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Comments
The late renowned scholar of mystical Christian religion, Evelyn Underhill, as does the leading religion theorist in the world now, Huston Smith, highlights the decline of religiousness in our society. Underhill wrote to the early 20th century, Smith to the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Both of these persons have sounded a prophetic call and warning for their respective generations, and were blessed with the media to reach a myriad with their clarion call to return to God and the spirituality inherent in spiritual devotion.
In The Golden Sequence: A Four-Fold Study of the Spiritual Life, Underhill terms the loss of religiousness the loss of the "transcendental sense." She writes:
The saints abound in fellowship and service, because they are abandoned to the Spirit, and see life in relation to God, instead of God in relation to life; and therefore seize with delight on every circumstance of life, as material for the expression of Charity. This resort to first principles, this surrender to the priority of Spirit, and the embodiment of our faith in such meek devotional practices and symbolic action as shall stimulate the transcendental sense: this, I believe, is the chief spiritual lack of the modern world.
Underhill reminds us that much modern Christianity is primarily viewed in terms of fellowship and service. However, as she notes, these experiences refer to the experience of our faith, not the essence. Fellowship and service flow out of the devotional and sacramental life of worship and prayer, not vice versa.
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If we want fellowship and service, we can belong to some civic groups. We can even get some fellowship at the grocery store, a sports event, or by meeting with others at a local cafe every morning. If we want service, we can join any number of charity groups or do some volunteer service.
The aim of true Christianity is to stimulate the sense of transcendence, so that we can love God for the sake of loving God.
While nurture of a deep devotional spirituality is a challenge in our culture with its demands on our time and energy, it must be a priority if the Christian faith is to be a truly, deeply spiritual life in Christ, through the intimacy of the Holy Spirit. All all else in our Christian experience flows out of recognition and daily remembrance of our Source, Who is Love.
Suggested Reflection
What is a "devotional and sacramental life"? How do you practice this life?
See next page for details on OneLife Ministries, Brian's book An Ache for Union, and material pertaining to sources used in the writing.
Feel free to submit a query on how OneLife Ministries can better serve you. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
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