Defining Mysticism Based on Scripture

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Have you ever wondered, “What is mysticism?” or even, “What’s a mystic?” How about, “What is Christian mysticism?” Is there even such a thing? Now if someone were to say to you, “Yes, it’s a real thing”, then your next question would likely be, “Isn’t Christian mysticism new age? Is Christian mysticism biblical?” or you might outright zealously ask, “Isn’t Christian mysticism a sin or even heresy?!”

Over the next few minutes, we will answer those questions and more as we dive into the definition of mysticism and we will discover the root of the word mysticism and its meaning, according to the Bible. This will reveal to us whether we should be concerned, as Christians (or Catholics), or not concerned at all. Now, don’t worry, you won’t need holy water or have to pick up a crucifix in fear (it’s ok to laugh). There won’t be any need for any concern of anti-biblical teachings because we will go through the Scriptures together, and discover the heart of God on this matter. Together, we will realize that we only needed to seek in order to find the answers to understanding what Christian mysticism is. Once we establish the Scriptural foundation, coupled with spiritual understanding, we will have peace in being enlightened by the Truth of the Word of God.

In just a few minutes, if you lean not on your carnal understanding, but on the spiritual truths of the Scriptures, you will have revelation that will empower you with insight about mysticism.

So, without further delay, let’s learn about how GOD IS IN IT!

What is Mysticism?

The definition, according to Oxford languages, mysticism is the belief that union with God, through contemplation and self-surrender can lead to obtaining otherwise, inaccessible knowledge by human intellect.

According to Wikipedia, even the idea of mystical realities have been widely held in Christianity since the second century AD. This means that the early church was no stranger to Christian mysticism. If this is true, then we should at least be open and curious-enough to understand right? God did say, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6 NKJV).

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Photo with Nancy Coen at Joyfest USA 2024 (07.28.24)_edited.jpg

Modern-day mystic and author of “Beyond Human”, Justin Paul Abraham, once explained that a mystic is a person who believes in the possibility of attaining insight into mysteries, transcending ordinary human knowledge, as by Direct communication with The Divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy and bliss” (see image here where my wife & I had the honor of meeting Justin at JOYFEST USA 2024!)

Nancy Coen, author of “Limitless” and “All Creation Groaning” is another modern forerunner in Christian mysticism. She once explained how the Lord told her to look up the definition of a mystic, when she was concerned about being accused of being persecuted as one. Nancy explained that the unabridged dictionary defined a mystic as someone who receives supernaturally-derived information from unseen sources through communion with The Divine Nature. As soon as she realized this definition confirmed the following Scripture, she rejoiced at the thought of being called a mystic! In 2 Peter 1:4 (NIV), we read that, “Through these He (God) has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature…” Isn’t this amazing!?

The True Biblical Roots of Mysticism

Mysticism is obviously, closely-related to the word mystery. The word mystery (or mysteries) implies hidden things, secret(s), so let’s take a look at five Scriptures that speak about this:

Colossians 1:26 (AMP) – “…so that I might make the word of God fully known (among you) - that is, the mystery which was hidden (from angles and mankind) for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).”
- The Greek lexicon (www.blueletterbible.org) defines “mystery” from Colossians 1:26 as “mysterion”. It is also defined as: hidden thing, secret, not obvious to the understanding, mysteries and secrets confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals.
Psalm 25:14 (AMP) – “The secret (of the wise counsel) of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them (through His word its (deep, inner) meaning.”
Amos 3:7 (GWT) – “Certainly, The Almighty LORD doesn’t do anything unless He (first) reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”

Daniel 2:22 (NKJV) – “He reveals deep and secret things”

1 Corinthians 2:10 (NKJV) – “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God).”

We can surely see that God indeed is mysterious, deep and willing to share secret things!

Now, let’s look at some scriptures that correlate with the general concept and definition of mysticism (including insight, divine union and ecstasy) as we read initially.

Galatians 1:12 (AMP) – “For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a (direct) revelation of Jesus Christ.” This expressed receiving divine insight.
Galatians 2:20 (TPT) – “My old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives His life through me – we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that He gave Himself for me, dispensing His life into mine!” Emphasis here is divine union.
Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) – “…in Your Presence is fullness of joy; at Your right Hand are pleasures forevermore.” This implies bliss and ecstasy.
1 Chronicles 13:8 (AMP) – “David and all Israel celebrated (joyfully) before God with all their might with songs, lyres, harps tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.”
- 2 Samuel 6:14 (AMP) “And David was dancing before the LORD with great enthusiasm…”
2 Corinthians 5:13 (TPT) – “If we are out of our minds in a blissful, divine ecstasy, it is for God, but if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.”

These last three scriptures focus on ecstatic bliss!

What is a Modern Mystic?

A modern mystic is an individual who embraces mystical experiences and spiritual truths within the context of contemporary life. They integrate ancient wisdom, revealed by Holy Spirit, with modern living, seeking connection with The Divine (God) while fulfilling everyday roles and responsibilities. Modern mystics often explore spiritual concepts like Oneness (Divine Union), interconnectedness, and practicing the Presence of God, which simply means, turning and tuning our awareness on the reality of God being ever-present. Some ways that a Christian mystic explores this awareness are through practices like meditation, contemplation, and self-reflection.

Let’s dive into more details and look at 8 specific characteristics of a modern Christian mystic:

1). They seek connection with The Divine (God, Who is our Source):

Modern mystics believe in a spiritual essence or force that connects all things and strive to experience that connection. Isn’t it amazing that we hear about “the force” in Star Wars or that non-Christians will sometimes acknowledge “Source”, but not God. They simply don’t know it yet, or don’t want to admit to the possibility, but there is only One God. It would seem that those who don’t know Him may refer to a concept that describes Him, such as Source.

2). Christian Mystics seek to integrate spiritual practice into daily life:

They don't necessarily withdraw from the world but look for ways to integrate their spiritual journey into their work, relationships, and other aspects of their lives. Some examples are that they may try to spend time in nature when possible and emphasize peace, love, “good vibes only” when around others. That’s definitely a good quality if you ask me, especially since Jesus said, “Blessed (spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will (express His character and) be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9 AMP)

3). A Christian Mystic embraces (has faith for) both the seen and unseen:

They acknowledge the tangible world while also believing, acknowledging and desiring to explore the realm of the spiritual and metaphysical. The key to remember here is that Jesus tells us in John 10:7-10 that He is the Gate and He is the Door. This spiritual truth must be understood, especially for Christians who seek the supernatural, such as through meditation. The truth is that any attempt to access the realms of the Spirit, must be through Jesus Christ and be led by Holy Spirit, Who is our only Guide (John 16:13) into the Father’s House (John 14:2), which includes all the realms and dimensions of the Spirit. To not go through Jesus is spiritually illegal and one risks being susceptible to deception from demonic spirits for not going through the Door/Gate/Jesus.

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4). Mystics seek guidance through ancient wisdom:

Christian mystics often seek and receive inspiration from early Christian mystics, meditating on the Bible, meditating on the person of Jesus, or even through the teachings of Holy Spirit-filled leaders who bear the fruit and power of God in their lives.

5). Christian Mystics seek personal transformation:

They aim for self-discovery, personal growth in Christ, and a deeper understanding of God, His Ways, their personal identity in Christ, themselves and their calling and destiny. They understand that we are being transformed into Christ’s image, growing from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).

6). Mystics may experience mystical states or insights:

It is common for them to have moments of profound spiritual understanding. There are various descriptions for these moments, such as “downloads”, a “knowing”, “infused knowledge”. It’s quite normal to have difficulty in describing supernatural experiences. Some experiences can manifest as trances, open visions, and can even be described as altered states of consciousness. There’s nothing to fear here. An altered state of consciousness is just the scientific way of describing when a person shifts into a different brainwave state, many times based on emotions. Even your heart rate, breathing patterns cause us all to have altered states of consciousness!

7). Christian Mystics may engage in various practices:

Some of these practices can include prayer (communication with God), meditation (waiting & listening for God to communicate with you), contemplation, praying in unknown tongues, journaling, affirmations, and connecting with nature.

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8). Mystics often seek to contribute to the greater good:

Many modern mystics feel a drawing and a calling to use what they learn, through revelation and insights from God, including their supernatural experiences, and share it with anyone willing to learn. They desire to give from the depths of what they have received, creating a free-flow of giving and receiving. This brings deeper satisfaction and meaning and it makes a positive impact on the world. After all, God says, “Arise and shine…” (Isaiah 60:1) and “Give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38). Jesus also tells us in Matthew 5:16, to “…let your light shine before others…”

To sum this all up, a modern Christian Mystic is someone who:

Recognizes the mystical and supernatural reality of the Kingdom of God within themselves (Luke 17:21) and in others. They seek to abide in that reality and live from that place of spiritual rest (John 15, 17).
Seeks the spiritual-side of things and understands that life is spiritual at its core, while also not ignoring the realities of modern life.
Strives to live a more conscious, aware, alert, connected, and purposeful existence.

It’s quite amazing to renew our minds, like Romans 12:2 tells us to, when it comes to things we don’t understand, but yet we judge incorrectly. Has your mind been renewed?

So, we began with the common questions people have about Christian mysticism and mystics, in general. We learned the text-book definitions and even some revelatory insight from two modern-day mystics, Justin Paul Abraham and Nancy Coen, in relation to those definitions. Next, we dove into what the wonderful Scriptures tell us about the relation of mysticism and the nature of God. We discovered that mysticism greatly relates to mysteries, deep, hidden secrets, divine union, ecstasy and how it is all found throughout the Bible. That really put us at ease! We then explored 8 characteristics of mystics and expanded our spiritual understanding of this topic.

Now that you know the true meaning of what it means to be a mystic, that GOD IS IN IT, how it’s interwoven in the Word of God and that Christian mysticism is not actually bad, tell me…are you a mystic…?