All over the place, Christians are turning to Roman Catholic styles of contemplative spirituality (which were borrowed from pagan sources), such as ritualistic rote prayers, chanting, meditation, mindless centering prayer, the use of prayer beads, the Stations of the Cross, lectio divina, labyrinths, and “the daily office”  and the list goes on..

Christianity Today 2/08: “The Future Lies in the Past,” and it describes the “lost secrets of the ancient church” that are being rediscovered by evangelicals. This ancient church they’re talking about is the Roman Catholic, beginning with the so-called “church fathers” of the early centuries.

 The article observes that many young evangelicals dislike both “traditional” Christianity” and the seeker sensitive churches. Traditional Christianity is described as TOO focused on “being right,” too much into “Bible studies” and “apologetics material” and ”regular prayer”. Instead, the young evangelicals are lusting after “a renewed encounter with a God” that goes beyond “doctrinal definitions.” This, of course, is mysticism – derived from Catholic mystics.

Mysticism refers to experiencing God beyond the boundaries of Scripture.

Christianity Today recommends that evangelicals “stop debating” and just “embody Christianity.” Toward this end they should “embrace symbols and sacraments” and dialogue with “Catholicism and Orthodoxy”; they should “break out the candles and incense” and pray the “lectio divina” and learn the Catholic” ascetic disciplines” from “practicing monks and nuns.”

Christianity Today says that this “search for historic roots” will lead “to a deepening ecumenical conversation, and a recognition by evangelicals that the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox are fellow Christians with much to teach us.”

And this is a no holds barred invitation to Catholic mysticism, and it will not lead to light but to the same darkness that has characterized Rome throughout its history, and it will lead beyond Rome to the paganism from which Rome originally borrowed its “contemplative practices.” In other words, it will and does lead to occult.

Amazing how Catholic Mystics still believe themselves to be followers of God. Nothing could be farther from the truth. More amazing is that Christianity Today is promoting this Contemplative spirituality.  But Jesus did warn us that there would be a great falling away prior to his return..that if it were possible, it would fool even the very elect..

I was sharing some of my past experiences with a dear friend and thought, “I should post this. Someone else might need to read this.”  So here it is.

I remember a time back in the early 80’s after just becoming a Christian.  I visited a church which was having a healing service one night. I’d driven about 50 miles to “go and see” being a young, new believer.  I had never seen “a healing” and I just knew God had something there for me.

I didn’t see arms grow out, or cripples walk, nothing miraculous, but I did believe in God’s power to heal.  On purpose I took a boy’s T shirt that I’d bought.  I knew it needed to be “touched” with God’s touch.  Doesn’t this sound silly? So.. I took it up front at the service and laid it at the alter.  I’d pinned my address on it, and so they sent it back to me after a day or so.  I ended up sending that T-shift to a boy in N.J. that lived by my parents and who went to their church. 

Johnny had leukemia and the MD’s said he probably wouldn’t make it past 10 or 12.  So I put my testimony in with the shirt and had my mom give it to Johnny’s mom. I don’t think my mom thought it would do anything, but she did as I’d asked and gave it to his mom for Johnny to wear. 

Today, John is a medical doctor/specialist – alive and well. The chemo took his ability to ever have children, but he is alive and he loves the Lord Jesus. 

There’s a lot wrong in charismatic churches – too much wow and not enough Word.  Or else the Word is taken and twisted – much like at IHOP.  But God was very kind to me as a new believer.  He allowed me to see, hear, feel and taste His goodness – and a LOT of it when I first turned my life over to Him. I’m thankful that He allowed me to really see that He really was for real back then.  I think He knew I was a “show me” girl.  And I’m also glad I’ve matured in His Word.  God is good all the time.

When you’re praying Contemplatively, you’re not connecting with Jesus – God’s son. You’re connecting with familiar spirits.  Big difference.

But where did Contemplative start out at? Catholic mystics?  Merton says it started there, but he’s wrong – dead wrong. 

The Hindu faith is its starting point.  But Hindus don’t call it Contemplative Prayer – they call it Transcendental Meditation.  Any time you empty your mind on purpose, and allow anything to enter into your heart, you are playing with the occult.

Mike Bickle isn’t the only promoter of Contemplative – it’s growing in leaps and bounds and making its way into the church.  Max Lucado, Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, Purpose Driven Rick Warren are just a few of the ones who are practicing and promoting it. 

But Jesus did warn us that this would happen. He said that before His return, there would be a great falling away – that if it were possible, it would deceive even the very elect.  Are you practicing it? Are you one of the elect?

I now know why my son disowned me. He and those close to him have become deeply engulfed in Contemplative Spirituality – so they’ve become regular partakers of an occult practice though they believe it to be Christian.

When doing Contemplative Prayer, you’re not meditating on God’s word, you’re using God’s word to meditate.  After all, you can repeat a word or phrase from your Bible over and over but in order for Contemplative to work, you have to empty your mind of every  single  thought  and/or distraction..  That’s occult and there is no account of Jesus ever teaching his disciples to practice it.  Twist scriptures all you want to “back it up” but it is totally unscriptural.

This is a post taken from a dear friend’s blog – and hers is not the only blog showing how IHOP has broken up not only familes, but friendships as well.

“I have a very good friend involved in IHOP and few who have gone through the internship and are still heavily influenced by Mike Bickle. It seems like they can’t stay away from the place, let alone turn of the live web feed. He’s constantly got the live worship music playing on his TV. It’s literally always on.

I was myself involved in the very spirtualized church and its teachings for a little while, mainly to do with my good friend. She is now currently on staff at IHOP. At the time, I was still rather young 19, 20 years old, and pretty much excepted anything these teachers promoted. I was even planning on attending Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, in Redding, CA. They’re teachers are all very Latter Rain. If I had known at the time that what I was into was a softened down version of the New Age Movement, I would have fled, but I didn’t even know what the New Age Movement WAS or what it entailed. I don’t think most young Christians do.

Its taken a lot of research as well as repentance to finally see through all of the deception. I started to become concerned, or should I say, angered at IHOP .. when my best friend wouldn’t come to my wedding because she was in the internship at the time. I now see from reading your blog, why she was most likely hesitant to take any time off. Because of that situation, from then on, I’ve been on a mission to uncover IHOP, Mike Bickle, as well as others.

I wish I could reach my friend .. I wish she had someone directly involved in her life who would challange her with these realities. I am not always the best at doing so, an often just sound frustrated in my debates/arguments. I’ve tried to tell her things that I’ve heard and in turn, I’ve usually just gotten the feeling that I’m making things up .. or “I just don’t know because I haven’t been there”. She’s been involved in similar ministries since 2005 to present .. I feel more and more saddenned for her .. because she doesn’t see the truth. The fact that she’s missing out on having a happy relationship with a man is one thing that bothers me.

It seems like everyone who goes to IHOP .. fears relationships? That or they just can’t seem to find some perfect enough for them? That’s the sense I once got when I was going through this whole “world.” I’m sorry, I’m ranting. Thank you for all those on this site, who share my feelings and research the same things. It makes me feel less obsessive.”

Taken from www.gospelmasquerade.blogspot.com    Thank you, Ariel

By Andrew Strom

Since 1993-4, I believe a foreign spirit has been allowed to invade the church – first through Rodney Howard-Browne’s ministry – then Toronto, then the Prophetic movement (which I was part of at the time) and on into Lakeland and many other ministries and movements. I urge people now to “test the spirits” just as we are commanded to in Scripture. Do not let just anyone lay hands on you.

This is a powerful spirit and it has the backing of a lot of big-name ministries. In fact, these men and women are the very ones responsible for allowing it to spread right through the body of Christ. And one day they will be answerable to God for doing so. We are specifically warned in the Bible that the Last Days will be a time of “seducing spirits,” false prophets, ‘lying signs and wonders,’ and that we always need to watch for “angels of light” masquerading as the real thing. Why does the modern church not take these warnings seriously? Aren’t we living in the very days that the Bible warns about?

Right now I need to do something that I have never done in such a way before. I have never before published a list of ministries or movements to watch out for. But this time I have to. This sickness has gone on long enough. I urge you to cut yourself off from the following ministries and their tainted “anointings” my friends. Even though some of these people say “good things” at times, it is simply not worth having any involvement with them due to the tainted anointing that they endorse or minister in themselves. Here is the list-

(1) Todd Bentley.

(2) Rodney Howard Browne – the so-called “Holy Ghost Bartender.”

(2) Rick Joyner or anyone connected with Morningstar Ministries.

(3) John Arnott & any connected with TACF (The “Toronto Blessing”).

(4) Peter Wagner of the ‘New Apostolic Reformation’ who claims to be head of a worldwide network of ‘apostles’ – who publicly endorsed Lakeland and will soon preach at Toronto TACF alongside other “false anointing” advocates.

(5) Mike Bickle and IHOP Kansas City (I lived nearby for over two years – and know how much they are into all this stuff. Mike Bickle promotes it in his book).

(6) Bob Jones – the Kansas City prophet whose ministry is utterly tainted by it all.

(7) Patricia King and anyone else from ‘Extreme Prophetic.’

(8) John Crowder & anyone connected with “Sloshfest.”

(9) Bill Johnson of Bethel church, Redding – who says some good things but publicly endorsed Lakeland and promotes the “false anointing” very strongly behind the scenes.

(10) Heidi & Rolland Baker of IRIS Ministries – who do good work amongst the poor in Mozambique – but who have also carried and promoted this tainted anointing for years.

(11) Randy Clark, Wes & Stacey Campbell, and other key figures from the “Toronto blessing.”

(12) The Elijah List – and almost anyone featured on it.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

This is a great teaching.  It reminds me of a time long ago when I was in college. I saw a guy standing on top of a tall, tall building at Ohio State.  There was lots of us looking up – just watching.  Then, someone who knew him spoke up. They went up on the roof near him and begged him not to jump. The guy, after listening, talking and listening some more, came down off the roof.  Turns out he had just had some bad things happen to him and felt like he was doing the best thing he could do for himself.  But just think: What if no one had said anything?

I see people going into New Age practices but they don’t realize that’s what they’re getting into.  They think that it’s the best way to get close to God there is.  Like the man on the roof, I need to say something – sound an alarm so they won’t fall.

Recognize these terms? They are part of the “inside language” of contemplative spirituality and all point to one thing … eastern mysticism – Courtesy of Lighthouse Trails Publishing

Labyrinths
Enneagrams
Prayer Stations
Breath Prayers
Jesus Candles
The Jesus Prayer
Lectio Divina
Taize
Palms Up, Palms Down
Yoga
The Silence
Sacred Space
Ancient Prayer Practices

Inner Self

Higher Self

False Self

True Self

A Thin Place
Divine Mystery
Spiritual Direction
Ignation Contemplation
Ignatius Exercises
Contemplative
Centering
Centering prayer
Prayer of the Heart
Dark night of the soul
Practicing the Presence
Divine Center
Inner light
Mantra
Awareness of Being
Slow Prayer
Being in the Present Moment
Beyond Words
Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual Formation

Many of these terms are considered “inside” terms according to many contemplatives, such as free-lance writer, Michael Perschon. On April 16th, 2006, Youth Specialties issued an article by Perschon that illustrates the very thing we are saying here:

“Fitness buffs have an inside language. The really serious ones like to use proper anatomy terms, like gluteus maximus instead of bum. They still mean bum but, like most experts, enjoy having some special knowledge others don’t have. People who practice contemplative prayer are often no different. Like any other practice, contemplative prayer has its own inside language, which is clear to the initiated but means little to outsiders. Much of the writing on contemplative prayer uses this inside language.” -Michael Perschon, “Contemplative Prayer Practices”

I found some of my notes, taken over the past 2+ years, on Contemplative prayer and Mysticism. These are portions of what I base my views of Contemplative spirituality on.  If you’re practicing Contemplative Spirituality, you are playing with fire. You really are.

In silence - thoughts have a passive mind to hear God. Centering prayer works through silence but is this the way Jesus taught us to pray?  He never taught his disciples to repeat a word or phrase over and over, did He..

Our culture has set us up to demand experience.  Focus on self. Self improvement, self fulfillment.  Why did Jesus speak so much about ‘flesh’? But that’s what Contemplative prayer satifies – flesh. 

Ancient future – ancient spirituality is mysticism.  This is the main ingredient of Catholic mysticism. So how did it make its way into the church?  Jesus warned believers that in the end times, before His return, there would be a great deception that would make its way into the hearts of believers. That if it were possible…it would fool even the very elect.  This is happening now.  Many believers are swallowing this deception as if were coming straight from God Himself.

There is now the assumption that our western mindset is too busy to hear God. Contemplative prayer is waiting for God to speak to you. You believe that God is beyond all understanding – too far off.  This is the way that you can really feel like you’re one with Him… Familiar spirits. That’s what you’re hearing when you practice this.

Mystics.. searching for a mystical union with God.  Some believe that this type of mysticism is the way, but Jesus warned against it.

Catherine of Sienna: many celestial visions.. her writings – scourged herself 3X/day.  Stigmata – which is occult. She had it. She scourged herself for her own self, for others and for the dead.  So why is she being looked at by some as really knowing how to “press in” and really ‘be’ in God’s presence?  She is only one of the many Catholic mystics referred to here.

Spiritual formation: program which uses spiritual disciplines. But they’re moving beyond communication with God to a silent union.  Again, familiar spirits.

St. John of the cross: stage 1.  Self cleansing – until you feel a detachment from the world.

                                                                2. mystical union – experience Oneness with God (sensual terms) Bridal paradigm 

People are looking for some cutting edge spirituality.  Something in which you can “feel” the working power of your spiritual practice within you and around you… 

To practice Contemplative prayer, you’re to use a single word to take something from the mind to the heart.  But Jesus taught us not to use vain repetitions. You’re to repeat that word or phrase for sometimes up to 20 minutes. You’re to make your mind enter a complete and utter “void”. Once in that void, you’ll hear jesus speak to you. You’ll get direction from him.  But what you’re hearing when you get there is not Jesus of Nazareth. That is the voice of a familiar spirit – the kind Jesus warned us about. 

Lectio davina: sacred reading; bible’s being used as a mystical device. Repeat, repeat, repeat a word and through repetition, the mind is silenced.  The problem is that the context is being stripped out.   The context = the meaning of it.

Brennan Manning: “Without repetition, your own thoughts get in the way.”  Here is a man who is 100% into mysticism – yet he is being hearalded as one who is so close to Jesus.  Where is the difference between Christian mystics and occult mystics? There is no difference – they are both occult.

Labyrinth: physical, outward demonstration/motioning yourself toward the center of the labyrinth.  Which is much like contemplative – where God is within YOU.  Not just living in your heart but actually within you.

Why bother discussing all of this? The reason is because if YOU are reading this and are also practicing Contemplative spirituality, then you are being given a chance to renounce it.  You’re receiving a ‘warning flag’ to step away from it.  The choice is yours.

I’ve lost a son (at least for now) to a thing called IHOP – he told me that “older and wiser council” had met with him. It was, therefore, his decision (after meeting with this ‘older and wiser council’) that he and I should have ZERO communication for “one year..at least”.   One year at least… that was over 2 years ago.

That’s the beginning of a great novel in the making. It’s also the sad, sad truth behind the last 2 years and 3 months of my life. The International House of “Prayer” (and unaccredited university) has been the catalyst in tearing a once loving relationship between mother and son in half. But that’s not what’s caused me to go into such deep mourning.

Jesus warned us that in the last days, in the end times before His return, there’d be a great deception that would make its way into the church – into hearts of believers. “That if it were..possible…it would fool even the very elect”.

I know what the key is – the key that opens this deep, deep door to the awful deception. It isn’t “the” great falling away, but it absolutely does lead the person practicing it ‘to’ that terrible falling away. Mr. Mike Bickle of IHOP teaches the use of this key – and those practicing it truly do believe that they’re talking to and hearing from God when they do it.

Contemplative prayer is not actual prayer. Instead, it is “Christian” Transcendental Meditation – nothing but TM.
TM has its roots in the occult – and so does Contemplative prayer. Yes. We’re to meditate daily on God’s word. But in TM, in order for it to ‘work’, the mind cannot concentrate on any one thing. No noises, thoughts of any kind, feelings or distractions. The mind must enter into a complete and utter void. Where the deception about CP comes in is that the “Christian” form of TM has the person repeating a word or phrase right out of ther bible. Or saying Jesus’ name over and over.

Don’t allow yourself to be so easily fooled. Just because ‘a great teacher’ is saying, “It’s great. This is the way to really press in, to really ‘be’ in His presence…” Just because everyone around you is saying, ‘yes, yes – this is it’, don’t allow yourself to be fooled.

‘Be still and know that I am God’ doesn’t mean going into a mental void. It means ‘rest’ in the Lord. Don’t worry. Don’t panic. Just be still. And know that God is God. He is in control.

What causes me such mourning is knowing that I’ve lost a son to Contemplative prayer – and knowing that ‘that key’ has opened a door. A very dark place. And part of the new fruit from this has been a total destruction of a 27 year relationship.

What makes you feel so special about being at IHOP? Mike Bickle calls you “forerunners” and all of a sudden, you’ve got something that the entire rest of the Christian world doesn’t have? Anyone “only” attending church, reading their bibles, ‘attempting’ to witness etc. is “only practicing religiosity”?

What’s wrong with this picture?