THE LADIES BOOK CLUB OF
FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
http://www.fbcwilmington.com/wp-content/uploads/
2014/02/3-8-15_bulletin.pdf
LOOKS TO CATHOLIC MYSTICISM
WHEN "SOLA SCRIPTURA" FAILS
TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES
FAILURE TO DISCERN THE HIDDEN MESSAGES OF A UNIVERSAL CHRIST, ECUMENISM, CATHOLIC SPIRITUAL FORMATION DISCIPLINES, EXTRA-BIBLICAL WORDS FROM GOD, AND MYSTICAL "NUDGES"
IN
NANCY RUE'S "UNEXPECTED DISMOUNTS",
PART 2 OF THE AUTHOR'S " RELUCTANT PROPHET" SERIES
"Recent winner of two Christys, Rue (The Reluctant Prophet) returns with the second cleverly named installment of the Reluctant Prophet series about a Harley-Davidson motorcycle-riding woman, Allison Chamberlain, who hears God in her head and heart while responding to His nudges through acts of service."
EXCERPT FROM BOTH LINKS ABOVE:
"A student of the Academy for Spiritual Formation, sponsored by the Upper Room, Nancy continues her own spiritual journey even as she writes and speaks for mothers, daughters, and would-be writers about theirs."
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NANCY RUE ASSUMED TO BE A "CHRISTIAN" AUTHOR; WHY?
LET US EXAMINE HER "SPIRITUALITY" (OLD BUT NOT NEW):
A) RUE, A "STUDENT" OF:
THE ACADEMY FOR SPIRITUAL FORMATION
EXCERPTS:
Quote: “The Academy for Spiritual Formation is the finest and most comprehensive, ecumenical non-degree program in spiritual formation in this country.” The Rev. Marjorie J. Thompson
Quote: “The Academy is a beautiful example of the reconfiguring of Protestantism. It’s the kind of thing I would hope to see happening more.” Phyllis Tickle
"The academy is ecumenical and inclusive. It is open to all persons who are seeking God and wish to grow in Christian community with others. Members of ethnic minorities and persons with handicapping conditions are encouraged to apply."
Spiritual Practices Adopted/Adapted from Catholicism:
The ways of opening oneself to God are as varied as are God's people. In this space, we hope to point you to resources that will help you find the spiritual practice(s) that speak to you where you are in this moment of your life. Enjoy exploring!
Alive Now Spiritual Tools (Breath Prayer)
Another List of Prayer Practices (Lectio Divina, Ignatian Method, Icons, The Examen)
Audio Resources for Praying the Scriptures using the Lectionary: Audio Lectio and Pray as you Go
Devotional Reading: Spiritual Classics; Weavings;Alive Now
Daily Prayer Guides: Daily Devotional; Disciplines;Other Prayer Guides
Find a Spiritual Director: Hearts on Fire; Spiritual Directors International
The Daily Office
Daily prayer in the form of the Daily Office is an integral part of the Academy movement. Although we are scattered throughout the world, this practice keeps us connected.
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"RECONFIGURING CHRISTIANITY"
APOSTATE EMERGING MYSTIC & HERETIC PHYLLIS TICKLE INTERVIEWED AT THE "ACADEMY":
"BETRAYING OUR ANCESTORS" LIKE LUTHER IS GOOD;
PRAISES CATHOLIC COUNCIL OF TRENT WHICH REPUDIATED AND ANATHEMATIZED THE REFORMATION
PRAISES CATHOLIC IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA,
FOUNDER OF THE JESUITS & SOLDIERS OF THE INQUISITION:
DENIES SOLA SCRIPTURA;
DOWNGRADES LUTHER'S IMPORTANCE;
CALLS FOR "NEW AUTHORITY" TO REPLACE SCRIPTURE:
"Embracing Emergence Christianity - Phyllis Tickle on the Church's Next Rummage Sale" (The 500 Year Cleanout)
SEE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phxAubdeeNA
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B) RUE, AN ADMIRER OF GOSPEL ROCK SINGER, MARGARET BECKER:
"MY FAVE CHRISTIAN ARTIST IS MARGARET BECKER":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Becker:
However, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Becker occasionally encountered controversy in the world of Contemporary Christian music because she is a Roman Catholic; some Christian stores refused to carry her album, and her concert appearances were sometimes picketed.[1] Although she was raised in Catholicism, Margaret currently attends a non-denominational church in Nashville, TN.
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BECKER, AN ADHERENT OF THE APOSTATE ECUMENICAL
ONE WORLD CHURCH:
WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST FORGET OUR DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES
AND JUST CALL OURSELVES "CHRISTIAN"?
RETURN TO CATHOLICISM, WHILE STILL ATTENDING
A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH? NO PROBLEM!
ALSO SEE INTERVIEW WITH CROSS RHYTHMS, U.K.:
EXCERPTS:
"I'm leaving behind the whole dogmatic approach to God. It was like 80 per cent of my approach to him, which will probably be about 20 per cent now. I'm leaving behind that pressure of being heavy handed with the gospel and I'm embracing the message that God has given me at this moment, to be a lot more inviting with it, provoking people to jealousy so they'll draw closer, not beating them over the head with it.
"I'm leaving behind the whole separatist denominationalism that's driven home so hard within the churches. I refuse to participate in it. I'm leaving behind the heavy-handed picture of God right now. I would be misrepresenting his work in my life if that is the picture I paint for people. He has been that to me and he certainly will be again, no doubt, but right now I'm enjoying the qualities that are very, very detailed and bigger than life enough in my particular experience - the merciful qualities, the kind qualities, the endearing, drawing qualities."
On the other hand, Margaret Becker is embracing her upbringing, since she has found her way back to the Catholic church. But when I carefully ask her, she almost seems agitated. "Yes, that has caused some good and some bad," answers Margaret. "You must understand that my mission here in the US has been to do away with labels. In our culture, if you say 'I am Baptist', 'I am non-denominational', 'I'm Pentecostal', 'I am charismatic, Catholic, Presbyterian' you have immediately set yourself apart from other believers.
"There is an organisation here that tallies public opinion. They tallied all people who claim to be Christians from all different denominations. When they came back with the report it said this: 'If people continue to draw lines underneath the concept that Jesus is Lord and continue to say," Well, Jesus Christ is Lord but I'm only a Baptist, Presbyterian or Pentecostal" then faith as we know it in the US will be destroyed in the next two decades because there will be too many differences.' We can't agree on anything.
"One of my missions has been to say, let's not label ourselves, let's not put up walls between each other. I may go to a Catholic church, that does not mean I'm Catholic, in that I cannot (disagree with) any Catholic rhetoric or Catholic belief. That just means that I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, I believe that he died on the cross for me and I believe he lives and interacts with me on a daily basis. Personally, I am also receiving a lot of growth from this particular aspect of faith, more of the Catholic view of faith, but that does not mean that you should call me a Catholic, or non-denominational Christian, because once you've given me that label, you have done what they did in the New Testament where some of the people were saying, 'Well, I'm of John and I'm of that apostle', and all of a sudden in this particular instance there was a demon in the Bible that said, 'Well, I don't really know these people, Jesus I know, but the rest of these people I don't even know what you're talking about.' That's a prime example of what's happening in the US. I think the biggest distraction, or the biggest destroyer of our faith, is the fact that we want to call ourselves by a label. Personally I think the only label that we should call ourselves by is the label of Christian. We should be able to say, without fear, 'I'm a Christian, but right now I attend a church that has this label, but that doesn't mean that I believe that you aren't also a Christian.'"
She answers, "Well, the Catholic church, one of the things they excel in is the area of social work.
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