Quote:
Originally Posted by Jo S
In otherwords, Nee/Lee recovered mysticism within Christianity. Mysticism being the practice of gaining a spiritual experience through contemplative prayer and these subjective experiences being the confirmation of salvation in an individual. This is no different from practices of Buddhism or New Age mysticism or even charismatic faiths. Salvation in the Christian's life isn't a work, a practice, or a theory.
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That's right, Nee/Lee recovered mysticism which is to gain Christ. As opposed to the norm in Christianity at the time which was merely to know things about Christ or even to know Him at a personal level , but not gain Him. I agree that salvation is not a work, practice, or theory, but rather to gain the person of Christ. Many things in Christianity are similar to other religions, even paganism, Viola and Barna's book make clear. But I would not say that Christian prayer or its various forms are anything Buddhist or New Age. A key point of difference is that Christians believe in and pray to Christ and that is enough to make any kind of prayer that is about Christ very much Christian. Even if a Buddhist or New Age person starts praying to Christ in their prayers while they are in their temple, then technically they are no longer a Buddhist or New Ager, are they? Even Muslims have found Christ through their own prayers and religious practices. I don't know who said it, perhaps it was Billy Graham, but they said something similar to there being many different paths to accepting Christ as personal Lord and savior.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jo S
If I were to sum this entire post in the simplest way possible it is this; Christians who believe in salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ are no different then Satan's demons.
It's interesting how that can be said in such an indirect way through bad hermeneutics.
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I did not mean that. Awareness put it rightly when he said it is not enough to know Jesus but to have Jesus.
Christians who believe in salvation through faith alone in Christ could be no different than Satan's demons, if they have never gained Him like Paul did.
A good example of this is Judas Iscariot. He was a Christian who believed in Christ by faith (he followed Christ as a believing disciple for many years), but unlike Peter and the other disciples (particularly John) did not gain Christ.