While I was not blogging, there was something going on in my neck of the woods last month that I remember being quite dismayed upon hearing. There was a United in Worship conference in May at a local church, a church that we have all heard (and assumed) was still solid. At this conference were several keynote speakers and workshop teachers that have led some of us to the conclusion that this church is no longer standing on the solid rock (unless perhaps they just rented out their building for this event and didn't check out the speakers).
For example, one of the guest speakers was....drum roll...Leonard Sweet. Check out the conference and schedule here:
UIW Burnaby 2009
www.uniteproductions.com
The description on the keynote speakers page at Unite Productions paints quite a flowery, charming picture of Mr. Sweet and his impressive credits and popular books. But a closer look at these books might reveal that he leans more toward a New Age spirituality.
See here:
Leonard Sweet & Willis Harman: "Spiritual Sciences"
herescope.blogspot.com
Leonard Sweet: Quantum Spirituality
and a Christ Consciousness!
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com
Also at this conference were some workshops on spiritual formation by Calvin Miller (spoke about the ancient paths of spirituality, Celtic prayer, and finding God in the thin place) and Tricia Rhodes (spoke on finding God's presence in spiritual displines). Tricia Rhodes, whose name appears on the Master List of authors and books not recommended by Christian Research Service, has written a book called Sacred Chaos: Spiritual Disciplines for the Life You Have (foreward by Gary Thomas) which recommends Lectio Divina and breath prayers to experience God. Calvin Miller, whose name is also on the same Master List, is the author of The Path of Celtic Prayer: An Ancient Way to Everyday Joy, a book about an ancient way of prayer to find union with God.
As many of you know, spiritual formation is basically just another name for contemplative spirituality.
Perhaps many Christians were drawn to this recent conference to hear a very popular musician and some well known authors, but sadly, they ended up getting a large dose of a different spirituality than we are taught in the Bible. As this trend continues to unite Christians together under the banner of those who teach a different gospel, and the influence of the emerging church continues to instill doubt and unanswered re-examined questions into the minds of Biblically illiterate, deceived Christians who would rather read books and listen to new things than study the Bible, perhaps United in Worship conferences like this one could be more appropriately re-named, United in What?
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4 comments:
You've been missed.
It's good to have you back, my friend. :)
Hiya Dee,
Yes, I have journeyed far through the valley and beyond, but I am now back in The Land of Blog.
Thank you.
:)
That's just sad...following the link, it looks like a real rockin' concert! Reminds me of a question Maj. Ian Thomas put forth: is there such thing as "christian" liquor? "christian" drugs? "christian" rock music? NO! Sensual rhythms and seductive "breathy" voices ought not be called christian..it's just more of the flesh.
By the way, Carla, it's good to know the Lord is blessing you and yours with His comfort and strength. HE is our peace! (And to think all this time I thought you were lounging beneath a palm tree on a white, sandy beach somewhere...)
Thanks Robin. Ah yes, perhaps I would have rather been relaxing on a beach at the time, but it is the narrow rocky paths where the Shepherd walks the closest to to His sheep that the communion is the sweetest. Wouldn't trade that for a lounge chair and a pina colada (non-alchohlic). :)
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