Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Spirituality and Mission - "The purpose of [authentic Christian] spirituality is empowerment for mission."

This is a reflection on the book Called to be Sent: Co-Missioned as Disciples Today written by Anthony J. Gittins spublished by Liguori Publications in 2008..  All quotes are from this book.  

To learn more about Anthony J. Gittins, visit: http://www.ctu.edu/academics/anthony-gittins-cssp.



Gittins quotes this expression of Inagrace Diettrich’s , “the purpose of [authentic Christian] spirituality is empowerment for mission” because he wants to emphasize that mission and discipleship cannot be separated.   He states on a previous page that, “One of the first fruits of spirituality that is really new life in the Spirit is a new attitude toward neighbor: toward everyone.”  He is convinced that this is part of where the church has gone wrong.   Many people view mission as going to Africa and sharing Jesus. Mission is something that only a few are called to do.   Others see being spiritual as something only; those who can shut themselves off from the world are called to do.   They do not see the connection between spending time with God and sharing it with the world.  The Holy Spirit is to be our guide in developing an inclusive attitude that views mission as sharing Jesus with the world.  We are to live our faith  in the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year not just when we feel like it. If we are only interested in ourselves, then our discipleship only goes so far because we are part of the message of the Gospel. It is not our job to exclude or include people from the community of Jesus Christ based on whether or they drink, gamble, read the Bible, fit our church’s image or look attractive.
Gittins is advocating for Christians to be in the business of fulfilling Ephesians 2:14-18, “destroying the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”(Ephesians 2:14).  This is done according to Gittins by developing a “Missional Christianity that is focused on 3 main components, (1) built on faith more than simply belief, (2) it is more than a process than a state, and (3) it is manifest in both skills and virtues.)”  Possessing authentic Christian spirituality can be described as trusting and being guided by the Holy Spirit, accepting that this is a life-long process and developing life-long disciplines, which lead you to fulfilling your vocation.  We cannot do these things on our own strength nor can do we do these things by simply joining a church and sitting in a pew.  We must spend time with God and with those also who can walk this journey of faith with us not to be an exclusive club but rather to give each other strength to be neighbor. 
I confess that I struggle with being neighbor both inside and outside of the church.  I am a member of a church but I am often very cynical about my faith community.  However, as I have begun to pray more for the church and those who lead, I can see the fruits of my time with God. I am more caring and more loving towards those in my church and outside of the church.  Relying on my won strength does not get me anywhere.  I can see myself being led in this direction as I begin my ministry.  I am hearing God’s call to be a spiritual director as a call to be welcoming to all, to not label myself as a United Methodist Spiritual Director or even as a Christian Spiritual Director but rather to listen and let the Holy Spirit guide.  The other piece of my calling as a contemplative is to pray for others and to be an encourager.  The Holy Spirit is guiding my focus to be attentive to those around me, to smile, say hello and even engage in conversation with strangers.  I have often fallen into the trap of believing that I cannot minister to others until I straighten up and do not have so much sin and suffering in my life.  However, I am realizing that just as the love of Jesus is not exclusive are neither joy nor suffering mutually exclusive.  When we are Spirit-led, joy and suffering can exist simultaneously providing us with the strength to continue to be neighbor.


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