Richard Foster

[Iosias]

Have you read anything by Richard Foster? What did you think? I really enjoyed his Streams of Living Water.

 

[DocNH]

If you enjoy Neo-Gnosticism, Emergent Church type literature that confuses works and grace, and justification and sanctification. Foster is a Quaker, or a member of The Religious Society of Friends. He believes in Quaker pietistic mysticism which is not Reformed Theology! (not sure why you are posting it here) The contemplative spirituality of Foster is a works righteousness justification (Gal. 1:8-9) and identifies the Gospel with what we do rather than with what God has done for his people in Christ Jesus.

Moreover, Foster quotes Thomas Merton, a Roman Catholic who immersed himself in Buddhism, numerous times in his book "Celebration of Discipline." Merton once said, "I see no contradiction between Buddhism and Christianity ... I intend to become as good a Buddhist as I can." (David Steindl-Rast, "Recollection of Thomas Merton's Last Days in the West," 1969)."

The book you are suggesting has much of its foundation in the writings of the new age occult writter Alice Bailey (cf. From Bethlehem to Calvary, A Treatise on the Seven Rays, The Externalization of the Hierarch, etc.).

Scripture says, "You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans" (Isa. 2:6).

I would suggest reading Horton's, "The Gospel-Driven Life."

Have you read anything by Richard Foster? What did you think? I really enjoyed his Streams of Living Water.

 

[AmericanSamurai]

Back when I was not Reformed and did not understand the Gospel, I actually read Celebration of Discipline. *FACEPALM

 

[Iosias]

He believes in Quaker pietistic mysticism which is not Reformed Theology!

Why are the two irreconcilable?

The contemplative spirituality of Foster is a works righteousness justification (Gal. 1:8-9) and identifies the Gospel with what we do rather than with what God has done for his people in Christ Jesus.

For example...?

I would suggest reading Horton's, "The Gospel-Driven Life."

I have read that

 

[DocNH]

Quakerism and Refomed Theology do not mix well. Among others, Quakers reject biblical doctrines such as: (1) total depravity instead claiming that all men have “a spark of divinity” in them and mankind is neutral toward good and evil, (2) Calvinism's teaching of limited atonement believing instead in universal grace, (3) formal creeds and instead regarded each worshiper of God as a vessel of divine revelation. (4) Quaker's embrace the possibility of human perfection (cf. 1 John 1:8-10), etc. (Inner Light)

So, you read Celebration of Discipline and yet missed Foster's:

Semi-Plegian statements, such as:

“This is the way it is with the Spiritual Disciplines - they are a way of sowing to the Spirit... By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done.”

Unlimited atonement assertions, such as:

“Love, not anger, brought Jesus to the cross. Golgotha came as a result of God's great desire to forgive, not his reluctance. Jesus knew that by his vicarious suffering he could actually absorb all the evil of humanity and so heal it, forgive it, redeem it.”

Or, from the Renovare website (https://www.renovare.us/about), "We believe that the Kingdom of God is here and now and that the abundant life Jesus promised is available to everyone and anyone."

Works-Righteousness in denial of the full work of Christ on behalf of his people:

"Much intense formation work is necessary before we can stand the fires of heaven. Much training is necessary before we are the kind of persons who can safely and easily reign with God."

as Horton says:

The issue is not whether we engage in personal disciplines or habits of meditative prayer and reading of Scripture, but whether we do so in a gospel-driven manner. Is it a technique for personal transformation or is it a saving and sanctifying encounter with the Triune God who has met us in his incarnate Son? Are we working toward our justification or from it? Are we being drawn to look outside of ourselves, to Christ, or are we feeding our natural tendency to focus on ourselves and our inner life? Obviously, if the significance of Jesus Christ lies principally in his offering a moral example, faith in Christ is not absolutely necessary. ... We do not need an incarnate, righteousness fulfilling, curse-bearing, resurrected Savior if salvation comes by imitation. (pp. 148-149)

Though I do not always agree with him, Ken Silva points out:

Celebration of Discipline alone, not even referencing [Richard] Foster’s other writings and teachings and ministries, is a virtual encyclopedia of theological error. We would be hard pressed to find in one so-called evangelical volume such a composite of false teaching. These include faulty views on the subjective leading of God (pp. 10, 16-17, 18, 50, 95, 98, 108-109, 128, 139-140, 149-150, 162, 167, 182); approval of New Age teachers (see Thomas Merton below); occultic use of imagination (pp. 25-26, 40-43, 163, 198); open theism (p. 35); misunderstanding of the will of God in prayer (p. 37); promotion of visions, revelations and charismatic gifts (pp. 108, 165, 168-169, 171, 193); endorsement of rosary and prayer wheel use (p. 64); misunderstanding of the Old Testament Law for today (pp. 82, 87); mystical journaling (p. 108); embracing pop-psychology (pp. 113-120); promoting Roman Catholic practices such as use of “spiritual directors,” confession and penance (pp. 146-150, 156, 185); and affirming of aberrant charismatic practices (pp. 158-174, 198). Ken Silva pastor-teacher : Apprising Ministries

By his footnotes ye shall know him. Foster cites, Thomas Merton, Frank Laubach, Thomas Kelly, all mystics. He also quotes Catherine de Haeck Doherty, a Catholic who claimed to have experienced a direct and special revelation from Christ.

Why are the two irreconcilable?



For example...?



I have read that

 

[Iosias]

A somewhat harsh misreading of what he says, but I expected nothing less.

 

[DocNH]

Since, I quoted Foster himself and even quoted a Quaker article to reveal some of the doctrines being subscribed to I do not see how that is misreading. Perhaps you would like to reveal to us how both the article and Foster's words themselves are in full agreement with Reformed Theology? Though I do not have the time to expose any more errors today, I am sure others here know their theology well and will biblically expose any defense you may put up regarding the material already cited.

Regarding heresy, you should always expect what the Word of God promises (Matt. 21:12-13; Mark 11:12-26: Luke 19:45-48; John 2:13-17; 2 Pet. 2:1-22: 2 John 1:10).

A somewhat harsh misreading of what he says, but I expected nothing less.

 

[AmericanSamurai]

This is a Reformed safe room I believe. If you're a fan of Foster's, there's plenty of places on CF where you'd be better off posting.

 

[GQ Chris]

I too read this book back in the day. I was not Reformed at the time though.