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Writes Shirley C. Guthrie, Jr., “The Spirit is no more bound to come in a church sanctuary or home prayer group than in a restaurant or in the work place.” Likewise, he writes: “The Spirit is no more summoned by sentimental spiritual songs and highly emotional preaching than by sixteenth-century chorales and colorless preaching—or vice versa.” Rather, “the Spirit is free to work when, where, and how the Spirit chooses.” (Christian Doctrine) The Spirit is not bound by prejudice or preference; the Spirit has no reference point to limit the Divine Operations.
This universality, this freedom, of the Spirit, or Pneuma, has been christianized, or better religionized, by many who believe sacred Spirit is especially tied to the churches. Rather, the Spirit is free, for the Spirit is God. There is no version of God. Guthrie affirms, “The Holy Spirit does not belong to us Christians and is not trapped in our hearts or in our church.” Indeed, we join the work of Christ to the extent that we join in the truth of the Spirit of Christ especially joined to the whole creation. We can speak of a special relationship between the Spirit and the Church, if we mean a relationship in which the Spirit is seen to be free of that very Church and only will use it to the extent that it joins with the Spirit working in all creation. And this special can never be rightly seen as exclusive.
While a person, Christian or other, can exclude herself from the gracious Operations of Spirit, the Spirit excludes no one. So, that raises the question: How do we discern the Operations of the Spirit? Or, How do we discern where the Spirit is being joined with, rather than opposed consciously or unconsciously? Or, How do we see the evidence of the sacred Spirit working in a person or group?
First, the Gospel of Christ is central in discerning the Work of the Spirit. The life of Jesus, not specific passages but the whole tenor of the four Gospels, provides insight into how the sacred Spirit manifests? Scripture calls this sacred Spirit “the Spirit of Christ.” St. John 14.26 reflects the early Church experiencing that the sacred Spirit is none other than the continuing work of Jesus: “But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.” (NLT) Close attention to the spirit of the Gospels, and not treated as legal or moralistic or dogmatic documents, is essential to discerning the work of the Spirit in the world and deciding how we are to speak and act, and what our intents are to be. The Spirit is practical, for the Spirit is seeking to relate to all creatures in a manner they can come to discern, appreciate, and receive more consciously and fully that Grace.
Second, the attitude and actions of community, or relationships, is key in discerning the Work of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is made of relational realities: love, joy, peace, patience (or, perseverance), kindness, goodness (or, generosity), loyalty, gentleness, temperance (or, self-control) (Galatians 5.21-22). These qualities are placed in a context that amplifies the opposite, which helps us discern what is not of the Spirit:
16So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. 18But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the [religious] law.
19When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. 26Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another. (NLT)
Again, we see that the works of the “sinful nature,” which implies a tendency toward harmfulness in relationships, is operative in the context of relationships. For example, “wild parties” is sinful, not because having a party is wrong, but wildness does not reflect the Fruit of the Spirit and, therefore, is harmful to the community. Such wildness violates the virtue of temperance, or self-control.
The contemplative life is a radical social orientation and relies on the Spirit, Who is radically social. The contemplative experiences inside and outside herself the Spirit. She, through contemplation, becomes sensitive to the slight promptings and subtle evidences of the Spirit in all contexts. She recognizes the obvious signs of the presence of the Spirit. She has a living relationship with the Gospels, reading them with contemplative heart and mind. She feels the over-all texture of the Gospel, as she is falling more deeply in love with Jesus. She discerns how the Spirit operates in relationships. She seeks to manifests the qualities of Christ seen both in the Gospels and in community being edified by the Presence. Through the calm and quiet of the Inner Sanctuary, she takes the Fruit of the Spirit and the work of Christ into the world, knowing the Holy Spirit is as much present outside faith communities as inside them, indeed, often more active outside them. She, like the Spirit, has no reference point except God, for she is anchored only to the Triune God. All other devotions derive from that Simplicity. She sees God so closely that being stripped of all trappings, she no longer claims a rendition of God. She is free to join the Spirit wherever and however the Spirit of Jesus Christ is working in creation. She judges no one in the name of religion, even her religion, who is manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit and right relations of loving justice as outside the gracious influence and intimacy of the Spirit. She may, indeed, see a Buddhist or Muslim or Jain as one through whom the Holy Spirit is manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit and loving justice. She might see one within her own faith, or a whole collection of persons there, who are denying the Spirit by acting contrary to the Spirit and engaging in harmful attitudes and actions which injure other persons. The contemplative, then, grows in freedom and energy as she draws closer to God, and her own stability and perseverance to rejoice and suffer with other persons enlarges over time and with Grace.
Reflections
What encouraged you in the writing today? Explain.
Did you disagree with something in the writing today? If so, explain.
How do you see the Holy Spirit operating in your life?
How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the world around you? Your faith community? Your family?
Which quality of the Fruit of the Spirit do you see most evidenced in your life? The one you have the most struggle with?
Have you ever sensed the Holy Spirit working through someone of another faith or no faith? Explain.
Spiritual Exercise
Make sure you have a sacred space in your home for time alone in prayer and spiritual reading.
Make sure you are in a covenant group. For more information on covenant groups, write me at the address below.
Consider, if you are not already, sponsoring a child through Compassion International. You can find out more about Compassion International by going to www.compassion.net to read about sponsoring, in the name of Jesus, children living in poverty. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
Brian’s book An Ache For Union can be purchased at major book dealers.
To contact Brian, write briankwilcox@comcast.net .
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