A Different Kind of Christian:

[Aquila]

The thread on hearing from beyond the grave stimulated this post.

I met a Christian woman named Ruby a few years ago. Ruby is a nurse who works in a nursing home. She is very big on Bible study, prayer, meditating upon the word, and gifts of healing. She was charming, radiant, positive, loving, upbeat and very inspirational. I sincerely felt like she had the Holy Ghost. She sincerely believes the Bible, she happens to be Oneness (former ALJC), believes in the baptism of the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues, laying on of hands, and all the “gifts of the Spirit”… and yet she doesn’t classify herself as an “Evangelical”, “Charismatic”, or “Pentecostal” Christian.
So I asked her what brand of “Christian” she was. Her answer troubled me.

Ruby classified herself as a “Christian Spiritualist” or a “Christian Mystic”. I was a bit taken aback, because I didn’t know exactly what that meant. She explained that most Christians are “religious” and not “spiritual”. They are wrapped up in the traditional dogmas of their church or denomination. While she believes that the Bible is the Word of God, she also believes that the Bible doesn’t tell us everything about spiritual things, some things have to be learned by “walking in the Spirit”. She went on to say most Christians define salvation according to a decision they made at one time to be a follower of Jesus. Or they define salvation in accordance to the sacraments of their church. However, she feels that once one has come to Christ and has received the baptism of the Holy Ghost they must spiritually progress into the fullness of spirituality, spiritual truths, and spiritual living.

I asked her if she believed in anything outside of the Bible like the book of Mormon, the Vedas, crystals, horoscopes, or any other spiritual source of information. She stated that she whole heartedly only believes in the Bible. However, she explained that she also believes that some things can be found in the Bible that the Christian religion rejects. For example she believes we can find the following in the Bible:

-Praying until one enters a trance wherein they commune with God directly through the Holy Ghost.
-Gifts of supernatural healing.
-The ministry of angels.
-Casting out of devils & demons, banishing.
-Speaking in tongues.
-Interpreting tongues.
-All the gifts of the Spirit.
-That (in a sense) we become angels after death.
-The Zodiac being something originally ordained of God and since distorted by Satan.
-That some spirits are reincarnated for a divine purpose.
-Hauntings.
-Prayer cloths, candles, and anointing oil.
-That there are prophets and seers alive today.
-That we are to strive to be one with God as Jesus was one with God.

Those are the only things that I can remember her talking about. In the thread on hearing from beyond the grave, we talked about being ministered to by angels and the possible role of loved ones who have gone on to be with the Lord. The conversation reminded me of Ruby.

What do some of you make of Ruby? Is it possible that there is some truth to her claims?

Your thoughts?

[houston]

Sounds like she's a charismatic fron the 90's.

[Jay]

I would say that she possibly has some distortions from the charismatic view point, but most preachers would say that the office of the prophet is in use today, they are rare and almost entirely unremarkable people, but they are consistent and accurate.

Devine healing is still in effect today, and I have seen and heard of it in operation.

Tongues and interpretation of tongues are still in use.

Devils are still to be cast out, and I believe that can be both out of people, buildings, or rooms, it all depends on what you are doing. We do not have the authority to banish them to hell, but we can send them packing.

The Bible says that angels are ministering spirits, and I have heard of them giving words of encouragement, strength, faith, possibly healing, but always according to the will of God.

Annointing oil is very commonly used in prayer as are prayer clothes, not generally bought at the store.

The issues of candles, becoming angels, reincarnation, and the becoming one with God are where she has gone wrong, and for a variety of reasons. It sounds like she borders on a mixture of new age/Hindu concepts of reality and merged them with Apostolic doctrine. This sometimes happens when people are not willing to be affiliated with an assembly of believers.

[AreYouReady?]

There is no scriptural support for "reincarnation".

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

(Hebrews 9:27)

I do agree with her in that too many of us are "religious" rather than "spiritual", but calling oneself a "christian mystic" is stretching the description.

Mystic defined is: A person who practices mysticism, or a reference to a mystery, mystic studies or the occult. I am leery of anybody who would describe him/herself as a mystic.

I agree with Jay about the issues of candles, becoming angels etc. When one starts straying from what is biblical, then apostasy can set in.

[kclee4jc]

Originally Posted by Jay

The issues of candles, becoming angels, reincarnation, and the becoming one with God are where she has gone wrong, and for a variety of reasons. It sounds like she borders on a mixture of new age/Hindu concepts of reality and merged them with Apostolic doctrine. This sometimes happens when people are not willing to be affiliated with an assembly of believers.

Typical New Age! I once went to a very large New Age conference with hundreds of booths. They had witches, psychics, chakra reading, seminars on reincarnation, crystals, candles...you name it. Even Pentecostals! I doubt these were truth Pentecostals (I was pretty young) but I remember them praying for the sick and teaching about various manifestations such as being slain in the Spirit and holy laughter. Blending the occult with 'Christianity' is not a new thing by any means!

[bbyrd009]

Um, I was a Charismatic, nope, nothing like that; at least not in Houston.

[bbyrd009]

I don't believe you are supposed to consider reincarnation as necessarily applying to your life, as it is nowhere in the Bible as doctrine; but there is lots of evidence for reincarnation as a mode. Christ could be said to be Melchezidek reincarnated. Elijah, etc. We're waiting for a couple reincarnations right now? The "they lay in the street for 3 1/2 days" part?

[bbyrd009]

Well, there is direct evidence for many of your points--and it's becoming more apparent that we have neglected creation horribly in the West-
http://www.wikihow.com/Recognize-the...ristian-Models

Although I'd say that your friend leans pretty new age, things like zodiac and numerology have significance--numerology is a powerful snapshot of what is, that provides additional depth of understanding--although I don't pull out the pad every time I meet someone, or do things on certain dates, or anything. I believe they are tools, and a corresponding amount of time might be spent on them; but if you're doing charts all day, what are you really worshipping?

You ask what (I) think about her; I would ask "how is her heart."

[Dedicated Mind]

interesting thread aquila, this is the direction i've been leaning the last few months. there is a rich historical tradition for mystical christianity with lots of books. i've been doing research and came across the theosophical society in america has lots of videos on spirituality. they tend to include lots of eastern practices and some occult teachings, but they are a society that investigates spirituality. it is not religous. lots of good lectures on their website. i especially enjoy ron miller and richard smoley. what church does your friend attend? can you ask her for some links?

[Titus2woman]

This woman is not alone. There is quite a 'movement' of mystic christians.

There is a book call The Mystic Christ that gives a clear account of what they generally believe, although they do have freedom to differ in their theology.

Here is a summary of the Book, if you are interested:

The Mystic Christ is an ancient tale of mystic union, salvation, and enlightenment. It is the careful uncovering of a lost treasure of immeasurable value, long buried in the suffocating darkness of conventional orthodoxy on one side, and blind fundamentalist extremism on the other. From the viewpoint of the world s mystical religious traditions, the brilliant light of the Master s way is revealed as a penetrating radical non-duality unifying all people and all of life. His path to this all-embracing unity is the spiritual practice of pure selfless love. Love God intensely, love our neighbor as our own Self, bless those that curse us, and pray for those that mistreat us. Love has been lost, becoming nothing more than a word in the dictionary and, yet, it remains the foundation of Jesus message.<P> The Mystic Christ is also a compelling story of the ego, the personification of ignorance, and how it has distorted and subverted the sublime sayings of the Master, twisting reality into unreality and light into darkness. The ego is the Antichrist in this ancient drama that has gripped every culture for all time in its talons of self-centered perception. The ego is anti-love.<P> Adam and Eve were not the first people, the nature of man is good, scripture is not infallible, Jesus is one of the ways, all religions are paths to God, reincarnation is in the Bible, the resurrection as a personal spiritual awakening, and the error of eternal damnation are all carefully and lovingly revealed in the life and sayings of Jesus.<P> The Mystic Christ is thoroughly punctuated with quotes from Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu and other masters of the mystical traditions. But, most importantly, over 230 scriptural references from the Old and New Testament are used to illustrate the harmony that exists between the life and teachings of Jesus and the world s great religions.<P> The Mystic Christ removes 2000 years of ego-centered bindings that have hidden the brilliant light of the Master from the world. The Mystic Christ is at once profoundly fascinating, deeply historic and electric with the vibration of the mystical experience.