EV theologian recommends “Ignatian Bible reading” – Spiritism

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The cat is slowly being let out of the bag. “Contemplative meditation” in the ranks of the once Protestant churches has now become “Ignatian Bible reading.” A Protestant “theologian” recommends the approach of the Jesuit Ignatius of Loyola for studying the Bible. Spiritism put into practice.

The “spirit” of the Jesuit order

On September 27, 1540, Pope Paul III approved the Jesuit order founded in 1534. The co-founder and first superior general of the militarily organized order from 1541 was Ignatius of Loyola, a Basque. This newly founded Jesuit order had one major, primary goal in mind. The destruction of the Reformation and the regaining of the church’s unrestricted monopoly power. For this purpose, in the truest sense of the word, all conceivable and previously unthinkable means were not only right, but also “holy”. Because, according to the motto of this brotherhood, “the end justifies the means”.

An excerpt from history

At a time when historians still referred to written history and not to its “modified memory”, Reverent John Dowling summarized an excerpt of church and Jesuit machinations in his 1845 book “The History of Romanism” (page 542):

“No computation can reach the numbers who have been put to death, in different ways, on account of their maintaining the profession of the Gospel, and opposing the corruptions of the Church of Rome. A MILLION of poor Waldenses perished in France; NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND orthodox Christians were slain in less than thirty years after the institutio of the order of the Jesuits.

The Duke of Alva boasted of having put to death in the Netherlands, THIRTY-SIX THOUSAND by the hand of the common executioner during the space of a few years. The Inquisition destroyed, by various tortures, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND within thirty years. These are a few specimens, and but a few, of those which history has recordet; but the total amound will newer be known till the earth shall disclose her blood, and no more cover her slain“

If the image of the wolf dressed in sheepskin applies, then without a doubt it applies to the Order of the Loyola Brotherhood.

Ignatian Spiritual Exercises – Mandatory Program

One of the “spiritual specialties” of the Jesuit order, and an absolute must during training, are the “Exercises” of Ignatius of Loyola. An exercise that accompanies the next generation of Jesuits throughout their entire career, right from the very first lesson. Loyola himself developed this exercise. With the motive for this, Loyola was even able to shake hands with his “natural archenemy”, the reformer Martin Luther. Loyola and Luther struggled for an answer in their respective uncertainties about redemption and the certainty of salvation. The “subtle” difference: Martin Luther looked for the answers in the Gospel. Ignatius of Loyola hoped for the right answers from an imagined spiritual world.

The “subtle” difference here lies in the responders. While Martin Luther received his insights from the Holy Spirit through the study of the Gospel, Ignatius of Loyola listened to the voices of dubious spiritual beings invoked in the imagination from the darkness (Info). The atrocities committed by this Order since its inception confirm the real origin of the decisions found.

Loyola’s former roommates and co-founders of the order, Peter Faber and Franz Xavier, had a significant influence on the retreats that have been carried out to this day. Faber’s focus was on “Christian humanism” and late medieval scholasticism. Xavier’s expertise lay in Aristotelian philosophy. On a spiritual level, the Jesuit order is based on the imagination of fictions, humanism, scholasticism and Hellenistic philosophy. Loyola formulated his retreats in 1521 and 1522, long before the founding of the order. The manual of the Spiritual Exercises also contains a call to highly value scholasticism. In the chapter “Rules about church attitudes” it says at position 11:
“One praises the positive and scholastic teaching.“

Anything but the gospel

The Jesuit order therefore represents all possible teachings, but in no way the Gospel. So what can be good about this brotherhood? Nothing, and this is proven by their open goals, the eradication of Protestantism, and their military-style covert operations. It is not without reason that this order was temporarily banned in numerous, even “steady Catholic” countries. The current pope is a Jesuit, the first of his guild to hold this position.

One can already see from the few examples of the Ignatian Exercises mentioned that it is something that is not only distant from the Gospel, but also turns out to be a direct antagonist. Through meditative exercises, establishing contact with the spiritual world for the answers you are looking for. Nothing but a form of spiritualism and an abomination before the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:11-12).

Different aspects of meditation

The success of a completed campaign of spiritual destruction can hardly be better confirmed than the adoption of one’s own philosophies by the downed person. The formal dissolution of Protestantism has long been a thing of the past (Info). This was consequently followed by the adoption of the spiritualistic aspects of the mother church.

Meditation can be done in different ways. The most common image of meditation is a seated Buddhist monk. This Far Eastern meditation aims at complete spiritual emptying. You don’t think about anything and you shouldn’t think about not thinking about anything. Another type of meditation, also suitable for studying the Bible, is meditating on one or more Bible verses or a context described in the Gospel. If done correctly, all disturbing thoughts about everyday life should be eliminated, and most importantly, the Holy Spirit should be asked in prayer for proper understanding. Prayer should precede any Bible study anyway.

Meditation according to Loyola covers another aspect. This type of exercise has long since found its way into the once Protestant churches, but under a different name. “Contemplative meditation” is the label for internal Ignatian spiritualism. All senses play a major role in this exercise. You not only think about a certain context, but also imagine smelling, tasting, hearing, looking and touching that thing. It should become “reality” in the spirit. These exercises go so far that fictional characters not only carry out an action, but also listen to questions asked. They even provide the answers.

Ignatian Bible Reading – Emotions

This type of meditation, “developed” by Ignatius of Loyola, is also used for studying the Bible. In this case, it is not the Holy Spirit who provides the answer, but “someone, something else.” No longer advertised as “contemplative meditation”, but rather “straightforward and direct” as “Ignatian Bible meditation”, the “Protestant theologian” Agnes Schmidt is enthusiastic about this type of Bible study and also provides instructions for it (Source). “How can I read the Bible?” was the introductory question with a direct reference to the “Spanish monk Ignatius” as the originator of this exercise. Schmidt promises a “different approach to the Bible,” and he might even be right. However, from a horribly wrong direction.

The theologian gets straight to the point. This approach to the Bible that she describes is not based on the intellectual level, but rather “on the emotional experience.” That is also the reason why she values ​​Ignatian Bible meditation so much. The active use of imagination is what is fascinating about this method. To do this, the meditator places a scene read in the Bible in detail in front of his “inner eye”. “For example, the temperature that day, the wind or sunshine, the landscape or the house, noises, smells or even a taste,” says Schmidt.

The meditator plays the story he has read from one scene to the next like a film in his mind’s eye. The focus here is particularly on observing your own reactions and feelings.

Seek a conversation with God

With the final step of this exercise, the “meditator” comes to the actual core. The final step of this meditation is to try to have a conversation with God. In a Bible scene with Jesus, the practitioner can enter into a spiritual conversation with him. A conversation in private. The “theologian” asks Jesus a few questions in such an imagined scene and ends when all the questions have been asked and her mind has calmed down. After a few seconds of silence, she ends this exercise, which she now calls a “prayer,” with a thank you.

In addition to her recommendation for this “Ignatian Bible study”, the “theologian” is interested in what experiences others have had with this and asks for corresponding reports in the comments.

An open spiritual battle

Paul clearly explained what kind of debate this “Ignatian Bible reading” suggested by the “evangelical theologian” actually shows. Ephesians 6:10-12:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.“

What is the “Armor of God”? It is simply the written word of God, the gospel. Anyone who reads it, and this should be the case every day, and looks for such methods of “spiritual enlightenment” through imagination will despair. They don’t exist. Neither the apostles nor Jesus Christ even hinted that the believer should create a felt world of the gospel in his spirit.

Using God-given reason

The “theologian” explained it herself. An exercise “based on feelings and not reason.” Test all spirits, says John, who also warns against the numerous false prophets (1 John 4:1). But for this you need your own understanding, which is not without reason given by God. However, according to this spiritual exercise shown, this gift should be switched off and replaced by feelings. That’s exactly where the mistake lies.

An illusion of faith built on emotions, misled by imagined wrong answers and thereby completely misunderstanding the love of God (Info). Sollte dieser rein durch Emotionen geführte Gläubige einst zu hören bekommen, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23), dann ist es bereits viel zu spät.

Bible verses from King James Version