New Age Christianity Part Two
Start at the beginning. Read Part One
Contemplative prayer is widely decried as eastern spirituality.[1] Christian
proponents of the practice do not deny this but rather boast about it. Contemplative prayer is the
cornerstone of all spiritual formation programs and is not prayer at all, but rather
a “Christianized” form of Transcendental Meditation also known as TM.
It is associated with Hinduism and
New Age Spirituality.
“Eastern” spirituality is becoming highly
acclaimed in the Christian world.
Along with praising eastern spirituality, those
who embrace eastern meditative practices often derogate what they call
“western” Christianity and display extreme intolerance towards Christians who
search the scriptures to test all doctrine and spirituality.[2]
Webster’s dictionary defines a contemplative
as one who practices contemplation.
To contemplate means to ponder, to meditate upon, to think on. That agrees with the biblical definition as recorded in
the Psalms. In the first chapter of the Psalms, we are instructed to meditate
upon the Word of God, and to do it
often, day and night.[3]
So, how does the biblical definition of
contemplate or meditate compare with contemplative prayer as taught and
practiced in spiritual formation programs?
The answer is that it does not. Biblical meditation
and the type of eastern meditation (TM) used in the practice of contemplative
prayer can only be contrasted as they are incompatible with one another.
The Eastern form of contemplative prayer
used in spiritual formation involves emptying the mind by means of repeating
mindless mantras. Jesus called these vain repetitions. Biblical prayer is communicating meaningfully with our
Creator. Christians are instructed in the scriptures to meditate on the
word of God. Christian meditation means to fill our minds with the word
of God. We are instructed to do this day and night. Most certainly Christians
will communicate with their creator concerning his word. That is where the
prayer comes in.
Contrast that to the contemplative’s eastern
practice of clearing the mind of all thought, and we have a glaring contradiction
with the biblical command to meditate upon the word of God which involves
filling our minds with scripture (and thinking on and praying about them).
Using the biblical definition of the word, how
does one meditate upon something with a blank mind?
It cannot be done.
Eastern meditation and contemplative prayer
both mandate clearing all thoughts
from the mind.
As stated, this is usually accomplished
using some form of mantra, thereby opening the spirit to receive the thoughts
of someone or something else.
Many Christians today, are familiar with the
terms “The Silence” and associate being “quiet” before the Lord with clearing
their minds of all thought with the goal of going into a meditative (trance-like)
state.
This is because they have been exposed to eastern
thought and practice through church teachings, Christian bookstores, Christian
radio, etc.
Non-Christians
openly admit that when they are in that thoughtless state, they are at the
mercy of any number of spirit beings. They do not know if they are benevolent
beings or not. Even some honest Christian Spiritual Directors warn protégés that
while in the meditative state, they are vulnerable to non-benevolent spiritual entities and advise that prayers of
protection be offered prior to meditation.
The meditative goal for contemplatives, Christians
and non-Christians alike, is reaching a place of no thought whatsoever. That state is called, among
other things, entering into the silence or “The Secret Place.”
Not everyone who practices contemplative
prayer uses these terms to describe it or has even heard of it. Some are
familiar with the terms but know that it is controversial and therefore will
not use it—so simply advise being “quiet.”
This is not to be confused with the
traditional Christian “quiet time” that most are familiar with. In the past,
(to the Christian) this consisted of setting aside time on a daily basis to
read scripture and communicate with God through prayer. Clearing the mind of
all thought while engaging in mantra meditation played no part in the practice
of traditional Christian quiet time. Neither, prior to the advent of the
contemplative movement, has it ever been known as a “spiritual discipline.”
[1] Isaiah 2:6 Because of this you have forsaken your people the house of Jacob because they be replenished from the east (filled with, and dedicated to, eastern thought and ways) and are soothsayers like the Philistines and they please themselves in the children of strangers
[2]
Acts 17:11…they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether
those things were so.
[3] Psalm 1: Blessed is the one that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful 2: But his delight is in the law of the LORD and in his law (WORD OF GOD) does he meditate day and night
Read Part Three HERE
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