Study & Meditation

John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said,
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Meditation, means to consider, to ponder, to study, or to contemplate.. We do it when making plans, setting goals, or watching the evening news. Many acts of worship, including the Lord's supper, are dependent on Christian meditation. Meditation may require solitude, it may require silence, but ultimately it does require concentration. Reading Scripture, planning one's day, and contemplating the significance of a hymn or sermon are all forms of meditation. A regularly scheduled time for prayer and meditation will enhance one's relationship with God.

Christian meditation is diametrically opposed to the popular conception of the transcendental dissolution of self into nature. The concept of Nirvana is one that has as the ultimate goal the complete loss of identity. It is the emptying of the soul and mind. Conversely, Christians pray and meditate for fulfillment and inspiration, we are filled before the throne of God. Being a Christian has everything to do with becoming what you can become; to be what God wants you to be. In other word, God wants you in your full personality and character to think about Him, to study His word and to desire a full relationship with Him, yet remaining independent of Him as an individual. To ignore this most important exercise is to neglect an intimacy with our Creator that hurts Him as much as ourselves.

The engagement with God through Scripture, community, human interactions, nature, (or however He has chosen to get your attention) is an activity where there are potentially many errors in judgment. Although we have Biblical descriptions of who and what God is, the individual's encounter with God is in many ways subjective. Unfortunately, it can't be taught or manipulated. This experience is dependent on the Christian's relationship with the Almighty. At times, one might mistakenly conclude that God has spoken, and take on a silly notion, only to find out that it was imagination at work or even the demonic element disguising itself. Caution should be the order, but denying the presence of God out of fear of human error is a sad statement and certainly a sign of immaturity.

A specific form of meditation is the devoted engagement with Scripture. The Bible is the source for the accurate message and the appropriate method of implementation of spiritual disciplines. A misinformed individual with the best intentions without searching the truth is akin to an athletic event with no uniforms to separate the teams. An aimless meandering dictated by the perceptions and opinions of others, whatever it may be, is not a spiritual life. All understanding and thought must be in agreement with the story of Jesus and the will of God as presented in the Scriptures. On all matters of question it is imperative that we consult God's word as a final determinant. It serves not only as a window into God's character, the story of God in the world, and His will for Mankind, but as a tool for determining the most productive action to take in any and every circumstance.