When Students Are Left for the Wolves
Understanding The Times (Link)
- Jan Markell (November 10, 2009)
I wasn't prepared for what I was about to hear the evening of November 3. My
alma mater, Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, sponsored an
Interreligious Symposium promoting some kind of "common ground" between
Buddhism and Christianity. One would think if a Christian had an ounce of
discernment, they would deduce that Christianity has nothing to do with Buddhism
and such unions are playing with fire. But a panel concluded that there
was "common ground" when it came to "meditation." Granted,
this kind of meditation could put one in a dangerous altered state of
consciousness, but maybe that's ok as long as we can find a bit of unity here!
Some would call this common bond of meditation "contemplative prayer."
About 200 students and a few adults were crammed into the symposium auditorium.
Attendance by the students was mandatory. The three main presenters were
Buddhist monk Witiyala Seewalie from Sri Lanka, Bethel professor Paul Reasoner
who is a part of the "Christian Zen" movement, and Ted Meissner, an active
Buddhist layman and meditator in Zen, although he grew up in a Christian home.
The kind of meditation being promoted by the panelists is the kind that brings
"enlightenment," whatever that means.
Ted Meissner described the goal of enlightenment to our daily growth and
walk with Christ. Panelist Paul Reasoner did not particularly enlighten anyone
to his area of interest, Christian Zen, so I am still clueless as to what that
is. I think it's an attempt to again help people become Buddhist-friendly. It
was clearly an emphasis on the blending of Christianity and Buddhism. With only
about 20 minutes for questions, there was no way I was going to get a multitude
of mine answered.
Doing a bit of research told me that Zen is a school or division of
Buddhism characterized by techniques designed to produce enlightenment. This
term is used repeatedly yet I have never seen such a line-up of unenlightened
panelists! In particular, Zen emphasizes various sorts of meditative practices
which are supposed to lead the practitioner to a direct insight into the
fundamental character of reality -- whatever that means! And if I don't
fully get it, how are 20 year old college students supposed to get it? This one
thing I do know: It doesn't mean getting to know the fundamental character of
the one true God.
I was accompanied on this journey by Pastor Bob DeWaay from Twin City
Fellowship in Minneapolis. He has contributed some thoughts to this summary of
the event.
There was not one whit of "Christianity" that was presented to the Buddhist
participating on the panel. This sent a message to him that he is ok being a
Buddhist.
The push was "meditation." But being a Buddhist means becoming conscious of
one's own divinity. This was not clarified. Had it been clarified, it could have
sent out a huge red flag to questioning students at Bethel. So why would
Christians get on board with this kind of meditative enlightenment when
acknowledging one's own divinity for a Christian would be idolatry and an
abomination to the one true God?
The students were encouraged to do meditation that would silence or empty their
minds. Keep in mind that some who promote this kind of meditation such as
Richard Foster, actually tell you to pray a prayer of protection over yourself
before you begin! Yet there was no warning to innocent and na�ve students
and again, attendance for most there was mandatory.
We heard a lot about those
ancient mystics and desert fathers. Here we go with the mystical again, and
mysticism always trumps doctrine. Bring on "experience"!! Another panelist
talked about the Jesuits he studied under. Is Bethel a Baptist-rooted university
or Catholic-rooted? Try the former.
A symposium like this is leading these kids straight to the Emergent
Church which goes along with all of the above. And if anything will
bring spiritual death, it is all things Emergent. The step beyond that is the
one-world religion.
You can hear the entire audio of the 75 minute symposium
here.
So now that we know some of what was talked about, what wasn't covered?
With a Buddhist on the panel needing truth, Jesus Christ was not mentioned.
Nothing of the gospel was talked about. Sin was left out as was a Christless
eternity for those following the wrong path. Rather, all that was praised was
some kind of glorious unity and mind expansion that could be achieved through
Buddhist meditation.
No one talked about the possibility of opening oneself up to demonic
influence from emptying the mind in the wrong kind of meditation.
Let me be blunt and say that the meditation techniques promoted at the
symposium were Eastern and unbiblical. They claimed that Christians
could gain spiritual benefit by using Buddhist meditation. What an affront to
the Lord who inspired the Biblical writers. It was as if to say that God failed
to give us what we need to draw near to God, but we can find what we need
through Buddhism.
A simple Scripture like
Psalm 119:15 was never used: "I will meditate on your precepts and
consider your ways," presenting a solid biblical statement on "meditation."
Or meditating on God's wonders in Psalm 119:27. The psalmist meditated, that is,
deliberated over God's Word in such a way that he was able to understand it.
It says in
Psalm 19:14, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
pleasing in your sight, O LORD."
This "meditation symposium" was not pleasing to the Lord.
I am reminded that
there are students and faculty at Bethel University who meet regularly for
prayer not using any kind of techniques. There is a ministry there called "Pray
First" which focuses on the students. As one person said to me, "please also
share that God's light is shining brightly in areas at Bethel University."
This is not an attempt to castigate the entire university of teachers and
students, many of whom are godly, righteous people. This column is not directed
at them. It is directed at some careless faculty who are enthusiastic about
their beliefs who should use better judgment than to present Buddhism,
"Christian Zen," and contemplative prayer as some good alternatives for the
students.
Update: Listen to the following audio from
Understanding the Times on November 14, 2009...
Bethel University in St. Paul, MN suggests that we
just might have "common ground" with Buddhism thanks to our shared
interest in meditation. But what kind of meditation does Buddhism
promote? A very dangerous kind and the presenters of a forum at Bethel
did not sound a strong enough warning that Eastern-style meditation
could be dangerous to college kids unaware of the risks of altered
states of consciousness. Jan and Pastor Bob DeWaay, who both attended
the symposium, were also troubled by references to "Christian Zen," and
a lack of information on biblical meditation. Jan and DeWaay feel there
is absolutely no common ground with Buddhism. Bethel University suggests
there could be "common ground" with evangelicals
and Buddhists coming together. DeWaay pastors Twin City Fellowship in a
Minneapolis suburb. Audio runtime: 0:58:16
Jan Markell & Bob DeWaay November 14, 2009 - Bethel College Zen Christianity