Apostoic worship??

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Those are the two verses I'll be contemplating when I enter contemplative prayer tonight (tis the Sabbath, ). Eliminate all distractions for about 40 minutes to an hour. Enter a relaxed and prayerful state of mind. Feel free to put on some relaxing music, burn a soothing, aromatic candle, take a hot bath and lay down. Whatever you have to do to relax and balance your entire being (body, soul, and spirit). Read these verses slowly. With eyes closed, picture any imagery used by the writers in each text. Reflect on the statements made. Contemplate their context. Contemplate what these verses meant to the original readers. Then contemplate their implications and how they might apply to you. Contemplate how they might help you be conformed into the image and likeness of Christ. Welcome to contemplative prayer.

"Be still and know" David wrote is not as you described above.

You're reading too much Deepak Chopra.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

"Be still and know" David wrote is not as you described above.

You're reading too much Deepak Chopra.

Be still, do not worry, be anxious for nothing, do not fret, and know that God has got this and is in full control is David... that quack "Chopra" is a nobody trying to coopt the work of King David to sell his pathetic books. God Himself inspired David to write the text to convey this meaning to us.

I can honestly say, I've never read anything by Chopra. He's not even Christian.

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Be still, do not worry, be anxious for nothing, do not fret, and know that God has got this and is in full control is David... that quack "Chopra" is a nobody trying to coopt the work of King David to sell his pathetic books. God Himself inspired David to write the text to convey this meaning to us.

I can honestly say, I've never read anything by Chopra. He's not even Christian.

Hey, but he could be looking our way! lol

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I can honestly say, I've never read anything by Chopra. He's not even Christian.

Neither is what you described doing in the previous post.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by n david

You do what you do, Aquila. I've read enough to show me the root of contemplative and soaking junk is not based in scripture, but in eastern and catholic mysticism. But go ahead and chant or focus on your words if that makes you feel better.

[n david]

Available on Amazon.

PRAISE THE LORD!

smh

[houston]

I'm certain that you blessed little "heresy hunters" could find something worth burning me at the stake over in my worship practices

[Esaias]

The charismatic movement bought into the idea that the anointing was some kind of palpable feeling that invariably produced physical sensations and actions (gyrations, jerks, burning sensations, etc). This was picked up from earlier Pentecostals and Holiness people who - against the warnings issued by people like Charles Parham, Frank Bartleman, Evan Roberts, Watchman Nee, and others - fell into many deceptions.

This emphasis on "palpable anointing" had occurred earlier during Methodist meetings, Stone-Campbell meetings (Cane Ridge, etc), Finney's revival meetings, and Edwards' meetings, Whitefield's and even earlier among Anabaptists, Seperatists, and others. The result was ALWAYS the same: people chasing superficial religious highs, going from one meeting to the next looking for a bigger "fix", an overabundance of charlatans promising the next biggest thing, descent into animalistic behaviour, increases in what looks like demon possession as is common in Hindu, West African and other shamanic religions, scandalous increase in sexual immorality, fornication, and general sensuousness, and financial embezzlements by purported "leaders" of the "new thing". Revival preachers like Wesley, Finney, Barton Stone, Roberts, etc all had to contend against these things, which they felt were a carnal if not satanic distraction from the work God was actually doing in trying to promote holiness, faith, and sobriety. These manifestations always brought revivals into disrepute and in some cases literally destroyed the preaching, with everyone backslid in a short time.

Pentecostal pioneers ALWAYS warned about chasing sensations and sensationalism. They warned against putting a worship experience in front of a BIBLE experience.

Unfortunately, people don't generally listen. As a result, people like Benny Hinn, Rodney Howard-Brown, and Todd White keep on truckin'.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Pentecostal pioneers ALWAYS warned about chasing sensations and sensationalism. They warned against putting a worship experience in front of a BIBLE experience.

I agree with the emboldened. I don't support putting any worship experience in front of or before the Bible, or the experiences described therein.

But what we are seeing is a bunch of spiritually dead dunderheads decrying the integration of any kind of experience beyond what THEY are familiar with, and THEY assume it isn't in Scripture (because they can't possibly be wrong), and condemn anyone who sees something in the Scriptures that they don't see.

[Esaias]

The modern "charismatic worship music" movement (IHOP being one of the centers) is what's left of the Vineyard Movement. IHOP used to be a Vineyard church, apparently. Vineyard (especially Toronto Airport Vineyard) promoted music as the next big thing. Tons of music were produced, some of which was actually pretty good musically. But the goal was to create a powerful music-induced "experience of the presence of God".

Vineyard came from the Calvary Chapel group, which was one of the original "Jesus People" groups out of the 60s. Musically and worship-wise they and others were a Christianized alternative to the mind-blowing LSD fueled "acid rock" concerts of the 60s. But both movements had the same goal: to use music to CREATE a powerful, emotional response in the audience.

One of the founders of the Contemporary Christian Worship Music Movement said the Beatles were anointed by God but squandered it, and that God was going to restore that musical anointing to the modern worship movement in the charismatic churches. This was said back in 92 or 93 I think, maybe earlier. He made a big case that the Beatles' music literally drive the crowds into religious ecstasy, and that same anointing was coming to the charismatic worship scene. Vineyard, "the River" movement (RHB, etc), Hillsong, and IHOP are the current phases of that same movement: same people, same theology, same methodology.

And the same results.