Comments are still coming in on this post about Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert, so that means it’s time to Educate the Masses. 
Are you ready masses?
Class is in session. Here we go -
This is a comment from Adam. First of all, I love, love, LOVE it when normal folks leave a comment here. By normal, I mean the nonbloggers in the world. Bloggers, do you know there are people in the world that have no idea what a blog is?? I’m serious! Isn’t it shocking? I thought everyone and her mother has a blog.
No, my mom does not have a blog. The woman doesn’t even have a computer, we must remember to pray for her.
Monica… the point!
Oops, sorry. Had too much fun poking fun at myself.
Adam, nonblogger, wrote:
Seriously anyone who thinks Gilbert is trying to lead people away from Christianity has not discovered God themselves. I think deep prayer and mediation is how one connects to God and builds a relationship with him and it’s how God can change peoples lives. Just because someone doesn’t say that you have to accept Christ doesn’t make it bad.
Hold on there, mister. How does a person connect to God? You say it’s through prayer and mediation. What do you say class? Hold that thought because Adam is going to correct himself in a minute…
Adam then says:
She is teaching people how to connect to God that may not have normally discovered him and I in no way see how that is not Christlike, it is very Christ like and her book has done a world of good in showing me how I can connect to God on a deeper level.
Really? You’re a Bible-believing, born-again Christian and you think Eat, Pray, Love helps people connect to God? It’s comments like these that amaze me. (Sorry for picking on you, Adam, but if you disagree, you can start your own blog to refute me.) Gilbert is into Eastern Mediation and Yoga, dude, and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember off the top of my head. But I’m willing to bet it’s got nothing to do with Jesus Christ.
Christ allows me to return to God and prayer and mediation allow me to connect to God and build a relationship with him. It makes me mad when people attack stuff that can help improve people’s lives just because it doesn’t fit there narrow point of view of how things are.
Look, class! The answer to my first question. Way to go, Adam, you win a star for answering correctly. It’s Jesus Christ who allows us to return to God.
You can pray and meditate, and do all sorts of goofy tricks to try and win the Lord’s favor, but it’s only through repentance and faith in His son, Jesus, that we are connected to God.
By the way, I happen to know that because I read it in my Bible. Don’t bother looking for that bit of info in Eat, Pray, Love, because it’s not there.
And as for that narrow point of view stuff – it’s not my opinion, it’s what Jesus says himself in Matthew 7:13:
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
It’s a narrow way. Sorry to disappoint, but there you have it. Either a book points to Christ or it doesn’t. Eat, Pray, Love does not. It’s a well-written, interesting, personal memoir of a non-Christ-following woman. Does Gilbert point to Christ as the way to God? No. Read it to learn about what she believes; use it as a road map to God at your own peril.
Sigh. It’s uninformed comments like Adam’s that concern me. Christians, we don’t have time to misinformed. We must know what we believe and why, and then when we encounter false teaching, we can answer correctly.
People are still looking for information about Gilbert and her book, so I think I’m going to re-read it, and post my thoughts here; that way if anyone is interested, we can learn together and have the answers we need to have.
Okay. I think I’m done now. Questions? Comments? Smacks to the side of my head for too much sarcasm?
***
Hmmmm. I just read the next part of the chapter in Matthew. Do you know who Jesus warns us about in verse 15?
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I just skipped the whole “Pray” part of the book – I knew going into it that there was no way, as a Christian, that I was going to be okay with what she was writing.
I don’t think meditation is necessarily anti-Christian, but a lot of the practices that go with it CAN be, so a Christian has to be careful.
Hey, did you know that I got actual, name-calling HATE MAIL over my Eat Pray Barf review? I really did. THat book attracts some scarily devoted fans.
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Twitter: multitaskingme
And yes, I believe that verse 15 is warning us about people just like Ms Gilbert and lately, even my old standby, Oprah Winfrey! The only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ not awakenings, the universe, connecting with your self, blah blah blah. But people are falling for it- smart people and it’s scary!
Whew, I was scared when I read your twitter lead-in. Thought you might have lost your mind- glad to see that we agree
Melissa, Multitasking Mamas last blog post..So different, yet friends
Yes, meditation is a tricky one. I’m going to talk about that too, in an upcoming post.
I haven’t watched Oprah in years, mostly because I don’t want the Little People around here to get too much of an earful.
I saw your tweet that mentioned Christ follower, so came over to say hi.
I recently bought a used copy of Eat Pray Love, not too excited about it, so it is at the bottom of my huge TBR stacks.
I appreciate your take on it and am now more prepared to read it, being a Christ follower myself.
Terra
co-author of “Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday”
I never wanted to pickup that book because I knew it had nothing to do with God because Oprah swore by it. I may read it for ministry sake to teach how subtle Satan is and how he makes things like yoga, the law of attraction and new age practices appear to be Christlike.
Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life…no man and that means no man gets to the Father than through Him.
This is the first time I read your blog. I will be back!
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I’m currently about 1/4 of the way into Eat. Love. Pray. I’m not loving it, but I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I’m hoping that my books that are on hold at the library will come in soon to give me a diversion.
Anyway, to stop talking about myself and address your post…
Yes, prayer is very important in the life of a believer. Yes, meditation when done correctly can be a part of a believer’s life. Yes, God can and does use anything He wants to lead us to Him. But, do I think that Eat. Love. Pray. does this without some serious God intervention? No, not at all.
I remember reading somewhere about believers in Christ who worshiped best in nature. Eventually, one of the men realized he was actually worshiping nature instead of worshiping God. That is where these things can slip beneath our defenses as Christians IMO. There’s just enough good or just enough truth to draw people down the other path in the road. They start out pretty similar, but after a few days, weeks, months, or years they are miles apart.
It’s always amazing to me what we can read into text that isn’t there. I haven’t read this book and I probably won’t…just because there are so many other volumes waiting to be read in my household!
Robin ~ PENSIEVEs last blog post.."Your mom likes to take artistic pictures, doesn’t she?"
I have not read this book because I tend to be very wary of “christian” books. Sure, some books are good and can be very helpful but all we truly need is the Bible. Christian, do you know your Bible? I mean, do you truly know what it has to say? We need to make it a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. I know I could definitely use more time in the Word.
Green Eyed Mommy, it’s not marketed as a Christian book. I just wanted to point that out, to avoid any confusion.
Oh, okay. Thanks. I had heard of it but not really paid much attention. I guess if Oprah was pushing it, it probably wouldn’t be a Christian book, would it?
I haven’t read this book and won’t get around to it. Honestly, anything that Oprah is believin’ nowadays is staying out of my head. She’s drinking too much of the “kool-aid.”
BTW – I hopped over here from Writer-Mommy. I’ll definitely be back!
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I definitely don’t think that she preaches Christ, but she does know the lingo, and her honest search makes me sad for her that she didn’t try Christ, BUT I do think that as a solidly rooted Christian, reading her book and her idea and practice of devotion helped me look at my own life in Christ in a new way.
Do you agree?
Jenn, I just noticed your comment.
I can’t say reading the book helped me; it’s talking about it, and blogging my reactions/beliefs, that’s challenged me more. Great thought!
Meditation can be one of the greatest things in your Christian walk… When you meditate on the Word and Jesus Christ.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
~Joshua 1:8
“…do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”
~Joshua 1:7
This is in the Old Testament but it was meant for Christian believers and the entire Word of God!
feedback on monicas comments:
I am fortunate to have been able to spend a large part of my life in spiritual practice. Meditating, praying and practicing yoga.
Jesus is my connection to god however I have also experienced other world religions. Interestingly enough, from the gospels it is clear that jesus also practiced ” Eastern concepts”
He meditated, fasted and prayed for 40 days.
I wonder if you would recognize christ if he came here tomorow? He is beyond religion. If you expect him to look or act a certain way you will surely miss him. The last time he was on earth he was not part of any organized religion and am sure that he will not be the next time either.
I’m also shocked regarding the comment ” you can pray, meditate and do all sorts of goofy tricks….”
? how is prayer and meditation considered a ” goofy trick??
” The kingdom of heaven is within”
Instead of judging others connection to god, why not try prayer, yoga or meditation yourself? If that doesn’t interest you, ok but please be open to others experiences and connection to god.
I’m surprised this book has caused so much discomfort!! Well, i can say that reading this blog has caused me discomfort because I can see that you are fervently on your path but missing god/ jesus along the way and judging other peoples experiences without having your own meditation/prayer. Many Many world wars have been caused by religions.
I pray for you to open to god and the true spirit of jesus.
Lorie, I stand by my statement. Prayer, meditation, fasting, standing on your head, etc., etc… it’s all for NOTHING without Christ. The Bible says it’s by grace we have been saved, not of works. To depend on your spiritual practice to reach heaven isn’t going to work. Only true repentance and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross will bring you into the kingdom of God.
By the way, prayer and fasting are not exclusive to Eastern Religions. Those are Biblical.
And as for judging… I will certainly present Biblical truth because people are searching… and people are dying without hearing the truth. This is my blog, my beliefs and I won’t back down. If that comes across as judgmental, then so be it.
i read eat, pray, love for a book group recently. while i found the story to be fairly interesting, i found gilbert herself insufferable.
i don’t understand why you feel the need to belittle the practice of meditation (or someone who cared enough to leave a comment on your blog!):
“You can pray and meditate, and do all sorts of goofy tricks to try and win the Lord’s favor, but it’s only through repentance and faith in His son, Jesus, that we are connected to God.”
while it is only through Christ that we are saved, i thoroughly disagree that people connect with God only through repentance and faith. sanctification is a process and spirtual disciplines, including prayer and meditation, are ways in which a Christian grows in Christlikeness and knowledge of God.
mediation as a christian practice is not a “goofy trick” or attempt to earn God’s favor–it’s about being still and knowing that he is God (Ps 46). reading many of the early church mothers and fathers would make that quite clear.
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I belittled someone?? Where?
When I say “goofy tricks” I’m speaking of everything people do to win the Lord’s favor and I wrote goofy tricks intentionally to make the reader think.
I think the Lord likes it when we THINK.
One of the big problems with writing, especially with the fast paced style of blogging, is that people on the other end of your words miss the voice inflection, grin on my face and general good nature in which you may write. I can write something tongue firmly planted in cheek, thinking I’m so funny, and then the reader comes along and gets offended. That’s blogging – it’s a relaxed style of writing that begs to be controversial.
As for meditation and the Christian… I’m convinced it’s the best way to approach God. Does be still and know I’m God really mean meditation? Can’t it be quiet, prayer and listening? Isn’t mediation focusing on repeating a word/phrase, like a chant?
Perhaps the better question is: How do Eastern mediation and biblical mediation differ? And is mediation mentioned in the Bible at all?
Hmmmm. Must delve deeper…
There’s no one “Eastern meditation”, though the general tendency is not so different from Christian contemplative practices: to get ourselves, our egotistical desires and aversions in the world, out of the way, so something larger can happen (as Mary Oliver said in “Praying”, “a silence in which another voice may speak”). In theistic traditions like Sufism, Christianity and some flavors of Hinduism, that creates the space for God to enter; in a non-theistic tradition like Buddhism or Shaivism, it allows a joyous perception of the world as it is, before we add our interpretation of it.
For the most part, meditation is either directed, where one focuses on an image, idea, geometric figure, color, or body sensation (common is to just focus on the sensation of breathing in and out), or a bit more free-form, watching the mind as thoughts arise and then pass away. Meditation is like contemplative prayer, and unlike petitional prayer.
Many people successfully integrate a very strong Christian faith with parts of Eastern paths; but they tend not to be Biblical literalists.
THANK YOU. That clarification was necessary. As a Christian, I hate these kind of movies. They SEEM so holy and pious, but really they miss the WHOLE point. And if you dare to take issue with a “spiritual” movie like this you are admonished. The only way anyone is getting to heaven is through Christ. I don’t care how much praying or meditating you do, or how connected you feel to “God.” If you don’t get Jesus, you don’t get it.