Lighthouse Trails is off the Rails

I’m a big fan of the Pheonix Preacher blog and its owner Pastor Michael Newnham. Prior to discovering his site I thought all Calvary Chapel churches were a joke and Pastor Chuck Smith was a hell bound false prophet……and because of Michael and the rest of the gang over there I discovered those guys are just like me……people who loves the Lord and try their best to serve Him.

Michael is a die hard Calvinist and so am I. He has a bit of a temper and so do I. We also agree on one other thing……

Lighthouse Trails Research Project has issues……and we aren’t alone.

This is a direct quote from Nelson’s Illustrated Guide To Religions by Dr. James Beverley;

FUNDAMENTALIST ATTACKS ON THE EMERGENT CHURCH

Warren Smith, Roger Oakland, and David and Deborah Dombrowski view Emergent as non-Christian and as a powerful New Age conspiracy to seduce the church. Sadly, these four writers engage in sloppy scholarship, careless logic, and extreme overstatement. Their legitimate concerns about Emergent get lost in their use of invective, misrepresentation, and guilt by association. They employ the same tactics in their attempts to discredit Rick Warren as a false teacher and in targeting Leighton Ford-Billy Graham’s brother in law-as part of the emergent conspiracy.

Evangelicals and fundamentalists who adopt an extreme over-reaction to Emergent are missing out on some significantly beneficial characteristics offered by Emergent. Yes, Emergent leaders are sometimes snobbish and occasionally blunder in theology, but they are brothers and sisters in Christ doing creative mission to out post-modern world. (ibid page 537)

Sloppy scholarship?

Careless logic?

Extreme overstatement?

Misrepresentations?

Guilt by association?

Michael and I have been independently saying the same things for month’s now.

Lighthouse Trails isn’t alone here. There are online “ministries” seeking donations, and even attempting to make a living bashing Emergent leaders as well as Rick Warren using the same tactics as Dr. Beverley has so eloquently and accurately described…….

Am I a fan of the Emergent philosophies and some of their biblical interpretations?

Nope.

Am I a fan of Rick Warren?

Nope.

If I had a choice between Emergent, Rick Warren or ODM’s like Lighthouse Trails and their ilk for spiritual nourishment I think you all know what my answer would be. For those of you who are new here I’ll tell you I wouldn’t let the folks at Lighthouse Trails mop my floor let alone teach me anything regarding the ways of God…..

What say you?