Process Spirituality: Being Versus Doing

Introduction

There is a dilemma in our world today called busyness. It tempts us to believe that the more we do, the holier we become. Or the more presentable we will be in the eyes of God. This blog section will offer suggestions on how one can enhance their life living before the Lord. Many times we tend to define ourselves by achievements and accomplishments. In the twenty-first century, we tend to relate time to what we have achieved with efficiency and productivity.

I. Process Spirituality: Being Versus Doing

George Barna did a study in 1998 on American Christians and found that American Christians would rather have a variety of church experiences than what a single church has to offer. They believe that spiritual formation comes from a process, rather than a commitment to a faith community. Furthermore, they see religion as a commodity to consume rather than a place where we invest ourselves.[1] In America, there seems to be a religion that worships progress and inspires us to compete and achieve, and win. As Longshoreman philosopher Eric Hoffer wrote, “We are warned to waste time, but we are brought up to waste our lives.”[2] It is said that many people wasted half of their lives looking for wealth and the other half looking for health. Len Sykes identified various areas of busyness: Sykes argued that people make mistakes by looking to work for their security rather than to look to God. The pressure of the world to seek more of its possessions drives us to the idolatry of materialism and busyness. We should seek to enhance the quality of time spent with God and our children. If this is not possible, then we are working too hard.[3]

II. Service for God or intimacy with God

Our Home: Deuteronomy 6:5-9 encourages parents to know and love God and to teach their children about him: “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Excessive activities such as watching television, time spent on the computer, children’s lessons, sports, and meetings are activities that can dominate one’s life and, therefore the cause of a lack of relational opportunities. The intention of God, however, is for the home to be a place for spiritual and personal development in an environment of love and acceptance. This involves spontaneous times together.[4]

In the Church: Now, in the church, the community, this area can become very busy and frustrating when we take on excessive roles and activities to please people and meet their expectations. The believer must understand that not every role within the church they are called to do by God.[5] While the world will define us by what we do, the biblical order is critical, as what we do should flow out of who we are. The world may ask the question: “What have you done for me lately?” But in the church, Christ gave us a secure and stable basis for worth and dignity. The worth and dignity is founded upon what God has done in us and for us.[6]

In our walk with God: To cultivate intimacy with God, it requires time. Excessive activities will draw us away from the time for intimacy with God.[7]

III. Causes or Christ

Though we all have a built-in hunger for security, significance, and satisfaction, many seek these things in the wrong places. Culture has distorted our view and infected how we view Christ and spirituality. There are many books and seminars that teach self-orientation intending to be spiritual; however, they only lead the believer to set themselves on goals that will lead them away from Christ. The scripture teaches us that as we seek Christ and his righteousness, then all things will come adding to the life of the believer through Jesus Christ. Our identity is to know God and his kingdom our identity is not and should not be tied up in a quest for self.[8]

1V. Practicing His Presence

Theologians in the spiritual formation movement formulate varying concepts with the phenomenon of experiencing God in our lives. A spiritual director is one who helps others to “notice God’s presence and activities in their lives.”[9] Is it possible, however, to experience God? In the Bible, the people of God experience God in measurable ways, such as in their everyday lives and churches. It is the will of God for us to experience his presence in our lives. Having a relationship with Jesus should not be from a union of a prepositional theological treatise on salvation. It should be an experience of the presence of God in our lives. The apostle Paul experienced it, and he longed for his converts to experience it as well. The New Testament supports this notion, such as John 14:23; Romans 5:5; Romans 8:16; Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 4:13; Colossians 1:29; and 2 Timothy 4:17.

What does it mean to Practice the Presence of God?

There are two fundamental ways in which the Holy Spirit manifested God’s presence.

Ø Ordinary indwelling of the Holy spirit (John 14:16-17; 23; Romans 8:9-17).

Ø Manifestations of the power of the spirit in a powerful way and other experiences that are ecstatic in nature (Acts 4:31; 13:9; 2 Corinthians 12:1-4). These components are existential experience of God in our lives.[10]

Ø Jesus promised his disciples:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:16-18).

[11]In John 14:22-23, “Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifests thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” These scriptures revealed that there is an ongoing activity of God working in our lives. Therefore, one cannot exclude the experiential component from the dynamic that Jesus describes; it would be counterintuitive in John 14. D.A. Carson posits, “The Spirit needs to be experienced; otherwise, the promise of relief from the sense of abandonment is empty.[11]

V. How to Practice His Presence

It is possible to enjoy solitude with Jesus even in the very busy activities of our everyday life. Solitude with Jesus is possible, not just in secluded areas. Private prayer can consist of meditation and contemplation; the prayers are mental prayer. Prayer consists of colloquy (conversation with God), and the prayer of recollection (practicing the presence of God). The recollection can be formed into a habit and become habitual. Just as it becomes habitual to be a husband and wife, even so, prayer can become habitual in our state of mind as a follower of Christ.[12] This method involves turning to God throughout the day. It gives a more conscious awareness of God. There is scriptural imagery that captures the ongoing awareness of the presence of Christ: Abide in Jesus and let his words abide in you (John 15: 4-7). Set your mind on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5-6). Walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5: 16, 25); keep seeking the things above where Christ is(Colossians 3: 1-2); rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18); Run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).[13]

VI. WAYS TO PRACTISE HIS PRESENCE

ü. Begin with flash prayers throughout the day at various times of the day. These prayers can be short or mental notes that acknowledge the presence of God. Or lift others in prayer. The activity can be done when walking, driving, waiting, sitting down for a meal, listening, and so on.

ü This method is quite interesting: Try to use prayer that is short in a repetitive way throughout the day, such as the Jesus prayer: (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner, “ or another brief prayer for example, (I love you, Lord”: “I thank you in all things: “By your grace Lord,” “Thank you, Jesus.”

,

ü. Play to an audience of one; live coram deo ( before the heart of God). Seek to please God; therefore seek obscurity and anonymity.

ü Allow Jesus to cultivate an attitude of dependency upon him.

ü. Monitor your temptations as they arise, such as the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The only way to overcome sin is to turn your eyes on Jesus, not try to avoid it. Allow the moments to give you the opportunity to turn to Jesus.

ü Experiment with prayer. Try praying for strangers.

ü. Accept every circumstance and person you meet as a gift from God: Whether these experiences are sweet or bitter.

ü. Remember extra grace is in our lives for a purpose (EGR).

ü. Stop and relish the present. Recognize that Jesus is with you and in you at every moment. Thank him for never leaving you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6).[14]

VII. QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL APPLICATION

v What practical ways that is measurable that you can take to reduce busyness in your life?

v Why are people more interested in the activities and causes of Christ; rather than a desire to be with Christ himself?

v In what ways do you see yourself in this area of your life?

v How can you change your direction of treasuring intimacy with Jesus?

v Why is it common for Christians to confuse doing activities for the Lord with knowing him?

v What can you do to enrich the presence of Christ in your life?

Bibliography

Conformed to His Image: Biblical, Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation, Revised Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020.

Carson, D. A. The Gospel According to John. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991.

Hellerman, Joseph H. Why We Need the Church to Become More Like Jesus: Reflections about Community, spiritual formation, and the Story of Scripture. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2017.

Porter, Steve L. “Sanctification in a New Key: Relieving Evangelical Anxieties over Spiritual Formation.” Journal of Spiritual Formation & soul Care ½ (2008) 144-47.

Reid, Angela H. Quest for Spiritual Community: Reclaiming Spiritual Guidance for Contemporary Congregations. London: T. & T. Clark, 2011.

[1] Joseph H. Hellerman, Why We Need the Church to Become More Like Jesus: Reflections about Community, spiritual formation, and the Story of Scripture (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2017), 79. [2] Boa, Conformed to His Image, 268. [3] Ibid. [4] Ibid. [5] Ibid. [6] Boa, Conformed to His Image, 270. [7] Ibid. [8] Ibid. [9] Angela H. Reid, Quest for Spiritual Community: Reclaiming Spiritual Guidance for Contemporary Congregations (London: T. & T. Clark, 2011), 8-9. [10] Steve L. Porter, “Sanctification in a New Key: Relieving Evangelical Anxieties over Spiritual Formation” Journal of Spiritual Formation & soul Care ½ (2008) 144-47. [11] D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John: Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991), 500. [12] Boa., 274. [13] Ibid. [14] Ibid., 276.