Biblical Answer

Can I be a Christian and practice mindfulness?

As a Christian, it's essential to recognize that the Bible teaches us to renew our minds, not empty them (Romans 12:2). This means that we should focus on filling our minds with Scripture and virtuous thoughts, rather than seeking to empty our minds through practices like yoga or meditation. While it's true that mindfulness and meditation can seem stress-relieving, they can also lead to a focus on the self and away from God. As Christians, our goal is to set our minds and hearts on Christ, not to achieve a state of emptiness or detachment.

However, this doesn't mean that Christians can't practice mindfulness or meditation in a way that is consistent with their faith. In fact, the Bible teaches us to "renew our minds" through practices like meditation on Scripture (Psalm 1:2-3, Joshua 1:8). This means that we can use mindfulness and meditation to focus on God's Word and to cultivate a deeper sense of dependence on Him. By doing so, we can train our minds to rest in God amid the challenges of life, rather than seeking to achieve a state of emptiness or detachment.

Ultimately, the key to practicing mindfulness as a Christian is to approach it in a way that is centered on God, rather than the self. This means filling our minds with Scripture, memorizing God's Word, and surrendering our lives completely to Jesus. By doing so, we can use mindfulness and meditation to deepen our faith and to cultivate a more intimate relationship with God. As Dallas Willard notes, "The first and most basic thing we can and must do is to keep God before our minds...This is the fundamental secret of caring for our souls." By keeping God at the center of our mindfulness and meditation practices, we can experience spiritual growth and transformation, rather than simply achieving a state of emptiness or detachment.