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Christian Community by Reg Block
"Come let us reason together" - Isaiah
Meditation is a word generally associated with eastern mystical traditions and
practices. It is viewed by many as a beneficial discipline that draws the practitioner
closer to God.
Ancient Hindu Vedic scriptures talk about it and the Bible uses the term 20 times
throughout the Old and New Testaments. Although Hindus, Buddhists and Christians
agree that relaxation and stilling the mind are good things, there are essential
disagreements in methodology and purpose of meditation.
Eastern adherents at times employ a variety of techniques involving specific activity,
breath, posture and mantras meant to achieve desired or prescribed states of mind.
Ultimately, meditators from all faiths strive to reach some kind of profound communion
with God. For Christians, the nature of that relationship is partly dictated through
a creationist-world view but ultimately is determined by Biblically-based theological
constructs. On the other hand, Hindu meditators seeking to transcend the dualism
of light and dark, meditate with distinct theological beliefs in mind.
While advanced mystical meditation often requires strict ascetic discipline to
find the god within, Christian meditation focuses on the written Word of God,
reaching outward to a transcendent God who raises us up to fellowship with him
through the life, death and resurrection of the historic person, Jesus Christ.
Like other meditative disciplines, Christian meditation means setting aside mundane
things of the world and engaging in the process of being absorbed by God’s
life and love. This is accomplished through non-repetitive prayer, reading scripture
and reasoning, as the book of Isaiah chapter 1:18 says, "come let us reason
together" and the Psalmist echoes, "my reason is on your word."
Sant Kirpal Singh refers to neh karma, "a meditative state of no thoughts
where no karma is created." Although this concept is valid and basically
accepted within the of classical eastern mystical traditions, it cannot be legitimately
merged with the Biblical view of meditation. Mutually sustaining concepts of karma
and reincarnation, by definition, preclude it from amalgamation into core doctrines
of inherited sin, and Christ’s redemption on the cross. To a Christian meditator,
intellect or mind and its inherent propensity for constructive inner dialogue
is instrumental in understanding God’s will. The ideas of thoughtlessness,
transmigration and karma are irrelevant to Christians who accept that no human
effort or postures or complicated formulas can bring one into union with God.
It is God’s gift of forgiveness and our acceptance of His salvific provision
through Jesus Christ that alone re-establishes true relationship with Him.
Because Christians believe that creation, in whole or in part, is not God but
rather something He willed into existence, it would be considered blasphemous
to meditate with the intent to claim, realize or achieve any form of personal
god-hood. Barrett in his book Zen Buddhism, page 15 says, "the finite is
infinite and vice versa. There are not two separate things, though we are compelled
to conceive them so intellectually. The mistake consists in our splitting into
two what is really and absolutely one." This statement flies in the face
of Biblical theology and Christian meditation that both insist upon a clear categorical
distinction between the temporal and the Eternal.
In the book of Isaiah, God says, "my thoughts are not your thoughts and my
ways are not your ways." Jesus took the argument one step farther when, with
condescension he declared to the Pharisees, "did not the prophet Isaiah say
you are gods but you shall die like men." In Matthew chapter 10 Jesus says,
"there is nothing covered that will not be revealed whosoever shall deny
me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. I did not
come to bring peace, but a sword. He who has lost his life for My sake shall find
it."
Christian meditation is based on God-inspired scriptures that define the faith.
At times those words and meditations are confrontational and offensive. Pop psychology
though ironically in agreement, proclaims the truth hurts, no pain no gain, and
what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Historic Christian doctrine says
meditate on the following, "study to show yourself approved, a workman who
doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Meditation is just a word. It is only as relevant as the meaning poured into it.
Apostolic Christianity and some other eastern religions insist that meditation
has a subject and that it embraces intellectual understanding. More importantly,
from a Christian point of view, meditation is not an essential tenet of the faith.
It is merely a beneficial discipline if correctly understood and appropriately
applied.
Reg Block is an apologist for the historic Christian faith. Your feedback
is welcome at reg@commonground.ca.
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