Should Christians practice meditation?
by Kenny Young
When you hear the word ‘meditation’ what does it bring to mind? For some Christians meditation is a Biblical concept through which they can experience God’s presence. For others meditation is a new age practice which is to be avoided. However, there are some who do not know the difference between what is of God and what isn’t. Some people practice meditation, tai chi or yoga. To them these practices are purely exercises which will help them live a healthy lifestyle. They have, nevertheless, not had teaching on what practices to avoid and which are safe.
So what meditation techniques should I avoid?
There are new age meditation practices which Christians should avoid. This is because they take their root in occult practices or in other religions which are incompatible with Christianity.
The Apostle Paul said, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith].” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
Many people teach this passage regarding ‘relationships’. This is only one example of not being ‘yoked’ with unbelievers. Paul means that we should not enter into ‘a different yoke’ with unbelievers which is incompatible with Christianity. This means avoiding being involved in practices which are inconsistent with the Word of God.
Let us examine some new age forms of meditation:
- Yoga - the Sanskrit word ‘Yoga’ means ‘yoke’. The most common type of yoga practiced in the west is Hatha yoga. Hatha yoga is a series of bodily postures which are known as ‘asanas’. David Fontana comments that, the asanas “… are designed to channel subtle energy through the Chakras to the head, calming the mind and bringing spiritual illumination.”
Someone practising yoga becomes ‘yoked’ to a spiritual discipline originating in Eastern yogic religions. These eastern yogic religions belong to either/or Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism which are incompatible to the Abramic faiths of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Therefore, Yoga is an ‘unequal yoke’ and incompatible with Christianity.
- Chakras – The chakras are believed by Hindus to be mankind’s centres of subtle energy. This energy is called ‘prana’ by Hindus and ‘chi’ by Chinese Buddhists. It is believed to be a type of energy which is in the air, along with oxygen. Hindus and Buddhists believe that this subtle energy is our life force which circulates around our bodies. Hindus believe that there are 7 energy centres in our bodies which they call ‘Chakras’. Practitioners of some types of alternative medicine (such as acupuncture), often go along with this theory. The 7 chakras each have a different colour. New age seekers use meditations which are supposedly helping rid themselves of imbalances. They believe that they can unblock the flow of this ‘energy’ by lighting up each of the chakras. They do this, by imagining a ball of white light entering the lowest Chakra and when the ball of light flows through the energy centre (chakra) it lights up by glowing brighter. As this imaginary ball of white light flows through the seeker’s body, each energy centre glows until the ball has travelled through each one. This is definitely not an exercise which will help someone’s health.
Christians should avoid any meditation, or in fact any practice, which involves chakras (or energy centres).
Think about it. Ask yourself about the source of the chakra:
- What is it? If you imagine a ball of white light entering your body, you are literally asking something, which is not the Holy Spirit to fill you.
- If it is not from God, then, it must be from ‘the dark side’. Remember the enemy can appear as an angel of light. It is advisable to avoid this type of meditation. It is an inroad for evil spirits. Instead, why not spend time soaking in God’s presence and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. If you need healing, why not attend a healing service or visit a healing room to receive prayer for healing?
- Mandalas – In new age circles, some people use a mandala as an aid to meditation. (This technique is used by followers of Soto Zen Buddhism and in ritual meditation by devotees of ‘Tantra’ (a Hindu term, which has now become understood as a means of reaching enlightenment through the use of magic and rituals of a sexual nature).
A mandala is a symbolic figure that involves symmetrically arranged circles within larger concentric circles. They normally contain within the design, pictures of Buddahs and other pagan idols. A mandala is supposed to be an astrological configuration and a map of cosmic forces. This is not Biblical and has nothing in common with Christianity. It is a form of idolatry as the mandala contains pictures of idols.
What does the Bible say concerning idols?
The Bible tells us not to have anything to do with idols because idolatry is worshipping false gods. God hates idolatry, as it is offensive to Him. If you have used Mandalas or other idols in meditation, denounce these idols and ask God for forgiveness. God will forgive you. He loves you because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.
- TM (Transcendental Meditation) – This particular type of meditation was brought to the west by a Hindu guru called the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and was popularised in the late 1960’s by the Beatles. TM was supposed to help relaxation, stress management, relief from anxiety, job performance and reduce blood pressure. This form of meditation involved the seeker blanking out their mind and thinking of nothing. This also is part of Hinduism and involves invoking Hindu deities and is incompatible with Christianity.
- Mantras – A mantra is a word, phrase or a sound vibration which someone chants or says repeatedly during meditation. The mantra used by Hindus to achieve a trance-like state or to invoke a particular Hindu god (for example, the Hare Krishna mantra which is to invoke Krishna). The ‘om’ (pronounced aum) mantra is used by Hindus to reach a trance-like state. This mantra is particularly dangerous because of the effect it has on one’s body, mind and spirit. Some people believe that one can use a Biblical phrase such as ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Maranatha’ or the name of Jesus as a ‘mantra’. This would become a prayer, rather than a mantra as the goal would be to focus our worship on the Lord. Mantras are chanted in order to connect to a Hindu god. Prayer connects us to the true God.
Where is meditation mentioned in the Bible?
Along with study of the Scriptures and prayer, meditation is a spiritual discipline which is a part of Jewish and Christian spirituality. Christian meditation is a spiritual discipline through which one experiences the supernatural presence of God. Christian meditation is one of the ways through which we have communion with God. Listening to His voice and spending time just ‘being’ with Him.
The Bible has much to say on meditation:
- Read: Joshua 1: 8 - When Joshua became leader of Israel, God gave him the command not to let the Book of the Law depart from his mouth and to meditate on it day and night and to be careful to do all that is written in it. God promised Joshua that he would be prosperous and successful if he did what He commanded him.
- Read: Psalm 48:9 – The sons of Korah meditated on God’s unfailing love in the temple.
- Read: Psalm 77:12 – Asaph meditated on all God’s works and His mighty deeds. He meditated on all the deeds of the Lord, the signs, wonders and miracles which were done in the years of the right hand of the Lord. Right hand in this case means God’s power. So, in this Psalm, Asaph was remembering and meditating on the miracles which occurred during a time when God was moving in power.
- Read: Psalm 119 – The writer of this Psalm meditated on:
- God’s precepts (v.15 and 78).
- God’s decrees (v. 23 and 48).
- God’s law (v.97).
- God’s statutes (v.99).
- God’s wonders (v.27).
- God’s promises (v. 148).
We have examined some new age forms of meditation which Christians should not practice. We have looked at what the Bible has to say about idols. We have also begun to look at Christian meditation in the context of where meditation is mentioned in Scripture. Next time, we will take a closer look at Christian meditation, how and where you can meditate.
