About

A Place to Search Out the Meaning of Things with Like-minded People

In this day and age, it's often difficult to meaningfully connect with others. Our media is constantly bombarding us with huge quantities of shocking but too often shallow diversions. We know more about the material properties and functionality of the world we live in than than ever before, but we often struggle to articulate the meaning of our surroundings and experiences. We know the where and the how all too well, but we forget to connect over and contemplate the why. This can make the world we live in and even our lives and everyday actions seem arbitrary instead of full of pattern and connection, empty instead of enchanted.

Evangelical Mystics is, among many things, a group of people who are yearning for something more–a higher contemplation, a view of reality that has a hearty amount of room for the mystery of beauty. It's a group of people that want to discover the truths that are laid at the foundations of the world, and through them peer beyond the universe to the nature of Goodness Himself. We're about discovering the mysteries of the Gospel revealed in Scripture and the many facets thereof.

A Place for Meatier Theological Discussions

We come together regularly to study the Bible with a lens to how it connects to the higher order of creation and right down to our individual lives. We'll talk through broad themes and cosmological patterns as well as the nitty-gritty of specific sections of Scripture and their application. People from all backgrounds and religious persuasions are welcome to come, enjoy good food and drink, hang out and chat with us! All our studies are led with a view to the end of the renewal of our minds by conforming to the mind of Christ. Come help enrich our discussions! We'd love to have you.

Why Evangelical Mystics?

The word "mystic" points to the Christian life of discipleship, which seeks incorporation into the divine mysteries. Christians are incorporated into these mysteries through the Church and her worship. An "Evangelical" mystic understands that such incorporation is received freely from the divine. We also follow the Evangelical understanding of Christian formation as an ongoing cycle of oratio, meditatio, and tentatio. This means prayer, meditation, and testing. Oratio is not mindless babel or our incessant talking, but allowing God to converse with us through the enlightenment of our Nous (the highest seat of the mind). Meditatio is reflection and study of the oracles of God. This prepares us for the tentatio that we face in our daily lives. In the mire of whatever suffering we might face, we return to oratio and begin the cycle anew. In the words of the Blessed Reformer, this is the making of a true theologian. This is what it means to be an Evangelical Mystic.

Our Goal: To Acquire the Mind of Christ

^The perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

-Ephesians 4: 12-16, 22-23

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

-Romans 12: 1-2