How I got here, and what is this place?

[awareness]

Originally Posted by Jo S

I'm with you. Mysticism leads you to believe you have a unique revelation or knowledge that most others haven't received. In Christianity it's also known as gnosticism. With this special "revelation" you become isolated from the rest of the believers because now you "feel" more spiritual.

First it starts off with beliefs like "we need to free ourselves from the rest of ignorant Christianity". Then it snowballs into a belief that you need to free yourself from "religion" altogether because religion and spirituality cannot coexist. That's not what scripture teaches, btw (James 1:27). Before you know it you're free from Christ and the Holy Spirit.

There's also the "spirit" of Anti-Christ so it is possible to be very "spiritual" yet be following the wrong spirit.

My experience with mysticism brought me closer to Christ and God. Sorry about yours. It did lead me into all kinds of mysticism, that was interesting but I didn't get into.

[Jo S]

Originally Posted by awareness

My experience with mysticism brought me closer to Christ and God. Sorry about yours. It did lead me into all kinds of mysticism, that was interesting but I didn't get into.

Our definitions of Mysticism may differ so let me try to clarify what I mean when I use the term . I believe dictionary.com gives an accurate description.

According to their definition; Mysticism is "the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender."

The problem with using this method within Christianity is that you essentially turn the gaining of spiritual knowledge into a work. This is no different then systems in eastern mysticism which teach that enlightenment comes through the practice of meditation. It's the same approach.

As Christians, we receive knowledge through revelation by faith and not by contemplation. Faith gives control of what knowledge is given to a believer over to God. He choses when and what to reveal to his people. Working yourself into an elevated state of consciousness is basically you trusting in your own abilities and judgment.

You were right to assume I had experience with mysticism. Just like the fruit in the garden, to me it looked wonderful and tasted great but in the end it seperated me from the Lord.

At first I thought I was drawing closer to him judging by all this new "knowledge" I was receiving, but it was all a very convincing lie. Paul was right, Satan effectively masquerades as an angel of light. If you don't accept my testimony, then atleast test your own beliefs against mine in prayer and with scripture.

Through my own experience, I've come to realize that Gnosticism (meaning Christian mysticism) is to Christianity what Kabbalism is to Judaism. Both are the places you end up in when you turn away from the God of Heaven but desire to remain "spiritual".

Coincidentally I found that it's a desire to be "more spiritual" apart from God that traps you in these systems. Not that I wanted to be apart from the Lord, but as I started trusting more and more in my own abilities that became the inevitable result.

Having the Holy Spirit is all you need in being a spiritual Christian. For whatever reason, we tend to always complicate things and that includes our faith. Christianity is supposed to be really simple.

[awareness]

Great response bro Jo S.

"the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect" reminded me of "brother get out of your mind, and turn to you spirit."

When I was in the LC, Lee spoke of the Christian mystic Madame Guyon. Apparently both Lee and Nee thought a great deal of her. So I bought and read her book "Madame Guyon" <-click. It was okay.

Years after the LC I got into the Christian mystic Meister Eckhart.

Neither of them were Gnostics.

And I find meditation to be much like prayer. Methinks a little contemplation can help in the Christian walk.

But to each his own.

Thanks again Jo S. Blessings ...
Harold