daveh@tekcrl.labs.tek.com (David Hatcher) (09/23/90)
Below is a quote taken from _The Inner Eye of Love_ by William Johnston. Johnston here is pointing towards that aspect of one's relationship with Jesus Christ where the spiritual or mystical union with Christ becomes alive with in the action that happens when "Christ lives in me". (Note: The words "in Christ" appear 164 times in Pauline writings.) The reason why I am posting this is because I'm interested in hearing about the inner experiences the Christians in this forum have had regarding this spiritual aspect of knowing Christ first hand. I am pointing past theology here and going right to the direct inner experience of Christ alive within in the lives of Christians. I'm hoping for several things to happen with this exercise. First and formost is in the lessons we all will learn in seeing how others know and experience Christ. My hidden aggenda (which is now not so very hidden) is that with this exercise Christians who are opposed to other sects of Christianity, because of differences of theology, will now have a chance to see *what is* with in the hearts of those whom they alienate. And conversly, those who feel alienated, because of theology, will now have an opportunity to share their inner most experiences of Christ in their lives. God willing, perhaps a sort of understanding and unity will form that is based and centered on Christ and not on theology. I have only two request: First; I'm looking for direct experiences of Christ. Not theological debate. Second; Try your very best to *hear* what folks are "trying" to say with out any preconceived feelings. Read between the lines. Feel with your heart what other folks are attempting to get across. So with out further ado, here is that quote from Johnston... ------ The point I wish to make here, however, is that while Paul heard about Christ and "received" the good news from apostles and eye witnesses, he also met Christ, he was involved with Christ, he lived the good news in his busy life. And this shines through his theology: it is a theology which wells up from the depths of his powerful, inner experience. He writes about original sin as one who experiences original sin; he writes about redemption as one who experiences redemption; he writes about the death and resurrection of Jesus as one who experiences the death and resurrection of Jesus within himself; he writes about the Spirit as one who has received the Spirit: he calls God Father knowing that the Spirit of Jesus within is calling out: "Abba Father!"; he speaks of the love of Jesus as one who experiences the love of Jesus. In short, the theology of Paul is based not only on a historical event in the past but also on a living mystical experience in the present. This is what I mean when I say that mystical experience is the core of authentic theology. ------- David Hatcher It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me Galatians 2:20