For many Christians and people who are into religious rituals and ceremonies, meditation is often intertwined with it. It is an effective practice scientifically proven to help people discover happiness, live more compassionately, and ease the pain of suffering.
Our most significant battlefield in life is within the mind, and meditation helps us have the right mindset when entering into various life situations.
Is Meditation a Sin for Christians or Religious People?
So, is meditation a sin for Christians or religious people? Not at all. Meditation is a life-changing practice for Christians. It's like the transformation chamber that Steve Urkel had on the 90's TV sitcom Family Matters. He could go in one way and come out a different person.
Meditation delivers us from the trap of negative thinking to a positive mindset, changing our overall outlook on life. You may begin your meditations feeling stressed, frustrated, uncertain, and afraid about people or situations going on in your life… and still come out relieved, relaxed, focused, and optimistic.
Furthermore, there is much in the scriptures of the Holy Bible that supports this answer. For example, Philippians 4:8 says, “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”
We usually meditate on scriptures. For example, Psalms 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in my heart……”
We often meditate on what scripture says about a situation to build our faith and give us confidence and hope. Since “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” – 2nd Timothy 3:16, we seek to know what His word says about every circumstance we face and meditate on it.
For instance, if we are battling illness, we can meditate on scripture that says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prospers.” In 3rd John 1:2.
Moreover, if you need provision or protection, you could read and meditate on Psalm 22:4-5, which says, “In You our fathers trusted; they trusted, and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; in You, they trusted and were not disappointed.”
Meditating on God's word and hiding it in our hearts gives us confidence when faced with uncertainty and peace when we place our trust in Him. We can even use scripture as positive affirmations to meditate on and build our faith.
Lastly, prayer time can also be a great time to meditate. I often combine prayer and scriptures. Because of years of meditation on scriptures, I often include words of scripture into my prayers and then meditate and wait to hear from God or receive a revelation from Him.
It is not always easy to find the time to be still and meditate until you release your heaviness and stress, but it is worth it.
When is the Best Time to Meditate?
One more verse to consider is Psalms 1:2 says, “But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.”
According to the scriptures, meditation should be done day and night. Therefore, the most important thing is to set aside time for it. I love to meditate in the mornings; however, it is also effective to do it in the evenings to relieve the day's stress.
When People Might Consider Meditation a Sin
Some people do not agree with this viewpoint that mediation and prayer can go hand-in-hand. I know of several Christians who associate meditation with worshipping other gods.
Then there are others who don't disagree with the perspective of meditation. Still, they differ regarding religions and rituals that they don’t necessarily agree with or practice.
For the Christian or Christ-follower, they would not agree with meditating on Buddhism or Islam and vice versa. Meditation is not a sin, but it is vital in any religion you practice what you meditate on.
Final Thoughts on Is Meditation a Sin for Christians or Religious People?
Meditation is a powerful tool for Christians and religious people everywhere. It is a great way to stay encouraged and encourage others. We would all agree that it works differently within all religions.
However, in Christianity, meditation is our most effective tool to keep us focused on the scriptures we live by and to hear from God. Therefore, I challenge you, as a Christ-follower, to set aside time to meditate.
Whether it is in times of prayer or studying of scriptures, set aside time to meditate and see for yourself how you’ll walk away with more clarity, focus, strength, and faith.
Finally, if you want a simple way to reduce your stress and anxiety, then try writing these 35 mindfulness journaling prompts to live more in the present moment.
