100 Top Contemplative Proponents Evangelical Christians Turn To Today

[micah719]

Pickle my beard and plait my moustache...however did I miss this? Ah, I know, I was in the Carpathians, complaining about eel-ridden hovercraft in my broken Romanian. I tried it in my broken German and my broken English as well, but they still didn't twig. Ah well, just don't read any books by the following, they'll only hurt you.

posted in full from:
From the Lighthouse Blog100 Top Contemplative Proponents Evangelical Christians Turn To Today

100 Top Contemplative Proponents Evangelical Christians Turn To Today
January 15th, 2012 | Author: Lighthouse Trails Editors

Over the years, many of our readers have asked for a list of authors who are promoting contemplative prayer. Well here is a list we have compiled. This is from 10 years of research at Lighthouse Trails. The list includes those authors who directly teach contemplative prayer as well as those who have consistently promoted contemplative prayer teachers. All of the names below are in one of these two categories. If you are a skeptic, this is not guilt by association, but is rather guilt by promotion or proxy. It is not possible to list every single contemplative prayer advocate, as the number of those in this category increases weekly with new book releases. Some of these names are not “evangelical” Christians but are to be found in either the Catholic camp or the New Age camp. We include those in this list because they are names that are being recommended or referenced by evangelical/Protestant leaders. We have found these names below to be the most influential in this area. At times, we will replace names with others as they come to our attention. If you need information on any of these names below, you can find most of them using our blog search engine or our research site Topical Index.

(updated 2/9/12)

1. Adele Alhberg Calhoun

2. Agnes Sanford

3. Alan Jones

4. Anne Lamott

5. Anthony de Mello

6. Basil Pennington

7. Beatrice Bruteau

8. Bernard of Clairvaux

9. Beth Moore

10. Bill Hybels

11. Brennan Manning

12. Brian McLaren

13. Brother Lawrence

14. Calvin Miller

15. Carl McColman

16. Chuck Smith, Jr.

17. Dallas Willard

18. Dan Kimball

19. Daniel Goleman

20. David Benner

21. David Crowder

22. David Steindl-Rast

23. Desert Fathers

24. Doug Pagitt

25. Emilie Griffin

26. Eugene Peterson

27. Evelyn Underhill

28. Gary Thomas

29. Gerald May

30. Gerald Sittser

31. Henri Nouwen

32. Hildegard of Bingen

33. J.P. Moreland

34. Jack Canfield

35. James Goll

36. Jan Johnson

37. Jean-Nicholas Gru

38. John Coe

39. John Michael Talbot

40. John Ortberg

41. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

42. Julian of Norwich

43. Karl Rahner

44. Keith Drury

45. Ken Blanchard

46. Ken Boa

47. Keri Wyatt Kent

48. Kurt Bjorklund

49. Kyle Strobel

50. Larry Crabb

51. Laurie Beth Jones

52. Leighton Ford

53. Leonard Sweet

54. Liz Babbs

55. Madame Guyon

56. Maggie & Duffy Robbins

57. Marcus Borg

58. Marjorie Thompson

59. Mark Driscoll

60. Mark Virkler

61. Mark Yaconelli

62. Max Lucado

63. Meister Eckhart

64. Michael Card

65. Mike Bickle

66. Mindy Caliguire

67. Morton Kelsey

68. Pete Greig

69. Pete Scazzero

70. Peter Senge

71. Philip St. Romain

72. Phillip Yancey

73. Phyllis Tickle

74. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

75. Pope Benedict XVI

76. Richard Foster

77. Richard Peace

78. Richard Rohr

79. Richard Rolle

80. Rick Warren

81. Rob Bell

82. Robert Webber

83. Ruth Haley Barton

84. St Anthony

85. St. Catherine of Siena

86. St. Ignatius Loyola

87. St. John of the Cross

88. St. Teresa of Avila

89. Sue Monk Kidd

90. The Cloud of Unknowing by an Anonymous Monk

91. Thomas Aquinas

92. Thomas Keating

93. Thomas Merton

94. Tilden Edwards

95. Todd Bentley

96. Tony Campolo

97. Tony Jones

98. Tricia Rhodes

99. William Paul Young

100. William Shannon

[FaithInChrist]

That list is dizzying. Really?? Why would so many people that claim to know the Bible (enough to be able to write on it) participate in or teach contemplative prayer. That is certainly very disturbing. We must be ever vigilant.

[OnceWasLost]

That list is dizzying. Really?? Why would so many people that claim to know the Bible (enough to be able to write on it) participate in or teach contemplative prayer. That is certainly very disturbing. We must be ever vigilant.

I and a friend get to meet with one on that list at a seminary close to us. We get to show the unscriptural theology and doctrine behind Spiritual Formation and they are willing to meet. Pray for open hearts and open minds.

Sad to see experiential methodology is replacing simple Biblical truth.

[billiefan2000]

many UCC and willow creek association churches (which have somewhat same theology at this point and that speaks volumes when WCA churches are just as liberal as the UCC is


promote these guys. aka a reason to avoid willow creek association churches. they are big time contemplative/mysticism peddlers/promoters

[micah719]

I and a friend get to meet with one on that list at a seminary close to us. We get to show the unscriptural theology and doctrine behind Spiritual Formation and they are willing to meet. Pray for open hearts and open minds.

Sad to see experiential methodology is replacing simple Biblical truth.

I believe Elijah had a similar problem. Invite them to a barbecue....

[OnceWasLost]

I believe Elijah had a similar problem. Invite them to a barbecue....

I'm thinking along the lines of a Jeremiah moment. You have been warned so don't plead ignorance when you are held to account.

I have no doubt they will lean on their education and degrees to dismiss what Scripture clearly teaches.

[Keeplookinup]

I had to go look up the definition of contemplative prayer because I had no idea why some of these individuals would be referenced. The definition I found said "a mystical experience with God....a meditative practice where the practitioner focuses on a word and repeats that word over and over for the duration of the exercise. The purpose is to clear one’s mind of outside concerns so that God’s voice may be more easily heard. After the centering prayer, the practitioner is to sit still, listen for direct guidance from God, and feel His presence."

Really? Folks here have heard all the above mentioned people do this? I for one have not. Our women's Bible Study is currently doing Beth Moore's study on James "Mercy Triumphs". I have been duly humbled so far and we are only to James 2! We are using ONLY the Bible as our reference source and I see no "hocus/pocus, mystical, new age" stuff anywhere in the study.

I have never heard Beth repeating one word over and over and over again, nor have I ever heard her say that we should have a "mystical" experience with God.

So someone please tell me how these people got the "tag" Contemplative Christians? (Now some I might agree with; others I do not).

[OnceWasLost]

I had to go look up the definition of contemplative prayer because I had no idea why some of these individuals would be referenced. The definition I found said "a mystical experience with God....a meditative practice where the practitioner focuses on a word and repeats that word over and over for the duration of the exercise. The purpose is to clear one’s mind of outside concerns so that God’s voice may be more easily heard. After the centering prayer, the practitioner is to sit still, listen for direct guidance from God, and feel His presence."

Really? Folks here have heard all the above mentioned people do this? I for one have not. Our women's Bible Study is currently doing Beth Moore's study on James "Mercy Triumphs". I have been duly humbled so far and we are only to James 2! We are using ONLY the Bible as our reference source and I see no "hocus/pocus, mystical, new age" stuff anywhere in the study.

I have never heard Beth repeating one word over and over and over again, nor have I ever heard her say that we should have a "mystical" experience with God.

So someone please tell me how these people got the "tag" Contemplative Christians? (Now some I might agree with; others I do not).

Beth was on a DVD called "Be Still" which was a study in contemplative spirituality. The prayer aspect is but one part of a larger methodology called Spiritual Formation or Spiritual Disciplines.

Have a look here.

Lighthouse Trails Research Project - Exposing Contemplative Spirituality

Lighthouse Trails Research Project - Exposing Contemplative Spirituality

Beth Moore Gives Thumbs Up to Be Still DVD

On stage with john piper and frances chan.




Such is the nature of deception.

[Kathy_57]

I have never heard tell of at least 90% of the folk mentioned in this list.

[livin_in_the_Son]

I had to go look up the definition of contemplative prayer because I had no idea why some of these individuals would be referenced. The definition I found said "a mystical experience with God....a meditative practice where the practitioner focuses on a word and repeats that word over and over for the duration of the exercise. The purpose is to clear one’s mind of outside concerns so that God’s voice may be more easily heard. After the centering prayer, the practitioner is to sit still, listen for direct guidance from God, and feel His presence."

Really? Folks here have heard all the above mentioned people do this? I for one have not. Our women's Bible Study is currently doing Beth Moore's study on James "Mercy Triumphs". I have been duly humbled so far and we are only to James 2! We are using ONLY the Bible as our reference source and I see no "hocus/pocus, mystical, new age" stuff anywhere in the study.

I have never heard Beth repeating one word over and over and over again, nor have I ever heard her say that we should have a "mystical" experience with God.

So someone please tell me how these people got the "tag" Contemplative Christians? (Now some I might agree with; others I do not).

Beth Moore has promoted a teacher who teaches contemplative prayer recently...I can't remember who right off hand. In the OP it states that a person who promotes it (or endorses someone who does I would infer) is put on the list.

EDIT: Once Was Lost already covered this....

[OnceWasLost]

Beth Moore has promoted a teacher who teaches contemplative prayer recently...I can't remember who right off hand. In the OP it states that a person who promotes it (or endorses someone who does I would infer) is put on the list.

EDIT: Once Was Lost already covered this....

I'm a machine.

[OnceWasLost]

I have never heard tell of at least 90% of the folk mentioned in this list.

Sadly, they have deeply influenced so many who read their books and attend their conferences.

[livin_in_the_Son]

I'm a machine.

Not to deny your superb computing and editing skills but I am typing with an on-screen keyboard, and one finger...

[Kathy_57]

OWL - thank you for those lighthouse links.......I must check them out and see what is said about Max Lucado as I have read a number of his books in the past.

[OnceWasLost]

Not to deny your superb computing and editing skills but I am typing with an on-screen keyboard, and one finger...

I use the advanced 2 index finger freestyle method.

[myinnuendo999]

I had to go look up the definition of contemplative prayer because I had no idea why some of these individuals would be referenced. The definition I found said "a mystical experience with God....a meditative practice where the practitioner focuses on a word and repeats that word over and over for the duration of the exercise. The purpose is to clear one’s mind of outside concerns so that God’s voice may be more easily heard. After the centering prayer, the practitioner is to sit still, listen for direct guidance from God, and feel His presence."

Really? Folks here have heard all the above mentioned people do this? I for one have not. Our women's Bible Study is currently doing Beth Moore's study on James "Mercy Triumphs". I have been duly humbled so far and we are only to James 2! We are using ONLY the Bible as our reference source and I see no "hocus/pocus, mystical, new age" stuff anywhere in the study.

I have never heard Beth repeating one word over and over and over again, nor have I ever heard her say that we should have a "mystical" experience with God.

So someone please tell me how these people got the "tag" Contemplative Christians? (Now some I might agree with; others I do not).

Sorry to pop your bubble Sister but Beth Moore is into contemplative prayer which is not biblical, and she believes Catholics are our brothers and sisters. This is a very dangerous Woman because many do take an affinity with her strong passionate teaching styles. However if you step back you will find that Beth Moore is teaching verses out of context and she is encouraging mysticism, claiming Jesus showed her a vision of the Church which would include Catholics--That was not from Jesus___

I've heard several of her videos and her teachings that are not biblical

If you need to do research on Beth Moore I'd suggest you go to----appraising ministries

or go to this page- Beth Moore: World News, Tweets, Pictures and Videos

Beth Moore is a very likable lady and gifted orator but I have to follow Jesus and she's going down the wrong path.

Please take this as a caveat. I'm not trying to dish out on her or anyone but the truth has to be told.

[peacebringer]

Heh, I wasn't going to post in this thread, but felt led to make a challenge. Don't really want to.

Here is the challenge, to pray for the spiritual well being of everyperson who is living and on that list. Not a prayer of condemnation, but a prayer for them. It can include prayers to open their eyes, ears, and heart to see and grow in truth.

The other challenge would be to ask God to forgive them for errors and unsound teaching.

Note this, that in that list, there are those who do genuinely follow God, who are wheat. And there are those who do not, and are Tares. God knows which is which, but engage in this task. Pray for all those on list living.

2 reasons: 1.Weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual
and 2. God directs us to love and bless the enemy.

Prayer for and asking they be forgiven are such blessings.

Take it for what it is worth, pray about it. Do whatever God leads.

[OnceWasLost]

Fine to pray for them while observing Romans 16:17

We should walk and chew gum.

[mattfivefour]

Fine to pray for them while observing Romans 16:17

We should walk and chew gum.

Sound advice, bro.