Seek the Kingdom Within

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by django

Jesus in the bible is quoted as saying "Seek the Kingdom within". This doesn't seem to square with Christianity's promotion of 'have faith in Jesus' and surrender to Jesus as the way, yet this seems to be the majority Christian view still.

What would happen if I told a normal Christian that I was seeking the Kingdom within, just as Jesus said in the bible?

Would 'good' Christians think me foolish, or even evil?

Is it better to just shut up?

It depends on which Christians you are talking to.

Eastern orthodoxy believes in Theosis which is being one with the light. The Symeon the New Theologian talks about this a lot.

If you look more recent Father Thomas Keeting promotes Centering prayer which is meditation and is all about going within.

“Let no one deceive you! God is light (11) and to those who have entered into union with Him He imparts of His own brightness to the extent that they have been purified. When the lamp of the soul, that is the mind, has been kindled, then it knows that a divine fire has taken hold of it and inflamed it. How great a marvel! Man is united to God spiritually and physically, since the soul is not separated from the mind, neither the body from the soul… It is evident that just as the Father abides in His own Son (12) and the Son in His Father’s bosom (13) by nature, so those who have been born anew through the divine Spirit (14) and by His gift have become the brothers of Christ our God and sons of God and gods by adoption, by grace abide in God and God in them (15).”



St Symeon The New Theologian And Messalianism

For a Christian saint... that is a pretty amazing quote...