Christian Man Practices Contemplative
Prayer
Practicing contemplative meditation drew
this man towards the beliefs of Hinduism and other religions.
Dear
Ray Yungen and Lighthouse Friends,
My
deepest thank-you for this website and the book, A Time of
Departing. I have been a born again believer for six to seven
years now and a youth leader for two. I have passionately pursued
Jesus through all of them. However, not always according to truth
as you will hear.
Thomas Keating's book Open Mind, Open Heart introduced me to the form of contemplative prayer called centering
prayer nine months ago. I was captured by his deep insights, beautiful sounding
wisdom, and impressive use of language. With hesitation, I began
to practice centering prayer once or twice a day for about three
months. I used the method Thomas Keating teaches by using a sacred
word. This word was a symbol of my consent to (what I believed
was) the Spirit of God and the Lordship of Jesus. My word was
Abba. I repeated this word in silence to help me stop the normal
flow of thoughts so my soul could rest in utter stillness, wide
open to the presence (I perceived was God). This presence's comforting
touch was beyond adequate expression at times. I was beginning
to think Christians could not have this kind of deep intimacy
with God apart from contemplative prayer.
My experiences with centering prayer were powerful to me, so it
seemed only logical to believe this was God's blessing upon it.
I mean how could it be wrong if my intent was to be with
Jesus and the Father in intimacy and be formed into Christ's image.
What was my fruit? Increased gentleness began to enter my life
as well as more patience, yet so did more openness to what I could
learn from Catholic Mystics, Hindus, and Buddhists. I definitely
did not deny Jesus was the only way to the Father, but I could
have easily headed down that path. I also read from Richard Foster,
Dallas Willard, St. Teresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, Brennan Manning,
Sue Monk Kidd and others. I was clearly being swept up into their
program for spiritual formation (into Christ likeness, as
I perceived).
During this time, I had been visiting Lighthouse Trails website
regularly. I now see that through its messages of warning
about contemplative prayer, seeds of truth were being planted
in me. At the time however, I believed your apologists were
missing the mark, yet I responded by seeking God for the truth,
asking to be corrected and granted repentance if I was in the
wrong. Then during my second time through Open Mind, Open Heart on page 127 I read, speaking of human nature: "This basic
core of goodness is capable of unlimited development; indeed,
of becoming transformed into Christ and deified."
I
could no longer practice this prayer with a good conscience after
reading that statement by Keating. Now about four months later
I have just finished reading A Time of Departing which
I received three days ago. I have gratefully accepted it's message.
I
have been studying the Scriptures rigorously since stopping
centering prayer and seeking to grow in hermeneutical integrity.
This study prepared me to hear with a sounder mind what
you had to say. There is a theological principle in Deuteronomy
12:29-32.1 Please read it in context. God's
word warns his people not to inquire of other religions concerning
how they serve their gods and then do the same. We are not to
worship the Lord our God the way other religions worship their
gods because we will follow in their footsteps. Even though
I was trying to connect with Jesus in centering prayer, I was
using eastern religious practices not taught in Scripture, and
therefore, not in conformity with the gospel of Christ. These
practices were clearly leading me away from Jesus. Validation
of these practices can be read into Scripture, but not understood
from Scripture by the Spirit of Christ. There is so much more
to my journey to a faith based upon God's Word, but for now,
I want to emphasize how thankful I am for Ray Yungen and Lighthouse
Trails for your defense of the gospel of Jesus the Messiah!
Richard
From the state of Florida
1. Deuteronomy 12:29-32: When
the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which
you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their
land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow
them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you
do not inquire after their gods, saying, "How did these nations
serve their gods? I also will do likewise."
You
shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every
abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their
gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire
to their gods.
Whatever
I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add
to it nor take away from it.
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