Letter of Marque

The Case of Rick Warren's Vanishing Centering Prayer

Over the past six years I have played what could only be described as a virtual game of cat and mouse with the people who run the websites associated with Rick Warren, Saddleback.com and Pastors.com.

During these years, the most doctrinally farcical and Biblically absurd articles and videos have been posted at Warren’s sites, and when they’ve come under the scrutinizing eyes of those in the body of Christ who still hold to sound Biblical doctrine those heretical and/or heterodox resources have, wooosh, vanished with no explanation. This has become such a frequent occurrence with the folks associated with Rick Warren’s ministry websites, that one wonders if the people running those sites have ever been taught the Christian faith and know the difference between sound doctrine and false doctrine.

The latest example of a flat out heretical article being posted at one of Warren’s sites, only to have it mysteriously vanish, was an article posted on October 2nd, 2011 for Pastors.com / Rick Warren’s Ministry Tool Box. The article was entitled, Centering Prayer Trusts Jesus Brings Transformation.

Below, I’m posting the screen shot that I took of both the article and the tweet sent out by Rick Warren’s Ministry Tool Box so that these are available for the public to see. And I have issued a challenge to Rick Warren to post an explanation as to why this article mysteriously disappeared from the Pastors.com website. If the reason why this article was pulled was because he thinks this is an unbiblical practice, then we need to hear that from Rick Warren himself.

I’ve also reproduced in this post, my radio program from October 10th, 2011 where I play a 2008 interview with Thomas Keating, one of the three Cistercian Monks responsible for creating Centering Prayer. In that interview Keating explains how the goal of Centering Prayer is to discover that YOU ARE GOD. Knowing this, my question is, “Why on Earth would an article about Centering Prayer have ever been posted at Rick Warren’s site?” Warren claims he is a Calvinist and a admirer of Jonathan Edwards. That being the case, how is it possible for an article that teaches a mystical practice developed by Roman Catholic monks that has as its goal that a person would achieve the understanding that they are god ever be approved for publication on a website that is read by hundreds of thousands of pastors around the world?

I hope that we get an explanation from Rick Warren. But, I wouldn’t bet on it.

Here's the Oct. 10th, 2011 Episode of Fighting for the Faith, Discussing the
Origins and Purpose of Centering Prayer

Here is the article in question that vanished from Pastors.com late last week

(click on image to view article full size)

Here's the Tweet sent out by Rick Warren's Ministry Tool Box announcing and linking to the Centering Prayer article.

Examining the Claims That You Can "Experience God" by Practicing Certain Disciplines & Spiritual Practices

Spiritual Disciplines and Spiritual Practices are all the rage in postmodern, seeker-driven churches. The popular books and products of Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, John Ortberg and Pete Scazzero all promise the buyer that if they master the practices taught in their books and DVD's they will not only grow spiritually but will also be able to have direct mystical experiences of the divine. Yet, what these men are not telling the public is that these practices and disciplines were originally developed in Roman Catholic monasteries by men who were mystics and rejected the Biblical Gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone by Christ's work alone. (That means that these mystical monks were not Christians. Instead, they were heretics who were trying to earn God's favor and salvation through their monkery.) These practices which were developed by these Roman Catholic Monks are now being repackaged and sold to Protestant pastors and laymen without any consideration as to whether or not they are even compatible with the Historic Christian Faith.

Despite what these men may tell you in their sales pitches, these practices are not found in the Bible and were not practiced or taught by Jesus nor His disciples. As you'll hear in my interview with former mystic Christine Pack of the Solasisters, these practices not only contradict the scriptures by teaching that we can experience God apart from Christ and His Cross they may in fact connect you with the demonic realm.

Click on the Menu button on the player above and you can embed this radio segment on your blog or website.

Where Does it Say That We Can "Practice the Presence of God"?

Seeker-driven church leaders and many in the Emergent movement openly dabble in and promote Roman Catholic Monastic Mysticism. In fact, one could argue that Roman Catholic Mysticism is today's postmodern version of Pentecostalism. The Lectio Divina, the Prayer Examen and Practicing the Presence of God are all the rage for those who are seeking to 'experience God'. There's only one BIG problem with all these Roman Catholic mystical practices... just like prayers to the saints, praying to and worshipping the virgin Mary, purgatory, the continual re-sacrifice of Christ in the Mass, and claiming the Pope is the infallible head of the church, not one of these mystical or contemplative practices are taught either in full or in part in the scriptures. Even worse there are no practices given in the scriptures whereby if a person performed the right steps with the right attitude of the heart that they could climb the ladder into heaven and then God would grant that person a subjective 'experience' of the divine.

In other words, all of these Roman Catholic Mystical Practices are nothing more that mystical snake oil and if one would apply just a little bit of Biblical discernment they could see through the packaging and realize their being sold counterfeit mystical experiences.

Seriously, think about it. The Bible nowhere teaches that you can "practice the presence of God". What does that phrase even mean? What's next practicing the sovereignty of God? How about practicing the omniscience of God or practicing the Trinity of God? The whole concept is utter poppycock.

The bottom line is that there is a postmodern cultural assumption and expectation that we can have a direct mystical experience with God. This assumption is not rooted in the Bible. It's rooted in pagan idolatry. The God of the Bible nowhere in His revealed word promises that if you do X, Y or Z that He will respond by giving you a subjective mystical experience. Anyone who tells you otherwise IS SELLING YOU SOMETHING and not telling you the truth.

Turn your brain back on and open your Bible and read it to understand it. Go to church and receive the Lord's supper, pray the Lord's prayer and offer up prayers and petitions to God. These are the humble ways that God has chosen for us to experience Him on this side of Christ's return and these are sufficient and profound. To seek to go beyond these humble means is idolatrous and often time spiritually disastrous.

• For a more in depth critique of Brother Lawrence's Practicing the Presence of God I highly recommend that you read the fine article written by Bob DeWaay entitled What Shall We Practice? Click Here to Read it.

Dangers of Monastic Mystic Meditation Practices

Why on earth are Roman Catholic Mysticism and practices developed in monasteries by men who rejected the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone by Christ's work alone being promoted in supposedly Protestant churches?

Here are a few notable examples:

Rick Warren has invited Pete Scazzero to teach Roman Catholic Monastic Mysticism at the upcoming Radicalis Conference.

Rob Bell and Shane Hipps of Mars Hill Bible Church promote the use of Lectio Divina, the so-called "Discipline of Silence" as well as the Prayer Examen which was developed by one of the arch enemies of the Reformation, Ignatius Loyola.

Scott Hodge of The Orchard is an up and coming innovative leader in the seeker-driven ranks who also promotes and practices Monastic Mysticism.

And the list of supposedly Protestant pastors who are teaching and practicing various forms of contemplative monastic mysticism is growing and growing. Fact is, Roman Catholic Monastic Mysticism is becoming all the rage in today's post-modern, cutting edge, innovative market-driven churches.

But, despite what these men may tell you, these practices are not Biblical, were not practiced by Jesus or any of His disciples and rather than connecting you with the Holy Spirit of the Bible, will instead connect you with the demonic realm.

But even worse, as you'll hear in my interview with Christine Pack of the Solasisters, these practices contradict the scriptures by teaching that we can experience God apart from Christ and His Cross. If the claims of those promoting these Roman Catholic practices were true then Jesus was lying when he said that no one can come to the father except through him. (John 14:6).

Truth be told, I know exactly why Rick Warren and others in the Purpose-Driven community as well as the Willow Creek Association are promoting and adopting the use of these Roman Catholic Monastic practices. However, I will save that answer for a forth coming post.

First, I would like for you to hear from someone that Christ rescued out of the mire of mysticism. Here is my interview with Christine Pack from yesterday's edition of Fighting for the Faith.

A Fair & Provocative Question: Since these pastors have so little Biblical discernment as demonstrated by their promotion of these Roman Catholic Monastic practices, how long will it be before Rick Warren, Rob Bell, Shane Hipps, Pete Scazzero and others begin promoting prayers TO the Blessed Virgin Mary? [Ironically, the exact same Biblical Doctrines come into play.]

Click on the Menu button on the player above and you can embed this radio segment on your blog or website.