Richard Foster’s book, “Celebration of Discipline,” has been influencing the church for decades. Why is it that pastors have promoted this book or taught it instead of calling out the blatant unbiblical teachings found in it? This book is full of New Thought concepts and techniques that Foster learned from his mentor, the infamous Agnes Sanford. Sanford was a former New Thought follower and never left those beliefs behind — they are in all her books. Sanford was also the “mother of inner healing,” a New Thought practice. Visualization and using the imagination to heal are not biblical, but Foster teaches them in this book. This is in addition to his unbiblical promotion of contemplative practices.
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His […]
[First published in the Midwest Christian Journal, Spring/Summer 2006; modified for website March, 2008] Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Col. 4:2 NASB […]