Christian Mysticism is a movement within Christianity that emphasizes direct, experiential encounters with God, often through contemplative practices and mystical experiences. Historically, it traces back to the early church and medieval mystics, like Meister Eckhart and Teresa of Ávila, who sought to attain a union with God beyond intellectual understanding. Christian mysticism borrows concepts from Neoplatonism and Eastern philosophies, sometimes emphasizing a hidden, subjective knowledge of God.
Theology of Christian Mysticism
Mystics generally teach that one can achieve a heightened, often ecstatic union with God through practices like meditation, silence, and contemplation. They believe that this inner, spiritual journey brings one closer to God, often describing the experience as a kind of merging or absorption into the divine presence. This pursuit of inner illumination and mystical insight can, however, undermine core Christian doctrines. At times, mysticism emphasizes subjective experiences over the objective truths of Scripture, sometimes portraying God more as an impersonal force to be encountered within oneself rather than a personal, transcendent being.
Critique from Scripture and Historic Christian Orthodoxy
Sufficiency of Scripture: Christian mysticism often implies that the Bible is insufficient for fully knowing God and seeks experiential “knowledge” beyond Scripture. However, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches that Scripture thoroughly equips believers, indicating it alone is sufficient for knowing God’s truth. Christian orthodoxy emphasizes that any spiritual experiences must align with Scripture, while mysticism often pursues experience outside or beyond biblical revelation.
God’s Transcendence and Immanence: Mysticism tends to blur the distinction between God and creation, sometimes promoting pantheistic or panentheistic ideas. In contrast, the Bible presents God as both transcendent (Isaiah 55:8-9) and immanent (Psalm 139), distinct from creation yet personally involved with it. Mysticism can obscure this distinction, undermining the biblical view of a personal, holy God.
Faith Over Experience: Christian faith is grounded in the historical work of Christ and the promises in Scripture, not in subjective mystical experiences. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as confidence in what we do not see, focusing on trust in God’s promises. Christian mysticism, however, can place undue importance on achieving heightened spiritual experiences, detracting from the biblical emphasis on faith and obedience.
Objective Truth and Mystical Relativism: Mysticism’s emphasis on personal revelation often downplays the absolute truth of the gospel. Biblical Christianity teaches that salvation is found in Christ alone (John 14:6), while mysticism’s emphasis on personal experience can relativize doctrine, opening the door to syncretism or unbiblical beliefs.
Some contemporary figures who embrace aspects of Christian Mysticism include:
Richard Rohr – A Franciscan friar whose teachings emphasize contemplative spirituality and often blend Christian theology with mystic insights and universalism.
Thomas Keating – Known for popularizing “centering prayer,” which seeks inner silence and union with God.
Cynthia Bourgeault – An Episcopal priest and mystic who combines Christian teaching with meditative practices and insights from Eastern spirituality.
These figures integrate mystical, contemplative practices with traditional Christian elements, though often diverging from orthodox theology.
The Orthodox Christian View
Historically, the church has affirmed that God reveals Himself fully and authoritatively through Scripture and that salvation and spiritual growth come through faith in Christ, not mystical experience. While prayer, meditation on Scripture, and closeness to God are vital, these must align with and submit to biblical truth. Orthodox Christianity warns against experiences that do not point to or harmonize with Scripture’s teaching on God, His holiness, and His plan of redemption through Christ.
In conclusion, Christian mysticism can deviate from orthodox Christianity by prioritizing experiential knowledge over Scriptural truth, sometimes blurring distinctions between Creator and creation. Biblical faith encourages believers to seek God through His Word, prayer, and obedience rather than through subjective experiences that could lead to theological error.