Apprising Ministries delivers an informative piece by Brian Flynn, Director of One Truth Ministries and the author of Running Against The Wind which is published by Lighthouse Trails Publishing.
With the spiritual cancer of Contemplative/Centering Prayer running virtually unchecked within the visible broader professing church I believe that it’s important to bring this spiritual occult/mystical practice into sharp focus for the edification of the readers of DefCon.
Flynn well says, “There is nothing more devious than a lie told with subtlety. Last week, I purchased the Be Still and Know That I am God DVD produced by 20th Century Fox. The cover boasts of such contemplatives as Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Calvin Miller and Priscilla Shirer, along with some names that may surprise you—Max Lucado, Beth Moore. An acknowledgement list at the end includes Brennan Manning and Dr. Charles Stanley.
The advertisement for the video states:
Eight hundred people gathered at Mariner’s church in Newport Beach, California for this amazing event that was broadcast live to over 2000 churches nationwide. Richard Foster and Dallas Willard kicked off the evening with an introduction and dialogue on the history of Contemplative Prayer. Priscilla Shirer shared passionately about the vital need to spend time listening to God and Dr. Henry Cloud challenged everyone with practical steps to help incorporate this type of prayer into busy, everyday life. Kendall Payne’s soulful ‘Be Thou My Vision’ set apart the close of the evening with Richard Foster leading the group in a time of silent, listening prayer based on a scripture reading from Luke. As one woman shared afterward, ‘I loved learning about this new kind of prayer that is actually so old from so many different views. There really was something for everyone…’
I tried to watch this DVD as if I were a person that knew little about contemplative prayer but had a fair knowledge of Scripture. By the advertisement, I am told that I’m going to be introduced to a new and different way to pray. The video begins by telling me that we all live in a frenzied chaotic world and that Christians are not immune to it. It suggests that we need to spend more time in prayer. Gosh! What a revelation! I spent $15.98 to be told that?”
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Pilgrim
thejunglemissionary
Bill
Manfred
abidingthroughgrace
Chris Hohnholz
I was astounded that people would be willing to listen to such a load of nonsense.
Vain repetitions. This is foolishness and idolatry. The LORD taught us to pray. I never realized that an omniscient GOD didn’t know everything. Who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct HIM? And where were we at the beginning of creation? Why must people think that they need to one up the LORD JESUS CHRIST? It is impossible to do so. Can we just deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow HIM? However, we should pray for the deceivers as well as the deceived.
Amen!
Who are you people to claim to know the mind of God. How do you know every word in your bible is 100% the mind of God? And How can you put yourself in such a place as to know who has favour in the eyes of God? You behave like you think you are God himself. There is no humility. There is only the need to judge and to be right. you have hung on everyword of the bible it would appear but who here can really state that they know 100% the truth and who here is courageous enough in the sight of God to really say they know enough to condemn others. would Jesus condemn others? It is a disgrace to preach about God when you know full well that you and I are all sinners. You are playing God when you put yourself in the position of judge of others. Where is the love in that? do you knwo who has translated you bible? Who translated the King James Version and have you ever looked into it? I doubt it. I would say to you now that i am probably the least worthy person around for God’s favor, but one thing I know is condemnation and judgement are not the traits of a God who claims to be love. what are the fruits of the spirit? Does the god in your bible exhibit these. I think not. The God in the bible just sounds like any other cranky man. so petty and prone to jealousy. These are not godlike qualities as far as i am concerned. go and do some research and don’t let the wool be pulled over your eyes. Sheep.
Wow Tori, it seems as you got your talking points from the Emerging Church crowd with that. I will pray for you on that.
While many people who learned to read the Bible still believe it, there are too many questions.
Please tell me where in the Bible does the statement “other sheep have I who are not of this fold” have an explanation?
Are these “others” some who did not know the Old Testatment (Talmud”) at the time Jesus lived?
And who would they be now?
Please, even the Bible advises men to reason together.( verse? sorry, did not look that up)
And it is not a “reasonable” book to me anymore.
Hi Rex,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your opinion. Next time please consider making an actual argument instead of simply making naked, baseless assertions.
Since reason itself is grounded in the Being of the Trinue One true and living God, the infinite Creator and Judge of the universe it’s mildly amusing, yet profoundly sad to me that you don’t find His self-revelation to be “reasonable”. By what standard do you presume to judge what is or ins’t “reasonable”?
Ponder it.
In Christ,
CD
I am not here to put my opinions about the “Reasonableness” or otherwise of the Bible.
I asked a question.
I wondered if it might be given an answer.
The only “reasonableness” that I do hope to see here is one which answers that question.
I do not think that aggressive disagreement-for example, about whether the Bible is “reasonable” or not, is particularly helpful. I do not wish to prove that belief of mine to anyone here.
I find the general Theological arguments laid out by many people to be “unreasonable”, just as they were when Christian teachers regarded the arrangement of the Heavens to be important, even though they had their reasoning very wrong.
Many things in the Bible will never be “Proved” to man, nor will they be “Disproved” to anyone. That is hardly what I read when I see an admonishment to “Believe” in “The Lord Jesus Christ” and be saved. There is no logic in that, no matter how true.
We are called to “Believe”, and that is all we can, and surely must, do!
I can only return your question to you.
By what standard do you presume to judge what is or isn’t “reasonable”?
I try not to “presume” here at all.
Thanks.
Hi Rex,
Sounds like you’re moving the goalposts to me. But it’s fine if you want to evade my question, just don’t be surprised when I return the favor.
In Him,
CD