More on Jan Johnson, Contemplative Author, Endorsed by Redeemer Pres. NYC

This comment came today from Facebook:

[It was said about] the book, Listening to God, by Jan Johnson, that no objective person could have a problem with it. Actually, I think only an objective Christian could have a problem with it.

For instance, at the start of Session 3, Johnson instructs meditators to Warm Up for 5-10 minutes and then she says:

"Sit quietly and breathe in and out several times. Relax your neck and then relax other muscles."

(Is this Christian meditation or a yoga exercise)?

Then she continues:

"If you feel distracted, jot down anything you need to remember and begin turning concerns over to God."

This is a classical eastern meditation technique for emptying your mind. She instructs us to write down any thoughts that we can't get out of our minds, because once we write them down, we can relax and stop thinking about them - knowing it's in our notes, and we can pick it back up later, after we finish meditating.

Session 4 starts with these instructions. (Remember this is for Christian meditation, not a yoga breathing exercise):

"Center yourself by breathing in and out several times. Relax your legs and arms. Bend your neck back and forth. Let go of distracting thoughts (i.e. empty your mind) and, if necessary, jot them down to turn them over to God. Then ask yourself the following question to help focus your thoughts for the meditation: IMAGINE OTHERS DELIGHTING IN YOU. WHAT COLORS COME TO MIND?"

Aside from the obvious theological problem of us imagining others delighting in US instead of us delighting in God, this is classic New Age, Hindu / Buddhist / eastern meditation technique for emptying your mind.

In fact in her introduction to lectio divina, Jan Johnson says, "Contemplation is a focused resting in God in which WORDS BECOME LESS IMPORTANT than the fellowship with the Father."

Classic emptying the mind.

Nope, there can be no question about it. That's exactly what she's getting at, and it is indeed perfectly in line with New Age / eastern meditation. It has nothing whatsoever to do with Biblical meditation. Jesus taught us to pray - but never mentioned breathing exercises or finding a comfortable position and warming up to it for 5-10 minutes! This is all well outside of anything the Bible contemplates."