What is Christian mysticism?

Question: "What is Christian mysticism?"

Answer: The term "Christian mystic" is an oxymoron. Mysticism is not the experience of a Christian. The closest valid experience of a Christian that might appear to resemble mysticism to an unbelieving observer is when the Christian is filled with the Spirit (Holy Spirit). For us that are Christians, it is evident that the extraordinary wisdom, boldness, understanding, strength, etc. that such spiritual believers demonstrate is the result of being filled with the Spirit, as it is set forth in the Bible. Unbelievers cannot correctly comprehend such things. The Bible tells us why: "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ "(1 Corinthians 2:14-16 - NIV).

Consciousness of God is part of the common definition of a mystic experience, but the only valid experience of this nature for the Christian is that which is allowed according to scripture. "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Romans 8:16 - NIV). Most modern mystic experiences of which I have heard suggest to us either things that don't really have much substance (make no meaningful contribution to the understanding of corporeal life) or things that would appear to challenge Evangelical Bible doctrine, which invalidates the experience.

The closest Biblical account that an unbeliever might conclude was a mystical experience might be the Apostle Paul's Damascus Road experience, or the experience he described in his second epistle to the Corinthians: "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know-- God knows. And I know that this man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell" (2 Corinthians 12:2-4 - NIV).

As we examine this account from a Christian perspective, however, we notice particularly that Paul makes it clear that God would not allow his giving the details of that experience. Thus it would hardly be reasonable for us to believe that God would be willing to divulge spiritual truth by the manner in which mystics seem to flaunt their experiences. It is His will to declare spiritual truth thru the Apostles of the Church by the vehicle of the Holy scriptures. "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:17 - NIV). "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:20 - KJV).

Recommended Resource: The Kingdom of the Cults, revised and updated edition.