Sunday, May 16, 2010

Eastern Mysticism Still Promoted by CalvinistPiper's Friend Mark Driscoll A Calvinist

Contemplative Spirituality promoted by Driscoll, Acts29, Rick Warren, etc. In part Ken Silva reports:

Quote:

The point is not that we experience God, instead what we’re discussing revolves around concerns about how the Lord told us in the Bible that we should experience Him; and make no mistake, this is going to be a defining doctrine of our generation. For example, one of the speakers for Radicalis will be Reformed pastor Mark Driscoll of Acts 29 Network. From the Lighthouse blog of Lighthouse Trails Research (LTR) recently ran a post called Mark Driscoll IS a Contemplative Proponent. In it LTR points out:


Although Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Fellowship in Seattle Washington, is said
to have denounced certain aspects of the emergent church, Driscoll is a
proponent of the main element behind the emerging church – contemplative prayer.
(Online source)

And you should know that Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP) is indeed the crowning jewel of CSM; it’s actually a form meditation in an altered state of consciousness, in other words CCP is transcendental meditation lightly sprayed with Christian terms. LTR then goes on:


In an article written by Driscoll himself, ironically titled Obedience, Driscoll tells readers to turn to Richard Foster and contemplative Gary Thomas. Driscoll states:


If you would like to study the spiritual disciplines in greater detail … helpful
are Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster, and Sacred Pathways, by Gary Thomas…


As for Gary Thomas, in his book Sacred Pathways (the one Driscoll
recommends), Thomas tells readers to repeat a word for 20 minutes in order to
still the mind. This is the basic principle in all Eastern and occultic methods.
(Online source)

End quote.

Read the whole article here.

Is Eastern mysticism merely an option for Christians to practice or not practice? Is it merely an option for Calvinists? Its ok to mix occultic Romanism with Truth and say its sanctified and approved by God? Remember 2Cor. 6. Remember how God struck an entire nation for thinking they could adopt pagan practices into worship of Him.

How easily people are swayed by the double-tongued men who seek man's approval from all corners. Instead of not judging by appearance (they look like Christians, they sound like Christians, they say they believe the Bible, they say they believe in Sola Scriptura), we are to judge RIGHTEOUSLY (fruit inspectors require examining the fruit carefully; dig deeper than the mere claims they give; note who influence them, what are they reading and promoting, how are they living, what are they teaching and testing that against Scripture).

After all, Mormons say they are Christians, but they aren't.
Roman Catholics say they are Christians, but they aren't.
Benny Hinn says he's a prophet of God, but he's not.

We see examples over and over of what people claim versus what they really are. How do you suppose false teachers secretly sneak in among you? Why do you think they are called "hidden reefs" among your love feasts?

Are you going to be easily swayed by what a false brother or a false teacher tells you ? Are you more willing to listen to such a person yet reject a true Christian who warns you of such hidden reefs? If so, you better examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.

1Ti 1:5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1Ti 1:6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion,
1Ti 1:7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.


1Pe 3:16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

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