When I say I meditate, I’m not just referring to reflecting on art or trendy spiritual practices found in the emerging church. What I’m talking about goes deeper—shifts in consciousness, entering what the New Testament calls ekstasis, or trance.
So why do I practice this? For the same reason I follow other spiritual disciplines: to grow in faith, hope, and love. For me, entranced prayer and meditation is a way to deepen worship, with the understanding that we become like the One we worship. These meditative trances help open my awareness to God’s presence in a profound way.
Now, let me clarify: I don’t do this for the same reasons Buddhists meditate. I’m not seeking nirvana or some distant state of enlightenment, because I believe I already have unity with God through Christ. What I am seeking is a greater awareness of that unity—a more conscious recognition of the connection that already exists.
Many Christians who admit to practicing trance-like states often justify it by pointing to Church tradition, citing the practices of mystics both ancient and modern. While that’s valid, I’d rather point people to our deepest tradition: the Bible itself. There are passages that speak directly to these kinds of experiences:
He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. (Acts 10:10)
“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was.” (Acts 11:5)
“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance” (Acts 22:17)
Who are these so-called heretics engaging in visionary trances? None other than the apostles Peter and Paul. And when do these moments occur in the biblical narrative? At crucial turning points—when the gospel is being opened up to the gentiles, no less.
It’s as though many Christians read over these passages without registering their significance. These aren’t obscure verses; they’re part of well-known stories, yet they seem to be filtered out. Even Christian mystics don’t always make the connection back to these scriptural examples of listening prayer. There are more verses on meditation too, for those willing to search. So, here’s what I want to say—ecstatic trance is not incompatible with evangelicalism. In fact, the Bible itself affirms its value and effectiveness.
I’ll echo what I’ve said before: God created our entire mind and called it good. While none of us are perfect, there’s nothing within us that God can’t redeem, and that includes our unconscious and transconscious capabilities. We are called to worship God with all our mind, body, and spirit—with everything we are. So, be cautious of labeling something as “demonic” when scripture affirms that God created it for good.
This is important when Christians critique Buddhist, Yogic, Tantric, Pagan, or even secular forms of meditation or trance. Let’s not be so quick to dismiss what might be part of a deeper spiritual heritage we’ve yet to fully appreciate.
Curious Christian 
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