Mysticism in the Church Today

Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

–Jude 3

Two thousand years ago, mystics who had infiltrated the church at Colossae were worshiping angels and relying on visions that were not from God. But mysticism still entices Christians today. What mystical experiences do some Christians today insist we need?

Some Christians say you need to speak in tongues. The Bible refers to speaking in tongues as a spiritual gift. It’s the supernatural ability to speak in a real language you’ve never studied before. Whether or not you believe the gift of speaking in tongues is operational today, it’s important to understand what the Bible says about it. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul said speaking in tongues is the least of all the spiritual gifts. He wrote, “God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. . . . All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts” (vv. 28, 30–31). Speaking in tongues is not a requirement to be a Spirit-filled Christian.

Other Christians say you need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Now, I believe in the baptism with the Holy Spirit. But the Bible teaches that this experience is simultaneous with our salvation, not subsequent to our salvation. Some Christians are waiting for the Holy Spirit to come into their lives, not realizing that they received the Holy Spirit when they were saved. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul wrote, “By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (emphasis mine). Being baptized with the Holy Spirit isn’t an add-on feature for superspiritual Christians; it’s part of the basic package for every Christian.

Other Christians say you need divine healing. They say if you’re physically ill, there must be something wrong in your life, such as a lack of faith. Yet Paul suffered from a physical malady, and he wasn’t healed (2 Corinthians 12:7–9). Sometimes God’s will is to heal, but not all the time. And remember this: whatever miraculous healing you experience is only temporary. One day, you’re going to die. The Bible says we won’t experience real healing until we receive the heavenly bodies God has prepared for us.

Finally, some Christians say you need new divine revelation. There are preachers who claim to have received new revelation from God. But Jude 3 says our faith “was once for all handed down to the saints.” Everything you need to know about God is in His Book. There is no additional information you need about God. Don’t let anybody rob you of your joy in Christ by saying you need a mystical experience.

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Today’s devotion is adapted from “Hating Religion and Loving Jesus” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2012.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.