One.Life (5b)
A couple further thoughts on the primacy of LOVE in the Christian faith, prompted by Scot McKnight’s chapter reviewed y’day.
First, a theme of this book is a deconstruction and reconstruction of the Christian life through the lens of Scot’s personal journey. The deconstruction being of a legalistic and performance based faith. The reconstruction being following Jesus into a kingdom life of love.
Have you been on a similar journey? Has there been a key moment (a realisation, an event, an idea, a reading of Scripture, a sermon, a gradual liberation, a theological insight) in that movement from deconstruction to reconstruction?
I haven’t had such a radical experience (which must in many ways be a good thing). The biggest development in my thinking and understanding of the Bible has been to see the gospel of Jesus Christ as the climax of the unfolding narrative of the triune God’s redemptive mission to the world. In other words, a narrative theology that goes beyond a narrow gospel of me being forgiven & getting a ticket to heaven, to a much bigger good news proclaiming Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, the crucified and resurrected Lord of all creation before whom every knee will bow.
Second, it’s interesting that in new understanding of the Christian life, Scot still has a central, and indispensable, place for ‘personal piety’ (like saying the Jesus Creed daily, as well as prayer, Bible reading, etc).
This raises a question – what place does regular ‘personal piety’ have in most Christians’ lives that you know – and your own?
I suspect, for most students and friends I know, regular patterns of piety are marginal, if not totally absent. I know I struggle to incorporate a daily discipline even though I know it is of great value when I do. This is in huge contrast to a previous generation where the evangelical ‘quiet time’ and other such practices were stressed and taught and expected to be present as a sign of spiritual progress.
Has there been such a reaction against past experiences of legalism and convention, perhaps combined with a distorted view of grace and liberty, that results in any encouragement to spiritual discipline seem like a form of legalism?
One example – Scot preached in Ireland last summer on the Jesus Creed. The vast majority of people I talked to afterwards really enjoyed what he had to say. But a small minority still thought being encouraged to say, reflect on and be shaped by Jesus’ own words (!!) every day was somehow legalistic.
Now that is pretty remarkable when you think about it. And even more so in light of how Israel was constantly commanded by the Lord to remember his word – to memorise it, to learn it, to say it, to have present in their doorframes … so as to ‘soak into’ their lives and worship.
Comments, as ever, welcome.
I flinch at–because I am guilty of–the assumption that the thing that turned the lights on for me is truly what all other believers need to ignite their passion for God and their understanding of his word. This could be part of what is going on with others who have a negative reaction to the discipline of intentionally keeping certain of Jesus’ words in front of us.
Also, it’s just very popular to be liberated, open, and wise beyond the smallness of “fundamentalism” and greater “evangelicalism”. There have certainly been valid critiques there. Problem is…that is hardly the trouble anymore. No longer do we think we have it all figured out and we can fit God and his word into a neat, safe, little system. Now we wonder if God’s word has any discernible meaning at all.
That sort of leaves us (even if only subconsciously) reliant on mystic experience for spiritual insight. It is no wonder this wouldn’t produce people who value discipline and memorization as a means of spiritual growth and strength.
In my admittedly uneducated opinion, we are once again late in realizing that the pendulum has swung and we can stop fighting what is no longer a threat. However, I also think it will eventually come back and we will do it all again should Jesus tarry long enough.
Thanks, Crystal, thought provoking. It comes back to love doesn’t it? If we love the Lord with all our heart, soul and strength, then a ‘pattern of piety’ (or spiritual discipline or whatever we want to call it) will be natural outworking of that relationship. Love, discipline and freedom can go together, not in opposition to one another.
“Love, discipline and freedom can go together, not in opposition to one another.”
Precisely. I would even say that discipline and freedom are both the result of love.
I personally feel that to say, repeat, think or meditate on Jesus’ words as Scot suggests or on the Lord’s prayer, as I do sometimes, it is not legalistic in itself, but it can become legalistic if what I do or say has as a goal to collect brownie points. It becomes legalistic when I think that by doing it, I am somehow superior to others. Any spiritual discipline can become a legalistic routine if by doing I am trying to measure my own holiness.
The aim of repeating, memorizing, etc., in my opinion, has the purpose of helping me to remember who is God and who I am, a human being who needs His help on a daily basis.