Practical Christian Mysticism

Christian mysticism is in large part about learning to become free of our carnal and materialistic desires (as is just about any form of mysticism). The world lives according to lust, not just for sex, but for everything. We are consumers: living day to day seeking after the next thing we don’t have, and once we have it, we don’t appreciate it but rather move on to the next thing we don’t have. Hence, we consume.

Today’s world has bred a culture of sexual consumerism. The female body is setup on display in checkout lanes and magazine racks like melons in the produce section. Perfume, body spray, cosmetics, and those numerous “male enhancement” emails that sit in your junk mail box are all based around a culture of people who seek out their next sexual experience like a dog seeks it’s next meal. With all this sex-hype, most people will say are unsatisfied with their sexual experiences.

Because of this perversion, sexuality in religion is so often nothing more than a brooding elephant in the corner of the room. No one talks about it but we all know it’s there. And despite how much we ignore it, it just won’t leave. Even worse than not leaving, the unattended elephant becomes restless leading to sudden fits or outbursts of embarrassment and shame to even the most devoutly spiritual. To separate the spirit from the body is to attempt to defy that which God created in the first place. Therefore to live at peace spiritually, we must make peace with our bodies.

Sexuality is a sacred part of us given by God for the act of creation. True sexuality is designed to create, not just children, but love, intimacy, passion, and inspiration. Sexuality is a motivating force that drives the very formation of society. The disasters come when sexuality, being misused or misunderstood, is used for consumption. Sexuality is a powerful force, and when used for creation is a great source of blessing, but when used for consumption is the greatest destructive force we face as individuals and as a society.

In the Creators divine purpose for sexuality, two people, male and female, embrace one another and become both “one flesh” and “one mind”. The act of intercourse was meant to be a passionate and loving ceremony where two individuals become one in body, mind, and soul. Ideally, his physical and spiritual act creates a union and strong foundation that then grows into a family… well, that’s the idea anyway.

For those who are not married, either by circumstance or decision, sexuality is still a part of their lives. It is this understanding that so many in the religious life are without. The act of sex is the most physical expression of sexuality. However, sexuality is a creative force, and those who abstain from physical sex can still harness that force for art, music, and inspiration. The Tao Te Ching says this of the sage, “He can not know the union of male and female, yet his penis can stand erect because of the power of life within him.” (OK, stop snickering or we will never get through this)

When we discipline and educate ourselves to be healthy sexual beings as God intended, we find the true joy within sexuality. Those who enter into intercourse as a loving couple who honor and enjoy one another have the best sex. Those who are abstinent, yet embrace the passion and energy of sexuality, become liberated and empowered instead of feeling suppressed and restless.

When sex is perverted by consumption, we get the worst of society: men who become predators, seeking to consume woman they can over-power (physically or emotionally), and man-eaters who destroy the lives of men to satisfy their own restlessness. With all this destruction, many become scared of their sexuality all together and try to suppress it unnaturally, which is often a problem among the well-meaning religious.

Rather than consume, we should seek to be creators. There is no better way to relate to God than to share in His most basic act: creation. The cook is more blessed than the diner. The painter is more blessed than the critic. The musician is more blessed than the audience. The act of creation and the spirit of creativity is one of the most powerful ways man relates to God the Father, God the Creator. To the mystic, sexuality is about serving and creating.

Sexuality must be disciplined, but cannot be ignored. It must be directed, but not suppressed. Having a body makes us sexual beings, period. Those who live in denial of this do almost as much harm to themselves as those who become slaves to it. There is so much I could write about with this topic, but I am trying to keep my articles short. If there is anything I really hope to accomplish to just get shine a little light on the elephant in the corner… and maybe we should give it a bath too.