House Church Talk - Visualizing Christ

[Lee Underwood]

Phillip,

I have to tell you that I think the process of visualization is faulty, as 
far as the Lord is concerned. Think about it. It is YOU who are doing the 
visualization, it is YOU who is coming up with the visualization. Why not 
seek the Lord for a REVELATION. Scripture speaks of revelation, not 
visualization.

Paul says to contemplate the things above but he does not say to visualize 
them. Our mind can't visualize the things of the heavens. We are fallen 
creatures.

Jesus is now glorified. We do not see any of the apostles trying to 
visualize Him. If God thought it necessary, He would reveal Jesus to those 
He wanted. Remember, Stephen, when he was filled with the Spirit, saw (not 
visualized) Jesus at the right hand of the Father. We are not the ones in 
charge of this, God is. Remember, He said HE reveals Jesus to us. A problem 
with "The Passion" and other films of Jesus is that, when some people pray 
to Jesus, they visualize the actor who played Him, whether they realize it 
or not. The human mind is a very powerful tool/weapon. Jesus is glorified, 
sitting at the right hand of the Father. Let's not bring Him down to the 
level He once suffered at.

We're involved in a discussion group here that focuses on home churches. 
That, to me, says that most of the people, yourself most likely, are 
searching for the plain, Scriptural truth. We're tired of man's ways and 
want to get back to the plain, basic truth of following Jesus. For that we 
need to look at what the apostles did. And visualization was not one of the 
things that they did. They sought the Lord; they wanted to know Him in 
spirit and in truth. They weren't concerned about how He looked. John says 
when He returns we will know what He looks like (1 John 3.2).

Phillip, I say these things in love, brother. I think the Church needs to 
come out of the world and its practices. If we don't see it practiced in 
the Scriptures, we must not do it ourselves. We don't need to "update" the 
Scriptures. Did not God know what was going to happen in our day? 
Visualization is a mystical thing. I used to practice it, to some extent. 
The problem is that it works ... too well. And it does not appear that 
anyone in the Scriptures who followed God used it.

Trust God and seek Him. Draw close spiritually.

Blessings,

Lee


At 7/22/04 05:11 AM, Phillip Cohen wrote:
>Dear Saints,
>
>I've started an audio/video course that helps me develop a more positive
>self-image. Very good program.
>
>No, I'm not looking for a debate over whether this type of program is
>right or wrong. Read on . . .
>
>The course recommends that I spend 20 minutes 3 times a day relaxing and
>visualizing myself becoming like the people I admire. Well, here's the
>problem . . .
>
>I really want to be like Jesus. But I'm having a hard time visualizing
>Him. I'm realizing now that for all the years I've been reading the
>Bible, I've processed the words, but come short on visualizing Him. Sure,
>I enjoy visualizing the events in the Bible. That's fun, imagining them
>as though they were happening right now.
>
>But visualizing Jesus? There are so many false Christs, I'm afraid my
>imagination will just fabricate another false Christ.
>
>I'm stuck. Can you help me? Have you successfully created an image of
>Jesus in your mind that helps you and is accurate with the Bible?
>
>An upbeat, inspiring discussion on this topic would be very refreshing.
>
>Thanks,
>Phillip
>spiritfilledhome at juno.com
>God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
>1 John 4:16
>
>
>

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