Spiritual Conferences

"In the absence of temporal things, man is better prepared for the reception of eternal
things"  -  John Tauler

John Tauler lived 1300-1361 and was an amazing preacher of his time.  He wrote the Spiritual Conferences to help guide people into the perfection of Christ and a holy life.  Tauler rightly distinguishes between false and true mysticism. 

When we proceed with imitating others rather than Christ we are deceiving ourselves.  When we have a false peace and persist in old faults, we are deceiving ourselves.  When we still desire a life of pleasure and ease and comfort, we are deceiving ourselves. 

The person who is walking perfectly towards the Lord never thinks of oneself as perfect or has arrived in the spiritual life.  Tauler lists five dangers or captivities or traps we must beware of as we follow after Christ:

1.  The first is we are held captive by the love of creatures or what other people think.  We want to pass off as spiritual or righteous to others when in reality we are not advanced as we think.  Addictions, compulsions, and fleshly passions control way too much of our lives.  The only things we should be captive to is God and His Word.

2.  The second is we are held captive by self-love.   Self-love can look outwardly pleasant but in actuality it is all about its own conveniences, pleasures, and personal comfort.  Even when speaking of God, its enthralled with self and what one can attain from God.  Self-love speaks openly what should be kept secret and keeps secrets when it should be revealing the truth.

3.  The third is we are held captive to reason.  We desire to show off how much knowledge we posses to others and judge others by how intelligent we think they are compared to our own high esteem.  Truth and doctrine are held in high regard but they have little impact upon how we live our lives.  Knowledge puffs up but God's love builds up and brings unity where others would desire division.

4.  The fourth is we are held captive by spiritual sweetness.  We think we are rejoicing in God when we are really rejoicing in all the good graces and good things God brings into our lives.  We crave God's favor but we don't crave the cross the Christ. We love the hand of God that gives us things but do we pursue God and God alone even if we did not receive God's graces and heavenly favors?  The danger is we often forfeit inner peace because we are still attached to the pleasures and things of the world.  If God takes things away from us, how gladly we serve God reveals whether this area is an issue or not. 

5.  The fifth is we are held captive to self-will.  Do we call our will God's will or do we keep praying for what we want rather than for God's will to be done?  It is only by letting go of self-will that we experience true freedom and abandonment in total surrender to God.  When God's will is all we will or ask God, then we find inner peace.