SOCIETY'S LIES
So I got a new fancy smart watch. The watch tells me to "breathe." Ok, just because the watch is supposedly "smart" doesn't mean I'm dumb. I know how to breathe. I looked into it, and realized my watch comes standard with a meditation app. What? My phone has it too. Since then, I've noticed every time I turn on the TV there is some new show or film that suggests meditation for inner peace. The app store is packed with software suites for meditation and mindfulness. There are a bazillion podcasts and books that somehow find their way to the top of every chart.
It's a new form of eastern religion and it comes as a packaged deal with almost every digital platform and device. It's Buddhism-gadgetized. It's mysticism for a new millennium. Although it's been repackaged for its agnostic western consumers, it is essentially eastern enlightenment in every cellphone box.
After seeing these same themes over and over for a few years something clicked. I asked myself: "Why are these tech companies pushing eastern mysticism?"
That sent me down the google rabbit hole. It turns out that this eastern mainstay which includes, meditation, inner peace, and mindfulness, has become a new super-fad in silicon valley, and it's spreading. It is presented as a wonder-drug for the stress-filled, business-focused inhabitants of the tech capital of the world.
Some of the main tech companies that you use on a regular basis encourage their employees to practice meditation. A number of these companies have full-time gurus that lead their workers in this mystical practice. They have embraced eastern religion because it affects the bottom line. Supposedly, having meditating workers improves productivity.
Tech companies claim to be "inclusive" and "tolerant" of all religious ideologies, but in actual practice, they are promoting a form of Buddhism above all else.
It's no wonder that eastern religion is pouring into our digital world, since the gurus of gadgets are actually listening to real-life gurus.
The Bible uses the word meditation. Some claim this means we should engage in mindfulness meditation. We've seen that society often lies to us, though. So, is it possible that the trend of mindfulness is a lie as well? Are Biblical meditation and mindfulness meditation the same things. Let's find out:
Biblical Meditation vs. Mindfulness Meditation
Biblical meditation is about FILLING your mind with God's word. (Psalm 1:2).
Mindfulness meditation is about EMPTYING your mind of all words.
Biblical meditation is about setting the mind on the THINGS ABOVE (Col 3:2).
Mindfulness meditation is about keeping the mind on THINGS WITHIN.
Biblical meditation is about focusing on the SPIRIT (Rom 8:6).
Mindfulness is about focusing on the FLESH (E.g. Your breath).
Biblical meditation GUARDS the mind against the enemy (Phil 4:6-8).
Mindfulness meditation OPENS the mind to demonic forces (Luke 11:24-26).
Biblical meditation draws on power sourced in CHRIST (Rom 8:11).
Mindfulness meditation seeks power sourced in the SELF.
While they sound similar, Biblical Meditation and Mindfulness Meditation are as opposite as two things can get. There are Spiritual consequences to mindfulness meditation. Of course, a person who has believed in Jesus for their salvation isn't in danger of losing it, but a Christian's daily spiritual success depends on how they meditate, Biblical or otherwise.
So the promised good of mindfulness meditation is another one of society's lies.
First: Protect yourself. If you've been practicing mindfulness meditation, it's time to replace it with a better way. While mindfulness meditation is something you should not be doing, Biblical Meditation is something you should do daily. Read through the verses I've provided above, and consider how you might add Biblical Meditation to your daily routine.
Second: Talk to the kids in your life about this topic. I'm not trying to protect my children from the world, as much as I'm trying to prepare them for it. That means I have to talk about these uncomfortable topics with my kids.
When non-Christian concepts surface in your kid's shows, if you can't stand to cut the show off, at least make a point to talk about it with them. You need to be discussing these troubling trends. If you're not, you're already behind the curve.
Think about these words from the Bible:
“So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine... Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. (Deut 11:18-19)
Practice Biblical mediation, and teach the kids in your life to do the same.
