From Mysticism into Occultism

Down the Slippery Slope of Mysticism
Mark Dinsmore writes in the current issue of the Berean Call:
“Yoga, Centering Prayer, Lectio Divna, Evangelical Monasticism, Practicing the Presence, Stations of the Cross, Labyrinth Prayer. These are but a few of the teachings and techniques we’ve noted that are bombarding evangelical churches of all denominations, largely in association with the Emerging Church Movement. But while much recent biblical discernment has been focused on the errors and excesses of the ECM, another “renewal” has been taking place in the revived Latter-Rain and Kingdom-Now camps related to C. Peter Wagner’s “New Apostolic Reformation” that poses equal concern with regard to the Emerging Apostasy…These hold key beliefs in common!” He then writes, “Not surprisingly then, is perhaps their greatest common denominator: an affinity for (and outright embrace of) Contemplative Spirituality. A visible example is the …organization of Patricia King called “Extreme Prophetic”….Her ministry promotes not just ordinary miracles but “extreme signs and wonders” as taught by a variety of Christian seers and psychics-such as interpreting dreams, providing spiritual readings for the lost, opening the heavens to release the manifest presence of God (oil and glory dust), working with angels, raising the dead, spirit-traveling to the third heaven (throne room of God), communicating with departed saints, and more.”
This is New Age occultism, but may becoming commonplace. “One of the more recent and blatant examples of new-paganism in the church is Patricia King's endorsement and embrace of trance-dancing as a Christian form of worship that she and Caleb Brundidge, one of her itinerant ministers call “Ekstasis Worship.” Brundidge is a traveling “prophetic” D.J. that calls his show “Club Mysterio”.” Repetitive “rave” or trance” music has been so-called because night clubs around the world use it to enable patrons to enter a euphoric altered state of consciousness-with or without the assistance of drugs such as “ecstasy”-though extended freestyle and sensual motion set to repetitive music tracks. It doesn't take an anthropologist to recognize parallels between modern trance dancing and ancient forms of ritual dance that is still used in many cultures to produce identical altered states and “spirit travel.” But what many may not know is the increasing popularity of “yoga trance dancing”, which could well become the “jassercize” that turns this form of Hindu worship into an aerobic activity for “everyday” gym members."
Here is a Brundidge quote or three from trance dancers:

“In searching for my personal connection with Shiva Nataraj, to best explain these roots of trance dancing from ancient India. I felt I needed to go deeper than books, however.”

“You no longer have to study the Word, when you're inside of an infused atmosphere, it becomes part of you.”

“Ekstasis worship is worship that when you go outside of your mind, and just release yourself into abandoned worship with God, going into the ecstasy [as in sensual union] of God.”

How did we get this way in the Evangelical church? Maybe this article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch under People in the News explains. It is headed by Lynch foundation to fund meditation scholarships:

Director David Lynch says his nonprofit foundation will donate $1 million to fund scholarships for students who want to learn a meditation technique taught at the Maharishi University of Management. Lynch, who directed “The Elephant Man,” “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Drive” movies and the “Twin Peaks” TV series, is a longtime practitioner of Transcendental Meditation.
Lynch, 62, plans to give $1 million in scholarships for students to attend the university in Fairfield, Iowa, and learn TM. He started the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace in 2005.