I have recently taken the initiative on writing a short essay regarding the practice of mindfulness meditation as a Christian. I was born again in 1995 outside the catholic church where I grew up, and discovered meditation by accident in my early 20's. I ventured to California, where I learned the practice of transcendental meditation, during a time when I wasn't practicing my Christianity in the typical way. This was a period of my life when my mind was a mess, I began experimenting with drugs, and had an alcohol problem. I wasn't a heavy drinker, but alcohol was affecting my life in way that I couldn't get my life together. I stumbled into a new age bookstore, and bought a book by a western yogi Master or guru, who founded a meditation community in the 1920's in the United States.
My plan while reading the book was to go to India and find a guru, but when I was finished reading the book I thought a visit to a meditation center in California was more realistic. Which was what I did. Being a part of a non-denominational church recently, I have learned a lot of the bible, and I have learned that new age things like meditation do not fit into an current evangelical church. But what I would like to point out in this article, is that Christianity and meditation don't have to be enemies. If you have never meditated before, or if you are into some form of Christian meditation, you may find this article enlightening. But if you have never been a meditator, you will find what I am saying here offensive, and might want to say that I'm even a heretic, that's ok I can live with that.
Meditation in my opinion, is not a mystical experience. Despite what most people think, it can be a very soothing and relaxing exercise. It doesn't have to be religious to work, but some major religions include meditation as a religious practice, some examples are Buddhism and Hinduism. I really don't know why some Christians have such an aversion to the practice, fearing that they are somehow exposing themselves to Satan and evil spirits, they tend to be superstitious about any from of meditation, fearing that they somehow are coming into conflict with God if they even consider the practice. I will agree, that meditation can become dangerous if you are not aware how to do it, but it doesn't need to feared. Honestly, I am more afraid for Christians who practice yoga, and I know that a lot of believers in the modern church practice yoga. I would advise against this.
I think of meditation as self-development, or training the mind. I think the approach you take when you take up a meditation practice, determines if it will be dangerous for you or
not. We know that the spiritual realm is real, and some forms of meditation can be spiritually dangerous as a believer. If you take the approach of seeking God through your meditation practice, I believe this is the best way to protect yourself from spiritual danger. I don't think we need a Christian doctrine to justify our meditation practice, if you are doing it right it can be like prayer or practicing the presence of God. There is a lot of talk in the evangelical church, about the presence of God. Almost all Christian denominations now are talking about this. Our worship culture is totally indoctrinated about God's Glory and his presence. In fact some churches feel that if you don't "feel" God's presence there, then there is something wrong with your church. Meditation is no different. When you meditate, you experience God's presence. No different than the same presence that you experience at church. That is if you are meditating correctly.
There shouldn't be a problem or a conflict with your church if you meditate, but you might find that you might have to leave your church if there is. I really think that the modern church has no place for this practice in their doctrines, because they can't explain it. Think about it, if you have never meditated before, and you are saved, you will see this practice as heresy. Meditation doesn't ask you to change your doctrine, but this is what most in the church think you have to do if you want to do it. Hence the invention of Christian meditation. Meditation is an eastern spiritual practice, and that is why it doesn't jive well at all in the western churches. They feel they are blending eastern doctrines with western Christianity, and to keep the church clean of this in the west they will say you are committing heresy.
Meditation is like prayer for me, and a lot of saved born again Christians practice it. You might have to give western Christianity time to catch up with this practice, and go it alone, because at the rate the church is going right now, meditation in the bible believing churches might need a reformation, (which will never happen) to allow their adherents the freedom to practice it. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NIV.)
My plan while reading the book was to go to India and find a guru, but when I was finished reading the book I thought a visit to a meditation center in California was more realistic. Which was what I did. Being a part of a non-denominational church recently, I have learned a lot of the bible, and I have learned that new age things like meditation do not fit into an current evangelical church. But what I would like to point out in this article, is that Christianity and meditation don't have to be enemies. If you have never meditated before, or if you are into some form of Christian meditation, you may find this article enlightening. But if you have never been a meditator, you will find what I am saying here offensive, and might want to say that I'm even a heretic, that's ok I can live with that.
Meditation in my opinion, is not a mystical experience. Despite what most people think, it can be a very soothing and relaxing exercise. It doesn't have to be religious to work, but some major religions include meditation as a religious practice, some examples are Buddhism and Hinduism. I really don't know why some Christians have such an aversion to the practice, fearing that they are somehow exposing themselves to Satan and evil spirits, they tend to be superstitious about any from of meditation, fearing that they somehow are coming into conflict with God if they even consider the practice. I will agree, that meditation can become dangerous if you are not aware how to do it, but it doesn't need to feared. Honestly, I am more afraid for Christians who practice yoga, and I know that a lot of believers in the modern church practice yoga. I would advise against this.
I think of meditation as self-development, or training the mind. I think the approach you take when you take up a meditation practice, determines if it will be dangerous for you or
There shouldn't be a problem or a conflict with your church if you meditate, but you might find that you might have to leave your church if there is. I really think that the modern church has no place for this practice in their doctrines, because they can't explain it. Think about it, if you have never meditated before, and you are saved, you will see this practice as heresy. Meditation doesn't ask you to change your doctrine, but this is what most in the church think you have to do if you want to do it. Hence the invention of Christian meditation. Meditation is an eastern spiritual practice, and that is why it doesn't jive well at all in the western churches. They feel they are blending eastern doctrines with western Christianity, and to keep the church clean of this in the west they will say you are committing heresy.
Meditation is like prayer for me, and a lot of saved born again Christians practice it. You might have to give western Christianity time to catch up with this practice, and go it alone, because at the rate the church is going right now, meditation in the bible believing churches might need a reformation, (which will never happen) to allow their adherents the freedom to practice it. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NIV.)
At the time of this writing, I was still unclear as to my views of mindfulness. Mindfulness meditation is a spiritual ‘form’ of focused concentration which can be used as a spiritual exercise or for secular reasons that is not a part of church theology. Therefore I would caution any Christian from practicing it. 2021.
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