I know there have been several recent posts regarding spiritual discernment and this burden on our hearts that the Church remain pure until the Day of the Lord. Some of you might even feel like we have beat a dead horse with our warnings regarding contemplative spirituality and the emergent church movement – which has even now entered our Mennonite and Anabaptist circles.
Bear with me and I promise to do my best to share some summer pictures and “lighter” stuff next week! But this is a burden the Father has given us . . .
So why do we warn about this? What is so wrong with it? If you wish to know more of its dangers, you are welcome to read through our apologetics section. You can also visit Lighthouse Trails website which has much current info.
But most of all, please pick up the precious Word of God and study it for all you’re worth – for the eternity of your soul depends upon it! If you do not have a physical Bible, you can read one digitally for free at Bible Gateway.
How far can it take you?
I have a video to share with you that proves how far contemplative spirituality and the emergent church can take you. It makes my heart weep for many will not heed the warnings . . . many will not search the Scriptures for themselves . . . simply put, many do not want to know the truth.
How much do we love the truth?
Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth. John 17:17
This video is already two years old but it was only shared with me tonight where Christian singer/songwriter Vicky Beeching candidly contributes contemplative spirituality with giving her the courage to come out as gay. She even mentions the Desert Fathers and Mothers and several of the people we have listed here with caution.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:9-11
And to those who may be reading this and are homosexuals – please know that we do not believe Jesus Christ died for one person anymore than He died for another. All souls are precious in His sight. This is how we view people – as precious souls who will spend eternity either with or without Him. Yet because we love Him with our whole hearts and because we love His Word which gives us His commandments to live by . . . thus we choose to obey out of love for Him.
*When you hit the play button, you can drag the play control to the 52 minute mark. This is where she begins to talk of contemplative spirituality. You do not have to watch the whole video.*
If you are viewing this in the newsletter, please click here to go to the blog in order to see the video.
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Ruth Lauber says
I just took the time to read trough your last articles on spiritual discernment.
I whole heartily agree with you. ( Thats why i like to read your blog :-))
I am (yet) a member of a church who forcefully shook off many of their ‘cultural’ beliefs and
guidelines.This process has been going on for ten years now.
There is not (yet) acceptance of homosexuality but soo many times our sermons have become
merely psycological feel good lectures.
There have been parts of the bible that will not beeing mentioned anymore.
But there is lots of teaching and influence from the sources that you mentioned.
Bible teaching is still there but especially portions about true repentance, and outward visible signs of a Christian have been (willfully)banned.
We and many others have questioned some teaching at times but the reaction is a great annoyance.
I have personally been offered spiritual help to get rid of that unnessecary, garment called skirt…
A sister in my church has, by the Holy Spirit and reading the Bible, been convicted to adhere to
1. Kor 11.
Since im the only Lady covering in our church she came up to me and we talked about it.
I was so thrilled .
But after seeing Ministers about it she decided to put mens word about Gods word.
The advise she got was that currently, in that process of change the church into a contemporary one, it would put strain on the spiritual growth of the church if she would do something so legalistic.
I dont say this to disgrace her just as a example of the Spirit there.
Breaking free of traditions or ‘extremism’ or consevatism’ has become more important than simple obedience to the bible.
We are grieving about this. There has been a church split else where about this.
I cringe to see how my Teenagers get influenced. Especially with modesty and music.
We dont know what to do. At a certain Age the Environment just has more influence than any parental teaching or example.
Plus i dont want to fight every day about this.
I am also confronted with my own sinfullness there.
At times i am becoming bitter and angry. At my church, at my sisters and brothers in Christ, at my own stuborness. Sometimes i just want to be like every one else and then i get secretly even more angry at those care free skinny jeans ladies.
So while i’m maybe a bit more sincere about biblical living the devil just grabs me right there so that just this might become my stumble stone.
Repentance and coming back to Christ is needed. First from myself…
If there would be an alternative closer by, we would probably leave but our church is still the most solid
one around.
We as a Family have been blessed with Mennonite friends and Sound teaching from
anababtist sources.
This has helped a lot and has been a tremendous encouragement to us.
I consider you very blessed to be aware on the destructiv Spirit that comes out of this ’emerging
church stuff’.
Keep on Warning!
Keep on teaching!!
God bless.
Ruth from Switzerland.
Kendra says
Oh wow! Your comment is like a voice from the future – like we can see this stuff coming and what it can do to a biblical church, how it can take it down and infiltrate it. It is the very thing we are warning could happen if we allow these teachings to take hold in our homes and churches. I am sorry your situation is like it is! I will pray God provides a way of escape for you and your family. We have often talked about what we would do personally if our church ends up down this slippery slope and we no longer can say we believe it is following the Bible as God intended. May God give you comfort as you probably fight loneliness, may He give you peace in place of the anger, and may He hold you close and guide you!
Ruth Lauber says
The crazy thing is the more liberal the church becomes the leß cpnvicted people become to attend meetings. Even tough most all ‘rules’ have been erradicated and we should be so much heppier christians now the opposite happens. Our big mission work runs out of new missionaries. ‘Uncool ‘meetings like prayermeeting or choir practice remain often attended by only the elderly. Smaller churches have to shut down… It goes on… But God is still the same he will grant us a revival if enough people ask for it and in His time.
Kendra says
It is sad, but you are right about God granting revival – each person should look into their own hearts for revival to begin there first!