A four part article on the TrueU (Focus on the Family) website written by J. P. Moreland (professor at Talbot School of Theology), espouses the spiritual disciplines (i.e., contemplative spirituality). Moreland says, a “Christian spiritual discipline is a repeated bodily practice” and leaves one to view the Christian life as regimented rituals that just might eventually make us holy if we practice them enough. Moreland continues: “People are coming to see that repeated bodily practice in the form of spiritual exercises/disciplines is at the heart of spiritual transformation.” These spiritual disciplines that Moreland speaks of include journaling, not just writing down our own thoughts but also a channeling of God’s thoughts to us. Other disciplines fall into two categories, Disciplines of Abstinence and Disciplines of Engagement. If you are beginning to feel concerned that this kind of language is similar to Catholic rituals, there is just cause for your concerns – Moreland, in talking about silence and solitude says, “In my experience, Catholic retreat centers are usually ideal for solitude retreats.” In light of the fact that the modern day contemplative prayer movement began in Catholic monastaries, it is actually not surprising that Moreland would recognize this.
As do many contemplatives, Moreland tells readers that even though what he is saying may “sound” like it is from a “New Age guru,” it really isn’t. And using Psalm 46:10 (frequently used by contemplatives) as his scriptural basis for practicing silence, Moreland says that terms like meditation, solitude and being still are “common to both Christianity and the New Age (or many Eastern religions),” but insists their meanings are different.
Moreland is vague about the techniques to enter these states of silence but admits there is no “thus saith the Lord” regarding them. Furthermore, he encourages readers to focus on objects or images of loved ones or Jesus to help during times of solitude and silence. He adds, “Take a passage you have memorized and which you dearly love and pray it repeatedly to God.”
