Learn the Root of Mysticism

Now the question has come up, and I’m sure rightly so, as to why we would choose to use the term mystical or mystic to describe our relationship with God. The fact of the matter is most people think the word “mystical” refers to the occult, New Age or some other bizarre spiritual practice. And the fact of the matter is most people will never truly be comfortable with the term “mystic” and that really is okay. Because this term has been hijacked in our modern thought by the occult there are many followers of Yeshua who practice mysticism and would never call themselves “mystics.” This is truly sad because the term “Mystic” originally began as a way to describe disciples of Yeshua.

For centuries when a person spoke of mystics they were speaking about believers who experience an interactive life with Messiah; a life full of intimacy and supernatural power.

While this term has been hijacked by the occult it is nothing to be scared of, and in truth is a lifestyle to be embraced.

As we previously defined, a Mystic is “a person who claims to attain, or believes in the possibility of attaining, insight into mysteries transcending ordinary human knowledge, as by direct communication with the divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy.”

Now mysticism, as defined here, should not be a new concept to believer.

Mysticism, is the term used to describe our union with Yeshua Messiah.

Remember that we are in him and he is in us. When we experience this union with our minds or our natural bodies we call that experience “mysticism.”

So when we call ourselves mystics, what we are saying is:

We experience our union with God; we are conscious of this reality.

Now this term mystical comes from the Greek word mystērion which means:

1) hidden thing, secret, mystery

a) generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals
b) a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding
c) a hidden purpose or counsel

1) secret will

a) of men
b) of God: the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly

2) in rabbinic writings, it denotes the mystic or hidden sense

a) of an OT saying
b) of an image or form seen in a vision
c) of a dream

And Yeshua promised his disciples that they would be allowed to know the mystērion of the kingdom.

Matt 13:11
Yeshua answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

The apostle Paul or Shaul further uses this word “mystērion” to describe his hope for the believers in the Colossian congregation:

Colossians 2:2-3
My purpose is that they may be encouraged, that they may be joined together in love, and that they may have all the riches derived from being assured of understanding and fully knowing God’s secret truth (mystērion), which is – the Messiah!  It is in him that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

To put it plainly, what the apostle is saying is “I want you all to become mystics who are intimate with Messiah who gives us all of God’s wisdom and knowledge”

From a biblical standpoint, every disciple of Yeshua is a mystic.

The more we grow in our intimacy with Yeshua Messiah the more “mystical” we are. It is nothing to be feared. On the contrary, it is something we all, as believers should embrace!

Have you thought of your relationship with Yeshua as a mystical one?
Do the teachings of Shaul or Yeshua change your perception of the word?
Let me know in the comments below: