Washington Post Interviews Lighthouse Trails on Ancient Practices

Washington Post Interviews Lighthouse Trails on Ancient Practices

Two weeks ago, Washington Post staff writer Jacqueline Salmon contacted Lighthouse Trails Publishing and interviewed Deborah Dombrowski for Salmon's article on ancient practices coming into the evangelical church. That article, "Feeling Renewed By Ancient Traditions," was released by the Post on March 8th. The article's mention of the work at Lighthouse Trails was as follows:

"It is the same style of meditation that is basically being performed by Eastern religion practitioners," said Deborah Dumbowski, [sic] who with her husband, Dave, started an Oregon publishing house, Web site and 25,000-name e-newsletter to oppose the incorporation of such elements into evangelical worship. "It's being presented as Christianity, and we're saying this isn't Christianity -- not according to what the Bible says. . . . We believe it really does deny the gospel message."

It will be difficult for Washington Post readers to find their way to the Lighthouse Trails website to view our research because the Post misspelled Dombrowski's name and made no mention of which publishing house it is. In addition, Dombrowski was quoted out of context because this particular statement was made regarding contemplative prayer practices (centering, breath prayers, lectio divina, etc) and not regarding communion, lent, and confession. In fact, the article did not report on the mystical practices that are the major driving force behind the "ancient-future" (emerging) church that the Post article described.

The Washington Post article illustrates how the media can often misconstrue statements, misrepresenting what those quoted really mean. For those who are examining the contemplative/emerging issue, it is important to understand that mysticism is what underlies the movement that Salmon is reporting on. And it is about this mysticism that Lighthouse Trails is trying to warn both the Christian and secular public. When it comes to contemplative and emerging spirituality, as we have described in our books and on our research site, our comments in the Washington Post article are absolutely true.