Spiritual Formation

[Amo]

What is the Spiritual Formation that is being taught in SDA Seminaries? The Pastor of our Church received a pamphlet inviting him to Andrews University to attend a seminar on the same. The cover says, "Announcing a New DOCTOR OF MINISTRY CONCENTRATION Discipleship & Spiritual Formation. I sure have read a lot of unsettling things about this Spiritual Formation on the internet.  

If it has anything to do with the bad things I have been reading about, it is nothing less than apostasy entering into the Church. Does anyone know exactly what our schools are teaching about it? Should we not be sounding some kind of alarm?  

[djconklin]

There is no need for alarm.

You can read about it here: http://www.andrews.edu/sem/dmin/concentrations/discipling/index.html

"Mission

The Doctor of Ministry Discipleship and Spiritual Formation Concentraiton integrates an understanding of a theology of discipleship and spiritual formation, with the process and dynamics involved in the participants' personal spiritual growth and consequent modeling, mentoring and teaching roles within the context of family, church and community.

Competencies

The DMin Discipleship and Spiritual Formation concentration seeks to create competency in the areas related to the discipline:

Academic: to enable participants to acquire knowledge of current and classic literature related to the area of spiritual formation and the process of discipleship. To engage this area of ministry through theological, biblical, and psychological perspectives, as well as to learn basic research skills relating to the field of discipleship and spiritual formation.
Spiritual and Theological Formation: to enable participants to reflect on their personal spiritual and theological perspectives and to integrate them into their practice of ministry.
Praxis: to enable participants to acquire skills pertinent to their practice in pastoral care and spiritual leadership within the context of discipleship and spiritual formation in the family, church, and wider community.
Self-reflection/Personal Growth: to enable participants to understand that in Christian ministry, being is as important as doing, and that true spiritual formation is grounded in a 'double knowledge' -- that of self and God.

Outcomes
Upon completing this program, the participants will be able to:

Articulate a Seventh-day Adventist perspective on discipleship and spiritual formation.
Demonstrate a continuing maturity in Christian formation, personal growth and ministry.
Integrate the theological, theoretical, experiential and practical dimensions of discipleship into a theologically reflective practice of ministry.
Train spiritually mature and relationally gifted people as spiritual mentors.
Embrace and carry out a biblically and theologically faithful praxis of discipleship and spiritual formation both individually and corporately."

[Amo]

"Mission

The Doctor of Ministry Discipleship and Spiritual Formation Concentraiton integrates an understanding of a theology of discipleship and spiritual formation, with the process and dynamics involved in the participants' personal spiritual growth and consequent modeling, mentoring and teaching roles within the context of family, church and community.

Competencies

The DMin Discipleship and Spiritual Formation concentration seeks to create competency in the areas related to the discipline:

Academic: to enable participants to acquire knowledge of current and classic literature related to the area of spiritual formation and the process of discipleship. To engage this area of ministry through theological, biblical, and psychological perspectives, as well as to learn basic research skills relating to the field of discipleship and spiritual formation.
Spiritual and Theological Formation: to enable participants to reflect on their personal spiritual and theological perspectives and to integrate them into their practice of ministry.
Praxis: to enable participants to acquire skills pertinent to their practice in pastoral care and spiritual leadership within the context of discipleship and spiritual formation in the family, church, and wider community.
Self-reflection/Personal Growth: to enable participants to understand that in Christian ministry, being is as important as doing, and that true spiritual formation is grounded in a 'double knowledge' -- that of self and God.

Outcomes
Upon completing this program, the participants will be able to:

Articulate a Seventh-day Adventist perspective on discipleship and spiritual formation.
Demonstrate a continuing maturity in Christian formation, personal growth and ministry.
Integrate the theological, theoretical, experiential and practical dimensions of discipleship into a theologically reflective practice of ministry.
Train spiritually mature and relationally gifted people as spiritual mentors.
Embrace and carry out a biblically and theologically faithful praxis of discipleship and spiritual formation both individually and corporately."

The above is a wonderfully political statement, which however, addresses none of my concerns.  I am not so interested about it's goals, as I am about how it intends to accomplish those goals.  The end does certainly not always justify the means, and the means is what I am concerned about. 

I have found much information connecting this Spiritual Formation to spiritualism, ancient mysticism, and the ecumenical movement of the Church of Rome.  Some even claim that Spiritual Formation is nothing more than “Spiritual Exercises devised by Ignatius Loyola”, the founder of the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church.  Others connect it to mind control, and hypnotism.  Should not our Church at the very least be making it very clear that what we are doing is in no way shape or form connected to these practices? 

Even if our church has removed all the dangerous elements from this Spiritual Formation, why has it retained the name and title of a methodology which is has been connected to such dangerous practices by so many?  If  in fact, what we are teaching is not tied in any way to these highly dangerous techniques of prayer and contemplation, then why don’t we call it something else?  I can only hope that it would not be in order to be more accepted by the other denominations which are involved in this same practice.

It is my understanding, that this Spiritual Formation is being practiced in many other denominations, and originated in the Roman Catholic Church.  Is there any evidence to the contrary?  Where did it come from?  What are the current and classic literatures being studied in relation to it, and where did they originate?  Certainly not from the SDA church. 

What is this double knowledge of self and God?  The self problem started in the garden of Eden when the Devil offered humanity a double knowledge, that of good and evil, with the promise that we would be like gods for knowing it.  We can see the results of that all around us.  It is by beholding Christ that we become changed, coming to know Him, not ourselves.  The scriptures clearly reveal what we are, what we need, and how we should relate to our God.  It is not a certain methodology that produces true discipleship, but rather the conviction and changing power of the Holy Spirit of God.  This comes about by hearing the word of God, not some special form of contemplation or prayer.

My mentor is Jesus Christ.  He became a man, and lived and died in order to give me and every other human being direct access to the throne of God.  The only mentoring Christians should be involved in, is helping others build their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which needs no other human being to stand between the same.  The entire system of Rome is about a church and priesthood that stands between humanity and their God, when Christ came to abolish this very thing.  Any system that leans toward the need for another faulty human being to establish ones personal relationship with Christ, when Christ came to establish just the opposite, is headed in the wrong direction.  Rome is the end result of this direction. 

What do these Spiritual Formation mentors do?  What kind of guidance are they giving?  If you have a mentor, are you a disciple of the same?  What kind of discipleship are we talking about here?  Discipleship of Christ, or of your mentor?  This thing is new to our Church, and it comes to us from an outside source, as such it should be thoroughly examined by our members.  Or should we just blindly follow the path of a select few in leadership positions? No, that is the way of Rome, not the Seventh Day Adventist Church.  The day we stop admonishing our members to thoroughly examine the issues, is the day apostasy raises its ugly head within.

[djconklin]

The above is a wonderfully political statement,

Hmm, go to the school you went to and look up how they described the program that you took.  Is that a "political statement"?  Who determeined that it was a "political statement"?  On what basis was it judged to be a "political statement" vs some other?  What are the others?  What was the critieria?  Who's judging the pig in the poke before they see the pig?  What does that tell you about them?

Some even claim that Spiritual Formation is nothing more than “Spiritual Exercises devised by Ignatius Loyola”, the founder of the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church.  Others connect it to mind control, and hypnotism.

Did they give you any proof for their claim?  Since the program just came out how would they know?  Why did you listen to them?

this Spiritual Formation is being practiced in many other denominations, and originated in the Roman Catholic Church.

Could you show us the proof?  Who told you this?  Since the degree program just satrted how would anyone know if it is connected with this?  What did they do judge the book based on its cover (in this case because of the use of two words)?  If the RCC uses the word "love" are we excluded from ever using it?  The RCC uses the phrase "justification by faith" (but they mean something different than what Protestants do) does that mean we can't use the phrase?

it comes to us from an outside source

Says who?!?  On what basis?  Where's the proof?  All I'm seeing is innuendo and slurs.

Or should we just blindly follow the path of a select few in leadership positions?

Or, we could blindly follow the blind wannabe guides.

The day we stop admonishing our members to thoroughly examine the issues

Who said that would be the case?  Name names.  Show us the evidence.

Didn't you people take any sort of critical thinking/reasoning courses?  Try watching some CSI shows to learn what constitutes as evidence.  And watch Law & Order to learn how to get the evidence and present it in court. They aren't allowed to simply claim that such and such might be, or is, the case.  Before you can get some evidence you have to go to a judge and get a warrant.  No judge would give one based on what is presented here.

No wonder we lose members to every Tom and Dick wannabe liar who comes along and makes wild claims against Ellen White or the SDA church.

[Amo]

Hmm, go to the school you went to and look up how they described the program that you took. Is that a "political statement"? Who determeined that it was a "political statement"? On what basis was it judged to be a "political statement" vs some other? What are the others? What was the critieria? Who's judging the pig in the poke before they see the pig? What does that tell you about them?

Point taken. My bad. It was presumptuous of me to think you would know what I mean by political, since it doesn't have much to do with the dictionary definition.  To me, a political statement or much of what would be said by a politician, is when I read through the statement, and when I am finished I say to myself, what on earth did I just read.  Then I go through it several more times trying to figure out just exactly what it is saying.  Of course this would be do in great part to my simpleton mind.

Nevertheless, my experience with politics and politicians is that they are certainly not concerned with simplifying the issues, but apparently complicating the same. 

Amo - Some even claim that Spiritual Formation is nothing more than “Spiritual Exercises devised by Ignatius Loyola”, the founder of the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church. Others connect it to mind control, and hypnotism. Did they give you any proof for their claim? Since the program just came out how would they know?

Dj - Why did you listen to them?

You are missing my point, perhaps because of my inability to articulate, which others have pointed out to me.  If anybody can go on line and do a search of Spiritual Formation, and come up with what I did connecting it to all of these satanic methods and practices, why would SDA’s be surprised if people think we are involved in the same.  Especially because there is no where they can go where the SDA church is clearly showing that we are not involved in the same. 

Do me a favor, go to your search engine and type in Spiritual Formation and observe the information presented.  Then type in Spiritual Formation & Seventh Day Adventists, and observe the same.  Then come back here and tell me that there is not a problem with us teaching Spiritual Formation in our colleges and Seminaries without clearly defining the difference between what we are teaching, and the information provided on these internet sites.  No, but there is a problem.  Some of these sites even have articles about the SDA church falling prey to this Spiritual Formation.

 

Amo - this Spiritual Formation is being practiced in many other denominations, and originated in the Roman Catholic Church.

Dj - Could you show us the proof? Who told you this? Since the degree program just satrted how would anyone know if it is connected with this? What did they do judge the book based on its cover (in this case because of the use of two words)? If the RCC uses the word "love" are we excluded from ever using it? The RCC uses the phrase "justification by faith" (but they mean something different than what Protestants do) does that mean we can't use the phrase?

What do you want me to do provide you with the links?  This is not necessary, just do the search I asked of you, and you will find oodles of info regarding the same.  When I said new, I did not mean just now starting.  The seminar at Andrews is new, the teaching of Spiritual Formation, what ever that is according to SDA’s, has been being taught for some years now.  It is my understanding from talking to someone who took the class at Andrews several years ago, there was quite a bit of controversy then, concerning whether we should be teaching it or not.  As you will see if you do the searches I suggested, there is still controversy within our church itself regarding the issue. 

If I am not mistaken, and maybe I am, but I believe the term justification by faith came to the RCC via Protestantism, not the other way around.  The RCC is also very diligent to let it be known, that what they consider justification by faith, is certainly not necessarily what some Protestants consider it to be.  So also, if the Spiritual Formation being taught by the SDA church is not at all like that being taught by the RCC, should we be diligent to point that fact out.

Amo - it comes to us from an outside source

Dj - Says who?!? On what basis? Where's the proof? All I'm seeing is innuendo and slurs.

Spiritual formation is the growth and development of the whole person by an intentional focus on one’s (1) spiritual and interior life, (2) interactions with others in ordinary life, and (3) the spiritual practices (prayer, the study of scripture, fasting, simplicity, solitude, confession, worship, etc.). In Care of Mind, Care of Spirit, Gerald G. May has written, “Spiritual formation is a rather general term referring to all attempts, means, instruction, and disciplines intended towards deepening of faith and furtherance of spiritual growth. It includes educational endeavors as well as the more intimate and in-depth process of spiritual direction.”[1]

Introduction
Spiritual formation is a universal experience. Dallas Willard writes that “it is a process that happens to everyone…. Terrorists as well as saints are the outcome of spiritual formation. Their spirits or hearts have been formed.” [2] A study of various world religions such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and others would enable one to understand specifically how each religion views spiritual formation or spiritual growth within its unique belief system.(Wikipedia).

All of the above religions predate the SDA church.  Spiritual Formation definitely comes to us from outside sources, not from within.  Of course this comes from Wikipedia, which many say is not a very dependable source.

Richard Foster
Author of the Spiritual Formation Bible
"By now enough water has gone under the Christian Spiritual Formation bridge that we can give some assessment of where we have come and what yet needs to be done. When I first began writing in the field in the late 70s and early 80s the term "Spiritual Formation" was hardly known, except for highly specialized references in relation to the Catholic orders. Today it is a rare person who has not heard the term. Seminary courses in Spiritual Formation proliferate like baby rabbits. Huge numbers are seeking to become certified as Spiritual Directors to answer the cry of multiplied thousands for spiritual direction. And more." Spiritual Formation, A Pastoral Letter by Richard Foster (From Lighthouse Trails Research Project)

According to Richard Foster, the term Spiritual Formation was hardly known in the 70s and 80s accept in relation to the Catholic orders.  I know it certainly was not well known among SDA’s at that time.  And now of course he says it is prevalent almost everywhere.

Contemplative Spirituality Was A Core Doctrine Of The Emerging Church
We can point to the Apprising Ministries article Learn Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism The SBC Way With Baptist State Convention Of North Carolina And Spiritual Director Jan Johnson as exhibit A as we began to look once again at the growing acceptance of Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) festering within the apostatizing Southern Baptist Convention. The Slowly Becoming Catholic, an allegedly evangelical Protestant denomination, is hardly alone in their re-embrace of this neo-Gnostic mysticism that originally flowered within the apostate Roman Catholicism.(From APPRISING MINISTRIES awakening to the light of Scripture)

Apparently the Baptist Church has felt the influence of these things also, some of which are sure it originated in the Roman Catholic Church.

2. Spiritual formation is Catholic.
Of course, spiritual formation is Catholic in the innocuous sense that all Protestant theology is historically rooted in the pre-Reformation Catholic Church. That spiritual formation looks to the first 15 centuries of church history for insights into spiritual maturity is no more problematic than looking to the first 15 centuries of church history for insights into the nature of the Trinity, the incarnation, ecclesiology, and so on. Furthermore, while evangelicals disagree with post-Reformation Roman Catholicism on some crucial points, there is nevertheless room for interaction on those points of disagreement as well as other substantial points of agreement when it comes to spiritual formation. So the real worry here must be that spiritual formation is influenced by specific Catholic doctrines and practices that are incompatible with evangelical theology. Whatever the particular problem cited, the concern is that spiritual formation has inappropriately borrowed from Catholicism.
This is, no doubt, a valid and serious concern. The first thing to be said in response is that we must be careful not to commit the genetic fallacy by faulting an idea or practice simply because of its origin—in this case, because of its Catholic origin. The charge that spiritual formation is Catholic must be directed at some particular problematic Catholic doctrine or practice that is embraced in the evangelical spiritual formation literature. For instance, perhaps the emphasis on spiritual disciplines smacks of justification by works. Or perhaps the practice of lectio divina tends to go against a literal-historical-grammatical hermeneutic. Or perhaps spiritual direction is ultimately based in an ecclesiology that denies the priesthood of all believers. If specific problems such as these are cited, it behooves the evangelical proponent of spiritual formation to carefully consider the complaint and test the adopted idea or practice against sound evangelical theology. But we should also bear in mind that evangelical theology and practice are not immune from these very same kinds of errors. Many of our models of sanctification smack of works righteousness, many of our Bible study methods easily turn subjectivistic, and we have often produced “discipleship” relationships that are overly authoritarian. So the need to be on the look-out for unbiblical theology and practices cuts both ways.
It should also be noted that one reason spiritual formation has its Catholic leanings is because the Catholic tradition has typically highlighted the topic of Christian growth in a manner that has been less prevalent in Protestantism (particularly 20th century Protestantism). Since with greater attention comes keener insight, it would be foolish not to give heed to what Catholic figures have to offer in this arena. And yet, the rich heritage of writing on spirituality within Protestantism also deserves special attention. Such Protestant thinkers as John Calvin, John Wesley, William Law, John Owen, Richard Baxter, Jonathan Edwards, J. C. Ryle, A. W. Tozer, and numerous others offer penetrating insights into the nature and dynamics of spiritual formation. Along this vein, it is encouraging to see a recent series of books entitled Classics of Reformed Spirituality (Baker Academic).
So while it can be alarming to see a blatant appreciation for both pre-Reformation and post-Reformation Catholic thought in spiritual formation literature and teaching, the real concern is not the influence of Catholicism per se, but rather the importation of ideas and practices (whether Catholic or not) that are biblically questionable. This is an important reminder for those leading and teaching spiritual formation.(Steve Porter: Sanctification in a New Key: Relieving Evangelical Anxieties Over Spiritual Formation, at metamorpha.com)

Obviously, Steve Porter has no qualms with admitting Spiritual Formation comes to us via the Roman Catholic Church.

Lifelong Learning Courses
Mysticism and Christian Spirituality (Certificate in Spiritual Formation)

This course will explore both historical and experiential aspects of Christian mysticism.  Using Old and New Testament writings, books about Eastern and Western Christian mysticism by contemporary writers and original writings of Christian mystics, mystical experience will be examined from a variety of perspectives.

At the center of many spiritual traditions, mysticism has been perhaps the most elusive aspect of spirituality for academic study.  And yet it has been present in so many of those we know in other contexts.  To what extent were Old Testament prophets such as Moses, Elijah and Isaiah mystics?  What about Paul and John the Evangelist in the New Testament?  Can we learn anything from Christian mystics like Origin, Pseudo-Dionysius, Gregory of Nyssa, Meister Eckhart and others about the mystical aspects of our own Christian faith and experience?

Instructor: John Kloepfer (Course offered at Columbia Theological Seminary)

Obviously Columbia Theological Seminary has no problem connecting Spiritual Formation with Christian mysticism, whatever that is.

Amo - Or should we just blindly follow the path of a select few in leadership positions?

dj - Or, we could blindly follow the blind wannabe guides.

Yes you could, and perhaps you are.  I have asked no one to do any such thing, but to the contrary am admonishing everyone to examine the issue carefully for themselves.  If this is the blind leading the blind to you, then I guess you really do believe that the ignorant should remain so and submit to the spiritual guidance of a select few mere men or women. This is not the will of God though, who has provided opportunity for all to seek and establish a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ, and the revelation of the same through the word of God.

Amo - The day we stop admonishing our members to thoroughly examine the issues

Do - Who said that would be the case? Name names. Show us the evidence.

I have already shown you some, and will continue to do so as I continue to investigate the issue.  I will not so readily call those SDA’s with whom I have spoken concerning this issue liars, simply because they have concerns about it.  Though you may call me and them liars, that certainly does not make it so.  These are real people with real concerns. 

Didn't you people take any sort of critical thinking/reasoning courses? Try watching some CSI shows to learn what constitutes as evidence. And watch Law & Order to learn how to get the evidence and present it in court. They aren't allowed to simply claim that such and such might be, or is, the case. Before you can get some evidence you have to go to a judge and get a warrant. No judge would give one based on what is presented here.

You are not my judge sir.  Nor do I need any warrant from you or anyone else to admonish people to thoroughly examine the issues of a particular methodology or contemplation concerning Christian development.  I go directly to the source to get my critical thinking and reasoning powers, the word of God.  You watch CSI for yours, I'll study THE BOOK for mine.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Sounds pretty complete to me.  Through Christ and the word of God we may obtain all we need.  By the way, I do enjoy a good episode of CSI, the original one, not the offshoots.  I just don't look for critical thinking and reasoning skills in my TV set.

No wonder we lose members to every Tom and Dick wannabe liar who comes along and makes wild claims against Ellen White or the SDA church.

As is evident from some of the material I have already shared with you, this is not an isolated issue regarding the SDA Church.  This Spiritual Formation is a growing phenomenon within many Christian denominations.  Many are also voicing their concerns regarding it from within the same.

 It is also a methodology used in non Christian religions.  Someone I know who was seriously involved in spiritualism, and is now a Seventh Day Adventist, says he used some of the same methods taught in Spiritual Formation when he was involved in the same.  So far in examining the issue, finding a clear definition of Spiritual Formation is elusive, since so many use it in varying forms.  I guess there is still a lot of work to do.

[djconklin]

To me, a political statement or much of what would be said by a politician, is when I read through the statement, and when I am finished I say to myself, what on earth did I just read.

When you picked a major at college did you read the description of the degree program?  Did you understand it?  Or, did you stand there scratching your head?

[Amo]

When you picked a major at college did you read the description of the degree program? Did you understand it? Or, did you stand there scratching your head?

I guess after demanding evidence, accusing me of spouting off nothing but baseless accusations and innuendo, basically calling me a liar, you are not even going to address any of the evidence I have supplied.  Instead you seem to be preoccupied with my ability, or lack thereof, to comprehend a description about college courses.  Is this some kind of diversionary tactic you learned in college in your critical thinking/reasoning courses? 

This might be our problem, I didn’t go to college, I assume you did.  Perhaps it is nothing more than simple ignorance on my part, having never even read descriptions of college courses before.  On the other hand, I believe the difference between the descriptions given by Andrews University, and the one I supplied from Columbia Theological Seminary, demonstrate the point I am trying to make.  Observe the following -   

Lifelong Learning Courses
Mysticism and Christian Spirituality (Certificate in Spiritual Formation)

This course will explore both historical and experiential aspects of Christian mysticism. Using Old and New Testament writings, books about Eastern and Western Christian mysticism by contemporary writers and original writings of Christian mystics, mystical experience will be examined from a variety of perspectives.

At the center of many spiritual traditions, mysticism has been perhaps the most elusive aspect of spirituality for academic study. And yet it has been present in so many of those we know in other contexts. To what extent were Old Testament prophets such as Moses, Elijah and Isaiah mystics? What about Paul and John the Evangelist in the New Testament? Can we learn anything from Christian mystics like Origin, Pseudo-Dionysius, Gregory of Nyssa, Meister Eckhart and others about the mystical aspects of our own Christian faith and experience?

Instructor: John Kloepfer (Course offered at Columbia Theological Seminary)

"Mission

The Doctor of Ministry Discipleship and Spiritual Formation Concentraiton integrates an understanding of a theology of discipleship and spiritual formation, with the process and dynamics involved in the participants' personal spiritual growth and consequent modeling, mentoring and teaching roles within the context of family, church and community.

Competencies

The DMin Discipleship and Spiritual Formation concentration seeks to create competency in the areas related to the discipline:

Academic: to enable participants to acquire knowledge of current and classic literature related to the area of spiritual formation and the process of discipleship. To engage this area of ministry through theological, biblical, and psychological perspectives, as well as to learn basic research skills relating to the field of discipleship and spiritual formation.
Spiritual and Theological Formation: to enable participants to reflect on their personal spiritual and theological perspectives and to integrate them into their practice of ministry.
Praxis: to enable participants to acquire skills pertinent to their practice in pastoral care and spiritual leadership within the context of discipleship and spiritual formation in the family, church, and wider community.
Self-reflection/Personal Growth: to enable participants to understand that in Christian ministry, being is as important as doing, and that true spiritual formation is grounded in a 'double knowledge' -- that of self and God.

Outcomes
Upon completing this program, the participants will be able to:

Articulate a Seventh-day Adventist perspective on discipleship and spiritual formation.
Demonstrate a continuing maturity in Christian formation, personal growth and ministry.
Integrate the theological, theoretical, experiential and practical dimensions of discipleship into a theologically reflective practice of ministry.
Train spiritually mature and relationally gifted people as spiritual mentors.
Embrace and carry out a biblically and theologically faithful praxis of discipleship and spiritual formation both individually and corporately."

I ask you Dj, which description tells the prospective student more about what they will actually be doing in the class, or how they will be obtaining the knowledge taught by the same?  Which one is shorter?  One centers on the particulars of the course in relation to the objective, and the other centers on the objective with almost no reference to the particulars.  Why do you think that is? 

Apart from a vague reference to current and classical literature, there are no particulars of the class discussed in the statement from Andrews University.  Of course, if there were any mention of mysticism in the Andrews University statement, it would set off alarms among Seventh Day Adventists immediately, and draw the course into serious question.  Even so, surely the SDA students taking the class would also sound an alarm if it openly embraced mysticism, wouldn’t they?  Nevertheless, as is obvious from the CTS statement, many do certainly make mysticism a large part of their Spiritual Formation courses.

This is not to mention all the other danger signs attached to this Spiritual Formation business.  None of which, I guess, you are inclined to address. In any case, here is a little more to chew on.

BIOLA UNIVERSITY NOW DRIFTING FROM EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT ROOTS?

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Oct 20, 2008 in Current Issues, Features

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1, ESV)

Apostate Roman Catholic Mystical Spiritual Formation Has No Place In The Body Of Christ

My friend and brother in arms along this often ugly and neglected Internet Front of the Truth War Jim Luppachino of Watcher’s Lamp points out the Pope Calls for World to Return to Mary’s Heart. If this phony fronting the Roman Catholic Church, perhaps the single best version of Christianity ever concocted by the Devil, meant the Mary of the Bible in a way it would be alright because she really loved the actual Jesus. But this antichrist doesn’t; he means the demon impersonating her in various “visions.” But what’s all this got to do with Biola University? If you’re not one of the multitudinous Rip Van Winkles masquerading as evangelical “leaders” within the visible church today and you have eyes that see read on.

Lately here at Apprising Ministries I have been warning the Body of Christ about apostatizing “Protestant” evangelicalism’s sordid lust affair with Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) and its antibiblical Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP), which is all simply a reimagined form of the alleged ”Christian” mysticism from apostate Roman Catholicism. The reason for this is really quite simple, we are witnessing the spread of The Cult of Guru Richard Foster deep within mainstream Protestant evangelicalism and with it a neo-pietism masquerading as Spritiual Formation (SF) as espoused by Southern Baptist minister Dallas Willard and his spiritual twin Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster.

Unfortunately it remains to be seen if the Church has any ministers left with the intestinal fortiutude to publicly back what they have told me privately concerning the teachings of Richard Foster, who, following in classsic Quakerism, is a highly ecumenical Reformation-rejecting mystic who’s basic theology is already a repudiation of Sola Scriptura. Now I ’spose I ain’t the brightest bulb in the Lord’s lamp but even I can see it’s absolutely asinine that evangelical Protestants should turn to someone whose very messed up mystic musings are derived from major apostate voices of the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation movement.

Yet it simply a fact that Foster has been forming the basis of so-called SF in their Protestant seminary classes for years and as a result we are hearing way too much talk about so-called “spiritual disciplines.” As I pointed out in Means of Grace: Searching the Scriptures you need to understand that these are largely artificial repainted ascetic practices of Roman Catholic monks and monkettes which greatly contributed to God bringing about the Protestant Reformation in the first place. And yes, it was the Spirit of the Lord Who moved men like Martin Luther, who as a former monk had forgotten more about ascetic “disciplines” than mystic monk wannabes Foster and Willard will ever know.

If you’ve bought into their mystic malarkey of centered on the self spiritual formation I will remind you here that the Biblical term for growing in the grace of God is discipleship. And the proper term the Protestant Reformers would use for things e.g. like fasting, prayer and studying the Bible would be “the means of grace” and not the Roman Catholic term “spiritual disciplines,” which has now become a new form of pietism. And if you don’t think this has grown into a cult of Foster-Willard then consider just how many times these mystical dreamers with their “feelings” from the flesh are appealed to in virtually every writing on the subject.

Sadly, we also have major voices within evangelicalism who are now trying to “save” terms associated with mysticism e.g. like “silence and solitude” and import them into the work of powerful men of God like Jonathan Edwards. The problem is mystics as far back as the deceived desert hermits used those terms first and they referred to a form of “wordless” corrupt “Christian” meditation. Protestants shouldn’t even be trying to reinterpret their meaning and bring this centered on the self experience-oriented “worship” which then interprets Scripture according to what they “feel” God has said. O how the Church needs voices like Dr. Walter Martin who used to constantly ask the most important question we can ask as darkness continues to fall upon this late hour: “But what does the text of the Bible itself say?”.

  (Taken from APPRISING MINISTRIES awakening to the light of Scripture)

[djconklin]

>I guess after demanding evidence, accusing me of spouting off nothing but baseless accusations and innuendo, basically calling me a liar, you are not even going to address any of the evidence I have supplied.  Instead you seem to be preoccupied with my ability, or lack thereof, to comprehend a description about college courses.  Is this some kind of diversionary tactic you learned in college in your critical thinking/reasoning courses? 

I'm using the library computer (10 minute limit); I only read the 1st part of your post and responded to it.

I did NOT call you a liar, I would never call you a liar.

Since the course decription is all we have that is all the evidence we have.

I don't do diversionary tactics--you thought it, guess who's doing it?