I appreciate your approach to the contemplative tradition and the charismatic desires. Like you, I prayer the stereotypes will be destroyed and all that's left is the fire of the love of and for Jesus!
Some important lines (among many!): "Not static, but a triune community of perfect self-giving love." And the dangers of a "contemplativism" that is "all poetry and long walks, that is practice-based and not Christ-affective, and that yields an unbalance focus on the mysterious, universal word over the face of Christ incarnate."
All that you have written is so beautiful…never thought about the false divide or even the comparison between the contemplative and the charismatic.
How you begin describing the Love of God BEING synonymous with the Power of God is so beautiful.
If Christ is truly in all and for all, then truly our Identity is In Christ, and not being defined as either contemplative or charismatic. But in our own smallness we tend to define ourselves as how we see ourselves different to others:)!!
If there is more to be discovered in greater depth of what you have written and shared in this post (a book you have possibly written) I would love to know.
Thanks again for writing and sharing such a beautiful picture of the flame of God’s Love seeking to burn slowly and deeply into our souls.
@commonerscommunion writes "Because of all this there is no gap between the “charismatic” and the “contemplative”, there is only love expressed in power through the one who desires to gaze upon the beauty of God."
I have found that various people have a unique "faith language" and often they tend to congregate together into distinctive flavors. However, as long as it ends up with Jesus, I don't think it matters how one gets there. There are three primary routes.
1. Truth - this has been dominant in Protestant thinking since the reformation and especially Gutenberg's invention. The idea is that faith is rightly understood through sets of doctrines and that truth is what sets you free.
2. Power - Much of the growth of the early church, and also the modern growth of the church in much of the previously unchurched world has been more about God's power to heal, cast out demons, perform miracles and change lives.
3. Love - There are many though who understand little about the doctrines, have never really experienced a miracle, but find their way to Jesus because they feel loved, accepted, cared for and welcomed by His church.
“There’s no distinction between power and love in the Trinity”. With so much we see in current culture, we need this reminder. Along with desiring the whole Christ in prayer and life. Goodness Strahan!
That was AWESOME! Charismatic Contemplative over here! More Montanist than anything. (And, no, the sources are wrong - Montanists were investigated for heresy but they were never designated heretical.)
I appreciate your approach to the contemplative tradition and the charismatic desires. Like you, I prayer the stereotypes will be destroyed and all that's left is the fire of the love of and for Jesus!
Some important lines (among many!): "Not static, but a triune community of perfect self-giving love." And the dangers of a "contemplativism" that is "all poetry and long walks, that is practice-based and not Christ-affective, and that yields an unbalance focus on the mysterious, universal word over the face of Christ incarnate."
Yes and amen.
As always, your words "cut to the heart." So grateful for your prophetic voice.
Thank you!
All that you have written is so beautiful…never thought about the false divide or even the comparison between the contemplative and the charismatic.
How you begin describing the Love of God BEING synonymous with the Power of God is so beautiful.
If Christ is truly in all and for all, then truly our Identity is In Christ, and not being defined as either contemplative or charismatic. But in our own smallness we tend to define ourselves as how we see ourselves different to others:)!!
If there is more to be discovered in greater depth of what you have written and shared in this post (a book you have possibly written) I would love to know.
Thanks again for writing and sharing such a beautiful picture of the flame of God’s Love seeking to burn slowly and deeply into our souls.
Blessings Everywhere!!❤️🙌🙌❤️
Thanks Strahan. This anxious soul needed to hear this and ponder it for a while.
@commonerscommunion writes "Because of all this there is no gap between the “charismatic” and the “contemplative”, there is only love expressed in power through the one who desires to gaze upon the beauty of God."
I have found that various people have a unique "faith language" and often they tend to congregate together into distinctive flavors. However, as long as it ends up with Jesus, I don't think it matters how one gets there. There are three primary routes.
1. Truth - this has been dominant in Protestant thinking since the reformation and especially Gutenberg's invention. The idea is that faith is rightly understood through sets of doctrines and that truth is what sets you free.
2. Power - Much of the growth of the early church, and also the modern growth of the church in much of the previously unchurched world has been more about God's power to heal, cast out demons, perform miracles and change lives.
3. Love - There are many though who understand little about the doctrines, have never really experienced a miracle, but find their way to Jesus because they feel loved, accepted, cared for and welcomed by His church.
“There’s no distinction between power and love in the Trinity”. With so much we see in current culture, we need this reminder. Along with desiring the whole Christ in prayer and life. Goodness Strahan!
That was AWESOME! Charismatic Contemplative over here! More Montanist than anything. (And, no, the sources are wrong - Montanists were investigated for heresy but they were never designated heretical.)