FROM MYSTICISM TO THE GOSPEL The Story of the Reformation within the Eastern Orthodox Church and Why Contemplative prayer is a sign of apostasy among evangelicals PAUL DAN California 2009 From Mysticism to the Gospel And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 Copyright © 2009 by Paul Dan All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means - electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise —without prior permission in writing from the author, unless it is for the furtherance of the Gospel of salvation and given away free of charge. Brief quotations for reviews are however allowed, provided that they respect the context and author’s intention. 2 From Mysticism to the Gospel CONTENTS Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 Important Note ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 PART ONE ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 My testimony ......................................................................................................................................................... 6 The story of the Romanian Reformation within Eastern Orthodoxy in the 20th Century ........ 7 The state of the Reformed Eastern Orthodox Church of Romania at the present time ............ 8 The place of Biola University among Christian Universities and the challenges Christian Institutions face .................................................................................................................................................... 9 The Sound Mind versus the Mystical Mind ............................................................................................. 10 The Sound Mind is the Mind of Christ ....................................................................................................... 10 The Mystical Mind ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Richard Foster, the Quaker Connection and Neo-Gnosticism.......................................................... 13 Concluding remarks on Quakerism by Edward Grubb an important Quaker leader. ............ 21 Richard Foster’s “heroes” of Spiritual Discipline .................................................................................. 21 Neomysticism and Quakerism is taking over Christianity in the US through Renovaré of Richard Foster .................................................................................................................................................... 23 The Spiritual Formation idea is based on a false premise and addresses a wrong issue ..... 24 The Evangelical Counter-Reformation ..................................................................................................... 25 Errors and various degrees of apostasy among Evangelical Leaders........................................... 26 Some evangelical leaders confusing the Mormons and trespassing New Testament requirements ...................................................................................................................................................... 37 Philosophy can take captive even the minds of Christian philosophers ..................................... 38 The Colossian Church and the threat of philosophy ............................................................................ 39 The historical churches and apostasy ....................................................................................................... 40 From Hippie Revolution to Pop Culture Christianity and from Pop Culture Christianity to Neo-Mysticism .................................................................................................................................................... 41 3 From Mysticism to the Gospel The Supernatural is not Mystical in Nature ............................................................................................ 42 Contemplative Prayer in a Nutshell - Mindless mystical gazing ..................................................... 43 Evangelicals into Contemplative Prayer need to repent of Pop Culture not mystically empty their minds........................................................................................................................................................... 44 PART TWO ............................................................................................................................................................... 46 Alexandrian approach to Bible Interpretation a foundation of Eastern Orthodoxy The Byzantine mind ....................................................................................................................................................... 46 From Plato to Plotinus and beyond and how their philosophy directed Eastern Orthodox Theology of the Church Fathers and Desert Fathers ........................................................................... 48 Additional important information on the Neoplatonic schema of things present in Eastern Orthodoxy ............................................................................................................................................................ 52 Eastern Church Fathers and their heresies ............................................................................................. 57 Pseudo-Denys the Eastern Orthodox chief theologian of Darkness-and-Negation ................. 63 Maximus’ view of salvation looks like Nirvana in the analysis below .......................................... 69 Gregory Palamas the monk who perfected the mystical destiny of the Eastern Orthodox Church ................................................................................................................................................................... 70 The Desert as a problematic place in the Bible ..................................................................................... 77 The Desert Fathers and their non-Biblical theology and life ........................................................... 78 Theurgy in the Eastern Orthodox Church................................................................................................ 81 Contemporary champions of mysticism in Eastern Orthodoxy ...................................................... 84 Salvation in Biblical terms ............................................................................................................................. 87 FINAL CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 91 4 From Mysticism to the Gospel INTRODUCTION The Church Fathers like Athanasius, Gregory of Nyssa, and Maximus the Confessor fought the battles against heresies which attacked core doctrines of the Church, such as the Deity of Christ, Trinity, and the dual nature of Christ. All had solid knowledge of philosophy, especially Platonic, and some were even trained philosophers. They used philosophical categories when they elaborated the Church Creeds. They did a great service to the church back then, and to us today. On the other hand, their philosophical knowledge crept into other areas of theology, church practice, and liturgy, determining the direction of the Eastern Orthodox Church for the two millennia. Since the 5th Century, the Eastern Orthodox Church is frozen in Neoplatonic mysticism, due to the philosophical leanings of the Church Fathers. Today, there are key Evangelical apologets and philosophers who help the Church in her battle with atheism, and world religions; but like the Church Fathers of the first centuries, some are letting their philosophical knowledge to lead them into Eastern Mysticism of the contemplative prayer. Along with them, many theological seminaries around the country, and church leaders, incorporate contemplative prayer in their curriculum and practice. This essay contains extensive information about the history of Eastern Orthodox mysticism and how a whole reformation within E. Orthodoxy took place in 1924 in Romania, in spite of that mysticism. Today this reformation is a full fledged Evangelical movement. Disclaimer The present essay is not meant to condemn the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church or contemporary Christian apologets and philosophers involved in mysticism. On the other hand, we have to speak the truth in love. And let’s remember what Aristotle said about Plato his mentor: Plato I love, but I love Truth more. The statements made and views expressed herein are the opinions and views of the author and should not be attributed to any other person or organization. Important Note This essay contains two parts. Part one deals with Evangelical Neomysticism in America including its origins and implications. Part two is an in-depth