I see this question arise often in groups. What is Christian Mysticism, what sect do you find it in? The question often begins with a distorted premise, that Christian Mysticism is something other than Christianity. That’s the thing, it isn’t. It is true that vast multitudes walk on the outer shell and never go deeper, and some even deny that the deeper or inner aspect of the faith even exists. Sometimes they can’t help their error, sometimes they actively know they are keeping people from going further in.

Christian Mysticism is first and foremost Christian. It is rooted in Jesus Christ, the Bible, and the historical and traditional Christian Church and it’s foundational doctrines. Just as Sufism is rooted in Islam, and a Sufi prays 5 times a day and is devoted to Sharia. A Jewish Kabbalist is devoted to the Torah, it’s teachings and yes it’s “laws”. The same can be said for the Christian Mystic, he is devoted to Christian faith and practice. He doesn’t dismiss the Bible or the historical Jesus, he doesn’t reject the Church.

The problem today is we have thousands of sects that call themselves “Christian”, which are not Christianity but are merely a derivative of it. This creates a mindset, particularly in the Western World, that one can simply create their own path and call it Christian, which cannot be further from the truth. We must call a duck a duck. And just as today we have a gender bending confusion, there are still only and will ever be two genders, inseparable from biological sex. There is something that is Christianity, and MANY things that are not.

The Christian Mystic realizes the mystery imbedded in the Christian faith itself, in it’s doctrines and practices. They will come to know that salvation is not merely about a later reward or a punishment to escape, but about a real relational walk with God in the present. To be in spiritual union with God, that is the goal. One walks the path of devotion in order to attain such a thing, knowing it is the most important thing there is. So the Church is his vessel, the scriptures his map and stars, the doctrine his guide on how to navigate, and his prayer and meditation the actual navigation.
-RevBRV