Christian Spiritual Formation

Rabbi Jesus offers us a commanding vision when he highlights two principles within the rich faith of the Hebrews and places them next to one another in a triadic relational formula.  His genius takes the Shema found to Deuteronomy 6:4 and recited by faithful Jews at least daily with the instruction to “love the Lord our God with all of one’s heart, soul and might.” and joins it with the instruction found in Leviticus 19:18b to “love our neighbor as we love ourselves.”

 

By binding these two verses of the law code together, Jesus teaches us that a relationship with God is not exclusively vertical.  To truly love God is to love all that God loves.  The nature of Christianity is symbolized with a cross to remember our primary love for God is always balanced with the horizontal love we offer one another while being met at the intersection with how we also choose to love and care for the self.   I take that to mean we cannot truly love God and others unless we are also caring for our souls with nurture, insight, and growth.

 

The care and development of our soul in the image of Christ by loving God and loving others is what I would call Christian Spiritual Formation.  As Richard Rohr says, "The great commandment is not, 'follow the rules.'  It is, 'be in love.'"

Just Jesus

I like the simplicity of the name of "Jesus." Yes, it has been elongated in the mouth of the revivalist with "JA-EEEEE-ZE-US," and profaned in the mouth of commoner with "GEEEE-WIZZ" Its universality is demonstrated as a favorite name among Latinos and its appearance on the cover of magazines always boost sales. In the church it has been adorned with the names: CHRIST, LORD, REDEEMER, SAVIOR, SHEPHERD. all while singing what a mighty FRIEND we have in him.

Yet, I seek a return to a more basic, even ordinary experience. Like Schweitzer's Quest for the Historical Jesus, Yancey's The Jesus I Never Knew and Borg's Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, I hunger for an encounter that is stripped bare of all the complicated layers of history and opinion around this extraordinary personality. The simple name of "Jesus" invites me to this immediate, one on one experience.

When disappointed, even disgusted by the statements of fellow Christians; when Christianity becomes associated with bias, bigotry and sanctimonious self righteousness; when those standing up for faith gain power and oppress the weak; when love is manipulated as a badge of superiority; when Christians are anything but Christ-like; when I feel tempted to leave this brand of religion - I can't get away from Jesus.

Only Jesus keeps me a Christian. There is no other one whom I have found to be more human. I can believe in the God he reveals. I can hope in the message he has proclaimed. Even 2,000 year later, I am still trying to catch up to him.

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