“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4: 3-4

2 Corinthians 11:3  “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” 

September 20-22, 2012 were the dates for Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth’s  ‘ Revive Our Hearts’, ‘True Woman ’12’ Conference, held in Indianapolis with speakers: Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth, Joni Eareckson Tada, Joy McClain, Janet Parshall, Mary Kassian, & Priscilla Shirer.  

Upon viewing a few episodes from this conference (True Woman ’12: Forgiving Like You’ve Been Forgiven — Joni Eareckson Tada ); one notices a peculiar, large, Circle drawn on the platform floor which surrounded the podium where the women would speak. 

For these women; this was their ‘prayer circle’; an extra-Biblical TOOL, which caused those praying within it, protection, power, and concentration. This is a pagan practice with it’s roots in mysticism and witchcraft. ALL these women involved were practicing paganism. Not long ago Mark Batterson (lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C) published a book called, “The Circle Maker”. (https://www.challies.com/book-reviews/the-circle-maker/) He pointed to Jewish mystic; Honi ( an Israelite from the extra-biblical ‘Book of Legends’ from the Talmud; who wanted it to rain, drew a circle around himself, and stayed there demanding God answer his prayer ) , and also British evangelist Gipsy Smith; who used chalk circles as a false prayer tool to cause God to hear & respond.                                              

How does this connect with Joni Eareckson Tada?  Joni was one of the speakers at this conference. She spoke from the center of this mystic ‘prayer circle’.

 (note: other circles had been placed on the floor of this conference room for conference participants to enter, pray, & cry ).  During closing prayer, Joni; along with other women speakers, wheeled herself into the center of the circle praying in agreement that this powerful hedge of a circle would cause God to respond better, make their prayers more powerful, heard by God, and grant their prayer requests.  And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.Matthew 6:7  There is no authority in any circle. Our authority is in Christ alone. “ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. “ Matthew 28:18

Sadly, there is nothing in Scripture to affirm this bizarre practice. There is nothing in Scripture that states man/women can cause God to act or act better in response to prayer. There is NO power inside a circle. This is false teaching and pagan ritualism. What is very shocking and very grieving is that Joni has set up a mystic, “Virtual Prayer Circle” on her own website for all to use: 

https://joniandfriends.org/series/virtual-prayer-circle

This somehow seemed too similar to false teacher; Pete Greig and his creation of specious and misleading 24/7 prayer with it’s dark rooms: “Boiler Rooms”. Completely demonic & evil.  

https://www.24-7prayer.com/?s=Boiler+room

  ( This is an interdenominational movement of prayer, that has people praying night-and-day and has gone on for more than 20 years reaching all nations. It is connected to modern monasticism ). Also noted is that Greig uses these false prayer circle practices also. ( https://downloads.24-7prayer.com/prayer_course/2019/resources/pdfs/14%20A%20Circle%20Prayer.pdf) Again, man can not cause God to act. Isaiah 46:10-12

We are always aghast when we; as those in Christ, view one who was trusted as a testimony to Christ turns to false teachings. This is where there is another very grieving issue regarding Joni. Joni has become enthralled with Catholic contemplative, Carmelite monk- mystic; “Brother” Lawrence. (author of The Practice of the Presence of God). She is fully impressed with him. “Brother” Lawrence encourages readers to listen to “the voice of God”, chant mantras, empty your mind in order to be filled, and thus “experience God”. Joni has been impressed with  “Brother” Lawrence’s suffering in life and how he viewed this as a way to be closer to God. It became a method of “practicing the presence of God.”

“Brother” Lawrence felt he found a secret to a higher spiritual life with focus on practices rather than solely God’s Word. He used repetitious prayers and mindfulness meditation. Matthew 6:7

He was devoted to focus on God’s presence in all you do. ‘a mystical higher power’ unrelated to anything Biblical; similar to Zen.

“God”: The Holy Spirit in us; it is not a mystical/contemplative personal experience outside God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is the agent of salvation for the redeemed, He dwells in us as helper, seals us, convicts us of sin, regenerates us, gives power to the gospel and illuminates scripture to us. 1 Corinthians 2:13  Philippians 2:12-13.

Our call is to present the gospel in full with absolutely no mystical experience creating unBiblical superstitions, feelings, mantras, and visions. Brother Lawrence’s gospel is not the one found in God’s Word. His is a false gospel of sacraments and works. Sadly, we view Joni giving us an example of a lacking, skewed ‘no gospel at all’. “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another:

only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed. ” Galatians 1:6-8

A recent example of this false teaching:  Joni Eareckson equated and told a male nurse that he reminded her so much of Jesus since he was serving her. ”You are just like Jesus”. She personally justified this as “practicing the presence” &and planting  ‘gospel seeds or tidbits’.

(point: 16:24). There was NO presentation of the gospel. 

”He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.  “….“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15: The gospel is the message of the cross, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16  God’s Word is a “sword” “piercing the soul asunder”. (Hebrews 4:12). These “gospel seeds” are without God’s clear message on salvation bring false thinking and teaching. 

Previously Joni stated, (point 13:15 continuing):

Joni; “If we want to get to know this man of sorrows, acquainted with our grief, this Jesus; ripped to shreds and hung up to dry as a bloody piece of meat on a hook— if we want to get to know Him and His sweetness and His nearness, we’ll have to suffer in some measure- not the [same] amount, but we have to taste deeply of afflictions, God- God wants us to FEEL our afflictions deeply -we want to escape them – we want to run away from our weakness, God wants us to feel them deeply so that we might also feel our need for Him … they can know the path to know Jesus better. (sufferings) ‘ the road rocky, but when we come to the cross- wow, there’s life.”  

Another Roman Catholic with false thinking/teaching as this was Mother Theresa. She stated this to a dying patient, “ “You are suffering like Christ on the cross. So Jesus must be kissing you.” (Christoper Hitchens – The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice, p. 41). 

Feelings?  Faith comes through hearing through the Word of Christ, as Romans 10:17 states. How do we come to know Jesus, as our Lord and Savior? Again; 2 Corinthians 5:21, Mark 1:15 It is by being regenerated by the Holy Spirit and being given the gift of repentance and faith “even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”  Ephesians 2:5  We preach the whole counsel of God for our sanctification; not ‘tidbits’.  “Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” Acts 20:26-27. Planting ‘seeds’ includes the gospel in full, not conjured up, picturesque ideas, nor visions or parts of the Gospel, which is really no gospel at all. Scripture tells us to grow in Him through the reading of His Word and prayer. 2 Timothy 2:15 and 1 Peter 2:2-3. As those in Christ, we are commanded to come boldly to the throne of grace in repentance and faith in times of weaknesses and testing. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

This ‘suffering’ comes after redemption as often one will suffer/trials for His name’s sake. James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 4:12-14.

Suffering, or as Paul calls it in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, “this light momentary affliction” is not always a continual necessary part of the path to Christ, but it can be a frequent result of declaring necessary faith in Christ and living in service to him, for no slave is above his Master.  Romans 8:18 states,  “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” 

Our disposition in suffering; “but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:4

 In Christ, we are humbly blessed to proceed “boldly” to “the Throne of Grace”. Hebrews 4:16  God’s sovereignty gives us satisfaction and peace; complete trust in Him to work according to His sovereign will. 

Too much emphasis on subjective things like experiences/feelings/ or ‘sensing’, often leads one down the road of discouragement and frustration, as opposed to the comfort and resting in Christ with the unchanging reality of confidence in Him regardless of day-to-day emotions and circumstances.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-5

 The God of all comfort during our afflictions God works all things for the good of those who love Him and who are called by Him.  

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Just last year, in October of 2023, Joni published a book with a very similar name as “Brother” Lawrence’s. Her book is called, “The Practice of the Presence of Jesus”. On every other page of Joni’s book, she quotes Roman Catholic Monk “Brother” Lawrence. Why would one supposedly in Christ point to a Catholic false teacher with a false gospel and false prayer?  Jesus taught us His perfect example on how to pray in Luke 11:1-4 Is this not sufficient? 

Feelings, and sensing “God’s pleasure” is man-created emotionalism which is an attempt at ‘experiencing God’. Evidently Joni was impressed and viewed “Brother” Lawrence’s suffering and toil-filled life similar to her own, causing Joni to have high regard and honor of this man with his false practices. She seems to believe like “Brother” Lawrence that suffering brings you closer to God. This is also similar to how she relates to him. This book; sadly, may cause people to embrace the false gospel of Catholicism and mystic practices. (such as lectio divina which John Piper, Lou Giglio,  Beth Moore, Francis Chan others did at 2012 Passion Conference for youth.

How deceiving!

As redeemed, one does not turn to Catholicism for spiritual truth. Joni is hearing the voice of a stranger. “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:4-5

In November 2009 the Manhattan Declaration document was created and signed by it’s supporters  It united so-called ‘orthodox’ Evangelicals and Catholics together for the sake of moral issues. The Trinity Foundation – The Roman Catholic Agenda Embedded in the Manhattan Declaration  and The Manhattan Declaration (GTY).

Sadly, we view Joni Eareckson Tada’s signature in support of this document.

In 2010, Joni became part of a longstanding, annual movement and conference of dubious origin called Lausanne Movement. (founder Billy Graham and chairman John Stott)  It promotes widespread ecumenicism and far excess focus on political and social justice issues/globalism.  https://disntr.com/2023/11/13/how-the-lausanne-movement-is-hijacking-christianity-to-jumpstart-a-global-marxist-revolution-part-i/    Lausanne totally dilutes spreading the unadulterated gospel of repentant faith in Jesus Christ. It is a ‘christian’ (in name alone) deception with no true gospel and promoting friendship with the ‘dark’.  “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? “ 2 Corinthians 6:14   Joni willingly became The Lausanne Senior Associate for Evangelism Among  Disabled People. To date, she is a great advocate for this false movement. 

Joni Eareckson Tada – Why Support the Lausanne Movement?

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7

Prayer is needed  for Joni to turn away from false prayer practices, the teachings of mystic Roman Catholicism, and all things ecumenical. 

“My brother, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.” James 2:1

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:17-23 

“Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude of dependency; dependency upon God. Prayer is a confession of creature weakness, yes, of helplessness. Prayer is the acknowledgment of our need and the spreading of it before God.”- A.W. Pink

by Denise Gumprecht