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Apologia Report 18:42 (1,178)
November 21, 2013
Subject: The growing 'Jesus Calling' controversy
In this issue:
ARCHAEOLOGY - an update on its support for the Bible
NEW AGE MOVEMENT - Thomas Moore, about to return to prominence
WORD-FAITH MOVEMENT - going from bad to worse in the media
YOUNG, SARAH - profile and overview of the Jesus Calling controversy
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ARCHAEOLOGY
"Recent Archaeological Discoveries that Lend Credence to the Historicity of the Scriptures" by Michael A Grisanti, professor of Old Testament at The Master's College -- "In this paper I hope to consider a few examples of intersections between the Bible and archaeological excavations. My primary intended audience is the evangelical world. This paper has a clear apologetic function. It offers a different 'take' on the intersection of the Bible and archaeology than one often hears in academic and popular settings. ...
"Out of all the areas that could have received attention, I have narrowed my focus on two chronological periods: the Conquest of Canaan and the United Monarchy. ... With regard to the Conquest of Canaan, the paper considers the recent discussion of an Egyptian pedestal with three name rings on it as well as the destruction of Jerico and the location and destruction of Ai. After surveying the heated debate concerning the United Monarchy with a focus on David and Solomon, the paper considers key archaeological discoveries found at Jerusalem, Khirbet Qeiyafa, and the copper mines in southern Jordan." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 56:3 - 2013, pp475-497.
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NEW AGE MOVEMENT
Have you been under the impression that Thomas Moore was fading into the background? Due in January, A Religion of One's Own: A Guide to Creating a Personal Spirituality in a Secular World [1] gives "spiritual, but not religious" a big push toward experimental experience with the supernatural.
Penguin Putnam, Moore's publisher, describes the author this way: "a monk for twelve years, a musician, a university professor, and a psychotherapist, [Moore] writes regularly for Psychology Today, The Huffington Post, Spirituality & Health, and Resurgence Magazine. He lectures widely on holistic medicine, spirituality, psychotherapy, and the arts. Moore has been awarded numerous honors, including the Humanitarian Award from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and an honorary doctorate from Lesley University."
Describing this new book, the publisher tells us that Moore has "touched a chord with millions of readers yearning to integrate spirituality into their everyday lives. In A Religion of One's Own, Moore expands on the topics he first explored shortly after leaving the monastery. He recounts the benefits of contemplative living that he learned during his twelve years as a monk but also the more original and imaginative spirituality that he later developed and embraced in his secular life. Here, he shares stories of others who are creating their own path: a former football player now on a spiritual quest with the Pueblo Indians, a friend who makes a meditative practice of floral arrangements, and a well-known classical pianist whose audiences sometimes describe having a mystical experience while listening to her performances. Moore weaves their experiences with the wisdom of philosophers, writers, and artists who have rejected materialism and infused their secular lives with transcendence."
Library Journal (Nov '13, #2) adds: "Moore's Care of the Soul [2] was the inescapable spiritual reading of the early 1990s, poised for classic status. This latest volume continues the labor Moore has undertaken in the intervening years; like the rest of his writing, it attempts to synthesize the insights of religion and psychology. Here his mission is to encourage readers to cultivate their own spirituality in a way that honors their creativity and sexuality. VERDICT Moore has been criticized for a kind of hasty or superficial approach to complex topics, but his counsel is consistently sensible and affirming. This book should appeal to many of the unchurched, as well as the faithful across traditions."
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WORD-FAITH MOVEMENT
"Why the Prosperity Gospel Is Such a Big Hit With Reality TV Show Producers" by Jennifer LeClaire -- reports that "a slew of new 'Christian' reality TV shows are in the works. Some essentially mock Christians while others just let Christians mock themselves. Preachers of L.A. is one of the latter and has sparked so much controversy - and probably high ratings and advertising revenue - that a copycat is already emerging, called Thicker Than Water. The new show seemingly hopes to blend Preachers of L.A. and Duck Dynasty with a jazzy twist." LeClaire proceeds to describe Thicker's programming.
And she supports this evil doctrine of greed. "I'm not against prosperity - nice cars and houses. I believe God wants us to prosper. But I don't believe He wants us to make a spectacle of ourselves in the process or advertise God as a big sugar daddy in the sky just waiting for someone bold enough to approach His throne of grace to ask for the big cars, diamond rings and grand pianos. Likewise, I don't believe God wants us to gloat about our prosperity or propagate a prosperity-centered gospel on cable television that gives people wrong ideas about Christianity.
"They call it reality TV, but it's not reality. It's a gross exaggeration - and even an abuse - of the gospel message concerning prosperity." Tragically, yet predictably, LeClaire fails to spell out just what the true "gospel message concerning prosperity" is supposed to be. A systemic lack of corrective teaching inevitably fuels viral avarice. Charisma, Sep 25 '13, <www.ow.ly/qUzXu>
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YOUNG, SARAH
"Sarah Young Still Hears Jesus Calling" by Melissa Steffan -- this profile begins by noting that sales of Young's bestseller Jesus Calling [3] didn't crack 60,000 when it was first published in 2004. Since then sales have nearly doubled annually, with overall copies sold approaching 10 million - handily outperforming Fifty Shades of Grey (sometimes derided as "mommy porn").
Steffan explains that "Young bases her works on listening prayer, a theological practice in which a person aims to hear messages directly from God. ...
"Young became a Christian as an adult after studying at Francis Schaeffer's L'Abri in Switzerland, where she says she first experienced the presence of "Sweet Jesus." At that point, she already had earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Wellesley College and a master's degree at Tufts University. Following her conversion, she earned a degree from St. Louis's Covenant Theological Seminary, where she met her husband, Steve.
"Together they worked as Presbyterian Church in America missionaries in Japan for eight years, during which Young gave birth to two children. In 1991, after Young completed a counseling degree from Georgia State University (and shortly after she began journaling), the Youngs moved to Australia to work with Japanese immigrants. ...
"She battled two co-infections of Lyme disease (including a seven-year misdiagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome) and mild to severe vertigo.... 'living in one room in our home in Perth for about 20 hours a day.'
"Not anymore. This spring, the Youngs moved from Perth back to Nashville - Young's hometown - partially to seek medical treatment. ...
"But even though she plans to stay busy as a doting grandmother and praying author - she currently is writing another yearlong devotional in the same format as Jesus Calling - the health setbacks continue. ...
"Christians throughout the centuries have accepted the idea that God speaks to them, but the specific discipline of listening prayer hasn't been an evangelical strong suit. If book sales are any indication, though, Jesus Calling has reignited a fire for the practice - as well as debate over the dangers of it. ...
"'Of course, we don't have audible conversation,' [Young] says. 'It's a quiet and personal time of praying, Bible reading, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.'
"But if it's that simple, why is Young's take on listening prayer in Jesus Calling, especially the book's claim to contain the actual words of Jesus, ruffling feathers among theologians and scholars?" Steffan reviews the pros and cons with Richard Foster, Ben Witherinton, and Michael Horton - among others - weighing in on the controversy. Christianity Today, Oct '13, pp39-43. <www.ow.ly/qUPl6>
See also: "Sarah Young Defends 'Jesus Calling' to New York Times: Author explains how and why she channels Jesus in his own voice" by Jeremy Weber (christianitytoday.com, Oct 25 '13, <www.ow.ly/qUPNS>)
The Jesus Calling page on its publisher's web site says: "Each day [of the devotional] is written as if Jesus Himself were speaking to you. Because He is. Do you hear Him calling?" <www.ow.ly/r2dhR>. Thomas Nelson certainly hears money calling, offering four sequels (Dear Jesus, Jesus Today, Nearer to Jesus, and Jesus Lives); a children’s version (365 Devotions for Kids); an illustrated Jesus Calling Bible Storybook for little ones; and even a Jesus Calling Devotional Bible. The Jesus Calling app has "ranked in the Top 10 bestselling apps for both the iPhone and iPad for two years running," selling over 200,000 units as of October 31. <www.ow.ly/r2dlp>
Noteworthy online critiques: <www.ow.ly/r2drA>, <www.ow.ly/r2dtB >, <www.ow.ly/r2dx4 >
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SOURCES: Monographs
1 - A Religion of One's Own: A Guide to Creating a Personal Spirituality in a Secular World, by Thomas Moore (Gotham, January 2014, hardcover, 288 pages) <www.ow.ly/qUI7o>
2 - Care of the Soul : A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life, by Thomas Moore (Harper, 1994, paperback, 336 pages) <www.ow.ly/r2cSk>
3 - Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by Sarah Young (Thomas Nelson, 2004, hardcover, 400 pages) <www.ow.ly/qUPwN>
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