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The Abbot always frowned on anything appearing sensational. "The divine," he taught, "is found in the ordinary".
To a monk attempting forms of self-denial bordering on bizarre, the Abbot was heard to say, "Holiness is a mysterious thing: the greater it is, the less it is noticed."
*Based on a story by Anthony de Mello.
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It is in vain therefore for the modern Christian, to appeal to Antiquity, to History, and ancient Churches, to prove that he belongs to Christ; for he can only belong to him, by having the Power of Christ, and the Spirit of God living and dwelling in his renewed inward Man.
But a learned Christianity, supported and governed by Reason, Dispute, and Criticism, that is forced to appeal to Canons, and Councils, and ancient Usages, to defend itself, has lost its Place, stands upon a fictitious Ground, and shows, that it cannot appeal to itself, to its own Works, which alone are the certain and only Proofs either of a true, or a false Christianity.
*William Law. The Way to Divine Knowledge.
God has no religion.
*Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948).
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Religion means: Connecting with the Divine. So, holiness is properly religious only when it is the act of joining with God.
Certainly, true holiness should impress persons. Such holiness, however, should impress as a naturally human expression of basic goodness, that is impressive for being so natural. Unholiness is the ultimately inhuman.
Connection with God is a connection with holiness, for the Divine is the full expression of holiness. God is Holy.
Margaret Feinberg writes, in The Organic God, "Such a God-infused lifestyle requires me to step away from any insta-grow shortcuts and dig deep into the soil of spiritual formation found only in God." This God-infused Life prioritizes connection with Spirit, opens to Spirit, and, therefore, holiness becomes not efforts of my own calling attention to me, but expression of a Presence organic: natural, pure, and essential.
William Law, an eminent spiritual theologian of the 18th Century, distinguished this true religion and false religion well. In The Way to Divine Knowledge," he writes:
Here now you have the Test of Truth, by which you may always know, whether it be the Spirit of God, and the Love of God, that drives you. If your Zeal is after this pure, free, universal Goodness of God, then of a Truth the Spirit of God breatheth in you; but if you feel not the Love of this pure, free, universal Goodness, and yet think that you love God, you deceive yourself; for there is no other true Love of God, but the loving that, which God is.
Law points out true religion, natural holiness. This Way is none other, in whatever form it appears - and only humans are overly-concerned about the form, not God - the loving of that which God is. True holiness will flow from the Being of Grace and point others to the Truth of Grace. True holiness does not arise alone from us, but from a connection with the Divine Energy: this is the energy of love, joy, and peace, in all Its expressions.
We need to reexamine "religion." For many persons are claiming spirituality and renouncing religion. Religion is simply the means for the expression of Spirit to flow into our world and lives. When religion does this, religion is spiritual; when it fails to do this, it has become merely a belief system.
Spiritual religion fosters a lively union with Divine Presence, and with others as one in that Love. When it fails to do this, religion turns in on itself; we could say religion fails to be religion.
Liveliness will always characterize true Religion, authentic holiness. This is manifestation of the liveliness of the unseen, unfathomable, and mysterious Spirit.
The inception of any new birthing in Christ is by this Liveliness and, thus, such a birthing reflects the whole Christ Way. For the Mystery that conceives is the Process that evolves - the two must agree, as the whole is in the beginning...
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [or, Spirit]. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again [or, born from above].' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of [by means of; in; through] the Spirit."
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1) Do you know someone whom you esteem to be a holy person? What impresses you about the person as holy?
2) List attributes that you see as expressing true religion, true holiness?
3) How would you define a false holiness?
4) What about Jesus speaks to you as true religion, authentic holiness?
5) How might you grow to become a more holy person?
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*The story of de Mellow and Gandhi quote are from soulwise.net . Traits of an organic relationship with God - pure, natural, essential - are from Margaret Feinberg, The Organic God. Material from William Law is at passtheword.org/William-Law/ .
*Charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in the continuance of his work of ministry. For contributions, contact Brian at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Brian's book of spiritual love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers, or through the Cokesbury on-line store, at www.cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox lives in Punta Gorda, FL, and Clearwater, FL, with his wife, step-son, and two beloved dogs. Brian has an independent writing, workshop, and retreat ministry focused on Christians living as spiritual disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life. He serves the Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. Brian is vowed at Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a vowed, contemplative life and inspires others to experience a more intimate relationship with God-in-Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused, experiential Christianity and renewal of the focus of the Church on addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons.
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