MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) Promoting Contemplative/New Age Book

I actually just bumped across an article from Lighthousetrails Research that mentioned something about the MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) organization promoting some contemplative/New Age/mystical books. This caught my attention because I know of one church that has a "MOPS" program and I actually had no idea that MOPS was an actual organization. This post is just for a reminder that we need to always be aware of what books are being used for resources in programs, organizations, or conferences, and to examine books closely before we promote them as a resource for programs such as MOPS.

President of MOPS, Elisa Morgen, recently endorsed a book by author Keri Wyatt Kent called Listen: Finding God in the Story of Your Life. Wyatt's books are also available for purchase from the MOPS website . Wyatt's book Listen: Finding God in the Story of Your Life can be purchased from the MOPShop as well as Gary Thomas' book Sacred Pathways, in which he teaches mantra meditation.

Here is an excerpt from the Lighthousetrails Research Article about Wyatt's book Listen: Finding God in the Story of Your Life. Click here to read the entire article.

*** In March 2006, it came to our attention that MOPS was part of CCN (Church Communication Network), a network of Christian ministries that promotes contemplative spirituality. However, and perhaps even more disturbing, MOPS is promoting (and selling) books that are pro- contemplative. The book that stands out among the others is Breathe. The author, Keri Wyatt Kent, is a writer for Willow Creek Community Church and often speaks on spiritual formation. Her upcoming book, Listen: Finding God in the Story of Your Life, teaches readers to "listen" to God through "spiritual practices," including the practice of silence. The author quotes extensively throughout the book both contemplatives and New Agers, including Henri Nouwen, M.Scott Peck, Sue Monk Kidd, Anne Lamott, Julia Cameron, Rick Warren, Richard Foster, Ruth Haley Barton, and Eugene Peterson (read A Time of Departing for more on the New Age and/or contemplative connections to these mentioned authors).

As with many contemplatives, Kent said (in her book) that she didn't really get a lot out of the Bible until she started practicing contemplative methods such as Lectio Divina: "When I was introduced to the ancient practice, Lectio Divina, everything changed" (p. 151). Kent encourages the use of breath prayers and quotes contemplative Jan Johnson to help build her case for this practice.***

***on the back cover of Listen: Finding God in the Story of Your Life sits an endorsement by Elisa Morgan, president of MOPS, which reads: "Keri offers insightful and practical help for all of us who are "hearing impaired" in our spirits. Ah ... what a relief!" ***

And here is an excerpt from Gary Thomas' book Sacred Pathways, also sold on MOPShop website. This is also from Lighthousetrails Research.

*** As we have shown in the past, Gary Thomas is an advocate for mantra meditation. In his book, Sacred Pathways, he states:

It is particularly difficult to describe this type of prayer in writing, as it is best taught in person. In general however, centering prayer works like this: Choose a word (Jesus or Father, for example) as a focus for contemplative prayer. Repeat the word silently in your mind for a set amount of time (say, twenty minutes) until your heart seems to be repeating the word by itself, just as naturally and involuntarily as breathing.(p. 185)***


So, for all you MOPS groups out there, make sure you are aware of their promotion of this New Age material, warn your MOPS moms about it, and even maybe consider not being associated with an organization that promotes some of these books and authors.

A MUST READ....A FORMER CATHOLIC SPEAKS ABOUT "EVANGELICAL MYSTICISM"

I have just read such a great article! The article is written by a former practicing Roman Catholic who exposes the false religion of Roman Catholicism and how the emerging church and many evangelicals are uniting with Rome through Catholic mysticism.

He includes some quotes of the Canons from the Council of Trent that are anti-biblical and demonstrate how Roman Catholicism is not true biblical Christianity.

In this article, the author T.A. McMahon also explains some Catholic mystical terms and their dangers. Some of the unbiblical practices explained are the following:

Lectio Divina, the Jesus Prayer, Ignatian Examen, Labyrinth Prayer, Stations of the Cross, and the Centering Prayer (many of these, by the way, the MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno is teaching)

I highly recommend reading this brief article. Here are its final quotes:

"As a former Catholic, it's hard for me to fathom the evangelical church buying into the religious occultism of Roman Catholicism. It makes no sense. Visit any country where that religion is taken seriously. What becomes obvious is a people who are in the bondage of superstition. On the other hand, I shouldn't be surprised. Apostasy is growing rapidly, the religion of the Antichrist is taking shape, and mysticism, whether it's the Catholic variety, the Sufism of Islam, yoga and the gurus of Eastern mysticism, the Shamanism of native religions, or otherwise, is a common yet powerful magnet that draws all religions together.

We need to be watchmen on the wall as we see this evil invading the church, warning especially-should our Lord delay His return-our next generation of believers. They are the clear targets of this mystical seduction."

**for more info about the false teaching of Roman Catholicism, read this article about how Mennonites are embracing its teaching at For the Author**

MB Seminary Promotes Labyrinth Prayer

It is very late, and perhaps I should be studying for my 3 final exams coming up in the next 5 days, but I feel I must post about something that both angers and saddens me. I just read a blog from fortheauthor about the MB seminary in Fresno that offers a spiritual formation class where students "must be willing to try a variety of spiritual practices". Click here to go to the course outline.

Some of these practices include "The Jesus Prayer", "Labyrinth Prayer", and "Lectio Divina" and daily "Guided Meditation". These practices are man-made attempts to reach God. But through the Bible, God has already provided us with all we need to know about prayer and how to pray. Prayer is simply talking to God. In fact, we aren't supposed to use vain repetitions:

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think they will be heard for their many words. Matthew 6:7

Sure, these methods may be "spiritual" practices, but are they biblical? Definitely not. To say that anything "spiritual" is of God is ridiculous; clearly there are evil spiritual forces as well. The Bible is clear in Ephesians 6:12 that we are in a spiritual battle against spiritual forces of evil. The question is, which side are you on, and who are you fighting for?

Why does Richard Foster, a well-known contemplative professing-Christian, recommend we should pray a prayer of protection before trying these practices? He says to pray something like "All dark and evil spirits must now leave" on p. 157 of his book Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home.

Roger Oakland states the following about this:

"Nowhere in Scripture are we required to pray a prayer of protection before we pray. The fact that Foster recognizes that contemplative prayer is dangerous and opens the door to the fallen spirit world is very revealing. What is this--praying to the God of the Bible but instead reaching demons?" (page 99 Faith Undone by Roger Oakland)

Likely the devil is laughing at this-that Christians would purposely put themselves into a state where they could potentially reach demons (Remember 2 Corinthians 11 tells us that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light and his ministers transform themselves into ministers of righteousness) , while God is probably grieving and angry as Christians attempt to use pagan methods to reach a holy God. Let us not forget that when Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire to God, he killed them. God is a holy God, and it seems many people these days are lacking a proper fear for God.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11 "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ."

Unfortunately, it seems many are being deceived and led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ by trying all kinds of man-made pagan techniques to reach God. We need to point out this error to warn others and also pray that people will realize this is not only unbiblical but dangerous. Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict those participating in this and that they would repent.