A Mystical Communion of the Heart
“When human psychology and divine spirituality unite, there comes as a result, undefiled mysticism.” — George M. Garcia
The Forgotten Mystical Tradition
The concerns of many Christians extend to their exaggeration of morality, their phobia of avoiding hellfire, and biblical adherence despite its impractical or superficial appearances. The manner of modern Christians (e.g. fundamentalists) are anchored to legalism and excessive moral duty. They also hope to aim for some eternal bliss for themselves rather than to aim for some eternal torment. And they bind their values on others in a more hostile or detrimental approach. However, none of these things (e.g. hoping to enter heaven, excessive good works, legal adherence, phobia for hell) are what Christ truly desired for the Church. He desired for the Church to maintain an unbroken line of a mystic tradition or habit (if you dislike ‘tradition’). The truest meaning of being mystical is simply communion with the Lord by personal and undefiled revelation. The notion of ‘undefiled’ in connection to ‘revelation’ means revelation rightly understood or approached from a pure heart. The notion of ‘personal’ is to express the close intimacy and authenticity of our communion with God. ‘Eternal’ (aionion) life is to know God personally and maritally as Jesus stated in John 17:3. This is the promise to all undefiled and expectant believers.
Christian Mystics vs. Moralists
The desire for moral values isn’t in error, but to be excessive about it, and to perform moral deeds out of impure motives is in error. Surely, not everything requiring moral labor is on account to us, but each task or situation should be distributed to each person. In the same way, God doesn’t excessively and actively do good at the expense of our responsibilities. I wouldn’t expect God to cook my meals, brush my teeth, or use my reason independent of my usage or synergy. If God intervened to do good on every situation and task, then we would lose all responsibility, purpose, and the opportunity to morally mature. We have to learn that not everything is our responsibility, but like Christ, we should not give away to the extreme of moralism. In this passage, Christ values mystical communion above the error of moralism.
“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me” (Matthew 26:6–11).
In the writings of Ecclesiastes, the alternative author (as assumed) advises the godly to not be consumed by the extreme of moralism or of lawlessness. He asserts, “So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?” (Ecclesiastes 7:16, 17). Anyone who exaggerates his moral duty will soon be exhausted, wasteful, and lacking in self-care. By ‘wasteful’, I mean casting your pearls to those who aren’t edified by it since they are reluctant to change themselves, or uphold responsibility. Sometimes, it is best to “hand them over to the Satan” for the destruction of their former ways as a means of redemption for their souls (1 Corinthians 5:5). This might work in this present life, or in the purgative fires of God. Either way, don’t be consumed with worry by their reluctance, but keep onto those who pursue for your help in hopes of maturity. A Christian mystic will not be wrongly pressured by our Lord to do good deeds, but they shall be made eager to do so. The Lord inspires men to bring forth love into this world, but men bind them and condemn them to do it. The Lord bases morality upon right intimacy and welfare, not so much as some external law. When this is truly understood, you are no longer compelled as seeing morality to always be burdensome, but rather you are inspired as seeing it to be cheerful and instinctive. When one communes with God daily without interruption, love becomes a part of their nature, forming as their own passion, philosophy, and habit. But when one is bound to moralism, love typically doesn’t become instinctive for them, but rather seemingly foreign and unattractive to them. Purify yourselves daily by the practice of humility, charity, and the greatest of all, communion with God. You will purge away sins by charity, purity, and mystic prayer; sin will lose its dominion gradually and effectively.
“Giving to the poor saves from death, and it washes away every sin. Those who give to the poor will feel satisfied with life…” (Tobit 12:9).
[While adding, this text doesn’t imply a work-based salvation. Many Protestants misunderstand the atonement of Jesus and in general. When we love others as Proverbs 16:6 similarly claims with Tobit, sin is repelled and overcome with good deeds as Paul says in Romans 12:21. We are filled by God’s life-giving nature as we walk in love.]
The Power of the Word of God
According to true exegesis, this phrase in the Bible never refers to the Scriptures. It is only applied to Jesus, the oral gospel, a divine promise, and a divine revelation. But such terminology is not used for a collection of writings. Of course, many active fundamentalists want to dispute over this, but for now, I will be simply addressing the actual ‘Word of God’.
Now, our Lord or His spoken words are said to be life-giving and continually active. They are life-giving because it edifies the soul and prepares them for good works. And the spoken words of God are everlasting, meaning there is no cessation as some suggest. The Lord knows our hearts so intimately, that He provides suitable consolation, insight, and exhortation to our hearts (Hebrews 4:12, 13). Indeed, such impressions in the heart or demonstrations in the natural carry weight into affecting our minds. The spiritual process of reformation is continuous if we abide in Christ. The beloved church father (Saint Irenaeus) asserted, “And to as many as continue in their love for God, does He grant communion with [them]. But communion with God is life and light, and the enjoyment of all the benefits which He has in store” (Against Heresies: Book 5, Chapter 27). The ‘light’ is clarity by revelation and ‘life’ is purity by love (from my private interpretation of it).
The Lord Jesus made abiding by the words of God to be as necessary as absorbing food into the body. He said “every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). A spoken word originates from the speaker, not a collection of writings, and so, Christ points to the active revelations from the Sacred Spirit. It wasn’t scripture that led Him to the wilderness, but by the calling of God’s Spirit. When we are captivated by our communion with God, all of the divine qualities arise to be manifested by assertion and intention. The deeper we absorb His love and know God personally, shall we not become more entrusted of His divine treasures? Will these riches not manifest as a result? Certainly! We shall become akin to the moon reflecting the majesty of the sun. This imagery exposes the secret of God! The Church as the moon does not become the Son’s light, nor become God herself, but like mirrors reflecting His goodness.
This is the power of knowing God and abiding by His moral essence, and so Irenaeus writes, “It is not possible to live apart from life, and the means of life is found in fellowship with God; but fellowship with God is to know God and to enjoy His goodness” (Against Heresies: Book 4 Chapter 20:5). The mystic tradition is not only about knowing God and becoming vessels of His love for others, but it is also to inherit the powers of the age to come (Hebrews 6:5; 2 Peter 1:3, 4). As the Lord is telepathically acquainted with our hearts, so shall we become aware of others in the same sense. As the Lord is infinite by degree, so shall we become infinite in the sense of continual growth (for we are always finite). As the Lord has power over sin and death, so shall we in sanctification and immortality. I also hope telepathy does not trigger unbelief because of its association with the New Age, yet such a concept always existed before them. In fact, telepathy is the exchange of thoughts, and surprisingly, there is a Koine Greek word akin to it in the Bible. This given word is ‘kardiognostes’ (καρδιογνώστης) found in Acts 1:24 and 15:8 yet it is only ascribed to God; although, we are called to imitate Christ and have His mind — governed by prudence and revelations (Revelation 1:17; 1 Corinthians 2:16).
The Theopneustic Mind
The mind of a believer comes into the order of maturity not by reading the Bible as fundamentalists, but by equipping himself with humility and charity, and the revelations of God. The believer who abides by God’s manifested wisdom and revelations become inspired or theopneustic. This doesn’t imply the expression of inerrancy, because only God is truly inerrant while all things aren’t. But such a divine manifestation equips us to follow our personal callings, investigate spiritual mysteries, and discern the practical from the detrimental (1 Corinthians 2:13–16; Ephesians 1:17–18; Hebrews 5:14).
Those who abide by this inspiration shall know the substantial and preferred will of God. Those who pursue any external law will be veiled by its darkness. Because the law wasn’t meant for the discerning (or the godly), but for the arrogant and ungodly (1 Timothy 1:9). The law is not intended to be used as some to-do list, but as a mirror to expose one’s sins since the law itself doesn’t point to any remedy for the mentioned sins (verse 8). Instead, the conscious knowledge of the law increases sin for this reason (Romans 3:20; 5:20). But fixating on Christ inspires virtue in heart and deed (Philippians 4:8). It is not possible to truly and fully know the will of God by simply reading the scriptures, but rather by the divine gift of wisdom and revelations conferred to us (Wisdom 9:16, 17). In this way, the godly will be transformed and matured. It is written for your sake, “It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Prudent leaders and inspired writings are for environmental growth but not for empowered maturity. It is possible to mature by the Spirit alone, but such a situation requires much labor than those assisted by these secondary tutors alongside the Sacred Spirit. It is John who says, “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true — it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ” (1 John 2:27). But don’t fret on errors beloved, instead know that Christ will prod you into truth when that day comes. Blissful is the man who knows Christ and abides by the Lord’s nature. When human psychology and divine spirituality unite, there comes as a result, undefiled mysticism.
