This past Sunday (09/06/2020) Pastor Tom spoke to us about meditation. If you missed the sermon, check it out here: https://alivewesleyan.com/moving-beyond-motions-3/
Right off the bat, he lost some of you imagining something like this:
You’d be right to be wary of this. We have been discipled by our Western culture (and Christian culture) to be skeptical about Eastern meditation. Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism practice meditation in an effort to empty the mind and achieve some blissful state of “nothingness.” For non-Christians Westerners, this is strange because it’s anti-accomplishment and anti-science. It’s too mystical, mysterious, too spiritual. For Christians, Eastern meditation is unbiblical because it devalues the fact that we are created in the image of God, and, therefore, with purpose. Further, Christian meditation is about filling our minds. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2, NIV).
How do we practice Christian Meditation that values filling rather than emptying the mind? Tom tells us that we need to start with Scripture. Christian Meditation involves listening and hearing from God. We can know for certain that the Voice of God is present in Scripture. While God, through the Holy Spirit, may speak to us in words different from what’s in Scripture, He will never, ever contradict what He says in Scripture. Compare what you think God is speaking to you with Scripture to determine its authenticity.
Want to go deeper with Christian Meditation?
Check out these resources:
Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard
Dallas is one of the most prolific, modern authors on Christian discipleship. This book offers lots of wisdom and advice about hearing from God through Scripture. Willard includes several, guided practices in this reprint of one of his classic works.
Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture by John Piper
At almost 400 pages, Piper’s Reading the Bible Supernaturally may not be for the faint of heart, but it will be well worth your effort. For those of you who find theological backgrounds important, it is necessary to note that Piper is a Calvinist. However, I have found many of his writings personally encouraging even if I do not agree with every position he takes. Nevertheless, I can agree with Piper that the Bible is supernatural and that God speaks from Its pages.
These will be a good place to start as you take time to spend with God and his Word.
