Within the Emergent Church, there has been an emphasis to learn some of the early practices of the pagan religions. Within the last 20 years, an ancient practice of labyrinth walking has been introduced and accepted with open arms by many in the Christian Church. If this was a pagan practice, what affect will it have on believers in Jesus? Let's look closer at its roots.
This practice seems to bring a sense of spiritual well being for those participating in it, but in reality it has trapped many because of the labyrinth's occult origins. It is a tool created to bring one into a higher spiritual realm through the use of meditation, whether you are a practicing Zen Buddhist, a Muslim, a New Age occultist, or an atheist. The labyrinth has been a Kundalini energy source, a tool of divination, a gateway and portal to communicating with spirits and being incorporated into the Church experience.
What does the God of the Bible have to say?
It may be the latest fashion in spirituality touted as a spiritual tool of meditation and prayer, but it doesn't mean its alright. We are told in Colossians 2: 8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Some are trying to justify this as a Christian tradition. In fact it couldn’t be, not just because it is not found in the Bible, but because it goes against everything the Bible and Christianity teaches for one to practice true spirituality. Walking through the Labyrinth is not a rediscovery of a lost form of Christian spirituality, but pagan spirituality. Though it may be reformed and repackaged to our modern times, we can be assured it has nothing to do with Jesus who gave man the true spiritual way of life.
I don’t think one can Christianize this practice, nor justify its use. Especially with what we have already discovered how it is being used. Is it pleasing to God that we walk labyrinths when He has told us not to take up pagan practices? Divine feminine, earth energies have nothing to do with Jesus Christ and the truth He has delivered.
A good portion of the use of the labyrinth is being promoted through the contemplative prayer movement. Many of these same people are open to or already doing labyrinth walks as a meditative practice.
Walking mediation and stopping to quiet oneself is not promoting prayer. Not all that is claimed to be spiritual, is good or from God. We are told as Christians to test the Spirits. Do we now need experiential prayer elements? Did Jesus look for a Labyrinth to teach people to pray? What happened to going into our rooms to pray quietly (Matthew 6:6)?
Inclusiveness is the goal of the New age movement, and they have their light bearers influencing churches that are not discerning by the Word of God. With an open-minded approach, certain Christian churches can certainly embrace foreign religious practices to their own ruin.
Artress does not withhold her rejection of the straight and narrow way found within Christianity. She explains the labyrinth is more forgiving and leads its followers forward in a flawless path. God’s word states you cannot walk the wide road and claim to follow Christ who says HIS way is the narrow road and has nothing to do with a Labyrinth. In Matthew 7:13 Jesus tells us the only way to practice a spiritual life is to enter into life through the narrow gate, because the wide and easy road leads to destruction. This does not mean entering a labyrinth to walk its path.
This cannot have any spiritual benefit for a Christian, but one can possibly have a relaxing time as they enjoy the walk, but then, getting away into the outdoors into a new environment with the least amount of concentration will relieve you of your stress as well.
There is no basis for those who practice Biblical Christianity to embrace the labyrinth as an acceptable tool for meditation and prayer? It is inherently New Age, let them have it.
Sources:
The Labyrinth: A Walk to Life or a Walk to Death
Enter the Labyrinth
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