October 23, 2004

merton speaks

Sometimes I think Merton is nuts. Then there are these little gems that make me think that I must be the one who is nuts.

We too often forget that faith is a matter of questioning and struggle before it becomes one of certitude and peace. You have to doubt and reject everything else in order to believe firmly in Christ, and after you have begun to believe, your faith itself must be tested and purified. Christianity is not merely a set of forgone conclusions. Faith tends to be defeated by the burning presence of God in mystery, and seeks refuge from him, flying to comfortable social forms and safe convictions in which purification is no longer an inner battle but a matter of outward gesture.
He's right on target here and I appreciate his words. Wow. How do you all experience this interaction of a growing faith and "inner life" or "outward gesture?" This is a quote I would like to place near the altar at Reconciler. What a great reminder for us all. Theosis is a difficult concept to explain to many. Merton's comment serves well in helping my understanding.

Posted by tripp at October 23, 2004 06:36 AM
Comments

I understand this only too well. Question and struggle is the name of my faith journey, and even those things that I "understand" are challenged.

I also think this is something that the Church should understand. God and Christ and the Holy Spirit are not static, to be placed in a box of human construction, but dynamic, creating our lives every day. If only we would look....

"...was blind, but now I see."

Posted by: DawgDays at October 23, 2004 07:53 AM

I agree with you entirely, Wes. Now, your comments about your experience at Reconciler are even more puzzling.

Hmmm...

Posted by: AngloBaptist at October 23, 2004 08:10 AM

It is interesting that the above qoute encompases both peace and turmoil: firmness of faith/belief and doubt and struggle. What it indicates is that all of these are part of the great journey of faith and sanctification/theosis. I wonder Wes if what the church needs to recognize, and each Christian, is that our faith is manifest in all of these and thus, ask how does it nurture and embrace people who are in a place of fiath that is marked by question and struggle as well as those who have passed through such a time and have a faith more charactirized by peace and firmness of faith in Christ?
Note that I say more charactirized not exclusively characterized.
The other issues is how are we taken up into the mystery that is God, Father Son and Holy Spirit? To speak of God as mystery does not mean God can not and is not named, but that that name initiates us into that which we can not grasp, but which posses us.
Peace,
Larry

Posted by: Larry Kamphausen at October 23, 2004 01:51 PM

I think this runs along the same line as my original comments, but I also think we're thinking about them too hard.

You see, it's sometimes difficult to discuss my faith and belief because it's not very coherent. Talking with seminarians and graduates, I sometimes feel like an amateur among pros, afraid of sounding the fool.

So, Tripp, it's probably me, not Reconciler.

Posted by: DawgDays at October 23, 2004 11:55 PM

I can relate. I still feel that way. Ha!

Just so you know, only Jane, Larry and I have masters degrees (right?). So, though the small gathering you witnessed may have been skewed, it is not the whole story. We're working on that.

So, in the spirit of more shameless self-promotion, bring others with you next time. You would be surprised what we "professional Christians" (How awful!) learn from you on the amature circuit.

Um, yeah. Just typing that sounds horrific. Let me know if I can ever be of service while you "work out your salvation with fear and trembling," Wes.

Posted by: AngloBaptist at October 24, 2004 11:51 AM

Yeah, that skew is what I sensed. It's almost like coming in on the middle of a conversation.

You know though, knowing two of you is what got me there. It just crossed me up a little. Now I think I understand why.

Pax,

Posted by: DawgDays at October 24, 2004 09:57 PM

Somehow a community has to be able to offer opportunities for learning, an atmosphere for both greater and lesser experience in faith. I think we do this. However, I am also aware that most who come to this church will be coming in in the middle of a conversation. We are so small, so intimate, this will simply be the hurdle we face.

Hey, did I learn something about church development in seminary?! Huh. Who knew?

Posted by: AngloBaptist at October 25, 2004 05:36 AM