Christian Mysticism is Not Christian

 

 

“Christian” mystic Carl McColman has written:

·       Like most mystics, Christian mystics tend to prioritize spiritual practices and experience over dogma and doctrine…Even mystics who radically accept the core teachings of Christianity (or any faith) may say that assenting to such beliefs only makes sense when it emerges out of the authority of one’s own inner experience. https://www.anamchara.com/what-do-christian-mystics-believe/

“Christian” mystics (CMs) emphasize their commonalities and unity with mystics from other religions. However, Biblical unity can only be found within the Body of Christ:

Ephesians 4:3–6 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

It is believing the truth that connects us to God:

Romans 4:3–5 ( “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” [Genesis 15:6] Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Although CMs might venerate Jesus, they have made Him irrelevant through their affirmation of mystics from other religions. However, all other religions are in darkness and without hope:

Ephesians 2:12-13 (NLT) In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him [Christ alone] who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

According to McColman, the “authority [is] of one’s own “inner experience” rather than the Scriptures, which interpreted through the “light” of subjective experience—hardly the basis for any unity. But McColman wrote:

·       Like most mystics, Christian mystics believe it is possible to experience heightened or altered levels of consciousness that can facilitate a sense of either the presence of God, or union with God…But it seems to entail a marvelous (if not miraculous) sense of a heightened awareness or consciousness, of perception or vision or “knowing,” of a felt sense of God’s presence (or even union with God). These Divine encounters seem to change the person’s life, forever.

God does this routinely by His Spirit through the Word, which is the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). He opens our hearts/minds to understand the Scriptures:

Luke 24:44–45 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

We do not have to resort to the various mystical techniques available to all other religions. Instead, we need only have faith in Christ:

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We love God by obeying His Word and not through a subjective experience:

John 14:21, 23–24 “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”…“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”

When the Christian goes beyond the Word, he risks being demonically deceived and has no way of knowing whether or not he is uniting with God or with a demon:

1 Corinthians 4:6 …that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written…

Matthew 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Jesus had resisted the devil by citing Scriptures. We can do no less! McColman wrote:

·       Like most mystics, “Christian” mystics find meditation, contemplation, silence, solitude, stillness, and asceticism (a life of intentional simplicity and even austerity) to help to facilitate the encounter with God.

Instead, the God of the Bible doesn’t care about such things but about faith, trust, repentance, truth, righteousness, and obedience.

Moses had such a transforming experience with God that his face shined light as he spoke with Him. However, when he came down from the mountain after 40 days, rather than highlighting his mystical experience, he spoke the words God had given Him (Exodus 34). The words took precedence over all else. So too does obeying God’s words:

John 15:9–10 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

However, mysticism regards the Scriptures as unnecessary. Nor is Jesus necessary for mystical practice. Could we be missing out on spiritual blessings if we do not practice a form of mysticism? No!

2 Timothy 3:16–17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

We have everything we need in Jesus:

1 Corinthians 1:30–31 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”