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**

Mystical Health and Wellness Taught at University

To all those out there who have been wondering whether or not I fell off the bloggerland map, well I'm back and plan to continue blogging every now and then. I took a blogging break to focus on final exams for university and also for the holidays when access to computers was limited due to travels. So, now I'm back to a regular routine and also back to school and taking some new classes.

One of these classes is a health class, which is required for my program. My professor for this class is a young female, likely in her late 20s. She is a yoga instructor and her ideal of perfect wellness is the Buddhist monks.....mysticism here we go again...She is a very nice lady and a great teacher, but the new-age spiritual/mystical spin is very very evident. This will prove to be a very interesting class I think.

But if you don't believe that mysticism/universalism/new-age spirituality is going to be coming to a school near you....you are in for a nasty surprise in the near future.

In another class I took last term, my professor turned off the lights and led us (or at least those willing, myself NOT included) through a mental and physical relaxation technique which included a lot of visualization. He warned us that if we did this exercise correctly, we would experience wave-like sensations going through our body that would likely be a sensation we had never felt before. So, throughout this, I sat in my chair and observed through the dim light what was going on. Now, this is a class of about 150 people, so try to picture this if you can---the lights were off, it was dead silent except for the professor going through the exercise, people were sprawled out on the floor in the aisles. The guy two seats beside me started snoring. I prayed against this the whole time because the goal was obviously to reach a different state of consciousness and experience weird sensations. This was for a sports sociology/psychology class.

Now, here I am in a health class learning, once again, about yoga, meditation, and monks (they call is being "spiritually well"). New age religion and eastern mysticism is very prevalent at university. If you don't think this is coming to a school near you, well it already has if you attend my university. And, I've mentioned these two classes so far that are teaching this... does anyone want to guess what program and field I'm in....??

Religious Studies? nope, not that program. I can imagine how frustrating that program would be though.

Psychology? nope

Nursing? ....nope, try again. (Although this stuff is all over the place in the health field too)

The Answer......

Education.

yep. elementary/middle years education. This is what we future teachers are being equipped with, people. Teach future teachers these methods to pass on and use in their classroom--teach them this mystical RELIGION (of course they would never call it religion...but that's what it is.)

So, let's add it all up together, shall we?

Meditation/yoga taught and promoted to future teachers at university in health classes
+ meditation and yoga taught at the National Pastor's Conference in the States
+universalism, new age, and interfaith at the United Nations
+professor at university ensuring students "understand" that Catholic and Christian are one and the same (which they are not)
+"evangelical" leaders such as Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback, and Bill Hybels, pastor or Willow Creek Church signing a letter that Christians and Muslims should work to "reflect our common love for God" (Jesus Christ and Allah are NOT the same God!!)
+meditation and labyrinth prayers taught at MB Seminary in Fresno

=a world ready for the anti-christ and his eventual one world religion

Reading my school newspaper sickens me so much I barely ever read it because each time it is filled with mockery of true Bible-believing Christians. Some of you may also remember the offensive cartoon published a year or two ago that mocked Jesus. At university, I am forced to pay for this newspaper in my tuition. Isn't that sickening?

It is definitely time to prepare for persecution. In fact, it has already arrived, but it will only get worse. Pray for the Christians at university that we would be a light in a very very dark place.

Mysticism is Dangerous and Unbiblical

I have received a few anonymous comments that are pro-mysticism and seem to think that I may be promoting "Christian" mysticism. Let me be absolutely clear: I do not endorse or support "Christian" mysticism or contemplative spirituality where we try to use man-made methods ( that are found nowhere in the Bible, I might add) to try to "reach" God. The Bible does not promote mysticism and/or using "centering prayers", the "Jesus prayer" or labyrinths or chanting or emptying the mind. You will not find this promoted in the Bible. In fact, practicing these eastern and new age religious techniques may lead you to have a "spiritual" experience, but you may quite likely encountering doctrines of demons and Satan who masquerades as an "angel of light". Let me be clear, having a "spiritual" experience while practicing these man-made methods does not mean that you are encountering the God of the Bible. In fact you may be encountering demons. The Bible clearly warns to not be of this world. We are not to dabble in ancient pagan techniques to try to reach God. When Nadab and Abihu offered God strange fire, he struck them dead. God is not pleased by using pagan techniques to reach him. Don't base your faith on experience. Base your faith on what the Bible says. God has revealed himself through the written word-The Bible. Many who practice this mysticism end up concluding that Jesus is not the only way to God, or God is all and in all. This is completely wrong and unbiblical.You cannot truly be a Christian and have eternal salvation if you don't believe salvation comes solely through Jesus and that Jesus is God.
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me."
John 14:6

In Matthew 6:7 Jesus tells us not to use vain repetitions as the heathen do.

Jesus taught us how to pray, and He simply spoke to the Father. This is the example we should follow.

When we base our faith solely on experience, this is not a faith that leads to salvation. Salvation comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17) not by experience.

For more information on the dangers of mysticism, click here.

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.

Be Alert and Awake Out of Sleep

I just thought I should mention that I have read a good blog that explains how this contemplative spirituality stuff has entered the mennonite denomination in the form of labyrinths, the Jesus prayer, the Eucharist, etc.

Read that blog here

This emerging church/contemplative spirituality stuff is not only found in one denomination. You can find it in mennonite, mennonite brethren, baptist, alliance, pentecostal, evangelical etc . churches. This trend crosses denominational boundaries, which is partly why it's having such a widespread effect. (--- also Hindus, Buddhists, New-agers, and other religions also all practice the same meditation method that is being practiced in some Christian circles---that is also partly why contemplative spirituality is so dangerous and having such a widespread effect)

If you don't believe this has also entered the mennonite and mb denominations, you need (!!!) to read that blog called--- "Rogue" MB Bloggers

"For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober." 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Romans 13:11

"Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." Revelation 3:2-3