Lectio Divina: How To Know When It’s Dangerous

It’s always a great idea to explore new ways of studying the Bible. It helps keep your Bible study habit exciting. But learning a new way of experiencing the Bible for the first time can be dangerous. This is especially true with Lectio Divina.

As a general rule, Lectio Divina is dangerous when we take our focus off of Scripture’s role in our spiritual formation and Bible study habit. This leads to a misinterpreted, poorly taught, self-focused self-help faith that seeks to coddle and soothe fragile egos without real spiritual transformation.

Enough said. But let’s say some more.

Understanding Lectio Divina

Before we dive into the dangers of Lectio Divina, it is important that we first understand what it is. Lectio Divina is an ancient method of engaging with Scripture through a habit of prayerful reading that fosters a closer relationship with God. The four steps of Lectio Divina include,

Lectio (Read)
Meditatio (Meditate)

Oratio (Speak/Pray)
Contemplatio (Rest)

Originally, Lectio Divina was practiced by Catholic monks in the middle ages, and has recently seen a revival outside monasteries in large part due to recent Popes like John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

If you want a more in-depth understanding of Lectio Divina and how to use it in Bible study, then I’ve written an article that will walk you through the Lectio Divna steps one by one.

Because of its long and controversial history, there have been debates, questions, and concerns raised by God-loving Christians about whether or not Lectio Divina is a false teaching. It can be a hot topic between Catholics and Hard-lined Reformed Christians.

Here is the truth of the matter: Lectio Divina is not a false doctrine. Period. Is it controversial? Yes, and considering it’s dangers (which we will get to in a moment), probably rightly so. But it is not a false teaching.

Lectio Divina does not add to, subtract from, contrast, or nullify any teaching found in the Bible. If you want to take a deeper dive into this topic, then you might want to read this article I wrote about Lectio Divina and why it’s not a false teaching.

Just because Lectio Divina is not a false teaching does not mean that it cannot lead to the development of false teachings. Through Lectio Divina it can be very easy to either create or support already created false teachings. Especially, if we are not careful about the dangers of it.

Common Dangers of Lectio Divina

Now, let’s take a moment to look at some of the common risks and dangers associated with practicing Lectio Divina.

It’s Subjective Nature and Possibility of Misinterpretation

First, Lectio Divina is highly subjective by nature. Because of its contemplative and meditative nature, Lectio Divina is a largely subjective practice. This can lead to great misinterpretations of Scripture that are not Biblical.

Lectio Divina‘s subjective nature leads to a risk of interpreting Scripture solely based off of our emotions, feelings, and experiences. It is easy to draw the wrong conclusions and develop theological misunderstandings if we are not grounded in sound a Biblical understanding.

But the danger of misinterpreting Scripture applies to all methods of Bible study and Bible reading. In fact, I wrote a whole article about common ways Christians (myself included) can misinterpret the Bible. It’ll even tell you how to fix them!

Using Only Lectio Divina for Bible Study and Preaching

The next danger we come across in practicing Lectio Divina is if that is absolutely the only way we engage with Scripture. This is true both in our personal Bible study time as well in preaching.

If we only use Lectio Divina in our personal Bible study routine and nothing else, then we will blow around like the wind on the whims of our emotions. Lectio Divina is fine for journaling with Scripture or just wanting a devotional time with God.

But there is also a time for digging deep and working hard in Bible study, and it’s often in those challenging times of Bible study that we find the truths that we rest so comfortably on in Lectio Divina. As the author of Ecclesiastes says, “There is a time for everything…(Ecclesiastes 3:1).”

There is also a great danger in using Lectio Divina as the main or sole method of preparing to preach. There is a risk of confusing and equating (perhaps unintentionally) our personal insights from a passage gained through Lectio Divina with the inspired word of God.

Selective Reading and Lack of Context

Another common danger of Lectio Divina is selective reading. There are times when practicing Lectio Divina you may unconsciously select passages of Scripture that support what you already believe.

This can lead to a neglect of other places of Scripture that we may really need to learn some spiritual lessons from. This selective reading can weaken your spiritual growth if you are not careful.

This type of selective reading also poses another danger. If you focus on a particular phrase or verse in a passage, it can lead to a lack of understanding the wider context. In short, you can miss the whole point of what the Biblical author intended in the passage.

This doesn’t automatically mean you can’t grow spiritually from Lectio Divina. However, you may miss the foundational truth upon which what you learned is based.

Self-Focused

Another common concern and danger of practicing Lectio Divina is that it can become self-centered. Lectio Divina is a meditative and contemplative practice. Often, people equate that with introspection. But they are not the same. (Introspection, in and of itself, is not bad, but can lead to self-centeredness).

That said, though, Lectio Divina can lead to a very self-focused approach to experiencing the Bible. There becomes a very real danger in meditating and contemplating the self, rather than the Bible. Of self-therapy and self-help, rather than divine Spirit-led transformation over time.

Lack of Action

The last danger of Lectio Divina that we are going to look at a lack of action. As a general rule, Lectio Divina does not include an action step. Though, there are some who practice it that will include Actio (Action) at the end.

If all we do is Lectio Divina and take no action, well then we are entering territory that needs not be entered. Honestly, James said it best, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22).”

Not taking action from what we learn from God’s word is like taking a bath in garbage. It’s pointless. The whole point of Scripture, other than to reveal God to us, is to transform us into more Christ-like people. That only happens when we do and apply what we learn from Scripture.

Avoiding the Dangers of Lectio Divina

So, how can we avoid these common dangers. It all hinges on keeping Scripture in focus. Let’s go through the point above again and see how keeping Scripture as a focus can help us avoid these dangers when practicing Lectio Divina.

Subjective and Possibility of Misinterpretation: Focusing on Scripture will prevent this danger because we are allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture and not our own feelings and experiences.
Using Only Lectio Divina for Personal Study and Preaching: Here focusing on Scripture will encourage us to take a deeper dive into the Bible and seek to understand it on its own terms. This lets the authority of the Bible be the foundation of our spiritual growth and preaching.

Selective Reading and Lack of Context: Focusing on Scripture will prevent this danger by challenging us to take in the whole of the Bible, even the parts that challenge us. We will value the entire Bible for what it has to say on a topic.
Self-Focused: Focusing on Scripture will prevent this danger by keeping our mind on the Bible or verse that we are focusing. We focus our meditation on what a passage says about God rather than how it helps me.
Lack of Action: Lastly focusing on Scripture’s role in our spiritual growth and transformation will prevent this danger by challenging us to allow the Holy Spirit to more conform our lives to the Bible.

Overall, practicing Lectio Divina can be a dangerous Bible study habit to start. But if we keep our focus on the Bible and Scripture’s role in our spiritual walk, then Lectio Divina can be a great practice to supplement our Bible reading habit with.