Out of Formation

Gary Gilley’s new book: Out of Formation deals with the Spiritual Formation Movement.  This movement is re-introducing ancient and mystical spiritual practices to the modern Church and Evangelicals are jumping on the bandwagon to be a part of this movement.  Popular Christian and Evangelical publishers have made it easy for Christians to access these Spiritual Formation practices, and have recently in the last decade produced volumes and series of books promoting it.  Current popular Evangelical  authors quote christian mystics in their books and recommend ancient practices as a fresh means of spiritual growth. (See pg 9)  

Gilley cautions Christians to be aware and concern about the drift away from proper biblical  discipleship which is given to us from the Bible on spiritual discipline and growing in Christ. Gilley cautions early in the book “It is absolutely essential to get this connection early in our study. Many if not most, of the disciplines and instructions found within spiritual formation are not drawn from Scripture; they are drawn from imaginations of men and women  passed along as tradition.”  (pg. 25).

 Pastor Gilley examines several ancient/ and mystical spiritual disciplines of the Spiritual Formation Movement such as:  Contemplative Prayer, Sacred Reading (Lectio Divina), Solitude and Silence, Journaling, spiritual mentoring, pilgrimage, Sabbath keeping, fasting and discernment and revelation to name a few, and explains  their history, origin, and details about the practices, and who in modern church life are supporting and promoting these ancient and mystical spiritual disciplines and building their ministries upon their uses. 

This book asks:  What can be learned from this renewed interest in spiritual formation, and what are the dangers?  The book is divided in two parts. 

Part One of this book has been written to interact with the history, teachings and dangers of the Spiritual Formation Movement. 

Part Two turns to the biblical alternatives for spiritual formation. It examines the means, or disciplines, which the Word of God clearly identify as ways God has designed for His people to be transformed into Christ-likeness, and to experience intimacy 


This book is well researched and is a  comprehensive study on the Spiritual Formation Movement. Serious and relevant questions are asked and answered in this book.  This is highly recommended reading. 

This book can be purchased at Amazon

Dr. Gary Gilley has been pastoring at Southern View Chapel in Springfield, Illinois since 1975. He is author of 5 books. He also writes a newsletter Think on these Things which examines important theological issues and trends in the Church.  Pastor Gilley is a board member of Brazil Gospel Fellowship  Mission  and the Personal Freedom  Outreach, and serves on the board for New Tribes Mission. 

The Suicide of American Christianity

 

American Christianity is dying a slow death at its own hands. Instead of positively affecting the secular culture, we are being infected by it under the guise of being "seeker-friendly" and "loving." Soon, the church may be an exact mirror of the culture that seeks to destroy us.

With a lack of strong, principled leaders, and with followers who want their ears tickled instead of being challenged to pursue righteousness, American Christianity is writing its own epitaph as it slowly dies. Unless we reverse course by embracing the complete, absolute truth of God's Word and stop trying to redefine God in our selfish human image, only a remnant will remain from a once-powerful church.

Do we have the courage to challenge our leaders and ourselves to reject secular culture and its influences? Or will we continue to die a slow death at our own hands as we continue to inhale the cancer of secular humanism? Time is running out.

Publisher: WestBow Press
Publication Date: 2012
ISBN: 1449750249
ISBN-13: 9781449750244

This Book can be purchased at Christianbook.com ( See Link:
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=750244&event=AAI
 

A Christian Worldview

Anthony Selvaggio has written an interesting book on the modern-day effects of worldliness on the Christian. He does not just address outward behavior but speaks to the internal working worldliness has upon the heart. This I found unique. The short description in the foreword of the book I think sums it up best when he says: “While external behavior practices do matter, the real battle to avoid worldliness occurs internally, in our hearts and minds. While we have been consumed with external matters, worldliness has gained a foothold in our thought processes. Satan has been very successful in getting us to think like the world. This book is an effort to counter Satan’s attack on our minds. It’s a counterinsurgency aimed at thwarting the evil intentions of our adversary.”

The book outlines 7 toxic ideas and then addresses these concerns with scripture. The chapters I found most helpful and interesting were those that dealt with Consumerism and new Technology and it’s effect on our culture, the Christian and the church. Those who would most benefit from this book would be those 35 and under. He does a thorough examination of the 7 ideas he presents and how these ideas are opposite to a Christian worldview and explains why these toxic ideas are non-christian. A good short read.

Anthony T Selvaggio currently serves as a visiting professor of Biblical Studies at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA and is also Theologian in Residence at the Rochester Reformed Presbyterian Church in Rochester NY.

Publisher: P & R Publishing
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 1596381965
ISBN-13: 9781596381964

I received my copy from PFO Ministries. To order visit their website.
P.O. Box 26062 • Saint Louis, MO 63136-0062

Another Book Review of this book can be seen at : Ligonier Ministrieshttp://www.ligonier.org/blog/7-toxic-ideas-polluting-your-mind/

New Evangelicalism

New Evangelicalism and the Purpose Driven 

and Emergent Movement

In this book you will discover and learn that there has been an intentional departure from believing the Bible is Inerrant and trustworthy, and has plunged the church of the 21st century down the treacherous slippery slope of accommodation and compromise. Paul Smith carefully documents the sobering truth in this book.

Some of the questions that will be answered are:
Are there clear historical markers that identify this paradigm shift?

Why have so many evangelicals identified themselves as “new evangelicals”?

What is the relationship between Fuller Seminary, the Purpose Driven Church, and the Emergent Church Movement?

How is the Emergent Church push for globalization harmonizing with the new world order in these prophetic last days?

Paul Smith answers these questions with case studies and documentation of the events that lead up to where we are now. The author shows the progression of ideas that were birthed in aberrant church beliefs and it’s historical origin. Smith writes that New evangelicals learned about the word “dialectic” from Karl Barth and neo-orthodoxy, and is today used by Emergent churchmen. This decline was only possible when the inerrancy of the Bible, it’s absolute truth was no longer believed by church and influential seminary leaders.

 

 

We must not forget that the church rests on the twin sufficiency of : the inerrant word of God - the Bible and the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. We must stand firm always on these truths. Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Proverbs 30:5 and 2 Timothy 3:16,17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Publisher: Calvary Publishing
ISBN-10: 1597519774
ISBN-13: 978-1597519779

You can also order this book from: Olive Tree Ministries: www.olivetreeviews.org

See a review by Gary Gilley:  http://www.svchapel.org/resources/book-reviews/6-church-history/727-new-evangelicalism-by-paul-smith-costa-mesa-calvary-publishing-2011-215-pp-paper-1200

YOGA and the Church

YOGA UNCOILED: From East to West

For Order Information click
on Image

From the cover: Many believe they can practice yoga postures, breathing, and focusing techniques devoid of yoga’s spirituality, not realizing that yoga is an inherent part of Hindu philosophy which teaches man and nature are one with divinity.

Today, yoga is experiencing a worldwide renaissance and in America has more than 70,000 yoga teachers working in 20,000 locations. Although viewed primarily as fitness instructors, these trainers are in reality the leading missionaries of eastern religion in the west. The twenty-seven billion dollar a year yoga industry is marketed to students, athletes, businessmen, pregnant women and senior citzens promising solutions for stress reduction, concentration problems, and issues of self confidence.

Once viewed by Christians as a pagan import from the East, yoga has now become mainstream in the church through “Christ-centered yoga classes” designed to help improve spirituality and experience “the presence of God”. But is yoga’s mysticism compatible with historic Christianity?

 

Video-journalist Caryl Matrisciana, who was born and raised in India, returns to her native land to search for truth among India’s leading experts and examines what Christian Yoga practitioners in the West are saying about their Yoga participation.

 

With critical discernment, this hard-hitting and informative DVD explores the ramifications of dismissing yoga’s core spirituality, and blending Biblical terminology and precepts with eastern meditative techniques and practices.  To order this DVD please visit the website below:

 

 

Caryl Matrisciana‘s Website: - http://www.caryltvshop.com/

To order this DVD online visit the website: http://www.caryltvshop.com/Yoga-Uncoiled-From-East-To-West-DVD.html


About the Author

Film Maker and best-selling author Caryl Matrisciana is a well-known expert on ancient and modern world religions, contemporary cults, the New Age, and the occult. Caryl has co-produced or contributed research and expertise to more than 55 documentaries in the past 30 years. For the past 23 years Caryl was the Creative and Marketing Director for Jeremiah Films, a Southern California film company, a leader in documentary film production and video distribution. She was instrumental in the research and production of many of the films covering a myriad subjects and also narrated many of them.

Can Yoga ever be Christian? 

SEE VIDEO :  http://youtu.be/8_yfxZmRokg

A Theological Look at Emergent and Emerging

Why We're Not Emergent

One of the benefits in reading this book was the authors took the time to quote large portions of this movement’s leaders such as (Rob Bell, Dan Kimball, Tony Jones, Spencer Burke, Brian McLaren, and several others) and their writings to fully explain what emergent/emerging is, in this way, it gives the reader a more balanced and fair look at the movement being critiqued by DeYoung and Kluck.

In laying out the problems theologically, DeYoung and Kluck make 3 excellent observations in Chapter 1 - Is God Knowable?: 1) the authors state that Emergents question whether we can have any real accurate knowledge about God to begin with. They write emergent leaders are allowing the immensity of God to be swallow up His knowability, and say; “The first problem with the emergent view of journey is that it undermines the know ability of God (pg 35)    2). “With the emergent view of journey is that it suffers from an confusion of categories,” and also makes the well observed point, that “Emerging leaders equate uncertainty with humility. (excellent refutation by the authors is made on this emergent/emerging position). (pg.39)   3). “the third problem with the emergent view of journey is that it establishes doubt as the essence of faith.” (pg.49) Both emerging and emergent seem to have a lack of confidence in the Scriptures.

Our foundation as protestants since the reformation has always been on the Bible being foundational, from which is built upon first Christ (1 Cor. 3:11, and the apostles and prophets writings from the Bible, the non-repeatable foundation of the apostles and prophets that have been preserved for all times in Scripture. (the Bible) is the foundation for truth for the church. (pg.82)  This is what every Christian should, and what devoted followers of Christ do stand firm on.

 

 

The authors do an in-depth observation at who and what the emergent and emerging leaders are writing on blogs and putting in print in order to understand the movement. (pg 23). They have identified who the main emergent leaders are, and those who’s voices are highlighted as bringing forth what aligns with (some) of the views in the emerging conversation. If you can get through some of the heavy reading and philosophical bickering, this book could offer some key insight on what the emergent and emerging church actually is, and why there are many problems with it theologically. Keep standing firm on the truth revealed in Scripture.

Copyright © 2008

Publisher - Moody Publisher

ISBN: 10: 0-8024-5834-3

Reading Review Date: January 2010

Quitting Church

The Author attempts to explain why so many Christians still remain faithful yet dissatisfied and disconnected from the established church. The case histories of those included in the book were insightful, poignant and revealing. Julia Duin explores factors that are causing a shift in why people are leaving churches. The data is impressive. She delves into trends and fads like: house-churches, emergent congregations and postmodernism. This book is not convincing when it presented these options as opposed to traditional churches.

In her statistical data she shows how 78 million protestants don’t go to church, and states in her research that people are simply not being pastured. She writes about her own experience of being churchless and her struggle to find a church from her Charismatic background. Unfortunately she endorses charismatic- extremist teachers from the signs and wonders movement as good models in the book, which we didn’t find helpful.

Her conclusions and remedy for the problems given at the end of the book--she suggests going back to the ’covenant community movement’ like in the 70’s, to which she was a part of. She writes favorably of the house-church movement. This isn’t the best answer for the situation, especially from what has already been well-documented of the past record of the (Shepherding discipleship Movement) blunders and abuses that occurred in the 70‘s and 80‘s, and still would be troublesome today if it’s practices were repeated in today’s church. Two such books that document these movements are ‘Drift into Deception’, and also see the book ‘Damaged Disciples’).

Copyright © 2009
Publisher Baker Books  
ISBN: 0801072271

Reading / Review Date: January 2009

The Truth War

Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception

Dr. John MacArthur takes a bold and straight forward approach to addressing the current trends that have been invading the Church. He gives clear, well defined definitions of the Emerging and Emergent church movements and other trends such as the purpose-driven movement that have been moving through the Church. The author outlines in each chapter his scriptural reasons for his deep concerns.

MacArthur warns that: ‘Trends signal a significant departure from biblical & historic Christianity’. MacArthur shows examples of points in early church history where the fight for Truth is what keeps the purity of our Faith intact. A key concern for the church is Apostasy to which 2 Thess 2:10 warns will happen to those who do not receive the love of the truth.

This book takes a closer examination of these current trends in the Church and quotes what the Leaders of these movements say themselves, it is quickly apparent that historical Christian truth is being undermined. We are being told by some of these leaders that ‘Truth found in Scripture’ can’t be certain or knowable. As the author writes; ‘Truth is under assault in the Church today’, and ‘People are experimenting with subjective, relativistic ideas of Truth and labeling them Christian’. But contrary to popular teachings and thought, stands the enduring truth of scripture. 2 Tim 3:16,17, Psalms 119:160, Proverbs 30:5, 1 Peter 1:25

Another important point addressed in this book is the Christian’s apathy towards discernment and the Church allowing false teachings to flourish, and the sad lack of duty to contend earnestly for the Faith - Jude 3. John MacArthur writes that church leaders are especially responsible for setting the example for all believers - Jerm 3:15, Acts 20:18-31.

The Truth War - Fighting For Certainty in an Age of Deception

John MacArthur 

SEE VIDEO : http://youtu.be/35LVc-lwLO4

“The Truth War” will cause you to really think about your faith, what you believe and why. You will learn important lessons on discernment and how to determine truth by applying the Scriptures, and you will grow in your knowledge of Christ. For those who already hold to sound doctrine, it will refresh you. Recommended Reading.

John MacArthur is the author of over 150 books including many best-sellers. He is the Pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California and President of the Master’s College and Seminary. He is also president of  Grace to you  ministries which produces an internationally syndicated radio program, along with print, audio and internet resources. http://www.gty.org/Resources

Copyright © 2007 John MacArthur

Thomas Nelson publishers - http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/

ISBN - 10: 0-7852-6263-6


Reading / Review Date: July 14, 2007

 

Revolution

Christianbooks.com:

Revolution - George Barna

George Barna is not fuzzy about what he defines in the book ‘Revolution’. But after reading it, the question still stands--is this a biblically sound direction that believers should embrace? Although the author George Barna gives some essentials, it is still describing a redefined Christianity.

In summary, from the back cover, the book claims to examine the state of the church today and to document how and why a new brand of devout revolutionaries are abandoning and leaving the local church while attempting to become the Church that Christ commissioned.

But, you don’t fine statistical examples in the book about the many Christian believers who were asked to leave their church if they didn’t adhere to the ‘seeker-sensitive’ programs and changes taking place, or how may born again committed Christians were ostracized for verbalizing biblical and theological concerns with the model of church their churches were emulating due to the popularity of the Purpose-driven books and church growth programs. These changes coming into Churches continued to mutate into what is being called the Emergent Church movement.

At the end of the book, the author lists ‘Recommended resources for ‘Revolutionaries’ and the list reveals---Emergent Church leaders and Authors such as Brian McLaren and L.Sweet, and websites favorable to the Emergent Movement.

The purpose-driven movement and now the Emerging Movement have brought BIG changes into the majority of America’s Churches that not every Christian agrees with. Trying to discuss these concerns with a Pastor brought serious consequences for us and  some Christians mark them as troublemakers, and some were labeled as disrupting the unity of the body and they are forced to leave.

It seems to group all these committed Christians into a ‘Revolution’ with the same motives as those written about in his book, isn’t realistic or entirely right. A careful theological approach is needed in reading this book; it is too easy to get swept-up in the hype and emotional appeal of the message in the book, without carefully examining it to Scripture.

George Barna is well-known for being a Pollster and researcher in the evangelical church. He is founder and directing leader of the Barna Group. George Barna has written over 35 books.

Copyright © 2005  -  George Barna

Tyndale House Publishers Inc.

ISBN 13-978-1-4143-0758-9