Mystical 'I'?

[psalmone]

This is a topic I'd be interested in hearing discussed. I don't know if any are familiar with what is called the mystical 'I" ? For some people it's their answer to salvation in that they find their refuge in the 'I' identity and I'm concerned if it isn't confusing some. I'd be interested in your hearing anyones thoughts on this comparable with Christianity. Some even have a strange doctrine which includes such which I find awkward. Has anyone else encountered this?

[ayin jade]

From what I see, its a book. Its a mysticism that doesnt include Jesus. Therefore it is false. It is also highly man self focused. Also false. From what I can see of his other books, he teaches a new thought/ new age metaphysics that is not Christian. The author himself was a christian scientist. I would not look to his works for solid Christian teachings.

[yesult]

I think with christianity in general - if something looks like God, smells like God, tastes like God, but isn't biblical - you want to be careful.

Not everything in our walk is going to be straight out of the word necessary (letter for letter) which is why we need to be led by the holy spirit (baptism of the spirit) and always testing the spirits when appropriate. God is spiritual and we move in that domain when we become christians - but so is the devil, and he can appear as an angel of light.

Ignoring the spiritual because we're scared of it (or can't control it like we can the physical) will not bless our walk because it's really a lack of trust in God. But not testing the spirits through the word and prayer can lead to damage too.

It's balance. I think it's ultimatly really about letting God call the shots, regardless.

(And no, I've never heard of a 'Mystical I' concept/theology/? but yeah - like anything I wasn't familiar with - I'd be careful to test it through the above if it was something that was bothering me or didn't seem biblically based (or was claimed to be but still seemed fishy somehow.)

[tammy826]

Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. There are so many false teachings out there these days that you really have to pray & seek discernment about what you watch & who you listen to.

[AnotherTraveler]

Two things I know for sure...

There is only One God.

I am not Him.

[OneLight]

If you choose to look into this, pray for discernment ...

Here is a link to a writeup of who the author is. This may give you an idea as to what his beliefs are. I could not find anything about the "Mystical I", besides his book.

Here is some I pulled up about him.

JOEL S. GOLDSMITH (1892-1964), a monumental teacher of practical mysticism, devoted most of his life to the discovery and teaching of spiritual principles which he founded and called The Infinite Way.

From his book, The Infinite Way ... "Spiritual healing is the natural result of a divinely illumined consciousness. We are illumined only as we are receptive and responsive to spiritual illumination." and "Selfishness and conceit fall away in the realization of the divinity of our being."

Personally, a cunning lie close enough to swallow those who have little or no knowledge of God and His word.

[psalmone]

Thank you for the above responses.

I am familiar with Joel Goldsmith and I've read "the infinite way" in my times of researching and it was quite interesting.

It's really an area that I believe needs some illumination and is a more profound issue than is realised. It has seemed to have been hidden territory though deeply in need of light as alot of alternative doctrine and teachings fester there including much of the occult. I haven't consciously experienced the effects but I do percieve how it would affect my faith were I to entertain it to the unwise degree.

I get annoyed by certain unsaved friends who through certain malpractices regarding the above make claims of sameness among people and try to devalue to honor of men,dignities and God. The "I" seems to have become their God and I disagree that it should be so it would more be the world and the natural that they tap into, and possibly the company of the dead and darkness. The company of light are different, these are significantly Christian, distictly set apart from all other.

The main reason Iam concerned is that I think it's affecting alot of the youth,who may need to get a revelation of the contrast that the Gospel presents.