Meditation and Christianity

By: Dr. Conny Williams

Is meditation Scriptural? In recent years it seems that meditation has made a comeback into the western world. We can see it on the coffee shop bulletins boards, we can see it advertised at the YMCA, we hear it even taught at our community colleges and we wonder is the world gone crazy. Some consider Meditation to be of the devil or sacrilege. Some have ignored it all together and some have been sneaking over here and there to see what this is all about. The question that many Christians have, is Meditation Scriptural? If Christian Meditation is scriptural, we will have to find out what happened to it. Why does the Christian Church ignore its teaching and why are we afraid of it? These and many other questions are in the mind of the believer. If Mediation is the will of God then these questions deserve an answer. It is my goal to provide some prove that meditation is not only in the will of God but that it is vital to our spiritual health.

Here are some definitions for the word meditation – to think, to imagine, musing, to murmur (in pleasure or anger), by implication to ponder, imagine, meditate. It is amazing how many Scriptures in our English text refer to meditation:

Gen_24:63; Jos_1:8; Psa_1:2; Psa_63:6;

Psa_77:12; Psa_119:15; Psa_119:23; Psa_119:48;

Psa_119:78; Psa_119:148; Psa_143:5; Isa_33:18;

Luk_21:14; 1Ti_4:15;

just to name the ones that were translated so.

There are also related words in the Bible that directly correspond to meditation and these are: think, contemplate, reflection, introspection, and concentration. The definitions listed above are various Hebrew words that the Scriptures use. I am sure that the reader is familiar with many of these words. We have heard them and we have done many of them. So I do not believe that the believer has too many problems with the definition itself and I believe that we can agree that meditation is mentioned in the Scripture. The first word that describes meditation is the word to think. There are many various words that the Hebrew text uses for the English word to think. It is interesting to note a particular word that the Hebrew text uses for “think.” châshab A primitive root; properly to plait or interpenetrate, that is, (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate, to think, regard, value, compute:  Word studies are extremely beneficial, because most people only understand words in a casual way. When we take a closer look at particular words we begin to understand the deeper meanings or the variety of meanings that a simple word can have. This particular word “to think” implies a lot more than casual thinking. It is a creative word. For those of us who have little girls in our families we know that it is an art to braid a childʼs hair. 

It takes quite some creativity and skill. Thinking too can be a creative art. That kind of thinking is also called meditation or contemplative thinking in a positive way. The Scriptures seem to use this word when someone evil is trying to come up with something very evil to destroy, a plot sort of speak. This word can also be used in a positive way. As Paul tells us to put away vain imagination there is also a good imagination which is another word that describes what meditation entails. One of the myths of meditation is that one must empty his or her mind. That would be impossible to say the least, one cannot stop the mind from doing its job. However, one can slow the activities of the mind down through meditation and focus on only one particular thing. This process is called meditation. Paul tells us to think on positive things in opposition to negative imagination (Phi 4:8). So to imagine is not wrong it is actually one of the tools of meditation. Paul was quite familiar with this practice. Paul himself has had experiences with God that were the result of meditation. One Hebrew word for imagination is: yêtser- a form; figuratively conception (that is, purpose): - frame, thing framed, imagination, mind, work.

As you can see this is a powerful word. Imagination is the conception of purpose. It is in our imagination that we see what we believe. Meditation will help you see what you believe.  There is however, a question that has not been answered. How do I properly meditate and how was this done in Bible times? Meditation is sometimes implied in the text. Sometimes the word “think” is used instead of Meditation as indicated earlier. There is also a certain nomenclature that indicates that one is withdrawing from the business

of the world in order to meditate. We can follow Jesus lifestyle in the Gospels and readily see that He withdrew many times into a lonely or quite place. It is interesting to note that these withdrawals were many times done in nature. So, where did it all start? Biblically, it started with Isaac in Gen 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming……..and then it traveled Gen 25:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country According to Jewish tradition, Abraham gave gifts, physical and spiritual, to Isaac but to the other children he gave gift of lesser value or incomplete knowledge. The interesting thing is that these children settled in India and today we can still find the Brahmins (Children of Abraham) there. Jewish literature tells us that these gifts where not used in a godly manner although they came from God. Many things actually come from God, but are misused and misunderstood. Among Christians the art of meditation was practiced by some Monks, but as a whole this craft was rejected. However, from a biblical perspective, meditation originated with God and was always intended to be used by Godʼs children as a method to connect with God in order to become more aware of Him, His realms and of ourselves.  Meditation is not to be used as a tool to manifest wonders and do tricks, it is rather a tool to allow us to connect with the Father for the greater good of the person that is meditating and also mankind. In recent years meditation has made a comeback in the Church. The danger of overstepping our boundaries is always there since this art has not been taught in Christian circles on a regular basis. It is quite difficult to develop a kind of meditation and not in some way having to borrow techniques from eastern meditation. This of course creates a problem because that borrowing could borderline on idolatry. However, if we return to the ancient art of meditation we will not encounter the dangerand difficulty that eastern meditation could present. If we are looking for ancient material we will have no other choice than to look for information in the writings of the Talmud, the Zohar and the Mishnah. There, we will find the information that has been passed down from generation to generation beginning with Moses. If Moses meditated, if Joshua meditated, Isaac, David, the prophets, Jesus, Paul and the apostles meditated, then I think that we should at least have an open mind to be educated concerning this lost art. Just as Prayer is an art, so is Meditation. Prayer and Meditation walk hand in hand. Meditation has many benefits from simply enjoying the presence of God, to attaining considerable awareness of ones surroundings and of course God.

There are meditations for attaining inner peace, relaxation in order to relieve stress, and

there are meditations for bedtime and morning rising. There are countless meditations of various sorts and degrees. Meditation can benefit oneʼs life if it is done casually or if one develops a discipline; either way the meditator will enhance their life considerably. Meditation can be beneficial to so many people with so many different needs because it can affect the body, the soul and the spirit of man. Meditation causes one to be aware. Jesus teaches us that principle in Matthew the sixth chapter. He too is calling for us to stop and be aware of our surroundings, behold the sparrow and the flowers of the field. Paul tells us to think on things that are lovely, kind and so forth. Paul is also the apostle who indicates in his life a discipline of meditation. On one occasion he did not know if he was in the body or out of the body, he had merged with beautiful. He saw things that were forbidden to be mentioned here on earth.

Meditation has extraordinary power to heal psychic wounds, release negative energies, and bring a new sense of inner peace. All things can be brought in proper perspective and the answer can be found. Once the answer is found, healing of all parts of our being is possible. God wants us to learn how to be with Him right here on earth.

Meditation is the path on how to do just that. It is the writers express wish that all men would come to know God, themselves and others in a more intimate way, to have substance in our faith and a reality that surpasses what we have right now. Meditation is more than just thinking about something, it must have a teacher, it must have a student.

Come and See!

Dr. Conny Williams