Thank you for writing to Focus on the Family (e-mail, June 9, 2008). Your interest in our ministry is appreciated and we’re pleased to have this opportunity to serve you by responding to your questions and comments.

With all due respect to the folks who write and maintain the “Lighthouse Trails” Web site, we have to insist that they are seriously misrepresenting our ministry’s motives and purposes. Their assertion that Focus on the Family is “promoting” Contemplative Prayer and Spirituality is neither fair nor accurate. It is true that we have occasionally referenced speakers and authors who deal with subjects of this nature – individuals such as Richard Foster, Gary Thomas, Larry Crabb, and Beth Moore. But this, in our opinion, is not the same thing as “promoting” contemplative prayer. The truth of the matter is that we have far too much else on our plate to become involved in any such activity. The heart of our outreach is practical family ministry.

With specific reference to the work of Gary Thomas, you need to understand that, after a careful review, our staff has found nothing within the pages of Mr. Thomas’s book, Sacred Parenting, that contradicts the Christian faith or Dr. Dobson's philosophy of child-rearing in any way. As a matter of fact, we feel strongly that this book will be a tremendous help and a great inspiration to those moms and dads who choose to take advantage of its message. This does not mean that we can be held accountable for the contents of Mr. Thomas’s other writings. It should go without saying that Dr. Dobson does not necessarily endorse every opinion expressed by every author whose resources are distributed through our ministry.

On a more general level, we cannot go along with your unqualified assertion that “contemplative prayer” and “Eastern meditation” are necessarily one and the same. It is true that there is a form of “centering,” “self-emptying,” or “contemplation” specific to Hinduism and the other eastern religions which involves altered states of consciousness and which is essentially tantamount to a negation of the human personality. You are correct to insist that this is an unbiblical idea. You are seriously mistaken, however, in assuming that there cannot be other types of “contemplation” which are thoroughly consistent with the soul of Christian devotion and genuine communion with Christ. “Be still, and know that I am God,” says the Lord in Psalm 46:10. How can one “be still” and listen to God’s voice without first taking steps to eliminate inward “noises” and distractions? And how does one truly take up his cross and follow Jesus without first “denying himself” (Luke 9:23)? Clearly, there is a very definite place in the believer’s spiritual life for setting self aside in order to focus more intently upon Jesus – for saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

In closing, I can assure you that no one here at Focus on the Family is promoting the practice of “chanting” a “mantra,” after the fashion of the Zen masters. Nor are we necessarily advocating the teachings of any particular proponent of “contemplative prayer” (e.g., Thomas Merton, Teresa of Avila, or Henri Nouwen). All we are trying to say is that there is nothing unbiblical or anti-Christian about solitude, silence, and “meditative” prayer. Perhaps you can see the difference.

We hope this reply has clarified our perspective for you. Thanks again for caring enough to contact us. Grace, peace, and God’s richest blessings to you.

Timothy Masters

Focus on the Family