Prayer ICU

Christian Mysticism - My Perspective

Here are some key characteristics that define and underpin my perspective as a Christian mystic.

Woman having a mystical Christian experience while reading the Bible.

I want to be clear that you do not have to be a Christian to get my help and benefit from it. This is partly because I help people achieve a profound change in their deep minds by activating immutable natural laws of the deep psyche. Like the laws of physics, they work regardless. My clients include atheists, agnostics and people with other non-Christian spiritual perspectives, as well as Christians.

In the below, interpret the words 'believe' and similar as including knowing, experiencing.

My Core Beliefs

Belief in God: God is the Supreme Being who created everything. (Genesis 1:1; 2:4).

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Genesis 1:1 WEB In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 2:4 WEB This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens.

Divinity of Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, the Son of God who came to earth as a human being. (John 1:1-3, 14; Philippians 2:5-8).

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John 1:1-3 WEB In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:14 WEB The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Philippians 2:5-8 WEB Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross.

Salvation through Christ: Jesus died for the sins of all humans and was then resurrected to eternal life, providing the path to salvation. (John 1:29, Hebrews 9:28, 1 Corinthians 15:17, Matthew 12:40, Hebrews 12:2).

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John 1:29 WEB The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Hebrews 9:28 WEB so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

1 Corinthians 15:17 WEB If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.

Matthew 12:40 WEB For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Hebrews 12:2 WEB looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Necessity of Spiritual Rebirth: Spiritual rebirth is essential, as Jesus stated, "You must be born again" (John 3:3-8).

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John 3:3-8 WEB Jesus answered him, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.” [4] Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” [5] Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ [8] The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Authority of Scripture: The Bible is the authoritative word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

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2 Timothy 3:16-17 WEB Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, [17] that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Work of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, restores and regenerates, and guides the Christian life.

Not everyone who claims to be, or thinks they are, a Christian is one in reality. This is common and one reason the 'Church' currently has such a poor societal reputation (Read this carefully: Matthew 7:21-23 - see box below). Some 'religious' people find me challenging at best, despite my humility and loving attitude. Cruel people with, to themselves, a clean conscience are some of the most injurious and toxic people one can meet. Such people are common in churches. Some haters 'self-validate' because they see God's power at work. Those with eyes to see know that God's power works because of His laws, despite the hater's attitude and actions. Read that verse mentioned above again. Genuine repentance is lovely because it brings one closer to God, and more.

Perhaps you have been a victim of toxic churches, toxic ministers and toxic church people. Possibly your experience has put you off Christ and Christianity. Perhaps you 'use' what you have seen and experienced as an 'excuse' to avoid God. Maybe you stopped attending church because of the rotten things you saw and experienced. Jesus Christ and genuine Christians empowered by, and walking in the Holy Spirit, are not like this. In fact, alert Christians are aware of these 'poisonous' types and the Bible warns about them - see the box below.

Please don't allow toxic religious people to rob you of a personal relationship with Christ.

"Both history and our current headlines reveal a church that can be a deeply flawed, sinful, and unhealthy institution, marred by acts of injustice, corruption, abuse, misogyny, and oppression. The contemporary American church is wrecked with bickering and division, celebrity worship and unaccountable leaders, false and shallow teaching, and a Christian industrial complex formed around greed and vanity."

Quote reference:
McKnight, S. (2020). A church called Tov: Forming a goodness culture. Tyndale House.

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Matthew 7:21-23 WEB “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ [23] Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 WEB For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. [14] And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. [15] It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Matthew 7:15-16 WEB “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. [16] By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?

2 Timothy 3:5 WEB holding a form of godliness but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.

Titus 1:16 WEB They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

1 John 4:1 WEB Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Matthew 23:27-28 WEB “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

2 Peter 2:1-2 WEB But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. [2] Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.

Core Practices

Repentance and faith: I practice repentance from sin and place my faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Prayer, fasting and Bible study: Regular prayer and Bible study/meditation are essential practices for spiritual growth. Contemplative prayer, fasting and biblically appropriate meditation practices cultivate awareness and experience of God's presence. "Prayer is not an attempt to get God to agree with you or provide for your selfish desires, but that it is both an affirmation of His sovereignty, righteousness, and majesty and an exercise to conform your desires and purposes to His will and Glory” ― John F. MacArthur

Love for others: True Christians are characterised by loving one another, as Jesus commanded (John 13:35).

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John 13:35 WEB By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Good works: While salvation is by grace through faith, I believe in the importance of good works as evidence of my faith.

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James 2:17-26 WEB Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. [18] Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder. [20] But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? [21] Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? [22] You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected. [23] So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. [24] You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. [25] In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? [26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

Transformation of life: I strive to dramatically change my life, leaving old sinful ways and living according to God's standards of righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

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Ephesians 4:22-24 WEB that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit, [23] and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, [24] and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Worship and fellowship: Regular participation in worship services and fellowship with other believers is important. I am non-denominational.

Evangelism: Sharing my faith and the message of salvation with others is an important practice.

Baptism: I am water baptised, partly as a public declaration of my faith. Also baptised in the Holy Spirit.

Ongoing spiritual growth: I believe in continuous spiritual development and becoming more Christ-like in my character and actions (2 Corinthians 5:15). I focus on inner spiritual growth and transformation rather than external religious observances alone. It is not a 'holiness competition' nor an opportunity to 'virtue signal'.

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2 Corinthians 5:15 WEB He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.

Direct personal experience of the divine as a central goal. I seek intimate communion with God beyond intellectual understanding.

Openness to Christian mystical experiences. Visions, revelations, discernment of spirits, and a sense of union with the divine.

Integration of mystical insights with orthodox Christian theology and scripture. If it's not genuinely biblical, it's not right.

Avoidance of New Age practices. The New Age movement's (NAM) core tenets directly oppose central Christian beliefs, potentially misleading believers and non-believers away from scriptural teachings.

Avoid any kind of magic, sorcery, divination, witchcraft, necromancy, and shamanism. Regardless of their intent or perceived benevolence.

Emphasis on silence, periods of solitude, and simplicity. To nurture the inner spiritual life.

Holistic biblical spirituality that connects body, mind, and spirit. Including honouring the natural laws God has created.

Appreciation for mystery and the ineffable aspects of God beyond human comprehension.

Engagement with contemporary issues through a contemplative lens.

Use of psychological insights to understand the Christian mystical journey.

Use of spiritual insights to understand and heal the psyche.

Engage with social justice issues as an expression of Christian mystical awareness.

Incorporate body-based practices such as exercise alongside traditional contemplative methods.

Explore the intersection of science and Christian mysticism. I have a registered trademark: "Logically Mystic".

Use technology, business acumen and social media to share Christian teachings more widely.

It's important to note that while these include common beliefs and practices among born-again Christians, there can be variations in interpretation and emphasis across different denominations and individual believers.

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