Some Very Sweet Deception

Mike Bickle of IHOP calls it contemplative prayer. (Another contemplative form is “soaking” or “soaking prayer.”) Contemplative prayer is essentially the same as New Age or Eastern meditation, but disguised with Christianese terminology. Those who participate and enter the silence, as it is called, open themselves to great deception.

As Ray Yungen has explained, our minds are like rushing rivers. Our thoughts go here, go there, our thought process is active and continuous. In contemplative prayer, Eastern meditation, and New Age meditation, all thought is stilled. The active river of our minds is dammed up–the rushing river is now a still pool of water. This can be done by repeating a word or phrase over and over until thought ceases and one enters the silence.

But, this repetition of a phrase or word is exactly what the Bible says we should not do:

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Matthew:6:7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
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Contemplative teachers in the Christian camp will not advise believers to focus on a repetitive Eastern style mantra like “Ommm” (for example), but rather on a word or phrase like “Jesus” or “Abba Father,” or a scripture verse. In this way, the contemplative prayer appears “Christian” but nevertheless serves as entrance to the silence.

The silence of contemplative prayer is rich ground for false visions, lying “Christs,” and supernatural experiences. This practice can addle or alter theology, and often seems to lead to an inability to distinguish or be concerned about the difference between Catholic teaching on Salvation and the Truth of the Bible. A strong case can be made that Mike Bickle’s desire to unite Catholicism with biblical Christianity is the result of his long term involvement with this dangerous meditative practice.

According to Mike Bickle: “Everyone in the Body Of Christ is called to live lives of contemplative prayer…” [1]

“Everybody is called to live in the contemplative lifestyle. Everyone! Everyone! Everyone!” [2]

It is important to understand there is a biblical meditation, and we read of it in the Bible. In fact, we are instructed to do this. (Joshua1:8) In biblical meditation, the Word is pondered and the mind is active and thinking. This can be a wonderful experience with our God.

So, contemplative prayer, New Age and Eastern meditation means ridding the mind of all thought and entering the silence. Biblical meditation means the mind is active and thinking as we ponder the Word of God.

I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. (Psalm:119:15I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
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And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes. (Psalm:119:48My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
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Some years ago, the contemplatives came up with a brilliant answer to Christians who saw that contemplative prayer was essentially the same as Eastern and New Age meditation. It was explained that NewAge and Eastern practitioners strive to empty the mind whereas Christian contemplatives, on the other hand, seek to fill the mind with God.

This clever marketing ploy has drawn many into the deception of contemplative prayer–which is really not prayer at all.

Source Notes:
1. Contemplative Prayer Part 1 (audio message) by Mike Bickle
2. Ibid.

https://thewordlikefire.wordpress.com/2020/06/06/sweet-deceptive-contemplative-prayer/