Debunking the wellbeing phenomenon

Mindfulness or Wellbeing are two words that are being brandied around so much nowadays, I thought it was time to write a blog post about it. There is SO much out there and I don’t wish to write more of the same, but I think it is important that Christians have a biblical view of the topic rather than to be deceived by worldly thinking cleverly disguised as good.

Let’s start with the origins of the topic. Origins are important. I write about this in another blog you can read here. The Importance of Origins – Blended Not Shaken

Mindfulness

In summary, mindfulness means positive mental health, well-being and flourishing refer to the presence of high levels of positive functioning—primarily in the mental health domain (inclusive of social health). However, in its broadest sense, well-being encompasses physical, mental, and social domains. Mindfulness is also defined as a technique of deliberately focusing your attention on the present. You don’t let yourself be distracted by other thoughts constantly running through your head; you clear noise from your mind. By it’s basic definition, it doesn’t seem harmful, right?

Ok. So, who invented it?

Ed Diener is attributed for coining the expression “subjective well-being” (or SWB), and due to his expansive work on the topic, he’s even been given the nickname “Dr. Happiness”. Dr Halbert Dunn is also referred to the father of the wellness moment.

But the original premise of wellness can be traced to the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome, and Asia.

Along with positive psychology as a meeting of Eastern thought, such as Zen Buddhist meditation, and Western psychodynamic approaches, the historical roots of positive psychology are found in the teachings of Aristotle, whose Nicomachean Ethics teaches the cultivation of virtue as the means of attaining happiness and well-being, which he referred to as eudaimonia. Like it’s definition, a broad sweep over its origins, Mindfulness doesn’t seem too concerning either. But maybe this is where we need to exercise discernment as deception is deceiving because error is not always as obvious; if things were obvious, falling into the deception trap wouldn’t happen as easily. I’ve read a number of Christian writers and Christian publications justify the practice of mindfulness for Christians despite knowing it’s dubious origins and citing that the Bible itself has a lot to say about calming our minds and keeping our focus on God. I will mention these scriptures later but argue they actually define Renewal rather than mindfulness.

Renewal

Definition: The old sinful person you once were has gone as a result of your being completely renewed through Christ. In fact, the word renew can be defined as “changing into something new and different, something better.” That really sums up what renewal in Christ means in that we were remade into something better.

Look at these scriptures:

• The apostle Paul reminds Christians that they’re called to be mindful and live with an awareness of the present (Philippians 2:1-5).
• Prayer is one very practical way Christians apply mindfulness to daily life (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
• Meditation appears in the Bible in the context of spending time studying the Word of God (Psalm 48:9; Psalm 63:6).
• We should look to Jesus and think about true, admirable things (Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 4:8).
• Christians shouldn’t let themselves to be distracted by worry about the future (Matthew 6:25-34).
• Scripture teaches us to “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
• Paul tells us to “be transformed” by renewing our minds (Romans 12:2) and to practice God-honouring thoughts (Philippians 4:9). These scriptures are used to argue that Christians can safely and biblically practice mindfulness. But transforming our minds is something that God does, not us. While God asks us to do things that will help us focus on the good, on Him and on others, it’s the miraculous and amazing, ongoing work of sanctification by the Holy Spirit within us that will give us the minds of Christ. Yes, we are to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work within us, but it’s just that- HIS work, not ours.

Let’s ask a few questions. How does one practise mindfulness? The short answer is to think positively. That’s not bad, right? But how can one always try to think positively? For those of us who’ve lived for a while, this life has many negative moments. For many, their lives are often very difficult. They cannot be wished away by positive thinking. In short, meditation and relaxation techniques are at the forefront of mindfulness. But unfortunately, most people do not practise biblical meditation. Any meditation that is not biblical is unbiblical and therefore ungodly. Anytime we mix Christian discipline with any other religious practice, we anger God. And, I would argue, that these quick fixes don’t really fix anything long term or get to the root of the problem.

To sum up what can be a long-winded argument here, let’s look to and rely on the Lord and His word alone. He made us, knows the path we are to take and the plan and purpose He predetermined for us along with every thought we think even before we do. He has renewed us at our conversion and will continue to renew us day by day until That Day when we will then see Him and be like Him, forever.

Blessings,