Friday, May 19, 2017 - Yesterday, Darlene Maendel from the Bruderhof posted an endorsement of the contemplative movement called Taizé. Invited by the "brothers from Taizé", the author and three other members of this progressive ecumenical community of goods participated in a Taizé workshop in Birmingham, England. The theme of the weekend was "the celebration of the hidden ways Christians actively live out their commitment to Christ".
"But central to the gathering", admits Maendel, "—and the drawing card of the weekend—were the Taizé prayer meetings[...] It was these prayers, rather than the workshops or other social activities, that everyone seemed to look forward to.
"I asked some what drew them, year after year. The answer was the same almost every time: the silence and space to pray; the sense of community with others who came with the same purpose. Different words and different languages, but all variations of the same themes: community, unity, prayer.
[...]
"But for all, the experience of Taizé seemed to go beyond the physical place, and as we said our farewells and parted ways, each of us took home a new boldness to continue with our lives of discipleship." (emphases mine)
What is Taizé? Taizé is a monastic community in Taizé, France, composed of over 100 members called Brothers, from Roman Catholic and Protestant backgrounds. Taizé is also a movement whose "philosophy is spreading quickly throughout evangelicalism" (Contemplative Mysticism, David Cloud, p. 9). Its communitarian, ecumenical, and contemplative emphasis originates with its founder, Roger Shütz who was a Reformed Protestant, and came to be known simply as Brother Roger.
"A Taizé worship service involves sung and chanted prayers, meditation, a period of silence, liturgical readings, and icons. There is no preaching. The style of prayer practiced at Taizé has attracted many worshipers from around the globe and from many different denominations. The prayers consist of 'short chants, repeated again and again,' according to an introduction in a Taizé songbook. 'The words are sung over many times'" (www.questions.org).
A quote from a Taizé Brother on their official website declares: "All humanity forms a single family and God lives within every human being without exception". This is panentheism. Panentheism is the belief that God abides in everything, including inanimate objects, animals, and non-Christians.
Taizé provides images (icons) for worship. God forbids this, and commands us to "flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14), and warns: "keep yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21). Making ourselves a material image (idol) with our hands, or a mental image through visualization (guided imagery), to worship it, to pray to it, and to allow it to "heal" us is idolatry, and an abomination to the Lord!
Taizé teaches repetitive prayers and singing, but the Bible forbids repetitive prayer. "When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do" (Matthew 6:7).
Taizé teaches panentheism, but the Bible says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:10). If God lives inside every human being regardless of his faith, then every human being is saved. This is universalism, and a denial of Christ's atoning work on the cross.
Taizé teaches ecumenism, having Christian fellowship with people of widely different beliefs and faiths, but the Bible commands us to "come out from among them, and be ye separate..., and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:17), and specifically, "I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be... an idolater" (1 Corinthians 5:11).
Dear friends, beware of Taizé and beware of the Bruderhof.
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| Bruderhof Outdoor Meeting |
"But central to the gathering", admits Maendel, "—and the drawing card of the weekend—were the Taizé prayer meetings[...] It was these prayers, rather than the workshops or other social activities, that everyone seemed to look forward to.
"I asked some what drew them, year after year. The answer was the same almost every time: the silence and space to pray; the sense of community with others who came with the same purpose. Different words and different languages, but all variations of the same themes: community, unity, prayer.
[...]
"But for all, the experience of Taizé seemed to go beyond the physical place, and as we said our farewells and parted ways, each of us took home a new boldness to continue with our lives of discipleship." (emphases mine)
What is Taizé? Taizé is a monastic community in Taizé, France, composed of over 100 members called Brothers, from Roman Catholic and Protestant backgrounds. Taizé is also a movement whose "philosophy is spreading quickly throughout evangelicalism" (Contemplative Mysticism, David Cloud, p. 9). Its communitarian, ecumenical, and contemplative emphasis originates with its founder, Roger Shütz who was a Reformed Protestant, and came to be known simply as Brother Roger.
"A Taizé worship service involves sung and chanted prayers, meditation, a period of silence, liturgical readings, and icons. There is no preaching. The style of prayer practiced at Taizé has attracted many worshipers from around the globe and from many different denominations. The prayers consist of 'short chants, repeated again and again,' according to an introduction in a Taizé songbook. 'The words are sung over many times'" (www.questions.org).
A quote from a Taizé Brother on their official website declares: "All humanity forms a single family and God lives within every human being without exception". This is panentheism. Panentheism is the belief that God abides in everything, including inanimate objects, animals, and non-Christians.
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| Eucharist and funeral of Brother Roger, founder of Taizé |
Taizé provides images (icons) for worship. God forbids this, and commands us to "flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14), and warns: "keep yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21). Making ourselves a material image (idol) with our hands, or a mental image through visualization (guided imagery), to worship it, to pray to it, and to allow it to "heal" us is idolatry, and an abomination to the Lord!
Taizé teaches repetitive prayers and singing, but the Bible forbids repetitive prayer. "When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do" (Matthew 6:7).
Taizé teaches panentheism, but the Bible says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:10). If God lives inside every human being regardless of his faith, then every human being is saved. This is universalism, and a denial of Christ's atoning work on the cross.
Taizé teaches ecumenism, having Christian fellowship with people of widely different beliefs and faiths, but the Bible commands us to "come out from among them, and be ye separate..., and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:17), and specifically, "I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be... an idolater" (1 Corinthians 5:11).
Dear friends, beware of Taizé and beware of the Bruderhof.
Redeem the time and take good care!
