What is the biblical basis against Christian mysticism?

I am presently persuaded that the concept of *Christian mysticism* finds its foundation in both Scripture and the rich tapestry of tradition and personal experiences among believers. In my understanding, Christian mysticism refers to the (potential) capacity of Christians to actively and earnestly seek a deeply experiential, transformative, and supernatural knowledge of as well as a profound connection, communication and relationship with God. It often involves contemplative practices, prayer, and seeking a direct experience of the divine. I previously asked two questions elaborating on these points: *https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/98040/61679* and *https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/98050/61679* . However, I've noticed that some Christians cringe at the idea of *Christian mysticism*, so I would like to give those Christians an opportunity to make their case. What is a biblical case *against* Christian mysticism? --- Other attempts at providing a definition: > Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. Mysticism is a religious tendency and desire of the human soul towards an intimate union with the Divinity, or a system growing out of such a tendency and desire. As a philosophical system, Mysticism considers as the end of philosophy the direct union of the human soul with the Divinity through contemplation and love, and attempts to determine the processes and the means of realizing this end. > > Source: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/tags/mysticism/info > Christian Mysticism has a long and honourable tradition. You can read > the histories of many holy Christian mystics. [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_mysticism) will give > you a good starting point. Meditation is only one aspect. For a > working definition, try: ""that part, or element, or Christian belief > and practice that concerns the preparation for, the consciousness of, > and the effect of [...] a direct and transformative presence of [the > Christian] God" (Bernard McGinn). In effect mystics are those who make > real and experience for themselves things that many Christians take as > theoretical or abstract - e.g. the presence of God, union with God, > the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. > > Source: [Is Christian mysticism an oxymoron or is it a legitimate path for a Christian?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/2819/61679) ---- Another attempt: > Christian mysticism is the tradition of mystical practices and > mystical theology within Christianity which "concerns the preparation > [of the person] for, the consciousness of, and the effect of [...] a > direct and transformative presence of God" or Divine love. Until the > sixth century the practice of what is now called mysticism was > referred to by the term contemplatio, c.q. theoria, from contemplatio > (Latin; Greek θεωρία, theoria), "looking at", "gazing at", "being > aware of" God or the Divine. Christianity took up the use of both the > Greek (theoria) and Latin (contemplatio, contemplation) terminology to > describe various forms of prayer and the process of coming to know > God. > > Contemplative practices range from simple prayerful meditation of Holy > Scripture (i.e. Lectio Divina) to contemplation on the presence of > God, resulting in theosis (spiritual union with God) and ecstatic > visions of the soul's mystical union with God. Three stages are > discerned in contemplative practice, namely catharsis (purification), > contemplation proper, and the vision of God. > > Contemplative practices have a prominent place in the Eastern > Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, and have gained a renewed interest > in western Christianity. > >

Etymology

> > **Theoria** > > The Greek theoria (θεωρία) meant "contemplation, speculation, > a looking at, things looked at", from theorein (θεωρεῖν) "to consider, > speculate, look at", from theoros (θεωρός) "spectator", from thea > (θέα) "a view" + horan (ὁρᾶν) "to see". It expressed the state of > being a spectator. Both Greek θεωρία and Latin contemplatio primarily > meant looking at things, whether with the eyes or with the mind. > > According to William Johnston, until the sixth century the practice of > what is now called mysticism was referred to by the term contemplatio, > c.q. theoria. According to Johnston, "[b]oth contemplation and > mysticism speak of the eye of love which is looking at, gazing at, > aware of divine realities." > > Several scholars have demonstrated similarities between the Greek idea > of theoria and the Indian idea of darśana (darshan), including Ian > Rutherford and Gregory Grieve. > > **Mysticism** > > "Mysticism" is derived from the Greek μύω, meaning "to conceal," and > its derivative μυστικός, mystikos, meaning "an initiate." In the > Hellenistic world, a "mystikos" was an initiate of a mystery religion. > "Mystical" referred to secret religious rituals and use of the word > lacked any direct references to the transcendental. > > In early Christianity the term mystikos referred to three dimensions, > which soon became intertwined, namely the biblical, the liturgical and > the spiritual or contemplative. The biblical dimension refers to > "hidden" or allegorical interpretations of Scriptures. The liturgical > dimension refers to the liturgical mystery of the Eucharist, the > presence of Christ at the Eucharist. The third dimension is the > contemplative or experiential knowledge of God. > > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_mysticism