"[Rick]Warren
quotes from Catholic mystic Brother Lawrence, endorsing Catholic
contemplative prayer techniques, which he says are helpful ideas.
Brother Lawrence was not only traditionally Roman Catholic but
also disseminated teachings that have similarities with Hinduism
in the Bhagavad-Gita , and with many New Age writers. Warren
endorses him and goes on later to recommend breath prayers. —Richard
Bennett, Berean Beacon
Rick
Warren Promotes and Endorses Contemplative Spirituality
In
both Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life and on his pastors.com
website, he encourages the use of breath prayers. In nearly
every instance that people use this phrase, this is an Eastern
style of mantra prayer.
Breath
Prayers
"With
practice, you can develop the habit of praying silent 'breath
prayers'" —Rick Warren, from his web site,
pastors.com
"[U]se
'breath prayers' throughout the day, as many Christians have done
for centuries. You choose a brief sentence or a simple phrase
that can be repeated to Jesus in
one breath."
—Rick Warren, Purpose-Driven Life, p. 89.
"Breath
prayers are a great way to keep in contact with our Heavenly Father
throughout our day. Just repeat short heart-felt prayers, such
as "You are my God," "I love you Lord," and
"Thank You, Jesus."
from pastors.com article by Tobin Perry
"Develop the habit of praying silent "breath prayers"
for those you encounter."
—Rick Warren, Sermons
Pastors.com
Endorses Contemplative Authors
RICK
WARREN
(and the pastors at Saddleback)
promote the following contemplatives on Rick Warren's pastors.com
website:
Kay
Warren recommends Henri Nouwen's book,In the Name of Jesusand says this about Nouwen's
book, "[I]t hits at the heart of the minister.... I highlighted
almost every word!"
Breath
Prayers (John Main- a Benedictine monk)
"Sit down.... Breathe calmly and regularly. Silently,
interiorly, begin to say a single word. We recommend the prayer-phrase
‘MA-RA-NA-THA”. Recite it as four syllables of equal length.
Listen to it as you say it, gently but continuously. Do not
think or image anything – spiritual or otherwise. If thoughts
and images come, these are distractions at the time of meditation,
so keep returning to simply saying the word. Meditate each
morning and evening for between twenty and thirty minutes."
from the teachings
of John Main
Rick
Warren's
List of Recommended Contemplative Books
John
Ortberg, once teaching pastor at Willow Creek, now
at Menlo Park Presbyterian has some interesting things
to say. Look who he quotes favorably in this book:
Other
Contemplative Books Rick Warren Recommends on Purpose
Driven Life website:
