In recent years a particular movent called Contemplative Prayer has come to my attention. Because I'm not a big fan of Christian books I was unaware of its influence until lately. Christian books to me are not a bad thing if used properly as supplemental to the study of scripture from the Bible itself not from a study about the Bible. However in the last decade I've become increasingly worried that these books are taking over devotions and personal study, the study of scripture straight from the Bible is taking a backseat. For this reason when a new movement that could introduce heresy into my church or any other church I sit up and pay attention. When I was first alerted I did what I always do and that is to research what I have been warned about to find out if it is a threat or someone's paranoia. In this case I was finding information from different denominations and even a secular publication that made me pause at this new phenomenon.
Contemplative Prayer is not a new phenomenon per se but rather something that has resurfaced from its Catholic origin. The Jesuits originally interpreted the mystical early fathers, whom are not used by traditional evangelicals, as having endorsed this type of prayer and viewing of scripture. In the 1930's it resurfaced again in God Calling the book used as the basis for the current book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I think it is important to understand God Calling in order to understand the ritual and concepts that made up the book Jesus Calling.
God Calling was written by two annonymous women who encountered God by using a method that would cause them to clear their minds, sit and wait until God contacted them and they would keep a journal of what was told to them. A man named A.J. Russell was where the women got the idea from and who wrote a book himself called For Sinners Only. Louis Talbot's who wrote an article about God Calling, Russell and The Oxford Group in "The King's Business" (1962) said that the only criticism that Russell received was that his explanation of salvation was unclear and he barely mentioned atonement. William Irvine who surveyed evangelical pastors at the time said they were all in agreement that the practice of centering prayer or contemplative prayer was heretical (Heresies Exposed 3rd edition) and warned churchgoers against inimtating such concepts.
So what is so heretical in God Calling and For Sinners Only? Clearing of one's mind is a technique employed not by the authors of scripture but by Eastern mystics especially in Hindu mediatation practices in which the individual uses humming, constant recitation of a phrase or word to empty their minds of any thoughts so that they may experience a oneness with the universe and learn to not desire anything. In the same way Sarah Young and these two listeners employ the guidence method by clearing their minds of all thoughts, often chanting a phrase, like, in the book Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman, "If anyone would come after Me he must deny himself, take up his cross daily" (Luke 9:23) to transcend the body and experience something outside of themselves. Well Idleman used scripture surely there is nothing wrong with that? In his follow-up guide he instructs his readers to meditate by closing their eyes picture Jesus turn and look at you and saying to you over and over again, "If you would come after Me you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me." Then he instructs them to become aware of their reaction and after the five minutes is up to write down their thoughts.
God Calling was edited by A. J. Russell author of For Sinners Only and leader of The Oxford Group which was later identified as a cult for these practices and their theology. So why have so many claimed to have such positive experiences? Why have so many claimed to have been helped by Eckart Tole's A New Earth and the subsequent seminar on it Oprah conducted? A New Earth took elements of scripture like, John 8:32, "and you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free" without God and threw in some psychology and philosophy he also ripped off. Learning to meditate on God in our own physical bodies is difficult and its not so much fun nor mystical but Psalm 119 among many scriptures teaches us to "meditate on Your precepts and regard your ways", "open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Your law", "Your servant meditates on Your statutues". It goes on and on clearly stating that when we meditate our minds are fully engaged. Because I was taught to look for patterns going through the entire Psalm you only find mental comprehension and not a concentration of visualization that the contemplative prayer teaches. But they use Psalm 46:10, "Cease striving and know that I am God" as the basis for their meditation. Could God not use this to help people experience Him in a closer fashion? The authors of God Calling answer that question with a quote from their book, "We were being taught, trained and encouraged day by day by Him personally when millions of souls far worthier had to be content with guidence from the Bible, sermons, churches, books and other sources".
Both the two listeners and Sarah Young both say that they hold scripture above all but yet they seem not to be content with it and need extrabiblical revelation to make their lives complete. Now let's distinguish between what they are saying and what God says IS Biblical. We know that God does warn us, correct us, teach us, lead us into all truth via the Holy Spirit but when I meditate I'm not looking for extra messages but explanations of what I've just learned. In an interview Sarah Young did with CBN.com she said that when she is writing down her "messages from God", "Scripture often comes to mind and I write that down in whatever version I remembered it." She doesn't look it up to make sure it's right or that the context is correct. When I am meditating I'm asking God to help me figure out how the scripture passage goes in order and what characteristics of Him I can glean. Meditation is like harvasting wheat and we have to know what is truth and what is a lie. What Sarah and the two listeners are doing is what we were taught to do in English writing in college. You let your mind go and write down the first thing that comes to mind about the subject you're essay's about. You use stream of consciousness to write without checking the accuracy of what you are recording. In the occult this practice is called automatic writing in which a medium clears their mind invites their spirit guide to protect them then communicates with the dead. They write as they are communicating in a trance and have no idea what they are recording. It cannot be the same you saybut here's what Sarah Young says of her process, "Before I begin I pray for protection of my mind from distractions, dissortions and disception. I ask that I will only hear only the voice of Jesus, yet every single word He wants me to hear. Then I simply pray, 'Help me Holy Spirit' and I listen. Eventually I hear a phrase or a sentence and I write it down. As I listen and write I continue asking for the Holy Spirit's help. I also thank Jesus for the message as I receive it from Him...I try to relax and enjoy Jesus' Presence."
The huge difference other than the obvious scriptural problems is that she doesn't encourage novices to do what she does and the reason, "New Christians especially need to be cautious about listening to God in this way. I had been a Christian 20 years before I started this practice." Paul says it is not a good idea for novices to become elders making an opportunity for the Devil (1 Timothy 3:6) but there is not any other practice in the faith that a new believer is not encouraged to do, study scripture, pray, meditate, minister even teach (I know a certain associate pastor who was thrown into this role early on in CRU). When a spiritual practice like meditation is discouraged for the new believer I have to ask why? If it is so dangerous should she even be doing it?
I will continue to present more of my research next post and I hope some of you will really start checking these things out and not just assuming that these books are safe.
CRI Journal R. Poll 1994
CBN.com Q&A with Sarah Young
Journal of GES John Caddock, "What is Contemplative Spirituality and Why is it Dangerous?"
