Lighthouse Trails Research Journal
36
Letters to the Editor
Followers of Jesus Calling—All
About Them, Not About God
My sister-in-law is deceived by Jesus Call-
ing. . . . She sent me a copy of Jesus Call-
ing years ago enclosing a note of how it
had changed her life. My husband, in
turn, sent her a copy of Warren Smith’s
book, Another Jesus Calling, but I have
concluded she did not read it. Her re-
sponse to me regarding her upcoming
trip [to Kenya] was, they were going on
an adventure, and God had a surprise for
them and they were so excited to find out
what the surprise was and looked forward
to sharing with family and friends this
great surprise they had yet to encounter.
Sadly, she cannot see that this response
was all about her. Her adventure, her sur-
prise from God waiting for her in Kenya.
Everything she wrote had Jesus Calling
influence and rhetoric straight from
the book. It is about feeling good about
yourself and God serving you and not you
serving God. Sad so many can’t see. If she
realized what the message relayed, I am
sure she would not have written it, but
they are blind and cannot see.
This deception is very dangerous,
and I feel the longer one stays in the
deception, the less likely he or she will
be able to come out of it because it pulls
one deeper into the occult. We are His
ambassadors, not the other way around.
May God reveal the deception so they can
see they are being guided by a counterfeit
“Jesus” that Satan has devised for their
destruction. Deborah
Pope Francis to Launch 2020 “Global
Educational Alliance” for a “New
Humanism” and “New Universal Solidarity”
Thank you for exposing the real agenda
behind the 2020 Global Year of the Bible.
The pope is deceiving millions of people
because they do not know what the Catho-
lic Church teaches concerning the Bible.
VOLUME 8—NO. 1
When I was a Catholic, I was taught
from the Catechism of the Catholic
Church—not the Bible. In number 85 in
the Catechism, it states that an authentic
interpretation of the Word of God was en-
trusted to the bishops and the pope—called
the Magisterium of the Church. In number
82, we learned that “the Church does not
derive her certainty about all revealed truths
from the holy Scripture alone. Both Scrip-
ture and Tradition must be accepted and
honored with equal sentiments of devotion
and reverence.”
In Matthew 15:6, Jesus addresses tradi-
tions when He said that man’s traditions
make his word of no effect.
So why is Pope Francis endorsing the
2020 Global Year of the Bible? It certainly
isn’t because he believes the Bible or quotes
the Bible.
I believe he wants to get everyone
(evangelical leaders and leaders of religions
around the world) on board for his Global
pact to create a “new humanism” and “new
universal solidarity” (that is, a one-world re-
ligion). See “Pope Francis launches Global
Educational Alliance” on YouTube where
he announces this “global event” to be
launched on May 14, 2020 at the Vatican.
In Christ, Lina
“The Changes I’ve Seen in Nearly 81 Years”
The changes I’ve seen in my nearly 81
years are more than shocking—many
“big” names gone awry in their ministries.
It makes me wonder—were they rebels all
along but couched their rebellion by going
with the culture which appeared to have a
moral compass and a desire for the Lord
and His way? They are still going along
with the culture—this world-wide attitude
of ungodliness. But only God knows their
true hearts, and for that, I am thankful.
I appreciate Lighthouse Trails, and I
regularly pray for your protection and your
encouragement! The work you are doing is
God-honoring and helping many.
I love our Lord’s Word, and the more I
pour over it, the more I love Him! “The en-
trance [unfolding] of thy words giveth light;
it giveth understanding unto the simple”
(Psalm 119:130). God bless and keep you
ever “unfolding” His words. Norma
From Dallas Theological Seminary
Student—DTS Does Advocate for
Contemplative Spirituality
The relationship Dallas Theological Semi-
nary has with contemplative spirituality has
been debated on Lighthouse Trails, and de-
fended by DTS. As a current student, I can
confirm some departments and professors
do advocate explicitly for the contemplative
brand of spirituality.
The school requires four semesters of
spiritual formation. Students must engage
with the curriculum as prescribed, but ad-
ditional work is optional for those wishing
to receive academic credit.
The first semester spiritual formation
material encourages students to study Adele
Calhoun, Marcia Ford, Richard Foster,
Donald Whitney, Dallas Willard, PT For-
syth, Paul Pettit, James K.A. Smith, Gary
Thomas, and others. “Silence” is listed as a
discipline in the curriculum itself, and the
workbook asks students to rate their own
engagement with this and other practices.
Required readings in the “Practical
Theology” course include Alexander
Schmemann, James K.A. Smith, Dallas
Willard, Gary Thomas, and Simon Chan.
After reading Willard, Thomas, and Chan,
students practice three of the spiritual
disciplines for at least three weeks before
reporting on their progress. Sacramentalism
is a major focus, and an Episcopal priest
was brought in to celebrate the Eucharist
with the class and answer our questions on
sacramentalism.
The DTS website states, “We do not
promote or endorse any form of eastern
mysticism, higher consciousness, divinity
within the self, or any practice that promotes
entering into an altered or transcendent
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SPRING 2020