(527) Emerging Trends in the Church Today – Who Is Henri Nouwen?

An updated repost on Henri Nouwen combining two previous posts on Nouwen. 

Deceased and popular author and Roman Catholic theologian, Henri Nouwen, is heavily promoted and respected in Christian circles. This includes Evangelical seminaries as well as church leaders and pastors.  Similar to Thomas Merton in many ways, he writes in a poetic style that provides a devotional attraction while also appealing to an intellectual audience (e.g. seminaries).  His so-called “deep thinking” appeals to many pastors and professors across many different denominations.  One of his biographers revealed that in a 1994 survey of 3,400 U.S. Protestant church leaders, Nouwen ranked second only to Billy Graham in influence among them.

Despite Nouwen’s comforting approach that inspires readers, his spirituality is a cause of concern that seems to go unnoticed, ignored, rationalized…etc.

=> Let’s start by putting this in perspective.  If someone asks you if everyone on this earth will be saved (i.e. Universalism)?  Will they be in heaven when this life is over?

Let’s define Universalism:

Universalism. Universalism is the belief that everyone eventually will be saved. It was first proposed by the unorthodox church Father, Origen (ca. 185–ca. 254). Origen and universalism in general were condemned as unorthodox at the Fifth Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (a.d. 553).   Universalists generally appeal to arguments from God’s love in support of their positions.

Universalism is usually based on the notion that a God of love would never allow any of his creatures to perish. But, as C. S. Lewisdemonstrated (see, for example, his book, The Great Divorce), just the opposite is the case. For while God “so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16) and “does not desire that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9), he does not force his love on anyone. Forced love is a self-contradictory concept (see Free Will). Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Matt. 23:37). Lewis noted that “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end. ‘Thy will be done’ ” (Lewis, The Great Divorce, 69).

Further, the Bible unmistakably teaches that there is an eternal hell and that human beings will go into it (see, for example, Matt. 25:41; 2 Thess. 1:7–9; Rev. 20:11–15). Jesus had more to say about hell than he did about heaven. He warned, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). He added of those who reject him, “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age” (Matt. 13:40). In what is sometimes called his Mount Olivet Discourse, Jesus declared, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ ” (Matt. 25:41). Elsewhere he stressed the horror of hell with the statement: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out” (Mark 9:43).  – Geisler, N. L. (1999). Universalism. In Baker encyclopedia of Christian apologetics (pp. 746–747). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Concerning salvation and the exclusivity of Christ, the Bible states:

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6)

However, Henri Nouwen stated:

I, therefore, believe that all human beings are embraced by God’s love and are called to enjoy the fruits of God’s redemption. For me, this implies two very important things. First of all, that nobody, whether Buddhist, Christian, or Muslim is automatically excluded from the saving work of Jesus. (Love, Henri, pg.163)*

According to Nouwen:

Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God’s house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God. (Sabbatical Journey, p. 51.)

Henri Nouwen also stated:

I also want to say that it is important that we realize the presence of God’s Spirit, “who blows where he wants” in Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and the faith of the Moslems. I am deeply convinced that Jesus is completely unique in the world as the full revelation of God’s life, but I also believe that many people can come to Christ even when they have never formally known Christ or had the opportunity to accept him. (Love Henri, pg. 303)

One commentator stated that Nouwen’s participation in contemplative prayer played a role in forming his universalist understanding of God. – “Henri Nouwen’s particular universalist understanding of God is the result of his contemplative practices; and yet his books continue to be recommended by seminaries and celebrity Christians alike.”

In The Way of the Heart, Henri Nouwen explains contemplative prayer:

The quiet repetition of a single word can help us descend with the mind into the heart. …a word or sentence repeated frequently can help us to concentrate, to move to the center, to create an inner stillness and thus listen to the voice of God. (pg.81)

The same commentator assigns contemplative prayer as essentially the same as Eastern or New Age meditation – leading the Christian in deception.

Evangelicals and seminary professors are speaking about and writing books on several issues that widens the gap between solid biblical interpretation of God’s word to a more experienced-based, New Age / Eastern Mysticism based practice that resembles less of the Bible.

Francis Chan and Mike Bickle, for instance, speaking before thousands, asked the audience to vow not to read any of Chan’s or Bickle’s books until they had first read Nouwen’s The Way of the Heart. [1]

=> Back to the original question stated above – If someone asks you if everyone on this earth will be saved (i.e. Universalism) or will everyone be in heaven when this life is over, what would be your response?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

• Do you think it is a biblical viewpoint that promotes universalism?
• Do you think that the Great Commission addresses and promotes universalism?
• Do you think that a denomination with a historically solid discipleship and missions program would want to promote universalism and those who teach that view such as Henri Nouwen?

I would think that most Evangelicals would have a problem in supporting theology that promotes universalism.  But as we have seen with Francis Chan and Mike Bickle, there are some popular Christians who are promoting these ancient practices even indirectly by promoting people like Henri Nouwen.

I would also venture to say that this is not a non-essential topic of discussion. Our salvation is foundational to our faith and our future.  Jesus walked the earth to pay the price for our sins.  Nobody comes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6).  The Great Commission focuses the church on discipleship and missions.  If Universalism was true, then it would make these efforts worthless – why become a missionary if everyone will be saved anyway?

WHO IS HENRI NOUWEN?

To get a better understanding, let’s look at just one of these authors => Henri Nouwen. 

“Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God’s house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God.”
—From Sabbatical Journey, Henri Nouwen’s last book 
page 51, 1998 Hardcover Edition

Henri Nouwen and His Buddhist Sympathies 
Seminaries, Bible-studies and churches use his materials and quote from him. What did he really believe? 

Ray Yungen said the following about Nouwen:

An individual who has gained popularity and respect in Christian circles, akin to that of Thomas Merton, is the now deceased Catholic theologian Henri Nouwen. Like Merton, Nouwen combines a strong devotion to God with a poetic, comforting, yet distinctly intellectual style that strikes a strong and sympathetic chord with what could be called Christian intelligentsia. Many pastors and professors are greatly attracted to his deep thinking. In fact, one of his biographers revealed that in a 1994 survey of 3,400 U.S. Protestant church leaders, Nouwen ranked second only to Billy Graham in influence among them.

Unfortunately, this widely read and often-quoted author, at the end of his life, stated in clear terms that he approached God from a universalistic view.He proclaimed: 

Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God’s house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God. 

Nouwen’s endorsement of a book by Hindu spiritual teacher Eknath Easwaran, teaching mantra meditation, further illustrates his universalistic sympathies. On the back cover, Nouwen stated, “This book has helped me a great deal.”

Did Nouwen believe all is one?

Prayer is soul work because our souls are those sacred centers where all is one, … It is in the heart of God that we can come to the full realization of the unity of all that is. (From Bread for the Journey)

“a place for everyone in heaven”
(Life of the Beloved – p. 53)

“to become the Beloved, we must claim it” Nouwen says we areall the chosen ones. (Life of the Beloved)

Did Nouwen believe God dwells in all humans?

“The God who dwells in our inner sanctuary is the same as the one who dwells in the inner sanctuary of each human being.” Here and Now by Henri Nouwen; page 22

Is Nouwen Accepted by Evangelicals?

“Many pastors and professors are greatly attracted to his [Nouwen’s} deep thinking. In fact, one of his biographers revealed that in a 1994 survey of 3,400 U.S. Protestant church leaders, Nouwen ranked second only to Billy Graham in influence among them.” (A Time of Departing, p. 61)

Who Did Nouwen Promote?

• Thomas Merton
• Taoist Philosopher Chvang Tzu
• The Desert Fathers
• Teilhard de Chardin – (Catholic priest who believed Jesus would not return in person but rather as a cosmic Christ)
• Hindu Spiritual Writer – Eknath Eswaran

=> Everyone of these folks engaged in mystical teachings. This is Henri Nouwen.  A mixture of Roman Catholic mysticism, monasticism, universalism, Buddhism,…etc. Should Evangelical Christians depend on Henri Nouwen as a source of authority or insight for growth in our spiritual walk? As a pastor, teacher, author, speaker….does the Bible call us to be accountable for what we are teaching? It is difficult to see how a Christian can justify depending on Nouwen for spiritual growth.

(526) EMERGING TRENDS IN THE CHURCH TODAY:
Designing Your Own Christianity

Just a short number of years ago, many Evangelical Churches would have not have followed as closely after the trends in society as they do today. Yes, there are no perfect churches. With movements such as the seeker-sensitive, emerging church, social gospel,…etc. issues have crept into the church today that has changed it. And while those leading the change usually had some basis for their initial change, many more of their issues can be shown to be based more on what is popular rather than what Scripture teaches.

Churches today try to segregate (avoid) discussion on controversial subjects (creation/evolution, same-sex weddings, homosexuality, abortion, social activism, environmentalism,…etc.) by categorizing many of these as POLITICS. These issues are then placed in the box called POLITICS and put on a shelf. The church says it is a good thing to be involved in this issues but just don’t bring it inside of the church – after all, there are more “practical” aspects of faith that we should be involved in. You can go to the book of 1st Practicalities chapter 1 and read that statement. The self-righteous, self-appointed attitude of what is truth and what is important comes out to say that these issues are divisive and don’t help to grow the church. 

But, while I think that view is in error and it misrepresents what Scripture says about the responsibility we have to neighbors, to our government,…etc., and it creates this false box called politics not to the benefit of congregants inside the church walls. So, if politics is kept from entering into the church, what does the church let into the doors of the congregation today? 

Today, we see issues involving syncretism. Churches are increasingly inviting other beliefs, other teachings, other words/phrases and practices from other religions, philosophies and beliefs into the church. The are couched in religious sounding words to make it difficult for those not versed in Scripture to see their contradictions to what God teaches us from His word. We see issues such as Eastern Mysticism, New Age, ancient Roman Catholic practices….become normal practices within Evangelical Protestant churches. Over the years, these new practices bring in new words, phrases, descriptions…etc. that become used so often that they become the vernacular within each church. People grow in their faith by learning these concepts without any idea that discernment is required even though your church, your pastor, your favorite author or the seminary is promoting these concepts. 

Then, they make these issues solidified in the church, and those who to a biblical view on these so-called POLITICAL issues as well as these mystical practices are looked as being “pharisaical”, legalistic, and outdated in their values and beliefs. Who wants to be a Pharisee? Nobody, so the direction of the church takes is in a detour around what Scripture says on these subject and congregants are placated with seemingly wise, positive, inclusive, “loving”,…etc messages to attract those who don’t hold to Scripture as God’s word. Difficult teachings are thrown out while appealing practices are taken in and normalized (gender transition, the roles of women and men in the church, contemplative prayer….etc.)

Between the political issues that many want to get along with society no matter how depraved they become and other issues which include other religious practices thrown in with traditional church practices – such as yoga, contemplative meditation, mysticism,……etc. It gets to the point where Christians no longer can recognize truth or even agree with what Scripture teaches. They pick and choose what they want to accept from Scripture as if they are constructing their own religion.

Designing your own Christianity

By Pastor Steve Cornell

 “I can’t accept a God who sends people to hell.” “I can’t believe in a God who requires the death of his son for me to be forgiven.” “I can’t accept a God who…” These are common protests against Christianity. Strangely, however, many who make them continue to attend Christian churches. Admittedly, these Churches tend to embrace mutated forms of Christianity which cater to the sensitivities of those who prefer to play God than to worship the true God.  They accommodate those who prefer to stand in judgment over the bible and to ignore or change scriptures they find intolerable.

Usually, these people want pastors who only teach about God’s love and mercy. They want a God who fits their comfort-zone and adjusts to their crowded schedules. They don’t want a God who places demands on them or makes them feel guilty. And they don’t want a God who judges people (unless it’s the really bad people they read about in the newspapers).

What do they think of Jesus? He is reduced to a nice guy who did nice things for needy people. These people want a gentle Jesus—one the children can learn about in Sunday school. They don’t want too much emphasis placed on the miracles of Jesus and they would prefer not to focus on Jesus’ death for sinners. The miracles are often portrayed as merely stories made up about Jesus to help us learn about kindness to others.

The Jesus who said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28) is to be avoided as too judgmental. And, the Jesus who said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) is too exclusive for the demands of pluralistic civility. Finally, the Jesus who said, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38-39), is too demanding. The preferred teaching of Jesus is “judge not lest you should be judged.”

The Pastors of these churches face a number of challenges. First, it is mandatory that their sermons be brief (people start squirming after 15 minutes). Secondly, they must avoid large portions of scripture as they delicately prepare non-offensive messages. Finally, they must live with the shame of concealing the truth from those they lead. Of course, these pastors themselves usually don’t believe in the God revealed in scripture.

The bible spoke in advance about these people and their pastors. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound teaching. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (II Timothy 4:3-4).

This “pick and choose” approach to scripture implies that we stand as judges over God. It contradicts the truth that scripture, “never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (II Peter 1:22). Without exception, “all Scripture is God-breathed” (II Timothy 3:16).

Those who reject major themes of the bible have no reason to believe any of it. The God they believe in is a creation of their own imaginations. He is a custom designed deity to fulfill their own desires. But, why do such people feel compelled to hold to selective forms of Christianity? Why not reject it entirely and embrace something else? Perhaps they attend their designer Churches and listen to their appointed teachers to pacify their guilty consciences. How sad to pacify what God is willing forgive and cleanse. But such forgiveness would require a savior who saves sinners and this is just too much for proud of hearts to accept.  

Steve Cornell