RSFSB is filled throughout with quotes by and references to many of the Christian mystics in history.: Theresa of Avila, Brother Lawrence, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich and so on.
The RSFSB uses the New Revised Standard Version, which is published by a division of the National Council of Churches (an ecumenical, inter-faith organization). (Thomas Nelson also publishes the NRSV.)The NRSV uses "gender-neutral language," and is approved by the Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church. Eugene Peterson (The Message) is the New Testament editor for the RSFSB. (See our research on Eugene Peterson and The Message.)
