Christian Meditation

[hesychia]

Hi all,

I'm a Christian and enjoy spending moments with God. My question is a general one about Christian meditation. I was wondering how people feel about it. I'm rather new to it, and I understand that theres a lot of confusion about what it is. In my experience its not about mantras, nor is it about mere contemplation or thinking, but is instead sitting quietly and being with God.

looking for some enrichment and knowledge, thx.

:nick

 

[Foundthelight]

I often listen for that still, small voice. For me a regular part of prayer is a time of mental silence, listening. How can we hope to hear God if we are always asking and never listening?

 

[Blackhawk]

Hi all,

I'm a Christian and enjoy spending moments with God. My question is a general one about Christian meditation. I was wondering how people feel about it. I'm rather new to it, and I understand that theres a lot of confusion about what it is. In my experience its not about mantras, nor is it about mere contemplation or thinking, but is instead sitting quietly and being with God.

looking for some enrichment and knowledge, thx.

:nick

I think it is fine. Many times I think we all need to stop telling God things and just listen to him.

 

[jbarcher]

"sitting quietly and being with God."

One of the best things you can do, heh. How I wish I could find a quiet spot!

 

[ablikespaintball]

It's fine to have quiet time with God.
BUT it says in 2nd corinthians:
2 Corinthians 10: 5
5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
We are supposed to keep our thoughts on God at all times. Do not let your mind wonder into nothingness. Have fun!

God Bless,
AB

 

[Icystwolf]

A true Christian needs to meditate.

You can spend heaps of time doing chors within the church, you can give heaps of donations to the church, at the end of the day, you need to spend time thinking to yourself whether you've been walking in line with God...repent and understanding...

 

[The Midge]

Try Reading Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline. Meditation is the first discipline that he talks about.

I'm a bit of a bginner and am having trouble finding a time of peace and quite to fit it in. Noo matter how early I arise, the Children seem to wake up ealier.!

 

[thereselittleflower]

If I can add something to this discussion, I would love to . .

The word "meditation" can have some serious negative connotations to us in the west . . we tend to think of things like meditation as a way one enters altered states of consciousness.

Traditionally, Christian mediation has been much different . . we do not enter into altered states of consciousness like those in eastern religions . . we actively engage the mind in meditation, thinking on whatever it is we want to meditate on . .a verse of scripture, something about Christ, his life, his ministery, etc, and we allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us about this, to enlighten our minds and hearts furrther.

This is different than contemplation . . In contemplations, we move to silence before God, to simply being with Him . . mediation ceases . .

I personally think both are wonderful and that all christians mediate at some point in this fashion, whether they realize this is mediation or not, or call it such . . And that contemplation, contemplating God, being silent in His presence, leads to deeper personal relationship with, and experience of, God in one's life . .

But in the christian practice of meditation, never does your mind go to nothingness . . this is in contrast to other types of mediation used in cults and eastern religions . .

I learned this while I was protestant . . I wish I had had someone to guide me into understanidng this as I was concerned about any type of meditiation at the time, not understanding the Christian concept of meditation. But God is faithful in leading us into these areas of christian life and experience . .

I hope you will explore this more fully . . .

Peace in Him!

 

[Icystwolf]

If I can add something to this discussion, I would love to . .

The word "meditation" can have some serious negative connotations to us in the west . . we tend to think of things like meditation as a way one enters altered states of consciousness.

I personally don't think there is any problems with entering into altered states of consciousness, unless wacko ideas start coming out, like islam.

Traditionally, Christian mediation has been much different . . we do not enter into altered states of consciousness like those in eastern religions . . we actively engage the mind in meditation, thinking on whatever it is we want to meditate on . .a verse of scripture, something about Christ, his life, his ministery, etc, and we allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us about this, to enlighten our minds and hearts furrther.

Actively engaging meditation isn't meditation, meditation is about being nothing and looking at yourself from a distance and being with God essentially.

Hence doing church chors and going to church isn't meditation, and you certainly shouldn't be meditating whilst in the sermon...LOL

I know of people in my church that object me meditating, even though I've never been in any influence of buddhism. Only my relatives in HK are, but I've been Christian for longer they have, they've become Christian at their late teens which meant they've picked up party habits and concert outgoings. For myself I had a lot of free time that I can give to meditating...

But in the christian practice of meditation, never does your mind go to nothingness . . this is in contrast to other types of mediation used in cults and eastern religions . .

Meditation is about being nothing, because thats essentially what we are when compared to God. We are so sinful that compared to God, we should not even recieve his forgiveness, but by his great GRACE that he gives us, we are forgiven.

Thats essentially how I view Christian meditation.

I learned this while I was protestant . . I wish I had had someone to guide me into understanidng this as I was concerned about any type of meditiation at the time, not understanding the Christian concept of meditation. But God is faithful in leading us into these areas of christian life and experience . .
I hope you will explore this more fully . . .

Peace in Him!

Thats great because Christian meditation in my opinion is still in it's early stages in understanding. I've been kinda careful with my steps in meditation and not getting into it too deep, but it's rewards are great and I feel my relationship with God increase, and I even feel myself as being a better Christian.

Meditation should not be a substitution for sermon, bible study, rather it should be a substitution to partys and other worldy activities...

 

[thereselittleflower]

hi Icystwolf]


If one advocated seeking an altered state of consciousnes, then I would have grave concerns with that. It is possible for New Age teachings and practices to creep in and this is why so many are afraid of the word "meditation" . .

Christian Meditation is not nothingness. . . we disagree, but we probably cannot debate this here . .if you would like, we could discuss this further in IDD . .

I am only posting here as I am very concerned that others might read your post and think "great, I can use some type of TM in my prayer time" and that would be a grave error . . altered states open us up to the spiritual realm, and not just to God . . so one needs to seek God, and in doing so may experience altered states, but they do not experience nothingness, they experience God . .

When I try to meditate, many times I end up in contemplation, a place of silence and stillness of mind and heart before God . . but it is not nothingness . . and profound experiences do occur in this state . .

I am concerned that words can convey the wrong ideas . . God is not nothingness . . the bible tells us to meditate on scripture . .this is not nothingness. We should never abandon ourselves to nothingness . . there is danger in such practice . .

If you would like to discuss this more, let me know and we can start a thread in IDD!

Peace in Him!

 

[Icystwolf]

hi Icystwolf]


If one advocated seeking an altered state of consciousnes, then I would have grave concerns with that. It is possible for New Age teachings and practices to creep in and this is why so many are afraid of the word "meditation" . .

Thats true, but a Christian must not be influenced by worldly ideas, however there are Christians that learn differently which I agree we must respect.

Christian Meditation is not nothingness. . . we disagree, but we probably cannot debate this here . .if you would like, we could discuss this further in IDD . .

My interpretation to nothingness is based on being humble and compared with God, because of God's perfectness in great awe.

I am only posting here as I am very concerned that others might read your post and think "great, I can use some type of TM in my prayer time" and that would be a grave error . . altered states open us up to the spiritual realm, and not just to God . . so one needs to seek God, and in doing so may experience altered states, but they do not experience nothingness, they experience God . .

Hmm....I use to think that way until I got punished really bad, because of that view of Christian meditation. I did mention that there hasn't been much discussion on this area, and there is some truth to it and benefit that isn't explored due to fear of many christians. I believe if someone was willing to go further, then it would be good...

If you would like to discuss this more, let me know and we can start a thread in IDD!
Peace in Him!

No probs, after monday, my last exam, we'll have a debate, but would you mind setting up the debating arena?

PS-> It would be helpful if Zorilla was excluded in the debate. I'm more interested in finding the truth to a topic, than insults raging everywhere...thanks!

 

[pentecostal girl]

I don't see anything wrong with having a christ-centered meditation. God inhabits the praise of his people, he wants us to have a closer relationship with him. I love to put on a praise & worship cd and just have a quiet time with God. The times when it's just you and the Lord are some of the best times. Well I keep you in my prayers.

"I will sing to the Lord all my life; I willsing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditationbe pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord." Psalms 104:33-34

 

[Icystwolf]

I don't see anything wrong with having a christ-centered meditation. God inhabits the praise of his people, he wants us to have a closer relationship with him. I love to put on a praise & worship cd and just have a quiet time with God. The times when it's just you and the Lord are some of the best times. Well I keep you in my prayers.

"I will sing to the Lord all my life; I willsing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditationbe pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord." Psalms 104:33-34

The actual debate is based on what is the meditation in Christianity.

 

[thereselittleflower]

Thats true, but a Christian must not be influenced by worldly ideas, however there are Christians that learn differently which I agree we must respect.


My interpretation to nothingness is based on being humble and compared with God, because of God's perfectness in great awe.

Hi Icystwolf

If I understand you correctly, your referring to "nothingness" has to do with our nothingness in comparison to God . . if this is what you are saying, then I probably have to agree with you.

Hmm....I use to think that way until I got punished really bad, because of that view of Christian meditation. I did mention that there hasn't been much discussion on this area, and there is some truth to it and benefit that isn't explored due to fear of many christians. I believe if someone was willing to go further, then it would be good...

No probs, after monday, my last exam, we'll have a debate, but would you mind setting up the debating arena?

PS-> It would be helpful if Zorilla was excluded in the debate. I'm more interested in finding the truth to a topic, than insults raging everywhere...thanks!

I don't know if we need to have a formal debate per-se, but I was thinking more along the lines of a discussion since we are interdenominational . . I have rarely posted in IDD - if you think it would be helpful to continue to discuss this there, you probably know better how to set things up . . I can't say I would be available at any particular time, but an informal discussion would work for me . .

You probably know better than I do how it all works in IDD . .




Peace in Him!