Articles

HerearethenotesandreferencesthatgoalongwithmylectureTheNewAgeMovementandthe
EmergingChurchwhichIgaveAugust27,2008.Wellgetthemp3recordingofthelectureupassoonas
wecan.
Thanks,
JohnFeakes
TheNewAgeMovementandtheEmergingChurch
C.S.Lewisnotedthatinthefinalconflictbetweenreligions,HinduismandChristianitywouldofferthe
onlyviableoptionsbecauseHinduismabsorbsallreligioussystems,andChristianityexcludesallothers,
maintainingthesupremacyofJesusChrist.
ReviewofBiblicalHistory:
Godcreatedaperfectworld(Genesis1:2031)
TheFallofmankind(Genesis3)
TheFlood(Genesis69)
Aftertheflood:
RebellionattheTowerofBabel(Genesis11)
Thepeoplescatterallovertheglobe.WeareinterestedinIndiaandthebeginningsofHinduism(inwhich
theNewAgemovementhasitsroots).
(2000BC)TheDravidiansoccupythePeninsula
TheAryansdescendedontothePeninsulafromtheCaspianregion
AryansconqueredthePeninsula,adoptedanimism,worshippedspiritgodsinrivers,rocks,trees,etc
GautamaBuddah(Siddhartha)born563B.C.inLumbinineartheNepal/Indiaborder
Bornintoaristocracy
Sawpovertyforthefirsttimeinhisearly20s
Age29,leftwifeandsontoseeknirvana&findthecauseofsuffering
Studiedunder2YOGAmastersunsatisfied
Triedextremeasceticism(fasting,standingforweeks,etc)
Age35,enteredatrance,rememberedpreviousincarnationsHisdivineeyewasopened
Allignoranceanddesireswereextinguished
BuddhasConclusions:
ExistenceisSuffering
Desirecausessuffering
Riddingalldesireendssuffering
Desirecanbeeradicatedbyfollowingthe8FoldPath:1.RightBeliefunderstandthe4Truths,2.Right
resolvePureMotives,3.RightSpeechTruthfulTalk,4.RightConductPeaceful,5.RightLivelihood
occupationharmsnoone,6.RightEffortseekknowledgew/selfcontrol,7.RightThoughtactive,
selfcriticalmind,8.RightConcentrationmeditationandRajaYOGA

InIndia:
TheworkMahabhrta:containsBhagavadGita
Focusesondevelopingindifferencetodesire,pleasure,pain
1Godexpressedinmanyforms(atypeofpolytheism)
DoctrineofAvatars(Brahmanincarnated)
i.e.Krishna(godmanifestasapersonontheearth)
Gnosticism:TheHeresyfoughtbytheearlychurch
(SecretKnowledge)
52ancientmanuscriptsfoundinNagHammadi,Egypt,1945containtheSecretgospels:
GospelofThomas
GospelofPhilip
GospelTruth
TheGospeltotheEgyptians
TheApocalypseofPeter
TheApocalypseofPaul
TheLetterofPetertoPhilip,
TheThunder,PerfectMind,
TestimonyofTruth.
ItisintheTestimonyofTruththatwereadtheGardenofEdenscenefromthepointofviewofthe
serpent.Godismadeouttobeajealous,ragingmanwhiletheserpentisseenasthespeakerofdivine
wisdom.JamesGarlowandPeterJones,CrackingtheDaVinciCode,CookCommunications,2004,p.
163
GnosticismisasystemofdirectexperientialknowledgeofGodthesoulandtheuniverseintheearly
centuriesofthisera,amidagrowingChristianity,ittookontheformoftheChristianfaith,whilerejecting
mostofitsspecificbeliefs.ItswordingisthereforelargelyChristian,whileitsspiritisthatofthelatest
paganismoftheWest.
DuncanGreenlees,TheGospeloftheGnostics,Mandras,India:TheTheosophicalPublishingHouse,
1958,p.vii
RegardingtheJudasGospel:
HereisabookthatturnsthetheologyoftraditionalChristianityonitsheadandreverseseverythingwe
everthoughtaboutthetruenatureofChristianity.p.119
TheGnosticsRefutedbyearlychurchapologists
InA.D.270anEgyptianmonknamedSt.Anthonybecamethe1stChristianhermit
Nearly80yearslaterthe1stmonasterywasbuilt
Hermitsforthe1sttimewerebroughttogetherunderoneroof
ThemeditationpracticesandrulesforlivingoftheseearliestChristianmonksbearstrongsimilarityto
thoseoftheirHinduandBuddhistenunciatebrethrenseveralkingdomstotheeastthemeditative

techniquestheyadoptedforfindingtheirGodsuggestseitheraborrowingfromtheEastoraspontaneous
rediscovery.ThewaysoftheDesertFathersinfluenceChristianMonastiscmtothisday.
DanielGoleman,TheMeditativeMind,LosAgleles,CA,Tarker/PutnamInc.,1988,p.53
DevelopmentofChristianmeditativedisciplesshouldhavebeguninEgyptbecausemuchofthe
intellectual,philosophical,andtheologicalbasisofthepracticeofmeditationinChristianityalsocomesout
ofthetheologyofHellenisticandRomanEgypt.ThisissignificantbecauseitwasinAlexandriathat
ChristiantheologyhadmostcontactwiththevariousGnosticspeculationswhich,accordingtomany
scholars,havetheirrootsintheEast,possiblyIndia.FatherWilliamTeska,MeditationinChristianity,
HimalayanInstitute,1973,p.65
1300sCloudofunknowingwrittenAnAmalgamofEasternreligiouspracticeandChristianbelief
Fastforwardtothe1800s:
TheAgeofUnbelief
CharlesLyell:PrinciplesofGeology(1831)
CharlesDarwin:OntheOriginofSpecies(1859)
KarlMarx:CommunistManifesto(1848)DasKapital(1873)
Humansareessentiallyreligiouscreaturesandtheydontrestuntiltheyhavesomesortofanswerstothe
fundamentalquestions.Rationalismandsecularismdontanswerthosequestions.TimeMagazine,Dec.7,
1987
ArnoldToynbee(18891975)predictedthatin2000theWestwillstilldominateEarth,butinthe21st
centuryIndiawillconquerherconquerors.Religionworldwidewillregainitsearlierimportance,andworld
eventswillreturntotheEastwherecivilizationoriginated.
"Indiawillteachusthetoleranceandgentlenessofmaturemind,understandingspiritandaunifying,
pacifyingloveforallhumanbeings.
WillDurant,TheStoryofCivilization
HelenaPetrovnaBlavatsky:
AdoptedHinduPhilospophies
BelievedinKarma/Reincarnation
FoundedtheTheosophicalSocietyin1875
MaryBakerEddyfoundedtheScienceofHealthorganizationin1866
1monthafterthedeathofP.P.Quimby.ThereisamarkedsimilaritybetweenthewritingsofEddyand
Quimby.Herbook,TheScienceofHealthwithKeytotheScriptures,Published1875promotedthe
Hinduisticdenialofphysicalreality(Maya)
Interestingly,ifamedievalmonkweretomeetamodernChristianScientistasthelatterstudiedhisweekly
LessonSermon,themonkwouldidentifyimmediatelywithhim.TheScientist'sdailyreflectivestudy
resemblesthatofthemonksdailymeditationofsacredtexts,calledlectiodivina(divinestudy).Both
meditateonthewords,hopingtoreachbeyondthemtotherealitytheysignify.ChristianScience:A

SourcebookofContemporaryMaterials,TheChristianSciencePublishingSociety,1990,p.21
ThomasMerton(19151968)
TheGodhe[ThomasMerton]knewinprayerwasthesameexperiencethatBuddhistsdescribeintheir
enlightenment.BrianC.Taylor,SettingtheGospelFree
Itisagloriousdestinytobeamemberofthehumanrace,nowIrealizewhatweallare.Ifonlythey
[people]couldallseethemselvesastheyreallyareIsupposethebigproblemwouldbethatwewould
falldownandworshipeachother.Atthecenterofourbeingisapointofnothingnesswhichis
untouchedbysinandbyillusions,apointofpuretruth.ThislittlepointisthepuregloryofGodinus.
Itisineverybody.
ThomasMerton
ImdeeplyimpregnatedwithSufism.ThomasMerton,QuotedinRobBakerandGrayHenry,Editors,
MertonandSufism,Louisville,KY,FonsVitae,1999,p.69
Asia,Zen,Islam,etc.,allthesecometogetherinmylife.Itwouldbemadnessformetoattempttocreatea
monasticlifeformyselfbyexcludingallthese.Iwouldbelessamonk.Merton,ibid.,p.41
His[Mertons]changeofmindwithregardtothehigherreligionswasnottheresultoftediouscomparison
andcontrastorevenconcertedanalysis.ItwasanoutgrowthofhisexperiencewiththeAbsolute.
RaymondBailey,ThomasMertonofMysticism
Almostanyformofmeditationwilltakeyoutoanexperienceofyourselfassource
ShaktiGowain,AuthorofCreativeVisualization
Ifyouwanttoleadyourenterpriseintothetwentyfirstcentury,readthispowerfulbook.KenBlanchard,
coauthorofTheOneMinuteManager,hisendorsementofthebook,TheCorporateMystic
Thisimportantbook[TheCorporateMystic]willsweepyouintoadifferentlevelofconsciousness
oneofaspiritualperspectiveandfeelingsonecessaryinfutureleadership.Dr.StephenR.Covey,
authorofTheSevenHabitsofHighlyEffectivePeople
fromeveryculture,religionandrace,themysticalexperiencehasarecurringpatternthecore
experiencesareoftenindistinguishablefromeachother.
AMostSurprisingSong,LouannStahl
TheclassicalexperienceofenlightenmentasdescribedbyBuddhistmonks,Hindugurus,Christian
mystics,Aboriginalshamans,SufisheiksandHebrewkabalistsischaracterizedbytwouniversalelements:
radiantlightandanexperienceofonenesswithcreation.TheHowtoThinkLikeLeonardodaVinci
Workbook,MichaelJ.Gelb
Themostimportantbooksheeverread(fromGaryZukavswebsite,speakingofOprahsendorsement
ofZukavsbookNewAgebook,TheSeatoftheSoul)

Oneofthebiggestmistakeshumansmakeistobelievethereisonlyoneway.Therearemanydiverse
pathsleadingtowhatyoucallGod.OprahWinfrey,citedbyLaTonyaTaylor,TheChurchofO,
ChristianityToday,April1,2002,vol.46,No.4,p.38
TheSecretwasendorsedbyOprah.TheSecretclaimsthathumanscanalterrealitywiththepowerofour
minds.Isthisso?
Whichofyoubytakingthoughtcanaddonecubituntohisstature?Matthew6:27
Neithershaltthouswearbythyhead,becausethoucanstnotmakeonehairwhiteorblack.Matthew
5:36
NewAgepracticesandtheChristianChurch
TheNewAgeisnotslowlytricklingintothechurch...itsfloodingin!
NotsinceGnosticismatthedawnoftheChristianerahastherearisenaphilosophyaspervasiveand
threateningtoorthodoxChristianityastheNewAgemovementItwouldbedifficulttofindanyareaof
life,whichhasnotbeentouchedorredirectedtosomedegreebytheconceptsofthemovement.
EvangelicalScholarDavidL.Smith,AHandbookofContemporaryTheology,VictorBooks,1992,p.
273
TheGnosticHeresieshavemadeatremendouscomeback
Thepowerfulrefutationsoftheearlychurcharebeingignored
LeonardSweet,ProfessorofEvangelism,DrewUniversityAKeyfigureintheEmergingChurch
Movement
Mysticism,oncecasttothesidelinesoftheChristiantradition,isnowsituatedinpostmodernistculture
nearthecenter.Inthewordsofoneofthegreatesttheologiansofthetwentiethcentury,Jesuit
philosopherofreligion/dogmatistKarlRahner,TheChristianoftomorrowwillbeamystic,onewhohas
experiencedsomething,orhewillbenothing.[Mysticism]ismetaphysicsarrivedatthroughmindbody
experiences.Mysticismbeginsinexperienceitendsintheology.LeonardSweet,QuantumSpirituality:
APostModernApologetic,Dayton,OH:Whaleprints,1stEd.,1991,p.viiip.76
PeoplewanttoknowGod.TheywantlesstoknowaboutGodorknowaboutreligionthantoknowGod.
PeoplewanttoexperiencetheBeyondintheWithin.Postmodernswantsomethingmorethannew
productstheywantnewexperiences,especiallynewexperiencesofthedivine.LeonardSweet,Soul
Tsunami,Zondervan,Publishing,1999,p.420
Inordertoguidepersonshavingthisexperience[divineoneness],Christianspiritualdirectorsmayneedto
dialoguewithEasternteachersinordertogetafullerunderstanding.ThomasKeating
Tohim[Keating],asaTrappstmonk,meditationwassecondnature.HeinvitedthegreatZenmaster
RoshiSaskitoleadretreatsattheabbey.Andsurely,hethought,theremustbeaprecedentwithinthe

churchformakingsuchsimplebutpowerfulspiritualtechniquesavailabletolaypeople.HisTrappist
brotherFatherWilliamMeningerfounditinonedayin1974,inadustycopyofa14thcenturyguideto
contemplativemeditation,TheCloudofUnknowing.,Newsweek,Sept.2005,SpiritualityinAmerica
TheCloudofUnknowingRediscoveredin1974NowthebasisforCatholicspirituality
ThebasicmethodpromotedinTheCloudistomovebeyondthinkingintoaplaceofutterstillnesswith
theLordthebelievermustfirstachieveastateofsilenceandcontemplation,andthenGodworksinthe
believersheart.TonyJones
Chooseasingle,sacredwordorphraseWithoutmovingyourlips,repeatthesacredwordinwardly,
slowlyandoften.FormerCatholicPriest,BrennanManning,TheSignatureofJesus
IwouldliketosaythatweChristiansshouldnothesitatetomakeuseofthegoodtechniquesthatourwise
friendsfromtheEastareoffering.Weshouldnothesitatetotakethefruitoftheageoldwisdomofthe
EastandcaptureitforChrist.BasilPennington,FindingGraceAtTheCenter
ManyChristianswhotaketheirprayerlifeseriouslyhavebeengreatlyhelpedbyYoga,Zen,TM,and
similarpracticesBasilPenningtonFindingGraceAtTheCenter
TheEmergingChurch
PURPOSEDRIVENLIFE
Soldover30millioncopies
Over400,000churchesworldwideparticipatedinPurposeDrivenprogram
Endorsedbypracticallyeveryevangelicalleader
TheBibletellsustoprayallthetime.OnewayistousebreathprayersthroughoutthedayYou
chooseabriefsentenceorasimplephrasethatcanberepeatedtoJesusinonebreathPrayitasoftenas
possible.BestFriendswithGodfromPurposeDrivenLife
RickWarrenusesBrotherLawrenceasanexampleofpracticingthepresenceofGod(i.e.,breathprayers)
ThePurposeDrivenLife,p.88
ItissaidofBrotherLawrencethatwhensomethinghadtakenhismindawayfromlovespresencehe
wouldreceiveareminderfromGodthatsomovedhissoulthathecriedout,singinganddancing
violentlylikeamadman.GeraldMay,citingfromThePracticeofthePresenceofGodbyBrother
Lawrence,ImageBooks,1977,p.34.
Itisparticularlydifficulttodescribethistypeofprayerinwriting,asitisbesttaughtinperson.Ingeneral
however,centeringprayerworkslikethis:Chooseaword(JesusorFather,forexample)asafocusfor
contemplativeprayer.Repeatthewordsilentlyinyourmindforasetamountoftime(say,twentyminutes)
untilyourheartseemstoberepeatingthewordbyitself,justasnaturallyandinvoluntarilyasbreathing.
GaryThomas,SacredPathways

GaryhasspokenatSaddleback,andIthinkhighlyofhisworkhetellsthem[readers]howtheycan
makethemostoftheirspiritualjourneys.Heplacesanemphasisonpracticalspiritualexercises.Rick
Warren
HelenSchucman,andpsychologistWilliamThetford"scribed"thebookACourseinMiraclesbymeans
ofaprocesscomingfromadivinesourcethroughaformwhichSchucmanreferredtoas"innerdictation".
SchucmansaidthesourceofherchannelingwasJesusChrist.
ExcerptsfromACourseinMiracles:
Donotmakethepatheticerrorofclingingtotheoldruggedcross.
Thejourneytothecrossshouldbethelastuselessjourney.
TherecognitionofGodistherecognitionofyourself.
WhenGodcreatedyouhemadeyoupartofHim.
Thereisnosin:ithasnoconsequence.
TheAtonementisthefinallessonhe[man]needtolearn,foritteacheshimthat,neverhavingsinned,he
hasnoneedofsalvation.
ForChristtakesmanyformswithdifferentnamesuntiltheironenesscanberecognized.
JeraldJampolskyendorsedAcourseinMiracleswhenhededicatedhisownbook,LoveisLettinggo
ofFeartoHelenSchucmanandWilliamThetford:
ThisbookisdedicatedtoHelenandBill,whohavebeenbothteachersandfriendstome.Itwasbecause
oftheirjointwillingnessthatACourseinMiraclescameintobeing,aworkwhichprovidesthe
foundationforthisbook.
Dr.GeraldJampolsky,anotedpsychiatristanddearfriendofmine,wasfortwentyfiveyearsavery
strongagnostic.Thenoneday,withoutwarning,hislifetotallychanged,andhebecameabelieverin
God.RobertSchuller,ThebeHappyAttitudes,1985
Ourverysurvivalasaspeciesdependsonhope.Andwithouthopewewilllosethefaiththatwecan
cope.RobertSchuller(quotingauthorReneDubos),SelfEsteem:TheNewreformation,1982
Hopeisasessentialtoyourlifeasairandwater.Youneedhopetocope.RickWarren,PDL,2002
Whatisthebasic,drivingforceinlife?RobertSchuller,SelfLove,1969
Whatisthedrivingforceinyourlife?RickWarren,PDL,2002
Yes,Godisaliveandheis*ineverysinglehumanbeing.RobertSchuller,HourofPower,Nov9,
2003
TheBiblesays,heruleseverythingandiseverywhereandis*ineverything.RickWarren,PDL,2002
Thetwentyfirstcenturywillbethetimeofawakening,ofmeetingtheCreatorwithin.Manybeingswill
experienceOnenesswithGodandwithalllife.ThiswillbethebeginningofthegoldenageoftheNew
Human,ofwhichithasbeenwrittenthetimeoftheuniversalhuman,whichhasbeeneloquentlydescribed

bythosewithdeepinsightamongyou.Therearemanysuchpeopleintheworldnowteachersand
messengers,Mastersandvisionarieswhoareplacingthisvisionbeforehumankindandofferingtoolswith
whichtocreateit.ThesemessengersandvisionariesaretheheraldsofaNewAge.
NealeDonaldWalsch,FriendshipwithGod:AnUncommonDialogue,p.295296
NealeDonaldWalschsGodgreatlyendorsestheteachersofRobertSchuller.
SodoesRickWarren
NealeWalschsP.E.A.C.E.Plan:
PermitourselvestoacknowledgethatsomeofouroldbeliefsaboutGodandaboutlifearenotworking.
ExplorethepossibilitythatthereissomethingwedonotunderstandaboutGodandaboutlife,the
understandingofwhichcouldchangeeverything.
AnnouncethatwearewillingfornewunderstandingsofGodandLifetonowbebroughtforth,
understandingsthatcouldproduceanewwayoflifeonthisplanet.
Courageouslyexaminethesenewunderstandingsand,iftheyalignwithyourpersonalinnertruthand
knowing,toenlargeourbeliefsystemtoincludethem.
Expressourlivesasademonstrationofourhighestbeliefs,ratherthanasadenialofthem.
TheFiveStepstoPeace,ConversationswithGodWebsite,www.cwg.org/5steps/5stepstopeace.pdf
RickWarrensP.E.A.C.E.Plan,AnnouncedatSaddlebackChurch,Nov.2,2003
PlantChurches
EquipLeaders
AssistthePoor
Careforthesick
Educatethenextgeneration
Beforeyouwereborn,Godplannedthismomentinyourlife.Itisnoaccidentthatyouareholdingthis
book.RickWarren,PDL,2002
[T]hisbookhasarrivedinyourlifeattherightandperfecttimeEverythinghappensinperfectorder,and
thearrivalofthisbookinyourlifeisnoexception.NealeDonaldWalsch,ConversationswithGod:
Book2,1997
AldousHuxleyisthesinglemostquotedwriterinMarilynFergusonsTheAquarianConspiracy.
IfPaulhadkepthisexperienceofdoubtanddepressionasecret,millionsofpeoplewouldneverhave
benefitedfromit.Onlysharedexperiencecancanhelpothers.AldousHuxleysaid,Experienceisnotwhat
happenstoyou.Itiswhatyoudowithwhathappenstoyou.RickWarren,PDL,2002,p.248
RickWarrenendorsedthewritingsofHenriNouwen.SchullerwasagreatadmirerofNouwenandmade
hisstudentswatchvideosofhim

Weshouldbereturningtoanoholdsbarredapproachtoworshipandteachingsothatwhenwegather,
thereisnodoubtweareinthepresenceofaHolyGod.Ibelievethatbothbelieversandunbelieversare
hungryforthis.ItisntaboutcleverapologeticsorcarefulexegeticalandexpositorypreachingEmerging
generationsarehungeringtoexperienceGodinworship.DanKimball,TheEmergingChurch,p.116
WorshipInseparablefromDoctrinalTruth:
Mylipsshallutterpraise,whenthouhasttaughtmethystatutes.Mytongueshallspeakofthyword:For
allthycommandmentsarerighteousness.
Psalm119:171172
Iwillpraisetheewithmywholeheart:beforethegodsIwillsinguntothee.Iwillworshiptowardthy
holytemple,andpraisethynameforthylovingkindness.Andforthytruth:Forthouhastmagnifiedthy
wordaboveallthyname.
Psalm138:12
RickWarrenendorsesKimballsideas
Thisbookisawonderful,detailedexampleofwhatapurposedrivenchurchcanlooklikeina
postmodernworld.Dansbookexplainshowtodoit[reachanemerginggeneration]withthecultural
creativeswhothinkandfeelinpostmodernterms.Youneedtopayattentiontohim[Kimball]because
timesarechanging.RickWarren,fromtheforeword.
Godhasraisedupaparachurchmovementtoreemphasizeaneglectedpurposeofthechurch.The
Discipleship/SpiritualFormationsMovementdevelopingbelieverstofullmaturity.RichardFosterand
DallasWillardhaveunderscoredtheimportanceofbuildingupChristiansandestablishingpersonal
spiritualdisciplines.RickWarren,ThePurposeDrivenChurch,Warrencallsthismovement,avalid
messageforthechurchandawakeupcall.
SueMonkKiddisaformerBaptistandbestsellingauthor.Herfirsttwobookswerewrittenfroma
Christianperspective
ShewasfeaturedinVirtue,TodaysChristianWoman,andMoodyMonthly,MonkKiddwasprofoundly
influencedbythewritingsofCatholicmysticThomasMerton
Theministerwaspreaching.HewasholdingupaBible.Itwasopen,perchedatophisraisedhandasifa
blackbirdhadlandedthere.HewassayingthattheBiblewasthesoleandultimateauthorityifthe
Christianslife.Thesoleandultimateauthority.Irememberafeelingrisingupfromaplaceabouttwo
inchesbelowmynavel.Iwasapassionate,determinedfeeling,anditspreadoutfromthecoreofmelikea
currentsothatmyskinvibratedwithit.IffeelingcouldbetranslatedintoEnglish,thisfeelingwouldhave
roughlybeenthewordno!ItwasthepurestinnerknowingIhadexperienced,anditwasshoutinginme
no,no,no!TheultimateauthorityofmylifeisnottheBibleitisnotconfinedbetweenthecoversofa
book.Itisnotsomethingwrittenbymenandfrozenintime.Itisnotfromasourceoutsidemyself.My
ultimateauthorityisthedivinevoiceinmyownsoul.Period.SueMonkKidd,TheDanceofthe
DissidentDaughter,p.76

Wealsoneedgoddessconsciousnesstorevealearthsholinessmatterbecomesinspiriteditbreaths
divinity.EarthbecomesaliveandsacredGoddessoffersustheholinessofeverything.MonkKidd,
p.163163
RichardFosterusesSueMonkKiddasanexampleofwhatheispromoting.
Weshouldall,withoutshame,enrollintheschoolofcontemplativeprayer.
RichardFoster,CelebrationofDiscipline
Ialsowanttogiveawordofprecaution.InthesilentcontemplationofGodweareenteringdeeplyinto
thespiritualrealm,andthereissuchathingasasupernaturalguidancethatisnotdivineguidance.While
theBibledoesnotgiveusalotpfinformationonthenatureofthespiritualworld,wedoknowthereare
variousordersofspiritualbeings,andsomeofthemaredefinitelynotincooperationwithGodandhis
way!...ButfornowIwanttoencourageyoutolearnandpracticeprayersofprotectionAlldarkandevil
spiritsmustnowleave.RichardFoster,Prayer:FindingtheHeartstrueHome,Harper,1992,p.18
AttheoutsetIneedtogiveawordofwarning,alittlelikethewarninglabelsonmedicinebottles.
Contemplativeprayerisnotforthenotice.Idonotsaythisaboutanyotherformofprayer.Allare
welcome,regardlessofproficiency,orexpertise,toenterfreelyintoadorationandmeditationand
intercessionandahostofotherapproachestoprayer.Butcontemplationisdifferent.Whileweareall
equallypreciousintheeyesofGod,wearenotallequallyreadytolistentoGodsspeechinhis
wondrous,terrible,gentle,loving,allembracingsilence.RichardFoster,Prayer:FindingtheHeartstrue
Home,Harper,1992,p.156
thelifeofcontemplativeprayer,Lovedandincommunionwithallthings,thesoulisborninandout
ofthesecretsilenceofGod.Thissilenceattheheartofmysticismisnotonlythemeetingpointofthegreat
traditionsbutalsowhereallheartsmightmeet.
AlanJones,ReimaginingChristianity
ItusedtobethatChristianinstitutionsandsystemsofdogmasustainedthespirituallifeofChristians.
Increasingly,spiritualityitselfiswhatsustainseverything
else.AlanJonesisapioneerinreimaginingaChristianfaiththatemergesfromauthenticspirituality.His
workstimulatesandencouragesmedeeply.BrianMcLaren,backcoverReimaginingChristianity
InaChicagoSunTimesarticle,"Maverickministertapsnewgeneration,"thequestionisraised,Whowill
bethenextBillyGraham?ThearticlesuggestedRobBellasthepossiblereplacement.Whilethatmay
seemlikeafarfetchednotiontomany,thearticlequotesemergingleaderBrianMcLarenassayingit
"couldverywellbetrue."
Foramindblowingintroductiontoemergencetheoryanddivinecreativity,setasidethreemonthsand
readKenWilbersABriefHistoryofEverything.RobBell,VelvetElvis,p.192
ABriefHistoryofEverythingispublishedbyShambhalaPublications,namedaftertheterm,whichin
Buddhismmeansthemysticalabodeofspiritbeings.Wilberisoneofthemostrespectedandhighly
regardedtheoreticiansintheNewAgemovementtoday.

RogerOakland,FaithUndone,p.110
Yoga,Zen,centeringprayer,kabbalah(Jewishmysticism),TM,tantra(Hindubasedsexuality),and
kundaliniyoga,fromWilberswebsite,suggestedspiritualpractices
IstartedusingthephraselisteningprayerwhenItalkedaboutmyownexperiencesinmeditation.Ibuilt
myselfaprayerroomatinysanctuaryinabasementclosetfilledwithbooksonspiritualdisciplines,
contemplativeprayer,andChristianmysticism.InthatspaceIlitcandles,burnedincense,hungrosaries,
andlistenedtotapesofBenedictinemonks.Imeditatedforhoursonwords,images,andsounds.Ireached
thepointofbeingabletoachievealphabrainpatterns,thestateinwhichdreamsoccur,whilestillawake
andmeditating.,MikePerschon,writerforYouthSpecialties
MysticsineveryreligioustraditionspeakofalphastatesofconsciousnessandthelureofDivineLight,
althoughtheydosointheirownmetaphorsandimages.Intheirownwaystheyhavelearnedhowtoenter
alphaastheyprayorworship.Theylearnhowtobecomeenlightened.LaurieCabot,Powerofthe
Witch

atheologyofmysticismprovidessomehopeforcommongroundbetweenChristianityandIslam.Both
religionshavewithintheirhistoriesexamplesofecstaticunionwithGodCould[theSufis]have
encounteredthesameGodwedoinourChristianmysticism?TonyCampolo,SpeakingMyMind,
Nashville,TN,ThomasNelson,2004,pp.149150
NouwenbelievedthatpeoplecouldbesavedapartfromChrist.
HesawgreattreasurefortheChristianspirituallifeinHinduism,BuddhismandIslam
CampolocalledNouwenoneofthegreatChristiansofourtime.(TonyCampolo,SpeakingMyMind,
Nashville,TN,ThomasNelson,2004,p.72)
RefutingPantheism:GodisnottheUniverse
InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth.
Genesis1:1
Thusshallyesayuntothem,thegodsthathavenotmadetheheavensandtheearth,eventheyshallperish
fromtheearth,andfromundertheseheavens.Hehathmadetheearthbyhispower,hehathestablishedthe
worldbyhiswisdom,andhathstretchedouttheheavensbyhisdiscretion.Jeremiah10:1112
beforemetherewasnoGodformed,neithershalltherebeafterme.I,evenI,amtheLORDand
besidemethereisnosaviour.
Isaiah43:1011
VainRepetitionsarenotthewaytoGod

Butwhenyepray,usenotvainrepetitions,astheheathendo:fortheythinkthattheyshallbeheardfor
theirmuchspeaking.
Matthew6:7
Benotrashwiththymouth,andletnotthineheartbehastytoutteranythingbeforeGod:forGodisin
heaven,andthouupontheearth:thereforeletthywordsbefew.
Ecclesiastes5:2
ButIsayuntoyou,Thatevery*idlewordthatmenshallspeak,theyshallgiveanaccountthereofinthe
dayofjudgment.Forbythywordsthoushaltbejustified,andbythywordsthoushaltbecondemned.
Matthew12:36
Thissecondepistle,beloved,InowwriteuntoyouinbothwhichIstirupyourpuremindsbywayof
remembrance:Thatyemaybemindfulofthewordswhichwerespokenbeforebytheholyprophets,and
ofthecommandmentofustheapostlesoftheLordandSaviour:2Peter3:12
TheHolySpiritisnotinEveryone
Inwhomyetrusted,afterthatyeheardthewordoftruth,thegospelofyoursalvation:inwhomalsoafter
thatyebelieved,yeweresealedwiththatHolySpiritofpromise,whichistheearnestofourinheritance
untiltheredemptionofthepurchasedpossession,untothepraiseofhisglory.Ephesians2:1314
ButyearenotinthefleshbutintheSpirit,ifsobethattheSpiritofGoddwellinyou.Nowifanyman
havenottheSpiritofChrist,heisnoneofhis.AndifChristbeinyou,thebodyisdeadbecauseofsinbut
theSpiritislifebecauseofrighteousness.
Romans8:910
ManisnotInherentlyGood
BeholdIwasshapenininiquityandinsindidmymotherconceiveme.Psalm51:5
Whocanbringacleanthingoutofanunclean?Notone.Job14:4
Forallhavesinned,andcomeshortofthegloryofGod.Romans3:23
Theheartisdeceitfulaboveallthings,anddesperatelywicked:whocanknowit?
Jeremiah17:9
WeCannotSaveOurselves
Whenhisdisciplesheardittheywereexceedinglyamazed,saying,Whothencanbesaved?ButJesus
beheldthemandsaiduntothem,WithmenthisisimpossiblebutwithGodallthingsarepossible.
Matthew19:2526
SalvationthroughJesusofNazarethAlone

Beitknownuntoyouall,andtoallthepeopleofIsrael,thatbythenameofJesusChristofNazareth,
whomyecrucified,whomGodraisedfromthedead,evenbyhimdoththismanstandherebeforeyou
whole.Thisisthestonewhichwassetatnoughtofyoubuilders,whichisbecometheheadofthecorner.
Neitheristheresalvationinanyother:forthereisnoneothernameunderheavengivenamongmen,
wherebywemustbesaved.Acts4:1012
IstheEmergingChurchaCult?
ExtrabiblicalRevelation:
Mysticismbeginsinexperienceitendsintheology.LeonardSweet,QuantumSpirituality:APost
ModernApologetic,Dayton,OH:Whaleprints,1stEd.,1991,p.viiip.76
FalseSalvationBasis:
TheChurchsfixationonthedeathofJesusastheuniversalsavingactmustend,andtheplaceofthecross
mustbereimaginedinChristianfaith.Why?BecauseofthecultofsufferingandthevindictiveGodbehind
it.AlanJones,ReimaginingChristianity,Hoboken,NJ:Wiley&Sons,2005,p.132
AlanJonesisapioneerinreimaginingaChristianfaiththatemergesfromauthenticspirituality.Hiswork
stimulatesandencouragesmedeeply.BrianMcLaren,backcoverReimaginingChristianity
Thegodwhosemoodsalternatebetweengraciousnessandfierceangerthegodwhoextractsthelast
dropofbloodfromhisSonsothathisjustanger,evokedbysin,maybeappeased,isnottheGodrevealed
byandinJesusChrist.AndifheisnottheGodofJesus,hedoesnotexist.
FormerCatholicPriest,BrennanManning,AboveAll,Brentwood,TN:IntegrityPublishers,2003,p.
5859
FlawedChristology:
Jesusalmostcertainlywasnotbornofavirgin,didnotthinkofhimselfastheSonofGod,anddidnotsee
hispurposeasdyingforthesinsoftheworld.
MarcusBorg,TheGodWeNeverKnew,NewYork,NY,HarperCollins,1998,p.25
TothinkthatthecentralmeaningofEasterdependsuponsomethingspectacularhappeningtoJesus
corpsemissesthepointoftheEastermessageandriskstrivializingthestory.MarcusBorg,EasterAbout
Life,NotDeath,WashingtonPost/NewsweekOnFaithColumn,April7th,2004availableonlineat
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith
TolinkEasterprimarilytoourhopeforanafterlife,asifourpostdeathexistencedependsuponGod
havingtransformedthecorpseofJesus,istoreducethestorytoapoliticallydomesticatedyearningforour
survivalbeyonddeath.MarcusBorg,EasterAboutLife,NotDeath,WashingtonPost/NewsweekOn
FaithColumn,April7th,2004availableonlineathttp://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith

BrianMcLarensaidthathehashighregardforMarcusBorgRobBellreferencesandpraisesBorginhis
popularbookVelvetElvis
MarcusBorgisakeyforceintheemergingnewparadigmofChristianfaith.
WalterBrueggemann,ProfessoratColumbiaTheologicalSeminary.Hewasoneofthecontributorsofthe
RichardFostershereticalRevovareSpiritualFormationBible.BrueggemannsstatementcitedonUnited
TheologicalSeminarywebsite,http://www.united.edu/portrait/borg.shtmlinreferencetoMarcusBorgs
book,TheHeartofChristianity
DenouncingOthers:
Wehaveexperiencedtwomajorsourcesofcriticismduringourtransitions.ThefirstisChristiansfrom
moretraditionalbackgroundsNotallofourtraditionalbackgroundedChristianshavebeencriticaljust
theorneryones.Oursecondsourceofcriticismistraditionalchurchpastors.Again,notalltraditional
churchpastorsjustthemeanerones.*DanSoutherland,Transitioning:LeadingYourChurchThrough
change,Zondervan,2000,p.116*RickWarrenhasusedthisworkbySoutherlandtohelpthem
transitionintohisnewparadigm
SaballatisNehemiahsgreatestcriticandnumberoneenemy.Letmeputitplainerthanthat.Sanballat
isaleaderfromhellWeallhavesomeSanballatsinourchurches.Thisistheguywhoopposeswhatever
youproposeYoucannotcallthisguyaleaderfromhelltohisfacebutyoucancallhimaSanballat.
DanSoutherland,Transitioning:LeadingYourChurchThroughchange,Zondervan,2000,p.116
ThereisasegmentwithinpressingChristianitypressuringfolksintoembracingNewAgespirituality:
InthewiderecumenismofthisSpiritbeingopenedforustoday,weneedtohumbleacceptthelearnings
ofparticulareasternreligionsWhatmakesaparticularpracticeChristianisnotitssource,butitsintent
ThisisimportanttorememberinthefaceofthoseChristianswhowouldtrytoimpoverishourspiritual
resourcesbytoonarrowlydefiningthem.IfweviewthehumanfamilyasoneinGodsSpirit,then
historicalcrossfertilizationisnotsurprisingselectiveattentiontoEasternpracticescanbeofagreat
assistancetoafullyembodiedChristianlife.TildenEdwards,LivinginthePresence,HarperCollins,
1994,pp1819
DangerousTimesAhead
Thereisamaterialdifferencebetweenexceptingsomekindofapocalypsefromwhichonlythose
whohaveachievedhigherconsciousnesswillemergeunscathedandclaimingtocommittheapocalypse
yourself.TheformerisamajorthemeinNewAgethinking,thelatteronlyappearsincarefullyselected
extracts.
RebeccaBoren,TheSeattleWeekly,Jan713,1987,p.22
Whenyoucombinethatexpectationofworlddestructionwithrelianceondirectrevelationfromspirit
guidesandaddaphilosophythatembracesdoyourownthingasaguidingprinciple,youareaskingfor
trouble.
RebeccaBoren,TheSeattleWeekly,Jan713,1987,p.22

TheAntichristwillbethesupremeembodimentofmansdivinity
Letnomandeceiveyoubyanymeans:forthatdaydayshallnotcome,excepttherecomeafallingaway
first,andthatmanofsinisrevealed,thesonofperdition.
2Thes2:3
whoopposethandexaltedhimselfaboveallthatiscalledGod,orthatisworshippedsothatheasasGod
sittethinthetempleofGod,shewinghimselfthatheisGod.2Thes2:4
CaesarisLord!
MartyrdomsatCarthage:Perpetua(180202A.D.)andFelicitasmartyredinthepersecutionatCarthage
refusedtoconfessCaesarasLord.
Perpetuamartyredattheageof22whileholdingherinfant.
SeeNeander,EcclesiasticalHistory,vol.ip.109,(Clarksed.)
othersweretortured,notacceptingdeliverancethattheymightobtainabetterresurrection:Hebrews
11:35
TribulationthegreatonewillprecedethesecondcomingofJesusChrist
Wehaveworktodointhemeantime
JohnFeakesAugust,2008