Introduction

It will come as a surprise to many today to know that meditation is a Christian spiritual practice, for most of us associate meditation with Eastern metaphysics or New Age practice.  In truth, meditation in various forms is practiced almost everywhere, including in Christianity from the very early days of the faith. The key words I would call your attention to are “in various forms”, for not all meditation is Christian; not by a long shot.

Meditation in one form or another can be found in most religious traditions and obviously, most religious traditions are not Christian. Consequently, I would suggest that meditation is a spiritual practice that should be reserved for mature believers only. Of course, that is just my personal opinion, and you are certainly free to your own opinions. I also realize that many Christian groups forbid anything even approaching meditation, and that is their prerogative; I won’t get into a fight over it, but sadly, this position is usually based upon a series of misconceptions about the entire subject.

What exactly does it mean to meditate?

Merriam-Webster defines it this way:

intransitive verb

1: to engage in contemplation or reflection 

• He meditated long and hard before announcing his decision.

2: to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness

transitive verb

1: to focus one’s thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over 

• He was meditating his past achievements.

2: to plan or project in the mind : intend, purpose 

• He was meditating

Merriam-Webster isn’t defining “Christian” meditation, just what the word itself means, and you can see that the word can mean slightly different things. Christian meditation is not the intransitive definition 2. Christian meditation directs the mind to Scripture:

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. (Psalm 119:15)

We might meditate on one of the attributes of God:

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. (Psalm 48:9)

Or on the works and creation of God:

I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. (Psalm 77:12)

(Emphases added)

Christian meditation is not the opening up of one’s self to any old spirit that comes along, but should be at the direction of the Holy Spirit as revealed in His Word, and thus is something quite different than one might expect. In fact, I would suggest that many of those who would seek to forbid Christians from meditating, probably practice these things and don’t realize they are “meditations”.

We have an introduction to the subject now, next time let’s get into what meditation looks like for a Christian in more detail…