At this point, I should perhaps give in to my fate and entitle this weekly segment, "Mystic Tuesdays," since I usually don't have time until Tuesday evenings to post. However, I think that I will doggedly adhere to my alliteration for another week or two.

Following the definition of last week, I wanted to treat a subject that is more practical, and, probably, quite common -- reading the Bible. I know, I know -- you're going to say -- only mystics read the Bible! Normal people should never be allowed to try and read it for themselves : )

Well, with all kidding aside, the reading of Scripture is at the heart of many mystical practices, and the evangelical stress on a "quiet time" of Bible reading is one of the vestiges of mystical practices that made it across the divide of the Protestant Reformation. However, in the Christian mystical tradition, reading the Bible is a more circumspect process than is generally practiced today. In fact, there are four senses in which Scripture should be read.

1. The Literal Sense -- If you read a good commentary or are familiar with the "historical-critical" method, then you have some familarity with the literal sense of Scripture. In short, it is reading a passage(s) in the Bible with the intent to understand what it meant to the original audience that read/experienced it. Now, this sense can be more involved than some think. The literal sense is not what one thinks the Bible means when it is just read plainly; rather, it is what a passage or story actually means -- which entails taking into account historical context, authorial intent, linguistic criteria, etc. Understanding what the Bible "literally" means is not always easy; otherwise, biblical commentaries would not be so big!

2. The Allegorical Sense -- I won't define allegory for you, but, if you are unsure of what it means, then follow this link (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/allegory). Let's suffice it to say that the allegorical sense of Scripture involves reading a passage, discerning the principles present within it, then applying those principles to your present circumstances or the larger circumstances of history. Now, as a word of caution, some interpreters can take this sense too far. In fact, some mystics interpreted minute facts of a biblical passage to apply to a very, very specific instance that they themselves were experiencing at the time.While this sense of Scripture is generally still present, it is often referred to as "application" these days. Pastors practice allegorical interpretation all the time. When they offer an interesting anecdote which fits into their sermon in order to engage the interest of a congregation, they are allegorizing. This sense is very useful in many ways, because it forces one to see the abstract principles behind actions and then translating those principles into a different actions, narratives, or personal experiences. As such, the allegorical sense can assist the moral sense which we will consider in a bit.

3. The Spiritual (Anagogic) Sense -- In this sense of Scripture, one takes seriously that God can speak through the Bible straight to you. The Bible is a means to meet God. This sense is different from all the others, because a person does not have any control of it. For lack of a better way of saying it, God hits you with this sense whenever he wants! Sometimes, this "contemplative moment" may be manifest simply as a passage making sense to you in a way that it hasn't before -- it stands out -- it "shimmers" now where you just read over it before. Sometimes, this moment could be more intense, and mystical texts are replete with experiences that go beyond our normal everyday experience to visions and dreams. Suffice it to say, this sense occurs during those times when the Bible ceases to be a book and becomes a means by which the Word of God speaks to you. While this may seem to be the "highest" sense of Scripture, the "contemplative moment" is useless if one only remains in the moment.

4. The Moral Sense -- I should note at this point is where I differ with other scholars and mystics in this area. I tend to place the moral sense as the highest sense (most place it as second) -- not because it is the most difficult to understand but it is the sense which goes beyond understanding to action. It also should be the end result of what is gained through the other three senses. With that said, the moral sense is simple and abominably difficult at the same time. To read Scripture morally, one should pray, "God, what should I do in response to what you have done." Now, the hard part is actually doing what God shows you. The mystic who doesn't care for his/her fellow man has missed a vital revelation of the nature of God. 

Application: So, what?

Well, I'd like to challenge you to try and read Scripture in its different senses this week. Pick a passage of Scripture (and it doesn't need to be a long one), and read it through four times, according to each sense. For the literal sense, read a passage, and maybe pick up a commentary that deals with the historical background. For the allegorical sense, read a passage, write down what you think its basic "principles" are, then try and apply these principles to your own experience (or for a bigger challenge -- apply them to the larger situation of your church, city, state, or country). For the spiritual sense, well, you can't just "activate" this sense on a whim; however, try to read a passage and listen rather than think - this practice doesn't guarantee a "contemplative moment," but it "greases the wheels" so to speak. It helps you to get used to expecting God to speak. For the moral sense, read a passage while you pray the prayer written above -- then live ethically.