What is Mysticism?

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motojojo

Guest
#1
To many modern Christians, words like "meditation," "mystic," and "mysticism" bring to mind Eastern religions, not Christianity. Certainly Eastern religions are known for their mysticism; however, mysticism is not only a vital part of the Christian heritage as well, but it is actually the core of Christian spirituality. Mysticism simply means the spirituality of the direct experience of God. It is the adventure of "the wild things of God." The direct experience of God is a kind of knowing, which goes beyond intellectual understanding. It is not a matter of "belief." It is marked by love and joy, but it is not "emotional experience." In many ways, it is better described by what it is not. To describe what it is, we must use metaphors—the marriage of the soul to Christ, the death of the "old man" and birth of the "new man," being the "body of Christ."
Jesus proclaimed "I and the Father are one," (Jn. 10.30) showing the world what the union of God and man can be. Christian mysticism is about nothing else but this transforming union.
Christ is the sole end of Christian mysticism. Whereas all Christians have Christ, call on Christ, and can (or should) know Christ, the goal for the Christian mystic is to become Christ—to become as fully permeated with God as Christ is, thus becoming like him, fully human, and by the grace of God, also fully divine. In Christian teaching this doctrine is known by various names—theosis, divinization, deification, and transforming union.
A common misconception about mysticism is that it's about "mystical experiences," and there are many volumes on such experiences in religious literature. But true mysticism is not focussed on "experiences" (which come and go) but with the lasting experience of God, leading to the transformation of the believer into union with God.
 
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Markus

Guest
#2
the goal for the Christian mystic is to become Christ—to become as fully permeated with God as Christ is, thus becoming like him, fully human, and by the grace of God, also fully divine.
And that's the reason why mysticism is totally unbiblical.
 
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Dread_Zeppelin

Guest
#3
I have a question thats somewhat related: most doctors/people find that meditation is healthy and helpful. Is meditation, the act itself, a sin because it's more connected to other religions, or is it just relaxing and calming yourself?
 
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greatkraw

Guest
#4
I think they try to trick/seduce you by associating it with a pagan philosophy.

You find the word in the KJV - it is all about meditating on God's word. It is the picture of a cow chewing its cud.(that is a good thing - it aids digestion)
 
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charisenexcelcis

Guest
#5
To many modern Christians, words like "meditation," "mystic," and "mysticism" bring to mind Eastern religions, not Christianity. Certainly Eastern religions are known for their mysticism; however, mysticism is not only a vital part of the Christian heritage as well, but it is actually the core of Christian spirituality. Mysticism simply means the spirituality of the direct experience of God. It is the adventure of "the wild things of God." The direct experience of God is a kind of knowing, which goes beyond intellectual understanding. It is not a matter of "belief." It is marked by love and joy, but it is not "emotional experience." In many ways, it is better described by what it is not. To describe what it is, we must use metaphors—the marriage of the soul to Christ, the death of the "old man" and birth of the "new man," being the "body of Christ."
Jesus proclaimed "I and the Father are one," (Jn. 10.30) showing the world what the union of God and man can be. Christian mysticism is about nothing else but this transforming union.
Christ is the sole end of Christian mysticism. Whereas all Christians have Christ, call on Christ, and can (or should) know Christ, the goal for the Christian mystic is to become Christ—to become as fully permeated with God as Christ is, thus becoming like him, fully human, and by the grace of God, also fully divine. In Christian teaching this doctrine is known by various names—theosis, divinization, deification, and transforming union.
A common misconception about mysticism is that it's about "mystical experiences," and there are many volumes on such experiences in religious literature. But true mysticism is not focussed on "experiences" (which come and go) but with the lasting experience of God, leading to the transformation of the believer into union with God.
I agreed with you until you equated a believer's experience with God with the relationship between Jesus and God. I consider myself to be in a mystical relationship with God, knowing Him both (and first) objectively through the Word of God, and also subjectively through the Holy Spirit. The relationship between Jesus and the Father is unique and well beyond any comparison to my very close and personal experience of Him.
 
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motojojo

Guest
#6
The bible I read says to be conformed to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ!
 
Jan 8, 2009
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#7
Yeah I can't see the problem with the original post?
 
Jan 8, 2009
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#8
I do think the idea of the believer being in union with God as the Father and Christ are one finds support in:

Joh 17:21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.

Joh 17:22 And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one,

Joh 17:23 I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.


It also makes sense thinking from a point of view that Christ is our example and was perfectly in union with God His Father. As God is our Father also we should also have this sort of union through Christ. Not in a modalist or unitarian sense though!
 
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motojojo

Guest
#9
Mysticism is nothing I would encourage anyone to mess with, it's just something God has lead me into. I'm not perfect by any means but I will be someday with Gods help whether in the body or out I don't know. Many great things have happened to me and I tell you that there is so much more to God than some of your threads that I see on here. I don't want to discourage I want to encourage you to go deeper in Gods sea many people are just wading on the shore, I want to see more people swim in God's waters, so dive in and swim around.
 
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charisenexcelcis

Guest
#10
Yeah I can't see the problem with the original post?
It is not the denotation of what he said burt the connotation of how he said it. It smacks of preaching the diety of the believer, which is the worse kind of heresy.
 
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Markus

Guest
#11
Mysticism is nothing I would encourage anyone to mess with, it's just something God has lead me into.
I don't think God has lead you into believing that your goal is to become fully divine. I can think of only one who would like you to believe that.
 
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motojojo

Guest
#12
To tell me not to follow God in this way is like telling rain not to be wet, thank you for your opinion. I will follow God not what Man thinks He is about.
 
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Markus

Guest
#13
I will follow God not what Man thinks He is about.
That's the best thing you can do! Sorry if I didn't sound too friendly, that's not my intention. I just totally don't understand you. I mean, wasn't wanting to become like God what got us kicked out of paradise and what we still suffer the consequences for? Yet, you even go a step further: you want to become God. How can that be what God wants from you? I just don't understand...
 
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greatkraw

Guest
#14
Mysticism is nothing I would encourage anyone to mess with, it's just something God has lead me into. I'm not perfect by any means but I will be someday with Gods help whether in the body or out I don't know. Many great things have happened to me and I tell you that there is so much more to God than some of your threads that I see on here. I don't want to discourage I want to encourage you to go deeper in Gods sea many people are just wading on the shore, I want to see more people swim in God's waters, so dive in and swim around.
Dude, you are in a bad way!!!! This is NOT from God!!!

In the Bible the Sea ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS represents unsaved humanity.
 

pickles

Senior Member
Apr 20, 2009
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#15
I do not know if I can agree with mysticsm. I have not seen much in the word to support this. So maby it is the way you are trying to describe it.
But I do and have often describe the faith that God Our Father has granted me as a kind of knowing. It is not of just the mind but within the soul in the Holy Spirit.
I would be very careful of wording as it can indicate something much different than the word.
Many will describe being of the world but no longer in it.
Always be carefull of all spirits and be sure to test. Then if you are sure of this then use scripture to support it.
Boy thats a first for me to say. smiles
I am a strong believer in the Holy Spirit and his gifts.
But as I said be very care to test.
I would love to hear more as we all know those wonderfull moments in Our Lord Jesus.
God bless,pickles
 
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motojojo

Guest
#16
the goal for the Christian mystic is to become Christ- This statement might sound to strong. But the rest is spot on. To become as fully permeated with God as Christ is, thus becoming like him, fully human, and by the grace of God, also fully divine.

Are we to become Christ Like? These are not just words we are all called to be more and more like Christ. Die to the flesh and live to the spirit. Test the spirit, do we rebuke God with the name of Christ, we can try. When the fear of God comes on you, one would think He was the devil himself. The devil has nothing on the fear of the Creator of the Universe. God is big time scary, so yes it is God leading me in this way. I only speak of this to wake-up anyone who has this calling on there life and don't know what to do with it. If you want to get so close to God you can almost explode then ask questions, if you just want to judge and criticize move on to another thread, they need you.
 
Jan 8, 2009
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#17
When the fear of God comes on you, one would think He was the devil himself.

Really? do you have trouble knowing the difference?
 
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motojojo

Guest
#18
When this first happened to me that was the last thing I ever thought,this is God. I rebuked it and He did not go anywhere then He compressed me like a piece of clay and started kneading me and working imperfections out of me.
 
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