Some might claim that Jesus was a mystic, that he practiced meditation. But to my knowledge there is nowhere in the bible that claims Jesus meditated. In my view meditation is an eastern practice, and in that light wasn't Jesus from Israel? To understand this conundrum, you have to acknowledge that there are different world views at play here. First you have the world view of the orthodox bible believing church, which basically says that if you can not prove something from the bible then you should not be doing it. Even though the Bible does mention meditation, it is in a different context that the meditation you and I might practice. The reason why no one in the evangelical church will approve of your meditation practice, is because of their world view.
You cannot hold a eastern world view, and a western Christian worldview and get away with it in the modern church. The purpose of the church is to evangelise the entire world, and they will see you as lost if you hold to a foreign religious worldview and that includes meditation. The reason why they see it as wrong, is because in religions like Hinduism and Buddhism meditation is part of the religious practice in one to reach Nirvana (Buddhism), and in the other meditation is used to free yourself from the Circle of lives and deaths (Hinduism). Hindu's believe that the practice of meditation brings you into contact with Brahman, who is in fact your higher Self. You must unite with this Self, in your lower self or ego to be free from reincarnation. This doctrine states that if you are not liberated from your good and bad actions (Karma) in this life, you will come back to earth in a human or other life from, until you achieve liberation in your soul. Meditation is used in both religions to free yourself from karma, so it is a doctrinal practice because it holds a religious meaning.
Of course meditation can in my opinion be used for a-religious practice, but the practice itself unfortunately carries with it doctrine which is not Christian. This is why some Christians will never approve of this practice, because to them you are practicing "another religion" and anyone practicing anything other than Christianity will be damned. Of course there are Christians who meditate, but in most cases this is done in secret, or in a sect where the practice of their Christianity and meditation will not come into any doctrinal conflict, but any true Christian will tell you that the bible and reincarnation are opposed to each other. There is no need to try to prove that the bible teaches reincarnation, (that has already been tried).
Answer, if you are saved in the way that you think that means, which will now look different from the way (orthodox evangelicals)
see it, you have the freedom to believe what you want about meditation, untill someone confronts you about it. As far as finding a church that accepts this practise, you best leave that to your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to lead you in all areas of your life. You don't have to give up your meditation practice if you get "saved" but the church will never approve of it. You ae not damned, you are probably lucky because you found something that gives you peace of mind, just remember that your identity is found in Christ.
You cannot hold a eastern world view, and a western Christian worldview and get away with it in the modern church. The purpose of the church is to evangelise the entire world, and they will see you as lost if you hold to a foreign religious worldview and that includes meditation. The reason why they see it as wrong, is because in religions like Hinduism and Buddhism meditation is part of the religious practice in one to reach Nirvana (Buddhism), and in the other meditation is used to free yourself from the Circle of lives and deaths (Hinduism). Hindu's believe that the practice of meditation brings you into contact with Brahman, who is in fact your higher Self. You must unite with this Self, in your lower self or ego to be free from reincarnation. This doctrine states that if you are not liberated from your good and bad actions (Karma) in this life, you will come back to earth in a human or other life from, until you achieve liberation in your soul. Meditation is used in both religions to free yourself from karma, so it is a doctrinal practice because it holds a religious meaning.
Of course meditation can in my opinion be used for a-religious practice, but the practice itself unfortunately carries with it doctrine which is not Christian. This is why some Christians will never approve of this practice, because to them you are practicing "another religion" and anyone practicing anything other than Christianity will be damned. Of course there are Christians who meditate, but in most cases this is done in secret, or in a sect where the practice of their Christianity and meditation will not come into any doctrinal conflict, but any true Christian will tell you that the bible and reincarnation are opposed to each other. There is no need to try to prove that the bible teaches reincarnation, (that has already been tried).
Answer, if you are saved in the way that you think that means, which will now look different from the way (orthodox evangelicals)
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