Apostoic worship??

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

That feeling when someone waxes on about something they obviously don't know about.

Contemplative prayer is not contemplating while you pray. Stop with the ridiculous posts about how you practice contemplative prayer. What you described above is not it.

Let's try it again:

""Contemplative prayer begins with “centering prayer,” a meditative practice where the practitioner focuses on a word and repeats that word over and over for the duration of the exercise.""

It is meant to "clear your mind" and engage with your inner self, because we all are divine beings.

Then, let me let you in on something... not everyone who engages in "contemplative prayer" does so exactly like the videos and articles you read.

1 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Much of what is known as "contemplative prayer" is too Catholic for me. But elements of it did prove beneficial to my prayer life. If one wishes to call it "centering" or not, I don't care. I do focus in on the name of Jesus. At times, I have repeated it. I have cleared my mind of all the daily clutter, and opened my soul up to God, allowing my inner man to breathe in God's goodness (sometimes even speaking in tongues while doing so).

As an Apostolic, I'd like to show some of these Catholic gurus how contemplative prayer is really done.

- Scripture doesn't forbid focusing in on the name of Jesus. To me, becoming "centered" means to focus in on who Christ is and the power of His name. Recognizing that I am in Christ Jesus and He in me. One can't get more "centered" than that. And repeating the name, as I have heard oldtimers do it time and time again, isn't a "vain repetition" unless the name of Jesus is of no value, authority, or power.

- Scripture doesn't condemn clearing your mind of all the worldly thoughts, distractions, cares, or concerns of this life as part of prayer. In fact, I've never heard a preacher tell the congregation, "Now, I want you to remain distracted. Let all your cares, concerns, and worries continue to just race around in your head. Now we're ready to pray."

- And, as far as us being "divine beings", not everyone who practices contemplative prayer believes that. I sure don't. Now, I do realize that I have a divine being residing in me... Christ in me, the hope of glory. Now, if I can get in touch with Him, I know everything will be alright.

- And there is nothing wrong with contemplating God in the present, God in Scripture, what you desire or need from Him, how much you love Him, or what He's done for you. There is nothing wrong with contemplating doctrinal truth. Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with contemplation at all. It's just deep thought, consideration, and reflection on something. In this case, the LORD and His Word.

Again, contemplative prayer is not sitting around in the quiet thinking/contemplating a scripture or verse.

Maybe you guys should realize that when I say "contemplative prayer"... I really mean... "contemplative prayer". A contemplative prayer as it has been done on Pentecost long before some Charismatic Catholic Monk made a label called, "Contemplative Prayer", to sell a few books. If I can get you guys to realize this, maybe y'all can realize that the accusation that I'm practicing the mysticism that some of those Catholic gurus practice isn't all that accurate... which is what I've tried to tell you guys all along.

It's important to note, when dealing with things such as these... one specific method of practice doesn't reflect the reality. There are many ways in which contemplative prayer, soaking prayer, etc. are practiced. As I pray you've seen, I've taken what is valuable in these things and have chosen to incorporate it into my prayer life. However, I've also chosen not to incorporate those things that I don't find valuable into my prayer life.

But frankly, in my studies on this... the valuable aspects of these kinds of prayer have been put into practice by Pentecostals for generations.

I keep encountering you guys wanting to pigeonhole me as being just like Thomas Keating, in what I'm talking about. And I keep telling you, I'm not. If I met Thomas Keating (and could get beyond the boredom of his book), I'd say, "Hey Tom. I read your book on contemplative prayer. Interesting stuff. But have you looked into how Pentecostals have been doing this for over a century now? You'll discover some differences and some similarities. Here, let's go to a prayer meeting." lol

If you guys can just stop thinking that I'm Thomas Keating, and realize that what I'm talking about is a contemplative form of prayer that predates the "Contemplative Prayer" of Keating, we'll be well on our way to understanding what I'm really talking about.