Two weeks ago, I mentioned the food program I’m currently following, Radiant Recovery. From a nutritional perspective, I think the program is great. It’s worked for me in curbing my sugar cravings and allowing me to live sugar free with no willpower required. However, I’ve been leery about other peripheral aspects of the program, like the recommendation to use meditation to naturally raise beta endorphin levels.
Keep in mind, Radiant Recovery is a food program. Meditation is not a requirement but it is talked about frequently since people who are sugar sensitive (like myself) are naturally low in beta endorphin. (Thus, when we eat or do something that raises beta endorphin, we get a bigger “hit” than our non-sugar sensitive peers, and conversely, a lower low, which leads to the addictive cycle.) Despite my dedication to the sugar free lifestyle, I’ve never made a habit of meditating, because the thought of it makes my stomach hurt. (Translation: I get a caution flag from God.)
We Are Wonderfully Made
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
As a Christian, I believe the Bible when it says we are wonderfully made, so I also believe beta endorphins were created by God for a specific purpose and that His purpose is good. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 NIV
Medical studies have proven the benefits of meditation, and I’ll admit, this has me a bit confused. Why that sickening feeling in my stomach when I consider implementing daily meditation? If an activity lowers our stress levels and raises our beta endorphins, it must be good, right?
Jessica, why are you being so prudish?
When it comes to meditation, I’ve asked myself the above question countless times, and for the longest time, I had no coherent answer. (“It gives me a sick feeling in my stomach” doesn’t count as an answer. At least not in Christian apologetics.) Rather than ponder in a void, I decided to do some research on Christianity and meditation. The research led me to Lighthouse Trails. To give you an idea of what Lighthouse Trails is about, the following appears on their “About Us” page:
In the year 2000, we learned that a mantra-style meditation coupled with a mystical spirituality had been introduced to the evangelical, Christian church and was infiltrating youth groups, churches, seminaries, and Bible studies at an alarming rate.
In the spring of 2002, we began Lighthouse Trails Publishing with the hope of exposing this dangerous and pervasive mystical paradigm—six months later we published our first release, A Time of Departing by Ray Yungen.
As we learned more about contemplative spirituality (also known as the spiritual formation movement), we came to realize it had entered the church through a number of avenues—Willow Creek, Purpose Driven, and the emerging church just to name a few of the more prominent ones.
Because the premise of this spirituality is both pantheistic (God is all things) and panentheistic (God is in all things), thus refuting the gospel message of the Cross, we are compelled to address this issue—Lighthouse Trails Publishing and our research ministry, Lighthouse Trails Research Project, are here as a service to the body of Christ.
I don’t agree with everything I read on the Lighthouse Trails blog, but I have found their material regarding New Age infiltration into the church very helpful, and at times, disconcerting. They strongly critique some popular Christian figures, including Beth Moore for her involvement the “Be Still” DVD, which they view as her endorsement of the contemplative prayer movement.
I find some of their arguments compelling, but I haven’t come to any firm opinions regarding whether Beth Moore is touting a Biblical practice versus crossing a dangerous line. I don’t feel I’ve done enough research, nor to I feel I fully understand the difference between Eastern meditation and Christian meditation. That I don’t understand the difference is indicative of a problem.
Meditate on the Word
Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Psalm 4:4 NKJV
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. Psalm 1:1-2 NIV
The Bible tells us to meditate on the Word, but what does that mean?
I do know what Eastern meditation is. It’s an emptying of the mind. I understand, too, that Christians aren’t supposed to empty our minds, but we’re supposed to fill them with thoughts of God’s goodness. However, quite frankly, sometimes my mind does need quiet. My profession requires much analytical thinking, as does creative writing. By the time I approach the Bible, my mind is tired. Therefore, if meditating on the Word means carefully analyzing it, or consciously memorizing it, I’m afraid I don’t want to. Sometimes I just want to turn my brain off (as much as possible) and sit with God. But is this Eastern meditation?
Speaking of analytical thinking, I’ve no doubt analyzed this issue to death, but I’ve truly believed there is a difference between Christian meditation and Eastern meditation, and my longing for a clear definition from someone, somewhere has continued to fuel my quest.
The most thorough definition I’ve found is at Bible.org. (I’m posting a lengthy snippet so I can re-remind myself when I get re-confused about what Christian meditation really is.)
In Eastern forms of meditation as in TM there is an attempt to empty the mind. Biblical meditation, however, is an attempt to empty the mind of the wrong things in order to fill it with what is right and true according to the index of God’s inspired Word.
All Eastern forms of meditation stress the need to become detached from the world. There is an emphasis upon losing personhood and individuality and merging with the Cosmic Mind… Detachment is the final goal of Eastern religion. It is an escaping from the miserable wheel of existence… It is merely a method of controlling the brain waves in order to improve your psychological and emotional well-being.
Biblical meditation involves becoming detached from the controlling and hindering influences of the world and attached to the living God through Christ that we might, through faith and transformed values, experience the sufficiency of the Savior and reach out to a hurting world in need of the living Christ.
Biblical meditation is object oriented. It begins with reflective reading and rereading of the Word and is followed by reflection on what has been read and committed to memory. In Scripture, the word meditate is generally found with an object (God, His Word, or works, etc.) or in a context where the object of meditation is understood.
In Scripture it does not mean to sit and ponder infinity or to empty the mind so some force can fill it by repeating some chant or mantra. Such is dangerous and opens the mind to demonic attack. Meditation in the Bible means reflective thinking on biblical truth so that God is able to speak to us through Scripture and through the thoughts that come to mind as we are reflecting on the Word, but that must also be filtered by the Word.
The goal of Christian meditation is to internalize and personalize the Scripture so that its truth can affect how we think, our attitudes, and how we live, our actions.
An Example of Biblical Meditation in Practice
Given Bible.org’s definition of Christian meditation, I think “meditating on the Word” most likely looks something like this:
During the three summer months of 1993 I hung out in Philippians. I just read it. The whole thing. Every day. I didn’t “study” it until the third month. By then I already knew it. I already understood it. I already liked it. I wanted to study it more deeply.
By the end of the first week, I noticed that I was starting to feel differently about the Bible. I had always known that Philippians was a letter. I had just never read it the way I read letters. After all, if you went to your mailbox and pulled out a four-page, hand-written letter from someone you loved, would you read the first page and save the second page for tomorrow? Not a chance!
For the rest of the summer, my love for Philippians – not just the letter, but also the church, the people, and Paul himself – continued to grow. It was so, well, real.
This sounds like something my brain can actually handle. Just read it. Over and over, until you’ve read it so much that you’ve memorized it without even trying.
What do you think? Is “meditating on the Word” really that simple? And do you suppose it gives Christians the same neurochemical benefits as Eastern meditation?
April 22, 2013, 2:14 am
Yes, I think it is that easy. I don’t think God wants to make it difficult to connect. I don’t know about neurochemical benefits of Christian meditation, but I am sure prayer can produce these neurochemical benefits. Isn’t prayer a kind of meditation?
April 22, 2013, 9:44 pm
But over-complicating things is fun! :
I think there are scientific studies on the medical benefits of prayer, come to think of it. Perhaps the subject of another blog post?
April 22, 2013, 6:56 pm
Very interesting reading. It looks like you’ve done your research. I don’t have the answer to the question as I am certainly not an expert, but I will say that the purpose of Eastern meditation (zazen) is not really to “empty your mind.” This is a very common misconception and I thought the same thing, until I actually began researching it. The truth is that if you trying to empty your mind while practicing zazen then you doing it wrong. If you are trying to reach enlightenment you are doing it wrong. Actually, if you are even trying to meditate then you are probably doing it wrong. As I understand it, the purpose of zazen meditation is to just be. When thoughts come into your mind, you let them come and let them go.
That seems to be the main focus, but just like Christianity there are going to be many different ideas and opinions on Zazen. It is not a practice focused on giving answers. If I fully understood it, I suppose that would make me enlightened, and I can promise you I am not that.
So is there a difference between Zazen and Christian meditation, I would say yes. Is there a conflict between eastern meditation and Christianity, I have no idea. I have found many similarities between Christianity and Zen Buddhism. However, practicing Zen does seem to begin with “Emptying your cup,” which is about forgetting what you already know (because if your mind is full, how can you learn anything). This is probably where the misconception of emptying your mind comes from and is an idea that might be frowned upon by practicing Christians.
I tend to believe that if one finds meditation uncomfortable, then prayer will give you many of the same benefits. You may never reach enlightenment, but that is not your goal. And if that is your goal, then your doing it wrong anyway.
April 23, 2013, 12:57 am
Thanks for weighing in Andrew.
I’ve heard of this concept, “When thoughts come into your mind, you let them come and let them go.” I’ve heard it described as noticing the thought, “catching it”, and then letting it go. I’ve had minimal success with that, probably because I’m not patient enough, or unable to set a routine for myself, and then there’s still the part of me that distrusts it.
However, I think when Christians balk at meditation, they are especially talking about transcendental (TM) where a mantra and repetition are used to enter a trance-like state. From my limited understanding, there are different types of meditation in Buddhism and what you describe above may fall under the umbrella of “mindfulness” meditation?
As far as Zen Buddhism and Christianity sharing similarities, I wonder if you are referring to Christian mysticism? I agree, there are similarities between Buddhism and Christian mysticism, and that’s the issue I’m wrestling with. I think there should be a distinction, but where the dividing line is, I’m not quite sure.
April 22, 2013, 11:47 pm
This is not something I struggle with, so it’s difficult to give an answer. For me, I try not to over complicate meditation. I pray. I read the word. I try to escape my mind–not to reach some cosmic consciousness, but to allow God to speak to me. I try to keep my mind still. I want to hear God’s voice and not just my crazy, angsty thoughts. I think of meditation as “Be still and know that I am God.”
April 23, 2013, 1:20 am
Jill, I was duped by New Agey, Oprah-esque spirituality for a while, and I’m still pulling up the weeds from that.
April 23, 2013, 3:18 am
It’s probably a good thing that you’re being careful. I know I am more careful than others in regards to certain things I’ve dabbled in that I shouldn’t have. Be careful not to pull up the good plants with the weeds, though!! This is a warning to myself as much as to you.
April 23, 2013, 3:00 am
Jill, you said what I wanted to say, thank you.
April 23, 2013, 2:13 pm
Yes, you would be correct when you call it mindfulness. My favorite Zen quote is:
“Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.” -Alan Watts-
I think when I talk about similarities with Christianity, they would be more simple. Things like “Do good, be good, help others, etc.” Also, in my views, there is no Bible or God in Zen, but I would say that it never says there is not a God, either. So, in that way, I actually feel like it conflicts with Christianity less than many other religions. I am not even sure I would call Zen a religion at all. (Of course, you can find a million conflicting opinions on this).
I do find meditation to be extremely helpful, though sadly I still don’t take much time to practice it. And like everything else in the world that a person wants to be good at, it takes practice. Lots and lots of practice.
April 24, 2013, 5:56 am
I think you’ve got the right idea. I’ve come across the concept of affirmations. It always bugged me unless I was using them to redirect my mind from something negative. (Like a mental version of writing standards.) It gave me something specific to focus on until my thoughts started running along more positive lines. But then, as you say, it was SOMETHING to focus on, not an emptying of my mind and not with the expectation that I would magically change into a better Christian just because I repeated a specific phrase over and over (an idea which delves into witchcraft).
April 24, 2013, 2:21 pm
ReGi, I think positive affirmation are okay, but ideally they should line up with the promises in the Bible. As one who deals with depression, I know it’s not always possible to police the mind like that. Sometimes the lies bombard, seemingly from nowhere, and those lies can even appear as angels of light. Which makes it all the more crucial for me to practice weeding out the lies and replacing them with Biblical truths/affirmations. I could still use a lot of practice in that area!
April 28, 2013, 6:19 pm