I recently saw a social media reel where a self-professing prophet was describing a vision, and in this vision the Lord spoke to her about ascending spiritually and being cleansed from the past. She went on to share details of Jesus washing her feet as well as her hair while He ran His fingers through her hair. She encouraged others with this vision and shared some seemingly encouraging words for others in their walk with the Lord. Now, some reading this may not see any concern in this practice. It might even seem encouraging, and it may stir up a desire in some for a personal spiritual encounter with the Lord. My intent in writing this is to get you thinking about authentic intimacy with Christ and to examine this practice from a Biblical perspective.

Spiritual experiences are an interesting thing, aren’t they? Claims of dreams, visitations, and hearing the voice of God seem to be ever increasing in our time though they are not exclusive to our time. Moments of intimacy with God can be coveted by those who desire to hear God speaking a personal word in the private moments of worship and solitude. I can recall times when I thought I heard the voice of God internally, whispering and telling me secrets and hidden nuggets in the confines of Scripture. For several years, I journaled, ascribing God speaking to me in “the secret place”. Looking back, it was a romanticization rather than a reverential fellowship with the Lord. I was looking for experiences with God and personal revelation. It was what some may call Christian mysticism.

Christian mysticism can be defined as “the practice of the experiential knowledge of God.” Mysticism tends to focus on self and subjective personal experiences, which can seem elite in nature with secret or hidden knowledge with dreams, visions, and mystical union with God. There is a tendency to look inward for answers and to seek after these experiences in order to gain spiritual insight and revelation. There can be a focus on aspects such as contemplative prayer, fasting, solitude, and private communion. These experiences are even viewed as drawing nearer to God or cultivating a deep intimacy with Christ.

Some may ask why it is wrong to have a spiritual experience. After all, we do want to know God and to have fellowship with Him. We do not want to merely know information about Him without any transformation testifying of Christ. Unfortunately, these experiences or claims to these experiences are what some may perceive as having true intimacy with Christ. This is used by some as the barometer so to speak of fellowship and of having a relationship with God. Those who profess to have had visitations from Jesus or hearing secret and hidden knowledge found within Scripture are looked upon as specially anointed and close to the Lord. Mysticism causes one to look inward rather than upward to God. Even in sincerity in such practices, an individual can be sincerely wrong and deceived. This is why Biblical understanding is vital in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

There are serious concerns to consider regarding mysticism. This author expressed concerns surrounding the practice of mysticism, including allegorical Scriptural interpretations, granting religious authority to personal experiences, anti-intellectualism, a loss of distinction between the Creator and the created being, and a works-based reward system as opposed to the gift of God’s grace. Many well-known mystics were affiliated with the Roman Catholic church and held aberrant beliefs. It is also worth noting that some who profess to be Christian mystics also reject the fundamental belief of sin, repentance, make distinctions between Jesus and Christ, and embrace panentheism.

Not So Mystical Thoughts to Ponder

One thing I have come to understand is the subjective spiritual experiences I once had do not define me as a believer in Christ. They never did. I am marked as a Christian by what Jesus Christ did on the cross to atone for my sins, to cleanse me from all unrighteousness, and to insure eternal life with Him. There is no dream or vision securing my eternity. There is no account I can provide of either audibly hearing the voice of God or internally hearing His voice that will mark me as a believer in Christ. My old journal entries do not identify me as His own nor do they prove intimacy and fellowship with God. Those experiences were very real, but people of other religions can lay claim to real experiences as well. The plumbline for truth is Scripture. I also understand those of us in Christ have had a supernatural experience we cannot fully comprehend or even see in the moment of salvation. This in itself leaves me in awe and wonder at the mercy and steadfast love of God.

True intimacy with Christ is not for a select few. It is for every believer, and it is found in times of prayer, reading and studying the Word of God, worship and fellowshipping with other Christians. It is found in times of suffering. There are many believers who have never heard the voice of God and who lay no claim to having dreams or vision of spiritual significance. Yet they draw near to God through the areas mentioned. Does this make their fellowship with the Lord less legitimate?

I realized a few years ago the error I had perpetuated, and I realized that by saying “God told me”, I had placed my writing and words on par with Scripture though I did not mean to do so. When God says something, it is authoritative. He is to be obeyed. It brings pause to ask at what point are God’s words not authoritative. We are under a better covenant because of Jesus Christ. Why would the words of God carry less authority and weight today? Hebrews 1:1-2 is a passage to ponder, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

While it is possible for God to reveal Himself in dreams and visions today, we should be aware of the subjective nature of feelings and spiritual impressions. We are not instructed to seek after these things in order to know the Lord Jesus Christ. It is vital to remember that anything a Christian might experience must line up with the truth of the Bible, and it is to be tested against Scripture which is profitable for our instruction and correction and is God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

We should also understand that we are most certainly to know God. This is fundamental as a believer in Christ. Again, drawing close to the Lord is not veiled in secret or hidden knowledge. 2 Peter 1:3-8 says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As spiritual people in Christ, we can understand the ways of God and grow in fellowship with Him. For those who cannot claim to have heard the voice of God or to have had a dream or vision, your relationship with Christ is not diminished or nonexistent. The Lord has sealed you as His own by His Spirit. Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord by remaining in His written Word and in prayer. Worship Him and rejoice in His salvation. Honor Him in word and deed, and fellowship with other believers. These are invaluable in our ongoing fellowship with God.

Listen to the latest episode of The Lovesick Scribe podcast here on this topic: Demystifying Christian Mysticism – The Lovesick Scribe Podcast | Podcast on Spotify