What the Publisher of The Message says is one of the Best Known ways to Ponder God

Can you guess where I read the following thing?

"One of the best-known ways to ponder God's character, works, and ways is a format originated by Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Loyola's methods, recorded in his book Spiritual Exercises, have been used for hundreds of years. He urged people to enter into Scripture with all five senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell."

No, it wasn't on a contemplative, RC, or Jesuit website. No, it's not on the website of a monastery. No, wasn't in a book by Peter Scazzero (although it might be). It's something I found on the website of a major Christian publisher - Navpress - when I clicked on "spiritual formation" and wound up here:

Spiritual Exercises
http://www.navpress.com/landing/SpiritualFormation.aspx

Navpress makes it sound so nice, so normal, so tried and true - when in fact, this thing called
“spiritual exercises” was actually a set of rules written by Ignatius of Loyola, Catholic priest and founder of the Jesuits. Most Bible believing evangelicals today would have serious theological issues with this set of rules. If you are curious, find out what these rules are here and here. If you don’t feel like going to the trouble of looking these things up, I will tell you what the first rule was. Here is the first rule:

First Rule: All judgment laid aside, we ought to have our mind ready and prompt to obey, in all, the true spouse of Christ our Lord, which is our Holy Mother the Church Hierarchical.

Okay, did you get that? It says to obey the church, the RC church to be precise, not the commandments of the Lord as the Bible instructs us to do.

Here is another rule:

Sixth Rule: To praise relics of the saints, giving veneration to them and praying to the Saints; and to praise stations, pilgrimages, indulgences, pardons, cruzadas, and candles lighted in the churches.

Wait a minute. Isn't that icon and idol worship? Works instead of grace? Praying to the dead?

Now for a thing or two about Ignatius - it is said that Ignatius suffered a spiritual crisis like his contemporary Martin Luther, but...

“unlike Luther, he found his salvation in mystical experiences and not in the Scriptures. He was willing to accept the beliefs already available so he felt no desire to develop a new creed. He had complete obedience to the Catholic Church and its faith.”
-http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Jesuits.htm

Aha! Mysticism. Experiences. Obedience to Rome. Now does that sound like someone who was devoted wholly to God and His Word, or to religion and the Catholic church? As Ken Silva of Apprising Ministry puts it:

“…Ignatius was a major figure in the Counter Reformation of the Roman Catholic Church where he was extremely instrumental in defending the doctrines of demons advanced by seducing spirits in the Church of Rome against the Reformers who were raised up by the Lord.”
-WHO IS IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA?

Woah there! Just think about those things for a minute. Don't you think it's surprising that Navpress, the publisher of a large percentage of Christian books you find in today’s Christian book stores, says that "one of the best known ways to ponder God’s character, works and ways" is the format originated by this Ignatius guy? Really now, one of the best known ways? I think most Bible believing Christians would argue that the best way to ponder God's character, works and ways is to read, study, and fill our minds with His Word. Don't ya think?

Perhaps this explains why Navpress publishes so many books by contemplative authors, including The Message. (Next time you pick up a new book, you might want to check the publisher before you buy it, and if you still feel you must give your hard earned money to them, at least keep your discernment antennas up.)

Well, that was my surprise of the day. Thanks for listening. You may now return to your cozy mouse house couch and watch your favorite previously scheduled television program.