[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Contemplative prayer. aka Centering Prayer. aka Lectio Divina. aka Be Still. I used Christian mysticism because it's commonly used in reference with Contemplative Prayer and the like. It's traced back to Buddhism, Zen and Hinduism.

I've been reading more and more about it. Unfortunately, I'm finding out this junk is being promoted by some of my favorite Evangelical authors and speakers.

I’m not convinced that Contemplative Prayer, yadda, yadda, yadda, is altogether “unbiblical”. Yes, I’ve read some books on the subject of more meditative forms of prayer (what I believe is biblically called “meditation”) and they have incorporated strange ideas from other traditions. However, spiritual meditation, stillness, and listening for God to speak or to enter into the deeper dimensions of His presence are perfectly biblical. And being Pentecostal, we of all people should know this. In fact, “tongues”, is known as “ecstatic utterance”. Historically tongues often accompanied what traditional churches called “spiritual ecstasy”, a trance like state wherein visions and spiritual giftings such as prophesy, healing, tongues, dreams, etc. are found. Pentecostals almost experience this daily (if deeply engaged in a Spirit filled prayer life). Notice something that Paul wrote:

I Corinthians 14:13-15
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue
pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an
[unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding
is unfruitful. 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.

Paul draws a distinction between praying “with the spirit” (the inner man) and praying “with the understanding” (the mind). Notice that when praying with the spirit, a man’s mind (or understanding) is silent (unfruitful).

My first experience like this was during an altar call about 7 years ago. The power of God filled the sanctuary to the point wherein people were laying all over the floor speaking in tongues, crying, praising, moaning, repenting and weeping in supplications. I remember coming off the platform only to lose my ability to stand. I “fell out” on the floor next to the altar and there I lay for nearly an hour speaking in tongues and weeping. All I remember during that period of time was the awe inspiring awareness that God was indeed… present. My spirit had never felt more at peace, safer, calmer, and my mind was so quiet it seemed the time passed in what seemed like mere moments. It was so powerful; I needed help out to my car. There wasn’t a booming voice, a prophesy, or a message… there was only the power of His “presence”. And His mere presence calmed every fear and opened my soul to receive whatever was God’s will regarding my life and my future. It was a most blessed state.

Since then I have sought to enter into that realm of prayer many times. I find it easier to enter into that state by focusing upon God, a work of Jesus, or an attribute of God and/or Jesus (they are one). Sometimes I’ll still my heart and focus on a biblical truth or a verse of Scripture. Soon, I’m lost in the Spirit and I come out refreshed and assured of God’s reality in a way that transcends my human intellect. Sometimes I pray in tongues. Sometimes I hear the tongues in my head. Sometimes I’ve interpreted the tongues. Sometimes I sense nothing but my being and God’s presence. The silence speaks more than mere words can describe. And when realities concerning having the Holy Ghost residing in me began to pour forth… I realized the reality behind being “one spirit with the Lord” (I Corinthians 6:17).

There have been studies in those who speak in tongues. If you search YouTube for “Speaking in Tongues” and “Neuroscience” you’ll find a news segment dedicated to the research. Those studying brainwaves of those who spoke in tongues (or in the Spirit) found that the areas of the brain that control speech are active… but not those areas that control cognitive reasoning. In other words… it’s not the individual praying in the Spirit who is praying, something else is praying through them. Although the researcher is hesitant to affirm that this validates speaking in tongues, the researcher testifies that those who speak in tongues are truly experiencing a truly unique form of speech wherein the brain isn’t communicating thought. We know that as Paul wrote, the spirit is praying although the mind is not bearing fruitful thought.

Another interesting texts that has helped me transcend mere “mental prayer” is found in the book of Acts:

Acts 10:9-11
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and
drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to
pray about the sixth hour: And he became very
hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready,
he fell into a TRANCE, And saw heaven opened, and a
certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great
sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Acts 11:1-5
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea
heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that
were of the circumcision contended with him,
Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst
eat with them. But Peter rehearsed [the matter] from
the beginning, and expounded [it] by order unto them,
saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a
TRANCE I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had
been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners;
and it came even to me:

Then we see the testimony of Paul:

Acts 22:10-18
And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go
into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things
which are appointed for thee to do. And when I
could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the
hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the
law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt
[there, ] Came unto me, and stood, and said unto
me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I
looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our
fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will,
and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his
mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men
of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why
tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy
sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And it came
to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even
while I prayed in the temple, I was in a TRANCE; And
saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly
out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony
concerning me.

Yes, it's possible, to enter a "trance-like" state of prayer. In this meditative state of spirit called a "trance" we can hear directly from Heaven. We can receive direction, visions, dreams, and prophetic glimpses of God's plan. We can find ourselves transported to the very throne room of Heaven (John the Revelator) and see angelic realities. This is something that has been abandoned in our more "enlightened" culture. Sadly, the culture isn't more "enlightened"... the culture is more spiritually dead to the things of Spirit.

Christians today are so cantankerous. Anything that appears “supernatural” or overtly spiritual is often heavily criticized by the “traditional” Christians. And trust me, men make lots of money in their books and sermons and various “topical series” combating the “non-traditional”. Being a Oneness believer, I’m not afraid of being accused of heresy. And being a “tongue talker” I’m not afraid of deeply spiritual states and experiences, even when men want to criticize.

Yet, as with most things… one has to experience it for themselves to truly know what the issue truly is. You might remember my thread about my “talk with God”. That was one instance wherein I was praying so deeply and focusing in on why we are divided and what makes us holy. And yes, what I wrote in that post was the response that I felt pouring into me from across the shores of the realm of the Spirit. It truly revolutionized my entire Christian walk. My experiences regarding God’s presence, God’s indwelling Spirit (in me), etc. have also redefined what it means to be a born again Christian for me. Meditating on Christ’s words concerning Himself being the True Vine and we being the branches has forever changed the way I view the Christian life. Especially when I felt the Spirit whisper into my soul, “Notice, my son, the vine and the branches are a single organism. The branches are living extensions of the vine. Be ye therefore, an extension of ME.”

Historically this desire for “oneness” with God is the foundational quest of what is often called “Christian mysticism”. And interestingly enough those “mystics” down through Christian history often experienced “spiritual ecstasy”, visions, angelic visitations, tongues, healing, and powerful prophetic dreams. These individuals were often deeply entrenched in the traditional churches of their day. However, their experiences would have branded them Charismatic/Pentecostals today. There is an ancient Christian proverb that is normally attributed to St. Athanasius (although, it is most likely older than Athanasius):

"God became man so that man might become God."

This doesn’t mean that we become “gods”. It simply means that we partake in the divine nature of God Himself, and as a result, we are conformed into the very image and likeness of Christ. To the point wherein we feel His very heart beating in our breasts, hear His voice in our mouths, and our very shadows have nail scarred hands. In this we become, branches of the True Vine. Living extensions of Jesus Himself.

This “holiness” is otherworldly. It is deeply spiritual and personal. And it transcends any man made “standards” one could invent or compile from Scripture. It demands taking part in perfection, the perfection of God Himself. It means putting on His righteousness and holiness, not our own. And this state can only be approached and accepted in the realm of absolute, unadulterated… grace.

It is a path of transformation. The path that conforms one into the very image and likeness of Jesus Himself. The end being… Eternal Glorification in Christ Jesus.

So… that’s my experience and the path that has been set before me. I do caution to examine any form of contemplative prayer before engaging in it. I admit, there are a lot of quacks out there. However, this doesn’t mean that all forms of contemplative prayer (meditation) are wrong or unbiblical. Again, I liken it unto what the Bible calls “meditation”. Both supplication and meditation are forms of prayer. However, in supplication we speak to God… in meditation… God speaks to us.