In his latest article at Christian Issues Commentary, which is a must read, pastor Bob DeWaay weighs in on “spiritual disciplines” as it concerns Donald Whitney and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

DeWaay notes the close similarity between Whitney’s teachings and those of Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster. Within DeWaay’s scholarly piece he correctly points out that the subjective list of these practices of asceticism-lite:

underscores the problem with “spiritual disciplines” such as taught by Donald Whitney. Since only some of them are commanded in Scripture, and the list of practices is amorphous, they are not based on faith but on syncretism…

Whitney’s syncretistic, man-made “spiritual disciplines” are replacements for scriptural means of grace as can be seen by his own statement: “The Spiritual Disciplines then are also like channels of God’s transforming grace” (Whitney: 19). Whitney’s “means of grace” are largely discovered by mystical spiritual innovators like Richard Foster, not defined by God in Scripture…

I am very alarmed about Donald Whitney bringing spiritual disciplines and implied human ability into Reformed theology. If the trend for syncretistic spiritual disciplines and spiritual formation takes over the Reformed versions of evangelical education there will be very few options for young people who want an education grounded in the solas of the Reformation. Scripture alone and grace alone are compromised—if not rejected outright—when spiritual disciplines are adopted… (Online source)

See also:

RICHARD FOSTER’S LEGACY ENDURES: CHRISTIAN LEADERS HELP TO MAKE IT SO

THE TERMINOLOGY TRAP OF “SPIRITUAL FORMATION”

“CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE” BY RICHARD FOSTER AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THEOLOGICAL ERROR

EVANGELICAL RIP VAN WINKLES EMPLOY QUAKER MYSTIC RICHARD FOSTER FOR BEDTIME FABLES

CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY OF RICHARD FOSTER ROOTED IN THE EASTERN DESERT AND THOMAS MERTON

WHO IS RICHARD FOSTER?

RICHARD FOSTER A RELIABLE SOURCE FOR PROPER CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY?