I've been pondering over the last few days just why I find blogging and reading blogs so interesting. Kerry, over at The 10 O'Clock Scholar, has an interesting post about "blogging as a mother culture". Over the last several months I've become interested in how others experience God in their lives. When I socialize (with the exclusion of one friend) no one ever talks about how they experience God in their daily lives. Bloggers do! In the blogosphere, I can see God in action in the everyday lives of homeschooling moms. What a beautiful thing!
My current reading interests (outside of my Lenten reading) include reading about the lives of the Christian mystics - which include Jesus, St. Francis, St. John, The Apostle, St. John, The Baptist, St. John of the Cross, St. Terese of Lisieux, Mother Teresa etc.
Perhaps to some, it may sound over the edge. One of the books I'm currently reading comes with a warning - read with great caution and intelligent discernment. It continues...Holy Scripture is the inspired Word of God - mystics are touched by God in extraordinary ways and are inspirational and motivational. I accept that and read on.
Did you know that 39% of Christians polled report mystical experiences?
Be a friend - if you think I am swimming too far from the shore, throw me a life preserver...
7 comments:
Hello Amy,
I believe that there is a difference between "mystical" and "spiritual" experiences.
While mystical includes a possible union with the spirit....it is not exclusively a union with God's Spirit. I think that the enemy of our soul will try to blur the lines in which we bring boundaries into our lives.
While the Word of God tells us that those that worship God must worship Him with Spriit and in truth - we need to be particularly careful to make His Word the plumbline for our lives.
I know a woman that is a practicing witch (not saying you are, by the way :) ) that believes that "white" witchcraft is good, but dark/black witchcraft is not. They are one in the same, and she's been deceived.
John 16:13 says:
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Part of the definition of Christian mysticism goes:
Whereas Christian doctrine generally maintains that God dwells in all Christians and that they can experience God directly through belief in Jesus, Christian mysticism aspires to apprehend spiritual truths inaccessible through intellectual means, typically by emulation of Christ. William Inge divides this scala perfectionis into three stages: the "purgative" or ascetic stage, the "illuminative" or contemplative stage, and the "unitive" stage, in which God may be beheld "face to face."
I say that it's as simple as:
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
I really don't think it has anything to do with - "purgative",
"illuminative" or "unitive" stages. :)
I believe that it has to do with what Jeremiah 29:11-14 tells us.
I John 4:6 tell us:
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
I ask God to allow His Spirit of Truth to guide us all, and not a spirit of error.
Kindest Regards... :)
Amy - I enjoy reading works by christian mystics, too. There is something so raw in many of their words - something so immediate, too. They are people who have hungered and thirsted after God.
And I agree, Christian bloggers do talk quite a bit about God and their spiritual walks, don't they? Although, I'm blessed with a number of friends who do, too.
I'd love to hear more about what you are reading!
I love hearing about the spiritual experiences of others!
I hadn't considered it, but you made me realize that people do blog more about their walk with Christ than they talk about it. I hope that I'm not one of them. :-/
I've enjoyed catching up here...especially enjoyed what you've shared about your faith journey and your experiences with CHD and your children.
I agree with you--my favorite Christian bloggers are those who share how God is working in their lives! I am blessed with friends who do that too, but it's often better done in writing, I think--writing encourages more reflection.
--Jeanne
Sharon,
Thank you for tossing me a loving life preserver. A book that comes with a warning is scary for sure!
I think we always need to be aware of the presence of spiritual warfare. As the wife of a seminarian, I am keenly aware that I am a prime target for the evil one. I often pray for a blanket of protection to protect me from his grasp. Have you read the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis? It is probably the scariest book I've ever read. I think my next area of research will be spiritual warfare. I'm looking for book recommendations - if anyone has any, please let me know.
As I've prayed about this new direction I am taking, I have found that this new path I am taking is something I need to learn more about. I am going to post more about this path as soon as I get over this virus that has been interfering with my life. I have no intention of straying from my faith journey with Jesus - the way, the truth & the life.
Bless you for caring! I look forward to hearing more from you!!
Kerry, you bless me and I'm thankful for my new bloggy friend!
Marilyn, I cannot imagine you as one timid to speak about your journey. Your faith shines boldly wherever I meet you.
Jeanne, Thank you so much for your kind words! I have found more time to reflect on my faith walk with my blog - it has helped me to be more coherent as I share my journey with others as I enter more deeply into community life. Blogging has been very good for me!
Amy,
Yes, I read the Screwtape letters about 30 years ago, and I still remember much of it. Might do to go through it again.
I cannot think of any books on warfare off hand, but I'm remembering a friend of mine that works in a bank. She and her co-workers were trained to know counterfiet money by handling the real bills, and with the familiarization of the real stuff, they were quick to know what the counterfiet was.
That's pretty much how I see learning about spiritual anything, including Spriitual warfare. The more familiar I am with God's Word, that's what I'm going to know as genuine and when I become not just a hearer but also a doer of His Word, I will not be decieved. Somewhere in James 1 I think.
I really enjoy hearing about others journeys.
We are all told that as we approach the end times that even the very elect would be decieved. That just lets me know that I need to be feeding on God's Word and renewing my mind to what He says and not conform to the things that are around us in this life/earth.
I love how simple God makes it for us. So simple that even children can understand what He has for them too.
I've enjoyed the "spiritual" experiences that God has included me in on. They've often been happenings that I find difficult to speak to with most. But we are all suppose to be seeing with God's eyes, aren't we? :) As we are being led by God's Spirit, that's when we know that we are on safe turf.
Remember in God's Word where we're told that those that are LED by God are his sons and daughters. That's always been a BIG scripture to me. I've pondered that all of my life...and I ask God to lead me by His Spirit..and I've learned to trust Him along my way.
One of the things that I understand is that He will always lead us with HIS PEACE.
I'm remembering a place over in Colossians 3:15 - the Amplified version goes something like -
15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
It reminds me that if God's peace is not present, then I need to back up and take a better look at what I'm presented with and lean on the Lord to help me, trusting His Spirit to guide.
He's so wonderful. I know I can always trust ... when I ask Him to lead me, He will.
Kindest Regards...
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