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Is Contemplative Prayer (Meditation) Biblical?
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many minds have been clouded because the message of contemplative prayer came over so subtle and creeping in very slowly; with the result people DO NOT understand that there IS a difference between “normal” prayer and “contemplative” prayer. part of end-time…
I think we will follow the same way with the labyrinths. people follow like blind “fools”; it’s new, it’s in – let’s do it! if I can still think and feel I’m a christian afterward, it’s not wrong to do it — that’s the reasoning behind many of the ‘new’ movements and practices.
I also have the feeling people think that because God do not slay them (punish them) right away, it means what they’re doing is not sin, not wrong. What a pity many don’t realise that you can actually blot out the Holy Spirit’s voice through self-righteousness and reasoning.
cecilia
“What a pity many don’t realise that you can actually blot out the Holy Spirit’s voice through self-righteousness and reasoning.”
True Indeed.
I can not speak on Mike Himself, as I have not met him. I can however speak on the HOUSE of PRAYER concept.
I think there is a new age “visualization” technique. Oprah is a proponent of that stuff. New Age and all of Satan’s actions are IMITATIONS of what God has done.
Let us not confuse focusing on what we are praying about, or being specific and purposeful in prayer with new age.
Many Psalms are “repetitive”…should we not read them? (and they were set to music)
Also the following verses discuss prayer:
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
1Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
I am not sure how one can pray with their UNDERSTANDING without paying attention to what you are praying about.
James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
SING psalms? well…what about this one:
Psa 136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
HOW REPETITIVE!!!!!!
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Don’t I have to “contemplate” what I am praying about if I am thankful? Maybe I am just slow, but i have to stop and think about the things to give thanks to God for. Both at the moment, and then again later in groups.
If you have watch the house of prayer…the worship and prayer is majority QUOTING of SCRIPTURE and Discussing the Necessity of the Preeminence of Jesus. Not a lot of ecumanism, not a lot of ooey gooey hooey balloeey about all us one, focusing on light, letting love be our guide, following the heart of man etc etc. Sound doctrine comes out MORE THAN the most POPULAR christian worship singers out today. Who still say things like “he is the way, the truth and the LIGHT”…which technically is true, but usually is a misqote of scripture.
At this VERY moment they are saying at ihop-kc
“Narrow is the way — few will find it
your the only way —Jesus”
You will NEVER hear that kind of talk from ANYONE new age! To exclusive and closed minded…as if there was ONLY ONE right way, and the never to say it is the Lord Jesus! HA!
Truth is, you wont find new agers at such a prayer meeting regularly, too much “bible” and not enough “other” books being quoted.
Easy to learn chorus to a song for someone hearing it the first time. Easy to memorize, and sing along and sing to the Lord.
The key is to remember, house of prayers are to AUGMENT ones spiritual life in a busy society. A place where one can cast off the cares of the world NO MATTER WHAT DAY OR TIME and focus on the Lord. something lacking in most Christians lives.
They still need church, they still need to be discipled and they still need to study God’s word.
This is not a substitute…but a SUPPLEMENT!
Lets stop focusing on man, and do what God tells us. I fail to see how setting up an OVERTLY CHRISTIAN prayer room 24/7 is a problem.
Please show me YOUR 24/7 prayer room, so I can see how it is to be done PROPERLY!
Oh boy….another moaner
What is wrong with visualization?
If you treat it like a magic spell, then I suppose it is. When decieved people believe in something, that does not make it false by default. Various non-christian religions practice it and have practiced various forms of it for some time. Yet that does not make it false. It has recently become popular. But that does not make it false.
What actually makes it false, anything non-circumstantial? I guess I feel a bit defensive because it is impossible for me not to visulaize. My imagination is extremely vivid and I see no reason to suppress it. I practically think in pictures.
Some people practice negative visualization, albeit not consciously, and develop quite a funk on the count of it. destructive daydreams, ruminating, brooding. I can’t see why daydreaming the opposite would be inherently wrong; so long as one isn’t believing that they are provoking some impersonal force to grant them their “visulaized” request or what have you.
Hi Elijah.
Visualization is Withcraft. Read Leviticus and Deuteronomy. It is similar to “The Secret” and “Name it and Claim” it; they have to visualize it to be successful. It is also the method use by Shamans, Psychobabelists and Hypnotists and has been passed down through the ages from ancient Egypt and Babylon. Why not just stick to Scripture, why do we have to augment, is Yashua not enough, is Scripture deficient?
Scripture is enough, just read Timothy and you will see that. Visualizaton is not in the Scriptures and if not, leave it alone!