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Theology of Meditation

Meditation Isn’t Exclusively Christian

It is common to many religions and now is enjoying growth in even secular, non-religious settings. It’s mentioned for the first time in the Bible in the book of Genesis, so it’s thousands of years old, and has been practiced by Jews and Christians since that time. But there’s also Buddhist, Hindu, and New Age meditation.

So What Makes Our Meditation Christian?

…It’s the Theology

Theology is the reason behind what you’re doing. It gives you the needed context and the understanding.

For Example: Genesis & The Creation of the Universe

Genesis starts out with a description of God creating the universe. He creates the heavens and the earth. He orders light and darkness, water and land, and then he creates life – plants, animals, etc. It’s told that he created the Sun, he created the moon, the stars, and all that we see.

Why Did Moses Tell It This Way?

Remember that this important story is told first in context of many cultures and religious ideas. The young nation of Israel found themselves surrounded by alternative, yet similar ideas. The Egyptian gods *were* the Sun, the moon, the stars. Even other animals and insects were revered or worshipped. The Canaanite gods were similar.

it's how the Israelites thought about the stars, moon, sun that mattered

When Moses re-told the story of creation, what was he doing in that context? He was saying that all those other “gods” of all the cultures surrounding the Israelites were created by the One true God. He was saying that all that stuff – whether the sun or the moon, or the ocean or the land or the insects, animals, or plants are all part of the creation.

Sometimes theology is considered a dry, boring subject, but when you realize that theology is the way that you understand and view your entire world, it becomes a lot more personal and helpful.

For Example, Let’s Compare Ancient Worship Practices (Old Testament):

Philistines

Illegitimate Worship Practices
  • Built Altar(s) To Their God(s)
  • Sacrificed To Their God(s)
  • Priests Forgive Sin
  • Special Ceremonial Foods
  • Multi-day Ceremonial Celebrations
  • Foreigners Not Allowed Into Holiest Place
These are declared heathen practices

Ancient Israel

Legitimate Worship Practices
  • Built Altar(s) To Their God
  • Sacrificed To Their God
  • Priests Forgive Sin
  • Special Ceremonial Foods
  • Multi-day Ceremonial Celebrations
  • Foreigners Not Allowed Into Holiest Place
These practices declared holy and good

Ammonites

Illegitimate Worship Practices
  • Built Altar(s) To Their God(s)
  • Sacrificed To Their God(s)
  • Priests Forgive Sin
  • Special Ceremonial Foods
  • Multi-day Ceremonial Celebrations
  • Foreigners Not Allowed Into Holiest Place
These are declared heathen practices

NOTICE: There’s no difference (on the surface)

BUT, the differences aren’t in the practices only. They’re in the THEOLOGICAL differences:

  • The surrounding nations didn’t worship the right God
  • They sacrificed humans, violating the commandment not to murder

So, you can see that while there were similar practices,
the theology behind the practices was what made the difference.

Christian Theology gives us the proper context and understanding to meditate in.

  • When We Practice Meditation...

    And we listen quietly we are not surprised if we hear the still small voice of God. But we don’t attribute it to our own holiness or that we also are gods.

  • Note: It's Not The Technique...

    As much as it is the theology, or the theological context in which it is being done. Yes, certain techniques lead naturally to certain results, but more often it’s the understanding that produces the greater results. That’s why we can get so much more out of meditation that isn’t secular.

 

That’s what’s different about Meditate On Christ.

It’s meditation with a Christian context. And that makes all the difference.

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