Evangelical Concerns about Contemplative Prayer

Concern 1: "It's Eastern, Not Christian"

The worry: Contemplative prayer resembles Buddhist or Hindu meditation—sitting in silence, emptying the mind, focusing on breath. Isn't this Eastern mysticism in Christian clothing?

Response: While surface similarities exist (silence is valued in many traditions), the content and goal differ radically. Christian contemplation is:

• Directed toward the personal God revealed in Jesus Christ
• Dependent on grace, not technique
• Aimed at loving union with God, not dissolution of self or enlightenment
• Rooted in Scripture and church tradition, not Eastern philosophy

Moreover, Christian contemplative practice predates any Eastern influence on Western Christianity. The Desert Fathers developed their practices in 3rd-century Egypt without Buddhist input. John of the Cross never read a yoga sutra. The accusation of Eastern origin often confuses similarity with derivation.

Concern 2: "Emptying the Mind Is Dangerous"

The worry: Jesus warned about the demon who returns to find a house "empty, swept and put in order" (Matthew 12:44). Doesn't contemplative prayer "empty the mind," inviting demonic influence?

Response: Christian contemplation does not teach emptying the mind into a vacuum. Rather, it teaches:

• Centering Prayer: Uses a "sacred word" to return attention to God—not emptiness but presence
• The Jesus Prayer: Fills the mind with Christ's name—"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me"
• Lectio Divina: Rests in Scripture, not in void
• Cloud of Unknowing: Teaches directing a "naked intent" toward God—intention, not vacancy

The goal is not emptiness but fullness—being filled with God's presence rather than our own thoughts. Matthew 12:44 warns against moral reformation without new life in Christ, not against quiet prayer.

Concern 3: "It's Unbiblical Experience-Seeking"

The worry: Scripture should be our authority, not subjective experiences. Doesn't contemplative prayer prioritize experience over the Word?

Response: The Bible itself invites experiential encounter with God:

• "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)
• "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8)
• "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2)
• Paul's prayer that believers would "know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19)

Scripture is the norm for testing experience, but Scripture itself points beyond mere information to transforming encounter. Contemplative prayer does not replace Scripture; it often begins with Scripture (lectio divina) and remains accountable to Scripture. The goal is not experience for its own sake but deeper appropriation of what Scripture reveals.

Concern 4: "It's Catholic, Not Protestant"

The worry: Contemplative prayer comes from Catholic monasticism. Isn't this incompatible with Reformation principles?

Response: While contemplative prayer flourished in Catholic monasteries, it:

• Predates the Catholic/Protestant split—going back to the early church
• Has Protestant expressions—Quaker silence, Puritan meditation, Pietist mysticism (see Protestant Contemplation)
• Can be practiced without adopting Catholic doctrines about Mary, saints, or papal authority
• Focuses on Christ and grace—central Reformation concerns

The Reformers opposed certain abuses in late medieval piety (indulgences, works-righteousness, superstitious practices), not all forms of deep prayer. Luther himself valued medieval mystics like Tauler. One can appreciate contemplative tradition without abandoning Protestant convictions.

Concern 5: "It's New Age"

The worry: New Age spirituality uses meditation, visualization, and mystical language. Isn't contemplative prayer part of this dangerous movement?

Response: New Age spirituality did appropriate some contemplative language and practices, creating confusion. However:

• Christian contemplative prayer predates New Age by 1,500+ years
• New Age theology (pantheism, relativism, self-deification) contradicts Christian contemplative theology
• The solution is not abandoning contemplation but reclaiming it from distortion
• Discernment distinguishes authentic Christian practice from counterfeits

The existence of counterfeits doesn't invalidate the genuine. Evaluate any contemplative teaching by asking: Does it affirm the personal, triune God? Does it depend on Christ's work? Does it submit to Scripture? Does it produce the fruits of the Spirit? These tests expose New Age distortions.

Concern 6: "It Promotes Universalism"

The worry: Some contemplatives seem to blur distinctions between religions, suggesting all paths lead to God. Doesn't this undermine the uniqueness of Christ?

Response: Some modern writers have indeed blended contemplative practice with religious pluralism. This is a genuine danger to discern. However:

• Classical Christian mystics (Teresa, John of the Cross, the Philokalia writers) were not universalists
• Authentic Christian contemplation is Christocentric—oriented to Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life
• One can learn from the contemplative tradition while maintaining exclusive claims about Christ
• Critiques of specific modern teachers don't invalidate the entire tradition

Choose teachers carefully. Stick with sources clearly grounded in orthodox Christianity. The tradition itself provides resources for this discernment—it has always emphasized spiritual direction, ecclesial accountability, and theological orthodoxy alongside contemplative practice.

Jesus' Practice

• "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35)
• "After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray" (Matthew 14:23)
• Jesus spent 40 days in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11)
• He prayed all night before choosing the Twelve (Luke 6:12)

Jesus modeled extended times of solitary, silent prayer. If He needed this, how much more do we?

Psalms and Wisdom Literature

• "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)
• "My soul finds rest in God alone" (Psalm 62:1)
• "I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother" (Psalm 131:2)
• "In quietness and trust is your strength" (Isaiah 30:15)

Scripture values silence, stillness, and resting in God's presence—the very essence of contemplative prayer.

New Testament Themes

• "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17)—suggests prayer beyond formal, worded prayer
• "The Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8:26)—prayer beyond language
• "That you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19)—transforming divine indwelling
• "Abide in me, and I in you" (John 15:4)—mutual indwelling with Christ

Mary of Bethany

Mary "sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said" while Martha was "distracted by all the preparations." Jesus said Mary had "chosen what is better" (Luke 10:38-42). This passage has long been read as affirming the contemplative disposition—receptive listening over anxious doing.

1. Extended Scripture Meditation

Take a short passage of Scripture and dwell with it for an extended time—not studying, not applying, just letting the Word sink in. This is lectio divina's first movement. You're not emptying your mind but filling it with Scripture, then resting in God's presence through His Word.

2. Breath Prayers

Use a short phrase coordinated with breathing: "Lord Jesus" (inhale) "have mercy on me" (exhale). Or "Abba" (inhale) "Father" (exhale). This keeps the mind focused on Christ while introducing gentle rhythm. It's the Jesus Prayer in simplified form.

3. Silent Thanksgiving

After your regular prayer time, sit quietly for 5-10 minutes in wordless gratitude before God. You're not trying to achieve a state—just resting in awareness of His presence and your thankfulness. If thoughts arise, gently return to thanksgiving.

4. Psalm 131 Prayer

Pray Psalm 131 slowly, then sit in its spirit: "I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me." Rest as a child rests with a parent—not striving, just being present.

5. Dallas Willard's Approach

Read The Spirit of the Disciplines or Renovation of the Heart. Willard presents spiritual disciplines, including silence and solitude, within a thoroughly evangelical framework. He addresses potential objections and provides theological grounding.