|
I am a contemplative evangelical, and I believe in universalizing Grace? Okay, I hear that whispering: What is a “contemplative” evangelical? I hear: What is universalizing Grace? And: Is Brian going off the intellectual deep-end again?
Today, I go on a journey with you that might seem befuddling. But let us enjoy the befuddling together. Okay?
Dallas Willard, speaking of being contemplative, guided by the principles and processes of spiritual formation, admits the challenge and possibility of living this ancient Christian tradition and now:
To live and minister in light of these truths [of the gospel] you really do have to have a lot of peace in your heart. That comes from the realization that you don’t have to make it happen. You just be truthful, follow your studies, stay with your fellowship with the few who are close to you, and just keep going. Because, truthfully, what we need is a revolution, but revolution is always very dangerous. And human revolutions always devour their children. And so what we need is a revolution that is actually conducted by Christ. And that means that we have to be content not to make things happen. (“New Age of Ancient Christian Spirituality [A]”).
As a pastor and teacher I face the challenges of ministering and living in a culture that is “I will make it happen” or “Let’s make it happen.” I can well understand the words of Willard and know, in myself, the challenge of patiently waiting on the Spirit to be provocative; that is, to move me toward action, rather than my expecting the Spirit to be reactive to my action.
This patient waiting means trusting in the fullness of the Work of Grace, a Grace in which our efforts can obstruct, if we are not careful. My work can block the subtle work of Grace, even as I claim to be aiding Grace:
19For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. (Colossians 1, NLT)
This fullness of the subtle Work of Grace is implied in actuality as a promissory fact (i.e. a fact in eternity that is brought about in time). All things “in God” are already reconciled to Love by Love. The present movement of the Spirit is within the context of the certainty that the eternal-already peace between Creator and Creation has occurred in Christ and will be actualized in history through the Word.
But how is the historical actualization effected historically? This is taught in St. John 12.32: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. (ESV) “I” represents the energies of the Word, the divine energies, or Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Word and Father, or Wisdom and Creator, who does the drawing of all people to the Word, to Wholeness.
Have you noticed that Jesus did not seem driven or impatient at all? Indeed, he did not seem in a hurry to save the world or redeem anyone. The Gospels depict a Christ that walked among us as though he knew a “secret” that allowed him to be led by the Spirit, to walk and talk at the pace of the Spirit, not be driven by all he must get done, even get done for God, his Father.
What is that “secret”? I think it is seen in the insight given in Colossians. Jesus Christ could enter into and pace himself with the Spirit, for he knew that he was joining a work that God had initiated and would complete, with certainty. Jesus was certain of his part in a completion in time of redemption of creation actualized in God as already complete. Jesus, then, lived from faith in the efficacious will of God to reconcile everyone and everything to God.
A contemplative spirituality challenges us to tone down our assertiveness in doing, to enter the already-working of Spirit, trustingly and faithfully, of what God has already accomplished and is accomplishing. Our part is responsiveness to Grace, not an aggressive way of making things happen. Our part is to evolve out of this prior Grace, and human effort is to be in consort and agreement with Grace, a Grace often so subtle that we cannot fathom what God is doing. Put simply, we are to live graciously.
If we trust in this promissory work of God, fulfilled in time because already fulfilled in eternity, then, we are able to enter into the fulfilling and enjoy the certainty that the work we do does not, finally, rely on us. Rather, working through a gentled responsiveness to the Holy Spirit, we, like Jesus, pace ourselves with the Spirit. The “drawing,” then, is of God. We do not draw. We only participate. Our patience and trust, therefore, not our drivenness or aggressiveness, is called for in living and ministering from a spiritual formation orientation.
I am honored to trust this efficacy of universalizing Grace, though I do not understand it, and to enjoy participating in it, likewise. I do not have to minister or live in desperation, for I know Who is already working and the extent of the guarantee of the “drawing” through the Word. Yes, I catch myself, often, getting away from being centered in the Spirit and acting from the Spirit. Then, I find peace and that all is well when I am drawn back inside the energies of Love, in Christ, through the mysterious, efficacious Spirit.
Spiritual Exercises
1. Contrast the view of the full efficacy of Christ’s Work above with the oft teaching of the limited redemptive efficacy of Christ’ Work?
2. What are your feelings and thoughts about the above writing?
3. Do you find yourself drawn more to act and ask the Spirit to support your actions are to act from the sense of where the Spirit is working and leading you to participate?
4. What do you need to do, daily, to live more in response to the Spirit?
5. What is the relationship between prayer and a responsive living to the Holy Spirit?
6. How might a community of faith behave if it lived in response to the Spirit of Christ? Trusting that it is participating in an already-fulfilled will of God, only acting to co-create it in time in consort with the Creator?
Prayer
Teach me to live and act more mindfully, more responsively, more trustingly, my Love.
*Brian K. Wilcox
OneLife Ministries is a pastoral outreach and nurture ministry of the First United Methodist Church, Fort Meade, FL. For Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Counseling, spiritual formation workshops, Christian meditation retreats, or more information about OneLife, write Rev. Dr. Brian K. Wilcox at briankwilcox@comcast.net.
Brian's book of mystical love poetry, An Ache for Union, can be ordered through major bookdealers.
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
The People of the
United Methodist Church
|
