I posted earlier that I had something to deal with and that I would be gone until I dealt with it. This may be of no interest to some of the readers here, and that's okay. This is, in a large part what I felt obligated to deal with and respond to publicly.__________________________
I don’t do this very often but I am cross-posting this at both ENo and Reflections. I’m posting this for ENo readers since this the blog I originally wrote this for, and I’m cross-posting this at Reflections because it matters to me that it’s there as well. This is going to be very long. Just a warning.
This past January it was brought to my attention by a friend that
this year’s Desiring God conference is themed
Above All Earthly Powers: The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World. A most timely topic indeed.
When I took a look at the speakers listed for this conference, after some consideration I decided to write about my concerns.
That post at ENo eventually generated over 170 comments. This is literally unheard of as it pertains to anything I ever write.
Here we are 2 months later and now I’d like to expound a bit on my reasons for being concerned and my reasons for writing. It’s fairly simple actually. I wanted to point out how the tentacles of the ECM are reaching into churches, conferences, lecture seminars and ministries all across the spectrum of evangelicism. This movement is not limited to one denomination, or one particular subset of Christendom. It’s a movement and a mindset that seems to find it’s way into churches via many routes. Your church library, the small group study materials, the books, videos and podcasts that your youth group leaders are being influenced by.
I’ve spoken to people in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc. who all say the same things. It’s either in their church, or they’ve left their church for this cause, or their kids are into it, brothers, sisters, spouses, pastors and more. When they speak up and speak out against it, they are almost always met with the same resistance and critical eye that you will see at ENo in the comment section, when I leave it open. It can be brutal, ugly, personal and quite degrading to leave oneself open to the proponents of the ECM if you have a dissenting opinion. It’s a most strange phenomenon to be met with such bitter and vehement resistance when you say “but what does the Bible say about this?” to a fellow professing believer.
When I learned that the DG conference was to address Christ in a postmodern world, I wasn’t surprised at all. Over the last 18 months more and more conferences like this are addressing this issue because it IS an issue, and is growing.
So I looked over the names of speakers. I wondered, in what way are they qualified to address this timely topic? What is their individual fields of expertise, or gifts? What kind of church are they from, and how are they affected personally by postmodernism? I tend to be rather inquisitive of people in leadership positions. If someone is presented as a leader or a teacher, I want to know what makes them qualified to be in such a role.
When I saw the names of Mark Driscoll and Tim Keller, I was honestly a bit taken aback. Anyone that’s been following the ECM news for the last few months at least, knows that Driscoll is known as an “ex-EC” in some contexts. He’s essentially distanced himself from the label, and from Brian McLaren’s more extreme and liberal theological positions. In
Phil Johnson’s recent lecture on the ECM at the Shepherd’s conference he referred to Driscoll as someone who might be considered by some, on the more conservative end of the EC spectrum. In the minds of many (as is evidenced by numerous blogs over the last couple of months) the “jury is still out” on whether Driscoll is actually “ex-EC” or not. Not everyone is convinced, nor is this breaking news. Many people within the EC camp and without, have been quite public in expressing their thoughts on this one.
As for Keller, the only reason I was interested in his name being on the list of speakers was due to a question someone had asked me about a book endorsement of his. Pastor Tim Keller is slated to speak at this year’s DG on
"The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel in a Postmodern World". Keller is rather well known in certain circles for his passion for evangelism, so that made perfect sense that this would be his topic.
What didn’t seem to make sense to me, or to the person that asked me about his book endorsement, was what Keller had to say about the content of the book. In a nutshell, the content of the book is a basic list of what some call “Christian spiritual disciplines”, complete with a how-to guide on how to practice them.
It did and does seem inconsistent to me (and others that have read it) why a conservative pastor would recommend and endorse a book that contains a how-to guide on ancient religious disciplines, that in many cases are the
same exact kinds of spiritual disciplines being welcomed in by the EC crowd. Public opinion is quite divided on whether these disciplines are actually Christian at all, or simply borrowed practices from ancient mystic and/or pagan religion. Many believers that have a background in eastern mysticism have come forward to flat out denounce these things as 100% unbiblical. Ray Yungen’s book called
A Time of Departing documented quite well (in my opinion) how these very things are on the increase, even in mainline, conservative churches.
While I am certainly not a polished book reviewer, I’ve posted my review of Yungen's book
here, Tim Challies has a review
here, and a condensed version of my review was also published in The Evangelical Baptist, in the fall 2005 edition
here. I honestly believe this is a growing influence in solid Biblical churches that we not only need to be aware of, we need to be discerning about to the highest degree. Thankfully, there are many others that also see the need for this discernment.
Tim Keller has responded as to why he endorsed this book, and what I had to say about it:
I like Adele's book as a practical encyclopedia of spiritual disciplines. No one will like or use all of the approaches equally. But it is a good survey. I did read both of your posts about the book and while they had many general assertions that Adele's book promoted eastern mysticism, they didn't have any real specific arguments about why that would be the case. Just claiming that breathing exercises are eastern mysticism does not make them so. I've done a lot of thinking about the differences between eastern mysticism and Christian meditation over the years. There are major differences, but I think Adele honors those differences. I know the emerging church likes meditation and contemplation stuff but it also likes liturgy. Does that make all people who love liturgy emergent? I don't think so. Just because I have profited from ancient Christian practices of meditation and spirituality doesn't mean I'm emergent. (source for this quote)
Late last night I received an email from a person I respect a great deal who is also on the front lines of the ECM critique. This email gave me much insight into the way things “work” in the leadership of evangelical circles, as well as a few other things. One of the things I benefited the most from, was the reminder that while there is a spectrum of sorts among the ECM (from blatantly heretical all the way to traditionally conservative) and those who would be somewhat tolerant with it, we have to remember to not “lump everyone” together. I know there is a wide spectrum, and I certainly don’t want to broadbrush and simply write everyone off as “EC”.
In that context I would like to apologize publicly for any unintentional insinuation that I have done this with Pastor Tim Keller. For the record, I do not believe (and never meant to imply) that I think Keller to be “EC”. I seriously doubt anyone involved in the ECM would consider him “emergent” either. Although I think it is pertinent to point out that Keller did write a paper on the
need for the local church to be “missional” ( a very common word you’ll hear or read doing any amount of research into what constitutes the ECM) , that I would have to suppose is a welcome support, for those who seek credibility for this movement. In discussing this with a friend it was pointed out that while Keller would seem to distance himself from the more doctrinally-bankrupt theological ideas of the ECM, he does in fact endorse the methodological drift of the movement. The phrase “being missional” is an oft-used phrase among many that are actually full fledge ECM proponents.
Honestly, I wasn’t trying to even really write about Keller for any other reason than to show how this movement and it’s teachings are influencing leaders in the greater evangelical churches. (Or maybe it would be better said to say that the same influences that shape the ECM are also finding a home in non-EC churches?) Keller has made it very clear that he likes this book for it’s practical encyclopedic format of spiritual disciplines. He also says he himself has profited “from ancient Christian practices of meditation and spirituality”. Keller’s own admission that he likes this book is exactly the point I was attempting to make in showing how this influence is playing out. The very same reason Yungen wrote his book. I’ve
detailed here some of what this book contains but for those reading about this for the first time, here is the short list once again:
"Fasting. Solitude. Contemplative prayer. Lectio divina. Have you heard about these practices and wanted to try them? Have you wandered from one practice to another not sure quite what to do? Are you overwhelmed by all the to-dos of your spiritual life?... In the Spiritual Disciplines Handbook Adele Calhoun gives us directions for our journey toward intimacy with Christ. While the word discipline may make us want to run and hide, the author shows how desires and discipline work together to lead us to the transformation we're longing for--the transformation only Christ can bring. Instead of just giving information about spiritual disciplines, this Handbook is full of practical, accessible guidance that helps you actually do them."
Part 7: Pray Breath Prayer,
Centering Prayer, Contemplative Prayer, Conversational Prayer, Fasting,
Fixed-Hour Prayer, Inner-Healing Prayer, Intercessory Prayer, Labyrinth Prayer,
Liturgical Prayer, Prayer Partners, Praying Scripture, Prayer of Recollection,
Prayer Walking
While prayer is an integral part of any believer's life, the Scriptures are quite clear on how we're to do that. What are all these things listed here? Many of them are exactly what some ECM proponents are involved in, and teaching. At the IVP promo page for this book, don't forget to read the pdf file on the
Intro to this book, and the interesting selection they chose to highlight the book,
Contemplation.
This is where key issues of discernment & wisdom come in. In our time, what one person says and means when they say “ancient Christian practices” or meditation, or spirituality, does not always mean what the next person means when they say it – and is often misunderstood by those who hear it. We live in a time where redefining terms and words is quite common. We also live in a time where such things as ancient eastern mystic religious practices are being promoted and endorsed as “Christian” practices, and welcomed into churches literally all over the world.
I had the opportunity to discuss what you are reading right now, with several people before I finished it and posted it. One of those people was fellow ECM critic
Phil Johnson. On this subject of “contemplative spirituality” Phil had this to say:
" "Contemplative spirituality" isn't wrong because it involves contemplation; what makes the spirituality of Richard Foster, Brennan Manning, and their partners in crime wrong is the syncretism inherent in their perspective on "Spirituality"--the notion that techniques and teachings from eastern mysticism or ancient monasticism could ever truly add anything valuable or make up for something "missing" from the Bible's teaching about spirituality.
Not everyone who advocates breathing techniques has consciously and emphatically adopted a syncretistic spirituality, though. It would be wrong and unfair to assume or imply that they all have some agenda to introduce elements of Confucianism into the evangelical movement.
But it's NOT wrong (in fact, it's important) to point out that the Bible says nothing about breathing techniques, so anyone who adds such a stress to their teaching on spirituality is going beyond Scripture. And that opens the door to dangerous influences. In that regard, I think it's important to sound the alarm about the influence of eastern mysticism into evangelical spirituality."
I believe when we say things these days such as meditation, spiritual disciplines, or even “ancient” as it pertains to Christianity, we really need to be very careful as to define what we mean. What these things meant to most believers just 10 years ago, do not necessarily mean to the average believer the same things today. It’s a source of confusion as postmodernistic thought & philosophies begin to erode the standard of communication among believers. Sometimes I wonder if it’s not (in some very small way) what the people at the tower of Babel began to experience when suddenly they couldn’t understand their neighbor. One day they communicated just fine, the next nothing they heard made any sense at all. While their language was confused on a grand scale to the point of it being impossible to communicate, our “evangelical” language has been subtly confused, and deceptively redefined so that we end up innocently and unwittingly confusing others. It's even quite possible we're being confused or deceived ourselves, with the redefinition of words being so common. (Not a very pleasant thought, but one I think worth paying attention to).
I want to make something else very clear, and that is
making distinctions. Not everyone that embraces these things is deliberately and knowingly embracing something that is unbiblical. I know this, and I have tried very hard to make sure that comes across in my critique of the ECM. Further, not everyone that practices these things can see anything wrong with them. I do believe that is a direct result of lack of study, lack of discernment and simply placing too much credibility into whoever introduced them to these things, to begin with.
I wrote this today because I wanted to make it as clear as possible, that I am not “attacking” Pastor Tim Keller, or lumping him in unfairly with the ECM. Obviously I don’t agree with Keller on this topic but that doesn’t mean I wish him any ill will or any of the other things I’ve been accused of, accusing
him of. The one thing I really want to convey is that this isn’t personal against the man’s character, passion for the lost, or dedication to his church. Ultimately, this really isn’t about Keller at all. Or me, or you. Ultimately this is about Sola Scriptura and how it’s quite
literally been abandoned today by so many professing believers.
• It doesn’t matter what this book says, or that book.
• It doesn’t matter what new teaching that’s being raved about.
• It doesn’t matter if it’s an old teaching that has been associated with Christianity for 1,000 years or more.
If
it, whatever
it happens to be, does not line up with Scripture, then it has
no business being practiced, preached, or promoted among Christians. Maybe it’s just that I’m too old fashioned to bend on this, or maybe it’s because I take the Scriptures quite literally when I read of how our worship of God is either acceptable, or unacceptable. Many have commented over the past few years on how the evangelical church has begun to “trifle” with God’s word and add this, omit that, or just become so painfully liberal that we are not even recognizable as Christians at all anymore.
I believe the ECM and the doctrines, disciplines & practices that it promotes, has only added to this theological mess we find in our local churches.
I don’t have the opportunity to speak to millions of believers each day, but I do have the opportunity to speak to many, worldwide, thanks to the technology known as the Internet. This is quite literally a global issue. Hungry believers desirous of a local church to call home & worship with likeminded believers,
CANT FIND ONE, because so many that they have visited are too busy jumping onto the latest Christian Trend. Something old, something new, something re-defined, something hip, something “relevant” something pragmatic, something “authentic”. When churches are so busy focusing on these things, you can be sure the simple preaching of the word is being tossed out the window. I actually had one pastor who defined himself as "missional-centered" tell me that preaching isn't enough. For him, the simplicy of preaching the written word of God was not enough! For him it was decided preaching the word wasn't enough to draw a man to Christ, or keep a man in solid teaching. Can you imagine such arrogance? I was stunned to read this.
Teaching about sin, repentance, holy living, suffering and God’s wrath is secondary (if preached at all) since that doesn’t fall in line with the Trend-o-the-week. The small group studies aren’t focusing on these things, so neither should you. The youth group leader isn’t hearing these things in his weekly podcasts, so your kids aren’t hearing it from him (or her). The pastor is reading McLaren or Peterson or quoting Merton, so that’s what you’re going to hear about from the pulpit. And your Bible study leader is using The Message & promoting some kind of touchy-feely-happy-warm-fuzzy idea of “redeeming the environment” equaling doing God’s business on earth.
All this, while young or new believers are
starving for teachings from the Scriptures.
I have been told that the recent Shepherd’s Conference was in some people’s words, “phenomenal” and “one that will go down in the history books” as far as the preaching, teaching and exhortation is concerned. Over and over again I have read about preaching on practical things that believers NEED to hear. Solid Biblical food that we cannot grow in Christ without. Pastors and laypeople alike who attended this conference came away so inspired and encouraged by what they heard, they’ve begun making it a matter of prayer to diligently preach the word, being instant in season and out of season, rebuking, exhorting with a focus on longsuffering, BIBLICAL evangelism, and doctrine. If you think I’m exaggerating with this, ask anyone you know who attended, and see what they say. For many it was a healthy shot in the arm that reinforced what they already knew to be true, and a great encouragment to stand boldly on the written word.
Are these men perfect with perfect doctrine? Hardly – and they’d be the first to admit it. But the one big difference between what these men heard at the Shepherd’s conference, and what so many millions(?) of believers are hearing from the pulpits in their churches, is sound Biblical teachings. Being equipped with REAL practical teachings that come straight from Scripture, instead of some hot selling book in the “alternative” or “top 10” list at the local “Christian” bookstore.
I know this is very long, and I’ve likely lost many readers not even halfway through it. I just wanted to take the time to express why I write what I do, and where I’m coming from. Many of us out here have a background in doctrinally bankrupt churches that were more inspired by the things of the world than the things of God. Many of us have been through the grief and sorrow of realizing we were under a false teaching – and maybe even promoted it ourselves. Ashamed of ourselves and repenting before the Lord to lead us with wisdom and sharp discernment. Many of us have gone for months (or years) with being churchless, because a solid Biblical church simply did not exist in our areas. Some move to find one, others struggle with not being in one, and truly long to be with likeminded saints come Sunday morning to praise and worship the Lord and hear the word preached. Others log on to the Internet to hear sermons being broadcast from church sites that they know preach the word, unapologetically and with passion for the rich things of Scripture.
It’s a brutal, painful and grievous thing to be left wanting solid teaching, when the local churches are being led by a woman, someone preaching postmodern philosophies mixed with Christianese language, or have no pastor at all but forms opinions of doctrine by some kind of community agreement . Influenced by postmodern garbage, or whatever else happens to catch the fancy of the leaders, finding a solid local church any more is not easy, for a lot of people.
I commented to someone earlier today that I wish I could write like Spurgeon. Obviously I cannot, but I hope and pray that I have been as clear as he was, when he addressed the very same issues in his time.
None of this stuff is new, folks, it’s just being subtly (and in some cases blatantly) set before us, labeled as “Christian” and welcomed with open arms by everyone from the local pastor, all the way down to the lowly church custodian.
In conclusion, I want to make it clear that I am not about “attacking” anyone personally. I have no doubt in my mind that if I were to meet many of the people I have mentioned in my writings, we’d probably get along just fine, as far as personality goes. I wish them no malice, no harm, and certainly no grief from me. It is and has always been my goal to point to the TEACHINGS, and present as much as within my ability, the facts and resources about where these teachings are coming from – who’s writing what, who’s preaching what, and who they themselves have been influenced by. While my goal is not to shine a light on personalities, naming names cannot be avoided if we’re to expect to find out where these teachings & endorsements
come from.
I do hope this helps in explaining where I’m coming from. For me, the 5 solas of the reformation are not just a catchy phrase. The really do mean something, and they underscore what I say, and why I say it.
If we do not know who or what is influencing the people we view as teachers and leaders in our lives, how discerning are we? Or are we just willing to sit back and take in whatever we're taught, and never question where it's coming from?
I pray this is not the case.
Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue By David F. WellsTotal Truth By Nancy Pearcey
tags: Biblical Christianity 
So when I crawled out of bed at 8:30 (also unheard of) the kids were already outside in the surprise 6 inches of snow we got last night, and I stumbled to the kitchen to the coffee pot and one of my dearest friends. My coffee is not happy coffee unless it has french vanilla cream in it. Many years ago, one of my employees brought this in one morning and said (to the die-hard black coffee drinking me) "Carla, you really have to try this in your coffee, it's great". I told him he was insane, but to leave it and I'd consider trying it. He left it, I tried it, and I've been a french vanilla cream fan ever since. For years I took my coffee black only - no sugar, no cream, no nuttin'. Now, drinking black coffee is like trying to surf in a mud puddle, or going sledding on a hill of grass. It's just missing the oompha.
I feel like I am well qualified to make this statement, for 1 simple reason. I used to have a most filthy mouth, when I was an unbeliever. It's not something I write about in a boastful way, it's actually an embarassing and shameful thing to admit - but it's the truth about who I was before. It's not something that went away overnight, either. After my conversion I continued to struggle with this way of speaking, for many many years. Whenever I'd get angry, the "old me" would come flying out of the blue and use the kind of language that used to earn kids a trip to the washroom to be introduced to Mr. Bar of Soap.
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You can however, 
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