Foundations of Mystical Union
Mysticism is unity with the divine with and through the work of the Holy Spirit, but also in fellowship with our sisters and brothers in Christ. Jesus commanded us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as we are called to love ourselves.
As we grow in this love together, we deepen our relationship with the God within us–the Holy Spirit. As the power of the Holy Spirit moves us, we become more and more like Christ, but we also share more and more in the divine life–Mystical Union.
In the coming weeks we will be launching a new Blog called, The Baptist Mystic Blog. The blog will be primarily focused on our Baptist sisters and brothers. It’s main purpose will be to recover the mystical elements of the Baptist tradition and to show how the true mystical tradition expands us beyond human tradition to Mystical Union with God and through God, others.
The Series:
1. Reclaiming the Baptist Mystic: Our Hidden Heritage
The Intent: To show that “Baptist Mysticism” isn’t a new invention. It uses historical evidence (like the 17th-century “Inner Light” radicals) to prove that this path is a return to form, not a departure.
2. The Architecture of Grace: Understanding the Cube
The Intent: To explain the logo as a map of creation. It moves away from “geometry as engineering” and toward “geometry as a language of God’s presence” in all things.
3. Soul Liberty: The Freedom to Encounter the Divine
The Intent: To redefine a core Baptist value. It’s not just about religious freedom; it’s the belief that every person is fully capable of experiencing God directly without needing a middleman or a rigid creed.
4. A Blueprint for Everyone: Radical Inclusion and the Divine Pattern
The Intent: To speak directly to the LGBTQ+ community and those who have been marginalized. It explains that in God’s complex “blueprint,” every shape and every identity is an essential part of the whole.
5. The Gift of Silence: Practicing Presence
The Intent: To introduce the primary way we gather. It explains why we value communal silence as a way to clear the noise of the world and listen for the “Inner Word.”
6. Many Voices, One Spirit: The Tradition of Witnessing
The Intent: To explain why we don’t just listen to one person talk. It’s about the “priesthood of all believers”—the idea that everyone brings a piece of the truth when we meet.
7. Moving Forward by Looking Back: Innovation and Tradition
The Intent: To address why we are “A Different Kind of Baptist.” It’s about being modern and progressive precisely because we are rooted in the radical freedom of our ancestors.
8. Finding God in the Patterns: Sacredness in the Everyday
The Intent: To bridge the gap between “church life” and “real life.” It explores how to see the Divine in math, science, art, and our neighbors in Fayetteville.
9. Beauty from the Rubbish: Reconstructing Faith
The Intent: For those who have walked away from traditional church (Deconstruction). It offers mysticism as a way to rebuild a spiritual life based on love and experience rather than fear and rules.
10. The Circle and the Hearth: Community Without Walls
The Intent: To explain why we don’t need a traditional building to be a church. It’s about the “gathering” (the circle) being the sacred space, whether it’s in a home, a park, or a cafe.
