Tuesday
Oct132009
Mysticism vs. Practicalism
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 05:18PM 
So this is what I've been dealing with recently. And I'm just being honest. I am critical of pretty much anything mystical these days. And that's almost antithetical to the faith and doctrines I hold dear. I am an Assembly of God minister. I believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, complete with the initial physical evidence of speaking in other tongues. I really do believe it. This is not a crisis of faith where my beliefs are in question. My faith in God is pretty much sound. It's my faith in people!!I tend to lean more towards the practical side of Christianity. The cup of water is His Name kind of ministry. But I long for, and pray for, authentic moves of God, and the third person of the trinity, in my life and in the lives of those around me.
I'm only 29 at the time of this writing, so I can't exactly say I've seen it all. But I have seen and experienced more than most people my age--at least what one would call "mystical." And the sum of those "mystical" experiences have left me jaded. I have seen too many authentic moves of God to doubt His Word. The problem is...that I've seen too many fakes, too. There are so many screwballs out there when it comes to spirituality. It's the mysticism that attracts them. Some of them are just trying to make themselves appear "uber-spiritual" to others. Some are trying to scam you out of money. Some, and this is probably the scariest of them all, are just certifiably nuts!! And seeing so much of this fake-ness has left me cynical. I'm to the point now where in my mind I'm daring them to prove themselves to me.
And I am ashamed.
I know my God is real. I've experienced Him. I've felt Him. I know Him.
And I know that He uses people to perform signs and wonders.
And I know that there are many bona-fide Christian mystics out there.
And what's really concerning me is the fact that in the Bible, most mystics, prophets, and authentic people of God were indeed certifiably crazy! And everyone around them thought so. I could make a long list right here and now of many of those people. So I'm really having a difficult time with this.
Does anyone else have these issues as well? Not a set of doubts that God is real--just that people, and their mysticism, are real. Have you faced this and come to terms with it? How did you marry the mystical and the practical? Help me out with your comments and your feelings about this.
in Rants
Rants
Reader Comments (8)
Many want the attention, only a fraction of those who present Christian mysticism are truly touched by the hands of God. Jesus tells us to beware of false prophets. We can discern the spirits of those who look for attention by simply studying the scriptures.
We are required by God's law not to pass judgement, that is His domain. Only He has that power. By passing judgement on others, we will be burdened with an even heavier judgement when we come face to face with our Maker.
Seems like a Catch 22, but really the problem can be solved simply enough. Teach the scriptures so that those who listen understand how to discern the spirits of the false ones There are many gifts given and the hints are placed throughout the scriptures on how to use them. Once they have spiritual protection through the word, forget about the false ones. They will meet their fate later.
I use to worry about the same issues. People standing up and bursting into tongues or waving their hands and whole rooms fall down from the presence of the spirit seemed to bother me the most. I was like you in that my beliefs say that all things are possible through God. I can be healed through the touch of the hand as long as that person is filled with the spirit. Now, I have decided to leave it all in God's hands. Look what he did to many of the televangelists who were misleading their flocks. He exposed them for what they were. They were found more needy than the people they were preaching to.
Christian mysticism is real. There are happenings that have yet to be explained. I firmly believe that in order for the miracles and answered prayers to happen, however, that one must come before God with a clean heart. I have experienced those answered prayers and those healing miracles. I know they exist.
I also know that there are many out there who do things not for the glory of God, but for the glory of self. Its not my job to condemn, simply to weed out the junk from the truth.
"I’m to the point now where in my mind I’m daring them to prove themselves to me." Why would you want them to prove themselves? As a minister, they might be waiting for the same from you. If you are waiting on proof as a leader, how can you expect those following to surpass you? It made me wonder if you are wanting God to prove himself, but you say "I know my God is real. I’ve experienced Him. I’ve felt Him. I know Him." I know fake people can be a disappointment and a distraction. People in church are just like people outside of church, some are real some are fake. The point is there is something real and so desired that people go to great links to fake it. People are ignorant until shown otherwise, then they are responsible for the truth. If they are misguided a long the way, then they believe what they are doing is the truth. They are not in your church because they have all the answers, they are there seeking answers.
You're absolutely right, which is why I don't like the way I feel. I don't like feeling that any "man/woman of God" has to prove themselves to be authentic to me, but that's where I am right now. I really have been in prayer about it because I don't want to feel this way. And I think in the days following this post God has been working on me, though I would still consider myself to be a skeptic. And the "they" that I was referring to are the ministers and mystics that claim that healing (or other miracles for that matter ) flows on a regular basis through their ministry, not the people in general. And again, I'm rather ashamed of feeling this way, so I'm working on it. I'm a work in progress! I appreciate the comments though, and feel free to stop back by.
why are you frustrated with all this when you yourself practice "mysticism" when you pray in "tongues"? No where does the Bible say "tongues" is the evidence of the Baptism. As i said before in a previous comment, (i'm not sure i posted it correctly)the tongues used today is not the tongues used at Pentecost and only a few more times in Acts. Tongues was not a common use and that is why Paul reproved the Corinthians on this and many other issues they brought into the church. Corinth was a very pagan city and they brought much of the sins and "mysticism" into the church much the same way america does today! pagans spoke in tongues or a jibberish, nonlanguage so what proof is it of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is no more proof as someone being "slain the spirit" or "holy laughter." These are gross misinterpretations of Scripture and sadly it goes from generation to generation to generation for what more than a century now?!? and until someone steps up and says this is wrong and people listen it will continue. and people need to stop checking their minds at the church entrance and stop looking for miracles and so-called moves of God and develop some true spiritual discernment and not accept every happening as coming from God.
I suggested to you to read "Charismatic Chaos" by John MacArthur. i think it is pretty sound in what he says about tongues and other goings on in the charismatic/pentecostal "movement." I think i'm allowed to say these things because i've seen the worst of the worst of it all and have been duped and burned by charismatics for almost 20 years. I suggest to you that you dig deeper into the issue of "tongues" and learn the history behind it.
I apologize if I led you to believe in my article that I am having a problem believing in the mysticism. That is not my issue. Furthermore, the issue of "tongues" is not one I wish to debate with you because I'm lousy at debating and therefore it is not something I engage in. I do know what I believe, probably better than most. I am not a lemming. And I'm sorry if you've been burned in the past. I have too. That's why I Blog.
My issue is with people who practice "mysticism", including that of "tongues" or healing, or anything of the like. As I'm sure you are aware, there are so many folks out there who are Charlatans and put on a show, that it has left me jaded towards people, not divine movement. So, that is my issue: people. I'm not a fantastic writer, and do not claim to be one, so I may not have made that abundantly clear. My aim, is simply to express the feelings of someone who is looking for answers, because I grow and change and learn every day. That's all.
but if you say you believe in something such as tongues is the evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit than you need to be able to defend that with scripture. we are called to contend for the Faith (not have our own personal rants.) Just a challenge to you, friend.
You're right, of course. And I can. I am just unwilling. That isn't my intention for this Blog. And to be honest, I don't think you or I could sway the other through debate. However, if you know the Scriptures well enough to defend your beliefs, then you've got about 90% of the church at large beat. So I applaud your pursuit of truth, and I encourage you to pass that knowledge on to the next generation. Teenagers especially need someone like that to mentor them and disciple them.
For this statement, Jochen Zeitz argued that a considerable part of the product had being through wind and rain to counter the trend of fail for decades wtevww wtevww - supra vaider.