Lectio Divina - Visio Divina

I was perusing the youtube site and found a very interesting video on ‘Lectio Divina’ other wise known as ‘Sacred Reading’, ‘Contemplative Prayer’ and ‘Centering Prayer’ and many other terms besides. What I did find was a youtube from a monastery that practices this form of Prayer in Community Life. I was going to post that youtube — and I still will if you are interested — but this post is an introduction about another form of prayer or worship called ‘Visio Divina’ and that is the youtube I will post.

Before I do that, here is a basic outline of L.D. because Visio Divina is derived from Lectio Divina I thought it best to start with an overview on L.D.

Lectio Divina

At the beginning of the L.D. video that I had stumbed upon there was a reference to Pope Benedict before the three Catholic Monastic Monks explain about Lectio Divina, the Pope said this about this form of prayer:

‘If [Lectio Divina] is promoted efficacy, I am convinced that it will produce a new spiritual springtime in the Church’ Pope Benedict XVI September 16 2005

The Emerging/Emergent church has embraced this form of prayer because it holds to an ecumenical generous orthodoxy. This is known and celebrated to all who understand this more liberal approach to ‘Doing Church’.

There is a lot of talk about ‘New’ things on the horizon, things like a ‘New Reformation‘ of deeds not creeds’, all the while saying that these things are a result from exercising a ‘Vintage Faith‘. Lectio Divina is promoted by the EMCer’s and there are a lot of key words bantered about like; missional, community, ancient traditions etc,.

Here again the missional focus is prominent as is the coming into contact with the ancient traditions of the Church, and one such feature is the use of lectio divina, or communal reading of Scripture, meditating on that text, and then praying through that text in the context of a community. @Jesus Creed

This form of prayer was derived from the ‘Desert Fathers’ and is not grounded in biblical practice, but is more similar to Buddhism and Transcendental Meditation. It is mystical and experiential and it allows for individual interpretation of a word of scripture and the point of reference is personified rather than relying on scripture to interpret scripture so it flies in the face of sola-scripture:

When meditating on a word reflect on the text of the passage, thinking about how to apply to one’s own life. Gravitate to any particular phrase or word that seems to be of particular import. This should not be confused with exegesis, but is a very personal reading of the Scripture

Listen to God. This is a freeing oneself from one’s own thoughts, both mundane and holy. It is about hearing God talk to us. Opening our mind, heart and soul to the influence of God. Any conversation must allow for both sides to communicate, and this most unfamiliar act is allowing oneself to be open to hearing God speak. @Wikipedia

Brian Flynn author of ‘Running against the Wind‘ explains it this way:

The concept of allowing God to speak through His Word is perfectly legitimate. I experience that when I read or meditate on the Bible. However, in the context of this article the purpose is not to contemplate the meaning of a Bible verse by thinking about it but is rather meant to gain an experience from it.

There is a difference between reading the Word and understanding its meaning versus a method of focusing on a single word to gain a mystical experience. @Lighhouse Trails Research.

Visio Divina

Now, finally we come to Visio Divina, as I said at the beginning of this post I was searching for something and I happened across a Visio Divina youtube. Visio Divina simply means ‘Divine Seeing’.

The practice of visio divina shares its origins with the long-practiced form of scripture reading known as lectio divina. As with lectio divina, visio divina nurtures the spiritual life through an intentional practice of reflection on scripture. With visio divina, visual art and scripture are considered together, supporting the practictioner through the reading of the Word, seeing with the eyes, listening with the heart, and responding in prayer. @Visio Divina

The following is what I have gleaned from the video:

They want to open our understanding of what the role of art in life of faith might be, and what it might become. They want to use all different art mediums to dissolve barriers between people of different spiritual paths and faiths. It wants to stretch the believers horizons in challenging the faith community to think in ‘New Ways’ about old truths and familiar stories. Visio Divina and its practice is designed to explore and identify the possibilities of ‘Spiritual Formation’ as it is revealed through the visual arts.

The Art & Soul Cafe’s board of directors who is all behind this Visio Divina calls themselves ‘The Council of Spirits‘. Could you get anymore New Age!!! Check this link for their youtube.

I wonder if this is going to be the next big thing in a church that I know of personally? I guess I will have to check their website more often.

I looked up in Wikipedia the term ‘New Age’ and the beliefs held by New Agers are not too disimilar to what is going on inside some churches! If this is something that is not of God but rather a giving over to man and his wiles ( and I strongly believe it to be a judgment from God rather than a building up of His Church as it is the separation of the sheep from goats, the strong delusion sent by God Himself. So technically speaking I could say, yes it is from God!) and if there is no repentance, then we will see more and more of this stuff. Hold on, this is going to get rough!

Anyway I think that this form of idolatry definately deserves a red flag.

A fantastic article by Roger Oakland.

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