Last week I talked about my difficulties discerning the difference between Christian meditation and Eastern meditation. In order to better define the differences for myself, I’ve been conducting my own research on various discernment ministry websites. Often the sites warn of specific well-known Christians who have embraced the contemplative prayer movement along with other forms of mysticism. One name that has shown up frequently (to my surprise) is Beth Moore.
I’ve completed several of Beth Moore’s Bible studies and I’ve found them helpful (although the last one I participated in was nearly six years ago). The argument I’m seeing from many former New Agers turned Christians is that Beth Moore has offered solid Biblical teachings in the past but seems to be moving toward mysticism in recent years.
Christine Pack at Sola Sisters speaks highly of Beth Moore but expresses disappointment and concern for the direction of Beth Moore’s ministry.
The New Age “God” is an impersonal essence, or energy, or vibration, and somehow, people find ways to tap into this God for the usual things (power, love, success); or, they access or experience this “God,” through various mystical practices.
So with this as my background, I went into the Praying God’s Word Bible study by Beth Moore, and I was just completely undone when I came to an understanding that the God of the universes would not only allow us, but want us to pray directly to him, to come boldly before the Throne of grace, and into his very presence. … Seems pretty remedial doesn’t it? But this was an entirely new concept to me, so much so that in the middle of one class, I was so overcome with joy about knowing, finally knowing really and truly, how to speak to God that I began to weep so profusely… So for that study alone, I have tremendous goodwill toward Beth Moore. To this day, I pray using the principles for prayer as taught to me in that class… And that is why I’m deeply, deeply grieved to have watched Beth Moore slowly become more and mystical in both her manner of speech and her teaching over time.
Is Beth Moore dabbling in non-biblical forms of prayer?
Last week I ran across a video from the 2012 Passion Conference. In it Beth Moore and others, including Francis Chan and John Piper, stand on a stage before the projected words “Jesus, speak to me.” Each person reads a passage of scripture and then says something like, “Be still and let Jesus speak.”
Below is Beth Moore’s Bible reading and then her call to “be still”.
My first impression of the video was that it is a bit odd. Not the Bible reading, but the call to “let Jesus speak”.
Hasn’t Jesus already spoken? At the cross he said “It is finished”.
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30 NIV)
And in Revelation aren’t we told, For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV)?
Granted, I may be reading too much into the above verses, and I’m not saying that facetiously. Maybe when Jesus said “It is finished” he simply meant his time on earth was finished. And maybe in Revelation “this book” only refers to Revelation and not the entire Bible. However, what I’ve taken the above verses to mean is Jesus Christ paved the road to salvation roughly 2,000 years ago. The work is already completed. Jesus has already spoken. Everything we need to know about the nature of the triune God is in the Bible. (Emphasis on need to know. There is much about God not expressed within the pages of the Bible, but those things are not essential to our eternal salvation, so they have been safely and, we can trust, wisely omitted.)
With this in mind, consider what John Piper said about the unidirectional aspect of prayer during one of his sermons (thank you, Sola Sisters for the transcription):
(You might ask me) why don’t you just say (prayer), then, is communicating with God? That would be a little less awkward than ‘intentionally conveying a message.’ Why don’t you just say, prayer is communicating with God? And here’s the reason I tried that and rejected it. It’s because it sounds when you say that like you mean you’re communicating that way (pointing up to heaven) and He’s communicating this way (pointing down to himself), and that’s prayer. And that’s not prayer. The Bible never calls God’s communication to us ‘prayer.’ Never. And we get ourselves into a big muddle when we concoct phrases to that effect. Like his talking to us is a kind of prayer. It isn’t.
Now consider this video of John Piper praying at Passion 2012. If you don’t have time watch the entire video, fast forward to minute five where Piper says “Be quiet and ask the Lord to speak.”
No wonder I’m confused. In one sermon, Piper says prayer isn’t a two-way communication, and then in another sound bite, he tells us to “be quiet” and let Jesus speak. What exactly am I listening for? An audible recitation of scripture by Jesus Christ himself?
I realize Beth Moore and John Piper are both very popular Christian figures, and as a result, this post may come across as a bit controversial. My intent isn’t to stir up trouble, but perhaps simply to state: This bothers me. The whole “listening for Jesus to speak” bothers me. My question to those who are reading is, Does it bother you?
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/bethmoorethumbsup.htm Here is a link to a good article that shows what Beth Moore really believes in and who she thinks is important. There is a danger into what she is espousing. And millions of people are believing her. I do believe that the Spirit is present and guides us…his work is complete but allowed for the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. “It is for your good that I go away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:6. To live out Christ’s teaching requires the enabling presence of the Spirit. In my opinion, Jesus completed was he was sent to do here on Earth, paid the price for our sins, and the Holy Spirit was allowed to enter ours. But if you a chanting a mantra over and over, and quieting your brain to the point to where it is empty (the goal of a mantra) you allow for any spirit to enter it. And it may not be Holy. We are told to be filled with the Word. If our brains are empty they’re not filled with the Word! And that is a dangerous predicament for anyone.
Now I’m imagining audience members saying that God spoke to them so that they can say God spoke to them. bah! I bet He told them what they wanted to hear too. I’ve said a lot of prayers in my day, and I’ve never expected God to answer me back or tell me what I want to hear (okay maybe I did when I prayed for a working Wonder Woman suit. He said no….). This also sets people up in other ways….what if they never hear God? Are they bad Christians? Doesn’t God love them too? How come he talked to Johnny but not me? I must not be good enough. Bad message.
Amen, you are reading my mind! (Figuratively, of course!) I suppose that’s one reason it bothers me, since my emotions often feel “broken”, as though I want to feel but can’t because of the chemical imbalance thing, so I have to slog through at times, by faith (which is what we are supposed to do, really, “walk by faith”). Yet, I’ve questioned many times…”Why can’t I ‘feel’ God’s presence, What’s wrong with me, yada yada.” But, I think I’m finally ready to give myself a break! God’s presence is ALWAYS there, and the Holy Spirit has ALREADY set up an inner sanctuary in our hearts that we carry with us wherever we go, even when life seems (and feels) like chaos.
btw, Who needs a Wonder Woman suit when you have an active imagination? 😉 Hee hee.
I learned growing up that my concious was God/Jesus way of speaking to me. I also learned that prayer was to be done in private so that I wouldn’t be trying to impress others. My how things have changed. Also, the only 2 times I got messages they were: “Be still” and “I am”. So now when I feel life is crashing in on me I remember to calm down and trust God. What do you think about that?
I think the Holy Spirit does “speak”, but I think for me it’s more in the form of impressions, which could be equated with my conscience. Although, I do think I received a direct message of sorts when I was praying about Pete’s job situation, right before he was about to be laid off. I was having a “why me” moment with God, and an immediate realization struck me that I had prayed to God for the right person to come along to take care of Noah while I was at work. The answer I got to “why me” was “Because Pete’s the best person to take care of Noah.” (Well, duh Jessica)
Was that God or my common sense? I tend to think it was God, especially since it was an answer to a specific prayer and it humbled me on the spot, effectively ending my “why me” session!
That’s what makes it so confusing, and why we are told to “test the spirits”, although, it’s still kind of freaky to think a “spirit” other than God can potentially speak into our minds. It might be easier to pretend that dark realm doesn’t exist, but unfortunately, I’m convinced it does.