Campus Crusade for Christ-Are they on the contemplative spirituality path?

[mark1970]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or information about Campus Crusade for Christ supporting contemplative spirituality?

I understand they support breath in/out prayers (on their website), and have seen some things that show support for labyrinth prayers--but this is through some diligent searching, and it is not in the mainstream. With many things in this realm, it is not front and center.

Thanks,

Mark
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Spiritual breathing

By faith you can continue to experience God's love and forgiveness.

If you become aware of an area of your life (an attitude or an action) that is displeasing to the Lord, even though you are walking with Him and sincerely desiring to serve Him, simply thank God that He has forgiven your sins - past, present and future - on the basis of Christ's death on the cross. Claim His love and forgiveness by faith and continue to have fellowship with Him.

If you retake the throne of your life through sin -- a definite act of disobedience -- breathe spiritually.

Spiritual breathing (exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure) is an exercise in faith that enables you to continue to experience God's love and forgiveness.

1. Exhale -- confess your sin -- agree with God concerning your sin and thank Him for His forgiveness of it, according to 1 John 1:9 and Hebrews 10:1-25. Confession involves repentance - a change in attitude and action.
2. Inhale -- surrender the control of your life to Christ, and appropriate (receive) the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith. Trust that He now directs and empowers you; according to the command of Ephesians 5:18, and the promise of 1 John 5:14, 15.

Adapted from Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life? by Dr. Bill Bright, co-founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. © Campus Crusade for Christ. All rights reserved.
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Campus Crusade For Christ
Media Spotlight - The World Christian Movement, Part One - ecumenical doctrine - http://www.intotruth.org/globalism/WCM1.html

After laying hands on Bill Bright to impart to him her mantle, and receive him into the Fellowship of the Burning Heart, Mears took Bright and his wife Vonette into her home. There they lived for eleven years, being groomed for leadership. It was in Mears's living room that Campus Crusade for Christ was born. All the converts from Campus Crusade for Christ, as well as other youth groups-the Navigators, Young Life, Youth for Christ, and other streams -are trained in the ecumenical doctrine and sent back into their churches to influence them for world evangelization.

NUS Campus Crusade for Christ
Prayer Labyrinth- http://sciencecrusade.blogspot.com/2...labyrinth.html

Spiritual Life at Colorado College
http://blog.coloradocollege.edu/Reli...008/09/26/102/

Penn Students for Christ
http://www.pennstudentsforchrist.org...r=2004&f_ccID=

The campus responds to tragedy
http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=6592,1212366

First United Methodist--Cant say if CCC was involved with labyrinth here-
http://www.santamonicaumc.org/esenti...05mar13-26.pdf

Interesting article about contemplative spirutuality:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch....termarch06.htm

[Shadow Girl]

They have really good tracts and the site is a good place to show people how to have a relationship with God through Jesus.

[pegmo]

The little bit I know about Campus Crusade is that they have been very ecumenical for awhile. Since they regard Roman Catholics as brothers and sisters in Christ, it doesn't surprise me that they would also have little discernment around Catholic mysticism aka contemplative spirituality. Holding hands with Roman Catholicism eventually leads to accepting Roman Catholic practices. It wouldn't be a surprise therefore if Campus Crusade is promoting contemplative spirituality/spiritual disciplines as part of their broader path to God.

[His Bride]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or information about Campus Crusade for Christ supporting contemplative spirituality?

I understand they support breath in/out prayers (on their website), and have seen some things that show support for labyrinth prayers--

Thanks,

Mark

I think you answered your own question, Mark.....

Breath prayers and labyrinths are part of the same system of Contemplative/Romanism

[mark1970]

Thanks for all your answers.

I am not sure what breath prayers are, so was not sure--I don't fully understand contemplative spirituality also.

In doing my own research, it is not cut and dry about what is and is not, and why it is and not....

May I ask how you would share with someone that breath prayers are contemplative spirituality/prayer and the reasons why?

Thanks,

Mark

[Buzzardhut]

Thanks for all your answers.

I am not sure what breath prayers are, so was not sure--I don't fully understand contemplative spirituality also.

In doing my own research, it is not cut and dry about what is and is not, and why it is and not....

May I ask how you would share with someone that breath prayers are contemplative spirituality/prayer and the reasons why?

Thanks,

Mark

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch....eathprayer.htm

[M4EVERHIS]

I read the post and thought oh, no. No new age for me. But you know I am doing missionary work from home. Apparently, it is affitliated with Campus Crusade for Christ, based on the business card.

So, based on these posts, it sounds like Campus Crusade is new age stuff. ( I haven't gone to the website). I am passed the Oh, no!. I am doing this missionary work. I am not doing contemplative anything. I am encouraging people in establishing a relationship with Christ, directing them to God's word, and quoting His word. If people are going to these new age sites, it is my opportunity to share the truth, to get them on track. I can't say they went through a new age site, (I don't know that they did) therefor I am not going to help them to come into a relationship with Christ by sharing God's love, His word, etc. God can use everything for His purpose. It may also be a case of a branch being contemplative, but not all of it. Like the Methodist and Lutherans. God has directed their posts to me, to encourage, share, etc. God will do the work. I am just a tool He uses.

I guess I am thinking if the wolves can go into my church, I can go into theirs and get the lost out before they are deceived. God knows my heart and He knows many are in a lost flock ready to be devoured. I guess I will help pull them out of the wolf's den. I am praying for our new bretheran in Christ. Maybe more of us need to be more vocal and proactive in sharing the truth. If Campus Crusade is deceiving the masses, I certainly can't just sit by while they go to the slaughter.......

[Buzzardhut]

I read the post and thought oh, no. No new age for me. But you know I am doing missionary work from home. Apparently, it is affitliated with Campus Crusade for Christ, based on the business card.

So, based on these posts, it sounds like Campus Crusade is new age stuff. ( I haven't gone to the website). I am passed the Oh, no!. I am doing this missionary work. I am not doing contemplative anything. I am encouraging people in establishing a relationship with Christ, directing them to God's word, and quoting His word. If people are going to these new age sites, it is my opportunity to share the truth, to get them on track. I can't say they went through a new age site, (I don't know that they did) therefor I am not going to help them to come into a relationship with Christ by sharing God's love, His word, etc. God can use everything for His purpose. It may also be a case of a branch being contemplative, but not all of it. Like the Methodist and Lutherans. God has directed their posts to me, to encourage, share, etc. God will do the work. I am just a tool He uses.

I guess I am thinking if the wolves can go into my church, I can go into theirs and get the lost out before they are deceived. God knows my heart and He knows many are in a lost flock ready to be devoured. I guess I will help pull them out of the wolf's den. I am praying for our new bretheran in Christ. Maybe more of us need to be more vocal and proactive in sharing the truth. If Campus Crusade is deceiving the masses, I certainly can't just sit by while they go to the slaughter.......

satan poisons youth ministries because they are the future leaders and pastors of churches

[Alhere]

Well CCC has been preaching a watered down gospel for years, little mention of sin and repentance, just Jesus will give you a wonderful life. ie the4 spiritual laws

A typical Laodicean gospel message and of course as said before disobediently deceiving Catholics by calling them brothers instead of witnessing to them as a true Biblical Christian would do.

[Hope in Him]

Well CCC has been preaching a watered down gospel for years, little mention of sin and repentance, just Jesus will give you a wonderful life. ie the4 spiritual laws

A typical Laodicean gospel message and of course as said before disobediently deceiving Catholics by calling them brothers instead of witnessing to them as a true Biblical Christian would do.

Actually, I am not sure where this information is coming from since I worked for a division of CCC for nearly 10 years....I never heard anything like this in any meeting, prayer group, etc. In fact, I heard just the opposite. Many coming forward asking for prayer for their family members or other loved ones that were decieved by Catholism. I don't have time to look at the website right now...I will later. I will also say that I was bless to hear Bill Bright speak many times....I was sadden when he passed. He was a man with a huge heart for the lost...truly wanting to lead them to Christ....the real Christ. Though my work I was also encouraged to become more forward in sharing my faith through the stories of how just in casual conversations Bill would direct strangers to Christ...many times leading them to salvation in the back of cab or out to eat...just life in general as we walk through life. Again I am not sure where this information is in supporting a watered down gospel. I heard Bill speak in small groups of us multiple times of the need to repent of sin....to lead with a pure heart....to step down from leadership if you were struggling with sin....compassion, repentence....a heart for the lost....and a great knowledge of God's word. I know the people I worked with and for...and there were things I disagreed with them on....but these areas mentioned here are not areas I ever saw a conflict. I never saw, heard nor read anything like what you are saying here. Breath prayers...lol never heard of that until I was here....and I can tell you that Bill Bright never prayed like that in any meeting or prayer group that I attended. Same thing with contemplative spirituality. He never led us those directions either.

As far as the information on Mears.....when did he and his wife spend 11 years living with her? They were married and had children. I am wondering when they had time. He did speak publicly on his personal life, his life before marrying, after and their children....never heard a word about living with Mears for 11 years!

While there are many in the world that are here to decieve....and we do need to be careful however we should equally careful in what we say against another Christian/ministry is the truth.

[mark1970]

I know a few that work people that work for CCC, and I know they are godly people. I know that we cannot write off something just because a part--however small--is focused towards contemplative spirituality.

I question the core fundamental beliefs though--what are they?

If CCC is sponsoring and supporting labyrinth prayers, breath prayers--what does this say? Does it matter what others know or not know?

It is interesting how difficult it is to discern what someone or ministry believes. If we say Jesus or follower of Christ, its supposed to mean something good...but that is not the case especially with the emergent movement with post-modernism, spiritual formation and also in the writings of Dallas Willard, Henri Nouwen, and Richard Foster.

Mark

[Buzzardhut]

Actually, I am not sure where this information is coming from since I worked for a division of CCC for nearly 10 years....I never heard anything like this in any meeting, prayer group, etc. In fact, I heard just the opposite. Many coming forward asking for prayer for their family members or other loved ones that were decieved by Catholism. I don't have time to look at the website right now...I will later. I will also say that I was bless to hear Bill Bright speak many times....I was sadden when he passed. He was a man with a huge heart for the lost...truly wanting to lead them to Christ....the real Christ. Though my work I was also encouraged to become more forward in sharing my faith through the stories of how just in casual conversations Bill would direct strangers to Christ...many times leading them to salvation in the back of cab or out to eat...just life in general as we walk through life. Again I am not sure where this information is in supporting a watered down gospel. I heard Bill speak in small groups of us multiple times of the need to repent of sin....to lead with a pure heart....to step down from leadership if you were struggling with sin....compassion, repentence....a heart for the lost....and a great knowledge of God's word. I know the people I worked with and for...and there were things I disagreed with them on....but these areas mentioned here are not areas I ever saw a conflict. I never saw, heard nor read anything like what you are saying here. Breath prayers...lol never heard of that until I was here....and I can tell you that Bill Bright never prayed like that in any meeting or prayer group that I attended. Same thing with contemplative spirituality. He never led us those directions either.

As far as the information on Mears.....when did he and his wife spend 11 years living with her? They were married and had children. I am wondering when they had time. He did speak publicly on his personal life, his life before marrying, after and their children....never heard a word about living with Mears for 11 years!

While there are many in the world that are here to decieve....and we do need to be careful however we should equally careful in what we say against another Christian/ministry is the truth.

The Mears comments came from this book:
http://www.intotruth.org/globalism/WCM1.html

As a parachurch, every CCC group will be a bit different in personal experiences and they do a lot of good reaching out to youth for Christ, but the ecumenical leadership influences, such as Tony Compolo and Chuck Colson need to be questioned.

http://www.the-tribulation-network.c..._chapter_4.htm
http://www.wayoflife.org/files/258b1...8488d-159.html

Bill Bright also:
http://www.cephasministry.com/holdin..._the_pope.html
http://www.cephasministry.com/bill_b...or_christ.html
http://www.cephasministry.com/bill_bright.html
http://watch.pair.com/cnpdbase.html
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccc/
http://www.cephas-library.com/nwo/nw..._movement.html

They do encourage fellowship with Catholics as just another branch of Christianity (as does the Billy Graham assoc.) and do discourage witnessing to Catholics concerning grace through faith vs. works for salvation,

I have experienced that first hand.

That was also attempted here when this board reformed and it was quickly squelched.

Ecumenicalism is very subtle and happens here as well until detected and eradicated.
http://www.doffun.com/index.cfm?article_num=279

It seems only well trained sheep can spot it and address it

http://www.the-highway.com/articleJuly01.html

Some Campus Crusade groups bring in emergent teachings just as some denominational youth groups within churches.

[Deborah 55]

A former pastor was affiliated with CCC...now that was 25 yrs ago...I didn't know anything about emergent or whatever..maybe they did not exist??...anyway , about 15 yrs ago, the Lord opened my eyes, and I began to feel uncomfortable in his doctrin,, or lack or doctrin...he moved on to a leadership position in our denomination, and 10 yrs. later, at a convention of this denom... I was rudely "cold shouldered" by this man...couldn't put my finger on "why".
I realized that I had earned a reputation as a trouble-maker for asking questions...doctrinal questions that no-one could answer. Looking back, there was persistant emphasis on "small groups">..little skits.... myriad of things that only very recently have been labeled " emergent"....he lived and breathed Campus Crusade.....

[Buzzardhut]

A former pastor was affiliated with CCC...now that was 25 yrs ago...I didn't know anything about emergent or whatever..maybe they did not exist??...anyway , about 15 yrs ago, the Lord opened my eyes, and I began to feel uncomfortable in his doctrin,, or lack or doctrin...he moved on to a leadership position in our denomination, and 10 yrs. later, at a convention of this denom... I was rudely "cold shouldered" by this man...couldn't put my finger on "why".
I realized that I had earned a reputation as a trouble-maker for asking questions...doctrinal questions that no-one could answer. Looking back, there was persistant emphasis on "small groups">..little skits.... myriad of things that only very recently have been labeled " emergent"....he lived and breathed Campus Crusade.....

Perhaps his darkness was repelled by your light.

[vemee]

My daughter is involved with Campus Crusade at her college and so far there is no evidence of any emergent activity at that Crusade group. They must discuss it because when I talked to her about the emergent movement she knew about it. It seems that with every national religious organization the loons and apostates are the ones that get themselves put into the organization's leadership. Same thing happened with the major denominations. In wrestling they tell you that if you control the head the body has no choice but to follow so I guess Satan thinks that is a good strategy.

[mark1970]

May I ask how you would share with someone that breath prayers are contemplative spirituality/prayer and the reasons why?

Thanks,

Mark

Does anyone have any response to this specifically? I have listened to some radio programs on Pirate Christian Radio with Bob Dewaay--but am just wondering about others experiences...

Thanks,

[Deborah 55]

Perhaps his darkness was repelled by your light.

wellllll....I know he was repelled by me....hehehe...at the time, I was slightly hurt...but I knew there was something I couldn't put my finger on....a very uncomfortable-ness about him. I felt sort of bad for him...and sort of mad at him...

[Buzzardhut]

Does anyone have any response to this specifically? I have listened to some radio programs on Pirate Christian Radio with Bob Dewaay--but am just wondering about others experiences...

Thanks,

"When [Richard] Foster speaks of the silence, he does not mean external silence. In his book, Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home, Foster recommends the practice of breath prayer—picking a single word or short phrase and repeating it in conjunction with the breath. This is classic contemplative mysticism.

"In the original 1978 edition of Celebration of Discipline, he makes his objective clear when he states, 'Christian meditation is an attempt to empty the mind in order to fill it.' In Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home, he ties in a quote by one mystic who advised, 'You must bind the mind with one thought.' The advice recounts Anthony de Mello's remarks in his contemplative prayer classic, Sadhana: A Way to God. His approach was virtually identical to Foster's:

To silence the mind is an extremely difficult task. How hard it is to keep the mind from thinking, thinking, thinking, forever thinking, forever producing thoughts in a never ending stream. Our Hindu masters in India have a saying: one thorn is removed by another. By this they mean that you will be wise to use one thought to rid yourself of all the other thoughts that crowd into your mind. One thought, one image, one phrase or sentence or word that your mind can be made to fasten on.

"I once related Foster's breath prayer method to a former New Age devotee who is now a Christian. She affirmed this connection when she remarked with astonishment, 'That's what I did when I was into ashtanga yoga!'" (A Time of Departing, p. 75)

Are "breath prayers" a method by which we can become best friends with God?
To direct people on a spiritual journey for 40 days, Rick Warren wrote The Purpose Driven Life. The bestselling book has impacted millions of persons. Some of Pastor Warren's purpose involves recommendations for "Becoming Best Friends with God." To become God's friends, the author shares six secrets, one of which is practicing God's presence by being in "constant conversation" with him. After quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ("pray without ceasing"), Warren asks how a Christian can practice unceasing prayer to which he answers, "One way is to use 'breath prayers' throughout the day, as many Christians have done for centuries. You choose a brief sentence or a simple phrase that can be repeated in one breath." Then after providing ten examples of short biblical phrases that could work as breath prayers, Warren advises "Pray it as often as possible so it is rooted deep in your heart."[1] In this context Warren also cites the book of Brother Lawrence (c.1605-1691), The Practice of the Presence of God, who advocated experiencing God's presence in the most menial of circumstances by praying short conversational prayers throughout the day. The Roman Catholic practice of praying the rosary is akin to breath prayers.

In the course of our waking hours, think of how many times we breathe--hundreds and hundreds, even thousands per day. So to pray "breath prayers" means that like breathing, I am to intermittently say the same short prayer over and over again during the course of a day.

Advocates of breath prayers recommend the discipline of repeatedly breathing out a short biblical phrase of prayer. For example, in the parable of The Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14), Jesus portrayed a tax collector who in repentance and humility, cried out, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'" Out of this parable The Desert Fathers, a monastic group in Egypt circa the 5th century, created the "Kyrie Eleison" prayer (i.e., "Lord have mercy.") which became known as the "Jesus Prayer."[2] The prayer became a favorite of these fathers who later expanded it to be, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."[3] This prayer as well as others, they chanted over and over again.

As one advocate of contemplative spirituality summarizes, "One of the beautiful things that emerged from the disciplined life of the Desert Fathers was their soul-full practice of contemplative prayer, including the use of 'Breath Prayers.' The Desert Fathers preferred short, one breath prayers offered in a receptive stillness before God . . . To focus their minds simply on Christ and to descend with Christ into their hearts these monks slowly repeated their short holy prayers over and over with each breath. Many of these prayers were a perfect body rhythm of seven syllables that easily could be whispered in one breath."[4] As linked to The Desert Fathers, this helps account for Warren's advice to pray breath prayers as, "many Christians have done for centuries."[5] If in the context of Christendom those fathers originated breath praying, then a question arises, did The Desert Fathers borrow the method from someone else? Might they have adopted the method from the monastic and mystic practices of other ancient religions?[6]

In light of this background and contemporary recommendation to practice breath prayers, an important question arises. Can short biblical phrases be employed to pray in a wrong way? To answer this and other questions, we should first analyze the message of 1 Thessalonians 5:17, and then consider breath prayers in the broader context of Jesus' teaching and example of prayer as well as that of the apostles and prophets. Scripture must determine whether or not believers should employ breath prayers in their devotional lives. For Protestants, the Bible ought to be our authority in all matters of faith and practice.

First, we must note that English translations consider 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to be one sentence consisting of three present imperative verbs. Considered as related and coordinate commands by the translators, the verses are separated by either semi-colons or commas (see NKJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, 1901 ASV). The text reads, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:16-18, NASB).

Therefore, what did Paul mean when he commanded the Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17, NASB, KJV, NKJV, NRSV, etc.; "pray continually," NIV; "Keep on praying," NLT)? We can understand that Paul's admonition to continually pray lies in combination with his parallel commands to rejoice ("Rejoice always," v. 16) and to be thankful ("in everything give thanks," v. 18). In other words, a believer's day-to-day walk with the Lord ought to be consistently joyful, prayerful and thankful. In fact, Paul's epistles reveal rejoicing and thanksgiving were constant themes of his consistent prayer life (See Rom. 1:9-10a; 1 Cor. 1:4; 2 Cor. 6:10; Eph. 5:20; Phil. 1:4; 4:4; Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess 1:3; Philemon 4).

Second the word to "pray" (proseuchomai) includes all types of praying (i.e., thanksgiving, petitions, praise, etc.). In that Paul used the comprehensive word for prayer we may infer that he was not directing the Thessalonians to pray in a certain way by employing a certain phrase to be repeated over and over throughout the day. That reads far too much into the command. Low and Nida advise that when translating this word for prayer into various languages, "It is normally best to avoid an expression which means primarily 'to recite'."[7] In contrast to the free spontaneity of prayer, breath prayers are recitative and repetitive.

Third, other than it is to be "without ceasing," Paul leaves the manner and method of prayer undefined. Elsewhere the New Testament describes prayer to have been "earnestly" (James 5:17), directs it to be with head covered (1 Cor. 11:4) and orders it to be "in the Spirit" (Eph. 6:18; Jude 20). Given that under the Holy Spirit's guidance Paul left out advice on how to pray, why should spiritual directors then proceed to recommend a method of prayer based upon this verse? Where in his providence the Holy Spirit left a blank, why do spiritual directors attempt to fill in the blank?

Fourth, the command "pray without ceasing" is a present iterative imperative, the sense of the tense being that believers ought to maintain a spirit of prayer throughout their waking hours.[8] Prayer should be a constant part of Christian consciousness. As defined by the surrounding commands to rejoice and give thanks, "pray without ceasing" defines more the attitude of vigilance that ought to characterize a believers' prayer life than a particular technique of prayer. Just as the attitude of a believer is to be continuously joyful and thankful, so also their attitude is to be continuously prayerful. Though there is no indication that the apostle practiced or taught breath praying, Leon Morris noted that "Prayer was as natural to Paul as breathing. At any time he was likely to break off his argument or to sum it up by some prayer of greater or less length. In the same way our lives can be lived in such an attitude of dependence on God that we will easily and naturally move into the words of prayer on all sorts of occasions . . ."[9]

As the record shows, Jesus never practiced or taught breath praying. Attempts by contemplative spiritualists to associate breath prayers with the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13), Jesus' dying words (i.e., "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit," Luke 23:46) or Jesus' commissioning of his disciples ("Receive the Holy Spirit," John 20:22) intrude upon Jesus' teaching and the Gospel narrative (i.e., eisegesis).[10] There's a ditty that goes, "Wonderful things in the Bible I see, Things that are put there by you and by me." Attempts to find breath prayers in the Bible are just that kind of reading into the text. In brief, here's why.

First, as contemplative spiritualists define them, the Lord's Prayer is not a breath prayer. It's too long. It takes a person with great lung capacity to fit the Lord's Prayer into one breath. If you don't think so, try saying it in one breath. Furthermore, trying to fit the Lord's Prayer into a person's natural breathing rhythm is unnatural. Second, Jesus committed his spirit to the Father one time. He did not pray repeatedly, "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit." Third, the words Jesus addressed to the disciples ("Receive the Holy Spirit") were not a prayer, unless we would contrive it to mean that Jesus was praying to the disciples! By his instruction and practice, it cannot be discerned that Jesus either taught or practiced breath prayers.

Praying a short sentence over and over bears too much resemblance to the mantra praying of eastern religions (i.e., a word recited or sung repeatedly to induce an altered state of consciousness within the practitioner). In praying breath prayers, Christian devotion becomes indistinct from that of the eastern mystical religions. So the question for the Christian becomes, am I going to engage in a form of praying that does not fit, but in fact contradicts the New Testament model of prayer? Even though Rick Warren recommends saying breath prayers, I will choose not to disobey when I pray .

Now to the question, can right words be used to pray a wrong way? To me this becomes the subtlety of the spiritual directors' recommendation to incorporate Bible sayings into breath prayers. So at this juncture we ask: Even if it masquerades and parades itself as pious and devotional, can such a practice be wrong? I think so. Words of Scripture can be employed for means other than what God intended.

Take for example, the temptation of Jesus Christ. Satan came at Jesus with a biblical text to entice him to disobey his Father. In fact Satan quoted from the Old Testament book that many Bible students consider to have been Jesus' favorite--Deuteronomy (see Matthew 4:6). Right words can be employed for a wrong purpose. What I am suggesting is that using short scriptural phrases does not sanctify saying breath prayers. Something can be wrong even though it might seem and feel right. Contemplative spiritual directors are deceptive when they attempt to provide sanctity to an unbiblical practice by recommending using biblical phrases for breath prayers.

In their contest with Elijah the prophets of Baal prayed a "breath prayer" until they were out of breath. "O Baal, answer us", they prayed. They prayed it over and over again from early in the morning until high noon (1 Kings 18:26). But Jesus directly instructed his disciples not to pray like that. He warned, "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them" (Matt. 6:7-8a). The direct command of Jesus our Spiritual Director is enough for me to avoid any resemblance of pagan praying. As a pastor and in submission to the Lord's and the apostles' teaching on prayer, I cannot in good conscience recommend the practice of praying breath prayers.

TV sitcoms and reality shows constantly picture people vainly praying breath prayers. They go something like, "Oh, God!" or "Oh, My God!" In their repetition and in the trite situations in which these words are uttered, such expressions are meaningless, vain and even hypocritical. The Law commands, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain" (Ex. 20:7). If in their repetition breath prayers become boring and therefore meaningless to the practitioner, then praying them is vanity, especially if in their personal lives the practitioners are disobedient to God. As regarding breath prayers being a spiritual discipline to draw us into the circle of God's friends, they could, if uttered in hypocrisy, drive us farther away from him! As Isaiah and Jesus evaluated the prayers among Israel, the Lord's ancient people, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me" (Matt. 15:8, NKJV; compare Is. 29:13).

Can we become "best friends" with God without practicing his presence by praying breath prayers? Jesus admitted to this potential when he told the disciples, "You are My friends, if you do what I command you" (Jn. 15:14). Though in Scripture Jesus has commanded us to do many things that pertain to holiness and godliness, he never commanded us to pray breath prayers. In fact, his teaching on prayer implies just the opposite, that we should not pray repeated and recitative prayers like the heathen. The Lord called Abraham "My friend" (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23), but there is no record that first, he prayed constantly, or second, used breath prayers. Yet because Abraham obeyed God he was a friend of God. In the same way we become God's friends through obedience. Trust and obey, for there's no other way

http://www.frbaptist.org/bin/view/Pt...20060926170150

[Pastor Bill]

[QUOTE=mark1970;1700841]Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or information about Campus Crusade for Christ supporting contemplative spirituality?

I understand they support breath in/out prayers (on their website), and have seen some things that show support for labyrinth prayers--but this is through some diligent searching, and it is not in the mainstream. With many things in this realm, it is not front and center.

Thanks,

Mark

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I'm glad to be joining this discussion. I was on the staff of CCC for 29 years - up until July, '09. As far as the "breath prayers" you mention, that has nothing to do with Contemplative Spirituality or Spiritual Formation. This was simply an illustration of "breathing out the bad air" (i.e., confession of sin, including repentance) and "breathing in the good air (i.e., asking for God to fill you with the Holy Spirit again according to His command in Eph. 5:18 and His promise in 1 Jn. 5:14-15). The use of "prayer labyrinths" is another issue altogether. I was at a global campus leaders' conf. in 2002 where, to my knowledge, that practice was introduced to CCC-USA for the first time by the national campus director of England. I am saddened to see that it is now on CCC's website - 8 years later. CCC is a big outfit, so one can't generalize about all of its staff being into one thing or another. I am concerned, however, with the tendency to move in the "contemplative/emergent" direction due to a lack of a strong emphasis on theological training, the entrance into its ranks of postmodern-minded college grads and the always pragmatic approach to ministry that CCC has had over the years (e.g., "If it works, let's do it!"). So, I wouldn't put my hand in the fire and say that CCC isn't going "contemplative." Time will tell, but the recipe is there for this to happen.
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[susanb]

As far as the "breath prayers" you mention, that has nothing to do with Contemplative Spirituality or Spiritual Formation. This was simply an illustration of "breathing out the bad air" (i.e., confession of sin, including repentance) and "breathing in the good air (i.e., asking for God to fill you with the Holy Spirit again according to His command in Eph. 5:18

Pastor Bill, Are you saying that breath prayers are good, or perhaps not bad?

"Breathing out the bad air and breathing in the good air" is akin to what Paul spoke about "starting in the spirit, and ending in the flesh" (paraphrased). Since when is a breathing exercise something that is of God? Scripture never commands us to do this kind of thing. Eph 5:18 says:

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Wow! One would really have to take that scripture out of context to apply it to breath prayers which IS a contemplative practice.