The Lost Art of Meditation

Jeremiah Griswold writes:

Many Christians today are afraid of meditation and often associate it with eastern religion and mysticism. It is true that meditation can be perverted and even used to glorify the enemy, but so can music, art, or virtually any day to day activity if it is not done for the glory of God. We must remember that meditation originated in the scriptures and was practiced by Christ himself. The Psalmist mentions 16 times in the Psalms the importance of meditating on God’s works, precepts, decrees, and promises. Why then, have I never heard a sermon about it or ever seen meditation used as a form of worship?

Why indeed?

For more see The Lost Art of Meditation

6 responses to “The Lost Art of Meditation”

Dan

2005-11-11

The crew at Solomon’s Porch, with Doug Pagitt practice meditation, and have for awhile now. But unfortunately it is very rare in Christian circles.

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Practical Mystic

2005-11-18

When I was a pastor, I taught meditation as part of worship on a regular basis. My first attempt at this was as part of a series on Spiritual Disciplines. This was the first of the series. I opened the worship with a guided meditation leading into silent meditation. All went well until one of the ushers came running down the aisle with a fire extinguisher! The organ had somehow caught on fire! I must say that laughter reigned that day but did not deter me from using meditation as a form of worship in preparing people to worship before the prelude and guiding centering prayer in the corporate prayer time.

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Alan

2005-11-27

The reason you don’t hear a sermon on meditation is because you must have had a pastor who had discernment. Meditating on God’s word is fine. However, contemplative prayer empties the mind. There is no scriptural support for silencing one’s mind in order to hear God’s voice. None. Zip. Nada. There has never been a supporter of this type of mind altering practice that has been able to prove it through scripture. Not Richard Foster, Dallas Willard or any other. God does not speak into your mind by a practice that you initiate. Whenever God has put someone into a trance or has given them a message it was on God’s terms and God’s time. Even Foster admits that this practice opens one up to demonic influence. If you wish to feel closer to the Lord study his word. Jesus is already at the right hand of the father. You cannot get any closer than that.

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Matt Stone

2005-11-28

Alan
Before entering into any substantative debate on this issue I would like to clarify a few points:
1/ Have you done any primary source research? Your comments seem based more on Christian Urban Legend than any first hand appreciation on the real differences between Christian and non-Christian forms of meditation. If my perception is mistaken and you actually have done some primary source research on non-Christian meditation it would be helpful if you can cite some references so we have a starting point of substance. I would also appreciate it if you could review my previous comments on the ‘emptying/filling’ mode of ‘discernment’ before trotting out that hollow objection. I do agree with you that discernment is required but I’d appreciate it if you could come back with something that has a bit more teeth and is more mutually beneficial to readers of this blog.
2/ Are you aware of the genetic fallacy? Most Christian Apologists of renown acknowledge that guilt-by-association arguments hold little water in apologetics discourse. They commonly refer to such lines of reasoning as the genetic fallacy. I’d advise you to sharpen your arguments with this in mind. Note that prayer can also open one up to demonic influence if directed at the wrong entity. Would you advocate we stop praying then? I expect your answer will be no. So again, please come back with something of more substance.
3/ Isn’t your commitment to cessationism the deeper issue here? Your assertion that we can only hear God through his word suggests to me that you would object just as strongly to me suggesting we can hear God speak to us through contemporary prophecy or through modern day miracles. If that is the case then I expect it will be a waste to time for me to cite the voluminous scriptural evidence for standing in silent awe before God at this preliminary stage. Do you accept general revelation at all? You’ll hardly be open to this specific modality if you are not open to any at all. Could you articulate your deeper objections to God speaking through modes other than Scripture? I don’t expect we can move forward without it.
And for the record, the pastors I have encountered have not had a theological problem with meditation. They have merely lacked the training or experience or aptitude or personal inclination to teach it.

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Rhonda Jones

2008-03-24

Hello,
I noticed this blog was written in 2005 but I just wanted to comment and support Jeremiah’s stand on Christian meditation. I believe it has been a lack of understanding that has turned Christians against a practice that can literally make their walk with Christ more fruitful, joyful, and purposeful. If our minds are burdened with mental clutter, worrisome thoughts, doubt, and every debilitating thought and emotion, God’s voice and the Holy Spirit is crowded out. It’s just like the parable of the sower, when Jesus said some seeds fall on stony ground then IMMEDIATELY the enemy comes to steal the word (negative thinking and unbelief) or the seeds are choked out because of the cares of the world. That is the state of many believers. They suffer from stress, worry, anxiety, and fear. They can’t turn off their minds. I know because I suffered from many years of depression caused by a chronically negative thought life. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon meditation and intregrated it with scripture that my healing began. God does speak to our hearts in a still small voice. He speaks to us in unctions in our heart. He speaks to us in visions. And he speaks to us in his word. Unfortunately, we’re so afraid to trust our hearts because we’re not taught to in the church. We’re taught to be more dependent on the pastor than on God. We need both and Christ-centered meditation is one way to help us clear our mental path for a more fruitful Christian walk. I am the author of a series of Christian meditation CDs created specifically for believers. You can learn more at my website, http://www.thechristianmeditator.com. God Bless

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Matt Stone

2008-03-25

Hi Rhonda, thanks for dropping by. Do you have any sample tracks at all? So that we can experience a brief taste of what these CDs are like? I am a try before buy person myself. I would also be interested in hearing what you make of altered states of consciousness, alternative Christian methods of meditation, etc.

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Curious Christian