Mystical Experience Changes How the Bible Speaks to You | Holy Mystical Bible Study with Jon Adams
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- This is the final episode of my Introduction to the Bible series. In this episode, I finally talk about my own mystical experience with the Bible. I also talk about the difference between how the ancient mystics read the Bible, and how we read the Bible today. Some questions discussed in this video:
Can Bible reading enlighten you?
What is Christian mysticism, in practice?
How did the old mystics read the Bible, and what are we missing?
What does mystical experience teach you about yourself?
How does mystical experience change how you read the Bible?
How does mystical experience change how the Bible speaks to you?
What are the goals of mystical Bible reading?
How can I read the Bible mystically?
If you’ve followed along with the whole series, thanks for watching! If not, check out the other videos in this playlist for an introduction to what the Bible is, how we got it, and how to use it.
This is the last video I’ll be able to publish for a couple weeks. When I come back, I’ll be posting weekly mystical Bible study videos, starting with the Gospel of John.
Make sure you’re subscribed and notifications are on, and I’ll see you soon. Meanwhile, here are some links to my website and to my book, Jesus: A Field Manual: How to Live the Sermon on the Mount.
withjonadams.com
a.co/d/0X2Iwwj
Thanks to everyone for watching this Introduction to the Bible series. Through this series I learned a lot about making and publishing content, and the response has been so good. This is the last video in the series, and I'll be off TH-cam for a few weeks. When I come back, we'll use all of these tools to dive into John's Gospel - the most mystical of canonical New Testament books. Thanks for watching, and I'll see you soon :)
Should we be doing any kind of “homework” until you get back?
Take care.
Can’t wait!
Been watching your videos for the past 2 hours now and I feel myself drawn to Christ again. This fresh lens has brought me a new awakening. Thank you.
John is a great teacher. I used to be in his chat group.
Anyways, I recently found a great example of early Christianity and mysticism. Its an Oriental Orthodox Church: Armenian Apostolic.
Since the church is mostly ethnic, I'm bringing its gospel to my own church.
Their liturgy is considered the most beautiful in all Christianity.
I'm new to your channel but I'm really liking your approach to bible study. I'm on board with all your principles. That said, I'm having difficulty with how to deal with the "texts of terror" from a mystical hermeneutic. Right now I'm doing a deep dive into Ezekiel. Might you consider doing a video on how to approach, say, Ezekiel c.5: 5-17 (or other texts like that)? If the Bible was given to us by God (whatever theory of "divine inspiration" you might adhere to) in order that God might reveal His nature to us and we be transformed thereby, what do we do with texts that portray him in such a bad light -- and in His own words too! Of course it is easy to focus on the "lesson" that we should be obedient and not "rebellious". That ticks the "how the bible transforms us" box. But it is really hard to accept what we learn of God's nature in these verses! It is so alien to the idea that God is loving and merciful and forgiving...like Christ! Yes, Jesus had his stern moments and chastises us for our own good but it is hard to envision him throwing an anger tantrum like God does in Ezekiel (and elsewhere!); this tyrannical jealous God is far from showing us his "best self"! If we are supposed to model ourselves after Christ, and Christ is supposed to be modeling God to us, then surely the nature of God has changed between the Testaments! Something is wrong here. If we default to the position that these "texts of terror" were misunderstandings of the nature of God by the men who wrote them, then how do we preserve the idea of "divine inspiration" that the trustworthiness of the Bible depends on? Please help! This is destabilizing my faith. :(
Thank you so much for your videos. I discovered your channel a few days ago and already learned a lot from it.
Something that struck me in the way you describe how you came to mysticism is how it is a mirror image of my own path. You came from a dry understanding of god, and by coming in contact with god learnt humility and to question your sense of self.
On my side, I have been practicing in the Buddhist tradition for a few years. As my intuitive understanding of "emptiness" (the absence of inherent existence of all phenomena, self included) grew, I had no choice but to become humble, as the models to which I used to cling to make sense of the world fell apart. With humility came a diffuse sense of wonder and devotion. With time, I learned to recognize this object of devotion as the Divine, or God for short - though a god that is radically different from the one I used to refer to when I said that "I do not believe in God".
I now fully embraced Christian mysticism. I read the Bible, pray the Rosary, and read the teachings of old and modern mystics. I am deeply saddened at how the Bible can be instrumentalized as a tool for power rather than for humility and discovery, and I am extremely grateful to you and others who take the time to teach this mystical view.
love it
Please, I beg of you to keep spreading the heart of Christianity. True Christianity lies in mysticism. The connection with the source of existence must not be lost. Never stop what you are doing no matter what.
Hello. This afternoon, I was thinking about mysticism and wondering what would be the best place to start reading, which mystics were the most accessible. Mr Google sent me straight to your reading list video. I loved it, and I have subscribed. I can get started right away as I have all the Richard Rohr's in my bookcase already. Bless you. This channel looks wonderful!😊
Jon, the approach to the Bible you’ve laid out here is a very sensible one. I agree with so much of what you said in this series, and as a new pastor about to embark upon my first formal Bible study, I look forward to incorporating some of it.
However, something is nagging me, and I’d like to know what you think. I was initially drawn to your channel due to my interest in Thomas Merton, St John of the Cross, and other writers of that type, as well as my own practice of contemplative prayer. I’ve enjoyed every video I’ve watched of yours, and I think your view counts are criminally low.
With all that in mind as I consider your 7-point reading strategy, I can’t help but see it as a great approach to contemplative prayer, except with a book in the way. In other words, if I’m going to do the hard work of self-reflection, fostering openness to what God is trying to tell me, crucifying (or at least silencing) my false self, and praying earnestly for God to share His truth with me, why not stop there? Why add another element to the picture which, as you’ve eloquently pointed out, has such pernicious potential to confuse and even lead people to evil?
Perhaps I have a low view of scripture, but I don’t mean to suggest that it’s not at all Holy. I read and preach the Gospels because based on my theological education, I believe them to be stories of God incarnate, and thus eminently worthy of our attention. I also think they’re more or less reliable. However, I also think much of the rest of scripture, in terms of communicating truths by which we can know God, is fraught with covenantal irrelevancies (e.g. the way God treats the Israelites in the Hebrew Scriptures is not the way He treats us today) and authorial biases (e.g Paul’s fixation on the crucifixion and resurrection to the exclusion of other important ideas).
I hear you say that the mystics used the Bible in their prayer life, but it’s not clear that the Bible improved their prayer life.
I’d love to know what you think about all this, because I suspect I’m missing something you might be able to provide. Thanks so much for reading and for your great content. God bless!
A very interesting and instructive video. I am really loving and enjoying your series on mystical Bible study videos. It resonates with my soul and spirit.
Please, you should really author your own book on Christian Mysticism. You're more than worthy for such a task. I would certainly buy it.
Ooops, you have. Just bought a copy.
Excellent!
Thank you thank you thank you! I’m so looking forward to this study!
Hey :) could you please make examples of what the insights are that you get from the bible, that you then ask god about, meditate about, etc.? If its not too personal. I don't get anything without examples tbh
What are your thoughts on what is now known today as "Gnosticsm" ?? Mystical knowledge and inner peace rather than Crucifixion for Salvation ??
That’s a great question, I’ll work on a detailed answer
In one of your videos you stated that Mary, the mother of Jesus, as "having a bit of a reputation."
Would you clarify that?
🆒!!..💙🌎✌🏽😇.
How do you think the Bible defines the relationship of humans to animals?
Thank you so much Jon. Would you be able please to recommend a good collection of the writings of Maximus the Confessor? Or perhaps a good standalone work of his to start with?
"On the Cosmic Mystery of Jesus Christ"
How can I know if God is speaking to my thinking and it’s my carnal mind or the devil? How can I know I am in truth when reading the bible spiritually?
Just like biblical and historical evidence proves that jesus and his apostles were vegatarians biblical and historical evidence also proves that the trinity, atonement, original sin and hell are very late misinterpretations and are not supported by the early creed hence its not a part of Christianity I pray that Allah swt revives Christianity both inside and out preserves and protects it and makes its massage be witnessed by all people but at the right moment, place and time
The secred text of the Bible says ye shall know them by their fruits
So too that I say to my christian brothers and sisters be fruitful and multiply
Best regards from a Muslim ( line of ismail )
🎉🎉😂❤❤🎉😢😮😅