Heterodoxical Teachings
What is the "lectio divina"
What is the Lectio Divina? The word Lectio Divina is Latin for "divine reading," "spiritual reading," or "holy reading" and represents a method of prayer and scriptural reading intended to promote communion with God and to provide special spiritual insights. The principles of lectio divina were expressed around the year A.D. A20 and practiced by Catholic monks, especially the monastic rules of Sts. Pachomius, Augustine, Basil, and Benedict.
Today, this practice that has been kept alive in the tradition of Benedictine monastic’s and it’s not only popular among Catholics, it has gained acceptance in other faiths and, more recently, in the emerging church. Today it is better know as contemplative prayer.
On the Youth Ministry & Spirituality Project, an organization dedicated to contemplative youth ministry, has a description of the four steps of Lectio Divina on their on their website:
In order to practice lectio divina, select a time and place that is peaceful and in which you may be alert and prayerfully attentive. Dispose yourself for prayer in whatever way is natural for you. This may be a spoken prayer to God to open you more fully to the Spirit, a gentle relaxation process that focuses on breathing, singing or chanting, or simply a few minutes of silence to empty yourself of thoughts, images, and emotions.
Naturally, the connection between Bible reading and prayer is always one to be encouraged; the two should always go together. However, there are inherent dangers with the practice of Lectio Divina. It is astonishing similarity to the dangers of transcendental meditation and other such dangerous rituals. The Lectio Divina has the potential to become, and often does become a mystical experience pursuit in which the goal is to empty the mind and freely empower oneself unknown sub conscience powers . While the Christian’s often try justify the use of the Lectio Divina because of use Scriptures to pursue the knowledge of God, wisdom, and holiness in this prayer method. This however does not mean that the end justify the means. God said His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6), not for lack of mystical, personal encounters with Him.
Another point to make is that those who take this mystical approach to reading and praying over Scriptures can disconnect it from its context and natural meaning. Instead they can use it in a subjective, individualistic, experiential method. This than can lead to the use of name-it-and-claim-it way of thinking in which of course scripture was never intended for this method of use.
Another major danger inherited with this method of prayer is the opening of our minds and listening for supernatural voices. People practicing this form of contemplative prayer, or Lectio Divina , are so eager to hear something supernatural that they can lose the objectivity needed to discern between God’s voice, their own thoughts, and the infiltration of demons into their minds. Lectio Divina leaves an open door for Satan and his minions for an inroad into the minds of the unsuspecting, and to open our minds in such ways is to invite disaster. We must never forget that Satan is ever on the prowl, seeking to devour our souls ,1 Peter 5:8, and can appear as an angel of light, 2 Corinthians 11:14, whispering his deceptive lies into our open and willing minds.
Lastly, I would point out that the attack on the sufficiency of Scripture is a clear distinctive trait of the lectio divina. The Bible makes it very clear that it is all we need to live the Christian life as found in 2 Timothy 3:16. By it's own practices the lectio divina denies this clear statement made in the bible. Those who practice methods of prayer like lectio divina or other forms of content particular are seeking special revelation from God and subverting God's authoritative word on prayer.
At best the lectio divina is Catholic mysticism and at worst it is Occultism. Either way if you are a true professing Christian you should not be engaging in this form or any other form of contemplative prayer. The Bible clearly lays out on how we are to pray to our father in heaven in Matthew 6:9 and the lectio divina or any other form of contemplative prayer is not it.
Today, this practice that has been kept alive in the tradition of Benedictine monastic’s and it’s not only popular among Catholics, it has gained acceptance in other faiths and, more recently, in the emerging church. Today it is better know as contemplative prayer.
On the Youth Ministry & Spirituality Project, an organization dedicated to contemplative youth ministry, has a description of the four steps of Lectio Divina on their on their website:
In order to practice lectio divina, select a time and place that is peaceful and in which you may be alert and prayerfully attentive. Dispose yourself for prayer in whatever way is natural for you. This may be a spoken prayer to God to open you more fully to the Spirit, a gentle relaxation process that focuses on breathing, singing or chanting, or simply a few minutes of silence to empty yourself of thoughts, images, and emotions.
- Reading (lectio) - Slowly begin reading a biblical passage as if it were a long awaited love letter addressed to you. Approach it reverentially and expectantly, in a way that savors each word and phrase. Read the passage until you hear a word or phrase that touches you, resonates, attracts or even disturbs you.
- Reflecting (meditatio) - Ponder this word or phrase for a few minutes. Let it sink in slowly and deeply until you are resting in it. Listen for what the word or phrase is saying to you at this moment in your life, what it may be offering to you, what it may be demanding of you.
- Expressing (oratio) - When you feel ready, openly and honestly express to God the prayers that arise spontaneously within you from your experience of this word or phrase. These may be prayers of thanksgiving, petition, intercession, lament, or praise
- Resting (contemplatio) - Allow yourself to simply rest silently with God for a time in the stillness of your heart remaining open to the quiet fullness of God’s love and peace. Thi pursuit s is like the silence of communion between the mother holding her sleeping infant child or between lovers whose communication with each other passes beyond words.
Naturally, the connection between Bible reading and prayer is always one to be encouraged; the two should always go together. However, there are inherent dangers with the practice of Lectio Divina. It is astonishing similarity to the dangers of transcendental meditation and other such dangerous rituals. The Lectio Divina has the potential to become, and often does become a mystical experience pursuit in which the goal is to empty the mind and freely empower oneself unknown sub conscience powers . While the Christian’s often try justify the use of the Lectio Divina because of use Scriptures to pursue the knowledge of God, wisdom, and holiness in this prayer method. This however does not mean that the end justify the means. God said His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6), not for lack of mystical, personal encounters with Him.
Another point to make is that those who take this mystical approach to reading and praying over Scriptures can disconnect it from its context and natural meaning. Instead they can use it in a subjective, individualistic, experiential method. This than can lead to the use of name-it-and-claim-it way of thinking in which of course scripture was never intended for this method of use.
Another major danger inherited with this method of prayer is the opening of our minds and listening for supernatural voices. People practicing this form of contemplative prayer, or Lectio Divina , are so eager to hear something supernatural that they can lose the objectivity needed to discern between God’s voice, their own thoughts, and the infiltration of demons into their minds. Lectio Divina leaves an open door for Satan and his minions for an inroad into the minds of the unsuspecting, and to open our minds in such ways is to invite disaster. We must never forget that Satan is ever on the prowl, seeking to devour our souls ,1 Peter 5:8, and can appear as an angel of light, 2 Corinthians 11:14, whispering his deceptive lies into our open and willing minds.
Lastly, I would point out that the attack on the sufficiency of Scripture is a clear distinctive trait of the lectio divina. The Bible makes it very clear that it is all we need to live the Christian life as found in 2 Timothy 3:16. By it's own practices the lectio divina denies this clear statement made in the bible. Those who practice methods of prayer like lectio divina or other forms of content particular are seeking special revelation from God and subverting God's authoritative word on prayer.
At best the lectio divina is Catholic mysticism and at worst it is Occultism. Either way if you are a true professing Christian you should not be engaging in this form or any other form of contemplative prayer. The Bible clearly lays out on how we are to pray to our father in heaven in Matthew 6:9 and the lectio divina or any other form of contemplative prayer is not it.
