Mindfulness and Christian Devotional Meditation

Psychotherapy reminds me of the fashion industry. In fashion, a new style is introduced, becomes “hot”, and then fades to the status of regular clothing (or worse) over time. One of today’s most fashionable treatment interventions involves Buddhist-derived mindfulness meditation. Many Christian therapists have training in mindfulness meditation through their knowledge of Dialectical Behavioral Training, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. A growing empirical literature supports each of these (e.g., Baer, 2006). Strikingly, many Christian clinicians know more about mindfulness than Christian devotional meditation forms. What’s wrong with this picture?