Understanding Christian Spiritual Growth The Mystic Way of Salvation Understanding Christian Spiritual Growth

Christian Perfection: Matt 5:48 “Be therefore, as your heavenly Father is ” perfect, perfect. “ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος ἐστιν.” τέλειοι τέλειός τέλειός = “complete, perfect, mature”

Relationship with God “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message , that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:20-21

High-Level Overview Seasons of the Spiritual Life Pre-Decision God exists Purgative Way Learning About God Illuminative Way Learning to Hear God Unitive Way Learning to Rely on God

High-Level Overview: Pre-Decision Devoted to the question of God’s existence Marked by awakening, forgiveness, new birth Saved from the “power” of sin Characterized by Self-focused petition Your focus is on letting God know what you are concerned about Culminates in Justification & New Birth Vast majority of Christians get “stuck” here

Pre-Decision: God’s Existence MetaphysicalArguments for the existence of God Ontological Telelogical Cosmological Atemporal Cosmological Argument Contingency & Necessity Idealism and Perceived Reality Only God knows “Actual” Reality You only experience “Actual” Reality through God = Abundant Life

High-Level Overview: Purgative Way Devoted to learning about who God is As you learn about who God is, God draws you away from the things that have separated you from God Saved from the “presence” of sin Shift to God-Focused petition and meditation God-Focused petition happens when you focus on desiring to know who God is

High-Level Overview: Illuminative Way Devoted to learning how to hear God Marked by a change from Meditation to Meditative-Contemplation Communication with God happens in real time, for the first time Of the Christians that come to this season, many get “stuck” in the zeal that accompanies “hearing” God’s voice for the first time

High-Level Overview: Unitive Way Devoted to learning to rely on God Marked by a change from contemplative-meditation to simple contemplation Most subtle of all transitions – characterized by a time of deep spiritual peace Includes the “Dark Nights” of the soul and spirit God teaches us to rely on who God is, rather then the mediums through which we have come to know God

Dark Night(s) of the Soul Dark Night of the Spirit Pre-Decision Purgative Way Illuminative Way Unitive Way Union Initial Sanctification Entire Sanctification Glorification Prevenient Grace Sanctifying Grace Justification—Justifying Grace Perfected (completed) in God, through Christ, by the Power of the Spirit Salvific Overlay Regeneration Moral Law Saved from the power, but not the presence of sin Saved from the presence of sin Natural Law Anxiety-Driven Needs God’s Existence Learning about God Learning to hear God Learning to rely on God Focus Awakening Moral Integration Struggle Temptation Mature Faith Trials Trust Darkness Zeal Light Joy Presence of God Peace Quiet Ecstasy Loss of Defenses Transforming Union Dark Night(s) of the Soul Dark Night of the Spirit Experience Peace & Freedom Simple Contemplation Self-Centered Petition God Focused Petition Meditative Contemplation Infused Contemplation Prayer of Full Union Prayer Meditation Contemplative-Meditation Prayer of Passive Union The Thee Ways—Chart adapted from Groeschel, 1984, p.118, and Scraper, 2009 p. 176

Dark Night(s) of the Soul Dark Night of the Spirit Pre-Decision Purgative Way Illuminative Way Unitive Way Union Initial Sanctification Entire Sanctification Glorification Prevenient Grace Sanctifying Grace Justification—Justifying Grace Perfected (completed) in God, through Christ, by the Power of the Spirit Salvific Overlay Regeneration Moral Law Saved from the power, but not the presence of sin Saved from the presence of sin Natural Law Anxiety-Driven Needs God’s Existence Learning about God Learning to hear God Learning to rely on God Focus Awakening Moral Integration Struggle Temptation Mature Faith Trials Trust Darkness Zeal Light Joy Presence of God Peace Quiet Ecstasy Loss of Defenses Transforming Union Dark Night(s) of the Soul Dark Night of the Spirit Experience Peace & Freedom Simple Contemplation Self-Centered Petition God Focused Petition Meditative Contemplation Infused Contemplation Prayer of Full Union Prayer Meditation Contemplative-Meditation Prayer of Passive Union The Thee Ways—Chart adapted from Groeschel, 1984, p.118, and Scraper, 2009 p. 176