Is it ok for Christians to seek Enlightenment?

Question

I sometimes spend time self-reflecting or praying to God, and my friends find that I think differently to most ppl...one of my friends also said it is very good of me to have self-awareness, since I spend most of my free time thinking about how I relate to God and ppl in general, about my imperfections & how to improve myself...is this ok?

Answer 1

I think it is a great idea. I wish they were more enlightened.

Like try reading a science book sometime.

Answer 2

My goodness, Stanley, you have no idea what a magnificent journey you are on! Should you continue exactly as you are, you will discover wonderful things about yourself.

You, my friend, are the model of an ideal young man. What could God want more than for his creation to know and love itself and its creator? You have discovered a path that will lead you to the answers to life’s most mysterious and elusive questions.

The enlightened mind is nothing more than one which knows, without equivocation, the relationship of the created and the creator. The two are one in this knowledge. In this respect, it sounds to me like you are already enlightened. In your contemplations, you are learning just how deeply this spiritual connection runs. You build upon your spiritual knowledge as you contemplate your relationship to yourself, your creator, and your co-created.

You are what you think, Stanley. If you contemplate God (perfection), then your tendency is to become more like God (more perfect). This is *exactly* how you improve yourself in the spiritual sense.

Your contemplations give you purpose and direction in life. You are reaching for the higher planes of human philosophy. My friend, 99.9% of the people you will encounter will not understand the depth of your contemplations. That includes the knuckleheads in this forum. Have you ever tried to explain, in words, to another person, what it is that you contemplate? Can words do justice to the complex emotional, intellectual, and spiritual ideas that run through your mind? Our less sophisticated brothers have many false beliefs, and many hide behind the regurgitated words of their religion; but few have the experiential knowledge that generates true happiness and universal understanding.

A guide is one who shows the way. You have within you a guide who has carefully and lovingly instructed you since you first became conscious of yourself. Continue to contemplate, for these are the grounds on which your guide performs his duty. Do not believe what I say, or what anyone else says, without consulting your inner guide. When you pray, ask for the capacity to discern truth from illusion. Be open to ANY answer, not just those which society or religion deem appropriate. Do this, and you will not fail!

Answer 3

I think its ok, but that we shouldn't get to caught up in it.

I think we have to take time and reflect on ourselves, but we should also follow christ's example and be doing the work of the church. We have to make sure that we are also trying to feed the hungry, treat the ill, and help the homeless.
We should make sure that we're helping those less fortunate.

If we don't, then all the introspection in the world won't mean much. Faith without acts is dead.

Think about how you relate to God ... but make sure that you're interacting with people.

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with "improving yourself" but do you spend time letting God relate to you? He is the life changer - you can "think" all you want and analyze etc, but until the relationship with God is "real" in the give and take of communication, Spirit and depths of your soul - it's just another "turning over a new leaf" and not really changing the source. Be careful of new-age terminology too, it can be very misleading in itself.

Answer 5

At very high levels, like Jesus, the subjective experiencing of existence is no longer limited by the narcissistic ego or the psychological blocks of the positionalities. This condition is the consequence of progressive surrendering at great depths of all limitations and belief systems. Jesus was enlightened and walked with this power of unconditional love and full awareness. The path to become enlightened as a christian starts by being more like Him.

Answer 6

Your concept and concept is nice on the right music. the subject lies interior the human weak point interior us all. all of us think of we are maximum suitable, and are justified interior the correction of others, inspite of each little thing the NT does let us know to maximum suitable our brethern. This communicate board is unlike writing a narrative, we've not got the possibility to set a tone, introduce the characters and lead as much as a critical topic. in many cases what we are saying is misconstrued. My words have been and that i've got additionally been accountable of questioning somebody became harsher than they even have been. A poster some areas above me suggested Southern Baptists and fundamentalists in connection with protesting at a funeral. certainly, this has been executed. As a Southern Baptist who takes the doctrine basically, i've got faith the would desire to point out that I even have on no account taken such an action, on no account considered taking such an action, certainly i come across it tasteless and disgraceful to realize this. no person, no longer even the main violent of criminals merits to have their funeral provider distrubed. Generalizations which incorporate those do no longer serve any human beings nicely. on a similar time as i do no longer think of that she intends that each physique SB are funeral protesters, an off-the-cuff reader would desire to get that concept. anyone is permitted their own innovations and suggestions on the countless denominations, and that i actual have my own. on a similar time as you would be able to locate a positioned up wherein I corrected somebody on the which ability of a passage, you will no longer come across a single one the place I dissed a denomination of Christianity. in short, I 2nd your suggestion that we help one yet another the place we are able to and save quiet as quickly as we gained't.

Answer 7

That sounds Great. also it is good to think differently from other people. where would this world be if all people did and thought the same way? you will find that people that do not thing the same as others usually become famous or come into power because they have new ideas and thoughts. that is what makes them different from other people.

You may become someone important in the future.

Answer 8

Are you meditating on God? Are you meditating on something which takes your focus off of God? If you are meditating on the Lord and seeking His Truth, then however you arrive at this is fine. Just be careful not to stray from teachings that are contrary to the Bible, and you will be fine. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No [one] comes to the Father, but by Me".

Answer 9

That is perfectly fine and if more people were deeply thoughtful as you are there would be more spiritual elevation. Your approach is enlightening ! I would like to propose a spiritual philosophy book to you, one that will make you think even more deeply along the way you are already proceeding :-

Answer 10

Sounds like a great idea to me but be certain to include daily Bible reading so that you don't forget that God's measuring stick should set the standards.