CONTEMPLATIVE TERROR

Proponents of contemplative prayer say the method requires some caution and is not for the novice. For example, promoter Richard Foster claims the method can open up the door to demons and it is important to always pray a prayer of protection. Is this really something Christians should be embracing?

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The purpose of contemplative prayer is to become more in tune with God. Over the past several programs we have been documenting where the idea originated. While not found in the Bible, it is found in the sacred writings of eastern religions. Men like Merton and Foster have adapted the idea for modern day Christianity and it is becoming very popular.

Today will be our last program on this topic, at least for now. But before we move on, there is one more thing about contemplative prayer that I would like to warn our listeners about. Richard Foster, one of the most well known promoters of contemplative prayer, claims there is reason to be cautious. Listen carefully as I read from his book Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home.

I also want to give a word of precaution. In the silent contemplation of God we are entering deeply into the spiritual realm, and there is such a thing as supernatural guidance that is not divine guidance. While the Bible does not give us a lot of information on the nature of the spiritual world, we do know… there are various orders of spiritual beings, and some of them are definitely not in cooperation with God and his way! … But for now I want to encourage you to learn and practice prayers of protection… “All dark and evil spirits must now leave.” [1]

I have searched the scriptures. You can do the same. I can not find where we are required to pray a prayer of protection before we pray. The fact that Foster recognizes contemplative prayer can open the door to the fallen spirit world is very revealing. What is this - praying to the God of the Bible but instead contacting demons? Maybe contemplative prayer should be renamed “contemplative terror”.

Even more suspect is the idea that contemplative prayer is only for a select group. Again, listen to what Richard Foster has to say about this:

At the onset I need to give a word of warning, a little like the warning labels on medicine bottles. Contemplative prayer is not for the novice. I do not say this about other forms of prayer. All are welcome, regardless of proficiency or expertise, to enter freely into adoration and meditation and intercession and a host of other approaches to prayer. But contemplation is different. While we are all precious in the eyes of God, we are all not equally ready to listen to “God’s speech in his wondrous, terrible, gentle, loving, all embracing silence.” [2]

Did you get it? Foster promotes a form of prayer that is only for the mature, select, proficient, experts who are “ready to listen” to God. But where is this found in Scripture? It seems to me that Foster and those who follow his teachings should be assigned warning labels.

Of course Jesus forewarned us teachings like this would be popular in the last days. [3] What is amazing to me is that many today would rather listen to men and the methods they promote rather than Jesus and His word - which exposes them. 

I am Roger Oakland. This has been a biblical perspective to help understand the times.

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