What is Contemplative Prayer?

[Jeff Greening]

What is the all the fuss about spending time with God, praying. But is contemplative Prayer really praying? Do I have any record that Jesus Christ and the Apostles preformed this practice in its many forms? But wait! The early church fathers did it. It is just a 'Ancient" practice that we have missed out on. We have been so busy in our lives that we have to go back to the past to get in touch with the future. I hope this blog will help in discerning if you should practice contemplative Prayer. A definition from Lighthouse Trails,http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/cp.htm states this:
Contemplative Prayer: As it is expressed in a modern day movement is mystically (i.e. based on a technique or method) in which one empties the mind of thought through repetition, usually of a word or phrase or focus on the breath. In this case the silence would be an absence of thought, all thought.
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Roger Oakland wrote on this subject in his book Faith Undone under the title:

Contemplative Prayer or Terror?
"Proponents of contemplative prayer say the purpose of contemplative prayer is to tune in with God and hear His voice. However, Richard Foster claims that practitioners must use caution. He admits that in contemplative prayer "we are entering deeply into the spiritual realm" and that sometimes it is not the realm of God even through it is "supernatural." He admits there are spiritual beings and that a prayer of protection should be said beforehand something to the effect of "All dark and evil spirits must now leave."(1) Where in Scripture do we find such a prayer? Where in witchcraft?

I wonder if all these Christians who now practice contemplative prayer are following Foster's advice. Whether they are or not, they have put themselves in spiritual harm's way. Nowhere in Scripture are we required to pray a prayer of protection before we pray. The fact that Foster recognizes contemplative prayer is dangerous and opens the door to the fallen spirit world is very revealing. What is this----praying to the God of the Bible but instead reaching demons? Maybe contemplative prayer should be renamed contemplative terror.

While Foster has said repeatedly that contemplative prayer is for everyone, he contradicts himself when he says it is only for a select group and not for the novice."(2) He says not everyone is ready and equipped to listen to God's voice through the "all embracing silence." (3)

This is amazing, Foster admits that contemplative prayer is dangerous and will possibly take the participant into demonic realms, but he gives a disclaimer saying not everyone is ready for it. My question is, who is ready, and how will they know they are ready? What about all the young people in the emerging church movement? Are they ready? Or are they going into demonic altered stated of consciousness completely unaware? Given Foster's admission of the danger, he does great damage when he says: "We should all, without shame, enroll in the school of contemplative prayer." (4)

Foster's implication that some contemplative prayer is safe is terriblity mistaken. No
contemplative prayer is biblical or safe---even the most mature of the Christian mystical leaders proved susceptible to its demonic pull. Thomas Merton at the end of his life said he wanted to be the best Buddhist he could be. Henri Nouwen at the end of his life said all paths lead to God. This was the spiritual fruit of their lives after years of practicing mystical prayer.

In concluding this chapter on mysticism and contemplative spirituality, the real question is whether or not the realm of the silence is God's realm or Satan's---light or darkness. The Bible tells us that Satan is very deceptive, and what can often look good is not good at all: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)"

(1)Richard Foster,Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home (Harper: San Francisco, 1992, First Edition),p.157.
(2)Ibid, p 156.
(3)Ibid.
(4)Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline (San Francisco, CA: Harper & Row 1978 edition),p.13


From Faith Undone, Roger Oakland:LIghthouse Trails Publishing 2007


I encorage you to find this book: www.lighthousetrails.com
and also check out Roger Oakland's web site: www.understandthetimes.org

I will be posting a video from the Berean Call:www.thebereancall.org, about this subject in more detail and a few audios to help.

Please have ears to hear!