WEEK  1

 

Coming To God On His Terms

 

Starting the Journey

 

            OBJECTIVE:   to clearly present spirituality as understood in a     

                                      Christian context

DEFINING SPIRITUALITY:  Spirituality, as a term, resists specific

                                    definition. It is so broadly applied today that only the most

                                    general statements may be used. In today's usage,

                                    it may be helpful to define spirituality as "encountering

                                    that which transcends the physical".

                                                The term is used to cover everything from Art to

                                    Zoroastrianism. Every religious experience is going to be

                                    labelled as spiritual (hence pertaining to spirituality).

                                    Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for the believer to

                                    distinguish between Christian Spirituality and all other

                                    forms. Christian Spirituality may be defined as "encountering

                                    that which transcends the physical from a wholly Christian

                                    context."

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Text Box: BIBLICAL TEXTS USED IN THIS LESSON: Old Testament - Genesis 17:7; Exodus 25: 8,9; Song of Solomon 6:13 Gospels - Matthew 5:8 John 14:6 John 3:1 - 8 Luke 17:20,21 Epistles - Eph 1:3 Col 3: 1-3

COMING TO GOD ON HIS TERMS

 

            Though spirituality is inherently theological, it does not necessarily imply any clear-cut notion of who or what God is. For instance, one might practice some meditative technique that he or she believes will unite him, if successfully applied, with the “forces” of the universe. There is a sort of theological basis for this practice, however, the nature or attributes of the “god” (i.e. that which transcends the physical) are not considered. Christian spirituality, on the other hand, is based on a God with specific attributes. We will begin our journey by taking a brief look at some of these attributes.

 

 
ATTRIBUTES OF GOD     He is eternal

                                                            [God has no beginning or end]

 
                                                        He is holy - separate from sinful man

                                                            [Man is not God and God is not man]

 

                                                        He is personal

                                                            [God seeks and initiates a relationship with man]

 

                                                        He is just

                                                            [God’s dealings with man are consistent with His

                                                                     righteousness]

 

                                                        He is pure

                                                            [There is no “dark side” to God]

 

                                                        He is love

All believers recognize these attributes as belonging to God. They are certainly not complete. It would be vain to attempt an exhaustive catalogue of God’s attributes. But they do reflect those attributes most necessary for one’s journey in Christian spirituality. Keep these things in mind as we continue by prayerfully considering a few Biblical passages.

 

 
 
                                     

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genesis 17:7  “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.”

                                   

What attributes are highlighted in this passage?

1.      eternal (everlasting covenant)

2.      personal (He seeks a relationship with man)

 

Some others are implied:

1.      holy

2.      just

 

 

Exodus 25:8,9  “And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.”

 

What attributes are highlighted in this passage?

1.      personal

2.      holy

 

Song of Solomon 6:13  “Come back, come back, O Shullamite; Come back, come back, that we may gaze at you!”

            “Why should you gaze at the Shullamite, as at the dance of the two companies?”

 

What attributes are highlighted in this passage?

 

            Some passages in Scripture require interpretation before we can recognize its theological content. This is just such a passage. In fact, the entire book of Song of Solomon insists on some interpretive stance. But does this mean that it is less important on our journey? On the contrary! The Song of Solomon has often been understood as a key book for Christian spirituality.

            The question asked in this passage is basic to one’s understanding of Christian spirituality. We may interpret the Shullamite as the Bride of Christ. Why should one focus attention on her? The final phrase is descriptive of her. It is far too involved to get into at this point. But this passage has a great deal to say about our spiritual journey.

 

Matthew 5:8  “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

 

What attributes are highlighted in this passage?

1.      pure

2.      holy

3.      personal

 

John 14:6  “Jesus said to him, ’I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me.”

 

What attributes are highlighted in this passage?

1.      holy

2.      personal

 

 

John 3:1-8  “… unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God… unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit…. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

 

What attributes are highlighted in this passage?

1.      holy

2.      personal

 

Luke 17:20,21  “… The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.”

 

What attributes are highlighted in this passage?

1.      personal

 

Ephesians 1:3  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

 

What attributes are highlighted in this passage?

1.      love

2.      personal

3.      holy

 

Colossians 3:1-3   “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

 

What attributes are highlighted in this passage?

1.  personal

2.  holy

 

 

            What did you find to be the most common attributes in these passages? Certainly they would have to be personal and holy. Only Christian spirituality ascribes these attributes to deity.  God is holy, yet God seeks a personal relationship with man. Within these two terms there exists a tension that must be recognized and dealt with. How can a holy God have a personal relationship with sinful man?

This question separates Christian spirituality from all other attempts at spirituality. The question can not be resolved in any way other than God’s way. Man’s wisdom will never bridge the gap between the holy and the profane. It takes an extraordinary step. That step, as every Christian knows, is Jesus Christ. Without Him there can be no relationship with a holy God. Man can only come to God on His terms.

Text Box: What are those terms? All the attributes that we have considered meet together in recognizing the terms for man’s relationship with God. Love, for instance, initiates the relationship. Eternal describes the extent of the relationship. Justice defines the terms for the relationship. And purity defines the relationship itself. But it is not an attribute of God that He uses to set His terms, but rather, a Son. God has “in these last days, spoken to us by a Son.” [Heb 1:2] The terms that God has set are found in His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ who is blessed forever. Christian spirituality, therefore, is Christocentric. In other words, the living Christ is central to every aspect of one’s spiritual life. For He is life. In John 14:6, Jesus placed Himself squarely within the relationship between God and man. He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but through Me.” He is the “mediator of the new covenant” [Heb 9:15] that makes it possible for man to experience and enjoy a relationship with God. The essence of Christian spirituality, it may be said, is Jesus, “the Christ, the Son of the living God” [Mt 16:16].
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


A LOOK INTO THE HISTORY

OF CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY

 

            There are three terms that are consistently found in the history of western Christian spirituality. They are: purgation, illumination and union. Christian spirituality in the eastern orthodox tradition recognizes a very similar path but understood using different terms. Purgation simply means a time, place or exercise that has as its purpose the cleansing of the soul. Illumination refers to a time, place or exercise that involves the influx of spiritual truth. Whereas union considers a time, place or exercise of spiritual “marriage” or union.

            Whether one looks at the spirituality of Augustine, Theresa of Avila or Bernard of Clairvaux the road has these same markers in showing the way. One’s spiritual journey in Christ may be seen as following this consistent path. It is possible to find the origin of this path in the words of Jesus Christ Himself. Returning to what Jesus told His disciples in John 14:6: “I am the way (i.e. the cross/purgation), and the truth (i.e. illumination by God’s Spirit), and the life (i.e. union and communion with God).” This path is still valid because it is God-ordained.

            One final note concerning this historic path in Christian spirituality, man can only come to a holy God on His terms. Man is not holy; “there is none righteous”, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. Man must therefore be purged of unrighteousness before entering into any relationship with God who is holy. Believers may argue about what all this entails but only the deceived would imagine that it is not necessary. For God to have personal relationship with unrighteous man without purgation would deny His holiness, purity and justice. The provision made for purgation by God Himself is Jesus Christ, His Son.

 

 

Some quotations from the history of Christian spirituality:

 

 "Our Lord Jesus Christ himself calls us in the Gospel, when He bids us be perfect by grace,

as He is by nature.”  [The Cloud of Unknowing]

 

“One Word spoke the Father, which Word was His Son, and this Word He speaks always

in eternal silence, and in silence it must be heard by the soul.”

                                            [Counsels of Love and Light, John of the Cross]

 

 

BACK TO TOC      LESSON TWO