Most evangelical Christians probably would not recognise themselves in the previous discussion of mysticism in part 3, but there are subtle influences at work drawing believers in this direction even without their knowledge. While firmly denying any part in classical mysticism many are actually participating in time-honoured mystical practices.
Many are doing this unintentionally — as new opportunities arise that seem to defy recognised categories. Some are innocently adopting ancient mystical practices because they are being endorsed by trusted Christian leaders or even the medical community.
The danger is that involvement in some of these things, no matter how pure the motive, can easily lead the participant away from a biblical faith and into the quagmire of subjectivism, mysticism, or even the occult. In this article I want to identify and explain just one experience that paves the way to mysticism for the unwary.
Labyrinths
The use of ‘labyrinths’ has had a recent resurgence in evangelical circles without sounding many alarms. The Labyrinth Society is only six years old but boasts 800 members and wide-ranging influence.
A labyrinth is sort of a maze, laid out with bushes or other vegetation, or created using stones, tiles, wool or even canvas. Labyrinth lovers recoil from the word maze, however, pointing out that ‘Labyrinths are not mazes, although in the English language the words labyrinth and maze are frequently confused’.
They continue: ‘Mazes contain cul-de-sacs and dead ends. They have more than one entrance and more than one exit and are designed to make us lose our way; they’re a game. Labyrinths have the exact opposite purpose: they are designed to help us find our way. They have only one path — from the outer edge into the centre and back out again’.1 Labyrinths sometimes have handles, such as ‘Pneuma Labyrinths’ or simply ‘prayer walks’.
Man in the maze
Labyrinths are by no means distinctively Christian. Rev. Dr Lauren Artress is President and Founder of Veriditas™, the voice of the Labyrinth Movement. He tells us that ‘Labyrinth is an ancient pattern found in many cultures around the world. Labyrinth designs were found on pottery, tablets and tiles that date as far back as 4,000 years.
Gary Gilley
