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Topic: 20 Mystical Beliefs & Practices to Avoid
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SoftTouch
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The article below is the second article on this link. The first article is worth reading as well. Just remember while reading the below article to keep the terms “Meditation” in their proper context(s)… there are Two Types… Biblical and Other.
http://www.cephas-library.com/ecumenical/ecumenism_mysical_salvation.html
Did Jesus Meditate Mystically
by carolyn chapman
Worldwide ecumenical forces are endeavoring to unite eastern religions and western Christianity. All faiths are being plunged into one melting pot hoping that a one- world religion will rise to the surface. Man strives to reconcile Christianity with eastern beliefs; but Christianity is to be believed, not reconciled. The cornerstone erected by the New Age to create unity of faith is not Jesus Christ but meditation; not a person but a method.
To encourage Christianity to accept this new cornerstone, New Age writings are presenting reprobate interpretations of Scripture and persuasive deception. New Age writers are endeavoring to prove, by twisting historical truth, that Jesus and the leaders of the early Church meditated. By spurious interpretations of history, they emphasize that the dogma of the Christian Church has departed from the true meaning of Christian meditation. As a result of this misconstrued foundation of truth, counterfeit spiritual alliances with God are being contracted. The real alliance is with Satan who schemes to rule the minds of men. A fraudulent, imaginary unity is the result of the 'meditation' experience leading to altered states of consciousness; while the foundations of Christian dogma are being deliberately crushed and the rubble of so-called narrow-minded Christianity and is being replaced with a new life-style and value system.
Has the Christian been following a delusive path? Can peace and unity really be accomplished by the New Age experience and a change of consciousness? Did Jesus really meditate? Have we failed and are we dissatisfied with Christianity because the 'meditative' practicum is missing from our lives? Our hearts must be firmly devoted to Jesus or we shall fall to the bedrock of 'meditation’. Do you have neighbors and friends who are confused and relate biblical meditation with New Age or Eastern meditation? Firstly, in this article we want to clarify the difference between New Age meditation and biblical meditation.
The Empty Mind
The process of each meditation is completely different. The biblical Hebrew word denotes a babbling, a muttering or a verbalization. Transcendental meditation is a silent process whereby the mind is emptied of all thought and the body relaxes. Psalm 2:1 can be translated: "Why do the heathen rage, and the people meditate on an empty thing?"
There is also a state of meditative relaxation that is evoked - by a mantra, the repetition of a word or words. Monastic gurus use "om" a symbolic name of the "supreme god of gods." We are reminded of the Scripture that says, "When you pray, use not vain or empty repetitions, as the heathen do" (Matthew 6:7).
The Rational Mind
Biblical meditation is practiced with a rational mind. "My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall bring understanding" (Psalm 49:3). "The mouth of the righteous speaks or meditates wisdom. .." (Psalm 37:30). Biblical meditation is not empty thought; we are encouraged to meditate on God, His precepts, His Word and His mighty deeds. This is objective knowledge that enters the rational mind not subjective knowledge that arises from the cosmic subconscious mind while in meditation. Does biblical truth arise from the inward self? No. God's Word is truth. This refers to the laws, precepts and commandments of God. Christian doctrine is founded upon the written revelation of Scripture not the meditations of an irrational and empty mind.
Meditation and Dogma
In explaining the path of meditation, Swami Raffia says: "Every theological system requires its followers to believe in a definite way, with definite notions of God, soul, heaven, hell, sin and virtue. But any predetermined notions that one carries to the deeper states of meditation binds the meditator and prevents him from crossing the boundaries of the conditioned mind. ..Consequently, when one is restricted by dogma, one cannot realize the universal truth that the self within is the self of all. "1 This statement unveils the hidden conflict between meditative dogma and biblical dogma.
Christian dogma should be a rapturous consolation not a restrictive burden. "Oh, how I love your law," David said. "It is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97). Old Testament meditation is a rational musing upon the precepts of God. Paul clarifies New Testament meditation. "Meditate on these things: give yourself entirely to them" (1 Timothy 4:15,16). Timothy was to meditate on his conduct, doctrine and the gift that was in him. Contrary to the Bible, Swami Raffia says: "Meditation does not require a belief in dogma or any authority. "2 Whereas the meditation of the psalmist brought obedience and respect for the laws of God. It is dangerous to omit doctrines and authorities as unimportant to our Christian experience. Such omissions make us prey to the doctrine of devils.
Meditation differs according to our source of knowledge and enlightenment. Do you agree with Swami Raffia, who said, "Mere promises in the scripture are not satisfying. When one realizes the importance of life and its purpose then one turns to the philosophy of meditation and finds solutions therein. "3 Meditation as a source of knowledge superimposes upon an individual heart a whole New World view which is contrary to the Christian world-view of life. This common world-view created by meditation or centering provides the cornerstone of unity and the secret to establishing a one-world religion. Man is thereby initiated into the ancient mysteries of Babylon the Great only to face the wrath of Almighty God.
The Purposes of Meditation
The New Ager seeks to know self to know God. "Self realization is the experiential awareness of the divine unity pervading all existence and the practice of meditation leads to this ultimate realization. "4 New Age says that self-realization is a discovery of the full potentiality of the human mind. Man becomes unlimited in his abilities.
But the Christian seeks to know God by meditating upon His statues that the individual self may not depart from God's ways. What Andrew Murray wrote about the self, is magnified by the humanistic philosophy of the New Age. "We have within us a self that has its poison from Satan -from hell -and yet we cherish and nourish it. What do we not do to please self and nourish self and we make the devil within us strong? " Man needs to be more concerned about not deceiving himself, than knowing himself; for in thinking he knows himself, he deceives himself.
Meditation aims for unity in a mystical state of mind. Man and God become one. Man feels at 'one' with the whole universe. This experience of oneness they call 'rebirth,' at which time one enters the Kingdom of God. This deception is demonic and destructive.
The goal of biblical meditation is not a metaphysical union but a moral purpose. "The mouth of the righteous speaks (or meditates) wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart" (Psalm 37:30,31). Biblical wisdom leads a man to follow righteous and godly paths. "My tongue shall talk or meditate on your righteous-ness." (Psalm 71:24)
Meditation is transformation. "Meditation not only changes dogma but your whole personality. "6 Transformation that occurs when one meditates is the changing of consciousness - a change in the way one looks upon life. This transformation distorts biblical truth. This transformation tears down traditional values and morals and estab- lishes a new order of self-values. But salvation is the transformation of man's nature to the conformity of God's righteous character. Is our purpose in life to transform self, and establish self as God; or do we yield self to the Master Transformer - Jesus - to mold His moral image in us?
Did Jesus Meditate? The New Age attributes to Jesus the role of a master yogi, one who has reached the highest meditative state of mind. Their demonic interpretations of Scripture have no grounds for debate.
They defend their lack of evidence with the following argument. "Jesus taught only a few the highest of spiritual teachings which were passed on by tradition and vanished and which were "cloaked in allegory" so that He wouldn't be casting His pearls before swine " At the same time they classify the Bible as "disputable.
Firstly, Jesus did not have to meditate to realize or experience oneness with the Father. It was considered blasphemy among the Jews of that day to claim 'oneness' with the Father, yet Jesus made the acclamation: "I and my Father are One" (John 10:30). "Before Abraham was I Am." He was eternally 'one' with the Father. He was born "Emmanuel." He is God.
The meditative practice destroys the necessity of dogma and commandments, but Jesus came to "fulfill all righteousness" and the law. Grace surpassed the law but never nullified it. Jesus said: ". ..till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18). How could Jesus, who recognized the Ten Commandments as the commandments of God (Mark 7:8-10), give approval to meditation. "If you do not believe Moses' writings, how will you believe My words?" (John 5:47).
Jesus' message was not the philosophy of meditation. "Meditation leads to the stillness of mind in which one can clearly see one's own divine nature. "7 Jesus saw the heart of man as sinful - not perfect. "From within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." (Mark 7:21,23) Man faces judgment not nirvana. Jesus never taught that self-realization was the way to the cross. "Take up your cross and follow Me." This was the denial of self.
"I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Can you name one yogi or Tibetan master who, in the last 2,000 years of history, has discovered Jesus and His message through meditation? None. The New Age road signs of life are backwards. God is not found by "looking inward."
Is our purpose in life to know self or to know God? Do we discover God by a mystical experience of meditation or do we know God by meditating upon His Word that can be a daily experience? We cannot claim both a meditation transformation and a born-again transformation as the cornerstone of our faith. We cannot be Christian and meditate (in the New Age sense), whether we live in India, Sri Lanka or America.
Only an individual who has been misdirected by Satan would accept as the cornerstone of their faith a 'method' instead of a 'person' an intangible hallucinatory 'dream,' instead of a 'living reality.' As the future continues to offer Satan's trappings in colorful wrappings, may we continue to cherish the truth of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
References:
1. Swami Rama: Mediation in Christianity, The Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, Pen, c1983, p9 2. Ibid. p12. 3. Ibid. p14. 4. Arpita; "Jesus and Meditation," Meditation in Christianity, p 105. 5. Andrew Murray; Christianity Today, February 3, 1989, p31 6. Swami Rama; p.16. 7. Arpita: p.90.
Carolyn Chapman @ faithissues unt Calvary. Endnotes:
[1] . Willis Harman, Global Mind Change, Indianapolis: Knowledge Systems, Inc., 157.
[2] .Omega-Letter, Special Report: Blueprint: For Building The New World Order, Dearborn: Omega-Letter, 4,5.
3. Ibid.
[4] . Linda Grant, The Nature of Learning, Newsletter Toronto: The Federation of Women Teachers" Associations of Ontario, June 1989, 24.
[5] .Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Saint Germain on Prophecy, Livingston: Summit University Press, 79.
[6] Matthew Fox, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, San Francisco: Harper and Row, 13.
[7] . David Steindl-Roast, A Shift in Buddhist- Christian Dialogue, Areopagus, Advent 1988, Volume 2, No. 1,18.
[8] . Helen Schucman, A Course in Miracles, California: Foundation for Inner Peace, Manual for Teachers, 73.
[9] . Shakti Gawain, Living in the Light San Rafael: Whatever Publishing, 3. [10] .Israel Regardie, The Tree of Life, York Beach: Samuel Weiser Inc., 30.
[11] . Willis Harman, Mind Change, 163
[12] . William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, New York: Penguin Inc, 293,4.
[13] . Swami Rama, Meditation in Christianity, Honesdale: The Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, 1983, 16.
[14] .Shakti Gawain, Living Light,, 37.
[15] . X-Men, The Fall of the Mutants, Vol 1, No 227, (March 1988), 19.
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Psalm 119:104Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
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Thunderz7
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Caretaker,
Im glad it was my misunderstanding.
I knew that would have been a total about face from what I've seen you post in the past.
Sorry for my error,
thanks for clearing me up.
be blessed in Jesus
T7
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Caretaker
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Caretaker,
I hope I am misunderstanding your point here=
quote: To kill a dog you mix in poison with good meat and it does its job.
Are you telling me it is alright to mix poison with truth to expose WOF teaching?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Of course not!!!
It is that the poison is mixed in with certain truths of God and kills those who follow after false teaching. Like leaven the poison poisons the whole.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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Thunderz7
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Caretaker,
I hope I am misunderstanding your point here=
quote:
To kill a dog you mix in poison with good meat and it does its job.
Are you telling me it is alright to mix poison with truth to expose WOF teaching?
T7
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WhiteEagle
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quote:
Originally posted by Caretaker:
To kill a dog you mix in poison with good meat and it does its job.
The Laodiceans are certainly embracing the poison of WOF/Positive Confession, coupled with many of the New Age practices. They seek to be Favor Minded rather than Godly Minded.
Amen Deb!!!!!!!!
Then why does the Lord allow the wheat to grow along with the tares?
The power of life and death is in the tongue and those who love it will eat it's fruit. Proverbs
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WhiteEagle
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quote:
Originally posted by SoftTouch:
The Meditation spoken of in the above article is NOT the same as Biblical Meditation. In Biblical Meditation we THINK On the Scripture… Consider what it means (see end of quote below). We Don’t Empty our minds – we Fill it with God’s Holy Word… Very Different from Eastern Meditation (Which IS making its way into Church practices Big Time).
I totally agree with you that New Age and Eastern meditation is NOT the same thing as what Christians do to meditate on God's Word.
It is the counterfeit to God's way.
I don't know about you, but I sometimes have to empty my mind to hear God's still small voice. Often I hear the Lord when I first awaken because my own mind hasn't kicked into gear yet.
I can meditate on scripture, then let my flesh make all kinds of meanings out of it. God does tell us to "be still, and know He is God".
Also about the prophets in the Bible. God didn't just "zing" them out of the blue. They had a relationship with God through their prayers and worship and heart attitude toward God, they were seekers after God. Samuel one of the Old Testament prophets was called by God, whne he was in bed and sleeping. Previously Samuel was serving God and under the mentorship of another Prophet.
Samson was an annointed man,but he did not have a relationship with God until the end of his life. If you read Samson's life story, he never is recorded asking of God about anything, like who should he marry, and how should I serve God.
Notice that God doesn't speak with him in any prophecy during His life until Samson lost his strength and was made blind and captive. Then Samson sought out the Lord.
I just wanted to clear up , what I saw as a misconception about prophets from your first post.
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SoftTouch
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The Meditation spoken of in the above article is NOT the same as Biblical Meditation. In Biblical Meditation we THINK On the Scripture… Consider what it means (see end of quote below). We Don’t Empty our minds – we Fill it with God’s Holy Word… Very Different from Eastern Meditation (Which IS making its way into Church practices Big Time).
quote:
Gurus tell us the problem with mankind is that man thinks he is a separate individual, we need to see the interconnectiveness of all life, all is part of God. This is called pantheism. By meditating, our life and our reality will respond to our changed thinking. Today we have similar techniques applied in the church, its called positive confession. Which is like its Occultic counterpart decreeing.
Acceptance in Christianity Unfortunately, Eastern forms of meditation are practiced by Christians in many churches. Which has sparked a new openness by Catholics, Protestants, or Eastern Orthodox appreciation of meditation as Thousands of priests and nuns practice TM and Zen. The goal of Zen is to inhibit the intellect, which gives way to insight, and you begin to understand your true nature. You attain "Satori" experiencing a synthesis with the universal mind, and you walk in total awareness. Robert Schuller of the Hour of Power endorsed meditation as valid: A variety of approaches to meditation . . . is employed by many different religions as well as by various nonreligious mind-control systems. In all forms . . . TM, Zen Buddhism, or Yoga . . . the meditator endeavors to overcome the conscious mind ... It is important to remember that meditation in any form is the harnessing, by human means, of God's divine laws ... Transcendental Meditation or TM . . . is not a religion nor is it necessarily anti-Christian. (Robert Schuller, Peace of Mind Through Possibility Thinking 1977, pp. 131-32). Meditation techniques are called various names to offer the practice to those who are naïve of Hinduism. One is called centering in prayer or in other ways which visualization can be used. Fr. Thomas Keating teaches on centering prayer who tells us contemplative prayer is a way of tuning into a fuller level of reality that is always present…"(Open mind, open heart p.37). He explains "My acquaintance with eastern methods of meditation has convinced me that there is…there are ways of calming the mind in the spiritual disciplines of both the east and the west…many serious seekers of truth study the eastern religions…" What he is promoting is the concept of God permeating the air as prana. There is a new trend in worship music which has people speaking of God as the air we breathe as his presence and even the ground we live on. watch out for pantheistic concepts creeping into the church.
Evangelical author Richard Foster speaks on personal renewal by meditative prayer where one centers down becoming quiet and passive and then uses guided imagery and visualization of Christ. His book Celebration of Discipline was on the Christian bestseller list for many months. In his chapter on meditation he stresses discovering "the inner reality of the spiritual world [which] is available to all who are willing to search for it." While Foster does say one should distinguish between Eastern meditation and Christian forms, they are, "worlds apart" Foster also encourages "centering" exercises and concentrating on one's breath, also a common Eastern technique: unfortunately, his methods offered have similarities to new age or Eastern techniques that are used in meditation.
Foster has meditation aimed at centering oneself begins by concentrating on breathing. Inhale deeply, slowly tilting your head back as far as it will go. Then exhale, allowing your head slowly to come forward until your chin nearly rests on your chest. Do this for several moments, praying inwardly something like this: "Lord, I exhale my fear over my geometry exam, I inhale Your peace. I exhale my spiritual apathy, I inhale Your light and life. Then, as before, become silent outwardly and inwardly. Be attentive to the inward living Christ."
In goes the good stuff out goes the bad. This clearly is combining eastern ways with Christ and it has a Christian veneer but is decidedly unbiblical.
The bible tells us to keep our minds on guard and protected. To bring oneself into a passive mental state, this type of consciousness is a steppingstone to the occult. For when the mind is not protected anything can enter in. Emptying thoughts means falsehood can be sent in without any resistance. Our mind will go from being a battleground to a garbage dump unless we have protection.
2 Cor. 10:5 states " casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Under control means to be submitted to Christ. This is also by the word an objective thinking practice. Biblical meditation is having our minds actively engaged on contemplating God's word. James 4:7 says to submit to God resist the devil and he will flee from you. Resistance is key to staying sober in mind. To do this one must be aware of their surroundings, thinking.
Unlike New Age meditation, biblical meditation doesn't involve mysticism or emptying the mind. Rather, biblical meditation involves objective contemplation and deep reflection on God's Word (Joshua 1:8) as well as (Psalm 1:2; 119; 19:14; 48:9; 77:12; 143:5) works, not on images or dreams. (His Word His Person and faithfulness and works Josh.1:18;Ps.77:12, 104:34; 119:15,23,48,78, 97;148; 1 Tim.4:15).
Christian meditation calls us to look to God, not inward. The purpose is that our minds may be filled with godly wisdom and insight so that our hearts may be filled with comfort, happiness, and joy. To echo the opening words of the psalmist, "Blessed is the man ... [whose] delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:1,2). We think and use our mind to grasp what is being expressed by his word and allow it to affect our heart.
The beginning of this article explains the history of Meditation (specifically Transendental or TM) and how it came to America. I only quoted the part that was revelant to this conversation.
Link
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Psalm 119:104Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
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WhiteEagle
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quote:
Originally posted by Caretaker:
To kill a dog you mix in poison with good meat and it does its job.
The Laodiceans are certainly embracing the poison of WOF/Positive Confession, coupled with many of the New Age practices. They seek to be Favor Minded rather than Godly Minded.
Amen Deb!!!!!!!!
That's one way to look at this. But by doing so you are walling off the spirit from the Holy Spirit.
I look at these things from the stand point, that God is the Genuine. Satan is the deceiver, and all he can do is copy or mimic the Genuine.
Satan can not create, he can't be original, he can't start something new. He can only mock or copy the One True God.
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Caretaker
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To kill a dog you mix in poison with good meat and it does its job.
The Laodiceans are certainly embracing the poison of WOF/Positive Confession, coupled with many of the New Age practices. They seek to be Favor Minded rather than Godly Minded.
Amen Deb!!!!!!!!
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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WhiteEagle
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Dreams and visions:
I too was taught that this was occultic and yes it can be. But the Bible shows us many instances that God spoke to people in dreams.
Joseph, Daniel, Peter, the 3 wisemen, Joseph the husband of Mary.
Paul had visions, he talks of being in the spirit in the 3rd heaven. He wasn't even sure if he was in his body or not.
Philip got teleported after he witnessed to the Ethiopeon Eunuch. (I've never heard of anyone else having this occur, but it happened in scripture)
Back to words: The biggest lie about words, is this little rhymme that children learn to chant:
"Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me."
Words are powerful, the Bible states this over and over especially in Proverbs and James.
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WhiteEagle
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As to environment: Scripture teaches to "BE YE SEPARATE". Avoid those who are evil, have no fellowship with those who pervert the truth. DO NOT TOUCH THE UNCLEAN THING. Jesus instructs us to go into our prayer closet in secret to pray. Jesus went to the mountaintop to pray, Jesus got away from the crowds to pray and seek the Father.
The advice isn't wrong, but of course the way one applies it can be wrong, if one is putting faith in nature or candles, etc.
Position: Humble yourselves under the Mighty Hand of God. God resists the Proud, and if we humble ourselves and draw near to God, He will draw near to us. So at times we need to get on our knees, or lie face first on the floor to make our flesh humble. We are to lift holy hands to the Lord when we praise him. We are to bow our heads in prayer.
Again man has corrupted what God instructs us to do.
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WhiteEagle
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quote:
Originally posted by SoftTouch:
1. Reality can be controlled and altered through speech.
2. Your environment affects your spiritual health, to avoid spiritual damage from negativity one must live in isolation as much as possible. Being around nature, using candles, incense, icons, and colors elevates your spiritual power.
3. Meditation should be unceasing using repetitive simple mantras, prayers, and breathing exercises until they become part of your unconscious stream of thoughts.
4. Body positioning during prayer, meditation, or contemplation gives you greater spiritual power and elevation.
5. God is found deep inside the human mind.
6. One can enter heaven simply by performing selfless good deeds.
7. Spiritual teachers are necessary for spiritual growth.
8. Spiritual guides may be from the spiritual or physical realm.
9. Reality can be controlled or altered by thoughts.
10. Jesus is a son of God, rather than “The” Son of God.
11. The highest level of prayer is contemplation, which is the dangerous practice of emptying one’s mind to complete prolonged silence without any physical or inner distractions.
12. The more spiritual encounters you have, the more enlighten you are.
13. The Torah and Bible must be interpreted esoterically in order to find hidden meanings.
14. Dreams are messages which are interconnected with the spiritual realm.
15. The mystical path leads to God and the Lord Jesus Christ is not the only path to God.
16. The Great Work is why you are here. The Great Work is your part to help restore the fate of the universe and mankind through love. This gives God’s angels greater power to fight Satan and the fallen angels in spiritual realm.
17. Every time one commits an evil act, it gives Satan and the fallen angels greater power and hurts all of the universe and mankind.
18. The physical world is not reality, it is only a reflection of the real activity going on in the spiritual realm. (This mystical concept was the basis for the first Matrix movie.) [Note from SoftTouch: This is also Gnosticism – which is what Mysticism is all about]
19. The best time to pray, meditate, or contemplate is 12:00 a.m. because there is less human activity, therefore the spiritual realm is more accessible.
20. A sign of great mystic is supernatural abilities.
I have attempted to simplify just a tiny aspect of mysticism. It is humanly impossible to fully explain the depth, variations, levels, and aspects of mysticism in one literary work. Mysticism comes in many forms. Speaking from personal experience and continuous in-depth research, mysticism is a very ancient and extremely dangerous spiritual practice that should NEVER, under any circumstance, be taken lightly or researched without much prayerful discernment and scriptural comparison.
I agree with ThunderZ this is a mixture of truth and error.
If we don't initiate prayer and communication with God, we don't get to communicate with Him.
We are supposed to seek, ask, and knock. Paul teaches we are to pray without ceasing.
We are supposed to die to self (empty ourselves) and allow God to sit on the throne.
You list comtemplation as a "bad" thing. #11.
This in fact will keep people from having a relationship with God due to fear of emptying their minds and focusing on God. We are instructed to meditate on the scriptures. We are instructed to pray without ceasing and to make hymms and songs to God continueally.
People will always use these disciplines toward evil, and yes if one is listening to certain satanic inspiried music or is taking drugs or alcohol and one chants demonic words, yes one will get demons.
If a person is studying scripture and praying to God through Jesus Christ, and waiting for the Lord to speak to them, they will hear God.
As far as this physical life, how many time does scripture state it will pass away like the grass?
What happens in the physical does affect the spiritual. Our actions do affect satan's power and our words do affect satan's ability to work.
Jesus instructed that we NOT lay up for ourselves treasure on earth, but lay up treasure in heaven. Heaven should be our reality if we are walking in the kingdom and we know we are only pilgrims passing through.
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Thunderz7
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What is a mystic?
A mystic is someone who initiates a search for personal contact and intimate encounters with God or the spiritual realm. It is opposite of a prophet, in which God initiates personal contact and intimate encounters with someone.
So are we wrong to stand at the door and knock?
Are we wrong to attempt to touch HIS garment?
Wrong to come into HIS presence with singing?
Wrong to seek HIS face?
Need I go on?
20 Mystical Beliefs & Practices to Avoid
1. Reality can be controlled and altered through speech.
So am I to take it by this article that my words are just "figures of speach" and meaningless?
Scripture teaches differently.
14. Dreams are messages which are interconnected with the spiritual realm.
Exactly what is this article saying?
Are they implying there are no more GOD given dreams and visions?
Though this article has some good points it also has some untruth;
is that not what is to be spoken against here?
T7
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SoftTouch
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I found this posted on the RaptureNews message board and it's very 'enlightening'...
http://www.worldviewweekend.com/secure/cwnetwork/article.php?&ArticleID=591
20 Mystical Beliefs & Practices to Avoid
by Cassandrah Batya
When and how did mysticism begin?
According to ancient Judeo-Christian legends, during the pre-flood era the fallen angels introduced mysticism to mankind.
What is a mystic?
A mystic is someone who initiates a search for personal contact and intimate encounters with God or the spiritual realm. It is opposite of a prophet, in which God initiates personal contact and intimate encounters with someone.
Who practices mysticism?
People from all walks of life practice mysticism, including some religious leaders and figures. Mysticism crosses lines of faith, religion, church, social standing, economic status, race, age, sex, nationality, creed, education, occupation, and martial status.
Why do people practice mysticism?
People are very diverse in their reasons, some sincerely want to be closer to God after having a spiritual awakening or a life-changing experience. Some people practice mysticism for the power of controlling the Hand of God, therefore the future. Others do it with the evil intend to worship demons or demonic false gods and goddesses. There are still others who choose to commune specifically with the dead for informational purposes. They are usually in contact with lying demonic spirits imitating the dead.
How are spiritual encounters in the bible different from mysticism?
In the bible, God predestines or initiates the communication, encounter, or allows communication between His angels and humans to accomplish His will and glorify His name. These spiritual encounters are referred to as miracles. Miracles are identified with God alone.
In mysticism, a person actively initiates and pursues spiritual encounters for his or her own human reasons. These spiritual encounters are referred to as mystical. Mystical has an occult connotation. The occult is identified with Satan.
What does the bible say about people who practice mysticism?
When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
- Deuteronomy 18:9-12 (KJV)
20 Mystical Beliefs & Practices to Avoid
1. Reality can be controlled and altered through speech.
2. Your environment affects your spiritual health, to avoid spiritual damage from negativity one must live in isolation as much as possible. Being around nature, using candles, incense, icons, and colors elevates your spiritual power.
3. Meditation should be unceasing using repetitive simple mantras, prayers, and breathing exercises until they become part of your unconscious stream of thoughts.
4. Body positioning during prayer, meditation, or contemplation gives you greater spiritual power and elevation.
5. God is found deep inside the human mind.
6. One can enter heaven simply by performing selfless good deeds.
7. Spiritual teachers are necessary for spiritual growth.
8. Spiritual guides may be from the spiritual or physical realm.
9. Reality can be controlled or altered by thoughts.
10. Jesus is a son of God, rather than “The” Son of God.
11. The highest level of prayer is contemplation, which is the dangerous practice of emptying one’s mind to complete prolonged silence without any physical or inner distractions.
12. The more spiritual encounters you have, the more enlighten you are.
13. The Torah and Bible must be interpreted esoterically in order to find hidden meanings.
14. Dreams are messages which are interconnected with the spiritual realm.
15. The mystical path leads to God and the Lord Jesus Christ is not the only path to God.
16. The Great Work is why you are here. The Great Work is your part to help restore the fate of the universe and mankind through love. This gives God’s angels greater power to fight Satan and the fallen angels in spiritual realm.
17. Every time one commits an evil act, it gives Satan and the fallen angels greater power and hurts all of the universe and mankind.
18. The physical world is not reality, it is only a reflection of the real activity going on in the spiritual realm. (This mystical concept was the basis for the first Matrix movie.) [Note from SoftTouch: This is also Gnosticism – which is what Mysticism is all about]
19. The best time to pray, meditate, or contemplate is 12:00 a.m. because there is less human activity, therefore the spiritual realm is more accessible.
20. A sign of great mystic is supernatural abilities.
I have attempted to simplify just a tiny aspect of mysticism. It is humanly impossible to fully explain the depth, variations, levels, and aspects of mysticism in one literary work. Mysticism comes in many forms. Speaking from personal experience and continuous in-depth research, mysticism is a very ancient and extremely dangerous spiritual practice that should NEVER, under any circumstance, be taken lightly or researched without much prayerful discernment and scriptural comparison.
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Psalm 119:104Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
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