ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
When I was checking out Asbury Seminary and Church online, something jumped out at me and it gave me a ‘check’ in my spirit. I’m quite sure the reader knows what I mean. It was their emphasis on learning and practicing‘Spiritual Formation.’
This is not unique to Asbury. I believe that this practice has infiltrated most Evangelical churches in the world today. If leadership and members of churches do not have discernment, this is very dangerous. Spiritual Formation is New Age. It is mystical, and that alone should alarm any child of God.
From gotquestions.org
What is the spiritual formation movement?
The spiritual formation movement is very popular today. It is, however, in many ways a move away from the truth of God’s Word to a mystical form of Christianity, and it has infiltrated, to some degree, nearly all evangelical denominations. This idea of spiritual formation is based on the premise that if we do certain practices, we can be more like Jesus. Proponents of spiritual formation erroneously teach that anyone can practice these mystical rituals and find God within themselves.
Too often, adherents of the current spiritual formation movement believe the spiritual disciplines transform the seeker by his or her entering an altered realm of consciousness. The spiritual formation movement is characterized by such things as contemplative prayer, contemplative spirituality, and Christian mysticism.
True biblical spiritual formation, or spiritual transformation, begins with the understanding that we are sinners living apart from God. Our faculties have been corrupted by sin so that we cannot please God. True spiritual transformation occurs as we yield ourselves to God so that He may transform us by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. At least half of every New Testament epistle is geared toward how to live a life well pleasing to God—by obedience and submission to the Holy Spirit in all things. Scripture does not only call us the redeemed, saved, saints, sheep, soldiers, and servants, but teaches us that only through the power of the Spirit we can live up to what the names mean.
The following passages address various aspects of spiritual formation, the work of God in the life of the believer.
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Here is the aim of transformation: that we may be like Christ.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). This is part of a passage that teaches that we are changed into the image of Christ not by following rules and laws, but by following the leading of the Spirit by faith.
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:3-7).
Here, Paul reminds us of our before-and-after life. We have responded to the “kindness and love of God” shown to us by the death of Christ for our sins, repented of our sins, and now respond to the Spirit’s continual prompting and empowerment to live differently as God’s children. As a result, we have been transformed by the “rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (v. 5). This, then, is true spiritual formation—the reforming of our spirits by His Spirit into the image of Christ. Source
I will prove to the reader that Spiritual Formation is not only NEW AGE but also embraced in Hinduism and Yoga.
Don’t believe me? Well, I came upon a website which should convince you that Spiritual Formation is NOT for born-again believers in Christ.
Please hear me when I say that the following is taken from a “Yoga” website!
From yogakali.com
What Is Spiritual Formation?
1/7 What is spiritual formation?
2/7 The process of being formed or shaped spiritually
3/7 The role of spiritual formation in the life of a Christian
4/7 The benefits of spiritual formation
5/7 The importance of spiritual formation in the life of the church
6/7 The challenges of spiritual formation
7/7 The future of spiritual formation
****Brethren – nowhere on this website are these people claiming to be Christians, yet they are “teaching” Christians how to practice Spiritual Formation!!
This excerpt comes from “The future of Spiritual Formation” Read it carefully to see what this practice is REALLY about. I am bolding the most important words:
“It is also worth noting that spiritual formation is not just for people who are religious. In fact, many people who would not consider themselves to be religious are finding value in spiritual practices. This is because spiritual formation is not about following a set of rules or believing in certain dogma. Instead, it is about creating a personal connection with the divine and finding a sense of peace and calm in the midst of a chaotic world.“
Brethren – if you cannot glean the blatant NEW AGE verbiage in that paragraph, then I think that you may need to examine your walk with Christ. Did you repent of your sins and trust the Lord Jesus Christ (ALONE) for the forgiveness of your sins to be saved?
Do you see that long before churches were teaching about “Spiritual Formation” this was being used in mystical New Age circles!
It is hard to believe the extent of deception in the body of Christ today. It saddens me. The Word of God has everything we need, and the Holy Spirit within us helps the child of God to become more and more Christ-like.
Here is an article I wrote about YOGA and how it is NOT for Christians:
Christian Yoga: Bringing the Kundalini Serpent into the Church
Here is another article I wrote to help the brethren to clearly see ‘New Age’ terminology and reject it:
CHRISTIANS BEWARE: NEW AGE Philosophies are Invading the Church – Have You Been Fooled?
MARANATHA!
The church is doing exactly what Jesus said it would do.
Satan has used his influence just like he did in Eden.
We can celebrate the fact that Jesus did it all for us. That is what we must remember!
Amen! We do need to pray for discernment, though!
This kind of deception is very insidious. Your website reflects needed discernment on this important topic. People are desperately seeking peace in this multi- cultural environment we are in, and are led to believe they are “ narrow minded” if they don’t consider other beliefs. This certainly appeals to the younger and university set.
Jesus said The Way is actually narrow. Very narrow- HIM. Period.
AMEN! That’s one of the reasons I named this blog site “Absolute Truth!” Many would say there is no such thing as Absolute Truth – that Truth is “relative” which in essence is saying that what is truth to someone is not necessarily truth to another. From God’s Word: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). ONE TRUTH- ONE WAY – ONE LIFE and His Name is JESUS!!
Yes indeed. I’m not good at math, but I love the subject. It’s the one place where whatever you like or think doesn’t work! You do an equation with the right numbers or it’s wrong! Whether it’s structural engineering, or chemistry, the numbers better add up, or you’ve got trouble. That’s why planes are falling out of the sky these days.
The Great Mathematician put things together perfectly & His numbers are never wrong.
In the case of THE WAY, the number used was not multiple choice. It was One.
AMEN
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col.3:2 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Jesus, give us discernment and help us to warn people. Help us keep our focus on you alone and the teachings from your word.