Meditation: Reclaiming it?

I posted the title link because it was unusual enough to catch my attention. Now, it's true that most Christians don't associate meditation with their faith. I like seeing someone point out that it is a valuable tool for them as well. I see it as a valuable tool for anyone.

Some troubling things, though. One is Gerrish's idea that this is taking meditation back from the forces of Satan. So... any non-Christian who meditates is automatically a Satanist? I realize some Christians think this way, and I pity them. But that's not the strangest thing. How can he reclaim something that has been done in the east for 5000 years? Yoga goes back at least that far in India, and I would be very surprised if meditation was not part of it from the beginning. But his breed of Christian always has to make it seem like the evil pagans and easterners stole the beautiful, pure ideas from Christians. *sighs*

More troubling is his "check your insights with your pastor/the bible" idea. Meditation is about self-exploration. Your insights are yours. They came out of you. They tell you about your own current internal state. Maybe you're angry, or sad, or happy. The whole point of meditation is to actually experience something for yourself. A Christian might say he was trying to experience the mind of God. I think of it as tuning into that-which-is. But, wait, Gerrish says that experience is only valid if your pastor says it is. Your own sense of the event doesn't matter at all! So, ask your pastor's permission to meditate then ask his permission to believe in your own experiences. Uh-huh. That's a great road to self-exploration.

However, the very act of meditation (if practiced sincerely) is likely to change a person for the better. And not necessarily in ways that an authoritative Church will like. Why? Because they are experiencing the Divine for themselves, without all the filters and safety-nets put up by the Church to safeguard the power of its clergy. Wasn't that the point of the Protestant Reform? Priesthood of all believers? Everyone to read and interpret the Bible for themselves? But, wait, too independent. Too much room for actual individuality. Let the new regime of authorities rule. :-) I hope Christian meditation catches on. I think it could really shake things up.