Haven’t read part 1 and part 2? read them before reading this one Beyond contemplative prayer: back to God’s word Reflecting on God’s word, in the sense of thinking […]
Read Part 1 before reading this one Beyond the mind: No-thinking According to Keating, CP should be “detachment” from thought, getting into a state of “no-thinking” and that “it is […]
[First published in Midwest Christian Outreach Journal, February, 2005; this version has been modified with additional information] “God’s first language is silence.” 1 “Progress in intimacy with God means progress […]
Part 2 of “Ruth Haley Barton and Contemplative Corruption” is hosted on the Midwest Christian Outreach site. Short link for article: http://tinyurl.com/ye2a3y9z
Part 1 of “Ruth Haley Barton and Contemplative Corruption” is hosted on the Midwest Christian Outreach site. Short link for article: http://tinyurl.com/ydw2fzzy
Contemplative teachings use ordinary words or words from the Bible but have layers of hidden meaning in them…Translating Contemplative teachings is like peeling an onion and sometimes the layers seem to never end but only lead to other onion-like words with their multi-layers of meaning.
You may be wanting to speak to your church leaders if you have had concerns with John Mark Comer’s teachings, particularly if the church is using the Practicing the Way […]
Most of the book, Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, by Tyler Staton, is not about Contemplative practices. Staton uses what is often called the Lord’s Prayer as a template […]
What this adds up to is mysticism, and a mystical view is a natural result of contemplative practices that apparently have captivated Mackie. Mysticism is not a matter of transcending logic or thought; it is actually contra logic and thought. This is why all contemplative teachings downgrade the mind . It is always found in esoteric teachings that there is something profound beyond words and reason that one can experience – a hidden or secret experience and/or wisdom. This is exactly how I thought for over 20 years.
Mackie is planting not only the idea that gaining perception of “another reality” or a “super reality” is positive, but he is offering the means for it through the contemplative practices, which will alter perceptions over time.
Why so much about the body in the spiritual disciplines (Spiritual Formation)? One reasonable conclusion is that since prayer (and many of the disciplines) are elaborate practices involving the body in Contemplative teachings, a theology around the body is constructed to hold up the Contemplative edifice (since this edifice is not held up by Scripture). The attempt at scanctification via methods from men includes the attempt at sanctifying the body. But the fallen body is not sanctified nor can it be in this life for the Christian. That is why it will be made into a new glorified body, as was the body of Jesus upon his resurrection, in a future time.