Leaving church and finding Jesus update-
On January 7, 2006 I reported that my old church First Baptist of Modesto was still promoting Lectio Divina and on that date when you clicked on the scripture link on the junior high website portion it read this.
Lectio Divina-Scripture Reading
This devotional method reading Scripture dates back to ancient Christianity (around 540 a.d.). It has recently gained popularity among protestants of modern day.The practice is designed to foster a spiritual frame of mind, a discipline that helps us dwell on a biblical passage as a means of seeking an encounter with Jesus. Simply put, it involves focusing on a text in the presence of God for the sake of radical change in our soul. In essence, it is a way of praying the Bible.
Lectio Divina can take 10 minutes or two hours. I recomend taking 30 minutes using the following format.
READ (10 minutes)Pick a biblical passage that naturally leads to reflective prayer or the person of Jesus (Psalms or one of the Gospels). Choose a short amount to read (5-10 verses) and read it several times with silent pauses in between each reading. Try reading it aloud a couple of times as well. As you read, a word or phrase will sort of stand out to you.
THINK (5 minutes)Give the opportunity to quietly reflect on the passage and listen for what God has to say to you. Chew on the word or phrase that stood out and think about what it means. Memorize it by slowly repeating it to yourself.
PRAY (10 minutes)Ask God what He is saying to you through the passage and especially the word or phrase. Ask God, "Why this word? What are you saying to me today?" Dialogue with God and let Him speak to you.
LIVE (5 minutes)Finally, spend some more time resting in silence, thinking about what God has said to you through His Scriptures. You can also use this time to respond to God through action such as journaling, painting, drawinig or singing your favorite worship song.Finally here is the link that sends you here
The website has changed and it currently states this.
Reading and Praying Scripture
This devotional method is designed to help us focus on a biblical passage as a means of seeking Jesus. Simply put, it involves focusing on a text in the presence of God for the sake of radical change in our soul. It is a way of praying the Bible.
I recomend taking 30 minutes using the following format.
READ (10 minutes)
Pick a biblical passage that naturally leads to reflective prayer or the person of Jesus (Psalms or one of the Gospels). Choose a short amount to read (5-10 verses) and read it several times with silent pauses in between each reading. Try reading it aloud a couple of times as well. As you read, a word or phrase will sort of stand out to you.
THINK (5 minutes)
Take the time to quietly reflect on the passage and listen for what God has to say to you. Chew on the word or phrase that stood out and think about what it means. Memorize it by slowly repeating it to yourself.
PRAY (10 minutes)
Ask God what He is saying to you through the passage and especially the word or phrase. Ask God, "Why this word? What are you saying to me today?" Dialogue with God and let Him speak to you.
LIVE (5 minutes)
Finally, spend some more time resting in silence, thinking about what God has said to you through His Scriptures. You can also use this time to respond to God through action such as journaling, painting, drawinig or singing your favorite worship song.
So have the folks at First B repented of Lectio Divina and are no longer promoting this practice?
I'll let you read and compare the two website postings and you can decide for yourselves.
My purpose of reporting this was to show that the website had changed its post.
I do want to be accurate and honest in my reporting you can draw your own conclusions .
I would be interested in what you think though.
We do need to pray for the current leadership in the church most of all our youth pastors.
Many who are being deceived and being sold a bag of goods that is not of God.
posted by Tim Wirth | 1:09 PM
4 Comments:
I've been following your posts on lectio divina for weeks now and I have to say I'm not sure what your problem is with it. Is ii because it's practiced in Catholicism? I certainly understand your hesistancy if that is the case.
However, on the surface of it, how does it get off?
1. You read Scripture. Fine.
2. You think about the passage...chew on it (the word meditate in the OT passages of Joshua 1:8 and Psalms 1:1-3 suggest the chewing of cud; it ocmes from the root word meaning "muttering" ]the scripture several times].
Fine.
3.Ask God what He is saying to you through this passage. Fine
Dialogue with God. Well, I would like them to explain what THEY mean by "dialogue with God."
4.Think [again] what God is saying to you through this Scripture. Fine.
This to me is pure Biblical meditation. Eastern meditation, on the other hand, is different in that you are NOT using your mind actively; you repeat a mantra over and over (a non-Biblical one usually); and you often sit in yoga-like positions.
Also, one goes within oneself for truth instead of allowing Scripture to speak outside of oneself (as in the lectio divina described from your former chruch).
So, where am I going wrong here? I sincerely wish to know your thoughts.
The practice of Lectio Divina is not one of memorizing scripture but one of chanting (repeating) scripture over and over for a chance meeting with God.
Of course there is nothing wrong with hoping God will speak and direct you through His word.
I do have a problem with this practice because its root is in the Catholic religion.
In the context that Lectio Divina has been promoted in the past and the present its not being used to contemplate the meaning of a Bible verse by thinking about it, but its being used to gain some type of experience from it.
Thats my biggest problem with it.
Plus the monks had all kinds of real demonic encounters (look through church history on St Antony and Theresa of Avila).
I notice this is not being promoted to adults at large but children.
At my old church most of the adults I talked to were not even aware that this practice was being taught or even what it is.
Why?
Why wasnt the senior pastor aware of this?
Im not sure whats behind any of this.
If this is such a good thing and biblically based why not be upfront and public with it?
Why are children being targeted in particular for this practice?
All this adds up to my conclusions about Lectio.
Plus-
I know what Lectio is because my mom practiced it in the 60's.
I know what kind of long term fruit this bears from the opnions that have shaped my own mothers life.
Do a extensive websearch on Lectio Divina, centering prayer, and conetemplative prayer and then compare the actual practice to what scripture teaches.
People need to see if scripture teaches or sanctions this practice.
I do not believe it does.
Thank you for your comments.
Tim,
I undestand your piont., However, many evangelical churches are using lectio divina but NOT the original Catholic mystical version. Are you sure this is what your former church is doing-tha is, the msytical version? My church is doing a Biblical version, although I'm not real happy that my church is naming it lectio divina. I think they could think of a better name that would have zero connection to Catholicism.
In summary, I am trying to differentiate between the Catholic original version, and a version used by some evangelical churches. From the description you quoted from your former church's website, to me it sounds as if they are doing a much more Biblical version. But I for course may be wrong as I've never been to that church.
Hi Diane : I will address your well thought out comments.
Concerning my former church-
My biggest problem is the leadership flat out lied to me.
And it was not until I posted a article on my blog did they rewrite and try to hide the fact that they are still teaching Lectio.
The changes to the junior high website should make anyone with half a brain angry and its a real insult to the integrity of any discerning.
Now about a good form of Lectio.
The witches call wicca a good form of witchcraft compared to satanism.
Is it?
(And there are even Christian wiccans/witches)
A Christian homesexual(a oxymoron of course) will state that a sexual union in love is different than one in lust and its ok in Gods eye's thats how some try to refute Romans 1:26-32.
So where can you show me that the practice of Lectio Divina is ok according to scripture.
Because it rally doesnt matter what we think but rather what Gods word states.
Lectio Divina is a ritual used to try to create or coax God to have a experience with you.
Its used to for the sake of a experience not to memorize scripture.
Let me quote a book titled "Running against the Wind" by Brian Flynn.
Page 135
Quote" There is a difference between reading the Word and understanding its meaning versus a method of focusing on a single word to gain a mystical experience."
from page 136-137
quote "By taking passages of Scripture, which have an intended meaning, and breaking them down into smaller, seperate segments, often for the purpose of chanting over and over, the true meaning of the passages are lost. Rather a form of occult mysticism is practiced-with the hope and intention of gaining a mystical experience that God never intended when He gave the inspired words to His servants." end of quote.
I was also present when the youth leader at my former church practiced his New Age/Emergent experience he titled "Sanctum."
I sat through the whole thing and witnessed first hand what was taught and I have given a accurate report on this.
Not one senior church leader or pastor was present for this to see for themselves what was going on.
Not one.
Instead they choose to play clean up and hide the facts later.
At least at your church they are being honest about what they are teaching.
I don't agree with Lectio being taught in any church.
But at least some churches are being upfront and honest about what is being taught.
The bottom line is still what does scripture say about this practice?
Its simply not taught or in scripture.
Each individual will have to decide for themselves.
And the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to lead all believers into all truth.
Its not a individuals commodity.
Remember in the Wizard of Oz when Glenda asked Dorothy "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?
Is there really such a thing?
Search the scriptures to see what ir tru dont just take my word for it.
Thanks for your comments
Peace
Tim
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