Lighthouse Trails Research Journal
22
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
HARD TO BELIEVE
I recently mentioned about the Gay Pride
parade here in the GTA and what a shame
it was that their flag was hoisted along
with the Canadian flag. One Christian
street preacher was arrested for preaching
the Gospel in a Gay area. I mentioned we
should support him. One of the church
ladies was extremely upset with me for
criticizing these poor people who have a
“disease.” Really? If it is a disease, then why
is it celebrated and paraded down Yonge
Street as the morally superior lifestyle? So
even in my “Open Brethren,” assembly we
have Christians who are this ignorant of
their Bibles. Hard to believe. Allan
TIRED OF CHURCHES THAT DO
NOT CONTEND FOR THE FAITH
I just wanted to thank you so very much for
taking a stand for biblical truth and having
the courage to expose the errors regarding
Calvinism and Reformed Theology knowing
full well that some would no longer support,
follow, or recommend your ministry.
I had to leave my previous church of
five years because the pastor started allow-
ing books [by Calvinists] to be used in
the women’s Bible study groups. I talked
with my pastor and explained my concerns
regarding Calvinism and Reformed Theol-
ogy. We e-mailed back and forth quite a few
times, but since he was not willing to take
a stand for biblical truth, I told him that as
much as I had appreciated his preaching up
to that point, I could no longer stay because
of how he doesn’t see the serious concerns
that a Christian should have regarding these
teachings. In our conversations, he also told
me that the worship leader is a Calvinist
and that many who attend the church were
also Calvinists. He had also told me that the
church he grew up in split because of Cal-
vinism, so I think he is afraid to take a stand
knowing that the same thing will happen at
the church he pastors. That is why I appre-
Volume 7—No. 5
ciate your decision at Lighthouse Trails to
boldly, but lovingly, speak the truth on these
divisive and destructive teachings that distort
God’s Word, and His character as well.
Standing for biblical truth certainly can
be hard and often painful, especially when
leaving a church and not finding a bibli-
cally solid church to attend. After leaving
my previous church and searching for the
past two years, all I see are either Reformed/
Calvinistic churches in their theological
position, churches that have adopted the
“Purpose Driven” model, or ones that
promote Contemplative Spirituality in their
Spiritual Formation classes/studies.” God
Bless You, M.
INTEREST IN CONTEMPLATIVE CATHOLIC
MONASTERIES INCREASING
Just wanted to forward some pertinent
information [see article below] regard-
ing Catholicism and the increase of their
number at these end times. . . . I think
you will understand it as a mark and sign
of the Catholic Church’s pervasive influx
of error. You may already know about it,
but it fulfills much of what Roger Oakland
speaks about, as well as many of your other
authors. SF
EDITOR’S NOTE: The article our reader is
referencing is titled “Latin Mass, Church
Traditions Bring Boom in Vocations for
U.S. Order of Nuns (from Lifesite News,
a Catholic news site). The article states:
“In an age where religious professions are
in decline, especially in the United States,
one order is looking back in time to buck
the trend. The Discalced Carmelites have
turned from the modern Church’s reforms
of the 1960s and embraced ancient tradi-
tions—particularly the traditional Latin
Mass. Now their order is booming, with
multiple at-capacity monasteries dotting
the eastern U.S. . . . St. Teresa of Avila
(1515–1582), whom the Carmelites
revere as their patroness, is one of the
order’s most distinguished saints. A
famous mystic and foundress of many
Carmelite houses, she also wrote the
famous works The Way of Perfection and
The Interior Castle. . . . With the Church’s
ancient liturgy and traditions now firmly
ensconced in the order, ‘young women
are writing, are knocking at the door to
enter,’ said Mother Stella. ‘The growth is
very clear and very palpable.’ . . . Mother
Stella did not mince words regarding the
importance of the contemplative orders.
(source: https://www.lifesitenews.com/
news/latin-mass-church-traditions-bring-
boom-in-vocations-for-us-order-of-nuns)
Editor’s Note Continued: The Carmelite
Order of the Catholic Church is rooted
in contemplative spirituality. What we
find noteworthy about the news article
just referenced is that what is being called
Catholic “church traditions” is largely
contemplative prayer (the spirituality that
is drawing people into the Carmelite Or-
der as well as into the Catholic Church).
Ray Yungen examines this influence in his
article “Contemplative Spirituality—the
Source of the Catholic Church’s Expan-
sion.” In that article, Yungen states: “I had
always been confused as to the real nature
of this advance in the Catholic church.
Was this just the work of a few mavericks
and renegades, or did the church hierarchy
sanction this practice? My concerns were
affirmed when I read in an interview that
the mystical prayer movement not only
had the approval of the highest echelons of
Catholicism but also was, in fact, the source
of its expansion.”
ALTERNATIVE TO A CHURCH
SETTING IN GERMANY
Due to lack of a church in an area close
to France, Switzerland, and Germany, I
was invited to participate via FaceTime
and now Skype in a “virtual” church. I re-
ally appreciate this because everyone of the
brethren is asked to contribute some Bible
verse messages, propose a hymn or a prayer.
I’ve participated since 2013 and really enjoy
Concludes on next page
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019