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Hoo-Jung Lee (Methodist Theological Seminary, Seoul, Korea), "Experiencing the Spirit in Wesley and Macarius," in Rethinking Wesley's Theology for Contemporary Methodism, Ed. Randy L. Maddox.
"Christians can no longer simply assume the superiority of their received models of spirituality. They must engage more seriously the profound spirituality and virtuous practices of other religions, particularly the Oriental religions."
"As an Asian Methodist, I find that his [John Wesley's] voice is heard in a more positive, welcoming way when Wesley is read in the wider context of ecumenical spiritual traditions [note, not just Christian traditions]."
A conservative student got an appointment to speak with her religion professor, who was a devout Christian and taught at a Christian seminary. She spoke, “I am astounded that you, a Christian, quote non-Christian writers and urge us to consider truths and spiritual practices in them as worthy of our consideration. How can you, sir, do such a thing and call yourself a Christian?” The professor replied, “I can, precisely because I am a Christian.” The professor continued, “Now, you answer my question: “How can you claim to be a follower of Christ and limit Truth and spiritual practice only to the Christian faith? After all, Christ is not a Christian, right? After all, Truth is truth, not Christian truth, but Truth, right?”
Let us be united;
Let us speak in harmony;
Let our minds apprehend alike.
Common be our prayer,
Common be the end of our assembly;
Common be our resolution;
Common be our deliberations.
Alike be our feelings;
Unified be our hearts;
Common be our intentions;
Perfect be our unity.
from the rig veda
Christianity, when it seeks to place God in a “Christian” box, is another idolatry, right? Is not idolatry, in essence, the reduction of God to our preferences and prejudices? Is it not true, God is God, and there is nothing that can fully and rightly be predicated of God, be it Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Mystic, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Conservative, Liberal, Orthodox, Heterodox . . . . ? So, are you following Christ, or an idol of Christ? If you are uncomfortable with what I am saying, then, likely you are practicing a form of Christian idolatry. May God, through Love, dissolve the box you have placed Christ in, so that you may come to know the God outside all boxes. Indeed, likely the greatest evil of the historical Christian church has been this reductionism of truth and Deity to itself, rather than being expanded to live in union with the God beyond all thought, all religion, and all spiritual practice. But, this is not a big sin of only the church, all religions tend either to idolize God or pluralize God to the extent that the very concept God loses all meaning and relevance for modern men and women, and children. Possibly, the most important question you will ever answer is, “Will I follow Christ, or a version of Christ?”
You are a mystery, how much more God!
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