This is my seventh post on the Florida Healing Outpouring and frankly I had no intentions of doing any posts beyond the first one. But, due to popular demand (and subsequent questions) more have come. Initially I had a burden to throw some caution out there to those tempted to occupy the seat of scoffers and so I wrote a couple posts on being careful what we speak against. Some may wonder why I’m now tackling the more controversial points – the Angel Emma, Third Heaven Experiences, is this Kundalini, Violence and the Kingdom of God. It would be easier to say nothing, there is even some potential in my own circles that I’m inviting an unnecessary controversy by even bringing these matters up.
I’m writing on these points to ready us for a move of God. No doubt, as we’ve seen in revival history, when God visits things break out beyond the sinners prayer of the traditional fruitful evangelistic meeting. People weep and wail, there are waves of joy, extravagant giving, shaking, falling out, trances, tongues, healing – the blind see, deaf hear, signs and wonders, dreams and visions, lights, angelic encounters and sightings and more. We want it to be on earth as it is in heaven don’t we? Do we really think it’ll all look like earth does now when heaven graces the earth?
As I’ve indicated, even within our own fellowship, much of this is uncharted waters for, I’d think, half our people. But I’m called to ready the rest – to prepare the way – for God to visit. This venue (the blog) has proved to be a great way to interact on a regular basis with hundreds in our church and thousands more who are seeking God right now and need understanding. So here now I aim to demystify myticism a bit. I’m trying to model how to seek God fully and openly without “passing judgment on disputable matters.” (Romans 14:1) I’m watching people throw labels on stuff that do not fit and are not fair and they do so because it’s human to label things we can’t really grasp so we can get a better hold on them. We try to box up and categorize stuff – that’s “Word of Faith”, that’s “Health & Wealth gospel”, that’s “New Age,” that’s “mysticism,” etc. I remember thinking on my last Africa trip that so many back home would think “that’s not Christian” as the African believers went “happy” during a much extended offering. The “church” is far bigger than our version of it – and God is far bigger yet.
I’ll put myself here in a vulnerable position and share a mystic experience that happened to me. One Sunday morning in between services I was particularly discouraged, wanted to quit, was tired of unfair criticism from people with a far greater “log in their own eye,” and one uninvolved brother made his way up to me to tell me all the ways I was missing God. I wanted to go home and not come back. Those who’ve planted a church know it takes everything out of you and people still want more. Five minutes later I was in the front row entertaining the thought that maybe the brother was right. Worship was starting and I closed my eyes and tried to get in a better state of mind and turn it all over to God. With my eyes closed, up and to the left of me I saw one who I believe to be Jesus sitting on a throne. He looked at me and gave me one nod. This was not a “hey, good to see you” nod. It was the nod of approval and I know that because of the deep, profound and instant effect it had on me. Ten people with the gift of encouragement could have spoken truth to me all that day and it wouldn’t have had a fraction of the effect of this one mystic nod from the One seated on the throne. After the nod, he raised a sceptor (the sceptor of the Kingdom) over our worshipping church. What that brother said to me right before the service suddenly had no effect – I had the approval of the One that really mattered and that one nod ministered to me powerfully for at least ninety days. I pray each of you have those key moments with God.
I’m excited and not surprised at all that people are having heavenly encounters. It’s impossible to fully grow into prayer and seeking God and not have more experiences and encounters on earth as they have in heaven. Many believers have artificial, self-imposed ceilings over their spiritual lives placed there by fear, religious attitudes and the traditions of men (formed by the experiences of men, or the lack there of.) The greatest critics of Todd Bentley and other Christian Mystics blast them for basing theology on experience, but, truth be told, their theology is also based on their experience or particularly, their lack there of. Angel visitations, open visions, the voice of the Lord, impressions and dreams are not uncommon experiences in both the Old and New Testament and all throughout the history of the Christian Church.
I want to see more people released into deeper and more intimate experiences with God. He’s not just an idea or an invisible force out there. He’s a person to interact with and spend time with – and his heart is to reveal himself to you more and more and invite you into his world as well.
Mysticism is simply a term for a human being having a heavenly encounter or experience. I had a lady recently say to me that “sorcery and mysticism are strictly forbidden in the Bible.” Of course sorcery is, but she had no idea what either really were. When I explained mysticism she said “well then you need to use another word because everyone today hears the word mysticism and instantly assumes it’s bad.” Or… (I wanted to say)… we all need to educate ourselves before we pass judgment. My fears of all this went away when I took a class called “Christian Mysticism” in seminary. Some of the fruit of that class is in this article.
I find it helpful to think of a continuum – there are Christians on the one end who have no tolerance for any mystic experiences – I’ve found generally, they are unaware of the fact that Paul, John, Elijah, Jacob, Moses and about 50 other Bible characters were mystics. Ezekiel was transported, Moses saw a burning bush that didn’t burn up, Peter fell into a trance, Jesus was transfigured, Saul/Paul was blinded by light and changed forever by an audible voice, need I say anything about the revelation that came to John?
I’ve also found those with no tolerance for mysticism are unaware of the mystics in church history (I have a list of over 100 – Francis of Assisi, Athanasius, Augustine, John of the Cross,Thomas a Kempis, Brother Lawrence – and, more recent… Evelyn Underhill, TS Eliot, Thomas Merton, William Booth (founder of Salvation Army), AW Tozer, and, of course, Todd Bentley and many others today. I’ve found that people who freak out at the thought of someone having a heavenly mystical encounter today relax when they see the prominent place the mystics have had in the Bible and Church History.
Mystics are typically killed in their own age and made a saint (literally or at least revered) a hundred years later. The church has never known what to do with her mystics. Some were goofy (mysticism is not unique to Christianity). Others lived under an open heaven and those around them on earth couldn’t relate at all and threw rocks (literally). Same story today. A mystic is simply a person who has a heavenly (or supernatural) experience or encounter – that includes a lot of us. But there are new age mystics, eastern religion mystics, Christian mystics, and occultic mystics. And there is a continuum for each of these categories. The unseen spiritual world is accessible to everyone with attuned senses. There are demonic counterfeits – astral travel, witchcraft, New Age occultism, psychics, etc. In our area, Native Americans have Vision Quests. Many non-Christian religions and cults were founded by non-Christian mystics. Gnosticism and Pantheism are a couple notable dangers of mysticism. But the presense of counterfeits is clue that there is the real as well. The world of the mystic is a dangerous world if one is not rooted in the Word of God.
However, scary as all that is, I love this C.S. Lewis quote on Christian mysticism;
Discovering spirituality is like discovering you are in a boat. Mysticism is like pushing off from the dock. Since many leave safe mooring and perish in the waves, this is not to be done in a cavalier fashion – even though it can be exciting to push off into the deep. The issue is not of whether we should push off for Christians must do so as well if they intend to get anywhere (and that is what boats are for), but rather of where you are going… The Christian casts off from this world as well, but with a clear intent to where he is headed, with the best of maps, circumspectly, deliberately. The Christian Mystic arrives, against all dangers and odds. Thus we launch out with fear and trembling, but trust that He who commanded us to do so can calm the waves, and see us through to His real, safe port.
Mysticism has accompanied every prayer movement in Christian history. And, when God has shown up historically, the “theologians” are always the most surprised. Interesting, the word “theologian” isn’t in the Bible.
I have read Todd Bentley’s books, heard him in person a couple times and heard many other messages by him specifically on this topic. He is not on the wacked out end of the spectrum (in my view). There are people he associates with (and I wish he wouldn’t – and as this revival spreads I think he’ll have to distance himself from some) who are much further out on the spectrum that he – John Crowder for example. But even there, in my view, to the dismay of heresy hunters online, none of this fits the bill of “Non-Christian Mysticism.” Bentley preaches Jesus and is hungry for the Glory of God to cover the earth. It is inaccurate and not fair to lump these guys in with the non-Christian eastern religion and New Age mystics. It is ignorant to say contemplative Christian prayer is “new age.” Christian people are labeling his mysticism “new age” because they don’t have any other handles to put on it (again, I believe, due to being generally unaware of Biblical mysticism and mysticism in Church History). And so they label it “new age” and it’s just not. Bentley is a rock solid Christian from everything I’ve seen. Bentley can answer for himself but I’m seeing a great wave of mystic experience in the prayer movement and the lines in the sand have yet to be drawn. I am aware some are crossing “the line.” (Speaking of “crossing the line,” those in the seat of scoffers frequently cross the line and bear false witness against others in the body of Christ on these matters.)
Here is a list of suggestions for those open to these things.
1. Believe there are indeed treasures in the prayer closet.
2. Stay humble. Mystic experiences aren’t the measure of one’s maturity in the Lord – in fact, God sometimes appears to pagans. It’s about what he is doing, not what we are doing.
3. If you find yourself fighting skepticism, it’s okay. However, stay out of the seat of scoffers. Realize before judging someone else’s experience with God that the things we may think are ridiculous, very well may be of the Lord.
4. Seeking Him isn’t something you can hurry. Most don’t remain long enough to have any kind of meaningful encounter with the Lord.
5. Use wisdom. Let the basis for every experience be the Word of God.
6. Believe God’s ability to keep you (give you bread) is greater than the devil’s ability to decieve you (give you a snake).
7. Position yourself in faith and then contend and hunger for God and for everything about him. Daily pull the supernatural realm into the natural realm. Ask the Lord to give you a taste on earth of heaven.
8. Be still and know he is God. Stillness is the key. Yet, stillness doesn’t necessarily mean silence. The Holy Spirit is musical – and sounds and tones can bring our discordant spirits into harmony with his. (Don’t interpret that as “new age” – we can have a CD on in the prayer room can’t we?)
9. Don’t seek encounters for the sake of encounters. Go after encounters because they bring more intimacy with the Lord and because he gives divine strategy to defeat the enemies of the Kingdom and bring more of the Kingdom into the earth realm.
10. Sometimes there is spiritual warfare before we can enter the supernatural realms. Take authority over these demonic influences and hindrances and bind them in Jesus’ name before you wait on the Lord.
11. Be careful what you share and where. Don’t cast pearls before swine. This is where I believe there to be great danger in a media revival as we have in Florida. There is great potential for misunderstanding and for the unintiated, those who doctrine is based on their lack of experience with heavenly encounters to throw stones. Words can cheapen these encounters and others can interpret our sharing as boasting. That’s why Paul didn’t share specifics in 1 Cor. 12 – there are some things God doesn’t want us to share – they are for us only. The best place to share these things is in your journal. Pray about what you are supposed to share. When God allows you to share it is for the purpose of encouraging and building up the faith of others. I’m thankful Bentley is sharing what he is sharing because there are many out there having these experiences and they need to know they are not goofy. I’ve had people in my office timidly and hesitatingly share POWERFUL GOD ENCOUNTERS they’ve had as a kids or throughout their life and they haven’t shared them ever because they figure the church folk will just think they are crazy. God is presently going around the “church” to commune with some people.
12. It’s okay for you to seek and make yourself available for God to visit you.
19 comments
Jun 10, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Kelly
Thank you Steve. I really enjoyed reading your blog. I could tell it was thoughtfully and prayerfully written and Im one of the skeptics out there:):)
Jun 10, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Florida Healing Outpouring - Is Todd Bentley a New Age Mystic?
[…] tomas wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptDaily pull the supernatural realm into the natural realm. Ask the Lord to give you a taste on earth of heaven. 8. Be still and know he is God. Stillness is the key. Yet, stillness doesn’t necessarily mean silence. … […]
Jun 10, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Teresa
Thanks Steve, I try not to pretend I understand it all, because I don’t! I struggle with some of this, but one thing I’ve noticed-in the mainstream, large denominational churches, they often talk of what Jesus was, or wasn’t. You, and others talk of who Jesus IS-and I can trust that because Jesus IS ALIVE TODAY!-not just some Saviour of old from the Bible, A Saviour TODAY-the same as He was then! We should always remember to keep Him present tense, and future tense, not just past tense! I hope this makes sense!:)
Jun 11, 2008 at 5:58 am
LadyofFe
Thanks Steve, this is an excellent article. I have had many spiritual encounters, not near as many as Todd, but, many. I have never had a face to face with God or Jesus, although once Jesus was behind me. About a year ago, it was put upon my heart to seek God’s face. I have yet to have this encounter, but, I have been so hungry and cried out so often. Just not sure if I’m staying still long enough our not. I feel very fortunate that I have a husband who believes what I tell him, or at least acts like he does. I have support from many in my church. A few of which have had experiences themselves.
Jun 11, 2008 at 8:01 am
PC
Steve, Thank you for your wisdom on this subject, you are drawing from a very deep well. You have been a blessing to our whole family as our pastor, teacher and friend. All 7 of us have had a deep touch from the Lord in the last 10 days as we seek the face of Jesus more and more. God is up to something in this area and across our nation and the nations of the earth.
I was reading 1Cor chapter 12 this morning in which Paul talks about God appointing members of the body of Christ to be apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, administrators, speakers and interpreters of tongues. Paul says we all bring different gifts to the table but in verse 31 he commends us to “Earnestly desire the best gifts”.
I believe Paul is telling us not to be jealous of others giftings (in the flesh) but continually be asking the Lord for MORE. Translation: Lord, I don’t want what he or she has – I want what YOU HAVE – and MORE OF IT!
The reason Bentley and the christian mystics are able to “Go places” in the spirit, is because their focus is on Jesus and His Heavenly Kingdom, not on what everyone else is doing. I pray we all can keep our eyes on the KING.
Jun 11, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Ian
Excellent post Steve.
In trying to differentiate ourselves and avoid error, we can let go of valuable things.
To distance ourselves from islam we can fear discipline in prayer and study and (in some denominations) biblical literalism.
To distance ourselves from buddhism and taoism (and their new age reincarnations) we fear meditation, transcendent experiences of God and understanding from direct communication with Him.
It is a shame when the fear of appearing unrighteous (as if that ever bothered Jesus!) stops us from experiencing life as intended.
Jun 11, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Andrew
Jesus.
I just wanted to bless you all with that name,
JESUS.
Jun 12, 2008 at 7:17 am
Steve Hickey
Thanks everyone for the comments – I’m glad you appreciated the article.
Andrew – Thanks for lifting up His Name! JESUS!
Jun 12, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Nancy
As always you give us so much to digest -so much to reach for-at times I feel so unworthy but I have to believe that God still has a purpose for my life and in his time he will lead me where he wants me to be. For now I will continue to sit under your teachings because I know God has placed an anointing on you
Jun 13, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Nicole
It seems that you are speaking from your own knowledge. You did not use many scriptures to support your views. I don’t think it is fair to label Todd Bentley a mystic but he is getting closer to the John Crowder side of the fence. Contemplative prayer is occultic, period. Read your history and learn why eastern religious leaders often observed those that practiced such prayer because of the manifestations that it usually brought. Also, I believe that Todd is a man-of-God but he is being deceived by seducing spirits. Have you heard his testimony on the angel Emma or his heavenly talks with a dead Bhuddist who taught him contemplative prayer. Perhaps, you have heard this message when he said God told him not be to concerned with Jesus but to focus on the angel and teach others about the angel. I am not passing judgement but I am aligning Todd’s words and actions with the word of God and there is a lot of contradiction.
Jun 13, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Nicole
I meant dead Hindu not Bhuddist…
Jun 13, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Steve Hickey
Nicole, I’m glad to hear you think Bentley is a man of God. I’m sorry you think I’m lite on the Scripture. It’s not a criticism I usually get. Should I chronicle my above references to the fifty mystic experiences of Biblical characters that I mention above? Have you read my other posts on this revival such as the one on the Angel Emma, or just this one? In any case, there are people reading your comment chuckling at your suggestion that I READ MY HISTORY. You have no idea. I will continue to read voraciously from Church History and the literature associated with the study of the Old and New Testaments. Bless you.
There are a couple things I’d suggest you read in my latest post, particularly the 55 page paper by Dr. Greig. It’s full of the Scriptures you feel I lack here.
Your comment that contemplative prayer is “occultic, period” is ridiculous and hardly rooted in the Word or the History of the Christian Church.
Jun 13, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Steve Hickey
Nicole – just read your “contemplative prayer” missile on your “Christian” website. It makes me real sad. Some of it is misinterpreted semantics. I “love” your list of people in error. Frankly it would have never even dawned on me to compile an exhaustive list of people who pray wrong. Putting Todd Bentley in the same sentence as Deepak Chopra is horribly irresponsible and unfair and unChristlike. Do you realize we have a common enemy? Why devote a website to becoming “soldier” engaged in the war of friendly fire against others in the Body of Christ? What ever happened to not passing judgment on disputable matters? (Romans 14:1 by the way). My first two posts on Bentley were a plea for you folks to set your eyes on Jesus and take your eyes off the speck in your brothers eye. My rule of thumb is that if a “Christian” website is negative in nature and aimed at others in the Body of Christ and those behind it hide in the shadows of anonymity, they are not on our team. Shadows, in my book, are a form of darkness. (If the website you listed is not yours and you just plopped it down so you could send us all to a “truth” site, I find that deceptive.)
For the others reading, these two responses of mine stop just short of a rebuke which is not my normal tone. I guess I just smelled the spirit I’ve been warring against that’s tearing apart the Body of Christ and I decided to speak the truth and shed light on the darkness.
Jun 16, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Pat
I’ve am involved in a school of ministry at my church and we are presently studying church history. I’ve realized that every since Christ, when Father was restoring something that had been lost, the “church” scoffed at it and berated the person(s) that brought the lost truth forwarded. Is it possible that again, Father is restoring signs, wonders and miracles? I praise God for every follower that paid a price for what I now walk in. And I also am grateful for the Lords ability to keep me (Jude 24) and trust His keeping over the enemy’s deceiving! May He continue to awaken my heart more and more to Himself and His ways!
Jun 19, 2008 at 7:45 am
Pastor Jerry
Great article Steve, and people like Nicole are the ones we need to watch out for. They are the ones siding with the enemy. Satan is the “accuser of the breathren” and they are doing the same thing. Always accusing this person and that of being a heretic. What amazes me is the majority of them don’t even believe all of the Bible. Just their pet verses they use to try and support their wacked out so called ministry of blasting others. They don’t believe in the supernatural power of God. They don’t believe God still heals. If someone claims they got healed, the devil did it! How pathetic! (I am not saying that describes Nicole exactly because I haven’t wasted my time going to her site after reading what you said about it, but that describes many of them) People that “think” that GOD has called and appointed them to judge everyone else need to wake up and come out of their decepetion. Get off their throne, because there is ONE God and judge and she and all the others sure aren’t He!
Jun 19, 2008 at 11:18 pm
duke
Peace be with the reader.
The time has come, the harvest is ripe.
The Faithful Witness
Jul 23, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Matt
Hi Steve,
Great and thoughtful discussion. It’s a good deal when mystical experience and good theology (not to mention a good grasp of church history) get together. I’m interested in one of your comments:
“There are people he associates with (and I wish he wouldn’t – and as this revival spreads I think he’ll have to distance himself from some) who are much further out on the spectrum that he – John Crowder for example. But even there, in my view, to the dismay of heresy hunters online, none of this fits the bill of “Non-Christian Mysticism.” Bentley preaches Jesus and is hungry for the Glory of God to cover the earth. It is inaccurate and not fair to lump these guys in with the non-Christian eastern religion and New Age mystics.”
I personally hope that Todd doesn’t “distance himself” from anyone who holds to the central tenets of the faith and is walking right before the Lord. You seem to think that Crowder is not “non-Christian” (heretical) in his mystical experiences. If true, why push away a brother? I’m kind of tired of all the political maneuvering and pandering to respectability that someone in the public sphere of ministry has to do. It’s part of what I like about Todd in the first place–he has tremendous freedom from fear of man and doesn’t seem overly concerned with what people think of him (in a good way). Crowder and others like him seem of a similar vein, and can even be seen as prophets to the church saying “Get over yourselves, people!!! Do you want God for real, or just an airtight theology about Him?”
I’d be interested in your perspective on this, perhaps under the line of thought that Jesus often comes to us in packages we don’t expect–I hope we don’t miss Him when he does!
Jul 23, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Steve Hickey
Thanks Matt for your comment. I’m not bothered so much by Crowders mysticism – it’s the mocking and immitation of drug use and the sucking on plastic baby Jesus’ that I reject.
Jul 24, 2008 at 5:06 am
Kathy Saram-Wilson
Nicole, can you give us your web page in this column? I’m not sure where you have given it.
Alternatively, could you email it to me at ksw@iprimus.com.au? Many thanks.
God bless, Kathy.