Assemblies of God Seminary going Emergent?

[iSong6:3]

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Professor Earl Creps Promote Contemplative Spirituality


Assemblies of God Theological Seminary appears to be heading towards Emerging and Contemplative Spirituality. One example of this is Professor Earl Creps' syllabus, which include materials from Henri Nouwen, Brian McLaren, Ken Blanchard, Dan Kimball, Erwin McManus, Sally Morgenthaler, Leonard Sweet.

*Dr. Creps Blog

*The Leadership Network (the Creators of the Emerging Church) Interview with Earl Creps

Assemblies of God: Committed to Spiritual Formation, Contemplative and Emerging

Earl Creps, director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor at AOGTS, is a heavy proponent of both contemplative and emerging. In his course syllabi over the last five years, Creps has classes with titles such as "Leading the Emerging Church" and "Models of Ministry in the Emerging Church." Syllabus reading materials include those from Henri Nouwen, Brian McLaren, Ken Blanchard, Dan Kimball, Erwin McManus, Sally Morgenthaler, Leonard Sweet. A visit to Creps' "Spiritual Adventures" blog gives a hearty helping of emergent discussion. In one blog, Creps tries to show how there might be a union between Pentecostalism and the emerging church, saying the relationship is "gaining some traction." While Creps ends that discussion with "I am painfully orthodox doctrinally," resources he offers throughout his blogs and websites would paint another picture. Under Apologetics Resources, Creps recommends Leonard Sweet's book, Quantum Spirituality. Listen to Sweet, as he describes the New Light in his book: "I have followed those 'New Light leaders' ... [S]ome of those who led [me] into new light are: ... Matthew Fox, Richard Mouw, Rowan Williams." Others that Leonard Sweet thanks include: Morton Kelsey, M. Scott Peck, Walter Bruggemann, Ken Wilber, Thomas Berry and many other New Age sympathizers. And then:

[INDENT]The first of these five untheorized observations is that New Light embodiment means to be "in connection" and 'in-formation' with other Christians. Deeper feeling and higher relating go together. The church is fundamentally one being, one person, a comm-union whose cells are connected to one another within the information network called the Christ consciousness." —Quantum Spirituality, P. 122[INDENT]

He goes on:

Energy-fire experiences take us into ourselves only that we might reach outside of ourselves. Metanoia is a de-centering experience of connected-ness and community. It is not an exercise in reciting what Jesus has done for me lately. Energy-fire ecstasy, more a buzz than a binge, takes us out of ourselves, literally. That is the meaning of the word 'ecstatic.'Quantum Spirituality, P. 93

This ecstasy Sweet speaks refers to the New Age ecstasy that occurs in an altered state of consciousness. (See more research on Sweet.) Sweet has written an endorsement for Creps new book, Off-Road Disciplines. With Creps influence at AOGTS and his admiration for Leonard Sweet, it looks like Sweet will play a role in the future of many Assemblies of God students. Read More of this article.

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Supports Dr. Earl Creps by Making Available His 1700 Resources on the Emerging Church

Endorsements on the AGTS website for these
resources include:

"Assemblies of God professor Earl Creps, a man for whom many in the emerging church movement give thanks daily."—Marcia Ford

"I have instructed my web people to link to your marvelous resource. There is truly nothing out there like it. I can't thank you enough." —Leonard Sweet

RECOMMENDED AUTHORS BY AGTS and Dr. Earl Creps:

Dallas Willard
Leonard Sweet
Richard Foster
Eugene Peterson and more...

Earl Creps and the Emerging Church

Emerging Leaders Forum
November 18, 2005 - 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
"Earl Creps will share on the subject of "Ministry in a Postmodern Culture" with this group of Emerging Leaders."

His Own Words

"Being on the road and the internet a lot has connected me with ... friends like Len Sweet, and numerous Districts of the Assemblies of God, along with other parachurch organizations like Youth Specialties ..."

His Required Reading to Students

Smith, Chuck, Jr. The End of the World As We Know It: Clear Direction for Bold and Innovative Ministry in a Postmodern World. Waterbrook, 2001. (272 pages)

McLaren, Brian. A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey. John Wiley & Sons, 2001. (192 pages)

Sweet, Leonard. Postmodern Pilgrims: First Century Passion for the 21st Century Church. Broadman & Holman, 2000. (224 pages)

See more required reading by Dr. Earl Creps

Earl Creps Upcoming Book on Spiritual Formation

Article and links available here: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/aogcreps.htm

[His Bride]

I can't find anything in the article that ISN'T Emergent, iSong!

Lots of apostates! AoG, beware!

[jcalvert]

I do believe that we need to be cautious as to what is being taught and preached in our churches these last days. I'm an A/G pastor and I'm glad to say it's NOT in my church. However, we must remember one thing. The enemy will stop at nothing to allow Contemplative Spirituality, prosperity talk, gossip, slander and every other tool in his toolbox to creep into the church and destroy it.

Too many people who claim to be “Christians” will sit in a service and listen to what the pastor is speaking and never take the time to read or study God’s word for themselves. Then there are those who get offended when a preacher calls sin what it is, “SIN” and therefore are offended at the pastor and will leave for a church that will tell them what they want to hear.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

I believe that as “Christ followers”, we MUST seek God for all He’s worth, read God’s word, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach us as we read His word and seek Him. It makes me sick to see Satan do what he’s doing. Not just in the A/G churches but in every one he can get into.

However, I believe that we are living in the last days, so let us all be on guard against the enemies attack.

Dear Lord, Please some soon!

[iSong6:3]

My college boyfriend went to the AG theological seminary and became an AG pastor, now missionary. Several of our friends went there also. This is like a spiritual 9/11 to me...horrific to see some of our *towers* falling to the ground.

I see a split coming within the AG.

[jcalvert]

My college boyfriend went to the AG theological seminary and became an AG pastor, now missionary. Several of our friends went there also. This is like a spiritual 9/11 to me...horrific to see some of our *towers* falling to the ground.

I see a split coming within the AG.

I too have friends from the A/G schools and many pastor friends. Sad days.

[OnceWasLost]

I suppose this is no huge surprise. The enemies of absolutes discovered long ago if you indoctrinate the next generation, you will control the future direction of things. Look no further than universities. There is no larger example of institutionalized leftist thought that that mess.

It stands to reason that the spiritually wayward types would look to get the next generation before they form their views.

This is so evil!

[Joyb0218]

I do believe that we need to be cautious as to what is being taught and preached in our churches these last days. I'm an A/G pastor and I'm glad to say it's NOT in my church. However, we must remember one thing. The enemy will stop at nothing to allow Contemplative Spirituality, prosperity talk, gossip, slander and every other tool in his toolbox to creep into the church and destroy it.

Too many people who claim to be “Christians” will sit in a service and listen to what the pastor is speaking and never take the time to read or study God’s word for themselves. Then there are those who get offended when a preacher calls sin what it is, “SIN” and therefore are offended at the pastor and will leave for a church that will tell them what they want to hear.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

I believe that as “Christ followers”, we MUST seek God for all He’s worth, read God’s word, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach us as we read His word and seek Him. It makes me sick to see Satan do what he’s doing. Not just in the A/G churches but in every one he can get into.

However, I believe that we are living in the last days, so let us all be on guard against the enemies attack.

Dear Lord, Please some soon!

Great post.

Keep up the good work in your church dear brother...