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What’s So Bad about Spiritual Formation?
Summary:
Spiritual formation is a popular new way to draw near to God. But beneath the good intentions lie dangerous practices that can in fact pull people towards occultism rather than God.
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The spiritual formation movement is spreading rapidly throughout the Christian community. The concept of being formed spiritually is not wrong in itself, but many practices that accompany the movement miss the mark. Often, mystic rituals do not glorify the true God but can instead lead us into dangerous spritualism.
What is Spiritual Formation?
As Roger Oakland writes in his book Faith Undone, the term spiritual formation “suggests there are various ways and means to get closer to God and to emulate him. Thus the idea that if you do certain practices, you can be more like Jesus” (emphasis in original).
Getting close to God and becoming more like Him are wonderful, Biblical goals (See Psalm 73:28 and Philippians 3:8-11). However, we must carefully choose the right means by which we seek a relationship with God. Oakland continues, “Rather than having an indwelling of the person of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, spiritual formation through spiritual disciplines supposedly transforms the seeker by entering an altered realm of consciousness.”i
Lighthouse Trails calls spiritual formation a “channel through which contemplative prayer is entering the church.”ii
Spiritual formation, then, can be seen as a way of seeking a relationship with God and a transformed inner self through the practice of spiritual—and often mystical—disciplines. Unfortunately, many earnest Christians and Christian leaders are entering into a spiritualistic lifestyle without even realizing it. Their desire to draw near to God is leading them to mystic and even occult rituals hidden among godly practices.
The following articles focus on aspects of the spiritual formation movement that we need to be wary of. Learn the definition and dangers of particular disciplines, see how these practices are infiltrating 21st-century Christianity, and rediscover healthy and Biblical ways to live in God's Spirit, which is "of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).
Our mission is to study God's Word and obey it. But are there methods we should avoid?
What is the difference between Biblical meditation and New Age meditation? Who are the key supporters of contemplative prayer?
Labyrinth walking, an occult prayer ritual with repulsive mythical origins, is being infused into modern Christianity.
Spiritual direction, a form of mystical mentorship, is becoming increasingly common in Western Catholicism and Protestantism.
Author Roger Oakland says, "What was once described as New Age and occult is acceptable now in some Christian circles." Is he right? And if so, should we be concerned?
Spiritual formation is being encouraged in influential American evangelical churches.
The United Methodist Church and Presbyterian Church exemplify the widespread infiltration of spiritual formation doctrine into the Church in the United States and beyond.
i. Roger Oakland, Faith Undone (Oregon: Lighthouse Trails Publishing, 2007): 90.
ii. "Exposing Contemplative Christianity," Lighthouse Trails Research Project: www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com.
Get Healthy!
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Dr. Rainda gives good advice on balanced living.
Advice for the home from Ellen White.
Starting the day right involves a hearty, healthy breakfast.
What is Candida?
Candida is the short name used to describe yeast overgrowth in the body. The technical...
Every private home should have charcoal on hand as a ready antidote for poisoning, and as a cleansing agent in infectious and various metabolic disturbances.
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Herbalist Avery Yackel gives helpful hints for improving circulation and nourishing the blood.
Written in 1936 and still used as an essential reference today.
Book Review.
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A helpful chart for those wanting to grow their own garden vegetables.
Chart showing how to space your vegetables in the garden and how to care for your plants.
Steve Day explains the importance of nutrient-rich soil for growing produce.
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system. No, this isn’t simply a theory, but the conclusion from years of laboratory testing
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Tony de Morais explains the wide spectrum of uses for clay.
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Food borne illness is on the increase worldwide. In most cases, animal products are implicated as the main source of infection.
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Inject some fun into your food routine with these healthy meal ideas.
Pain pills aren't always the best way to deal with aches and soreness. Various therapies—including vibrational therapy—can have you on the road to recovery.
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Learn about the acidity or alkalinity of your favorite foods.
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Is consuming alcohol ever a good idea?
Smoking leads to massive amounts of sickness and death every year.
Maybe vegetarianism is the best option after all...
Get the truth about lactose, calcium, and the need for caution around dairy products.
The agriculture industry is fast becoming reliant on genetically modified foods. Learn the facts about GMOs and the effects this trend is having on health worldwide.
Diabetes is spreading across North America. Is there anything we can do to stop this killer disease?
Refined sugar is addictive, destructive, and devoid of any nutritional value. Why does it continue to be a staple food across the world?
Cola drinks are a staple in the world's diet, but maybe we should stick to drinking water.
There are now over 3,000 additives in our foods. Incredibly, only 7% have any nutritional value.
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Plant medicine safety pale in comparison to the promotional and safety practices of the mainstream drug industry.
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