Christian homeschoolers: prepare your children to stand up against ungodly teachings

In writing blogs, I often spend too much time researching the latest heresy, or false teacher, or whatever. At times I need to step back a bit and see the forest rather than the trees. Like Berit Kjos, I think a critical issue we need to dwell on in these End Times is the education of our children.

Under our noses, public schools (“government schools”) are indoctrinating our children into gay rights, New Age teachings, evolution, etc. I think it is way past time Christians pull their kids out of public schools en masse.

Regarding homeschooling I think it would be neat to write – or make Christian homeschoolers aware of – curricula that strengthen children in the Lord from the youngest ages. Curricula that prepare them for “the world out there” – that teach them at the youngest ages how to battle the various ungodly/antichristian teachings they will eventually face when they go off to college. Or sooner, if playing with kids who attend public schools, watching TV without program restrictions, using the Internet unfiltered, etc. Even seeing magazines on the grocery store newstand, or using a smartphone, or going to the library unattended. Bottom line – it’s pretty hard to keep our kids away from the world’s influences, so it’s crucial to prepare our kids spiritually to stand up against these things. One key I think is memorizing Bible verses (I recommend the KJV).

Most evangelicals are failing miserably in training up their children biblically. The fact is, the world is invading the church in many ways, particularly via Spiritual Formation and Emerging/Emergent teachings. Bottom line, we need to be on guard – even our churches can draw our kids away from the Lord.

Anyone know where to find curricula that prepare children to fight what’s out there? I know there are many creation science textbooks, and many textbooks presenting history from a Christian viewpoint. But I haven’t found any textbooks (yet) that explain how to fight false teachings (New Age teachings, Spiritual Formation, Emerging/Emergent teachings, etc.). Of course kids can be led to discernment articles and discernment books on these things – even at young ages – using the Internet filtered and while monitored.

Why prepare kids at a young age? Because they’re being attacked by the world at a young age. Example: in the public schools, kindergarteners are being read Harry Potter books, told about “my two dads”, indoctrinated in mindfulness, etc. God help us!

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Quaker/Friends colleges and seminaries becoming increasingly Emerging/Emergent – and promoting Convergent Friends

Note – I have slightly revised this blog, “toning it down” so it will not be as hurtful to my many friends in the EFCI.
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I am researching the prevalence of Spiritual Formation and Emerging/ Emergent teachings in various Quaker/Friends colleges, universities and seminaries. I have been looking mostly for schools with EFCI connections. I stumbled across a list (at the bottom of this blog), which hopefully will help others sort out the various Quaker/Friends institutions.

The EFCI (Evangelical Friends Church International) has traditionally been the ONLY “orthodox”, born again, evangelical Quaker denomination. The other Quaker denominations – FGC, FUM, NEYM and PYM all label themselves as non-evangelical.

[Click here for a slightly different grouping of the different Quaker denominations. This info is provided by a non-evangelical Quaker website.]

Yet in these times, even EFCI schools are getting involved with Spiritual Formation and Emerging/Emergent teachings. In some cases  EFCI schools have actually been leaders in promulgating these teachings. For example, EFCI’s George Fox University and Seminary has pushed various teachings, including Richard Foster’s Spiritual Formation ala Celebration of Discipline.

Also, individuals and groups from many Friends denominations are increasingly fellowshipping under the banner of “Convergent Friends” – a term closely tied with Spiritual Formation and Emerging/Emergent teachings.

Note also that denominational distinctions are becoming less and less of an issue. Most Friends denominations are associating closely in ecumenical organizations such as the FWCC (Friends World Committee for Consultation).

To me personally, all of the above developments are very discouraging. I grew up in the EFC-ER/Ohio Yearly Meeting, which eventually became a part of the EFCI (Evangelical Friends Church International). The EFC-ER/Ohio Yearly Meeting was the most “doctrinally pure,” born again Yearly Meeting in the United States. Members of this yearly meeting were commonly known as “Holiness Friends” or “Gurneyite Friends.” I feel VERY strongly that the EFC-ER/Ohio Yearly Meeting should have remained “doctrinally pure.” It should have remained a separate entity, rather than joining the EFA (Evangelical Friends Alliance) in 1965. (The EFA was later renamed the EFCI.)

Now on to the list of Friends institutions, with their affiliations [I have bolded the affiliations]:

“Quaker Colleges and Schools in the United States”
Mar 03, 2010
(Excerpt from http://www.quakerinfo.org)

Colleges and Universities

Abbreviations:
• EFCI — Evangelical Friends Church International
• FGC — Friends General Conference
• FUM — Friends United Meeting
• NEYM — New England Yearly Meeting
• PYM — Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

a. Azusa Pacific University (APU) – Azusa, California. Officially non- denominational. The Friends Center is “the seminary experience of Evangelical Friends Church Southwest (which belongs to the EFCI) at C.P. Haggard Graduate School of Theology.”

b. Barclay College – Havilland, Kansas. “Associated with Friends Church [which denomination?] although does not officially specify an affiliation.” Barclay is very much into Spiritual Formation; it even has a Center for Spiritual Renewal [Spiritual Formation].

c. Bryn Mawr College – Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Founded as a Quaker institution, now non-denominational.

d. Earlham College – Richmond, Indiana. Affiliated with Western Yearly Meeting of Friends United Meeting (FUM).

e. Friends University – Wichita, Kansas. Founded as a Quaker institution, now non-denominational with “an amicable but independent relationship with the Society of Friends” (EFCI). Spiritual Formation’s Richard Foster was a “professor of theology and writer-in-residence” here, from 1979 to ____ (1)

f. George Fox University (GFU) – Newburg, Oregon. Affiliated with Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (EFCI).

George Fox Evangelical Seminary – Newburg, Oregon. Affiliated with Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (EFCI).

GFU and GFES are very much into Spiritual Formation and Emerging/Emergent teachings. I am appalled to see such teachings in the EFCI, which in 1965 (as the EFA) was in my opinion a “fundamentalist evangelical” denomination. Today the EFCI is becoming more and more a “progressive evangelical” denomination.

By the way, all of the following heretics have all either attended or taught at GFU and/or GFES: Tony Campolo, Richard Foster (1), Dan Kimball, and Leonard Sweet.

g. Global College – Founded as Friends World College by New York Yearly Meeting (Friends General Conference), now part of Long Island University and not officially affiliated with Friends.

h. Guilford College – Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded as a Quaker college and continues to be governed by members of the Society of Friends [which denomination?].

i. Haverford College – Pennsylvania. Founded by members of the PYM [Philadephia Yearly Meeting]. Remains rooted in Friends tradition and grounded in Quaker practice [non-evangelical], but without formal affiliation.

j. Houston Graduate School of Theology (HGST) – Houston, Texas. “Identifies with the Quaker movement,” grounded in Evangelical Friends theology and practice. [I think this school associates with the SWYM of the EFCI. But I doubt it is still fundamentalist evangelical. One of its teachers publically states she is a “Spiritual Director”, teaching Spiritual Formation. I’ll be researching this school.]

k. John Woolman College of Active Peace – Brattleboro, Vermont. Founded as a Quaker college and continues to be governed by members of the Society of Friends [which denomination?]. I would hardly call this a college – it seems to be more of an online forum.  Perhaps this was an actual institution in years past.

l. Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore, Maryland was founded by a Quaker and most early trustees were Quaker although officially non-denominational.

m. Malone University – Canton, Ohio. Sponsored by Evangelical Friends Church – Eastern Region (EFC-ER) of the EFCI.

Malone University Graduate School – Theological Studies – Canton, Ohio. Sponsored by Evangelical Friends Church – Eastern Region (EFC-ER) of the EFCI.

Note – some professors from Ashland Theological Seminary (ATS) also teach at Malone University Graduate School. ATS is very much into Spiritual Formation.  And, many graduates of Malone University go on to pursue their graduate degrees at the ATS campus.

n. Pacific Oaks College – Pasadena, California. Graduate school of education based around a children’s school founded by Quakers. Strong Friends influence although no formal affiliation.

o. Swarthmore College – Pennsylvania. Founded by Hicksite PYM, now independent.

p. Whittier College – California. Founded by Quakers, now independent with “an appreciation for Quaker values.”

q. William Penn University – Oskaloosa, Iowa. Founded by Quakers, no formal affiliation. “The university is firmly rooted in its Christian heritage with certain characteristics distinctive to Quakers, but welcomes faculty, staff and students from all faiths.” [I’m curious what they mean by “from all faiths” – do they mean “other world religions, and do they consider themselves an “interfaith” school?]

r. Wilmington College – Wilmington, Ohio. Founded by Quakers, associated with Wilmington Yearly Meeting (FUM).

Source: http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/Louisville_Friends_Meeting_Quaker/pages/387296

[I have added a number of notes to the original list.]

See also this lengthy list of schools:
http://www.enotes.com/topic/List_of_Friends_schools

ENDNOTES

(1) Click here for blog entitled “Spiritual Formation founder Richard Foster’s ties with EFCI (Evangelical Friends).”

Note – much of this info overlaps with a Wikipedia list. I am in the process of combining all this info regarding colleges and seminaries.

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A repost: Colleges that ARE promoting Contemplative/ Emerging/Emergent teachings and DO have a Spiritual Formation program

NOTE – Regarding the list of schools below, I hope to do research on each school and “expand” the links. When you click on a link that has a note such as “I have revised this link”, you will be led to a separate page on this blogsite that has a number of articles documenting the school’s involvement with Spiritual Formation and Emerging/Emergent teachings.
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Tragically, it is becoming more and more difficult to find biblically sound Christian colleges and seminaries.  Most Christian schools we have come across are teaching about Spiritual Formation and the Emerging/Emergent Church movements. However, some schools are pushing these views more than others. Lighthouse Trails has provided a list of schools they are aware of, that we as born again Christians should avoid.

My reasons for providing this entire list are twofold:

1) Like Lighthouse Trails, I want to warn readers to avoid these schools.

2) I am personally familiar with about a dozen of these schools. I hope to do more research on these schools, providing the results here.

I have condensed this list slightly, removing some of the links such as the “alphabetical table of contents” and the “return to top” links. I am also adding some links as I locate them. The original list from Lighthouse Trails can be found at:

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/Colleges.htm

Following is their recently updated list (revised by me):

Christian Colleges That Promote Contemplative
(i.e., Spiritual Formation)

Also see our database of articles on Christians colleges that promote contemplative.

Click here to see our list of colleges and seminaries that DO NOT promote contemplative. [I have revised this link – Dave Mosher]

Click a letter below to see listings. If you are looking for specific information about any of the listed colleges, visit our blog and type the school name into the blog search engine. Also go to the school’s site and type in particular terms such as spiritual formation, Nouwen, lectio divina, which will help you find the documentation you need.

Abilene Christian University [I have revised this link – Dave Mosher] ACTS Seminaries of Trinity Western University BC, Canada Alberta Bible College [I’m looking for a better link – DM] Calgary, Alberta, Canada Ambrose University Calgary, Alberta, Canada (information about contemplative classes) American Christian College & Seminary Oklahoma City, Oklahoma info@accs.edu PMN 3373 Christian Spirituality: A Biblical and historical overview of the concept of Christian spirituality. Exposes the student to various disciplines such as journalling, meditation on Scripture, prayer, solitude, fasting and contemplative Bible study. Anderson University [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Anderson, IN (Invited Sue Monk Kidd to a speaking event in March 2011) Ashland Theological Seminary [I have added this link – DM] Ashland, OH Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Professor Earl Creps Doctor of Ministry Program Associate Professor of Leadership and Spiritual Renewal Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Valley Forge Christian College Branch Campus Phoenixville, PA Assemblies of God Theological Seminary SOUTHEASTERN COLLEGE BRANCH CAMPUS Lakeland, Florida Azusa Pacific University Haggard School of Theology Azusa, CA Example: Transitions in Ministry Baptist Theological Seminary of Southern Africa Barclay College Haviland, Kansas Baylor University Waco, TX Belmont University Nashville, Tennessee Bethel Seminary San Diego, St. Paul, East Coast campus Biblical Theological Seminary Hatfield, PA Biola University (Institute of Spiritual Formation) aka: Talbot School of Theology ISF 532 Developmental Spirituality & Contemplative Prayer    Briercrest Bible College Saskatchewan, Canada Bryan College [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Dayton, TN Calvin College Grand Rapids, MI Canadian Mennonite University Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada A Contemplative Approach to Youth Ministry  Carey Institute  Vancouver, BC Cedarville University [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Cedarville, OH Christian Theological Seminary Indianapolis, IN Cincinnati Bible Seminary Cincinnati, OH Columbia Theological Seminary (Presbyterian) Decatur, GA Colorado Christian University Lakewood, CO Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MI Spiritual Formation Department Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas, TX Eastern Mennonite Seminary Harrisburg, VA Emmanuel Bible College (Text book list even includes Brian McLaren) Kitchner, Ontario, CA Emmanuel School of Religion Johnson City, Tennessee Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CA Fuller Theological Seminary Various Campuses Throughout US George Fox University Seminary Newberg, Oregon See SFAD 556 Spirituality and the Writings of the Mystics – Included in the course is a small group practicum to assimilate contemplative practices into the student’s devotional life. See adjunct professors. Gordon College Wenham, Massachusetts Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary South Hamilton, MA Spiritual Formation for Ministry Program (various professors) Grace Theological Seminary Winona Lake, IN (example) Grand Canyon College [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Phoenix, AZ connected with Ken Blanchard and has a spiritual formation program Greenville College Greenville, IL Hope College Holland, MI (see 2010 textbook list) Hope International University (AKA: Pacific Christian College) Spiritual Formation with Professor David Timms Fullerton, CA Houghton College [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Houghton, NY Indiana Wesleyan University (mentoring program) Division of Religion & Philosophy with Youth Specialties Intervarsity Christian Fellowship NW Portland, OR John Brown University Siloam Springs, AR Bachelor of Science Degree with Major in Youth Ministries John Wesley College Africa Dean: Dr. Dion Forster Lincoln Christian University Lincoln, IL Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Luther Rice Seminary/University [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Lithonia, GA Spiritual Formation with Dallas Willard/Robert Webber Malone University Canton, OH Dr. David M. Oliver [I added this link-DM] J. Walter Malone: Has his dream for Evangelical Friends been lost? [I added this link-DM] Mars Hill Graduate School Bothell, WA 98021 President Dan Allender [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary Fresno, CA President, Lynn Jost (Spiritual Formation) Mid America Nazarene University [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Olathe, Kansas Milligan College [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Milligan College, TN Moody Bible Institute Chicago, Illinois Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mt. Vernon Chapel Schedule [I added this link] Multnomah School of the Bible [I’m looking for a better link-DM] New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary New Orleans, LA Dr. Francis Kimmitt Northern Baptist Theological Seminary Lombard, IL Northeastern Seminary Rochester, NY seminary@roberts.edu Northpark University [I’m looking for a better link-DM] and Northpark Theological Seminary (Evangelical Covenant Church) Northwest Nazarene University [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Nyack College [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Nyack, NY Oklahoma Wesleyan University [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Bartlesville, OK Oral Roberts University [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Tulsa, OK Palm Beach Atlantic University Palm Beach, Florida Pepperdine University (Bible Lectures) Malibu, California Prairie College of the Bible Alberta, Canada Providence College and Seminary Otterburne, Manitoba, Canada Rockbridge Seminary [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Springfield, MO 65804 Rocky Mountain College Calgary, Alberta, Canada Samford University Birmingham, AL Shorter College Rome, Georgia Simpson University Redding, CA Southeastern University Lakeland, Fl Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, Missouri Spring Arbor University [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Taylor University Upland, IN Youth Conference Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN Spiritual Formation Program Trinity Western University Langley, B.C. Canada Graduate Program in Counseling Psychology Trinity International University Deerfield, IL Tyndale University College & Seminary Toronto, CANADA Vanguard University[I’m looking for a better link-DM] Spiritual Formation Program Western Seminary [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Portland, Sacramento, San Jose Westmont College [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Santa Barbara, CA Wheaton College Graduate School [I’m looking for a better link-DM] Spiritual Formation and Psychology Whitworth University[I’m looking for a better link-DM] Spokane, WA William Carey Institute  Vancouver, BC ——————————————————————————————–    Biola University has gone off the deep end! Biola not only hosted the Christian Spirituality & Soul Care Conference, which speakers included contemplative author David Benner, author of Sacred Companions, they have joined forces with Larry Crabb, Richard Foster and Dallas Willard as the Spiritual Formation Forum. Colleges and Seminaries That Represent the Spiritual Formation Forum. See the Board of Directors Trinity International University Deerfield, IL Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Deerfield, IL Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas, TX Regent College Vancouver, BC, Canada Regent University (Course) Virginia Beach, VA Colorado Christian University Morrison, CO Saddleback Community Church Maturity Team Excerpt from The Emerging Church: Ancient Faith for a Post-Modern World “Among the many authors to pay attention to are Vintage Faith pastor Dan Kimball, author of The Emerging Church and Emerging Worship; Drew University professor Leonard Sweet (Postmodern Pilgrims; A Is for Abductive); youth pastor Tony Jones (Postmodern Youth Ministry; Read, Think, Pray, Live); Robert E. Webber, author of The Younger Evangelicals and Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for a Postmodern World; Spencer Burke, Sally Morgenthaler-the list is far too extensive to include all the recommended authors here. For the most thorough collection of postmodern resources that I know of, go to http://www.agts.edu, click on ‘Free Resources,’ and then click on the folder labeled ‘Emerging Culture/Emerging Church.’ That will give you access to a PDF file of 1,700-plus resources amassed by Assemblies of God professor Earl Creps, a man for whom many in the emerging church movement give thanks daily.” Criswell College and the Emerging Church Movement?  The Criswell Theological Review, a publication of Criswell College, devotes an entire issue to discussing the Emerging Church movement. In the Spring 2006 edition of the Criswell Theological Review (a publication of Criswell College), articles written by Emerging Church authors and an interview with Brian McLaren leave one to wonder just what exactly CTR editor, Alan Street, had in mind when he put this issue of the newsletter together. Correctly recognizing Brian McLaren as a leading representative of the Emerging Church indicts the movement. One can only wonder at this point if Criswell College (named after Dr. W.A. Criswell – Rick Warren’s mentor), is heading towards Emergent.Related Information: Colleges and Seminaries That Promote Contemplative Spirituality

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