THE RUSH TO RELEVANCE IS THE ROAD TO RUIN by Paul Proctor

THE RUSH TO RELEVANCE IS THE ROAD TO RUIN

By Paul Proctor
July 22, 2009
NewsWithViews.com

I’d love to know who sold Christians and clergy the bogus notion that the church somehow needs to be more “relevant” to the culture in order to win it for Christ. You can hardly escape the word in Christian circles today. It’s absolutely everywhere believers are, and is used incessantly alongside other trendy terms like “connect,” “passion,” “purpose,” “awesome” and “tolerance” – flying out the mouths of church leaders as if it were some sacred biblical principle that should be worn like a phylactery on our foreheads and proclaimed from the rooftops lest we forget and, Heaven forbid, be a contrast to the culture in which we live.

The word “relevant” is not even in the Bible – except in one so-called bible version and verse – if you can bear to call The Message a Bible. But, the amazing irony of its brief appearance there, is that it points out perfectly why Christians should avoid being relevant:

"Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege.” – Matthew 7:6

Does that not accurately describe the relevant church today: cute, flippant, silly and full of slogans and sacrilege? Sounds just like the seeker-sensitive, purpose driven and emerging church to me!

Throughout scripture, in both the Old and New Testament, God’s own are repeatedly referred to as a “peculiar people.” (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 14:2, 26:18, Titus 2:14 & 1st Peter 2:9) I’ve written about this many times over the years.

That means we ought to be viewed by the world around us as distinctive. But how can Christians be both distinctive and relevant? And just how does one “connect” with a culture and not be “unequally yoked” to it?

Being distinctive is what being sanctified and set apart for God is all about. We’re not suppose to look and act like the rest of the world. We’re not called to blend in.

We’re called to “come out from among them” and stand out as a testimony to God’s power and presence in a corrupt kingdom! You see, if we don’t look or act any different from the world around us, then we’re probably not any different.

But the church isn’t teaching sanctification anymore because it’s an unfashionable, unpopular and outdated word that scares sinners and separates Christians from the culture of cool. No, today’s church has, instead, set its heart on being more relevant to the culture than righteous before God in a prideful and egregious effort to help Jesus get the numbers up.

“Go ye into all the world and be relevant?”

I don’t think so.

In my estimation, the word “relevant” was simply another devilishly dialectic term marketed to the church as a clever way to help Christians appeal to the flesh of the lost and buddy-up to the Beelzebub Club without appearing to compromise one’s Christian faith. But, that’s exactly what it does. And the more relevant one becomes to the enemies of Christ, the more irrelevant they become to God.

A preacher at a local megachurch my wife and I recently visited proudly told me a few days ago that he’s known as the pastor of the “coolest church in town” – using the word “cool” in various forms repeatedly in his email message, as if that would somehow impress me and make membership there more attractive. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize that it would actually have the opposite effect. So, he was a little surprised and offended when I told him that “cool is not a fruit of the Spirit.”

If Christians have any relevance to this world, it is that we currently share it with unbelievers, who, like us, have a sinful nature. That’s all the relevance to this world Christians need in order to bear witness of the saving grace that came by Jesus Christ. It certainly isn’t necessary that we seek out more relevance than we already have.

Shall we now imitate more perfectly the hell-bound culture we were saved from as a means to win its favor, cooperation and participation? That’s not evangelism – that’s capitulation.

Being sanctified means we belong to Someone else now – Someone Who has forgiven our trespasses and sins and called us out of our old lives of depravity and rebellion to be “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.”

Suffice it to say, our time as Christians would be better spent swimming upstream against the currents of compromise and corruption than finding some fashionable flotilla with which to comfortably fit in and ride the rapids of relevancy over the falls to our spiritual demise.

“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” – 1st Kings 18:21 1.

1. http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor184.htm

MY RESPONSE TO THE USMB "Emerging Church Debate Casualties" ARTICLE

The USMB article, Emerging Church Debate Casualties, criticizes authors Roger Oakland and Ray Yungen on their books warning about the emergent church, and specifically regarding their warnings against popular authors and speakers such as Rick Warren, Max Lucado, Chuck Swindoll and Mother Teresa who have promoted or endorsed either the emergent/emerging church or contemplative spirituality. Click HERE to read the USMB article, Emerging Church Debate Casualties. My response to the article appears below it on their website. It is also found here:

You make this statement, "Many of the people mentioned by these writers are familiar to me as writers, speakers and ministers whose works I have read, messages I have listened to and ministries I thought were good. Youngen’s (sic) list includes Rick Warren, Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll and Mother Teresa, and Oakland adds Roman Catholicism. Am I so blind to the deception of these people that I could not recognize apostasy right in front of my eyes? There are too many enemies!"

My question is this: What if you have not taken the time to do the hours of research that authors like Oakland and Yungen have? I have been studying the "emerging/emergent" movement for almost three years and have come to many of the same conclusions they have. Oakland and Yungen understand that authors, speakers, etc. who endorse those in the emerging/emergent church movement and its proponents are unwittingly leading their readers and listeners into contemplative spirituality (CS), the Trojan Horse of Eastern spirituality. The introduction of CS into the evangelical church was PLANNED by the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID) in the 1970's. If you are willing to do your homework you can find statements verifying this information online on MID's own website. The emerging church is the primary conduit of this mystical spirituality in the evangelical churches. This doesn't mean that everyone reading/listening to them will take the bait, but doesn't it behoove those who have studied the movement to warn believers about the dangers of this movement? We are to have no fellowship with darkness; witness to them, yes, but not fellowship. The associations and promotions of those you have mentioned (Warren, Lucado, etc.)result in spiritually dangerous, and I believe, illegitimate liaisons. This also doesn't mean that these men have erred in other areas of their teaching ministries (most of their teaching is fine, but it only takes a little leaven to leaven the whole lump!.

The emerging/emergent movement has many subgroups or roads, including the theologically conservative but culturally liberal groups. What many fail to recognize is that these roads, if they once were divided, are now once again converging into one. At the least, the thing they all end up having in common is contemplative spirituality or mysticism, since they all promote authors who are contemplative, even those who claim to be theologically conservative (Mark Driscoll, for example).

A return to plain Scripture and the simple way of the cross is a fine antidote to these obscure and nefarious movements. We are commanded in Scripture to test all things. Paul warned the churches over and over again in order to protect them from error. If the emerging/emergent movement is promoting practices that come from outside of Scripture, why are we not examining them more carefully? And why aren't people being warned about the errors in these groups. Have we become spiritual pacifists?

I put forth the challenge to you and all those in positions of spiritual leadership to take your responsibility to protect the flock from wolves and from doctrinal and practical errors (such as contemplative prayer) of the faith seriously. Much of the New Testament is written to warn and protect the flock in order to preserve "the faith once delivered". In our desire to be considered relevant and world-friendly we have failed to do so, putting the flock in grave spiritual danger.

September 22, 2009 @ 6:15 PM

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I felt it was important to expand on my response as above to give concrete evidence that the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue planned an inflitration of Contemplative Spirituality into the Roman Catholic monastic communities and the Christian church at large with the purpose of spreading its interfaith message. Please note that this organization comes straight out of the bowels of the Roman Catholic "church" at the behest of Vatican II. The emerging church is enamored with the Roman Catholic practices of all forms of contemplative prayer, their love of mysticism and the practice of sharing the Eucharist, and this has led them straight into the arms of the Roman Catholic "church" and its love for exalting experience over the Word of God.

Please also read The Mystic Plague - Catholicism Sets a Spiritualist Agenda by former Roman Catholic priest Richard Bennett, describing the links between Contemplative Spirituality, Roman Catholicism, false religions and the new age.

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Evidence regarding the agenda to spread mysticism and promote Eastern religions from the MID website- a report on the October 1977 Monastic Meeting at Petersham: Opening Session with Abbot Cornelius Tholens:

This conference has the very practical aim of helping monks and nuns, as representatives of the monastic world, make better known the Oriental renaissance, the discovery of mankind’s inexhaustible riches in Asian cultures and religions, of promoting a more universal humanism and establishing communion which will result in the using of each one’s characteristic heritage for the benefit of all.

In the quest for ultimate meaning in human existence, there is a monk in every man, and each one faces the task of integrating this dimension of himself. The monastic experience can be a bond of unity transcending dividing lines between religions. Merton pointed out that common contemplative experience must precede the dialogue and theology. The study of Hinduism, it has been said, is gaining popularity in the West partly in reaction against materialism. We are living at a moment in history when the Church is for the first time beginning a serious encounter with the Oriental tradition.1.

~~~and~~~

How can we help the West open out to the East? The East around us. How can we help others share in this task? How make Christian monasticism known in the East?

Some suggestions: we need a list of experts, East and West; of monasteries; of useful publications. We need exchange of persons between East and West; visits to ashrams. How can we instruct our Christian monks in techniques and methods of Asian meditation? Yoga, etc.

In answer to questions, Abbot Tholens pointed to some texts to be found in the New Testament which can serve as links to Yogic doctrines. Contact is most possible at the highest point of each religious tradition: this contact may be made in silence, but very really. In this way the East-West dialogue differs from ecumenical reflections among Christians. We need to start where we are one, in the Spirit of God. Even as Christians we must go beyond all thought. One is first a human being, then a Christian, then a monk. Christians are always “on the way” to God. The monk, as homo religiosis, is a point of reference for all men; each of us has a point of reference to the infinite.2.

~~~and~~~

The evening concluded, as did each subsequent evening, with a short prayer service led by Father Basil. The following day’s work began, as did that of each day of the meeting, with a meditation period of an hour guided by Abbot Tholens or by another Master making use of the Asian insights into the divine nature available also to Christians. “These prayer services, as well as the daily liturgies at 5 p.m., were held in a room adjoining the main meeting room. The prayer room was furnished with cushions for those who preferred to pray seated in the Eastern postures. The adornment of the altar (quite empty on a day of discussion of Zen; adorned with flowers situated at eight points of the compass when the emphasis was Hindu) and the style of the meditation carried out the Eastern themes. A short prayer service drawing from the Chinese tradition, prepared by Sister Helen Wang, concluded each morning session.3.

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A list of quotes from the mouths and pens of emergent church leaders themselves revealing their false gospel, false doctrine and unbiblical practices, many of them adopted from the Roman Catholic cult, from calvaryadvisor.org:

"The church has been preoccupied with the question, "What happens to your soul after you die?" As if the reason for Jesus coming can be summed up in, "Jesus is trying to help get more souls into heaven, as opposed to hell, after they die." I just think a fair reading of the Gospels blows that out of the water. I don't think that the entire message and life of Jesus can be boiled down to that bottom line." —Brian McLaren, (from the PBS special on the Emerging Church)

"Emergent doesn't have a position on absolute truth, or on anything for that matter. Do you show up at a dinner party with your neighbors and ask, 'What's this dinner party's position on absolute truth?' No, you don't, because it's a non-sensical question." - Tony Jones (at the 2005 National Youth Workers Convention)

"Meditative prayer like that we experienced in the labyrinth resonates with hearts of emerging generations."—Dan Kimball, (from the Vintage Faith)

"My goal is to destroy Christianity as a world religion and be a recatalyst for the movement of Jesus Christ," McManus, author of a new book called The Barbarian Way, said in a telephone interview.

"Some people are upset with me because it sounds like I'm anti-Christian. I think they might be right."—Erwin McManus (from The Barbarian Way)

"Many Christians use "Breath Prayers" throughout their day. You choose a brief sentence or a simple phrase that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath." —Rick Warren

"The fact is that contemplative spiritualitywill play a huge part in the Church of the future, and candles are just the beginning." - Duane Cottrell

"He [Brian McLaren] cites Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, with their emphasis on spiritual disciplines, as key mentors for the emerging church."—The Emergent Mystique, Christianity Today, 11/04

"We should stop to reflect and to treasure the words, to turn them over and over in our minds, repeating them ..."—Richard Foster, (Renovare)

"Some of the values of the emerging church are an emphasis on emotions, global outlook, a rise in the use of arts, and a rise in mysticism and spirituality."—Josh Reich (Creating Worship Gatherings for the Emerging Church )

"Church Should Be Like a Dance Club" —Josh Reich (Creating Worship Gatherings for the Emerging Church)"I stopped reading from the approved evangelical reading list and began to distance myself from the evangelical agenda. I discovered new authors and new voices at the bookstore." -Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen

Contemplative spirituality seemed to open up a whole new way for me to understand and experience God. I was deeply moved by works like The Cloud of Unknowing, The Dark Night of the Soul and the Early Writings of the Desert Fathers." —Spencer Burke, (The Ooze)

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Serious-minded Christians have every reason to be alarmed by what is going on in the emerging/emergent church movement, its fuzzy theology and its mystical practices, and every reason to sound the warning loud and clear. Preachers, teachers and authors, who have widespread influence need to be warning the flock, not endorsing these false teachers who are spreading this error. On this website I have provided as much information as I can to help you understand why the church is in the process of apostasizing. The problem is that many people do not want to accept the facts even when the evidence is staring them in the face. This indicates that there is a spiritual blindness in place. Scripture warns of the falling away in the last days, that the love of many will grow cold. It is happening faster than you think.

Examine your hearts!

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1.http://monasticdialog.com/a.php?id=648
2. ibid
3. ibid

IMPORTANT STUFF TO KNOW ABOUT THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CONFERENCE

Roll Over Menno, a blog exposing the mystical and emergent leanings of the MB Conference (which would likely cause Menno Simons to roll over in his grave), has enumerated five major concerns as evidence that it is departing from the faith once delivered to the saints. According the this blog, they are:

1. The MB Conference promoting contemplative retreats, contemplative spirituality and centering prayer

2. The MB Conference having emergent church leaders speak at their gatherings

3. The MB Conference using Natural Church Development by Christian Schwarz to refocus churches instead of the Bible

4. The MB Herald’s promotion of Catholicism/ecumenism and contemplative spirituality, Tony Campolo and Brian McLaren

5. MBBS training pastors in contemplative spirituality 1.

To read the articles related to these concerns, click HERE to go to Roll Over Menno.

Warning: Be prepared to be saddened and dismayed by this information, but also encouraged that this is a sign of Christ's soon return for His Bride and time to get your spiritual house in order.

1. http://rollovermenno.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/canadian-mb-conference-top-five-areas-of-concern/

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.

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

DECEPTION PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

This is a plug for SPIRITUAL RESEARCH NETWORK, the Christian discernment ministry of Chris Lawson.

I just received an article from them entitled "Deception Prevention and Intervention: How to Protect Yourself and Your Family From Spiritual Deception", and highly recommend you read it. Very good suggestions to "help you think clearly, carefully, and biblically". Be sure to check it out.

They also have a newsletter to which you can subscribe . Click HERE to access their subscription page.

ATTENTION: LOVERS OF THE TRUTH ~ RECOMMENDED NEWSLETTERS

I have benefited greatly from two newsletters which I have subscribed to and are sent regularly to my email address. Subscribing to them saves me the time it takes to look up their websites, and enables me to receive updates as soon as they are released. Until I began receiving these newsletters I was fairly ignorant as to the enormous impact that false doctrine is having on formerly strong evangelical organizations (signaling widespread apostasy), and to the rapid pace at which our world is heading towards the prophesied antichrist world religion/government and economic system. I believe it is time for all Christians to be alert and watching for events prophesied in Scripture and to "lift up their heads" as our redemption draws quickly nigh. Therefore, I encourage you to take a few minutes to subscribe to these newsletters. Scripture commands us to be alert and to watch for these things, and these two ministries are doing a fantastic job by making news stories around the world and within Christendom available and by commenting on their relevance. I think you will find them immensely helpful as you continue to watch and wait for "that great day".

The newsletter from LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS, called "Coming From the Lighthouse", is published weekly and deals with crucial news events affecting Christians and the church, and exposes the dangers of contemplative spirituality and its avenues. This is a discernment ministry operated by the Dombrowskis.

UNDERSTAND THE TIMES, a ministry of Roger Oakland, publishes a weekly newsletter called "Weekly News in Review", as well as periodic updates and comments. It helps keep me up to date on relevant news stories around the world and their impact on the church.

If you haven't yet signed up to receive the newsletters from Lighthouse Trails and Understand The Times, click on the underlined links to access them. (the sign-up at Lighthouse Trails is at the bottom of the page.)

The latest newsletter from Lighthouse Trails can be read by clicking HERE, and the latest from Understand the Times, HERE, if you want to access them directly from this page.