Antichristian Mysticism taught by Dallas Willard

Sounds ominous.

Tell me what this term means in this context

Just looking at the words doesn't do your post justice. I pray all the time and I contemplate when I pray so how is this phrase being used. How is it being used to obtain salvation apart from scripture. I don't know enough about it.

 

What I find interesting is the relationship between Foster and Willard and the influence of Thomas Merton who was a Roman Catholic who saw no difference between Buddhism and Christianity.

I saw clearly in Willard's article found here where he made a clear and unapologetic stand that a Buddhist could very well be saved, while a Buddhist and not know anything about Christ:

Now knowing he has a relationship with Foster who is heavily influenced by Merton shows a direct link to the same influence by the same Merton and exposes further his heresy.


No one can know God who does not know Jesus:

Mat 10:32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,

Mat 10:33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Joh 8:19 They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."

To make failed attempts to say that one can know Jesus if one knows God is to apologize for this same heresy that Merton, Foster, and Willard teach. It is another gospel that is not found in scripture. All who have been Saints of God have known of the Messiah. Abraham was promised the messiah would come from his lineage. Christ was revealed to Adam and eve and to everyone ever since. No one was without the knowledge of Christ.

Luk 24:44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

Merton, Foster, and Willard are clear heretics as is determined by the Word of God.

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

2Co 11:3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
2Co 11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.


Gal 1:7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

 

Altered Consciousness? Yeah sounds bad. And sounds like a little too much like substance abuse. Before long they'll be telling us we need spiritual guides.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq8eebfwOoU&feature=related


John Piper on coming to God via Christ alone.

 

I've been dealing with this topic for over 12 yrs in my ministry and have spoken on it, on radio and at conferences.

Please see my article on Contemplative Prayer here:
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_ContemplativePrayer1.html

(It's neither true contemplation nor prayer)

My article on the misuse of Ps 46.10:
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_MeditationPsalm.html

My article on how this is being promoted for evangelicals through the "Be Still" DVD (courtesy of Richard Foster and Dallas Willard, along with Beth Moore and others):
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_BeStillDVD.html

I practiced Eastern forms of meditation for about 15 years. It is true that Thomas Merton, who found Buddhism delightful, introduced the Buddhist concepts of meditation as something that should be adopted by Christians (Catholics). This teaching was given a framework and made popular via 3 Catholic monks (Thomas Keating, Basil Pennington, and John Menninger), and then they influenced Quaker Richard Foster, who has been introducing it to evangelicals. It has been catching on big time! Some big time ministries promote it.

I am very concerned.