A friend has recently challenged me to defend my position that Yoga and the meditations done are demonic. My position is not that the average soccer mom doing “stretches” is demonic, but Yoga and its meditations at a “high level” are.
In all honesty, I have not dug deeply into this, I have only heard others I trust speak on the subject.
Since I am a Christian, my friend found there to be contradictions in my conclusion since, as he said, there are references to meditation in the Bible.
He is correct. In the ESV the word MEDITATION appears 5 times, and the word MEDITATE 16 times.
As I read all the verses with the words meditate and meditation in the Bible, it seems very clear to me that the context of these two words is to “thinking deeply”, “considering continually”, or “focusing on”.
The reality is, without calling it meditation, I have practiced this very thing. After all, I spend much time studying God’s Word, thinking deeply on the meanings and teachings, considering continually how the texts apply to a life determined to live in accordance with God’s will, and focusing on His commands.
As you can see from the Scripture I have included below, this qualifies as meditation.
I consulted with another friend and asked, “What is the Biblical definition of meditation versus the Eastern mystic, Buddhist, Hindu, etc. meditation?”
He pointed out that it is the object of our “thinking/meditation”.
When a Christian “thinks deeply”, “meditates”, their focus is on the Triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and His will for our life. Christians are continually digging into God’s Word as the Living Word, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
As I considered this, I determined that if I am going to give a proper response to my friend’s challenge, I need to research the definition of meditation. A brief Google search returned this result:
Meditation is a mind-body practice that involves focusing your attention on something specific to achieve a calm and peaceful state.
Continued search returned these results, Buddhist view in meditation:
Meditation is a way to turn your awareness away from the world and focus on your inner experience.
In Hinduism, which I found out, is where Yoga started, view meditation this way:
In Hinduism, “to meditate” is defined as “Dhyana” (Sanskrit: ध्यान), which means to contemplate or focus deeply, essentially aiming to achieve a state of union with the divine by quieting the mind and accessing a deeper level of consciousness through practices like yoga and focused breathing; it’s considered a way to attain self-knowledge and reach “samadhi” (a state of complete absorption).
In these brief searches, it looks like the major difference is focus on SLEF versus focus on GOD. This doesn’t seem like a concerning difference to someone that does not believe in God as the Creator of all things; but as a Christian, knowing that Satan disguises himself as an angel of Light, when the focus is on “self” or emptying oneself, it seems that would expose a person to the spiritual forces of evil.
To clarify what I mean: I have talk to several people that have had a dramatic “experience”. In some cases, they are at a concert and were moved in some way, or a festival with the same thing happening, or were praying and saw a vision. All of these things in and of themselves are not bad, and in some cases, they might be good, but where it gets scary is when their entire “word-view” is now based on their “experience”. If their experience lines up with God’s Word, then it was probably God using that experience to open that person’s eyes to the Truth.
But, if that experience leads to a belief system that contradicts God’s Word, chances are that they have encountered the spiritual forces of evil disguised as an angel of Light.
In my albeit brief research on this subject, it seems that meditation opens a person up to this same danger when they are “emptying” their mind and looking for “enlightenment”.
As the skeptic reads this, the obvious rebuttal is, “Your logic assumes that the Bible is the source of Absolute Truth, I don’t believe that it is.”
The evidence of the Bible being the source of Absolute Truth is overwhelming and is a discussion for another time. What I would ask is, “If the Bible isn’t your source of Absolute Truth, what is?”
I understand that many (or all) that embrace the Eastern philosophies or belief systems will say there is no absolute truth. They like to subscribe to the teachings of men like William Shakespeare:
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so”
Or Friedrich Nietzsche
“There are no facts, only interpretations.”
You can see the danger in this approach. It leaves men to develop their own belief system based on their own thoughts, or experiences.
Let’s take this to the extreme: A kid is born into an abusive family, where abuse of various kinds was the daily norm. He becomes an adult, marries and has kids and continues with the same pattern of abuse with his children because that is all he knows. That has been his “experience”. Does that make it right?
The point is, without a source of Absolute Truth, but only relying on our experiences can lead to a very dark and skewed world view. Opening (or emptying your mind) to see what “experiences” in the spiritual world come forth is very dangerous.
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Proverbs 3:5-7
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 22:17-19
Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,
for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.
Psalms 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalms19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalms 49:3
My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
Psalms 119:11
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalms 119:15-16
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Psalms 119:27
Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
Psalms 119:78
Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
Psalms 119:97
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Psalms 119:99
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
Psalms119:148
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.
Psalsm145:5
On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
Here’s two additional verses that confirm that meditate is to “think deeply” or “focus on”:
Luke21:14
Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,
Psalm 38:12
Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.