Evangelicals on the Ignatian Way

The Spiritual Classics (and a Plea for Good Reading)

 

 

Reading the Spiritual Classics

Solid food for junk-food junkies.
But it takes time to develop a hearty appetite. 

 

A classic is something everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read... a book people praise and don’t read. Mark Twain

 

I understand why so many evangelicals are frustrated with church, with faith, with their own jourey as a follower of Jesus.

The fact is that our culture  (North American especially, but not uniquely) is characterized by narcissism and pragmatism. We are a quick-fix-it culture. We prefer simplistic over substantial. We prefer entertainment over learning. We like the popular and appealing, more than the thoughtful and meaningful. We are "suckers" for the latest fad. 
 

What Happened:
In his wonderful book, Monk Habits for Everyday People, Dennis Okholm says, "We are consumers of religion rather than cultivators of a spirutal life. We have spawned an entire industry... full of spiritual junk food that leaves us sated and flabby."

The Result:
Theologian J. I. Packer (pictured to the left) has said it best: "North American Christianity is 3000 miles wide and 1/2 inch deep" (The Quest for Godliness).
 

The Need:
Richard Foster, surveying our contemporary scene believes, "The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people or gifted people, but for deep people."

We are frustrated for good reason. But we must also be honest. We have made our way and then our way made us. We chose narcissism, pragmatism, the simplistic, entertainment, popular, appealing, faddish - and we reaped what we sowed (Galatians 6:7).

Richard Foster suggests the way forward (and the way do deepness) is through a re-engaging with the spiritual wisdom of the past. Through a reading of the great classics of Christian spirituality.

Foster introduced me to many of the classics of Christian spirituality through his two primers, Spiritual Classics organized around the thirteen spiritual disciplines described in Celebration of Discipline, and Devotional Classics organized around the six streams of Christian spirituality laid out in Streams of Living Water.

While I had sampled a few of the spiritual classics, Foster was an introduction and a guide that opened a wide world of spiritual treasures that I have been working with ever since. Plus, he modeled a way of reflective engagement with these classics of spirituality.

Mark Twain said, “A classic is something everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.” He also said a classic is, “a book people praise and don’t read.” These words described me when it came to the spiritual classics. Before I read Foster, I only dipped my toes into the spiritual classics, feeling vaguely guilty about ignoring these treasures of the faith.

What is it that makes a spiritual classic – a classic? Classics are books that have stood the test of time and demonstrated they have an enduring value of wisdom for many generations and cultures. “A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say” (Italo Calvino).

I have found the words of William Styron to be true of these books: “A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it!”

I have been exhausted and exhilarated from these readings. I have been moved to sorrow and stirred with joy through the pages of these classics.

“What is so wonderful about great literature is that it transforms the man who reads it toward the condition of the man who wrote it” (E.M. Forster).

This great literature, in part, is great because of the autobiographical imprint it leaves on the reader. An imitation begins to occur as the heart and wisdom of the author is imparted to the reader. 

Ezra Pound said, “Men do not understand BOOKS until they have had a certain amount of life.”

We evangelicals have now had a certain amount of life. It has left a bitter taste in our mouth. We are ready for a cleansing of the palette and a nourishing of the soul. 

"When the student is ready,the master will appear" (Zorro, sorry about the pop culture refrence, it isn't always a total loss).

If you are a ready student, having had a certain amount of life, then I encourage you to dip your toes in the streams of living water by sampling them through the classics. The easiest way to do that is to read:

Spiritual Classics and Devotional Classics by Richard Foster.

Start there. Get the sweeping introduction and sampling of the great traditions.

Later you can selectively explore those authors and writings that were of most appeal.

Wishing you great joy on the journey . . .
 

Brian K. Rice  
Evangelicals on the Ignatian Way  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com 

 

 

Swimming in the Streams of Christian Faith

 

 

Swimming in the Streams
of Christian Faith

Take the plunge, enjoy the waters.

 

I am an evangelical who loves the rich diversity of authentic spirituality in the 2000 years of Christian tradition. 

I have not always loved it. In fact, for a long time, I wasn't even aware of it, much less understood or appreciated it. In the last dozen or so years, I have been immersing myself in the waters of our ancient faith.

Well, that's not exactly right. I started out dipping my toes in the water. Than slowly wading in up to the knees. Looking around. Acclimating to these brisk waters. And finally, taking the plunge into certain inviting pools.

Let me be clear that I am speaking about Christian traditions of spirituality. There is no need for me to go outside the Christian faith to find wisdom and guidance in other religions. Some contemporary pluralists advocate other religious faiths as needed to correct the deficiencies in Christianity. I disagree, but that is a matter for another time.
 

(Note: As one who is interested in world religion and missional engagements with the world, I have read a fair amount in the field of world religion. But I do this from a position of faith and fidelity to Christ, who is for me, the supreme and unique revelation of God to us. The uniqueness of Christ means there are significant differences between essential Christian spirituality and that of other religions. But as I said, that is for other posts. The Jesus Way by Eugene Peterson is a good place to start to discover just how unique is the way of Jesus.)
 

The Christian tradition(s) are wide and deep and beyond most of our capacity for total exploration, discovery, and integration. 

There are times when I lament my lack of time to sufficiently explore my own primary tradition, much less excursions in to the other inviting waters. In recent weeks, I have spent a lot of time reading classics in my own spiritual tradition. Some of these were new to me. Others I had read a long time ago. But the re-reading was a deeper, better reading for me. I came away with a list of about twenty other books that would be worth reading (in my own tradition).

In this new year of 2012, I am planning on reading many of these spiritual (and theological) classics, allowing their wisdom to seep in to my heart and soul, and morph my life with Christ. I am excited about this.

But I also plan to read widely, and in a few cases, deeply in these other Christian spiritual traditions. In the next several posts, I'll give some thoughts on how you can do some exploration (swimming around) in these streams of living water.
 

Brian K. Rice  
Evangelicals on the Ignatian Way  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

 

Ancient Future Faith

 

 

Ancient Future Faith

When the past makes a lot of sense
and the future doesn't seem as scary

 

This is what the LORD says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is,
and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said,
‘We will not walk in it.’ 
Jeremiah 6:16
 

The other week I read an author (I’ll keep him anonymous) who basically said much of (and maybe “most of”) what Christianity has believed and how Christianity has been practiced in the past is now irrelevant and even a hindrance to faithful missional service in the world. RADICAL new ways of understanding and living the faith are needed.

And of course, this writer believes he is wise enough to stand as the judge, jury and executioner on 2000 years of Christian faith, and discerning enough to be the useful guide for the church’s future

When I read this author, I am struck by how lifeless his writings are, even though he tries to be passionate and to stir up the reader with his theology/spirituality. Intellectually edgy – yes! But spiritually impoverished.

I am throwing my lot and making my way with another group of Christ followers who believe in an Ancient-Future faith.

I love this language.

It is evocatively rich for me. And it is wisely faithful in its strategy.

I was first introduced to this “idea” in the writings of Robert Webber’s book, Ancient Future Worship.

We are always “rooted” in a specific historical-cultural context. We live in the NOW.

We experience the PRESENT. We are called to be faithful to Christ TODAY.

But the TODAY in which we live is anchored to and shaped by the ANCIENT

But while we live in TODAY, we are anchored and shaped by the ANCIENT and we have an eye toward the FUTURE. My today only makes sense in light of the Ancient-Future.

Karl Rahner, the Jesuit theologian may have been a source for Robert Webber. Rahner, in 1967 said, “The contemporary Christian is . . . the person who preserves what is ancient and anticipates the true future.”

This is the way set forth in Jeremiah 6:16. These were the words of the Lord to His people when they were in a time of looming crisis. They must be rooted in the ancient ways, as they are in the crisis of the present. And now they must figure out creative new ways of living out those ancient ways so they may move in to the future as a faithful people of God.

I found this crossroads image on this delightful blogsite.

What is truly sad is God’s people said, no to this. “We will not walk in it.” We are not interested in the ancient ways. We will make our own autonomous, self-generated path in to the future. They did and they walked into disaster and destruction!

Jeremiah was called the “weeping prophet” for a reason!

I love the spiritual richness, the theological substance and the practical outworkings of the classics of the ancient faith. They are called classics for a reason. They have stood the test of time.

What that means is they have provided meaning and purpose, they have given birth to faith, hope and love, they have comforted, rebuked, taught and trained generation after generation of those who love God.

My task, as Karl Rahner stated, is to imbibe their wisdom and to innovatively contextualize and “flesh it out” in my TODAY. How I do that will have both continuity and discontinuity with the PAST. How I do it will look different from how you do it.

In part, simply because the PAST is so vast and sweeping that we are all selective in what we appropriate, adapt and truly live in to and out of. 

I have the time and interest to read widely and then at times to go deeply in parts of that tradition. As you know, I an especially keen on the worthiness of the Ignatian Way. I am greatly indebted to that ancient way as I seek to be an Evangelical innovator on the Ignatian Way.

Standing with you at the crossroads of our exciting times.

Brian K. Rice  
Evangelicals on the Ignatian Way  
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com 

 

The Dictionary of Christian Spirituality

 

When is a Dictionary Not Boring?

When it is a goldmine of wisdom for those interested
in understanding the spiritual life . . .
 

This compendium is a labor of love and scholarship.

It is a treasure trove of wisdom and insight about the spiritual life.

There are 34 substantial articles on Christian spirituality on biblical, theological, historical and practical subjects.

There are about 700 shorter, alphabetized offerings ranging from Abandonment, Aelred of Rievaulx and Angels through  Ware (Kallistos), Willard (Dallas), Yoga and Count Zinzendorf . . . and everything inbetween.

850 pages... $40.00... hardback... a companion for many years.

I am reading a few pages a day in 2012 until I work my way through it.

Most Christians are mainly interested in the practices of the spiritual life (prayer, fasting, solitude, silence, sacred reading of Scripture) for the sake of experiencing God. By the way, all those topics are covered in this book.

Those of us who are called to teach, train, mentor, direct, and equip the body of Christ with the resources of spiritual formation need to go beyond the basics and move deeper into a wise understanding of the spiritual life.

This well written, overview is highly recommended to give you an exposure to the breadth and width of Christian spirituality . . . and to be a stepping stone for moving in to new depths which you would not normally consider.
 

Brian K. Rice  
Evangelicals on the Ignatian Way  
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

 

We are "EVANGELICALS" on the Ignatian Way

At the start of this new year, I'll share a bit of my story and some of my core convictions as an Evangelical on the Ignatian Way.

First, a bit of my story . . .

Of the six great spiritual traditions Richard Foster describes in Streams of Living Water, my original and core tradition is that of the Evangelical, Word-Centered Pathway.

I have journeyed for many years in other streams and my life, my story and my journey are better, richer, fuller, deeper and more glorifying to God because of that... but the Evangelical Way is the fertile soil in which my life and minsitry are rooted.

While it is many things, above all, the Evangelical way is a passionate commitment to the truth of the Gospel and the full integrity, beauty, majesty and transformative power of the Holy Scriptures of Old and New Testament.

I became a follower of Jesus through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. Even though I do not like the name of the organization, I am joyfully grateful for their presence in my life in shaping the experience of my conversion and the early years of discipleship.

I learned to treasure the Scriptures from the very beginning. The first year I was a Christian, I read the Living Bible in four months. I then bought the New American Standard Bible and read it in eight months. For many years after that (at least 10-12) my practice was to read through the Bible once a year. Each time I would use a different translation.

I learned to do inductive Bible study. I did this for two reasons. One, because I wanted to more fully understand the Scriptures. Two, because from early in my Christian life, I had opportunities to teach the Bible to others. I was invovled in discipleship ministries and all discipleship was shaped by the teaching of the Bible (and for me, the teaching of the master Discipler - Jesus).

Eventually I would pursue an M.A. in New Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (minored in theology while there) and then a Th.M. in theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. Now I learned to do the more serious work of exegesis and hermeneutics, as well as theologizing. A careful study of the Scriptures and thoughtful theological reflection on the Scripture was and is a passion and a commitment.

Now a few of my convictions . . .

As an Evangelical I deeply believe:

• That Scriptures are the normative words of truth.
• That we are responsible for a careful and sustained study of the Scriptures.
• That we have tools of study and interpretation to help us in this.
• That we also need the guiding, teaching work of the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth.
• That our minds need truth, but the eyes of our heart must be enlightened about that truth.
• That we must not merely be excited about biblical ideas, but we must relish and delight in the truth and even more, of the Living Word who has taught us the ways of God.

I also believe:

*  That many of us have a mainly intellectual apprehension of biblical ideas with hearts that are not passionate, nor wills that are subdued, nor lives that are reordered by the truth. 

*  That somewhere along the line, the powerful, cutting, piercing word of truth has become blunted for many of those who have specialized in the study of the Bible.

*  That there is such a thing as dry orthodoxy, in fact, dead orthodoxy is possible as well.

*  That there are legalistic ways of approaching the Bible and learning it and wielding it.

*  That for some (perhaps many) the Bible is more important than Christ and we have forgotten that the Scriptures are the Word of Christ and the Scriptures are the signposts to Christ and the steppign stones to deepening intimacy with the living God. 

*  That it is much easier to study the Bible than to be friends with Jesus. It is far easier to handle the Word which we can see than it is to pray to the invisible God.

I know this because I was one to whom this happened and I work with many evangelical leaders who have had the same experience. I also know this because I work with communities of Christ followers and I know the pain of"un-transformation" in their lives and I know how much so many struggle to be "friends with the Most High." 

That is why, while I remain a passionate Evangelical, I also needed the resources and the ways of the other spiritual traditions of the Christian faith. 

In particular, I have found Ignatius to be a mentor who affirms what I affirm (as an Evangelical) about the importance of Scripture... and who shows me a way for a deeper relational and transforming engagement with the living words of the Gospel. 

Ignatius (and others) teach me how to prayerfully reflect through lectio divina readings of the Word.

Ignatius teaches me how to prayerfully converse with the One True God about the great things that matter the most (which have been learned from his Word).

Ignatius teaches me how to be discerning of the teaching, guiding work of the Holy Spirit who illumines the truth to my heart, while at the same time, warming my heart to receive that word implanted as a seed.

Ignatius also teaches me how to be alert to the presence, work and Word of God that is with me throughout the day. While the Word is preeminently clear and normative as the Holy Scripture, God communicates in many other ways as well (the inner witness, through the voice of a restored conscience, through the words of others, via written words of good authors, through the events of the day, in nature, in my experiences, desires and affection . . . and more). But all these other ways are assessed, interpreted and  received in light of the Old and New Testaments.

As I am an Evangelical on the Ignatian Way, I find that the Bible has become more clear, more powerful, more compelling and more received into my life. I find that truth is more transformative than ever, because my heart capacity for truth is wider open than ever. I find that Jesus has become more precious, more real, more of a friend and even more exalted as my God and my Savior. 

For all this, I can only say as did Ignatius . . . 
 

Ad majorem Dei gloriam
For the greater glory of God
 

Brian K. Rice  
Evangelicals on the Ignatian Way  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com