My biggest problem as I contemplate the project (A Course in Christian Mysticism) is how to combat the confusion of the Two Realms.
Even when I manage to describe the whole concept clearly, the knee-jerk reflex of virtually every Christian I’ve met is to ignore the difference and confuse the teachings in the Bible. I’m amazed at the Law Covenant stuff that winds up confused with spiritual birth issues. Worse, there is a whole bunch of Christians who consider themselves “mystic” who simply are not. Whatever it is they blather about, it’s mostly another brand of religious cerebral contortion.
If there is one thing I could wish to fix, this is it.
If we could get Christians to extricate their minds from the mess, we could resolve a broad selection of category errors in their logic. You see, there is no one better able to understand the moral implications of everyday life like a solid Christian Mystic who doesn’t confuse Law with faith. Faith is that extra-sensory perception, that super-rational faculty of connection to the transcendent divine realm. That realm is the greater portion of reality that utterly escapes words and logic. Because we engage this as the presupposition before we begin to approach reasoning, we have the truth established as a proper foundation. Thus, morality as the fundamental question of “what ought to be” in this world is generally resolved in advance. It becomes a matter of recognizing the imperatives of that higher truth as it reveals what our Creator intended we do in this fallen realm. It is more than mere logic and always changes to fit the context.
Our faith remains in the clouds, obscured by parable, just barely possible to indicate by words and exemplary actions. Meanwhile, our religion will be what our human selves can understand. It will be a catalog of words, actions and logical organization by which we implement those higher demands.
Thus, your Christian Mystic becomes the very most reliable employee you’ll ever have. If you can present the nature of the job honestly, and they are comfortable with the moral implications, you don’t have to worry about corrupting influences or intimidation. They will do what you tell them they are supposed to do because it’s the right thing to do. Compensation becomes merely a matter of giving them sufficient resources to keep doing the job. If they can show up, they will. If the job if physically possible, they’ll try to do it. You’ll need to understand they are committed to the people/person in charge, not to the impersonal corporation. But you won’t have to compete for their loyalty. They will operate from a genuine interest in your welfare as the boss; they’ll pray for your well being all the time. They’ll act on the assumption the Creator Himself is in favor of their efforts on your behalf.
Depending on what you can make yourself believe, you may find that a great many things randomly do work better with them around.
