|
So, let us just put the people in a cage. No. Let us free them, instead, to live and walk in grace. And, from grace, we will see the joy of the fruit of persons who are true, spiritual followers of Jesus Christ. We can contrast this with those who feel they need to impress persons with a show of religiousness.
* * *
Presently, I serve as a part-time Chaplain and a spiritual leader of a very small group of spiritually free Christians, laity who are fed up with ecclesiastical cages. Yet, I believe many clerics are tired of the cages, too. Why? We long to be free. We will not be content unless free.
This is why the churches cannot work their way to renewal. Grace is not about how well you do – never has been, never will. How well we do flows from grace, not performance.
So, do you want to be free? Get out of the performance cage, and live from the inside-out. Bury all need to impress other persons with what you do, and do out of a reckless love that allows you to bear much fruit – not the fruit of good works as much as the fruit of joy. Focus on right being, and right doing will proceed from that.
Responding
1.What is the difference between a grace ethic and a performance ethic? Can you tell when you are in one or the other? Explain.
2.Does a focus away from performance threaten genuine religiousness, or not? Explain your response.
3.Are you free? Explain.
4.What might the “much fruit” refer to that the Gospel speaks of as a consequence of our dying to our self-centeredness?
5. Does the religious sect you belong to nurture spiritual freedom? If so, how?
* * *
*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian Kenneth Wilcox, SW Florida. Brian lives a vowed life and with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis, with friends and under a vow of simplicity. Brian is an ecumenical-interspiritual leader, who chooses not to identify with any group, and renounces all titles of sacredness that some would apply to him, but seeks to be open to how Christ manifests in the diversity of Christian denominations and varied religious-spiritual traditions. He affirms that all spiritual paths lead ultimately back to Jesus Christ. He is Senior Chaplain for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Punta Gorda, FL.
*Brian welcomes responses to his writings or submission of prayer requests at briankwilcox@yahoo.com . Also, Brian is on Facebook: search Brian Kenneth Wilcox.
*Contact the above email to book Brian for preaching, Spiritual Direction, retreats, workshops, animal blessing services, house blessings, or other spiritual requests. You can order his book An Ache for Union from major booksellers.
|
