KEN SILVA ARTICLE ON CONTEMPLATIVE/CENTERING PRAYER

A fine article by Ken Silva on Apprising.org entitled THOMAS KEATING ON CONTEMPLATIVE/CENTERING PRAYER includes a revealing quote by Keating regarding contemplative/centering prayer and its connection to gnostic mysticism. About the quote Silva says,

"We may praise the Lord here for what is perhaps the most succinct and clear statement of nearly everything that I personally have been trying to help you see here at Apprising Ministries about the Gnostic neo-pagan mysticism that these fools who are claiming to be wise Spiritual Masters and Spiritual Directors call contemplative spirituality aka the New Spirituality. All along I have been saying that this so-called “Christian” mysticism is really just watered down TM for the Christian, and this is precisely what Thomas Keating himself has just told you. And now you also know why Emergent Gurus like Richard Foster and his friend Spiritual Director Brian McLaren are forced to equivocate with words in order to cloud the real issues behind their theological agendas."

Click HERE to read the article.

I will be leaving tomorrow morning to bring my daughter back this way (a ten hour trip one way) as she has decided this is God's will for her for the time being. Please pray for our travel safety and for her to find a summer job. She is looking forward to living with my older daughter and her husband when she returns. My son will accompany us on this trip, so I am looking forward to spending plenty of uninterrupted time with him. I hope you all have a great weekend!

"MAN"UAL TRANSMISSIONS, SHIFTING AND THE NEW SPIRITUALITY

It appears that the proponents of the New Age have "shifted" to a new identity called The New Spirituality or The New Christianity. They appear to be identical in their underlying philosophy and spiritual practices.

As a spare bus driver for the past 1o years, I have spent many hours with my hand on the gear-shift of a manual transmission. I was thinking several days ago that it was a good analogy to the spiritual shift that is taking place across the globe. Comparing the differences between a manual transmission and an automatic one, I observed that it is something I have to physically accomplish by the power of my own arm if I want to get the bus moving or change to a different gear. With an automatic transmission, the motor does this on its own at the appropriate time if things are working as they should. In the New Spirituality, the "evolution/awakening" to the next stage in the spiritual realm (the new heaven via an altered state of consciousness, and the new earth via global unity according to Eckhart Tolle, Oprah and their New Age friends) is taking place "MAN"ually, being powered by man rather than the Holy Spirit. (Now, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, following the 1000 year reign of Christ - the one and only Christ - but it will take place in God's own time and be accomplished by Him, not us). As a biblical Christian, we rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us to move in the direction we ought to go. The New Spirituality teaches that we are the makers of our own destiny, placing us in the position of God, and promoting the "divinity of man". Doesn't the lie that we will be like the Most High originate from the serpent, the devil, when he enticed Eve to disobey God in the Garden of Eden? Instead of Eve going to Adam and the two of them going to God to understand the deceitfulness of Satan's character and proposal, they simply took matters into their own hands, disobeyed God and as they say, the rest is history. Satan continues this very day to entice people to disobey God, appealing to our inherited sinful nature to take things into our own hands. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must be sure we are walking in step with the Holy Spirit and in obedience to the Word or we too can be deceived.

Here is a look at the "New Christianity" from a blog by the same name:

******************************************

Basic Concepts of the New Christianity

1. The New Christianity (NC) presents concrete solutions to the problems of life, and concrete methods for living it. The NC seeks to clarify and explain Christian teachings.

2. The NC encompasses religion, psychology and philosophy.

3. The ultimate goal of the NC is Union with God in this Lifetime. (aka, Heaven, from “The Kingdom of God is within you”, aka Enlightened Freedom from Suffering)

4. Union with God requires control of the thought-waves in the mind.

5. Repeat: Union with God requires control of the thought-waves in the mind.

6. Everything in the Bible, and everything that Jesus Christ taught-as well as every other TRULY highly evolved spiritual leader-concerns the issue of obtaining control of the thought-waves in the mind.

7. In our current state, we do not have control over our own thought-waves. They are controlled by external stimuli and rooted in the events of our individual pasts.

8. Our thoughts lead to words, and our words in turn lead to our actions. Our actions, when repeated, become habits. Our habits become our character, and our character ensures our destiny. Thus, our thoughts-which our not “our own”-control our destiny.
9. The thoughts we plant today are the seeds of our futures. “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”

10. Thus, we are chained and imprisoned by our thoughts: this is Hell.

11. We have the ability to become free from those bindings-to change our thoughts-and the suffering it causes: this is Heaven or Union with God.

12. The NC is concerned solely with breaking free from these bindings. Whether one “believes” in Christ or not, everyone can benefit from the methods of the NC, as the NC contains psychological truths which are universal and objective in nature.

13. Before one can break free from one’s bindings-escape from Hell-one must learn what those bindings are. Thus, the first exercise of the NC is to “Know thyself,” from which the practice of Watchfulness, or Witnessing, is derived. This directive is all over the Bible and all over spiritual texts of any sort, including Jewish, Hindu, Islamic and Buddhist teachings. The importance of this cannot be understated. (Note that the term Witness is used here in a completely different way than is commonly understood. This term will be more fully discussed in a later posting, but it is the opinion of this writer that common use of the term has arisen due to misunderstanding of its true intent.)

14. The Commandments and the Seven Deadly Sins are merely examples of common ways that human beings allow their thoughts to be controlled. They are guidelines to help one see one’s thoughts.

15. Unfortunately, in a way, the word “Sin” has itself become a sin in the sense that the word itself conjures up automatic thoughts and feelings of guilt, repulsion, judgment and/or condemnation. Some people can become stuck at these very points-thus, the teachings about sin have had the exact opposite of their original intention by imprisoning instead of showing the path to freedom.

16. The NC does not condemn nor judge “sinners”. To do so is to violate many, many passages of the Bible. Further, those who condemn and judge others reveal their own sins, for “The faults one finds in others, are the faults one has oneself.” This is a universal law. Use it when observing your own thoughts, and you will start to become free.

17. Among other things, The Devil is the personification of the Ego. It is the ego that must be subdued, controlled, destroyed. The Bible and other spiritual texts address ego issues such as self-image, pride/humility/vanity, greed/covetousness, and anger, over and over again. Many such negative thoughts originate in the ego.

18. Opinions and beliefs are dangerous when one’s self-image becomes too heavily invested in, too attached to, those opinions. This includes the beliefs in one’s religion, including Christianity. This means that one’s religion can be a source of imprisonment, the very thing religion is intended to help one escape from.

19. The NC teaches methods of obtaining control over one’s own thoughts. These methods are scattered throughout the Bible and many other texts. For some reason, these methods have been lost and are not practiced by the majority of Christians. These methods include, first and foremost, the concept and practice of Watchfulness or Witnessing, from which all other practices derive, Christian meditations, Christian mantras, prayer done correctly, and affirmations, as well as other methods.

20. Religion should not function to control one’s thoughts, but should show how one can control one’s own thoughts. Religion should not tell one what to do, but should show people how to find out for themselves what to do. Religion should not label, condemn and divide, but should deconstruct, value and unite.

(Emphasis is in the original source)
Source: http://www.newchristianity.typepad.com/

******************************************

Doug Lester, author of a website called The Essentials of New Christianity gives this definition:

This New Christianity is a spiritual renewal that will reclaim the essence of Christ’s life and teachings. For many of us the path of Jesus has been a way to awakening deep spiritual truths. As we have grown the church has failed us in its inability to move past the Old Testament war God into a relationship with the God of Love, the Source, the God of Creation, the Divine that all people of faith seek to experience.

The shift to a New Christianity does not necessarily mean that we need to abandon the organized church. It does mean that we need to move beyond rote practices and weary metaphors in order to connect powerfully with the divine energy in and around each of us. For some of us we will need to leave or at least take a sabbatical from organized Christianity in order to find our own connection with the divine through Jesus Christ.

As a Christian leader with a thorough understanding of the Christian life and a deep love for the Creator, I am developing a spiritual understanding that integrates Christ’s life and teachings with eastern energy practices that allow me to continue to deepen my connection with the divine.

(Emphasis is mine)
Source: http://www.newchristianity.ca/About/WhatisNewChristianity/tabid/56/Default.aspx

**************************************

Please note in the above quote that this new form of Christianity (with its New Age terminology) is about experiencing God. It appeals to the flesh and uses "eastern energy practices". What we have here is syncretism, which Scripture warns us against in both the Old and New Testaments. This from a man who claims in his online biography to have "a thorough understanding of the Christian life", and a long history within the Christian church. What in the world is happening to people? Deception and apostasy, as it appears to me. Be aware that this is not that far from the Christian church. I would say it is on the doorstep of some, and already in the pulpit and pews of others, especially the emerging church. (Read Marsha West's article. The link is listed below).

Here is what Jeremiah had to say to those who turned aside and followed spiritual leaders who led the people astray from the way He had set out for them:

The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests bear rule by their means;
and my people love to have it so:
and what will ye do in the end thereof?

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush:
therefore they shall fall among them that fall:
at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush:
therefore they shall fall among them that fall:
at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see,
and ask for the old paths,
where is the good way, and walk therein,
and ye shall find rest for your souls.
But they said, We will not walk therein.

Also I set watchmen over you, saying,
Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.
But they said, We will not hearken.

Jeremiah 5:31 and 6:15-17

Here is a good article explaining the differences between the Christ of the New Spirituality/Christianity and the biblical Christ: The False Imagining of the False Christ (Colossians and the coming of the cosmic-christ) by Pastor Larry DeBruyn of Franklin Road Baptist Church.

Also related to this topic, an article by Marsha West, The Shift to the New Christianity and New Spirituality Through the Emerging Church, at NewsWithViews.

I was reminded this week just how deceptive this "shift" is as I was in a situation where I overheard two women that I know (one of them a Christian) speak glowingly about Eckart Tolle's New Earth. I was in shock and didn't know what to say at the time. Please pray that I will have the courage and wisdom to speak up next time, and as I try to talk to this Christian lady and warn her of the spiritual deception she is being involved in, and a receptive heart on her part. There is no doubt in my mind that we are in the midst of a serious spiritual battle and in the last days before Christ calls His own preceding the final showdown with our Adversary, the Devil.

Keep looking up, and stay on your knees!

THE TANGLED WEB OF ECUMENICAL APOSTASY VIA THE "CHRISTIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY"

I thought that I had seen a brief glimpse of Franklin Graham at pope Benedict's side on a newscast about his papal visit to the USA yesterday. I never saw it again and wondered if I had imagined it. On another telecast I was sure I heard Graham's distinctive voice making an introduction of the pope. Please do not quote me on this, as I have as yet been unable to find any solid evidence to back this up. (Maybe one of my readers will be able to verify this).

While on the web today seeing if I could find documention of this I came across a website site called BREATHEcast which reported on April 3 that a band called Salvador had been invited to perform at the Papal Youth Rally on April 19th in conjunction with the pope's visit to the USA. BREATHEcast also reports:

Four-time Billboard Latin Music Award nominees, Salvador won the 2004 GMA Dove Award for Spanish Language Album of the Year for Con Poder. In addition to performing at the final Billy Graham Crusade in New York in 2005, the group has also appeared at Promise Keepers, Teen Mania’s Acquire The Fire youth conferences and Franklin Graham Crusades, among other events. Salvador’s radio hits include “Shine,” “Heaven,” “Breathing Life” and “Crucified.”1.

This is an example of how the Contemporary Christian Music industry has successfully promoted the ecumenical movement and apostate Christianity. The combination of a different gospel (the apostate Roman Catholic church), and a different spirit (the charismatic Teen Mania), and the mixed messages and ecumenism of Promise Keepers and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (Franklin Graham) is leading this generation straight toward the interfaith movement. The Roman Catholic church is openly involved in interfaith alliances and anyone who desires to be faithful to Christ will separate themselves from it. The spiritual compromises of once-faithful believers and organizations with their spiritual alliances are leading this generation of young people straight into the arms an interfaith-style pseudo-Christianity. And isn't that the goal of Satan for the Christian church and a fulfillment of prophecy after all?

There are a good number of people who know me personally that do not understand my disapproval (to put it mildly) of much of the contemporary "christian" music that exists today. I think it is because they are unaware of Satan and his determination to infiltrate the church. His primary target is young people because they are the most vulnerable and most biblically illiterate. (I could also address the weak theology in much of this "christian" music, which makes it attractive to apostate churches and young people due to a poor understanding the character and nature of God, but will leave that for another time). The spirit of lawlessness/rebellion is fostered by the world's system and young people are encouraged to be rebellious by a steady diet of the world's entertainment culture in which they a fully involved. The cross-over of "Christian artists" has created a bridge that have caused more Christian youth to cross over to the secular side than the other way around. I have observed young people who have been brought up in a Christian environment who have abandoned their faith in a practical way (it is no longer evident in the way they live their lives).

By the testimony of my own children, they have observed that the majority of their friends who were brought up in a Christian home and listened to "christian" rock/heavy metal/grunge/emo/rap/et al, ad nauseum no longer live a life of self-denial, taking up their cross and following the way of Christ. They are virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the world by their lifestyle. How utterly sad for a parent to see this happen to their child. The results are spiritual confusion, involvement in all kinds of destructive behaviors, and sometimes suicide. How can this be a godly thing? The remnant of those faithful to Christ and the written Word has become much smaller with this generation. Unless there is repentance and separation from this world's system, this generation will probably be the final one before Christ calls and gathers His own to meet Him in the air.

While there is nothing we can do to stem this Flood of Filth and Compromise within the entertainment industry (Christian and otherwise), we must continue to teach, train and pray for our children, while we still can. (Click HERE to read my comment on another blog about some of the music that claims to be "christian rock" - an oxymoron, if you ask me. It is either the last or one of the later comments, towards the bottom of the page).

2 Timothy 3

1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 4

1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

1.http://www.breathecast.com/Christian.Music.News-Salvador.Is.Aware.April.29/1_2076.htm

YOUTH MINISTRIES ALERT

Due to the rise of false teaching within the teaching materials available for youth leaders in these latter days, I have added YOUTH MINISTRIES ALERT to my list of Discernment Ministries on my sidebar. This is a blog of SIMPLICITY IN CHRIST which I have been following for some time. It's editor has been keeping track of the various avenues and leaders prominent within this group. They include Rob Bell (Nooma videos), Mark Yaconelli (Youth Specialities) and Ron Luce (Teen Mania). If you are a youth leader or have teens, you need to keep up with what they are being taught at youth group. I hope you find this a valuable resource.

CHRISTIAN CLASSIC ETHEREAL LIBRARY PROMOTING CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

I am sad to announce that Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) is now promoting contemplative spirituality on its website, as reported by Lighthouse Trails Research in their latest newsletter (Click HERE to read it). The CCEL has provided a valuable tool to those who do research on the web, but due to the fact that it is now promoting the contemplative pathway, indicating a lack of spiritual discernment, I have chosen to remove it from my sidebar listed under Online Books/Papers. Those who pursue this pathway are in grievous error. As it is not my intention to promote or lead anyone into this type of deception, I have felt it necessary to take this action.

A good paper which I am now reading and will recommend about this subject is The Evangelical Attraction to Mysticism by Alan Morrison.

CANADIAN MB CONFERENCE GATHERING 2008 TO FEATURE BRUXY CAVEY

Gathering 2008, the 89th convention of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches will be held in Montreal July 10-12, as I have been informed by the back cover of my latest issue of the MB Herald. One of its featured speakers will be Bruxy Cavey, the teaching pastor of The Meeting Houses churches ("a church for people who aren't into church") in the greater Toronto area.

My daughter Jenna over at her blog abideinthedoctrineofchrist was able to beat me to the chase and do some research on some of Cavey's teachings. (Good work, Jenna). Be sure to check out her post by clicking on her blogsite. Cavey has posted a "roundtable podcast" entitled "Enjoy the Silence", a discussion promoting the practices of contemplative prayer via solitude and silence. Jenna's post was recognized by rollovermenno. Several comments regarding Jenna's post have been left there, including some by Bruxy Cavey, that you might be interested in reading.

In May 2007 the BC Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches held a Pastors & Spouses Retreat featuring Peter Scazzero, author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, a book described as "a groundbreaking work on the integration of emotionally health and contemplative spirituality in our discipleship and formation in Christ." (As reported by lighthousetrailsresearch. See the entire report). Click to read part 1 and part 2 of a review of Scazzero's book done by Carla at Books and Things.

The President of MB Seminary at Fresno, Jim Holm, is also teaching contemplative spirituality as part of the Spiritual Formation course there in Spring 2008. Please note the contemplative terms lectio divinia, apophatic prayer, the prayer of examin, creativity prayer, labyrinth prayer and a celebration of the eucharist (Roman Catholic) in the syllabus.

It has become very clear to me in the past two years that the MB Conference is promoting the contemplative pathway to its members. This is one of the main reasons my husband and I have chosen to withdraw our membership from our MB church. Although our local church is not promoting this, this is the only way we can separate ourselves from the Conference itself at the present time. The contemplative pathway is one which bypasses the cross and those who promote it are unwittingly placing themselves in the same position. A very dangerous place to be spiritually, I would say.

A PERSONAL UPDATE

You may have noticed that I haven't been around much lately. I have been driving school bus full time the last two weeks, keeping me away from home for up to five hours a day. Well, my turn at that is finally done. As well, a week ago Wednesday I fell down our stairs and reinjured my right shoulder as I held on to the railing on the way down, causing me considerable pain and loss of mobility in that arm for about a week. You may ask, how does someone drive a school bus with only one arm - very carefully and with lots of Tylenol!! Spare drivers out this way are in very short supply. Fortunately for me it had an automatic transmission and automated door, or driving would have been out of the question. I was able to take the day off Monday as well as Tuesday morning. With time and a good shot of cortisone my shoulder is beginning to feel much better and I am once again able to use the keyboard with both hands. I will likely be undergoing some physiotherapy in the coming weeks to try to regain full use of the muscles, and hopefully there will be no surgery involved (this is the third injury I've had to the area). So, we'll see if we can get this blog going once again.

ROB BELL TO PARTICIPATE IN SEEDS OF COMPASSION CONFERENCE

**Also read The Gospel According to Rob, another article I have written about Rob Bell's propensity for New Age doctrines, and an off-site article by Carla at an older blog, Books and Things, written on March 25, 2006 (look for the picture of Bell about a third of the way down the page).**

Why would someone who claims the name of Christ choose to participate in a conference (The Seeds of Compassion) co-founded by the personal emissary for peace for the Dalai Lama, as reported by UWNews? The article makes this statement about the Dalai Lama:

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on July 6, 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet. At the age of two the child, who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time, was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.(1)

Could Rob Bell possibly participating in this conference in order to preach about the exclusivity of Christ's claims to messiahship and godhood, and His work on the cross? Could it be to call for repentance of sin and humility before the Creator of the universe who is going to judge the world because of its rebellion and rejection of His Son? Highly unlikely, considering that Rob Bell is an emergent pastor who promotes an eastern-style meditation to his followers and dos not accurately represent Christ.

I find his participation in this coming event very disturbing, since Rob Bell's Nooma videos are being used far and wide in Christian youth groups. The Christ Bell worships is beginning to look more and more like the New Age christ all the time. He uses an emotional appeal backed up by Scripture to teach. I say "uses" to refer to what he does with Scripture as well, because there is evidence to believe he is not "rightly dividing the word of truth". He preaches a watered-down version of the gospel.

It can be disheartening for those who want to remain faithful to Christ to realize that many of those new in leadership are altering the message and the meaning of the gospel to include a New Age or Eastern worldview, and ultimately a global spiritual unity. At this point it becomes a belief that looks more like the New Age than Christianity, all the while remaining under the guise of Christianity.

When does a person cross the line from being a biblical Christian to being a New Ager? I used to believe that Oprah was a Christian, but I now see that she speaks from both sides of her mouth, claiming the name of Christ while promoting New Age authors and their techniques. I think she has crossed the line and is now worshiping the christ of the New Age. Jesus said that there would be many deceivers and many deceived in the latter days before His return. People like Oprah, Ken Blanchard, Ken Wilber and Rob Bell will not give up their associations with Christianity, because part of the plan is to infiltrate the Christian church and overtake it for the New Age christ (antichrist). How else could Christians become deceived and fall away as prophesied in Scripture, if the deception did not come from within and use the same language (albeit, with altered definitions)?

Scripture commands us to be sober and vigilant, as our adversary, the Devil, is seeking whom he may devour. His days are numbered, and he is anxious for victims, especially looking for unwary Christians to deceive. I urge you to warn the brethren of this deception and to read the Word and pray as this day comes upon us like a woman in labor and the birth pangs increase.

Click HERE to read the latest newsletter at Lighthouse Trails, which reports this event (scroll partway down the page).

(1) http://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=39958