There are certain teachers who focus a lot on spiritual disciplines that I want to address. The movement they are part of has been called the Emergent Church or the contemplative prayer movement. A common theme in their teaching is a focus on less important or even unbiblical practices/ideas along with a severe downplaying of biblical truths. The result is turning Christianity into a self-help program or mystical experience rather than faith grounded in the saving work of Christ unto the glory of God.
I don't know enough about each individual, so I don't want to make a blanket statement that every individual I address here is a heretic. However, I do see a problem with the direction, focus, and content of much of this movement, so I want to bring the Bible to bear on this topic.
To understand where this movement stands, it's helpful to consider influences and parallels. Much of what is taught is drawn from Roman Catholic mysticism. There is a clear New Age bent with a focus on feelings, meditation, and the subjective experience with a rejection of the importance of theology, which is very Eastern (e.g. Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Eastern Orthodoxy). It has a very humanistic view of the self, a pelagian model of human failure, and an Arminian view of salvation (with universalistic tendencies). There are clear connections to Mormon and Quaker theology which teach an inner light or feeling to confirm their ideas.
I want to provide some helpful resources that I'm drawing from up front:
John Comer: A big influence in the evangelical world. Why Christians Should Avoid John Mark Comer by Servantofgrace (YouTube) is a good starting point where Marcia Montenegro goes over much of her article John Mark Comer's Practicing The Way or Practicing a Way? An Evaluation. The article includes historical background and influences which touch on many of the figures that follow.
Dallas Willard: He was a big influence on John Comer. The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines: A Critique of Dallas Willard and The Spirit of the Disciplines by Bob DeWaay. Dallas Willard: An Emergent Conspirator and Debunking Dallas Willard and Being Worthy to be Saved by Ken Silva.
Richard Foster: He worked hand in hand with Dallas Willard. Richard Foster—Celebration of Deception by Bob DeWaay. A Serious Look at Richard Foster's "School" of Contemplative Prayer by Lighthouse Trails author.
The relationship between sanctification, grace, and Scripture is often misunderstood, particularly when teachings emphasize a cooperative effort where God does His part and we do ours. This misconception places undue focus on spiritual disciplines as the primary driver of spiritual growth, suggesting that our efforts play a central role.
Sanctification is fundamentally the work of God through the Holy Spirit, as Philippians 2:13 reminds us: "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." The danger of overemphasizing human effort is that it risks divorcing sanctification from God's grace and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, leading to a works-based understanding that diminishes God's role in the process.
Another significant concern is the overreliance on personal experience or "Christian teaching" that is not grounded in Scripture. Some teachers claim biblical authority without proper engagement with the text, substituting subjective experience or esoteric ideas for sound exegesis. This approach elevates feelings and experiences above the revealed truth of God's Word.
The sufficiency of Scripture is undermined when theology is neglected, and personal interpretation takes precedence. The result is a shallow understanding of faith, where the pursuit of intimacy with God becomes an emotional or mystical endeavor detached from biblical foundations. Scripture clearly warns against such tendencies, emphasizing that sanctification comes through truth: "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth" (Jn 17:17).
This mysticism often manifests in teaching, either explicitly or implicitly, that Scripture, prayer, and fellowship are insufficient for intimacy with God. Instead, it promotes spiritual disciplines as a way to access deeper knowledge or experiences. Such approaches resemble Gnostic ideas, where hidden knowledge or special experiences are prioritized over revealed truth.
Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes that salvation and sanctification are gifts of grace, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Romans 3:23-26 reminds us that justification and sanctification are the result of God's work through Christ, not our own efforts. Similarly, Romans 6:22 describes sanctification as the fruit of being set free from sin and becoming slaves to God, leading to eternal life. These truths highlight the centrality of God's work in sanctification, leaving no room for self-reliance or the pursuit of mystical experiences as a means to spiritual maturity.
While disciplines like prayer and meditation, when properly understood, are used by God to grow believers, they are not substitutes for the transformative power of God's Word and Spirit. We must constantly look to and rely on God for every good thing.
A key danger in these teachings is their detachment of discipleship from sound theology. Discipleship without theological grounding leads to a directionless pursuit of spiritual growth, often driven by feelings rather than truth. Theology provides the reason and direction for following Christ, shaping the way we pray, serve, and grow spiritually. Paul's letters consistently begin with theological truths which then inform Christian living. Without a strong theological foundation, Christians risk being led astray, mistaking emotional highs for spiritual maturity. True growth glorifies God when it is rooted in His Word and shaped by sound doctrine.
Another troubling aspect of these teachings is the way they are presented. They are often delivered in a soft, appealing tone. You're told to write things down as if they were profound. A lot of times they give a loose paraphrase of Scripture which gives the illusion of biblical grounding. This disarms listeners, making them less critical of what is being taught. However, the teachings often mischaracterize opposing positions, rely on emotional appeals, and lack serious engagement with Scripture. Such approaches may seem harmless to someone not listening carefully, but they fail to glorify God, as they are neither Christ-centered nor biblically faithful.
Ultimately, discipleship must be firmly anchored in Scripture to glorify God. Any attempt to grow in sanctification apart from God's Word and Spirit leads to self-reliance and distorts the gospel. True discipleship and teaching should equip believers with sound doctrine and guide them into a deeper relationship with Christ, not lead to chasing after emotional highs or mystical experiences. True sanctification is God's work, accomplished by His grace, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for His glory.