Mystic Christians

To one degree or another, mysticism has taken root and sprouted abundantly in the contemporary church and religions. Following are some notes and brief commentary on the subject,definetly not exhaustive or complete. There’s more than enough fodder in which to write a book on the subject. Your comments are most welcome.

Mysticism is an intuitive, instinctive, emotional, spiritual connection to some higher being, authority or entity. Mysticism is void of intellect. In fact, mysticism often comes with the belief that things such as reasoning, logic and philosophy are nothing more than snares of Satan.

The connection can be with God, the universe or any other entity considered greater than self.

Those claiming not to be religious but “spiritual” are mystics. When asked, “To what spirit are you spiritually connected to?” a typical response would be to some vague, non-specific, higher power, including the entire universe. To be a mystic and spiritual does not require connection to anything or anyone specific. The connection can be to everything.

The connection gives a general sense of reverence, admiration, power and smallness relative to self. The feeling/perception is interpreted as, “knowing” or “knowledge”, but it is not based on fact, reason, logic or intellect.

We have an emotionally charged, intellectually weak congregation that responds energetically to music and dance but become stoic and none responsive with the actual word of God.

Ever noticed the Bibles emphasis on the word both written and spoken and not music? We even have an entire book in the Bible dedicated to songs (Psalms), but there is no music in that book, only words.

But many religions and churches practice this form of mysticism to one degree or another. It is demonstrated by the active Christian who has not read the entire Bible nor studies the Bible at all, including commentary, hermeneutics, or exegesis. Mystics espouse and expound a great many Christian buzz words, phrases and concepts, but for the most part, is little more than, “vain jangling”.

Mystic Christians typically participate in feelings and outbursts of song, dance, clapping, shouting, Holy Ghost possession and speaking in tongues. What you do not find a mystic Christian engaging in are Bible studies/reading or studying Bible commentary, hermeneutics, or exegesis. The mystic connection and spiritual possession is prized over discovery, learning and reasoning. This is exactly why many atheist are able to win discussions in an attempt to disprove God and the Bible. The mystic has no knowledge, although getting knowledge and understanding is a basic tenet of the Bible.

“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth” (Proverbs 4:5).

Intellect and Reasoning

Intellect and reasoning are gifts from God.

God made man in His image. He is rational and reasonable and encourages us to be likewise. For example in Isaiah 1:18 God says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord”.

God, speaking to man is motivating man to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, and correct what he has been told. God wants man to think, deduce and understand. And what does he want him to reason with? The word of God!

In the Book of Acts we learn that the Bereans were, “more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

What did the Bereans do with the word of God? Did they just sit back and accept it on faith? No. They heard the word of God and proceeded to investigate, examine, enquire into, scrutinize, sift through, and yes, question it. The applied logic, intellect and reasoning to deduce and conclude that the truth word they heard was from God and was the truth.

Reason vs Revelation

Man’s ability to reason, his intellect, logic and ability to deduce are gifts from God. They are also attributes of God. Man has the ability to think and choose. God encourages us to use the power of the mind.

Revelation knowledge is also a gift from God. But revelation is given by God at times, places and of a substance of His choosing. Man can’t create or cause revelation. Revelation knowledge can only be given by God.

Mystic Christians consider revelation knowledge as the only true knowledge. Mystics believe (to one extent or another) that since the fall of man his intellect has been tainted. Therefore, the only pure and true knowledge can only come through direct revelation by God and not through the thinking process of man. This leads us back to the idea that educating self through Bible study and such is not necessary. Once again, we find ourselves with spirit filled mystic Christians with no real knowledge of what they are spiritual about or even what Christianity is all about.

Day of Pentecost

Mystic Christians perpetually want to emulate, if not recreate the Day of Pentecost (See Acts 2). This in many ways is the highest level one can achieve within the mystic realm. Their desire is to be Holy Ghost filled, imbued with the power to speak in tongues, heal human maladies and to prophesy and foretell of future events. It is spiritual gifts and powers that the mystic strives for, not presence and relationship with the one true God.

Music is usually a big part of the Mystic Christian service. The music portion of the service is often times longer than the actual service itself.

Doctrine and dogma aren’t really part of the mystic’s world. Spiritual connection and feelings are. There is no way to substantiate a spirit or an emotion of the mystic. There is no way to study for these things. One must except that their reality and experiences are real, pure and true. In this regards mystics are very similar to Gnostics in that only a few are recognized to possess such a power.

-End Notes

Bill Hitchcock

Existential Questions

Man’s great existential questions of human existence and purpose in life have long been answered.

“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:29-30).

To “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” is not only the first commandment as given by Jesus, but it defines our purpose.

The pride of man and the noise of this world have clouded our vision and understanding.

Bill Hitchcock 

‘Merica

Two sentences explain it all. It is what we are and who we are today, IF we would only pay attention. Eleven points came to mind this morning as I re-read it. I’m sure more will develop. I’m also sure you’ve got a few points to add as well.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”

- Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson

1. “We hold…” The United States of America knows and maintains.

2. “these truths…” A truth is immutable, with no variety or variations, it is universal and perpetual. It is, was, and always will be, what it is. A truth is from everlasting to everlasting.

3. “Self-evident…” It is so obvious and blatant that it does not need to be explained. What is this in reference to? These truths (which are about to be listed out) and the fact that all of mankind (men) are created equal. It’s as plain as day.

4. The society, which is the United States of America, has within the fabric of the society an understanding and knowledge that all of mankind have been, “Created”, not evolved.

5. Mankind (man) has been created equally in that we all have like kind status, station and value as a human being.

6. We are created, so therefore there must be a first cause in a Creator, i.e. God.

7. The Creator is singular. There are not multiple or various gods.

8. God has established equity among His creation.

9. To maintain this equity certain rights have been granted to all of mankind by God (not by government).

10. These rights are secured, protected and enforced by society through their government.

11. Government is an agency of the people working completely and totally by consent of the people, with the sole purpose being to defend and protect the rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness for each person of that society. 

Bill Hitchcock

Redefining What A Commercial Fishermen Is

“Whoever wants to persuade the multitude that they are not as well governed as they should be will never lack a sympathetic audience…….Thus, those who bewail the current state of affairs are esteemed to be champions of the people…” (Richard Hooker, “Divine Law and Human Nature”).

Once again, we hear the battle cry from the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) that there is a problem and that we need to define what a commercial fisherman is. Although clearly defined in North Carolina statute and hashed out repeatedly over the past several years and always arriving at the same pre-existing definition, the current MFC wants to once again, address what has already been established since the Fisheries Reform Act of 1997.

According to a NC Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) release, at the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) meeting last November in Kitty Hawk, there was a motion by Commissioner Chuck Laughridge to, “ask the chairman to appoint a committee of commission members to develop a definition of a commercial fisherman, with staff support from the Division of Marine Fisheries, to bring an update back to the commission at its February 2018 meeting.” 

The MFC wants to define what a commercial fisherman is. This brings up many interesting points. The least of which is how has the state of North Carolina for decades been able to license, charge, fine and restrict what it evidently can’t even define? The real answer to that question is that the state already has defined what a commercial fisherman in NC General Statutes - Chapter 113 Article 14A. § 113-168.2. Standard Commercial Fishing License.

So why is MFC Commissioner Chuck Laughridge wanting to define what has already been defined? Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time the MFC has attempted to define, or rather redefine a commercial fishermen. The real question is why?

According to Black’s Law Dictionary a license is, “A permission, accorded by a competent authority, conferring the right to do some act which without such authorization would be illegal, or would be a trespass or a tort”.

A license, in this case a commercial fishing license is a permission which allows a person the right of access and opportunity. That’s it. A license does not require the license holder to catch and sell, it only grants him or her the opportunity to do so. The state does not demand sales quotas or income goals of the license holder. The license is nothing more than a legally protected and enforceable opportunity. Whether or not the license holder takes advantage of the opportunity, or to what level is strictly a determination of the fisherman.

The only requirement of a license holder is that they must abide by the laws of that license when engaged in that specific activity. The license has no other authority over the individual.

It’s the same with a recreational fishing license. The only requirement and authority a recreational fishing license has over the holder is when they are recreational fishing, and that they abide by the laws of that license when engaged in that activity. The recreational fishing license does not restrict the license holder to recreational fishing only, nor does it impose economic requirements, require the holder to catch fish or be made to prove any specific need for that license.

But here is a major sticking point. The issue of defining a commercial fisherman was of great concern, of extensive debate and research by the Commission over 7 years ago. In October of 2010, the Commercial Fishing License Review Taskforce submitted a final report to the MFC on this matter (and I stress the words, “Final Report”, so why is Laughridge and the MFC bringing the issue back up?).

Part of the purpose of this detailed 83 page report was to define what a commercial fisherman was. The report was done at the request of the Chairman of the Marine Fisheries Commission.

Some of the issues discussed by the 2010 taskforce, which are being re-hashed by the current MFC include minimum requirements for selling seafood, making 50 percent of income from commercial fishing and why some license holders continue to hold a license although never use it to sell seafood.

The following is quoted from that final 2010 report.

“Defining a Commercial Fisherman”

“The taskforce was notified that G.S.113-168.2 states “The receipt of a current and valid SCFL or shellfish license issued by the Division shall serve as proper identification of the licensee as a commercial fisherman.”

“The general consensus among the group was that the statute is adequate and there was no real need to modify the definition.”

“Final recommendation: “No changes are needed to the existing definition of a commercial fisherman”

Much time, public monies and resources were expended by the Marine Fisheries Commission to define what a commercial fisherman was 7 years ago. Their conclusion was that it has already been adequately defined and that “No changes are needed to the existing definition”.

So why is the 2018 Marine Fisheries Commission bringing the same issue back up again? It is something that has been clearly defined since 1997 and thoroughly investigated, debated ad nauseam and determined to be properly defined by the Commission back in 2010.

Clearly what is happening here is not a matter of wanting to define what a commercial fishermen is, but rather an ongoing attempt to redefine what a commercial fishermen is. But why? And to redefine them as what?

For simple clarity it’s best to look at who wants a redefinition and what it would accomplish. The commercial fishing families of North Carolina have not advocated for the redefinition of a commercial fishermen nor have our state legislators requested it. It has only come from those who pledge allegiance to organizations like the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and their causes such as banning and/or restricting our local fishermen. The same crowd that wants to ban gillnets and remove our shrimp trawlers from inside waters and push them offshore.

Commissioner Chuck Laughridge, who holds recreational seat on the MFC is a fund raiser and unregistered lobbyist for the CCA. (For those who may challenge Laughridge’s lobbyist status may want to speak with the countless legislators, fisheries managers and industry heads that he has so lobbied).

And it’s fair to say that all attempts to redefine what a commercial fisherman is, have been championed by a CCA member or at least by folks of similar desires. And what exactly are those desires? End commercial fishing. In the process of achieving their end goal they will ban, restrict, prohibit and deny our commercial fishing families whenever and where ever possible.

This is not a matter of defining what a commercial fisherman is. This is nothing more than a desire to redefine what a commercial fisherman is, with the purpose to reduce and restrict the licenses that are issued our NC commercial fishing families. This, in turn, will reduce and restrict the public’s access to fresh, locally caught North Carolina seafood.

So there you have it. What effects our local NC commercial fishermen affects you and me, the consumer. Reducing the number of fishermen and restricting their opportunity to fish, reduces the general public’s access to fresh, locally caught seafood.

So what do folks like Laughridge and adherents to the CCA get out of redefining what a commercial fisherman is? In their mind it increases their opportunity to catch more fish recreationally for themselves. Simply put, they are trying to eliminate what they perceive to be their competition.

I know, I know. They’ll respond with how the recreational fishermen are so much more valuable than commercial fisherman from an economic standpoint, and they’ll misrepresent findings to prove their point. But that’s a topic for another time. Let’s just stay focused on the matter at hand. This is an overt attempt, an attack if you will, on the commercial fishing families of North Carolina and the citizens of this state who buy and consume fresh, locally caught NC seafood.

Bill Hitchcock

Liberty, Justice and Equity

God made man to be free. It is an innate need, will and desire. Freedom is as necessary to man as the air he breathes, the water he drinks and the food he eats.

God also made man a social being. God gave His creation liberty, justice and equity so he could live together in unity, freely and in peace with others. Without these three pillars of God, there can be no felicity, no tranquility, and no harmony in a free society.

Through fellowship and interaction with others, man experience’s the grand God attribute of love. He also learns that safety, strength and opportunity are exponential.

If man was meant to be alone, then there would be no need for any of it. Liberty, justice and equity are requirements for a free and functioning society, not for the isolated individual.

But if within the society any of the three pillars are infringed upon, then one or more groups of people will become disenfranchised, oppressed even to the point of being killed.

Man must be free and interacting with his fellow man in a loving, peaceful and productive manner. God made him this way. The sentiment was expressed by Jesus Christ when He said, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mark 12:31).

God also supplied man with liberty, justice and equity to accomplish these things. Our foundation in which all this is based upon are the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20).

Man will risk all, including life and material possessions to obtain and maintain his freedom within the body politic. The United States of America was founded by those escaping tyranny and oppression. It was by those seeking freedom in an open society where they could love and live as they saw fit.

Even when within this society things turned oppressive, such as the case with slavery in the south during the 18^th and 19^th centuries, the oppressed chose to risk their very life for the chance to escape to freedom.

"Live Free or Die" is the official motto for the state of New Hampshire. It is considered a political statement and philosophical belief. But more to the point, it is a spiritual and physical reality. God made man to be free and he will pay any price in pursuit of it.

Bill Hitchcock

December 31, 2017 Notes

1. In Germany, Jews require police protection and women need designated safe places. Why?

“Jews are increasingly under threat in public and may require police protection to lead a normal life without harassment and violence.” Breitbart News.

“Organisers of Berlin's New Year's Eve celebrations are to set up a "safe zone" for women…” BBC News.

And what is the cause of all of this turmoil in Germany? Once again, it is due to the adherents of the religion of “peace”, Aka, Muslims.

“Mass migration from the Muslim world is fast-tracking the Islamization of Germany, as evidenced by the proliferation of no-go zones, Sharia courts, polygamy and child marriages. Mass migration has also been responsible for a host of social disruptions, including jihadist attacks, a migrant rape epidemic, a public health crisis, rising crime and a rush by German citizens to purchase weapons for self-defense — and even to abandon Germany altogether.” Gatestone Institute.

2. Mile Markers and Stop Posts

We have mile markers in life. These are significant events such as weddings, births, birthdays, deaths, relocations, new jobs and so on. We use these mile markers not only to remember our lives by, but to gauge how we have been living our lives. We determine our path and direction as well as analyze the trajectory of our time on this earth has taken to date.

We also have stop posts in life. As the name implies, stop posts are times (never places) when we stop and reflect on our past life, as well as project forward towards the future. New Year’s is one of those stop posts.

But here’s the thing.  While for the most part we have no control over when mile markers occur, we do have some control as to when stop posts happen. Remember, one is associated with an event, the other time. We do not have to wait for New Year’s to make new resolutions. We do not have to wait once a year to be grateful for what we do or don’t have, to have a mental, “check-up from the neck-up”, make vows of good deeds, prosperity or love. We can do all of these things (and more) anytime. In fact, as a child of God, we should always be in the mode of honest self-discovery, course correction, refreshing, confession and amendment. It’s called repentance.

Plant a stop post today and every day. Resolve to adhere to the basic characteristics of God. They are righteousness, justice, faith, hope and mercy. These are all components of the greatest attribute of them all, love.

3. In my opinion, people generally don’t think, they feel. They express their feelings as a reasoned opinion or conclusion. They justify their feelings that are presented as thought with any fact that may support their sentiment. Opposing ideas are ardently opposed because they infringe upon one of the strongest feelings of pride. This would explain why an intelligent person would be reluctant to change their mind and their tendency to oppose facts. They are not dealing on the plane of reason and fact but rather feelings and emotions.