Is Meditation a sin? What a great question! Since the topics of gratitude, mindfulness and meditation are big ones these days, let’s remove the confusion and dive right in to find the answer. You can find the answer to many questions like “Where is Heaven?” or “Who is God?” in the Questions category on our site.
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you?”
Joshua 1:8-9
Meditation Itself is Not a Sin
In fact, as you can see in the passage above, God commanded Joshua to meditate on His word. Many Christians practice meditating on Scripture. The aim is to eliminate outside distractions and focus on God’s word to hear what God has to say. It slows a person down and allows the Holy Spirit to talk with them.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.Psalm 19:14
The Bible Teaches Meditation Throughout Its Pages
And since Jews and Muslims also see the Old Testament as God’s word, they practice meditation also.
O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine.
I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged because I have observed Your precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.
Psalm 119:7-101
What is the Goal of Christian Meditation?
Hindus and Buddhists also practice meditation. Some forms of meditation teach people to empty their minds as a part of meditation. That is not the goal of Christian meditation. Christians are right to be cautious about any form of meditation people teach as part of the practices of any unbiblical religion. And those practices can be mixed right in with benign meditation practices, even by well-meaning Christians.
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Philippians4:8).
