Contemplative Prayer is Communion, a Gaze, a Hearing, and a Silence

Vivificat ^ | April 07, 2009 | Teófilo de Jesús

[Abigail Adams]

Basically, the danger of contemplative practices is that you don’t know for sure who you’re “talking to.” Eastern religions, new agers, and occultists alike use meditation and other practices to contact the spirit world. Does the God of the Bible require meditation to contact him? No, simply prayer, which Jesus taught us about when he prayed the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus didn’t go into a trance, or enter an altered state of consciousness, when he prayed. He just talked to his Father.

So then, what or who do people contact in the spirit world through meditation and altered states of consciousness? Perhaps deceiving spirits, so-called “angels,” “spirit guides,” demons? It says in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

And therein lies the danger. Biblical prayer is not dangerous. Yet those who promote contemplative prayer, like Richard Foster, warn that their methods are dangerous.

A snippet from this article:

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/richardfosterbestilldvd.htm

And yet, Foster himself says this is a dangerous prayer method that can invoke demonic activity and requires special protection. From Foster’s book, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, Foster says: “I also want to give a word of precaution. In the silent contemplation of God we are entering deeply into the spiritual realm, and there is such a thing as a supernatural guidance that is not divine guidance. While the Bible does not give us a lot of information on the nature of the spiritual world [not true], we do know there are various orders of spiritual beings, and some of them are definitely not in cooperation with God and his way!...”

[Citizen Soldier]

I highly recommend Ralph Martin's book "Fulfillment of All Desires" to anyone who wants to learn about the doctors of the Church and their beliefs on this type of prayer, great book and lots of subjects -

St. Francis quote from book

"However, if you have the gift of mental prayer, you should give it first place. Afterwards if you cannoy say your vocal prayers because of your many duties or for some other reason don't be disturbed on that account .... During vocal prayer if you find your heart drawn and invited to interior or mental prayer, don't refuse to to take it up. Let your mind turn very gently in that direction and don't be concerned at not finishing in that direction and don't be concerned at not finishing vocal prayers you intended to say. The mental prayer you substitute for them more pleasing to God and more profitable for your soul."(pg. 125)

[GonzoII]

"Biblical teaching. What is prayer, in the Bible? It's one thing, and one thing only: prayer is talking to God. Period. That's it."

Prayer is no doubt "talking to God" but it is also listening:

Zephaniah:1:7: "Be silent before the face of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is near, for the Lord hath prepared a victim, he hath sanctified his guests."

Zec:2:13: "Let all flesh be silent at the presence of the Lord: for he is risen up out of his holy habitation."

Ps:46:10: "Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth."

[GonzoII]

Thanks for the input.

[BibChr]

Thanks for those.

In context, what do any of those verses have to do with prayer? None uses the word. The word is used many, many times, always of believers speaking to God. And there are times to shut up. But is there a verse that calls shutting up "prayer"?

[GonzoII]

"And there are times to shut up. But is there a verse that calls shutting up "prayer"? "

When we shut up that's when we're listening, i.e, "contemplating".

[BibChr]

Well, I’m all for timely shutting-up. (c;

But there’s no Biblical warrant for calling it prayer or “listening” — Unless we’re prophets (Deuteronomy 18:15ff.). And we’re not.

God speaks through His word only (e.g. Hebrews 3:7ff.).

[Petronski]

“Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

[DaveMSmith]

Basically, the danger of contemplative practices is that you don’t know for sure who you’re “talking to.”

A pious person who is living the Ten Commandments will easily recognize temptation. A big part of the contemplative practice is a purification of the soul and a self-knowledge process to reveal spiritual weaknesses.

Your Foster quote is baseless and really is leading people astray from a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

[tioga]

Union with God through the Holy Spirit is a gift from God. True, the devil will do his dirty work and lead some astray, BUT, to claim all such experiences are to be shunned is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

[DaveMSmith]

Your Foster quote is baseless and really is leading people astray from a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

I should say your referenced website's comments of the Foster quote is baseless

Difficult keeping track with those who don't speak for themselves :)