Christian mysticism can be easily confused with philosophical mysticism. Philosophical mysticism has its roots in pantheism, a word composed of two Greek words, pan meaning all and Theos meaning God. Pantheists believe God is in all things and all things are in God.
Specifically, Merriam-Webster defines pantheism as follows:
A doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe.
The worship of all gods of different creeds, cults, or peoples indifferently.
While in Athens, the apostle Paul shared the truth of the gospel and the reality that there is only one God seen in the person of Jesus with the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers, who themselves were steeped in pantheistic philosophy. He quoted some of their own when he said, “‘In him we live and move and have our being’ as some of your own poets have said.’”
But Paul was careful not to imply that this teaching allowed for multiple gods or universal unity. He went on to declare a coming Day when all humanity would be judged through Christ, as evidenced by his resurrection from the dead.
In his book, “Paul the Mystic: A Study in Apostolic Experience,” James Mann Campbell warns of the great harm that comes from confusing philosophical and Christian mysticism. The two are radically different in their spirit and aims.
The ultimate goal of philosophical mysticism is knowledge, but for the Christian mystic, the goal is holiness or Christ-likeness. For the philosophical mystic, writes Mann, “the main object of quest is the essential essence and ultimate reality of things.” But for the Christian mystic, “the main object of quest is actual and immediate contact with God, — he seeks to come face to face with God, meeting Him as spirit with spirit, with nothing standing between.” (“Paul, the Mystic,” p.18.)
This quest should be the driving force and passion in the lives of all Christians; to grow in our knowledge, intimate, personal knowledge of God. Christ, to quote the words of Paul in Galatians, is to be “formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19)
As Christ is formed in us, we take on his qualities and attitudes. We learn to love others as ourselves. We become mercy givers to those who, at one time, we disdained, rejected, and treated contemptuously. We seek reconciliation and peace in our marriages, families, communities, nations, and world. Best of all, we begin to “hear” the voice of the Spirit of Jesus as he leads and guides us through our daily lives.
Never in my lifetime has the church been more in need of Christian mystics. Men and women who hunger for God and seek His Spirit in their lives. Never before has the prayer Paul prayed for the Ephesians needed in the life of the church today. And it’s with that prayer I close -
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 1:17-19)
In Christ,
Dan
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Indeed, Dan, indeed. This is certainly my goal. Now I've got another book to put on my wish list.