What is Contemplative Christianity?

[Windwalker]

Sorry, I'm just reading back at what I need to respond to yet at the part about mantra practice. It's too funny how you misunderstand the words you are quoting! I was going to mention this in another post about you bad-mouthing mantra practice and ask you if you ever sing songs in church? Guess what those are? They are mantras.

It's kind of funny untangling the mass of misinformation and wrong ideas about these things. It helps me to articulate to those who are confused by the sorts of confusion you teach others. So much misinformation! Thanks for sharing all of this.

I'll get to my fuller response later. This is too much fun to just give up.

 

[sojourner]

Sorry, I'm just reading back at what I need to respond to yet at the part about mantra practice. It's too funny how you misunderstand the words you are quoting! I was going to mention this in another post about you bad-mouthing mantra practice and ask you if you ever sing songs in church? Guess what those are? They are mantras.

It's kind of funny untangling the mass of misinformation and wrong ideas about these things. It helps me to articulate to those who are confused by the sorts of confusion you teach others. So much misinformation! Thanks for sharing all of this.

I'll get to my fuller response later. This is too much fun to just give up.

I was thinking the same thing! Choruses sung over and over -- the strops of a traditional hymn -- they're all mantras -- repetitive phrases that cause one to focus the mind. And that's what the psalms were -- chants.

 

[Windwalker]

I was thinking the same thing! Choruses sung over and over -- the strops of a traditional hymn -- they're all mantras -- repetitive phrases that cause one to focus the mind. And that's what the psalms were -- chants.

Exactly! I picked up a book at a used bookstore I by chance happened across that caught my eye. It's called Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound, by Robert Gass. He used to be a professional rock musician, and discovered how chant works when he came across some in Eastern traditions. He was actually the first person to record these and introduce them to the West. The book covers all its forms and effect in its practices in religions and rituals the world over. And most definitely Christian hymns are chants. Mantras are chant.

It's ironic how these practices are viewed with suspicion, while they exist within their very own practices! "I would never practice a mantra! Now, let us all recite the Lord's Prayer together in unison, followed by singing How Great Thou Art". And then then say the benediction, people rise and greet each other, and the ritual closes. It's the same everywhere. The action of chanting is what has the effect, and it matters not what words are said. You could chant buttercup, buttercup, buttercup, and it has the same effect (albeight words that aren't silly are better ).

 

[Windwalker]

You choose sacred word, remain in silence, focusing and going back to the sacred word. We don’t apply this Centering prayer as my prayer technique. God knows exactly what you will pray before we pray.

I think you missed reading my words, yet again? I'll repeat them again for you. You don't pray for God's sake, you pray for your own. The process of Centering Prayer helps you to learn about yourself, so you can in fact better serve God. If you never self-examine, that's a serious problem.

Why follow such Centering prayer that Jesus does not even teach us to develop this kind of prayer?

Open your ears.

I believed this Centering Prayer objective is to have an intimate relationship with God. But for us, it is by obeying, repenting, submitting, trusting, and committing our life totally to God empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Which is exactly what Centering prayer does. What's your argument against it, for the love of all thing reasonable?

It is the union of self with a divine being as creating yourself to gain a higher consciousness by meditation. That is exactly the New Age. This divine being can be projected to Jesus Christ or a divine being.

I seriously wonder why I am continuing this with you. YOU DON'T READ OUR POSTS.

I'm not going to respond any further to your truly "vain repetitions". I may respond later, but for now, I think it's better for me to step away for the moment. I have a standard of good manners I wish to be able to continue to show you, which you are testing right now.

 

[sojourner]

I'm not going to respond any further to your truly "vain repetitions". I may respond later, but for now, I think it's better for me to step away for the moment. I have a standard of good manners I wish to be able to continue to show you, which you are testing right now.

Like most fundamentalists, the poster appears to have a repetitive, one-track approach to the issues he disagrees with.

 

[Yoshua]

No, that's not what Jesus specifically taught. Jesus said, "when you pray, pray this way: ..." You're speculating upon and adding things to what the Lord actually taught. It's not scriptural.

Hi Sojourner,

I did say how to pray, what’s wrong? In other words used “in this manner,” the same application will come out. Jesus did not say this is what you will pray. We cannot use that prayer as our daily prayer without telling our desire, our needs, anything that we want to say to God. Is the Lord’s Prayer a guide on how to pray?

Thanks

 

[Yoshua]

Third party perspective. Some outside authority on the seasons. It may not be winter. It may be fall and just feel like winter.

Yes I know it already, I want to point out that it is truly winter in your place, if you may add another weather outside other places. Still, your place is truly a winter place.

Is it? How do you know? And why is your part of the world any more important than the other half, where it's now summer?

Because if the part of the world is not important as the truth, you cannot see the truth in the other half; as God is the truth for you, then you will know what is not the truth.

How so? What makes evil originally "an evil spirit?"

They are unclean spirits, a spirit being.

Satan is an avatar -- an invention of convenience -- not a real entity or person.

How about these scriptures:

Rev.20:7
1. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Rev.20:10
10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

God is not all? Doesn't omnipresence indicate that God is all?

Then God is all-present.

I disagree. They're misapprehending the texts and using them for monetary gain. That's evil.

You may say that maybe because you have a bad experience with them, but for me I also have discovered a lot of cult teachings, but I do not limit myself into it, thus know how to balance it with my views.

Who says we're "corrupt?"

Is there a human who is not a sinner, a perfect one? What is corruption mean to you?

Ps. 53:1
1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

The word corrupt may mean “destroy or go to ruin.”

"Fullness" and "completeness" do not mean "we have the whole truth." Humanity is, by definition, limited in perspective.

But thanks for cherry-picking a few verses and using them incorrectly to prove my point.

My quoted verse is not for a human to have a fullness for ourselves, because of Christ we have that fullness. A human has no truth, this is why Jesus say he is the truth. Logically, when we claimed we are the truth, why need Jesus to say He is the truth.

Whenever we love, we do have the truth, but only insofar as we are able to love.

How about all beliefs that claimed they have love, is the truth is with them?

Thanks

 

[Yoshua]

First, yet once again, the mind never goes blank. If it goes blank, you are doing something wrong. The term the Buddhist uses for that is "sinking mind". It's when there are no thoughts, but there is also "nobody home". NEVER is that supposed to happen. That is a problem if it does. You are supposed to still the thoughts, but increase your awareness so are fully, consciously present, not absent! So you are factually wrong on the first point.

Hi Windwalker,

So you mean it is a right thing to practice yoga including Christians? The method that command you to concentrate on a black dot, a light or a candle is not biblical. If you agree with yoga practices, then I may need scripture from you to support it.

Secondly, you have to prove that meditation makes you susceptible to possession. You can't just say that, making it up out of thin air. What is your basis for that fabricated claim? Why does it do that? Why do you say that? What is your justification? Because you heard it from some preacher dude? That's not a justification.

I already posted it already. You just need to read it again and answer those analogy questions and check it with the Scripture. Not heard from a preacher but heard from the word of God, if you are not in the side of God and submit to His word, how can you assure that you are protected?

There is good and evil, I believe you know this already, and very basic. God and Satan/evil spirit. When God commanded us to avoid something, we should submit to His command.

One basic example I would give is this:

Deut. 18:10-11
10. "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
11. or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.

Question:
If a person followed God’s command, what will be the consequences?
If a person disobeyed God’s command, what are the consequences?

Do you think a person who did not follow will not be used by the devil, evil-influence, demonized or possessed?

Now, I will post this again to let you see.
1 Tim. 6:3
3. If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

Now, any practices or doctrine should agree with those of our Lord Jesus Christ. How? You may ask yourself these questions:
1. Did Jesus Christ teach us this method as our way of meditation?
2. Is this the way that the Scripture told us to have the mind of Christ as taking or adapting the procedures and technique for drawing near to God?
3. Did any Scripture told us specifically to do the method?
4. What was the Bible is saying about meditation?
5. What is the command of renewing our mind? Is it by focusing on Christ or adapting the ways of other teachings and claimed it as Christianity?

Gal 1:8
8. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Source please? And can you elaborate on this "terrifying dream"? Be specific. Who said this, and what exactly did he claim? And also what does they "Also pick up words for mantra simultaneously with breathing technique," mean? This doesn't exactly make sense to me? Are talking about erupting into speaking in tongues, like the Apostles did?

I think you can relate with this again as you bought a book about chanting. The Sound of Spirit, familiar and similar.

The Use of Sound: Mantra yoga employs the use of a particular sound, phrase, or affirmation as a point of focus. The word mantra comes from man, which means “to think,” and tra, which suggests “instrumentality.” Therefore, mantra is an instrument of thought. It also has come to mean “protecting the person who receives it.” Traditionally, you can only receive a mantra from a teacher, one who knows you and your particular needs. The act of repeating your mantra is called japa, which means recitation. Just as contemplative prayer and affirmation need to be stated with purpose and feeling, a mantra meditation practice requires conscious engagement on the part of the meditator. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation (TM) espouses the practice of mantra yoga.

When I was in the Aikido class before, we are taught this kind of concentration, thinking and visualizing a small light in our mind. I’m aware on this during that time, and not continue practicing it. My classmate told me that he really terrified with his dream, and acknowledge that happened in his transition as he is reaching higher kundalini for spiritual enlightenment.

Actually about the “mantra” that I’ve posted make sense when you get a Bible and search the word of truth if that particular practice should be a way of life to righteousness. There is no double standard for Christianity, we cannot serve two masters.

Luke 16:13
13. "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Why should you do anything that works for you that isn't spelled out explicitly in scripture. Why should you be typing on the Internet? Find that one in scripture!

Did Jesus say that anything that works for us spiritually must be practiced whatever it takes? Wow, Scripture Please?

By allowing the Light of God to illuminate your mind through the Holy Spirit. That's how.

John 16:13
13. "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

If the Holy Spirit will illuminate our mind as guiding us in all truth, why we adopt a teaching, a method or a procedure made by men?
You believe in some Scriptures, but the application is not commended by Scriptures.

Let me post this article from ChristianAnswers.net about mysticism.

“Evangelical” Endorsement of Pantheism
A leading Evangelical, Richard Foster, lauds this pantheistic identification with God. Foster states,

"Contemplative Prayer immerses us into the silence of God. How desperately we in the modern world need this wordless baptism!Progress in intimacy with God means progress toward silence." [11]

Foster asks rhetorically, "What is the goal of Contemplative Prayer?" And he answers,

"To this question the old writers answer with one voice: union with God. Bonaventure, a follower of Saint Francis, says that our final goal is ‘union with God,’ which is a pure relationship where we see 'nothing.'" [12]

Seeing “nothing” and the “wordless baptism” are just an Evangelical rehashing of Catholic irrational superstitious myth. Rather, as II Corinthians 4:3 states,

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

The Catholic priest Thomas Keating agrees with Foster as he writes,

"Contemplative Prayer is the opening of mind and heart—our whole being—to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words and emotions." [13]

Thus Keating depersonalized God to the nameless “Ultimate Mystery” in mythology. This impersonal, “Ultimate Mystery” is a non-speaking, non-judgmental, “god.” Is Keating in the twenty-first century any better off than the men on Mars Hill to whom Paul spoke regarding their "altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, whom therefore ye ignorantly worship"? [14] Nor is any morality derived from Keating's “Ultimate Mystery”.

Thus Keating Merton and Shannon with their pantheistic identification with God have attempted destroy God's self-sufficiency as Creator, and the Lord God Almighty. They have endeavored to clone God into the image of humans. According to Romans 1:25, have they not…

"changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever"?

No wonder Merton admits,

"If only they could or see themselves as they really are… I suppose the big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other."

In the place of the true worship of God, they have set about to establish pantheistic idolatry. ChristianAnswers.net, mysticism

You mean to say you don't know what I practice? Then why are we are over 40 pages of discussion of you disputing my practices?

I certainly can speak of some of the things if your curious. But bear in mind these "techniques" are simply tools, or guidelines. It really does have to come down to the individual to do what works for them. It's the same as living out your life in the world. There is no "Book of Bob" that tells you everything you have to do to live your life. You're expected to discover that yourself!

I have an idea of your practice by Thomas Keating for Centering Prayer. If this is what you are practicing, then there would be no misconception in the coming discussion.

I remember again the mind technique of getting rich, truly that speaker really became rich. He focused and practiced using his mind power to achieve that consciousness. It works, but where is the source of power came from?

This is one example that anything can be done, and we have the option to choose.

Thanks.

 

[Yoshua]

Ken Wilber is most definitely NOT New Age! That's ridiculous. Anyone who categorizes him that way is highly ignorant.

As I said before, New Age likes to seize upon different sources and use them only in the most superficial, shallow ways. Wilber speaks of transpersonal psychology, and the New Ager's like to glom on to certain things he says, but they truly lack an understand of what he teaches, just as they do Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and so forth, even though they latch onto bits of them too.

That what the Wikipedia told us, he has this Integral Theory of Spirituality and Integral Vision. I know you much better know him well. I did not heard anything that Jesus or the Bible taught us about the integral theory of spirituality.

Thanks

 

[Yoshua]

You keep making this statement, although you have yet to provide one single bit of proof in support of the truthfulness of it.

Please read my post to Windwalker. Thanks

 

[Yoshua]

Sharing the Eucharist -- which is, BTW, the central act of the church at worship -- is derived directly from the Roman Pagan custom of the symposium. And no, it wasn't "adopted by the later, false, Catholic Church." It was they type of meal Jesus shared with his disciples as laid out in the gospels, and it's the same type of meal the very first Christians practiced.

Sojourner,

Well, as what you have said about Eucharist, this is the same as what His Disciples do in remembrance of what Jesus did. We do it the same as we distributed the bread to each member. We followed what Jesus did as written in the Scripture, and we don’t adopted as it is not our own.

Thanks

 

[Yoshua]

To add to this, the text is:

ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐντὸς ὑμῶν ἐστιν.
The kingdom of God is within you.

As Windwalker says, the adverb used is ἐντος. It's an adverbial form of the simpler preposition ἐν, which means "in" in the sense of something that is inside of something else, speaking in terms of location in space. So for example:

Πατερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοις οὐρανοις
Our Father, who is in the heavens

The ἐν is the preposition "in".

To give even more context to ἐν we might note it's distinct from ἐις, which indicates movement "in to". So if I wanted to say I was in the room, I would use ἐν. If I want to say I was going into the room, I would use ἐις. So there's no doubt that the root ἐν deals with "in" in the sense of "inside". As an extension of that root preposition, ἐντος means "within" quite literally. This form of the preposition is rare in the N.T., only elsewhere being used in Matthew 23:26 which Windwalker also mentioned:

καθάρισον πρῶτον τὸ ἐντὸς τοῦ ποτηρίου
Cleanse first the inside of the cup

You can see the etymology and usages of εντος outside of the N.T. by comparing the lectionaries available here:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=e)nto/s&la=greek#lexicon (click on the links for LSJ or Middle Liddell in particular, cf. in particular the adverb form)

One further point worth making from the lexicon is that ἐντος is the opposite of ἐκτος. That is, the prefix ἐκ means "out" and is the opposite of ἐν, so that ἐκτος means "without" or "outside". The parallelism between the terms helps clarify that the primary meaning of ἐντος is certainly "within", rather than "among" in the sense of "in the company of". Additionally, there is at least one parallel usage in Thucydides where ἐντος is used to refer to the inside of the body specifically.

Thanks well-named, for expounding it.

 

[Yoshua]

FWIW I have in mind to try to present to you some reasonably detailed scriptural defense of centering prayer but I have to find the time to work on it

As to the question of whether or not early church fathers engaged in similar forms of prayer, I'm not sure if we have very detailed theoretical works on prayer from the earliest church fathers, although I haven't made a review of their work that is complete enough to answer the question. The earliest detailed descriptions of prayer which are similar to centering prayer which I'm familiar with originate in desert monasticism in the 4th century.

However, in Ignatius in particular, and I made this argument before, his usage of the term Θεοφορος (God-bearing) to describe himself certainly is intended to indicate a mystical and experiential form of Christianity, as the entire history of similar titles in eastern Christianity makes clear. There is also, as I cited before, his references to the "inspiration" he has received, as in the epistle to the Trallians:

"God has granted me many an inspiration, but I keep my limits, lest boasting should be my undoing... Am I incapable of writing to you of heavenly things? No, indeed; but I am afraid to harm you, seeing you are mere babes. You must forgive me, but the chances are you could not accept what I have to say and would choke yourselves."
The phrase "heavenly things" is an allusion to John 3:12 and is fairly widely used to refer to visions and other mystical experiences by early Christians, as is obvious here also by the use of the word "inspiration". Additionally, I'd repeat again a small part of his epistle to the Philadelphians:

"When I heard some people saying, “If I don’t find it in the original documents, I don’t believe it in the gospel,” I answered them, “But it is written there.” They retorted, “That’s just the question.” To my mind it is Jesus Christ who is the original documents."
This follows a section in which he's defending a teaching that he gave by inspiration of the Spirit, which as you can see here, he claims to be authoritative even if not explicitly contained in the text of the scriptures. In other words, he's offering a defense of the idea of apostolic authority and the living authority of the church over something like Sola Scriptura. To the extent that one of the criticisms of centering prayer offered is that it's not explicitly scriptural, Ignatius would certainly not have considered that persuasive. And as far as centering prayer as a technique meant to encourage a more experiential and mystical awareness of the presence of God, Ignatius makes clear that he considers such to be part of a Christian life, even if he doesn't outline his practice very specifically in his epistles, in the way later Christians did.

Yes, what I would like to emphasize here is the practices. We followed the Christian practice based on the Scripture. In this modern times, there are various kind of practices that were adopted by Christianity from New Age, Buddhist, Hindus, and others. They tend to step out and compromised with the Scriptures. This is why I'm forced to use Ignatius as an example aside from Jesus. I believed there are more practices that will sprout as man-made methodology link with psychology, science, and philosophy.

If Jesus and Ignatius did not applied those methods or procedures as higher nature of spirituality, why adopt and imitate those things?

Thanks for your insights and comments.

 

[Yoshua]

Sorry, I'm just reading back at what I need to respond to yet at the part about mantra practice. It's too funny how you misunderstand the words you are quoting! I was going to mention this in another post about you bad-mouthing mantra practice and ask you if you ever sing songs in church? Guess what those are? They are mantras.

It's kind of funny untangling the mass of misinformation and wrong ideas about these things. It helps me to articulate to those who are confused by the sorts of confusion you teach others. So much misinformation! Thanks for sharing all of this.

I'll get to my fuller response later. This is too much fun to just give up.

If you think the word “mantra” can be use as a terminology for Christianity, then you are saying that other terminology can be used for Christianity.

Again, you said anything that brings you closer to God (for spirituality) is valid. I ask you if Satanism brings a person closer to God, is it also accepted and valid?

I believed that the terminology should be use properly especially in terms of spirituality (in devotion, prayer, meditation) for a belief/religion. Can we use Quran as the Bible of Christianity? this is one basic example. Terminology can be use for discussion purposes, literature, poetry etc..

How much more if we adopted and used their practices then applied it? Every spiritual terminology of a certain faith/belief has a corresponding meaning. Why simply owned it and apply it?

This is also the same as other belief take the word “Jesus” and other Christian terminologies, then misused it.

Thanks

 

[Yoshua]

Exactly! I picked up a book at a used bookstore I by chance happened across that caught my eye. It's called Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound, by Robert Gass. He used to be a professional rock musician, and discovered how chant works when he came across some in Eastern traditions. He was actually the first person to record these and introduce them to the West. The book covers all its forms and effect in its practices in religions and rituals the world over. And most definitely Christian hymns are chants. Mantras are chant.

It's ironic how these practices are viewed with suspicion, while they exist within their very own practices! "I would never practice a mantra! Now, let us all recite the Lord's Prayer together in unison, followed by singing How Great Thou Art". And then then say the benediction, people rise and greet each other, and the ritual closes. It's the same everywhere. The action of chanting is what has the effect, and it matters not what words are said. You could chant buttercup, buttercup, buttercup, and it has the same effect (albeight words that aren't silly are better ).

Hi windwalker,

Can we used voodoo practices and applied it with Christians? (this is exactly what you seemed portraying here)

Christians practiced prayer not mantra. Don’t mix the oil in a glass of water, they cannot be mixed. Oh my, buttercup, any words? Is this the state of mind who favored chanting even to the point of blaspheming? Do you think this is still the promised Holy Spirit that Jesus told us to guide us in all truth? I don’t think that Ignatius (what well-named mentioned) will chant anything for the sake of Christianity.

Scripture please for your message above. You remember the fruit of the Spirit, but forgot what is the Holy Spirit of God.

May God lead you the truth of understanding.

Psalm 19:14

14. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Thanks

 

[Yoshua]

I seriously wonder why I am continuing this with you. YOU DON'T READ OUR POSTS.

I'm not going to respond any further to your truly "vain repetitions". I may respond later, but for now, I think it's better for me to step away for the moment. I have a standard of good manners I wish to be able to continue to show you, which you are testing right now.

You ask me to define the New Age, and this is what I think New Age is.

Thanks

 

[Windwalker]

So you mean it is a right thing to practice yoga including Christians? The method that command you to concentrate on a black dot, a light or a candle is not biblical. If you agree with yoga practices, then I may need scripture from you to support it.

Is bike riding biblical? Are jumping jacks biblical? Are pull ups? How about push ups? Are those biblical?

Training your body is biblical, yes? Training your mind is biblical, yes?

Is yoga biblical? Yes. Training the body and the mind is biblical. Yes. You should try it. It helps with memory and powers of concentration. It would benefit us not having to continue to repeat the same answers to you as you seem to forget them from one day to the next. This discussion would probably have ended by page 5 had you been better attentive.

BTW, nowhere in meditation practices does it "command" you anything. And concentrating on a single point is only one type of meditation technique. That works well for some, but it's not my prefered method.

I already posted it already. You just need to read it again and answer those analogy questions and check it with the Scripture. Not heard from a preacher but heard from the word of God, if you are not in the side of God and submit to His word, how can you assure that you are protected?

This is a garbage response. You heard this from the word of God? Again, chapter and verse please. Where is it? You've yet to offer it despite our repeatedly asking you for the verses which say meditation practice opens you to the devil. Where is it? I know the Bible like the back of my hand, and I don't see it in there anywhere. Are you hallucinating it?

There is good and evil, I believe you know this already, and very basic. God and Satan/evil spirit. When God commanded us to avoid something, we should submit to His command.

One basic example I would give is this:

Deut. 18:10-11
10. "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
11. or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.

Question:
If a person followed God’s command, what will be the consequences?
If a person disobeyed God’s command, what are the consequences?

Do you think a person who did not follow will not be used by the devil, evil-influence, demonized or possessed?

Now, I will post this again to let you see.
1 Tim. 6:3
3. If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

Not one of those says anything about meditation practice. Show me how it does in your mind. Meditation practice is not a "doctrine", anymore that riding your bicycle is. Meditation is not practicing sorcery!

You are incredibly ignorant about meditation. It's a good thing you have us here to correct you! That is if you're reading these posts and paying attention to them. You really should consider the practice yourself. It will make you a better student and not have to keep repeating the same grade over and over again.

Now, any practices or doctrine should agree with those of our Lord Jesus Christ. How? You may ask yourself these questions:
1. Did Jesus Christ teach us this method as our way of meditation?

He didn't need to. He taught us to listen to God, not the means and methods. We've covered this already in an earlier class. Were you daydreaming during it?

2. Is this the way that the Scripture told us to have the mind of Christ as taking or adapting the procedures and technique for drawing near to God?

Scripture doesn't specify how you should perform spiritual practices, and you should know this if you had been paying attention when this material was covered. Does the practice fulfill the injunction given in scripture? Yes! Definitely yes. So it's following the teaching of the Bible. Yes.

3. Did any Scripture told us specifically to do the method?

Nope. And it doesn't forbid it either! End of story.

4. What was the Bible is saying about meditation?

This has been covered previous in class. Professor Sojourner taught a great deal of this already. You should review the notes you were supposed have been taking during his presentations. I assume you were in paying attention and taking notes?

5. What is the command of renewing our mind? Is it by focusing on Christ or adapting the ways of other teachings and claimed it as Christianity?

The command is to do whatever you need to in order to be transformed. Meditation practice does all of this. And is it "focusing on Christ"? Oh yes. We've covered this countless times in class as well.

Conclusion: Meditation practices pass the 5 conditions you just listed, and can in fact now no longer be viewed by you with ignorance and fear.

So far, it looks like you may need to repeat this grade again as you haven't been remembering any of the material that has been presented. I'm going to have to give you a failing mark, sorry to say. But the good news is, everything you need to pass can be found in this thread.

 

[Windwalker]

Thanks well-named, for expounding it.

Congratulations! You now accept the fact the Jesus taught the kingdom of God is inside you! This is good progress! Now, can you see why we emphasize looking within? That's what meditation practices specialize in doing.

Exercise the body: ride a bike, walk, jog, swim, etc.
Exercise the mind: read, study, meditate
Exercise the soul: Pray, meditate, introspect

All of these follow the teachings of the bible, so you can now rest assured it is the right thing to do. But as with any form of exercise, consult with a professional whether or not you are ready for such practices, as jumping ahead beyond where you are ready may lead to injuries.

Look within. Meditate. For the Kingdom of God is inside you.

 

[sojourner]

Hi Sojourner,

I did say how to pray, what’s wrong? In other words used “in this manner,” the same application will come out. Jesus did not say this is what you will pray. We cannot use that prayer as our daily prayer without telling our desire, our needs, anything that we want to say to God. Is the Lord’s Prayer a guide on how to pray?

Thanks

Oh, I see. So you get to pick and choose what you take literally and what you don't.

 

[sojourner]

Still, your place is truly a winter place.

The illusion is that there is no "my place." There is only "our place."

God is the truth for you, then you will know what is not the truth.

That's what I've been saying. The truth is not the same as "my" truth" or "your truth."

They are unclean spirits, a spirit being.

"They" what? Evil isn't a thing, or a group of things.

How about these scriptures:

Rev.20:7
1. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Rev.20:10
10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Metaphor.

Then God is all-present.

That's not what I said. I said "God is all."

Is there a human who is not a sinner, a perfect one? What is corruption mean to you?

Ps. 53:1
1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

The word corrupt may mean “destroy or go to ruin.”

Humanity isn't "ruined." We may be dirty, but we're not "ruined."

How about all beliefs that claimed they have love, is the truth is with them?

Absolutely.