On Christian Mysticism: A Conservative Evangelical Perspective by Bruce MacPherson is a book I highly recommend. I don't think I have read another book on Christian mysticism that provides such clarity and insight into this deceptive practice.
Bruce MacPherson:
"Many Christians are 'climbing over the fence' to reach intimacy with God by emptying one’s mind, but are in severe danger because they are entering the dark realm of mysticism. It is the wrong path and will not lead to God. It looks enticing, but stop! Don't go there! Christian mysticism is a cancer subtly invading Christianity, and it needs to be unmasked. Pastor Tim Keller rightly says, 'Prayer brings you into God's presence.' 500 years ago, Protestant reformers rightly rejected Christian mysticism (Contemplative Spirituality).
My first published book, On Christian Mysticism, is about how to walk intimately with God. It is also an assessment of historic Christian Mysticism’s practice of 'prayer beyond words,' a complete silencing of the mind. This is done by a mantra-like repetition of a sacred word which they claim enables us to enter God’s presence when we are devoid of all thoughts.
This book is an urgent call to return to biblical Christianity and reject Eastern mysticism in Western dress. It is a call to a return to Christian Formation that is truly rooted in the Bible, involving verbal prayer and meditation of the Scriptures. The mystics are wrong and heretical in practicing mantra-like techniques to silence the mind and all our senses. Or to think that, as many of them do, that all humans share God’s basic essence. And that everyone, even the devil and evil spirits, will eventually be in God’s presence. They are wrong in rejecting the need for personal conversion, evangelism, missions, and wrong in rejecting salvation by faith alone or that Christ died as our substitute. M. Scott peck said, 'Christianity’s greatest sin is to think that other religions are not saved.' Even Tony Campolo questions that Christ is the only way to God.
We need to avoid and reject Christian mysticism’s cross-fertilization of Christianity and Eastern religious meditation. Like Meister Eckhart saying, 'theologians may quarrel, but the mystics of the world speak the same language.' Or Catholic mystic Thomas Merton saying, 'I intend to become as good a Buddhist as I can.' Just before his death Merton told John Moffitt: 'Zen and Christianity are the same.' The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, founded by Tilden Edwards, is called 'The Western bridge to Far Eastern spirituality.' Like Edwards, many Christian mystics, like Richard Foster and Henri Nouwen, are intent upon producing a hybrid religion and learn from Buddhists, Muslim Sufi, Hindus, Jewish Kabbalah, and other non-Christian religions. Nouwen learned meditation techniques from his Hindu friend, Eknath Easwaran.
Canadian pastor, Jim Challies, notes: 'As I survey the contemporary church, one of my gravest concerns is the power and prevalence of mysticism … Mysticism has wormed its way inside evangelicalism so that the two have become integrated and almost inseparable. In an age of syncretism, we fail to spot the contradiction and opposition.' Christian Mysticism has 'stolen our tent' (see page 96 in this book)!
There is something here for us all, from Bible scholar to new follower of Jesus. The book is self-published, found on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle versions."
Fascinating and eye-opening stuff - facts that should be shared far and wide. Interesting that Bruce is Dave MacPherson's brother. What a researching family!
ReplyDeleteThey are an extraordinary family Irv We are blessed to have the benefit of their insights. God bless.
ReplyDeleteThe first 'Christian' book I ever read was M. Scott Peck's "The Road Less Travelled". At the time I thought it was a good book! How ignorant I was back then (less so today by God's grace!).
ReplyDeleteFor Scott Peck to say "Christianity's greatest sin is to think that other religions are not saved" is to negate the power of the cross, and to trample "under foot the Son of God" Hebrews 10.29. What then was the point of the crucifixion, if there are other routes of salvation?
What a damnable statement?
God bless.