Misguided Shepherds
Misguided Shepherds: Christian leaders who have given in to Contemplative Spirituality
The information on this page can be found in A Time of Departing, 2nd Edition)
David
Jeremiah - Turning Point Ministries |
Jeremiah's Walk Towards Contemplative Spirituality
2001 - Quotes Henri Nouwen in church services
2002 - Endorses back cover of Erwin McManus' book, Seizing Your Divine Moment
2003,
2005 - In his book, Life Wide Open, Jeremiah
favorably quotes the following New Agers, Buddhists and
contemplatives,( i.e. mystics):
Sue Monk Kidd
Peter Senge (Buddhist sympathizer) (Listen
to Audio Clip of Senge)
Jim
Collins
Calvin Miller
Erwin McManus
St. John of the Cross
Brother Lawrence
David Seamands
Eugene Peterson
Rick Warren
2003 - David Jeremiah's church, Shadow Mountain, encourages their men to become involved with contemplative spirituality. Currently, Pastor John Gillette of Shadow Mountain encourages the use of Richard Foster's book, Celebration of Discipline.
2005 - Signs on with Ken Blanchard and Laurie Beth Jones in the Lead Like Jesus conference.
See more.
2006 - David Jeremiah's New Book, Captured by Grace Captured by Grace Discusses Henri Nouwen and includes endorsement by Ken Blanchard
November 2006 - David Jeremiah Quotes Erwin McManus in Sermon - Audio Clip (start at 9:20 minute mark)
Throughout 2007 - Jeremiah continues to promote Life Wide Open
November 2007 - David Jeremiah quotes New Ager M. Scott Peck on Turning Point, after identifying him as part of the New Age movement in 1995 in his book, Invasion of Other Gods.
Life
Wide Open: Unleashing the Power of a Passionate Life by David
Jeremiah
Searching For Passion in All the Wrong Places
David Jeremiah Quotes New Agers in His Book, Life Wide Open
David Jeremiah's 2003 book, Life
Wide Open, has a subtitle of "Unleashing the Power of
a Passionate Life." In the introduction of the book, Jeremiah
tells readers that "A Small handful among us have discovered what
the rest of us would pay dearly to know:How can we bring real,
living excitement into this life?" Jeremiah goes on to tell readers
that "This book is a map to the life of passion and purpose, the
life wide open..."
Who are these small handful of people who have discovered the
secret? Well according to David Jeremiah's book, his list includes Rick
Warren of the Purpose Driven Life, contemplative, feminine
spiritualist Sue
Monk Kidd ( When
the Heart Waits), contemplative Calvin Miller (Into
the Depths of God), Buddhist sympathizer Peter
Senge (The Fifth Discipline), emerging church leader, Erwin
McManus, contemplative Michael Card, and Brother
Lawrence (Practicing the Presence of God).
We can see now that we were very wrong about David Jeremiah. When
we found out a couple months ago that Jeremiah would be sharing
a platform with New Age sympathizer Ken Blanchard, we thought
Jeremiah was completely naive when it came to New Age and mystical
concepts. We tried to warn him. But if his 2003 book, Life
Wide Open, is any indication, Jeremiah has been dabbling with
contemplative spirituality for quite some time. And for this we
are deeply saddened.
Note: On September 15th, we emailed Dr. Jeremiah to ask
him to comment on his book. We never received a response.
Chuck
Swindoll - Insight for Living |
Chuck
Swindoll Goes After the Silence and the Solitude
Writes New Book on the Spiritual Disciplines
Eight Essentials to Get You There
by Charles Swindoll of Insight for Living
A Book on the Solitude and Silence of
Contemplative Prayer
This book should have been subtitled:
"The Eight Spiritual Disciplines of Richard Foster"
Swindoll
favorably quotes and describes the spirituality of Richard
Foster, who is a disciple of Thomas Merton.
Another Christian leader who has succumbed to the new spirituality
that is permeating the church.
Quotes
the following:
Richard Foster
Henri Nouwen
Dallas Willard
Eugene Peterson (the Message)
Philip Yancey
QUOTES FROM THE BOOK:
"So you want to be like Christ? Me too. But that kind of godliness won't just happen ... Disciplining ourselves will require the same kind of focused thinking and living that our Master modeled." Introduction
"Let's commit ourselves to these eight spiritual disciplines." Introduction
"Henri Nouwen ... longed to get away from all those words ... So how do we pull it off? How, in a world bent on distracting us from growing deeper? ... How do you and I become more godly? ... The word is discipline. The secret lies in our returning to the spiritual disciplines." p. 9, 10.
"I have sensed a genuine need—in my own life —for the cultivation of intimacy with the Almighty.... God requires spiritual disciplines ... essential in our pursuit of godliness. ... I came across Dallas Willard's excellent work The Spirit of the Disciplines." p. 12
"Richard
Foster's meaningful work
Celebration of Discipline ..." p. 15
"Discipline. This is the means for having intimacy with God. ... Discipline is control gained by enforced obedience. It is the deliberate cultivation of inner order. So how are intimacy and discipline connected? ... Discipline is the means to that end." p. 21
The
Chapter on Silence and Solitude
Journey into Silence
The Ministry of Silence
Quoting Henri Nouwen's book The Way of the
Heart.
Note:
In September 2005, we were informed that Chuck Swindoll was favorably
quoting Henri Nouwen and Richard Foster on his Insight For Living
program. We contacted Insight for Living and spoke with Pastor Graham
Lyons. We shared our concerns, then later sent A Time of Departing to him and also a copy to Chuck Swindoll.
In a letter dated 10/3/05 from Pastor Lyons, we were told, "With
his schedule I doubt he will read it." We are sorry that Chuck
Swindoll has time to read Henri Nouwen and Richard Foster but no time
to read A Time of Departing, especially
in light of the fact that thousands of people will read Chuck Swindoll's
book, listen to his broadcasts and now believe that the contemplative
authors are acceptable and good.
Incidentally, Swindoll quoted these men, not just a few times, but
many times throughout the book.
