A Warning About Imagination

In our small group Bible study we recently took a look at the Apostle encouraging young Pastor Timothy to lead his congregation in prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-7). That opened a lively conversation among us about for what and how we should be praying. It is the how that concerns me in this post. We're accustomed to praying by thinking and speaking words, but what about what these days is called visualization? Jon Trott (Visualization And Imaging) writes,

. . . imaging and visualization are increasingly appearing as Christian meditation, "mind-stretchers," or a consciousness awakening experience in Christian workshops, and you'd better believe that visualization as a cultivated exercise comes with all sorts of metaphysical and spiritual baggage in tow."

What exactly are we talking about here?  Here's how Sandra M. Levy (Imagination and the Journey of Faith) describes the human capacity to imagine:

By imagination I do not mean what is commonly assumed by the term - that is, mere products of fancy without any status in reality (i.e., "It's only in your imagination, dear!"). Nor am I using the term in the limited sense of images, dreams, or "pictures" held in the mind. What I mean by imagination here is the inherent human power to transcend the concrete, to create new images or ideas that can open up new possibility and promise - the not yet of a future we can envision, the re-valuing of a remembered past. Ultimately what I mean by imagination is that human capacity to receive and respond to God's revelation in our everyday lives. I believe that it is this human capacity which plays a key role in faith development.

 Before we get too deeply involved in what various authors are saying about this kind of prayer, both pro and con, it is important that we take a good look at what God says in His Word.

Way back, before the great Flood, we read that the LORD God was deeply troubled by man's use of this capacity.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. - Gen 6:5 KJV

. . . every imagination of the thoughts of his heart —that's the way several versions translate the Hebrew word yetser. The basic meaning of the root verb is "to form, frame or fashion." In a number of passages it is parallel to bara (create) and asa (make).

Sometimes the verb describes what a man does.

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? - Isa 29:16 KJV

Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image [that] is profitable for nothing? - Isa 44:10 KJV 

What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? - Hab 2:18 KJV

At other times the verb points to God's activity. He frames and devises things in His mind. He plans what He does. For example, He fashions and forms us for His purposes from the moment of our conception in our mothers' wombs.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance (golem); in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. - Psa 139:16 ESV

Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: 'Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.' - Jer 18:11 ESV

Back to Sandra Levy's definition of imagination:

"the inherent human power to transcend the concrete, to create new images or ideas that can open up new possibility and promise - the not yet of a future we can envision, the re-valuing of a remembered past."

New images, ideas, plans, possibilities, promises, not-yet futures, re-valued pasts, moving beyond, re-framing, re-envisioning . . . Exciting. Motivating. Energizing.

But!

This inherent human power, this image of God within us, this imago Dei, this way of thinking forward into the future, this capacity that humans alone have, this ability that God has given to us, this wondrous power—its corrupted! It stinks! It is decayed!

After the great Flood only Noah and his family remained. Everyone else was gone, destroyed by the waters. Yet the seed of this corruption remained even in faithful Noah and his sons. After the beasts, birds and creeping things left the ark, Noah built an altar and sacrificed clean beasts and birds on it.

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination (yetser) of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. - Gen 8:21 KJV

Noah and his family passed on this corrupted yetser. We still have it in one form or another, leader and laborer, artist and artisan, powerful or poor—all of us. But whatever the shape or form of this capacity within us, it remains corrupted, malignant, wicked and evil from childhood. Out of this power come the idols, the false gods, those images, ideas and ideologies we worship rather than the LORD God. This is why David prayed, using the bara verb, the one parallel to yetser, in his prayer. He had been carried away by his imagination as he gazed upon the beautiful, attractive and seductive Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12). His imagination led him to adultery, murder and lies. Looking back he saw what had happened in his heart, his evil heart. And he prayed, as must we all—daily.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. - Psa 51:10 KJV

Only the LORD God can answer this prayer. Only as we are renewed in spirit and heart, will we be able to turn loose this wondrous capacity, this inherent human power to transcend the concrete and create new images and ideas in our hearts, only then may we confidently dream and plan for the future. Only then will we know how to pray.

God grant it for Jesus' sake.