The Religion Box

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

I agree with aspen, what exactly is wrong with mysticism?

Mysticism is the antithesis of faith. It requires switching off the mind in order to enter an altered state of consciousness, which naive people call communion with the holy spirit.

Faith is being persuaded of GOD's mercy and faithfulness, being convinced that he is worthy of being trusted, and trusting him to do what he says he will do. This involves the active participation of both the heart and the mind. Mysticism switches off the mind for the sake of 'spiritual' experience. The devil is a spirit.

 

[Levi]

Mysticism is the antithesis of faith. It requires switching off the mind in order to enter an altered state of consciousness, which naive people call communion with the holy spirit.

Faith is being persuaded of GOD's mercy and faithfulness, being convinced that he is worthy of being trusted, and trusting him to do what he says he will do. This involves the active participation of both the heart and the mind. Mysticism switches off the mind for the sake of 'spiritual' experience. The devil is a spirit.

You are misunderstanding what I am saying then, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. This very faith is what causes us to actually see! We can now see God in all, in everything, in every situation, there are no coincidences. All that happens, happens for His glory - the cool thing is - we get to see it now because our blinders are lifted!!

Ever hear an atheist explain something away that you know is from God? They can not see because they do not have faith in God!

God doesn't want to be silent in our lives, He wants a relationship and if you want to believe our active and living relationship with the Father somehow switches our minds off - go for it!! My mind is active, ready and prepared to go where ever it is the Lord would lead me! He is taking whoever wishes to go on a journey with Him, He wants to reveal Himself to us and show us His glory!!

Praise God!

 

[aspen]

I think you have confused the term 'faith' with the term reason! Kierkegaard describes faith as a leap which is often taken after reaching the limits of reason. Faith is choosing to trust God enough to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is essential for loving abundantly and only God is trustworthy enough for us to be vulnerable. Once we experience God's love for us, we are able to love others - even in the face of human failure to return love. CM is the deep prayer that God calls to experience - a deep well - which quenches forever.

 

[Levi]

I think you have confused the term 'faith' with the term reason! Kierkegaard describes faith as a leap which is often taken after reaching the limits of reason. Faith is choosing to trust God enough to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is essential for loving abundantly and only God is trustworthy enough for us to be vulnerable. Once we experience God's love for us, we are able to love others - even in the face of human failure to return love. CM is the deep prayer that God calls to experience - a deep well - which quenches forever.

Was this addressed to me?

I used the bibical term for faith.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

I think you have confused the term 'faith' with the term reason! Kierkegaard describes faith as a leap which is often taken after reaching the limits of reason. Faith is choosing to trust God enough to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is essential for loving abundantly and only God is trustworthy enough for us to be vulnerable. Once we experience God's love for us, we are able to love others - even in the face of human failure to return love. CM is the deep prayer that God calls to experience - a deep well - which quenches forever.

Faith is being persuaded that GOD is worthy of being trusted based on the witness he has provided in his word, which is comprehended with the mind. Anything else is vain and leads away from the cross and eternal life.

 

[aspen]

Levi - great post!

 

[Levi]

Faith is being persuaded that GOD is worthy of being trusted based on the witness he has provided in his word, which is comprehended with the mind. Anything else is vain and leads away from the cross and eternal life.

Are you saying we should be able to comprehend all there is to know about God? Even though the Bible says His ways are mysterious?

 

[aspen]

The word persuade is always used with reason. Faith cannot be a result of persuasion of reason although it can influence our decision to take a leap of faith

 

[Levi]

I think you have confused the term 'faith' with the term reason! Kierkegaard describes faith as a leap which is often taken after reaching the limits of reason. Faith is choosing to trust God enough to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is essential for loving abundantly and only God is trustworthy enough for us to be vulnerable. Once we experience God's love for us, we are able to love others - even in the face of human failure to return love. CM is the deep prayer that God calls to experience - a deep well - which quenches forever.

Reps to you aspen.

The word persuade is always used with reason. Faith cannot be a result of persuasion of reason although it can influence our decision to take a leap of faith

There are definite times where God tells someone to do something and it does not make sense at the time, only later does it become clear.

Abraham - leave your country! How crazy was that! He left all he had ever known, by the way - kill your son, why you're at it!

 

[aspen]

I was talking to christrose, Levi - however I am also enjoying reading your posts

 

[Levi]

I was talking to crafts, Levi - however I am also enjoying reading your posts

I know, I was trying to add to your post. ;) Hopefully it added a little insight. :)

 

[aspen]

Yeah you really have some good information Levi

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Are you saying we should be able to comprehend all there is to know about God? Even though the Bible says His ways are mysterious?

We are to hold fast and remain faithful to what we have been given. We are not commanded to delve off into the deep attempting to discover some new thing about GOD. Faithfulness is what saves us, not some experience called spirituality.

There are definite times where God tells someone to do something and it does not make sense at the time, only later does it become clear.
Abraham - leave your country! How crazy was that! He left all he had ever known, by the way - kill your son, why you're at it!

Abraham had specific knowledge that gave him the faith to do what he did. It is irrational to think otherwise.

 

[Episkopos]

We are to hold fast and remain faithful to what we have been given. We are not commanded to delve off into the deep attempting to discover some new thing about GOD. Faithfulness is what saves us, not some experience called spirituality.


Abraham had specific knowledge that gave him the faith to do what he did. It is irrational to think otherwise.

Aren't you going off again and eliminating the main part?

Jesus says...I never knew you...to people who think they are doing Him a service. I would think then getting to know God more deeply is the whole point.

 

[aspen]

So christrose you are choosing to hold on to the incorrect idea that CM is a search for new information about God?
Um there was nothing rational about Abraham trying to sacrifice his son....that is why it was called an act of faith by Paul

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Aren't you going off again and eliminating the main part?
Jesus says...I never knew you...to people who think they are doing Him a service. I would think then getting to know God more deeply is the whole point.

Who is it that says being faithful to the revealed will of GOD is not knowing him? That's rather presumptuous, don't you think?

 

[Levi]

We are to hold fast and remain faithful to what we have been given. We are not commanded to delve off into the deep attempting to discover some new thing about GOD. Faithfulness is what saves us, not some experience called spirituality.

Who says we can not receive more?

The Bible says that for those who have been faithful in a little they are given more!

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

So christrose you are choosing to hold on to the incorrect idea that CM is a search for new information about God?
Um there was nothing rational about Abraham trying to sacrifice his son....that is why it was called an act of faith by Paul

All mysticism is based on the occult. Christian mysticism is just mysticism dressed in Christian clothes.

 

[aspen]

Knowing involves more than reason. It also involves trust, faith, the ability and willingness to be vulnerable
St. Teresa lived three hundred years before Swedenborg - are you still going to try and claim that he started CM

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Knowing involves more than reason. It also involves trust, faith, the ability and willingness to be vulnerable

Of course it does. I'm not denying that, except for the vulnerable part. It requires an obedient ear and a supple heart.