Windsor Hills Camp Promotes Error Filled Books To Nazarenes

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

I was not sure exactly where to start with this, and it might take you about 10 minutes to read it all, but this is important.  After you finish this, please come back and ponder these questions: Are these books the kind of reading material and teaching that I want to have as a Nazarene?  Do these books reflect the holiness tradition of the Nazarene Church? Why in the world would anyone in the Nazarene church want to use books about Roman Catholic figures whose practices and teachings are clearly heretical and false?  Is the Nazarene denomination proclaiming traditional holiness teaching “on paper”, while going in a totally different direction under the radar of most Nazarenes? Will I as a Nazarene just close my eyes to this since it’s not “affecting me” anyway?  Do I care about  what just might be happening in my local church, or do I care about all Christians who may be touched by false teaching? What is going on with our seminary that at least one professor is recommending this kind of reading material?  What would our General Superintendents have to say about these books? If the practices of all these Roman Catholic mystics are so good, why are they not openly promoted at District Assemblies, or widely announced in places like our Holiness Today magazine, as something good for ALL Nazarenes?  When did all this start coming into the Nazarene denomination, and why?

With that in mind, I have stumbled onto some really disturbing information that comes right out of the Windsor Hills Camp and Retreat Center in New Hampshire, in our New England District.
On their website, the Neilson Renewal Center is asking people to donate books to the The Hardy Library for Spiritual Formation.  These books are being suggested by Dr. Doug Hardy, a graduate of ENC and currently professor of spiritual formation at our Nazarene Theological Seminary.
I downloaded the pdf file at the website with a list of books they are looking for, and when I opened the file, that is where my jaw figuratively dropped to the floor.  I have already written two articles asking whether Roman Catholicism is being taught to Nazarene youth.  I will now ask the same question here for adults: are Roman Catholicism mystical practices and ideology being promoted openly now to our pastors and adults?  Apparently, it is at Windsor Hills Camp!
From reading the list of books that are being requested, a great majority of them are books written about or by Roman Catholic monks and mystics, or they are books written by modern day proponents of “spiritual formation”, which many Nazarenes are still not aware of what that term really means.  Spiritual formation as it is being used now by the emergent and New Age crowd, is nothing more than the use of unbiblical contemplative spirituality practices and ancient Roman Catholic practices and rituals in order to supposedly experience God and become one with God.

So what books are being asked for, and why are they so bad?  As a quick summary, a great many of the titles are books about such Roman Catholic monks, saints, and mystics as: St. John of the Cross; St. Theresa of Avila; Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity; St. Therese of Lisieux; Madeline de St. Joseph; Aelred of Riveulx; Catherine of Sienna; Richard Foster (the modern day father of spiritual formation), George Fox, founder of the Quaker movement; Bernard of Clairvaux; Ignatius of Loyola; Meister Eckhart; Julian of Norwich; Mother Teresa.   There are some Wesleyan related books as well, but not much compared to these others.  It is interesting to note that one of the goals for the library is for “the increased understanding of the scriptures”, but ironically, many of these mystics are the very people who have twisted the scriptures, or substituted their own warped thinking in place of the scriptures!  The other goal is for “the spiritual encouragement/formation of God’s servants”.  How?

I have a followup page (Mystics Who Are Being Promoted To Nazarenes) where I give some brief biographical data and highlight the false teachings and heresies of many of these mystics.  Granted, there are some good books listed here, but there is no excuse for mixing in the bad ones!  Ironically, the only Bible asked for here is the Spiritual Formation Bible, which came out of the Renovare project affiliated with… Richard Foster of course.

Let me just give two short descriptions of some of the mystics promoted by these books.  Are these appealing to you as a Christian?:

Nouwen, Henri (1932-1996)
Roman Catholic monk who believed that there are many paths to God and each individual can claim their way to God.  Was deeply into contemplative prayer, lectio divina.  Has a vast influence within the emerging church and evangelicalism.  He claimed that contemplative meditation is necessary for an intimacy with God.  He taught that the use of a mantra could could take the practitioner into God’s presence.  He said that mysticism and contemplative prayer can create ecumenical unity because Christian leaders learn to hear “the voice of love”.  He combined the teaching of eastern gurus with ancient Catholic practices.  He taught a form of universalism and panentheism (God is in all things).  He claimed that every person who believes in a higher power and follows his vision of the future is of God and is building God’s kingdom.  He also taught that God is only love, unconditional love (of course that also is contradictory to scripture) (Contemplative Mysticism, by David Cloud, pg. 317-321)

St. Teresa of Avila
She was part of the Carmelite order, which was devoted to Mary.  She hated Protestants, and believed that they brought damnation to themselves by rejecting Rome and the Mass.

She was greatly influenced by books on mystical asceticism.   She believed in works salvation.  She was devoted to Mary, other saints,  and especially to Joseph. She believed that the consecrated wafer in the Mass is Christ.  She believed in purgatory.  She inflicted tortures on herself and practiced extreme asceticism.  She practiced mindless meditation and often went into ecstatic “raptures.”  She often feared that she was possessed or influenced by the devil.  She alleged to have seen Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father.  She also claimed to have seen many demons, and that the most effective thing against them was holy water.  She claimed to have seen and talked with many dead people. (Contemplative Mysticism, by David Cloud, pg. 374-384)

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Following is the original list as published at the Camp website.
I highlighted the more troublesome authors and titles in red, that I know of.  My comments are in green.
There are a couple of links you can go to to see what some of these are about, but I will have a more complete summary of most of these people on my blog… go to Lack of Discernment From Our Seminary.
The Wesleyan resources were listed last.

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From the website of Windsor Hills:

 

Send us a book!  Buy us a periodical subscription!  Here’s how and why . . .

The Nielson Renewal Center will include the Hardy Library for Spiritual Formation.  It is our dream to create a library that will encourage and support pastors, while providing resources for the tasks that are theirs.  We also want this library to resource spiritual formation events that take place on the campground.

While we do have some money set aside for book purchases, we can maximize our funds if we also receive donations to the library.  All material in this library must meet an important test. These books are for (1) the spiritual encouragement/formation of God’s servants or (2) for increased understanding of the scriptures.

If you would like to donate any of the works listed below, please mail them to Dan Whitney.
If you decide to purchase any of these books at Amazon.com,  please access Amazon through the Reynolds Institute (www.reynoldsinstitute.org) website, so that the district can get credit for these purchases.

In addition to the books listed below, we would love to receive donations of any biblical commentaries published after 1980.  We will keep a list of books received. You may want to call ahead to make sure you are not purchasing a duplicate.

We thank you for this investment in the life of our ministers and their families.

Suggestions for a Spiritual Formation Library
Windsor Hills Renewal Center
New England District Church of the Nazarene
Compiled by Dr. Doug Hardy, Nazarene Theological Seminary

Periodicals

Spiritual Life: A Journal of Contemporary Spirituality. Published by the Discalced Carmelites. www.spiritual-life.org
A publication of the Carmelite Friars. Among other pursuits, it focuses on “examining the meaning of the lives and writings of St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality. Published by The Johns Hopkins University Press.
http://muse.jhu.edu/journal/scs (This link seems to be missing)
Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life.  Published by Upper Room Ministries.
www.weavings.org

Prayer/Devotional Books

Benson Sr., Bob & Michael W. Benson. Disciplines for the Inner Life. Henderson, TN: Deeper Life, 1989.
deSilva, David A. Praying with John Wesley. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2001.
Job, Ruben P. A Wesleyan Spiritual Reader. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998.
Job, Rueben P. & Norman Shawchuck. A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People. Nashville: Upper Room,1990.
The Book of Common Prayer (Episcopal Church). New York: Seabury, 1979.
The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and of other Anglican churches, used throughout the Anglican Communion.

Basic Reference Works

The Spiritual Formation Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999.
Isn’t this something?  The one Bible recommended, and it is the Renovare version of the Bible, right out of Richard Foster’s Renovare Institute.  Not KJV or NKJV, but Foster.

Series: Christian Spirituality, Vols. 1-3 (Volumes 16-18 of the series, World Spirituality: An
Encyclopedic History of the Religious Quest). New York: Crossroad, 1987-1990.
Beasley-Topliffe, Keith. The Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. Nashville: Upper Room, 2003.
Cunningham, Lawrence S. & Keith J. Egan. Christian Spirituality: Themes from the Tradition. New York: Paulist Press, 1996.
Downey, Michael. Understanding Christian Spirituality. New York: Paulist Press, 1997.
Holmes, Urban T.  A History of Christian Spirituality. Seabury Press, 1980.
Holt, Bradley P.  Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality. Augsburg, 1993.
Wicks, Robert J. (ed.). Handbook of Spirituality for Ministers (vol. 1 and 2). Paulist Press, 1995.

Classic Spiritual Readings

Series: The Classics of Western Spirituality: A Library of the Great Spiritual Masters.  New York: Paulist Press. Includes writings by the Catholic mystic Madeleine de Saint-Joseph

Series: Upper Room Spiritual Classics. Nashville: Upper Room
Includes John Wesley, but also has writings by Theresa of Avila- Catholic mystic!  and John Cassian also!

Aelred of Riveaulx. Spiritual Friendship, tr. by Mary Eugenia Laker.  Cistercian Publications, 1974.
He was Abbot of Rievaulx in England, homilist and historian (1109-66), became a Cistercian monk.  This is a link related to Aelred: http://www.glbtq.com/literature/aelred.html

Asbury, Francis.  Journals and Letters, ed. by Elmer E. Clark, J. Manning Potts, and Jacob S. Payton.  (3
vols.) Nashville:  Abingdon Press, 1958. (1821)
Augustine. Confessions. New York: Penguin, 1961. (387)
____. The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love. Chicago, IL: Regnery Gateway, 1961. (d. 430)
Baillie, John.  A Diary of Private Prayer.  New York: Scribner’s Sons, 1949. (1936)
Barclay, William.  William Barclay: A Spiritual Autobiography.  Grand Rapids:  Eerdmans, 1975. (1971)
Baxter, Richard.  A Call to the Unconverted to Turn and Live.  Baker Book House, 1976. (d. 1691)

Bernard of Clairvaux. The Steps of Humility. tr. by George B. Burch.  Cambridge: Harvard University
Press, 1940. (d. 1153)
Another Roman Catholic monk and mystic.

Bonaventure.  The Soul’s Journey Into God,The Tree of Life, and The Life of St. Francis, tr. by Ewert Cousins.  New York: Paulist Press, 1978. (1259)
A Franciscan Friar, venerated Mary, promoted mysticism.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich.  Letters and Papers from Prison.  New York: Macmillan, 1972. (1951)
Calvin, John. A Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1982. (1550)

Caternia da Genova. Purgation and Purgatory: The Spiritual Dialogue. tr. by Serge Hughes.  New York:   Paulist Press, 1979 (Classics of Western Spirituality). (1551)
A Roman Catholic saint.

Catherine of Siena. The Dialogue, tr. by Suzanne Noftke.  New York:  Paulist Press, 1980 (Classics of Western Spirituality). (1377-1378)
Another Roman Catholic mystic!

Gregory of Nyssa. From Glory to Glory, tr. & ed. by Henry Musurillo.  New York:  Scribner’s, 1961.   (d. 394)
A Roman Catholic saint from around 400 A.D.

Fenelon, Francois de Salignac de La Mothe. Let Go, Springdale, PA: Whitaker House, 1973. (c. 1600’s)
French Roman Catholic theologian.  One of the main advocates of quietism, a philosophy with much influence on many mystics.

Foster, Richard J. and Smith, James Bryan (eds.)  Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups,  Harper San Francisco, 1993.
Foster, Richard J. and Griffin, Emilie (eds.)  Spiritual Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups on the Twelve Spiritual Disciplines,  Harper San Francisco, 2000.

The “godfather” of spiritual formation.  Some quotes from his book Prayer:

“Contemplatives sometimes speak of their union with God by the analogy of a log in a fire: the glowing log is so united with the fire that it is fire …”

“What is the goal of Contemplative Prayer? … union with God…. our final goal is union with God, which is a pure relationship where we see nothing.”
“Christians … have developed two fundamental expressions of Unceasing Prayer. The first … is usually called aspiratory prayer or breath prayer. The most famous of the breath prayers is the Jesus Prayer. It is also possible to discover your own individual breath prayer…. Begin praying your breath prayer as often as possible.”

Fox, George. Journal of George Fox.  London:  J. M. Dent & Sons, LTD, 1924. (d. 1691)
Founder of the Quaker movement. A universalist, here are a few statements by him to illustrate how he thought:

“Walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone.”
“The Light shines through all.”
“There is that of divinity in all things.”

Hugh of St. Victor. Selected Spiritual Writings.  New York: Harper & Row, 1962. (d. 1141)
Mystic philosopher from around 1000 A.D.

John of the Cross.  Dark Night of the Soul, tr. by Allison Peers.  Doubleday, 1959. (d. 1591)
Again, another Catholic mystic!

Julian of Norwich. Showings, tr. by Edmund Colledge and James Walsh.  New York:  Paulist  Press, 1978, (Classics of Western Spirituality). (d. 1443)
Again, another Catholic mystic from England, thought to be one of the greatest!

Kempis, Thomas A. The Imitation of Christ, paraphrased by Donald E. Demaray.  Grand Rapids MI:  Baker Book House, 1982. (1471)
German Augustinian monk.  This book is filled with Roman Catholic heresies.

Kierkegaard, Soren.  Purity of Heart, tr. by Douglas V. Steere.  New York: Harper & Brothers, 1938.    (d. 1855)

Law, William.  A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life and The Spirit of Love, ed. by Paul G.
Standwood.  New York: Paulist Press, 1978 (Classics of Western Spirituality). (1728)
Leech, Kenneth. Experiencing God: Theology as Spirituality. San Fransico, CA: Harper and Row  Publishing, 1985.

Loyola, Ignatius.  The Spiritual Exercises, tr. by Louis J. Puhl.  Loyola, 1981. (1521)
Another Catholic mystic!  He wrote mystical heresy which can be found in the Barefoot Ministries book! This same book is actually recommended and quoted in one of the Barefoot books.

Luther, Martin.  Letters of Spiritual Counsel, ed. by Theodore G. Tappert.  Westminster, 1955. (d. 1546)
Meister, Eckhart. A Modern Translation, tr. by Raymond B. Bla.  New York: Harper, 1941. (d. 1328)
A German Dominican priest.  Taught that man at his highest level is one with God.

Murray, Andrew.  The Inner Life. Whitaker House, 1984. (d. 1917)
Muto, Susan Annette. John of The Cross For Today: The Dark Night. Notre Dame, Ind.: Ave Maria  Press, 1994.
____. John of The Cross For Today: The Ascent. Notre Dame, Ind.: Ave Maria Press, 1991.
Pascal, Blaise.  Thoughts, ed. by Thomas S. Kepler.  Cleveland: World Pub. Co., 1955. (d. 1662)
Philo of Alexandria.  The Contemplative Life, tr. by David Winston. New York: Paulist Press, 1981  (Classics of Western Spirituality). (c. 50)

Rahner, Karl. Theological Investigations, Vol 3: The Theology of the Spiritual Life. London: Darton,  Longman and Todd, 1967.
Sales, Francis de. Introduction to the Devout Life, tr. by John K. Ryan.  Harper, 1950. (1608)

Scupoli, Lorenzo. The Spiritual Combat, tr. & rev. by William Lester and Robert Mohan.  Westminster,  Maryland: Newman Press, 1945. (1589)
Roman Catholic priest and writer

Steere, Douglas V. Doors Into Life: Through Five Devotional Classics.  New York: Harper & Brothers, 1948.
____. (ed) Quaker Spirituality: Selected Writings.  New York: Paulist Press, 1984 (Classics of Western Spirituality).
Steere is a Quaker.  Among other things, Quakers teach that all Christians have a special “Inner Light”.  Also, that God is IN ALL human beings.  Many of them believe in universalism.
Here is a quote from their UK website:

“Quakers share a way of life, not a set of beliefs. We base our faith on silent worship, and our own experiences of the divine.”

Teresa of Avila. The Interior Castle, tr. by Kieran Kavanaugh and Otiho Rodriguez.  New York: Paulist Press (Classics of Western Spirituality). (1577)
Roman Catholic mystic, practiced a lot of heresy including scourging herself daily.

Mother Teresa. A Simple Path: Compiled by Lucina Vardey. New York: Ballantine Books, 1995.
Roman Catholic nun, who led many astray by mixing Christianity with all religions as being equal.

Walsh, James (ed).  The Cloud of Unknowing. New York: Paulist Press, 1981 (Classics of Western Spirituality).
This contemplative mysticism book is by an unknown Catholic mystic from medieval times, but is popular with emergents and pastors alike. It is considered a classic in contemplative mysticism.

The Way of a Pilgrim, tr. by R. M. French.  Harper, 1952.
Weil, Simone.  Waiting for God, tr. by Emma Crawford.  Harper Torchbooks. (d. 1943)
Wesley, Charles.  The Journal of Charles Wesley.  Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City (1980), 2 vols. (1736-1756)
Wesley, John.  The Journal of Rev. John Wesley, ed. by Nehemiah Curnock.  London: Epworth Press, 1938. (1790)
Whaling, Frank (ed.)  John and Charles Wesley: Selected Writings and Hymns. New York: Paulist  Press, 1981 (Classics of Western Spirituality).
Woolman, John.  The Journal of John Woolman.  Seacaucus, NJ: Citadel Press, 1972. (d. 1772)

Resources for Guided Retreats

Job, Rueben P.  A Guide to Retreat for All God’s Shepherds. Abingdon Press, 1994.
Payne, Joseph A. Befriending: A Self-Guided Retreat for Busy People. New York: Paulist, 1993.
Rupp, Joyce. Meeting God in our Transition Times: A Five-Part Group or Person Guided Retreat (Audio tape & book). Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria, 1995.
You can check out her homepage here: Rupp, Joyce

Spiritual Formation of the Pastor

Harbaugh, Gary L.  Pastor as Person. Augsburg, 1984.
Hinson, Glenn E.  Spiritual Preparation for Christian Leaders.  Nashville:  Upper Room, 1999.
Holmes, Urban T.  Spirituality for Ministry. Seabury Press, 1982.
Job, Rueben P.  A Guide to Retreat for All God’s Shepherds. Abingdon Press, 1994.

Nouwen, Henri. The Wounded Healer. Garden City, NY: Image Books, 1972.
You remember him perhaps.  Roman Catholic monk who believed that there are many paths to God.  Was deeply into contemplative prayer, lectio divina.

Peterson, Eugene H. Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity. William B. Eerdmans, 1987.
Author of The Message- a very corrupted “paraphrase of the Bible even Peterson does not consider it a true translation.
He has lots of New Age / occultic ties and influences.
A sample corrupted version from the Lord’s Prayer: instead of “on earth as it is in heaven”, he writes “as above, so below”, an exact quote of an occultic phrase!

____. Subversive Spirituality. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1994.
____. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, 2nd Ed. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press,  2000.
Rice, Howard.  The Pastor as Spiritual Guide.  Nashville:  Upper Room, 1998.

Wesleyan Resources

Series: The Works of John Wesley. Nashville: Abingdon.
Chilcote, Paul. Praying in the Wesleyan Spirit: 52 Prayers for Today. Nashville: Upper Room, 2001.
Clapper, Gregory S.  As if the Heart Mattered:  A Wesleyan Spirituality.  Nashville: Upper Room, 1997.
deSilva, David A. Praying with John Wesley. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2001.
Dunnam, Maxie. The Christian Way: A Wesleyan View of our Spiritual Journey. Zondervan, 1987.
Dunning, H. Ray.  Grace, Faith, and Holiness. Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1988.
Greathouse, William M.  Wholeness in Christ: Toward a Biblical Theology of Holiness.  Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 1998.
Harper, Steve. Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition. Nashville, TN: The Upper Room, 1983.
Harper, Steve. Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition: A Workbook. Nashville, TN: The Upper Room, 1995.

Harmon, Mark A.  The Warmed Heart : 30 Days In The Company Of John Wesley.  Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 1995.
Job, Ruben P. A Wesleyan Spiritual Reader. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998.
Langford, Thomas.  Practical Divinity: Theology in the Wesleyan Tradition.  Abingdon, 1983.
Maas, Robin. Crucified Love: The Practice of Christian Perfection. Abingdon Press, 1989.
Matthaei, Sondra H. Fatih Formation in the Wesleyan Tradition. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2000.
Tracy, Wesley D., E. Dee Freeborn, Janine Tartaglia, and Morris A. Weigelt  The Upward Call. Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1994.
Wynkoop, Mildred  A Theology of Love. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 1972.

END OF LIST —————————————————————————————

May God help the Nazarene denomination.
Sincerely in Christ,
Manny

Unbiblical Meditation Methods On The Rise In Hospitals

Although the topic below is unfamiliar to many Christians, it is something that is affecting many, especially those who may be in hospitals for rehabilitation or some type of treatment.  The spirit world is real, and the scriptures warn us about divination and other methods of “meditation” that might be meant to experience God, but instead results in experiencing something ungodly.  Now these methods are being used in many hospitals and health facilities (Reiki, Quantum Touch, Therapeutic Touch), and thus a warning is needed to be given.
Manny

ALERT: Christian Family Encounters Quantum Touch

LTRP Note: While the article below deals with a spiritually sensitive topic, we think once you read this article, you will understand why we must issue this warning. What we are about to report is not some far-out silliness. Rather, it is something that can potentially affect millions of people.
This week, Lighthouse Trails was told a story that just happened to a Christian couple’s twenty-one year old son. Josh (not his real name), who is a devout Christian, was in a car accident five years ago. Because of that accident, Josh has had to receive physical therapy from time to time for his injuries. This past week, he was seen by a physical therapist in a major Oregon city, one that he had never seen before. At one point during the session, the therapist seemed to be meditating and then began performing some type of therapeutic touch on Josh. Afterwards, Josh asked the therapist what he had been doing. The therapist told him it was something called Quantum Touch.

According to the Quantum-Touch website (featuring founder Dr. Richard Gordon), QT is: “a method of natural healing that works with the Life Force Energy (LFE) of the body to promote optimal wellness. Life Force Energy, also known as “chi” in Chinese and “prana” in Sanskrit [Hinduism], is the flow of energy that sustains all living beings.

While many people may not be aware of the term Quantum Touch and would not suspect anything from their health practitioner if he or she mentioned that term, Josh was concerned. He informed his parents, who in turn requested the help of a family friend, researcher Ray Yungen. Yungen did know about Quantum Touch, and when he was told that his friends’ son had come under the influence of Quantum Touch, he was shaken.

In Dr. Richard Gordon’s book, Quantum Touch, the signature book for the practice, Gordon says that he learned certain meditation techniques from a “spiritual teacher” named Lazaris (pp. 18, 92, 107). In another book, in which Gordon wrote the foreword, Supercharging Quantum Touch: Advanced Techniques, it states that Lazaris is one of Richard Gordon’s “teachers” (p. 37).

Who is Lazaris?

In Ray Yungen’s book, For Many Shall Come in My Name, Yungen discusses Lazaris:

[A bookstore owner] related how she attended a powerful workshop with “Lazaris” and discovered his techniques were practical and usable. That doesn’t sound too extraordinary until you find out Lazaris is not a person but a spirit guide. Considering the possible nature of that workshop, listen to what a brochure on Lazaris had to say:

There will be several incredible Guided Meditations and the very touching Blendings with Lazaris. A Blending is when Lazaris combines his energy with ours to touch us individually either to impart knowledge into our Subconscious or to help us create the reality we desire. The Blendings are very intimate times to just be with Lazaris.1 …

A newspaper reporter who did an article on [the bookstore owner] informed me that she was “one of the most calm, serene persons I have ever met.” The reporter added, “People want what she has.”

I wonder what [the reporter] would have said had she known this serenity was probably the result of blendings with a spirit guide and that this [bookstore owner] was promoting the same state-of-being to others on a wide scale.

Yungen goes on to explain more about “Lazaris”:

Jach Pursel [a well-known channeler], who channels the immensely popular “Lazaris,” explains how this entity first came to him:

Early evening. Sitting on the bed, plumped up in pillows, I am preparing to meditate (ha!). I am going to seek insight (ha!) to help guide our lives…

Two hours later, Peny [his wife] didn’t hear my sheepish apology for having dozed off. She was excitedly tumbling over words trying to tell me that an entity had spoken through me. She thought I had fallen asleep again, too. This time, however, my head didn’t bob, so she waited. Some minutes passed, and then a deep, resonant voice began where mine had left off. The answers, however, were powerful, not of the caliber of mine. She listened. She wrote as fast as she could….

The entity explained that he was Lazaris! … Lazaris requested two weeks of our time to finalize the necessary adjustments so he could “channel” through me. He provided Peny with a simple, but detailed, method I should use to enter trance more easily. He assured her that this experience would never be detrimental, that although he had neither a body nor time, he appreciated that we did, and he would never abuse either.2

(FMSN,2nd ed., pp. 39-40, pp. 84-85)

We believe Lazaris is a demon. Yet, he has inspired the author of a popular book on healing. In turn, this book and its author have inspired countless health care practitioners in North America and over 43 other countries.

Reader, do not underestimate what is going on here. Reiki, Quantum Touch, Therapeutic Touch – these are all interrelated, and there are currently millions of practitioners. Just in Germany alone, there are over a million Reiki practitioners. There are many more than that in North America. Both Reiki and Quantum Touch are based on the chakras (please read Out of India to understand the chakras), which means that to tamper with these practices is to tamper with danger.

Next time you go to any kind of therapist (including counselors), make sure you ask if he or she does Reiki, Quantum Touch, or any chakra-based energy healing. If he or she says yes, you better high tail it out of there and find a different health care practitioner. Or you might be taking home with you more than you bargained for.

The chakra system is based on the spiritual perception that man is God. For those of you who understand and dearly love the preaching of the Cross, you will clearly see that the previous assertion is not unfounded. And it is more likely than not that it is in the region in which you live. If that sounds preposterous, then ponder this. On Yahoo’s search engine, the term “Quantum Touch” comes up over 900,000 times!

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. II Corinthians 11: 14-15

Note: After this incident, Josh and his parents joined together in prayer and renounced any influence that may have occurred because of the Quantum Touch session. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” I John 4:4

Notes:
1. “Lazaris,” Concept: Synergy, Promotional Flyer (Fairfax, California).

2. Jach Pursel, “Introduction from the Sacred Journey: You and Your Higher Self,” taken from Jach Pursel’s website, http://www.lazaris.com/publibrary/pubjach.cfm.

Related Information:

Reiki, Thomas Merton, and Richard Foster

Research on Reiki

Posted on April 27, 2009 @ 2:54 am
Source URL: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

New Age Sympathizer Leonard Sweet Influencing Nazarenes

Over at the Church of the Nazarene Northwest District, they are promoting a one day “conversation” at the River Church of the Nazarene, on Nov. 20, 2009.  This District includes churches in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

The title of the seminar is “Beautiful Future: Hope for the Church in Transition”.  The speaker is Leonard Sweet.  I ask the question here: why is Leonard Sweet being invited to Nazarene churches and campuses? Now, you may in turn ask me, why are you questioning whether Leonard Sweet should be in any Nazarene venue, or any Christian venue for that matter?  Let me explain.

Who is Leonard Sweet? In the promo for this seminar he is described this way:

Leonard Sweet is a historian of American culture; a futurist who “sees things the rest of us do not see, and dreams possibilities that are beyond most of our imagining.”  He is a preacher and writer who communicates the gospel powerfully to a postmodern age by bridging the worlds of academics and popular culture.

First, it almost sounds to me as if they are describing a prophet of some kind (‘sees things the rest of us do not see”).  Besides that, however, if you dig deep enough into his background, you will find much disturbing information, if you are one who believes in the Biblical Christianity that is not mixed with New Age or anything pagan.  Leonard Sweet is the author of several popular books, including Quantum Spirituality. I’ve done a lot of research on him, and if I gave you all the information here, it would be too long.  I advise that you do more if you need to, but I think what I give you here will be enough to make you wonder, “where is the discernment of any Christian church or university that invites Leonard Sweet to speak at their school or church, if they are aware of what he teaches?”

Leonard Sweet’s ideology is a mix of Christianity, paganism and New Age.  He promotes “the new spirituality”, and the “christ-consciousness”. He promotes visualism, guided imagery, breath prayers; all practices of contemplative mysticism.  Please be aware that “new spirituality” is the new way of saying “New Age”, since that already is a loaded word for many people.  (Its like putting lipstick on a pig- but its still a pig).  The new spirituality includes authors like Eckhart Tolle who emphasizes the “god in you”.  He has appeared on Oprah’s show many times.
I have never read any complete work by Sweet, but that does not stop me or you from having the discernment to judge from the vast amounts of excerpts from his books that are available, and from his messages on YouTube and other sites.  Many emergents make the claim that unless we read an entire work from cover to cover, we cannot get things in proper context and we don’t understand what he is saying.  That is not necessarily so, and Leonard Sweet’s writings confirm that he is not orthodox in his “Christian” theology.  He also co-authored a book with Brian McLaren in 2003 called A Is For Abductive: The Language of the Emerging Church.  So he is also a supporter of this heretical movement.

Here in his own words, are some hints at what his new spirituality entails, taken from Lighthouse Trails Research:

“The first of these five untheorized observations is that New Light embodiment means to be “in connection” and ‘in-formation’ with other Christians. Deeper feeling and higher relating go together. The church is fundamentally one being, one person, a comm-union whose cells are connected to one another within the information network called the Christ consciousness.” —Quantum Spirituality, P. 122

“Energy-fire experiences take us into ourselves only that we might reach outside of ourselves. Metanoia is a de-centering experience of connected-ness and community. It is not an exercise in reciting what Jesus has done for me lately. Energy-fire ecstasy, more a buzz than a binge, takes us out of ourselves, literally. That is the meaning of the word ‘ecstatic.’” —Quantum Spirituality, P. 93

Note: This ecstasy Sweet speaks refers to the New Age ecstasy that occurs in an altered state of consciousness.

The power of small groups is in their ability to develop the discipline to get people “in-phase” with the Christ consciousness and connected with one another. P. 147

New Lights offer up themselves as the cosmions of a mind-of-Christ consciousness. As a cosmion incarnating the cells of a new body, New Lights will function as transitional vessels through which transforming energy can renew the divine image in the world, moving postmoderns from one state of embodiment to another. P. 48

A surprisingly central feature of all the world’s religions is the language of light in communicating the divine and symbolizing the union of the human with the divine: Muhammed’s light-filled cave, Moses’ burning bush, Paul’s blinding light, Fox’s “inner light,” Krishna’s Lord of Light, Bohme’s light-filled cobbler shop, Plotinus’ fire experiences, Bodhisattvas with the flow of Kundalini’s fire erupting from their fontanelles, and so on.” P. 235

What Sweet means by “Christ consciousness” can be determined through his book, Quantum Spirituality. For instance, in the Acknowledgements pages Sweet thanks the “New Light leaders” whom he has followed in his spiritual journey. He names interspiritualists/universalists such as Matthew Fox (author of The Coming of the Cosmic Christ), Episcopalian priest/mystic Morton Kelsey, Willis Harman (author of Global Mind Change) and Ken Wilber (one of the major intellectuals in the New Age movement). In the Preface of Sweet’s book (p. 3), he (referring to other New Agers such as Gary Zukav) says: “Unfortunately, little of this literature is known or celebrated in the religious community.” Zukav’s book, The Seat of the Soul, teaches people how to get in touch with their spirit guides.

Another sample from his book Quantum Spirituality: Under the topic of Sevening (On the seventh day [God] rested and drew breath.) he gives some 10 deep breathing exercises. “1. Get in touch with your lungs by closing your eyes. Visualize in your mind a tennis court” 8.“Hold your Bible and breathe meditatively. The breathtaking, nay, breathgiving truth of aliveness is more than Methuselean in its span: Part of your body right now was once actually, literally part of the body of Abraham, Sarah, Noah, Esther, David, Abigail, Moses, Ruth, Matthew, Mary, Like, Martha, John, Priscilla, Paul… and Jesus. 9. Keep breathing quietly while holding your Bible. You have within you not just the powers of goodness resident in the great spiritual leaders like Moses, Jesus, Muhammed, Lao Tzu You also have within you the forces of evil and destruction.” Resident in each breath you take is the body of angels like Joan of Arc and devils like Gilles de Rais, Genghis Khan, Judas Iscariot, Herod, Hitler, Stalin and all the other destructive spirits throughout history” (Quantum Spirituality p.300-301) (Courtesy of Mike Oppenheimer at Let Us Reason Ministries)

END OF QUOTES (is that enough?)

So many buzzwords of New Age, occultism and paganism: Christ consciousness, Kundalini fire, New Light, energy-fire ecstacy, the divine image, the “union of human with the divine”.   This is not what you will find anywhere in scripture, and there is nothing in scripture close to suggesting that these ideas are within the bounds of orthodoxy.
And the numerous mystics that he quotes and recommends is well documented, such as Thomas Merton, the Roman Catholic monk who said that everyone must find there own way to God.  These associations or connections go against the admonishment to not be “unequally yoked with unbelievers.”  And if this is how he “communicates the gospel powerfully to a postmodern age”, I don’t want it.  If he wants to communicate the gospel, he ought to communicate the gospel once given to the saints, without inventing new ways of “finding the divine in you.”

Mike Oppenheimer says in his article Spiritual Fusion: East Comes West:

“How much can you change the church and still have it be part of the Christianity that began with the apostles. These men may consider themselves innovators and think deeply about the future but it seems that they do not know when to stop philosophizing and read the Bible to see if their direction they are going is the right direction. Yet we are reminded by the wisest man who ever lived (besides Jesus), there “Is nothing new under the sun.” The early church saw the Gnostics and Mystics within their ranks and were willing to oppose them; we see those of the same pursuit among us today, but what will we do? Our decision today will affect our tomorrow, our future. Do we return to the ancient path or pursue what is new?

Leonard Sweet is a false teacher, according to the scriptures.  So why is a false teacher being invited to speak at a Nazarene church?  I don’t know, but I believe this is just another example of poor discernment at best, and worst, the intentional acceptance of New Age and emergent ideology into the Nazarene denomination.  Another bit of bad news which seems to be too plentiful nowadays in the Nazarene denomination.

Unless Leonard Sweet has renounced his New Age ideas and repented, it seems to me that he has no business speaking at any Nazarene church or school, or other Christian denomination for that matter.  Please pray for Leonard Sweet.

Romans 16:17-18 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

Some places where he has spoken at, or his books are used as a resource, are: Mid America Nazarene University (podcast); Southern Nazarene University in Oct. 2006;  Nazarene Eastern Michigan District in 2003; Danville Nazarene in Virginia;  Eastern Nazarene College Pastors/Leaders Enrichment Conference in June 2006; Northwest Nazarene University Missional Leadership resource list.  Also Tennessee Nazarene District speaker in October, on church growth.
He was a featured speaker at the 2003 M3 Church of the Nazarene Conference in Nashville, but his video presentation has been removed from the link I went to.  You can see some info about his session here.
He is also on the schedule to speak at the National Worship Leaders Conference in 2010 in June and October.

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Extra research: For a better understanding of the fusion of Eastern mysticism with Christianity and how the emergent church uses it, read Mike Oppenheimer’s article at Let Us Reason Ministries:  Spiritual Fusion: East Comes West
(Mike is a featured speaker on the DVD The Emerging Church, which you can receive a free copy by emailing a request to me).

Leonard Sweet on YouTube (highlights of Northwest Ministry Conference).  having research emergent ideology for so long, I know exactly what is behind his thought process in this short video)

Biblical Christianity vs. Cultural Christianity

It’s now been 13 months since I started sending out warnings regarding the emergent church heresy which is rapidly spreading throughout all denominations.  I pray you have learned much and are prayerfully asking the Lord, “if I see false teaching anywhere, what can I do?  What is my responsibility as a Christian, according to the scriptures?”  Part of what the emergent church movement has embraced is the philosophy of post-modernism, yet I want to make it clear also that modernism was not exactly a great thing either.  Post-modernism says that there may be truth but we can never know it for sure; while modernism said that we can clearly know the truth through the use of human reasoning.  Sounds good at first, but human reasoning… well, you know where that can lead to.  I suggest the solution is simple: let’s go back to pre-modernism and simply believe what the Bible says.  This may sound like a radical suggestion to the post-modern crowd, but… let’s just trust the scriptures completely!

I heard an excellent and encouraging sermon last night on Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem.  We as Christians need to do the same.  We must rebuild the walls around Biblical Christianity and stand strong together.  We may even feel like we have too few resources or too few people fighting in the battle, but we must be reminded as I was last night, that God is the winner already, we just don’t know how the final outcome will be.  That does not mean however, that we sit by the sidelines, because God wants all of us involved in the fight for Biblical truth.  We need to trust Him and obey Him, and use whatever resources that He provides for us.  I prefer to allow God to use whatever abilities I have, rather than not being willing to join in the fight.  The only question left to answer then is, who is willing to help rebuild the walls and make the city strong again?  What part can each one of us play?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:15-16: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits.“

Follow the principle taught in 1 John 4:1:

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.“

And finally, this warning from Paul in Acts 20:21-26:

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

May God bless you in searching for truth, and examining all claims of truth, that you do it in the light of scripture only.

The following comparison is from a chart at Kjos Ministries comparing the differences between Biblical and cultural Christianity, including those ideas espoused by the emergent church crowd.  Call this a quick crash course on learning the general philosophy of emergent/post-modern/cultural ideology; but as I have advised fellow Christians many times, check it out for yourself if you are skeptical.  Research the information, and the teachings of emergent leaders.

Biblical versus Cultural Christianity

This chart is an attempt to answer those who judge Christians by the atrocities committed in the name of “Christianity” through the ages — including our own times. Those wars, persecutions, and cruelties had little to do with Biblical Christianity. They had everything to do with man’s greedy, power-hungry human nature which seeks its own ways rather than God’s. The ungodly expressions of our human nature may change from culture to culture, but the result is usually the same: the people imagine a god that fits their new cultural wants and values, and they learn to see this distortion of Christianity as the true church.
Biblical Christianity means being joined to Jesus Christ through faith in what He did for us at the cross, then allowing Him to live His life through us, so that others might know Him and see His love. (That love may include sharing His warnings as well as His promises with those in need.) The established Church, like Old Testament Israel, has always tended to drift away from its devotion to God and become just other institutions, subject to the same human impulses and painful consequences as the rest of the world. Please don’t blame human evils on a “straw-man” or a convenient cultural distortion of Christianity. Consider some of the differences between Biblical faith and today’s cultural deviations.

	Biblical Christianity Only understood by those who are joined to Christ through the cross	Cultural Christianity Believed by the masses to represent genuine Christianity
It is…	A personal relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ, based on faith. John 17:20-26; Rom. 8:37-39	A religion based on humanist logic, “feel good” experiences,  and popular interpretations of Scriptures.
Come to God through…	Faith in Jesus Christ Who has revealed Himself in His Word and by His Spirit. John 14:6	Faith that our own good works and intentions are good enough.
View the Bible as:	The absolute, unchanging, Word of God. The Bible is inspired and guarded by God — including its honest reports about evil acts among God’s people. 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet 1:25	A collection of guidelines, allegories, myths, and stories useful for good living. Offensive verses must be ignored.
Our goal is…	God’s approval. To know Him, do His will, follow His way, and live each moment in fellowship with Him — by His wonderful grace! Gal.1:10	People’s approval. To please, not offend, the world and its communities. Fun, feel-good fellowship.
Source of Strength	God’s unlimited grace and power. Gal. 2:20; Phil. 4:19	Our human abilities — plus God’s help when “needed.”
See our human self as…	Weak and inadequate apart from Christ. 2 Cor. 12:9-10	Strong and capable if we have confidence in Self.
See sin as…	Leading to spiritual bondage and death. Rom. 6:23	A normal part of life. Ignore it, or you might offend someone. Or enjoy it, for “God understands” you needs and inclinations.
Deal with sin through…	Confession and faith: trusting Jesus as the “Lamb,” our Savior who bore our sins on cross. Rom. 6:1-6	Try to do better next time, or just tolerate it. Don’t offend anyone by making them feel guilty.
Caring for people…	Bring people to Christ. Demonstrate God’s love. Trust God to meet needs by His Spirit working through our surrendered lives. Rom. 12:9-18	Bring people to the church or group. Don’t tolerate uncompromising Christians who might offend people. Do to others as you would have others do to you.
Response to suffering:	Trust God to use suffering to deepen our faith and endurance, prepare us for ministry, and demonstrate His love and power. 2 Cor. 1:3-11	Pray, endure, and trust that God will help. It’s okay to challenge God’s love, power, and purpose — and to seek quick relief through whatever means available — no matter how it conflicts with His Word.
Commitment:	Trust and follow God. No compromise. Rather die than betray our Lord. Rom. 12:1-2	Trust and follow feelings and human logic. Compromise essentials to avoid offending the world.
Expect to…	Face rejection and persecution. John 15:20-21	Get along and influence the world.
Outreach:	Bring God’s love and good news to the needy, then bring the needy to Jesus.	Adapt the church to the “community” so that everyone will feel at home.
Daily hope:	Eternity with Jesus, our Shepherd and King. 1 Peter 1:3-9	Success, acceptance of all people, fun and fellowship in this life.

Kjos Ministries