27 - Apologia Alumni Edition

T h e D a r t m o u t h a p o l o g i a

e x i s t s t o a r t i c u l a t e C h r i s t i a n

p e r s p e c t i v e s i n t h e a c a d e m i c

c o m m u n i t y.

Volume 14, Issue 2

A P O L O G I A

THE ALUMNI ISSUE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW SCHUMAN

R o b e r t S m i t h

ON (NOT) STANDING BY WORDS

A Theology of the Cross for Writers

THE PARADOX OF CHRISTIAN PROGRESS

The Way Up is the Way Down

SPIRITUAL ENVY

Overcoming the "Big Green"-Eyed Monster

THE PURPOSE OF SUFFERING

C.S. Lewis and the Goodness of Grief

FULFILLED BY BEAUTY HIMSELF

How Art Leads Us to God and a Complete Life

DARTMOUTH AND "CHRISTIANIZING THE CHILDREN OF PAGANS"

The Biblical and Historical Influences on Dartmouth's Founding Vision

FROM THE SIDE OF CHRIST

Sacramentality in Christian Life

Chris Candelora

APOLOGIA

EXECUTIVE BOARD

LEVI ROSEMAN '21 Editor-in-Chief

MAURA CAHILL '20 Executive Manager

MICHAEL STEEL '21 Managing Editor

CHRIS CANDELORA '22 Special Edition Editor

MICHAEL CARLOWICZ '22 Business Manager

NATALIE MENDOLIA '19 Production Manager

EDITORIAL BOARD

Jake Casale '16

Sara Holston '17

India Perdue '19

Andrea Jenkins '20

Hailey Scherer '20

ADVISORY BOARD

Gregg Fairbrothers '76

Eric Hansen, Thayer

James Murphy, Go vernment

Lindsay W h aley, Classics

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Council on Student Organizations

The Eleazar Wheelock Society

B ehind the C over :

Alumna and contributor

Sarah Clark '11 spent approximately forty hours carving, inking, and printing this issue's cover template by hand. The final product is courtesy of the College's printshop, a favorite place of hers as a student. To the right is a draft of the image. We thank her for this special contribution.

The opinions expressed in The Dartmouth Apologia are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of its editors or Dartmouth College. Copyright © 2020 The Dartmouth Apologia.

CONTRIBUTORS A P

A N D R E W S C H U M A N ' 1 0 serves as the Executive Director of The Veritas Forum, where he is responsible for leading Veritas into its next season of growth and effectiveness. Prior to Veritas, Andrew founded the award-winning Dartmouth Apologia magazine, the Augustine Collective network of Christian thought journals, and the Eleazar Wheelock Society at Dartmouth College. He received his Bachelor's degree in Engineering Sciences and Philosophy from Dartmouth.

C H A R L I E C L A R K ' 1 1 graduated with a degree in Classical Archaeology and during his time at Dartmouth served as editor-in-chief of the Apologia, 20092010. After college, he attended law school then managed his family's scrapyard in his hometown of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Charlie is a founding editor and chairman of Fare Forward and chairman of the Eleazar Wheelock Society. Having recently returned to the Upper Valley, he is a writer and retractor.

H AY D E N K VA M M E ' 1 4 majored in Mathematics and served as the executive editor of the Apologia from the fall of 2013 to the spring of 2014. He is currently a pastor in residency at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa, where he lives with his wife Kathryn and their two children. He decided to write his article because he sees it as an intersection between his life and work since Dartmouth and what he found so fruitful about his time with the Apologia.

M A R G A R E T C R O S S ' 1 9 is a recent graduate who double-majored in English and Government, and she currently works at Harvard Business School where she writes and edits case studies in the Strategy Unit. She was an editor for the Apologia in 2018-2019, and in the same year, she served as the founder and director of the "Breaking Bread at Dartmouth" dinner series and as a member of the Wheelock Conference planning committee. The Aquinas House, Apologia, and EWS communities were central to her Dartmouth experience, and she will always be grateful for the friendship they brought her and the ways in which they challenged her to integrate her studies and her faith. Her article is a reflection on "spiritual envy " what it is, why people feel it, and how people can overcome it to achieve healthier relationships with their peers.

S A R A H C L A R K ' 1 1 graduated with an English and Russian Area Studies double major. At Dartmouth, she served as the managing editor of the Apologia her junior and senior years, as well as writing several articles for the journal. After graduation, she was a founding editor of Fare Forward Currently, she owns a letterpress shop called Scale House Print Shop and works as a freelance writer and editor. She lives in the Upper Valley with her husband Charlie. Her article was inspired by reading C.S. Lewis with new eyes during a difficult year; her design for this issue's cover was inspired by the alumni issue's themes of completion and the passage of time.

X A N T H E K R A F T ' 1 6 , M . A . ' 1 8 always straddled the boundaries of art and science. She graduated frorm Dartmouth College with a major in Computer Science modified with Digital Arts and a minor in Philosophy, worked for Yahoo! and then returned to Dartmouth for a Master's in Digital Musics. In Dartmouth's Interdisciplinary program, she studied Composition and the intersection of Music and Philosophy as theorized by Bonaventure, writing both a compositional thesis and a written thesis on how concretely music leads to knowledge of God. This article is based on her Master's thesis. Xanthe lives in her hometown of Spokane, Washington, as a sacred music composer, liturgical director, cantor, and teacher.

S A R A H O L S T O N ' 1 7 graduated with a degree in English. She joined the Apologia her freshman fall and was a writer and editor for every edition from the spring of 2014 to the spring of 2017. She was also the EWS Student Director from 2015 to 2018. Currently, she works as a Story Lead on the editorial team for Episode, an interactive story game. She became interested in Dartmouth history as a student and previously wrote an article on the secularization of the College. That piece was meant to be the second of a pair of articles examining the two major milestones in the College's relationship to Christianity, with the first part looking at the Christian roots of its founding. Especially given Dartmouth's recent 250th Anniversary, this edition was the perfect chance to complete the two-part set, and to open discussion on this complex but pivotal topic.

R O B E R T S M I T H ' 1 4 is a former editor and business manager of the Apologia. He graduated from Dartmouth with a major in Government and minors in Music and Anthropology. After college, Robert served as a legislative aide to U.S. Representative Mike Kelly and attended the University of Virginia School of Law. He then practiced as a litigation associate at Sidley Austin LLP before clerking for Judge Eric E. Murphy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Robert is particularly interested in the intersection of politics, culture, and religion. His piece was inspired by his experience teaching Sunday school in Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as by recent debates within the Catholic Church.

E T T E R f r o m t h e E D I T O R S

Dear reaDer,

First of all, we want to thank you for reading this special anniversary issue of the Dartmouth Apologia. Exciting things are happening at the Apologia, and it is a special privilege to connect so intimately with our 12-year history of exciting events at the journal.

Second of all, I (Levi) want to thank the co-author of this letter, Chris Candelora, for his tireless efforts in organizing and executing all of the necessary steps to publish this special edition of the Apologia. His impressive leadership and formidable management skills are exactly what’s needed to see a project like this to completion.

Speaking of completion, this special 12-year anniversary issue represents completion in a number of ways.

In a Biblical sense, the number 12 is one of the most recurring motifs in the Bible. So, what exactly does the number represent? To some it is a sign of faithfulness, as there were twelve apostles, Jesus’ most faithful followers. To others, it is a sign of divinity, being the product of 3 (the Divine) and 4 (the Earthly). To us, as to others in the Bible, it is a symbol of wholeness and completion.

Do you long for completeness anywhere in your life? Maybe you have been wrestling with the idea of God, but long to complete a journey that leads to the foot of his throne Maybe you believe in God but long to experience what it means to be completely remade by an all-loving creator. Maybe you think of yourself as religious, but you long to know how faith can complete every aspect of your family life, your work life, and your social life. We are not about to tell you that this journal is an elixir for all of your yet-incomplete problems, but as you engage with the ideas of our writers, we invite you to meditate on where you long for completion in your life. Listen to ideas or inspirations that pop into your head. At the very least, we invite you to enjoy the thought-provoking material in this journal, whether you read one or two articles, or read the journal to completion.

Before we close, I (Chris) would like to thank each alumnus for taking the time to write these articles and contribute something to this issue. All these alumni have their own lives to live, and I am so grateful that you all took the time to fit the Apologia into your busy lives. It was an absolute pleasure working with all of you, and I hope you all are as proud of this issue as I am.

Levi Roseman Editor-in-Chief

Chris Candelora Special Edition Editor

A P O L O G I A

A N D R E W S C H U M A N ' 1 0 s erves as the Executive Director of The Veritas Forum, where he is responsible for leading Veritas into its next season of growth and effectiveness. Previously, Andrew served as the Director of Veritas Labs, where he launched new programming to extend and deepen Veritas' mission across university life. Prior to Veritas, Andrew founded the award-winning Dartmouth Apologia magazine, the Augustine Collective network of Christian thought journals, and the Eleazar Wheelock Society at Dartmouth College. He also helped to launch the Life Worth Living initiative at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture. Andrew received an MBA in Nonprofit Management and an MAR in History of Christianity from Yale University. He received his Bachelor's degree in Engineering Sciences and Philosophy from Dartmouth College. He, his wife Caitlin, and their son Benjamin live in Somerville, M

s

i n t e r n

l q u e s t i o n s t h a t d e m a n d a n s w e r s .

CHRIS: To get started, would you mind retelling how the Apologia came to be? What made you start it and what were some of the defining moments that made you realize the campus needs an apologetics journal?

ANDREW: It started my freshman year. I showed up on campus for freshman orientation and I was excited for college to be a time of ask-

ing the big questions and trying to explore truth with really thoughtful peers. What I quickly realized was that everyone has big questions about the world, about God, and about the meaning and purpose of their lives. I remember wanting to find a way to ask those questions well, in a way that felt like a normal part of college life, with religious views and perspectives on the table.

At the end of freshman orientation, I wound up having a conversation with one of my roommates at the time, and I was talking about my own Christian faith, and how that influenced how I saw the world. He seemed a bit surprised by this and asked, “Does mean that Christians think?” And I thought, oh, wow I wonder how common this feeling is. And it did seem to me that there was a widespread idea that faith and reason are at odds: there’s a life of faith on one

hand and the life of reason on the other. I started to think to myself, in the Christian tradition, faith and reason are together and they’re joined at the hip. I thought, what would it look like for us to create a publication that brought faith and reason back together? It would draw upon the long legacy of faith in the academy and it would make that kind of inquiry normal on campus. That was really the origin idea of the Apologia. It was to bring together faith and reason and start a campus-wide conversation about it.

around what Christianity is what it means and how it affects the way we see the world.

CHRIS: This does sound like it was an extremely smooth-going process you saw the void, you knew how to fill it. But were there any major obstacles you faced when you were trying to establish the journal, or even after it was founded?

The average Dartmouth student is not anti-religious; they're just on a spiritual quest.

CHRIS: You were speaking on how there’s this idea that Christians don’t really use reason and faith interchangeably and that Christians don’t see through the eyes of reason. I remember hearing there was a survey that was conducted on spirituality Did that survey confirm these suspicions?

ANDREW: Yes, very much so. We had been publishing the journal a few years and we really wanted to better understand our readership. We wanted our core audience to be what we called “the body of the spiritual bell curve ” : the average student that probably believes in God in some way but hasn’t really thought much about it. So, we set up a table in the Hop and handed out surveys for a couple days until 500 students had taken our survey interestingly, students loved taking it and we ended up achieving our 500-student goal days before we expected. What we found was that 88 of students consider themselves on a spiritual quest, which was really interesting to see. It confirmed what we initially thought: the average Dartmouth student is not committedly anti-religious; they’re just on a spiritual quest. We also found that a considerable portion of the student body prays weekly or monthly, although attendance at religious services wasn’t terribly high. So we thought there really is a spiritually interested, spiritually curious body at the bell curve that we could engage with a robust and thoughtful conversation

ANDREW:

The biggest challenges early on were in building a team that was sufficiently robust and ecumenical, and in finding students and faculty able to pull off a publication that was academic in nature. We sent calls for papers early on and we ended up getting around 50 pages of papers. The problem was that most of the writing was either highly academic in the sense that faith wasn’t really a part of it or it was too devotional and didn’t integrate the academic aspect. In the end we actually didn’t accept any of those submissions. We realized that we had to define what the Apologia voice was. This voice had to have a balance between faith and reason without compromising either. There were 10 faculty on our advisory board at the beginning that helped us figure out how to do that. It was also important for us that the staff represent all the main Christian denominations. We wanted to have people who were Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox involved in what we were doing. It took a little bit of time to build a team of that diversity that was also unified around our mission for campus.

CHRIS: Once you established the voice, how did you go about getting more articles? At the birth of the journal, were there weekly discussion meetings, or was it mostly focused on publishing?

ANDREW: We were mostly focused on the publication because there were so many decisions that needed to be made early on. A fairly small team of about seven of us met weekly to work on producing the first issue. We refined each other’s writing and we discussed the articles in

depth, but we didn’t really do a lot of other formation in addition to that because we were a small group. We were all freshmen and sophomores.

CHRIS: How long did it take you all to publish your first issue?

ANDREW: We officially decided we ’ re going to do this during freshman orientation in the fall of 2006. It was going to be the first Christian publication like this at Dartmouth and we were really excited about it. At that point I think we could have been described as “ignorance on fire.” We were very convicted about the importance of the mission but had no idea how to do it. None of us had ever published anything before, but again, we were a team of mostly freshmen. We were approved as a student group that fall. To get approved, we had to write up our constitution, get an advisor, and find interested students, and that happened at the end of the fall. Then we published our first issue during the spring. So, it was all within a year.

with what we held to be true by faith. It is, I think, primarily what the Apologia did for me. It gave me a community of people who wanted to learn about the world in the most holistic sense, considering all sources of insight and truth. And it also gave me a community of friends who believed that we could make a contribution to Dartmouth College. By advancing this kind of inquiry, with these perspectives, we could make Dartmouth a better place for everyone to learn and grow

CHRIS: While we are on the topic of what the Apologia did for you, is there one fond memory in particular that you have from the Apologia?

Apologia gave me a community of people who wanted to learn about the world... [using] all sources of insight and truth.

CHRIS: You already alluded to how the journal affected you on campus, and with this issue focusing on completion, I was wondering what sort of closure the journal brought to you during your time at Dartmouth College?

ANDREW: Those of us who were in the Apologia used to joke that we went to class at Dartmouth but got educated at the Apologia That’s because the Apologia was this place where we brought our whole selves to the table and really tried to do the hard work of worldview formation by integrating all that we were learning in our classes

ANDREW: Yeah, so probably my fondest memory was when our fifth issue of the Apologia was published. The fifth issue is probably still my favorite because it was the first one that was entirely run by Charlie the editor-in-chief after me and his team. As soon as it came out, I realized it was an order of magnitude better than anything we’d done previously. And that was extremely exciting because that was the moment I knew that the Apologia could really grow into something special that could last for a long time. Charlie is such a brilliant editor and leader, and he did a fantastic job of it. You know you ’ ve been successful when the person coming after you and the product coming after you is better than what you were able to accomplish. And so that was just a really special moment. Seeing it improve in this way was our first glimpse that this could be a multi-generational effort that improves through the years and is a long-term contribution to Dartmouth.

CHRIS: The Apologia set a template for other apologetic magazines nationwide. We have the Augustine Collective now and from what I’ve been told there are twenty other journals that have followed suit.

ANDREW: Yeah, it’s closer to 30 now.

CHRIS: When you had founded this journal, did you ever imagine it growing into a movement like this?

ANDREW: No, not at all. Definitely not in the beginning. After we published our first issue and started to get so many positive reactions, I did start to wonder if this was going to spread. I had this fleeting thought that it would be super cool if other schools did this too, but I didn’t think it would happen. And then during my sophomore and junior years I started to get a lot of phone calls from students around the country who wanted to start publications like the Apologia on their campus. I actually spent a lot of my sophomore and junior years fielding those phone calls and walking other students through the process.

By the end of my junior year several other journals had successfully launched and we held our first retreat. By that point there were sister publications at Harvard, Yale, Brown, Williams, and U Maine. We all gathered together in a cabin in Alton Bay, New Hampshire.

site and officially launch the effort. That’s when we started calling our fledgling network the Augustine Collective and it was mostly an informal network of editors around the country who believed in this mission and wanted to support each other and do it with excellence. I then stayed at Dartmouth for three years after I graduated to help start the Wheelock House, to run the Augustine Collective, and to work at Christ Redeemer Church. And it was really fun to watch the Augustine Collective start to meaning fully grow.

CHRIS: And would you mind giving us a quick blurb on the Augustine Collective so that our readership has a better understanding of it?

We hope to serve as a beacon of light for all those trying to answer some of these big important questions.

There were about 12 to 15 of us and even though we were a small group we started to think this could be the beginning of something special.

CHRIS: So that retreat was basically the first Augustine Collective meeting?

ANDREW: Yes, that’s right. We didn’t call it the Augustine Collective at the time. We just called it the “journals retreat.” The next year we met again, in the spring of 2010. Then when I graduated in 2010 we raised a little bit of seed capital to launch the web-

ANDREW: So today, the Augustine Collective is a network of student-run journals of Christian thought across colleges in the US (and one in the UK at Oxford). We have close to 30 publications and over 500 students as a part of the network. We host our annual conference in Boston which last year had over 200 students and this year

will be over 250 students for a weekend of training and equipping for how to create impactful publications on campus. We also run a leader’s retreat where we have young alumni that serve as publication coaches. The mission is really still the same, which is to support student-run journals on college campuses

to thoughtfully integrate faith and reason and open that dialogue on campus.

CHRIS: Do you think that our publication and other organizations like this could fulfill or complete a spiritual void on a national level? And where do you see the future of the organization going, or what would you like to see in it going forward?

ANDREW: I think a lot of people are realizing that we need to get better at dialogue We need to start talking about the important things again. We need to talk about religion, the purpose of our lives, and how we fit into a larger story. I think there’s an increasing awareness of this. And there are so many wonderful resources for thought and life within Christian belief and tra-

We need to start talking about the important things again. We need to talk about religion, the purpose of our lives, and how we fit into a larger story.

dition that I think many people could find really intriguing and attractive. My hope for Apologia is that it would continue to do a great job picking up the big, important questions people are really asking and then bringing both faith and reason to the table. I think Apologia can find a national voice among people in our generation who are looking for meaning and purpose, and continue to be a wonderful example for how thoughtful Christianity can contribute to the university experience.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Graphic by samuii, licensed from Adobe Stock Photos Photograph by Alex Mercado, D'11

AON (NOT) STANDING BY WORDS

ristotle famously said that philosophy begins with wonder. Maybe it is the anxious times I live in, but for me, philosophy has always begun not so much with wonder but with worry. I am hardly alone in this regard Soren Kierkegaard comes to mind, as does Kierkegaard's American interpreter, Walker Percy, who struggled throughout his life with the worry that he would commit suicide. Percy’s great antagonist, Rene Descartes, worried that he could not trust his own eyes. And of course, Martin Luther shaped the agenda for the Reformation by his obsessive worrying about the state of his soul and whether he could ever be confident in his salvation.

For this special edition of the Dartmouth Apologia, we alumni were invited to revisit our

past contributions and consider how they might be completed, and naturally, this became an occasion of worry for me. Looking back at work I had published a decade ago, I thought about how much I have learned about my own fallibility. There were things I had written that I now doubted. It was not that I was now certain that they were wrong; but neither was I sure they were right.

For the past twelve years, the writers and editors of the Apologia, myself included, have published our best thoughts and our most careful reasoning in this journal. But as founding editor Andrew Schuman ’10 wrote in our very first issue, “We don’t claim always to be right ” We have probably made mistakes and errors in judgment. Some of the things we ’ ve chosen to

write about have probably caused misunderstandings rather than furthering the conversations we want to have some may have even caused our readers pain. We risk all of these consequences by putting our words down on paper and publishing them.

For Christians, words are a high-stakes matter. The Bible has much to say about their misuse. James 3:8, for example, says, “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”i Jesus himself said, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”ii In several Christian traditions, believers confess at every weekly liturgy that they have sinned in “thought, word, and deed.”

In writing for publication, there is always an element of pride.

in the ear will be shouted from the rooftops.”iii As writers, we bring this disaster upon ourselves. We deliberately seek it out. It gets worse. As writers for the Apologia, we take it upon ourselves to teach others about the Christian tradition, or about how faith and reason intersect. We aren’t always experts in our subjects, but if we didn’t think we had some knowledge or insight to share, why bother? And here Christians are enjoined to be even more careful: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”iv

What about our readers? Could someone interpret what we have written incorrectly (or worse, correctly) and be led astray? Jesus again: “It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.”v

Considering how often we hurt ourselves and others with our words, and the special condemnation Scripture places on this kind of sin, we might wonder why more Christians do not take a vow of silence. No doubt many more should. But at least we can usually fall back on the excuse that our words were spoken in haste, without adequate deliberation: “It just came out! I didn’t mean it!” And hopefully our worst moments are relatively private, with not many ears to hear the words we wish we had never said. But when a Christian decides to write for a public audience, these defenses fall away. Here, neither the excuse of haste nor the hope of obscurity will save us. We sit with our words, sometimes for hours or even days, then put them where others are sure (or, at least, able) to find them: we “publish” our words, that is, intentionally render them public Jesus warns his disciples that on the day of judgment “what you have whispered

In writing for publication, there is always an element of pride. We are trying to render our words not only public, but permanent. This pride is reinforced by the common notion that we ought to “stand by” our words: that in saying something publicly, we are committing to defend it. In this way, we become identified with our public statements so that our fates be-

come entwined. If our arguments are refuted, we ourselves seem to be rejected and devalued. We may offer the disclaimer that we aren’t always right and don’t know all the answers, but we have still put our best work and thought into

what we have written. When challenged, we are both tempted and expected, socially speaking, to dig in our heels and defend our words.

I think Augustine of Hippo had these concerns in mind when he wrote Retractationes toward the end of his life in 426 AD. In this work (the title of which is commonly translated “The Retractions” but might be more accurately translated as “The Revisions”), Augustine reviews his considerable corpus of theological treatises, Scriptural commentaries, sermons, and letters to make clarifications, corrections and yes, a few full-fledged retractions.vi He, like every writer ever published, had things he wished he could unwrite. The task of setting the record straight was so urgent to him that he undertook it even as his city was under siege by barbarians. And so, Augustine went through his works, book by book, confessing that such and such was said “completely inconsiderately” or “that statement does not please me. ”

Augustine’s approach to correcting his writings does offer an appealing alternative to stubbornly defending everything we have ever written; yet, I cannot find it ultimately very comforting. After all, how are we ever to know whether we have corrected or retracted everything that we should?

Looking at it this way, the problem we face as publishing writers is no different than the foundational principle of Christian ethics: that none of our good works can make us acceptable to God. In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul wrote that, having become a Christian, he considered his personal righteousness to be worthless, concluding, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish.”vii In the face of God’s perfection, our best efforts and highest achievements are not merely inadequate but “counted as loss,” as points against us, as actively disqualifying. So are our words, whether merely spoken or written down and submitted

to the public eye. Even if we can try to retract our errors and correct our omissions, how dare we go on writing and publishing in light of this?

O U T O F A N X I E T Y

Even our best efforts and most brilliant insights are not only fraught with error or not good enough: they are total failures.

Kierkegaard addressed this anxiety in the conclusion to Either/Or, his book comparing the aesthetic and ethical modes of life. The concluding section of the book is entitled “The Upbuilding That Lies in the Thought That in Relation to God We Are Always in the Wrong.” His argument is that freedom from anxiety comes from recognizing that our moral lives are not a matter of doing some things right and other things wrong and sorting the two into those for which repentance is required and those for which it is not. Rather, in our moral lives in relation to God, we are always in the wrong and our only consolation can come from grace. When what we have written is challenged, we can refrain from defending ourselves and admit that we are wrong. When we look back at everything that we have written and published, we can find the places where we did not say things well enough or where we got something wrong and actively move to publish those wrongs ourselves, as Augustine did. But, following Kierkegaard’s argument, this sorting out of error will never be enough to put us in the right. The only possible right attitude is of total humility, not only toward our actions but also toward our written words. Even our best efforts and most brilliant insights are not only fraught with error or not good enough: they are total failures, each and every one. And yet even despite this futility and the certainty of failure, we must go on writing, and publishing our work too. In the Heidelberg

f a i l u r e o f e ve r y C h

G

p

Now you ask: What then shall we do? Shall we go our way with indifference because we can do nothing but sin? I would reply: By no means. But, having heard this, fall down and pray for grace and place your hope in Christ in whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection viii

A s C h r i s t i a n s , we a r e c a l l e d t o

g o o n g i v i n g o u r b e s t e f f o r t s e ve n

t h o u g h “ a l l o u r r i g h t e o u s a c t s a r e

l i k e f i l t hy r a g s . ” ix We a r e i n s t r u c t e d

t o “ r u n w i t h p e r s e ve r a n c e t h e r a c e

m a r k e d o u t f o r u s , ” n o t t o f a l l i n t o

d e s p a i r ove r t h e “ s i n t h a t s o e a s i l y

e n t a n g l e s . ” x We a r e n o t p e r m i t t e d

t o s i m p l y g i ve u p o n o u r vo c a t i o n s .

Fo r t h o s e o f u s c a l l e d t o b e w r i t e r s ,

t h e s a m e a p p l i e s . We c a n ’ t s i m p l y

r e f u s e t h e t a s k a ny m o r e t h a n we

c a n d o i t w i t h o u t f a i l i n g.

H av i n g d o n e t h e b e s t we c a n , we

m u s t a c c e p t o u r f a i l u r e w i t h h u -

m i l i t y a n d r e c e i ve t h e g r a c e we a r e

o f f e r e d f o r i t . A s L u t h e r w r i t e s , “ I t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r a p e r s o n n o t t o

b e p u f f e d u p b y h i s ‘ g o o d wo r k s ’

u n l e s s h e h a s f i r s t b e e n d e f l a t e d

a n d d e s t r oye d b y s u f f e r i n g a n d e v i l

u n t i l h e k n ow s t h a t h e i s wo r t h -

l e s s a n d t h a t h i s wo r k s a r e n o t h i s

b u t G o d ’ s . ” xi I n w r i t i n g , a s i n l i f e , we m u s t a t t r i b u t e a ny t h i n g g o o d i n

w h a t we h ave w r i t t e n t o C h r i s t a n d

a ny t h i n g b a d i n w h a t we h ave w r i t -

t e n t o o u r s e l ve s . We n e e d t o f a i l i n

o r d e r t o r e c e i ve t h e g r a c e we n e e d .

T.S. Eliot, looking back on the remarkable first half of his literary career, which included the publication of poems like “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” The Waste Land, and “Ash We d n e sd ay , ” w r o t e i n “ E a s t C o k e r ” :

So here I am, in the middle way, having had twenty years

Twenty years largely wasted, the years of l’entre deux guerres

Trying to use words, and every attempt

Is a wholly new start, and a different kind of failure

B e c a u s e o n e h a s o n l y l e a r n t t o g e t t h e b e t t e r

o f wo r d s

Fo r t h e t h i n g o n e n o l o n g e r h a s t o s ay ,

o r t h e w ay i n w h i c h

O n e i s n o l o n g e r d i s p o s e d t o s ay i t xii

Martin Luther

In writing, as in life, we must attribute anything good in what we have written to Christ and anything bad in what we have written to ourselves. We need to fail in order to receive the grace we need.

Consider the first of Luther’s NinetyFive Theses, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance ” We try to do the right thing, and we fail utterly, and we humbly accept the grace we are offered and go on trying. Might we also say that the entire life of a writer is to be one of retraction? Maybe nothing we write will be finished until we have realized its failure and retracted it.

A G E N E R A L R E T R AC T I O N

Humility is freedom from worry. Accepting your own fallibility, recognizing your insignificance, relinquishing the desire to be esteemed and even the fear of being despised in this way, you are free. That is why I hereby retract all my published works: past, present, and future. Thank you for bearing with me.

n e s , s e e M e r e d i t h E l l e r , The Retractiones of St. Augustine , 1 9 4 6 , B o s t o n U n i ve r s i t y , P h D d i s s e r t a t i o n

vii P h i l i p p i a n s 3 : 8 - 9 ( N I V ) .

viii M a r t i n L u t h e r , “ T h e H e i d e l b e r g D i s p u t a t i o n , ” 1 6 ,

h t t p : / / b o o k o f c o n c o r d o r g / h e i d e l b e r g ph p ix I s a i a h 6 4 : 6 ( N I V ) .

x. H e b r e w s 1 2 : 1 ( N I V ) .

xi L u t h e r , 2 1

xii T. S . E l i o t , The Four Quartets , “ E a s t C o k e r ” ( N e w Yo r k :

H o u g h t o n M i f f l i n H a r c o u r t P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a ny , 1 9 7 1 ) , 3 0

xiii

E l i o t , 1 5 .

Augustine of Hippo

THE PARADOX OF CHRISTIAN PROGRESS

T h e Wa y U p i s t h e Wa y D o w n

BY H AY D E N K VA M M E ' 1 4

T

h e A b r a h a m i c r e l i g i o n s C h r i s t i a n i t y , J u -

d a i s m , a n d I s l a m h ave a l w ay s r e c og n i z e d

t h e v i t a l p owe r o f i m a g e s t o s h a p e o u r u n d e r -

s t a n d i n g o f G o d . S o m e t i m e s , a s w h e n J e s u s

c o m p a r e d h i m s e l f t o a s h e ph e r d , i m a g e s a r e

u s e d t o h e l p u s u n d e r s t a n d G o d b e t t e r . B u t o f -

t e n , a s w h e n t h e M o s a i c l aw f o r b i d s m a k i n g

“ g r ave n i m a g e s , ” t h e r e i s a c o n c e r n t h a t t h e

w ay we p i c t u r e G o d w i l l l e a d u s i n t o m i s u n d e r -

s t a n d i n g s . A s c e n t u r i e s o f d e b a t e a b o u t t h e n a -

t u r e o f J e s u s ’ d i v i n i t y a n d h u m a n i t y a t t e s t , t h i s

c o n c e r n e x t e n d s e ve n t o t h e m e t a ph o r s we u s e

w h e n d i s c u s s i n g t h e o l og y . Ye t i t i s p r a c t i c a l l y

i m p o s s i b l e t o avo i d i m a g e - b a s e d m e t a ph o r s i n

o u r d ay - t o - d ay t h i n k i n g a b o u t G o d o r o u r r e l a -

t i o n s h i p t o H i m .

Fo r e x a m p l e , h ow s h o u l d C h r i s t i a n s

i m a g i n e s p i r i t u a l p r og r e s s , t h e d r aw i n g n e a r e r

t o G o d f o r w h i c h t h e t r a d i t i o n a l t e r m i s “ s a n c -

t i f i c a t i o n ” ? Tow a r d w h a t d o C h r i s t i a n s progress ,

a n d i n w h a t d i r e c t i o n o r d i r e c t i o n s ? M a ny c o m -

m o n i m a g e s o f s a n c t i f i c a t i o n h ave p i c t u r e d i t

a s a n u pw a r d m ove m e n t o f t h e b e l i e ve r t ow a r d

G o d . H owe ve r , t h i s i m a g e o f u pw a r d m ove -

m e n t p r e s e n t s a t l e a s t t h r e e p r o b l e m s . F i r s t , i t

p i c t u r e s G o d a s p a s s i ve a n d s t a t i c r a t h e r t h a n

a s a c t i ve l y b r i d g i n g t h e g a p b e t we e n H i m s e l f

a n d t h e b e l i e ve r . S e c o n d , i t d o e s n o t r e s e m b l e

Photograph of "Baptism of Christ" by Francesco di Cristofano by Matt Adams via Wikimedia Commons

t h e p a t t e r n o f f a i l u r e a n d r e n e we d g r a c e t h a t

t y p i c a l l y c h a r a c t e r i z e s t h e C h r i s t i a n e x p e r i -

e n c e . F i n a l l y , i t c a n l e a d C h r i s t i a n s t o a s s o c i -

a t e h o l i n e s s w i t h d i s t a n c e f r o m s u f f e r i n g , e ve n

t h e s u f f e r i n g o f o t h e r s .

W h a t i f we c o n s i d e r a n a l t e r n a t i ve :

i m a g i n i n g s a n c t i f i c a t i o n a s a “ d ow nw a r d m ove -

m e n t ” ? I n t h e N i c e n e C r e e d , C h r i s t i a n s p r o -

c l a i m t h a t t h e S o n

o f G o d “ c a m e d ow n

f r o m h e ave n . ” S c r i p -

t u r e r e ve a l s a G o d

w h o , i n C h r i s t , “ f i l l s

a l l t h i n g s , ” a n d i n

t h i s w ay s a n c t i f i e s a l l

o f c r e a t i o n . i G o d i s a t

wo r k t o s a n c t i f y , o r

m a k e h o l y , t h e w h o l e

c o s m o s , j u s t a s J e s u s

i n s t r u c t e d H i s f o l l ow -

T h e f i r s t w ay we c a n i m a g i n e C h r i s -

t i a n p r og r e s s a s a d ow nw a r d m ove m e n t i s a s a

d ow nw a r d m ove m e n t i n t o o u r ow n s i n a n d s u f -

f e r i n g. T h i s i s s t r a n g e , a n d u n e x p e c t e d . H ow

c a n a m ove m e n t d e e p e r i n t o o u r ow n s i n a n d

s u f f e r i n g b e p r og r e s s ? A p a r a d i g m a t i c s t o r y

f r o m S c r i p t u r e i l l u s t r a t e s t h e p o i n t : t h e s t o -

r y o f A b r a h a m a n d S a r a h . W h e n t h e t wo a r e

i n t r o d u c e d , we l e a r n

t h a t S a r a h i s b a r r e n .

Rather than imagining sanctification as an upward movement toward God in heaven, we can imagine it as a downward movement toward God at work in the world.

e r s t o p r ay : Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven .

T h i s p r aye r s u g g e s t s t h a t C h r i s t i a n p r og r e s s i s

n o t h i n g m o r e o r l e s s t h a n a p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n

G o d ’ s s a n c t i f y i n g o f t h e w h o l e wo r l d : a n i n -

d i v i d u a l C h r i s t i a n ’ s p r og r e s s i n c l u d e s G o d ’ s

s a n c t i f i c a t i o n o f h i m o r h e r s e l f , b u t a l s o , a n d

o f t e n s i m u l t a n e o u s l y , G o d ’ s s a n c t i f i c a t i o n

o f t h e e n t i r e wo r l d . C h r i s t i a n p r og r e s s t h u s

m i r r o r s G o d ’ s ow n m ove m e n t i n t o t h e wo r l d

t h r o u g h C h r i s t , f o r t h e s a k e o f t h e wo r l d , a m i d

t h e wo r l d ’ s s i n a n d s u f f e r i n g. R a t h e r t h a n

i m a g i n i n g s a n c t i f i c a t i o n a s a n u pw a r d m ove -

m e n t t ow a r d G o d i n h e ave n , o n e c a n i m a g i n e

i t a s a d ow nw a r d m ove m e n t t ow a r d G o d a t

wo r k i n t h e wo r l d . We c a n i m a g i n e t h i s d ow n -

w a r d m ove m e n t m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y i n a t l e a s t

t wo w ay s : f i r s t , a s a d ow nw a r d m ove m e n t i n t o

o u r ow n s i n a n d s u f f e r i n g , w h e r e we e n c o u n t e r

C h r i s t a g a i n a n d a g a i n , p r e s e n t a n d wo r k i n g

a m i d o u r ow n we a k n e s s ; s e c o n d , a s a d ow n -

w a r d m ove m e n t i n t o t h e s i n a n d s u f f e r i n g o f

o u r n e i g h b o r s a n d o f c r e a t i o n , i n a n d a m o n g

w h o m C h r i s t i s p r e s e n t a n d wo r k i n g , i nv i t i n g

a n d e m p owe r i n g u s t o j o i n H i m i n l ov i n g s e r -

v i c e b y t h e p owe r o f t h e S p i r i t . I n t h e s e w ay s ,

we p a r t i c i p a t e i n G o d ’ s ow n d ow nw a r d m ove -

m e n t t ow a r d t h e wo r l d a m i d i t s a n d o u r b r o -

k e n n e s s .

G o d c o m e s ( d ow n )

t o A b r a h a m w i t h e x -

t r a o r d i n a r y p r o m i s e s ,

i n c l u d i n g t h a t H e

w i l l m a k e o f A b r a -

h a m a g r e a t n a t i o n . ii

A b r a h a m wo n d e r s i f

G o d w i l l b r i n g t h i s

a b o u t t h r o u g h a m e r e

m e m b e r o f h i s h o u s e -

h o l d E l i e z e r ; G o d

s p e c i f i e s : A b r a h a m w i l l b e a r a s o n t h r o u g h

w h o m G o d w i l l m a k e t h i s g r e a t n a t i o n . iii A b r a -

h a m wo n d e r s i f h e c a n b e a r t h i s s o n t h r o u g h

H a g a r , S a r a h ’ s s l ave g i r l , s i n c e S a r a h h a s b o r n

h i m n o c h i l d r e n , a n d H a g a r b e a r s I s h m a e l .

S t r i f e e n s u e s . iv G o d s p e c i f i e s a g a i n : G o d w i l l

g i ve A b r a h a m a s o n , I s a a c , b y S a r a h , h i s w i f e .

A b r a h a m p l e a d s w i t h G o d t h a t I s h m a e l m i g h t

b e h i s h e i r t h r o u g h w h o m G o d w i l l f u l f i l l t h e s e

p r o m i s e s , a r g u i n g t h a t G o d c a n h a r d l y e x p e c t

a n e a r l y 1 0 0 - ye a r - o l d m a n a n d a 9 0 - ye a r - o l d

wo m a n t o b e a r a c h i l d . G o d s ay s n o . v E ve n t u -

a l l y , I s a a c i s b o r n : G o d f u l f i l l s H i s ow n p r o m -

i s e , a l l ow i n g S a r a h t o c o n c e i ve a n d b e a r I s a a c .

Ye t e ve n t h i s i s n o t a s i m p l e “ h a p py e n d i n g. ” vi

T h r o u g h o u t t h i s s t o r y , A b r a h a m r e -

p e a t e d l y t r i e s t o i g n o r e , d e ny , o r s i d e s t e p t h e

h a r s h r e a l i t y o f h i s ow n o l d a g e a n d S a r a h ’ s

b a r r e n n e s s . T h e r e a d e r i s t o l d i m m e d i a t e l y

t h a t S a r a h i s b a r r e n . Ye t A b r a h a m d e a l s w i t h

t h i s r e a l i t y o n l y s l ow l y , r e l u c t a n t l y , a n d p a i n -

f u l l y . A b r a h a m t r i e s t o avo i d h i s a n d S a r a h ’ s

b r o k e n n e s s a n d s u f f e r i n g. I n d e e d , h e ’ s w i l l i n g

t o e n g a g e i n a we b o f q u e s t i o n a b l e d e c i s i o n s

t o avo i d e n c o u n t e r i n g t h e i r b r o k e n n e s s . B u t

G o d r e f u s e s t o wo r k o n t h e s e t e r m s . G o d wo r k s

p r e c i s e l y i n a n d t h r o u g h A b r a h a m a n d S a r a h ’ s

we a k n e s s t o s h ow t h a t G o d ’ s l ove a n d f a i t h f u l -

n e s s d e p e n d n o t a t a l l o n o u r ow n s t r e n g t h ,

o r m i g h t , o r p owe r , o r g o o d n e s s . G o d d o e s n o t

n e e d A b r a h a m ’ s o r S a r a h ’ s f e r t i l i t y t o a c c o m -

p l i s h G o d ’ s p u r p o s e s . G o d h a s c h o s e n t h e m

a t l e a s t i n p a r t p r e c i s e l y t o i l l u s t r a t e t h i s

p o i n t . Ye t A b r a h a m a n d S a r a h r e c og n i z e

t h i s o n l y s l ow l y : a s t h e y c o m e t o t e r m s w i t h

t h e i r ow n b r o k e n n e s s , t h e y s i m u l t a n e o u s l y

c o m e t o t e r m s w i t h G o d ’ s g r a c e . T h e i r s t o r y

s e r ve s a s a n i m a g e o f C h r i s t i a n p r og r e s s ,

a n d i t i s b y n o m e a n s o u t o f t h e o r d i n a r y i n

S c r i p t u r e . vii T h i s p a t t e r n c a n h a r d l y b e d e -

s c r i b e d a s a n a s c e n t t ow a r d G o d i n h e ave n :

i t i s m u c h m o r e o f a d e s c e n t i n t o t h e i r ow n

s u f f e r i n g.

w a r d h u m a n i t y , t ow a r d s i n a n d s u f f e r i n g. J e -

s u s h e a l s p e o p l e w h o a r e s i c k , e ve n t o u c h i n g

t h e m b e f o r e h e h e a l s t h e m . viii T h e c r o s s a m p l i -

H av i n g e x p l o r e d t h e w ay i n w h i c h C h r i s -

t i a n p r og r e s s c a n i n i t i a l l y a p p e a r a s a d ow n -

w a r d m ove m e n t , i t i s t e m p t i n g s t i l l t o i m a g -

i n e C h r i s t i a n s a n c t i f i c a t i o n , ove r t h e c o u r s e o f

o n e ’ s l i f e , a s a n u pw a r d m ove m e n t , c u l m i n a t -

i n g i n a m ove m e n t u p t o h e ave n t o b e w i t h G o d

a f t e r d e a t h . P u t a n o t h e r w ay , we c a n i m a g i n e

s a n c t i f i c a t i o n a s m i r r o r i n g C h r i s t ’ s ow n a s c e n -

s i o n , s o t h a t , w h i l e d e a t h a n d s u f f e r i n g m ay

b e a p a r t o f i t , i t s g o a l i s r e s u r r e c t i o n a n d u l t i -

m a t e l y e s c a p e f r o m

t h e wo r l d i n t o t h e

p r e s e n c e o f G o d ,

w h e r e we w i l l r e i g n

w i t h C h r i s t i n g l o -

r y . W h i l e t h i s p i c -

t u r e h o l d s a g r a i n

o f t r u t h , t h e r e a r e

a t l e a s t t wo p r o b -

f i e s a n d f o c u s e s t h i s r e a l i t y : J e s u s

v i s i b l y b e a r s o u r s i n a n d s u f f e r -

i n g a n d b e c o m e s a c u r s e f o r u s , a s P a u l w r i t e s i n G a l a t i a n s . ix D i s -

c u s s i n g M a r t i n L u t h e r ’ s c o m m e n -

t a r y o n t h i s s e c t i o n o f G a l a t i a n s ,

Tu o m o M a n n e r m a a w r i t e s , “ T h e

s p e c i a l e m ph a s i s o f L u t h e r ’ s t h e -

o l og y o f i n c a r n a t i o n l i e s p r e c i s e l y

i n t h e n o t i o n t h a t C h r i s t w a s , i n

t h e h u m a n n a t u r e w h i c h h e a s -

s u m e d , t h e g r e a t e s t s i n n e r o f a l l . ” x O f c o u r s e ,

J e s u s d i e s , G o d r a i s e s J e s u s f r o m t h e d e a d , a n d

J e s u s a s c e n d s t o b e s e a t e d a t t h e r i g h t h a n d o f

G o d i n p owe r . Ye t , a s J e s u s H i m s e l f a t t e s t s i n

Jo h n ’ s G o s p e l , H e “ g o e s u p ” i n o r d e r t h a t t h e

S p i r i t m i g h t “ c o m e d ow n . ” xi M o r e ove r , C h r i s t

p r o m i s e s t o r e t u r n . I n C h r i s t , G o d “ c o m e s

d ow n , ” t o u s , t o o u r s i n , t o o u r s u f f e r i n g.

W h a t d o e s t h i s h ave t o d o w i t h s a n c t i f i -

c a t i o n , o r C h r i s t i a n p r og r e s s ? J u s t a s G o d m ove s

t ow a r d t h e s i n a n d s u f f e r i n g o f t h e wo r l d , G o d

c a l l s u s t o d o t h e s a m e .

B y c o m i n g d ow n i n J e -

Christian progress is progress toward our neighbors in loving service, especially in their need and suffering.

l e m s w i t h i t : f i r s t , t h a t m a ny , i f n o t a l l , C h r i s -

t i a n s c a n a t t e s t t h a t l i f e j u s t d o e s n o t wo r k o u t

t h i s w ay b e i n g C h r i s t i a n d o e s n o t l e a d t o l e s s

s i n a n d l e s s s u f f e r i n g , w h e t h e r f o r u s o r f o r

t h o s e a r o u n d u s ; s e c o n d , a n d e ve n m o r e t o t h e

p o i n t , t h i s i s n o t w h a t G o d c a l l s u s t o d o , n o r

i s t h i s w h a t G o d d o e s .

To s e e t h i s , c o n s i d e r t h e i n c a r n a t i o n .

T h e s c a n d a l o f t h e i n c a r n a t i o n , o f G o d m ov i n g

d e e p e r i n t o t h e s i n a n d s u f f e r i n g o f t h e wo r l d ,

i s n o t a n u n f o r e s e e n d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h e s t o r y o f

a G o d w h o o t h e r w i s e s t e e r s c l e a r o f h u m a n i t y

a n d t h u s a l l o f c r e a t i o n ’ s s i n a n d b r o k e n n e s s .

T h i s w ay o f d ow nw a r d m ov i n g , r a t h e r , s e e m s

t o b e c e n t r a l t o G o d ’ s a c t i v i t y . G o d m ove s t o -

s u s , G o d f r e e s u s f r o m

o u r n e e d t o a s c e n d t o b e

w i t h G o d , b e c a u s e G o d

i s w i t h u s r i g h t w h e r e

we a r e , i n o u r we a k -

n e s s , i n o u r s u f f e r i n g , a n d i n o u r s i n . R a t h e r

t h a n h ave u s a s c e n d t o H i m , G o d t h u s i nv i t e s

u s t o j o i n H i m i n s e r v i c e t ow a r d o u r n e i g h b o r ,

a n d t o f i n d C h r i s t t h e r e a s we l l . A g a i n , a s t o r y

f r o m S c r i p t u r e i l l u s t r a t e s t h e p o i n t . I n M a t -

t h e w 2 5 , J e s u s d e s c r i b e s t h e S o n o f M a n ( H i m -

s e l f ) c o m i n g i n H i s g l o r y a n d s i t t i n g o n H i s

t h r o n e . I f t h e r e i s a ny w h e r e we m i g h t e x p e c t

s u f f e r i n g t o b e o u t o f t h e p i c t u r e , t h i s m i g h t b e

t h e p l a c e . T h e S o n o f M a n h a s r e t u r n e d a n d i s

t h e u n q u e s t i o n e d k i n g. Ye t t h i s k i n g d o e s n o t

d e s p i s e o r d i s t a n c e H i m s e l f f r o m t h e h u n g r y ,

t h e t h i r s t y , t h e s t r a n g e r , t h e n a k e d , o r t h e i m -

p r i s o n e d u n d e r H i s r u l e i n s t e a d H e i d e n t i f i e s

w i t h t h e m . T h i s k i n g g o e s s o f a r a s t o s ay t h a t

w h e n e ve r s o m e o n e meets a n d serves s u c h a p e r -

s o n , s h e i n f a c t m e e t s a n d s e r ve s t h e k i n g ! O n

t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h o s e w h o a p p r o a c h t h e k i n g

w h i l e t r y i n g t o avo i d t h e

h u n g r y , t h e t h i r s t y , t h e

s t r a n g e r , t h e n a k e d , a n d

t h e i m p r i s o n e d d i s c ove r

t h a t s u c h a m ove m e n t i s

i m p o s s i b l e . T h e k i n g m ay

b e o n t h e t h r o n e , b u t

t h e k i n g i s e q u a l l y p r e s -

e n t i n t h o s e w h o m J e s u s

c a l l s “ t h e l e a s t o f t h e s e

w h o a r e m e m b e r s o f m y

f a m i l y . ” xii

n o m o r e t e a r s , n o m o r e p a i n , n o m o r e d e a t h ,

n o m o r e m o u r n i n g ; b u t S c r i p t u r e i m a g i n e s

e ve n t h i s r e a l -

i t y a s G o d ’ s n e w

God has not abandoned us or the world in our broken state, but instead He redeems the world and its creatures by continuing to move toward us.

T h i s s t o r y i l l u s t r a t e s t h a t C h r i s t i a n

p r og r e s s i s n o t p r og r e s s t ow a r d G o d ’ s t h r o n e

o n h i g h , i n i g n o r a n c e o f o t h e r s o r a t t h e i r e x -

p e n s e ; r a t h e r , C h r i s t i a n p r og r e s s i s p r og r e s s t o -

w a r d o u r n e i g h b o r s i n l ov i n g s e r v i c e , e s p e c i a l l y

i n t h e i r n e e d a n d s u f f e r i n g , w h e r e we m e e t a n d

j o i n G o d . G o d wo r k s t h r o u g h u s , a r e a l i t y L u -

t h e r d e s c r i b e s a s u s b e c o m i n g “ C h r i s t s t o o n e

a n o t h e r . ” xiii A s t h e s t o r y f r o m M a t t h e w ’ s g o s p e l

r e ve a l s , i t i s n o t o n l y o r p e r h a p s e ve n p r i m a r -

i l y t h a t we a r e C h r i s t t o t h o s e we s e r ve they

a r e C h r i s t t o u s . T h i s m ove m e n t t ow a r d o u r

n e i g h b o r s i n w h i c h C h r i s t m e e t s u s , wo r k i n g

t h r o u g h u s a n d o n u s , i s b e s t d e s c r i b e d n o t a s

a n a s c e n t , b u t a s a d e s c e n t A s L u t h e r h i m -

s e l f s ay s , “ T h r o u g h l ove we d e s c e n d b e n e a t h

o u r s e l ve s t o s e r ve o u r n e i g h b o r . ” xiv F i n a l l y ,

w h i l e i t i s m o s t n a t u r a l t o t h i n k o f t h i s s e c -

o n d w ay ( t h e d ow nw a r d m ove m e n t t ow a r d o u r

n e i g h b o r s ) a s f o l l ow i n g t h e f i r s t ( t h e d ow nw a r d

m ove m e n t i n t o o u r ow n s i n a n d s u f f e r i n g ) , we

i n f a c t h o p b a c k a n d f o r t h b e t we e n t h e t wo i n

n o p a r t i c u l a r o r d e r . W h e n we r e c og n i z e C h r i s t

i n t h o s e we m e e t a n d s e r ve , we s e e t h e s e t wo

w ay s ove r l a p .

W h i l e i m a g i n i n g C h r i s t i a n p r og r e s s a s

a d ow nw a r d m ove m e n t m ay s e e m g r i m a t f i r s t ,

i t i s a l s o r e a l i s t i c , f a i t h f u l , a n d p owe r f u l i n

a wo r l d t h a t , n e a r l y t wo t h o u s a n d ye a r s a f t e r

C h r i s t ’ s d e s c e n t , s t i l l a p p e a r s s o b l e a k . G o d h a s

n o t a b a n d o n e d u s o r t h e wo r l d i n o u r b r o k e n

s t a t e , b u t i n s t e a d H e r e d e e m s t h e wo r l d a n d

i t s c r e a t u r e s b y c o n t i n u i n g t o m ove t ow a r d u s ,

e ve n u s i n g h u m a n b e i n g s a s a g e n t s o f t h e n e w

c r e a t i o n . O f c o u r s e , i n t h e e n d G o d p r o m i s e s

h e ave n a n d n e w

e a r t h , G o d ’ s n e w

J e r u s a l e m , c o m -

i n g down . xv Pe r -

h a p s d e s c e n t , i f

u n e x p e c t e d , i s n o t

s u c h a g r i m i m a g e

o f s a n c t i f i c a t i o n

a f t e r a l l .

i E ph e s i a n s 4 : 1 0 , N R S V ; s e e a l s o , e . g. , Ps a l m 7 2 : 1 9 , J e r -

e m i a h 2 3 : 2 4 , a n d P h i l i p p i a n s 2 .

ii G e n e s i s 1 2 : 2

iii G e n e s i s 1 5 : 4.

iv. G e n e s i s 1 6 .

v G e n e s i s 1 7 : 1 5 - 2 1

vi N o t o n l y wo u l d I p o i n t h e r e t o t h e n e a r - s a c r i f i c e o f

I s a a c ( G e n . 2 2 ) , b u t t o t h e w h o l e o f G e n e s i s ; i n d e e d t o

t h e w h o l e o f t h e H e b r e w B i b l e , t h r o u g h t h e N e w Te s t a -

m e n t , u p t o t h e p r e s e n t d ay . Fe w i f a ny wo u l d a r g u e t h a t

G o d h a s u n a m b i g u o u s l y f u l f i l l e d t h e s e p r o m i s e s m a d e t o

A b r a h a m a n d S a r a h a n d t h e i r d e s c e n d a n t s Ye t s o m u c h

o f S c r i p t u r e r e s t s o n t h e m .

vii. O n a r e l a t e d t r a j e c t o r y ( t h o u g h I o n l y r e c a l l e d t h i s a f -

t e r t h e f a c t ) T i m o t hy We n g e r t h a s s u c c i n c t l y c a t a l og u e d

s i m i l a r s t o r i e s f r o m S c r i p t u r e o f w h a t h e c a l l s “ f o o l i s h ,

we a k p e o p l e l o s e r s , o n e a n d a l l ” i n Reading the Bible with Martin Luther: An Introductory Guide

viii

e . g. , L u k e 5 : 1 2 - 1 6 .

ix G a l a t i a n s 3 : 1 3 .

x Tu o m o M a n n e r m a a , Christ Present in Faith: Luther’s View of Justification , e d K i r s i I r m e l i S t j e r n a , 1 s t Fo r t r e s s P r e s s

e d . ( M i n n e a p o l i s : Fo r t r e s s P r e s s , 2 0 0 5 ) , 1 4.

xi C. f . e s p e c i a l l y Jo h n 1 6 : 4 b - 1 5 .

xii M a t t h e w 2 5 : 4 0 , m y t r a n s l a t i o n

xiii M a r t i n L u t h e r , The Freedom of a Christian , t r a n s . M a r k

D. Tr a nv i k , L u t h e r s t u d y e d i t i o n ( M i n n e a p o l i s : Fo r t r e s s

P r e s s , 2 0 0 8 ) , 8 4

xiv L u t h e r , 8 9 .

xv R e ve l a t i o n 2 1 : 1 - 4.

SPIRITUAL ENVY

O v e r c o m i n g t h e " B i g G r e e n " - E y e d M o n s t e r

BY

M A R G A R E T C R O S S ' 1 9

Env

y L i k e i t s c o h o r t o f o m i n o u s l y - d u b b e d

‘ ‘ d e a d l y s i n s , ” i t h a s g a i n e d i n f a m y f o r

c a u s i n g m o r e h a r m t h a n g o o d . E ve r yo n e , f r o m

p a r e n t s t o p r e a c h e r s t o I n s t a g r a m p o e t s , e n -

c o u r a g e s u s t o c o u n t o u r b l e s s i n g s i n s t e a d o f

e nv y i n g o t h e r s ’ p o s s e s s i o n s o r t a l e n t s . B u t

w h a t i f b l e s s i n g s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e f o r m s o f

s p i r i t u a l g i f t s a n d m e s s a g e s f r o m G o d , a r e t h e

ve r y c u r r e n c y i n w h i c h we f e e l m o s t i m p ov -

e r i s h e d r e l a t i ve t o o u r p e e r s ? S u c h i n s e c u r i t y

l e a d s u s t o c o n f r o n t a n i n s i d i o u s t e m p t a t i o n

t h a t o f spiritual envy.

W H AT I S S P I R I T U A L E N V Y ?

T h e M o s a i c c o m m a n d m e n t s G o d ’ s l ov -

i n g i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r a j oy f u l l i f e c a u t i o n u s t o

avo i d c ove t i n g o u r n e i g h b o r s ’ g o o d s a n d s p o u s -

e s , a n d b y e x t e n s i o n , we c a n r e a s o n t h a t G o d

d e s i r e s u s n o t t o e nv y t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t

o u r n e i g h b o r s e n j oy , i n c l u d i n g t h e i r r e l a t i o n -

s h i p s t o G o d . P h i l o s o ph e r - f r i a r T h o m a s A q u i -

n a s e m ph a s i z e s t h e d a n g e r o f e nv y i n Summa

Theologiae , w h e n h e w r i t e s t h a t “ e nv y ” i nvo l ve s

“ g r i e v [ i n g ] ove r a m a n ’ s g o o d , i n s o f a r a s h i s

g o o d s u r p a s s e s o u r s ” a n d t h a t t h i s “ i s a l w ay s

s i n f u l . . . b e c a u s e t o d o s o i s t o g r i e ve ove r w h a t

s h o u l d m a k e u s r e j o i c e o u r n e i g h b o r ’ s g o o d . ” i

N o t h i n g s h o u l d m a k e u s m o r e c o n t e n t t h a n

t h e w i l l o f G o d , i n c l u d i n g w h e n t h a t w i l l m a n -

i f e s t s i n t h e d e vo t i o n a n d z e a l o f o u r n e i g h -

b o r s . W h e n we e nv y a n o t h e r p e r s o n ’ s c l o s e n e s s

t o G o d , we b e g r u d g e G o d ’ s s av i n g o f h i s o r h e r

s o u l , i n a c r u e l c o n t r a d i c t i o n o f o u r p r o m i s e t o

e v a n g e l i z e .

M o r e ove r , c o n t e m p o r a r y C a t h o l i c M s g r .

C h a r l e s Po p e d e f i n e s e nv y a s “ s o r r ow , s a d -

n e s s , o r a n g e r a t t h e g o o d n e s s o r e x c e l l e n c e

o f s o m e o n e e l s e b e c a u s e I t a k e i t a s l e s s e n -

i n g m y ow n ” ; h e p o s i t i o n s e nv y a s a t y p e o f

s p i r i t u a l v i o l e n c e , m u c h l i k e h a t r e d , w h e r e b y

“ I d o n o t m e r e l y w a n t t o p o s s e s s t h e g o o d o r

e x c e l l e n c e yo u h ave , I w a n t t o d e s t r oy i t . ” ii T h e

v i o l e n c e o f s p i r i t u a l e nv y b e c o m e s a b u n d a n t l y

c l e a r t h r o u g h t h e c h i e f p r i e s t s ’ r e s p o n s e t o J e -

s u s i n t h e G o s p e l s . T h e p r i e s t s f e a r t h a t J e -

s u s ’ h o l y i n f l u e n c e w i l l l e s s e n t h e i r ow n , a n d

t h e y s e e k t o d e s t r oy h i s e x c e l l e n c e b y h a n d i n g

h i m ove r t o P i l a t e t o b e e x e c u t e d , “ b e c a u s e o f

e nv y ” ( M a t t h e w 2 7 : 1 8 , N A S B ) . T h u s , w h e n we

a l l ow s p i r i t u a l e nv y t o g r i p u s , we n o t o n l y f a i l

t o m o d e l C h r i s t , b u t a l s o a c t i ve l y e m u l a t e h i s

k i l l e r s U p r o o t i n g t h i s s i n , t h e n , i s a m a t t e r o f

u r g e n c y f o r a l l o f u s w h o s e e k t o f o l l ow C h r i s t .

M Y P E R S O NA L G R E E N - E Y E D M O N S T E R

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , c ove t i n g o t h e r s ’ p r o -

f o u n d c o m m u n i o n w i t h o u r s h a r e d G o d p r ove d

a s t r u g g l e f o r m e d u r i n g m y t i m e a t D a r t -

m o u t h . G r ow i n g u p i n a C h r i s t i a n - h o s t i l e p u b -

l i c s c h o o l , a n e m p t y i n g p a r i s h , a n d a s l e e py

N e w H a m p s h i r e t ow n w i t h o n l y a f e w c o b -

we b s o f p i l g r i m p i e t y s t i l l a t t a c h e d , I s p e n t m y

c h i l d h o o d n o u r i s h e d b y a n a b u n d a n c e o f a g -

n o s t i c f r i e n d s , a s i d e d i s h o f Ve g g i e T a l e s , a n d

s o m e h a l f - b a k e d S u n d ay S c h o o l f o r d e s s e r t . A s

a r e s u l t , w h e n I a r r i ve d a t D a r t m o u t h a n d m e t

s i n c e r e l y C h r i s t i a n p e e r s o t h e r t h a n m y s i b -

l i n g s f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e , I h a r d l y k n e w h ow t o

r e s p o n d .

O n t h e o n e h a n d , o b s e r v i n g m y D a r t -

m o u t h C h r i s t i a n f r i e n d s o f a l l d e n o m i n a t i o n s

i n t h e i r c l o s e w a l k s w i t h C h r i s t s e r ve d a s a

p r o f o u n d i n s p i r a t i o n t o m e , o n e t h a t s t i r r e d

m e t o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t t h e o l og y a n d t o p r ay

m o r e c o n s i s t e n t l y . Ye t s o m e C h r i s t i a n s I k n e w

a t D a r t m o u t h t a l k e d a b o u t t h i n g s t h a t we r e

t o t a l l y f o r e i g n t o m e : s p e a k i n g i n t o n g u e s o r

p r o ph e s y i n g , c o n s e c r a t i n g t h e m s e l ve s t o M a r y ,

a n d r e c e i v i n g l o u d a n d c l e a r , a u d i b l e h e ave n l y

g u i d a n c e w h e n m a k i n g b i g d e c i s i o n s . M e a n -

w h i l e , I we n t t o c h u r c h a n d f e l l ow s h i p e ve n t s ,

I k n e w t h e c o m m a n d m e n t s a n d t h e G o s p e l ,

a n d I s t r ove t o l i ve w i t h l ove b u t I d i d n ’ t h e a r

G o d ’ s vo i c e a u d i b l y , n o r r e c e i ve v i s i o n s o r p r o -

ph e t i c wo r d s , e ve n w h e n I p l e a d e d w i t h G o d t o

s h ow o r t e l l m e w h a t h e d e s i r e d o f m e . W hy

w a s i t t h a t w h e n I p r aye d a b o u t w h a t t o m a j o r

i n , o r w h o m t o d a t e , o r w h a t t o d o a f t e r g r a d u -

a t i o n , I h e a r d s i l e n c e ? A n d w hy , i n m y t i m e s

o f a n x i e t y ( o n e o f m y h e av i e s t c r o s s e s ) , h a d n ’ t

G o d s t e p p e d i n t o r e f e r e e t h e p i g p i l e o f wo r -

r y m o u n t i n g i n m y b r a i n ? What did these other, peace-filled Christians have that I didn’t?

S o o n e n o u g h , m y c o n f u s i o n , f e a r o f

m i s s i n g o u t , a n d f e e l i n g o f n e g l e c t b y G o d

s o u r e d i n t o e nv y o f m y s p i r i t - f i l l e d n e i g h b o r s .

I t w a s e a s i e r t o t e l l m y s e l f

t h a t o t h e r s we r e “ f a k i n g

i t ” o r a c t i n g o n t h e p owe r

o f s u g g e s t i o n t h a n t o a d -

m i t t h a t t h e y c o m m u n e d

w i t h t h e H o l y S p i r i t i n a

w ay t h a t I c o u l d n ’ t ( o r a t

l e a s t , h a d n ’ t ) . T h e t h o r n

o f j e a l o u s y , s t e m m i n g

f r o m s p i r i t u a l d r y n e s s ,

e m b e d d e d i t s e l f i n m y h e a r t .

well-being more than your own. Whoever he is whom you persecute with jealousy can evade and escape you. You cannot escape yourself... you are captive under the tyranny of jealousy…. It is a persistent evil to persecute a man who belongs to the grace of God It is a calamity without remedy to hate the happy. iii

C y p r i

e n we h a t e h i s h o l y

o n e s . I t i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t t o r e c og n i z e t h a t

t h e r e s e n t m e n t a n d h a r d - h e a r t e d n e s s s p a r k e d

b y s p i r i t u a l e nv y f i n d s i t s k i n d l i n g i n p r i d e . A s

C h r i s t i a n s , we a r e c a l l e d t o p r a c t i c e h u m i l i t y ,

w h i c h r e q u i r e s t h a t we a c c e p t a n d e ve n h o p e

t h a t o t h e r s w i l l b e c o m e h o l i e r t h a n we , w h i l e

we f o c u s o n b e c o m i n g a s h o l y a s G o d w i l l s u s

t o b e . iv B e l i e ve r s p r o n e t o p e r f e c t i o n i s m , s p i r i -

t u a l e nv y , o r p r i d e ( a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e o f u s

w h o w r e s t l e w i t h a l l t h r e e ) a r e l i k e l y t o r e s e n t

t h e i d e a t h a t we m ay n e ve r b e t h e h o l i e s t p e o -

All sins alienate us from our neighbors and from God, but... envy has an especially rotting effect on our hearts, minds, and spirits.

A l l s i n s a l i e n a t e u s f r o m o u r n e i g h b o r s

a n d f r o m G o d , b u t I k n ow f r o m p e r s o n a l e x p e -

r i e n c e t h a t e nv y h a s a n e s p e c i a l l y r o t t i n g e f f e c t

o n o u r h e a r t s , m i n d s , a n d s p i r i t s . E a r l y C h r i s -

t i a n b i s h o p C y p r i a n o f C a r t h a g e ( c . 2 0 0 - 2 5 8

A D ) p u t s i t b e s t :

What a gnawing worm of the soul is it... what a rust of the heart, to be jealous of another, either in respect of his virtue or of his happiness; that is, to hate in him either his own deservings or the divine benefits... to make other people’s glory one ’ s own penalty, and… apply a sort of executioner to one ’ s own breast, to bring the tormentors to one ’ s own thoughts and feelings, that they may tear us with intestine pangs Whoever you are that are envious and malignant you are the enemy of no one ’ s

p l e i n o u r c o m -

m u n i t i e s We

a r e n o t a l o n e

i n t h i s s t r u g -

g l e : t h e e a r l i -

e s t d i s c i p l e s

s o u g h t t o o u t -

c o m p e t e e a c h

o t h e r t o b e t h e

g r e a t e s t i n t h e

K i n g d o m o f G o d . J e s u s c o r r e c t s t h i s p r i d e f u l

p u r s u i t b y o f f e r i n g h i s f r i e n d s t h e e x a m p l e o f a

h u m b l e , l i t t l e c h i l d ( L u k e 9 : 4 6 - 4 8 ) . D i s t i l l i n g

t h e m o r a l o f t h i s p a s s a g e , C y p r i a n w r i t e s , “ A

d i s c i p l e o f C h r i s t . . . m u s t n o t b e e nv i o u s . W i t h

u s t h e r e c a n b e n o c o n t e s t f o r e x a l t a t i o n ; f r o m

h u m i l i t y we g r ow t o t h e h i g h e s t a t t a i n m e n t s . ” v

T h u s , h u m i l i t y o f f e r s a n a n t i d o t e t o s p i r i t u a l

e nv y b u t h ow c a n we o p e n o u r h e a r t s t o h u -

m i l i t y o n c e t h e y h ave b e e n c l u t c h e d b y e nv y ?

A s i s o f t e n t h e c a s e , we c a n f i n d g u i d a n c e i n

t h e G o s p e l s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e p a r a b l e o f t h e

P r o d i g a l S o n a n d i n t h e s t o r i e s o f M a r t h a a n d

E l i z a b e t h .

F I N D I N G T H E FAT T E N E D CA L F

S i n c e l e av i n g t h e “ D a r t m o u t h b u b b l e , ”

I h ave b e e n s u r r o u n d e d , m o r e t h a n e ve r , w i t h

e u ph o r i c a l l y f a i t h f u l yo u n g p e o p l e . A t f i r s t , I

f e l t m y t e n d e n c y t ow a r d c o m p a r i s o n ( t h a t p e s -

k y t h i e f o f j oy , a s T h e o d o r e R o o s e ve l t p u r p o r t -

e d l y d u b b e d i t ) c o m i n g t o a h e a d . I e s p e c i a l l y

d o u b t e d t h a t I c o u l d k e e p u p w i t h t h e l i ve l y

B o s t o n i a n C a t h o l i c s I w a s m e e t i n g , a n d I f i g -

u r e d i t wo u l d b e e a s i e r t o s h r u g t h e m o f f a s

w a c k y a n d c r o u c h b a c k i n t o m y s e l f . S t i l l , I s aw

a b e a u t y i n t h e m t h a t I c r ave d . I p l e a d e d w i t h

G o d : Lord, let me see them through your eyes. Let me celebrate their goodness, and help me to be humble. And please, fix whatever it is inside me that’s keeping me from you.

A n a n -

s we r c a m e i n

t h e g e n t l e s t o f

w ay s , a s I w a s

p r e v i e w i n g t h e

S u n d ay S c r i p -

t u r e r e a d i n g s ,

w h i c h i n c l u d -

e d t h e s t o r y

m e n t . L i k e w i s e , we w h o a r e p r o n e t o s p i r i t u -

a l e nv y m ay g e n u i n e l y d e s i r e t h e s a l v a t i o n o f

s o u l s , b u t a ny a p p a r e n t favoritism o n t h e p a r t o f

o u r Fa t h e r G o d wo u n d s o u r p r i d e .

Fo r t u n a t e l y , t h e f a t h e r i n t h e p a r a b l e ,

e m b l e m a t i c o f o u r E t e r n a l Fa t h e r , k n ow s h i s

s o n ’ s h e a r t . H e d o e s n o t c h a s t i s e h i s e l d e r

s o n f o r h i s p r i d e o r j e a l o u s y . I n s t e a d , h e r e a s -

s u r e s h i m , “ ‘ S o n , yo u h ave a l w ay s b e e n w i t h

m e , a n d a l l t h a t i s m i n e i s y o u r s ’ ” ( L u k e

1 5 : 3 1 , N A S B , e m ph a s i s m i n e ) . T h i s p a r a b l e

r e m i n d s t h o s e o f u s w h o s t r u g g l e w i t h s p i r i -

t u a l e nv y t h a t we , a s b e l i e ve r s , a r e always w i t h

o u r Fa t h e r . We a r e k n ow n , s e e n , a n d l ove d b y

h i m , a n d we h ave already r e c e i ve d f r o m h i m

a bountiful, endless inheritance i n h e ave n . We a r e

c a l l e d t o r e j o i c e i n o u r ow n r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h

Our all-knowing Father does not distribute gifts unevenly; rather he distributes them purposefully and perfectly, for the common good.

o f t h e P r o d i g a l S o n . I n t h i s f a m o u s p a r a b l e

o f t wo b r o t h e r s a n d t h e i r i n f i n i t e l y c o m p a s -

s i o n a t e f a t h e r , t h e w ay w a r d yo u n g e r b r o t h e r

r e t u r n s h o m e a n d i s m e t b y h i s f a t h e r ’ s l a r -

g e s s e . T h e e l d e r b r o t h e r , w h o h a s s e r ve d h i s

f a t h e r d u t i f u l l y , s e e t h e s w i t h e nv y a s h e t e l l s

h i s f a t h e r , “ ‘ L o o k ! Fo r s o m a ny ye a r s I h ave

b e e n s e r v i n g yo u a n d I h ave n e ve r n e g l e c t e d

a c o m m a n d o f yo u r s ; a n d ye t yo u h ave n e ve r

g i ve n me a yo u n g g o a t , s o t h a t I m i g h t c e l e -

b r a t e w i t h m y f r i e n d s ; b u t w h e n t h i s s o n o f

yo u r s c a m e , w h o h a s d e vo u r e d yo u r we a l t h

w i t h p r o s t i t u t e s , yo u k i l l e d t h e f a t t e n e d c a l f

f o r h i m ! ’ ” ( L u k e 1 5 : 2 9 - 3 0 , N A S B , e m ph a s i s

m i n e ) . A s I r e a d , I i m m e d i a t e l y r e c og n i z e d

m y s e l f i n t h e e l d e r b r o t h e r ; m y s p i r i t u a l e nv y

e c h o e d h i s f r a t e r n a l e nv y . T h e e l d e r b r o t h e r

d o e s n o t r e s e n t h i s b r o t h e r f o r c o m i n g h o m e ,

n o r h i s f a t h e r f o r f o r g i v i n g h i m . T h e i n j u s t i c e , i n t h e e l d e r b r o t h e r ’ s e ye s , i s t h a t h e p e r c e i ve s

h i s f a t h e r a s b e i n g more g e n e r o u s t ow a r d a n d

more i n t i m a t e w i t h h i s b r o t h e r , a n d h e s e e s

n o j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r t h i s p r e f e r e n t i a l t r e a t -

G o d , r a t h e r t h a n c o n t r a s t -

i n g i t w i t h o u r n e i g h b o r ’ s ,

a n d t o s h a r e , r a t h e r t h a n

h o a r d , G o d ’ s l ove f o r u s .

E ve r y b a p t i z e d p e r s o n

h a s a “ f a t t e n e d c a l f ” i n t h e

f o r m o f a s p i r i t u a l g i f t , b u t n o t a l l l o o k t h e s a m e , t h o u g h

t h e y a r e a l l g i f t s f r o m G o d a n d a l l o f e q u a l i m -

p o r t a n c e . vi T h e r e a r e m a ny g i f t s o f t h e S p i r i t ,

“ b u t t h e s a m e S p i r i t d i s t r i b u t e s t h e m . T h e r e a r e

d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f s e r v i c e , b u t t h e s a m e L o r d ”

( 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 2 : 4 - 5 , N A S B ) . O u r a l l - k n ow -

i n g Fa t h e r d o e s n o t d i s t r i b u t e g i f t s u n e ve n l y

i n o r d e r t o d e ny u s i n t i m a c y w i t h h i m ; r a t h e r ,

h e d i s t r i b u t e s t h e m p u r p o s e f u l l y a n d p e r f e c t l y ,

“ f o r t h e c o m m o n g o o d ” ( 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 2 : 7 ,

N A S B ) . S o m e a r e b l e s s e d w i t h w i s d o m , o t h e r s

k n ow l e d g e , f a i t h , h e a l i n g , p r o ph e c y , m i r a c l e

wo r k i n g , s p e a k i n g i n t o n g u e s , o r i n t e r p r e t i n g

t o n g u e s , a n d “ a l l t h e s e a r e t h e wo r k o f o n e

a n d t h e s a m e S p i r i t , a n d h e d i s t r i b u t e s t h e m t o

e a c h o n e , j u s t a s h e d e t e r m i n e s ” ( 1 C o r i n t h i a n s

1 2 : 1 1 , N A S B ; s e e a l s o R o m a n s 1 2 : 6 - 8 ) . M o r e -

ove r , p r a c t i c a l g i f t s t h a t s e r ve G o d ’ s K i n g d o m ,

r a n g i n g f r o m h o s p i t a l i t y t o a l m s g i v i n g , l e a d e r -

s h i p t o m u s i c , a n d w r i t i n g t o e v a n g e l i s m , a r e

a l s o wo r t hy o f c e l e b r a t i o n . vii A c r u c i a l f i r s t s t e p

i n ove r c o m i n g s p i r i t u a l e nv y i s n o t i c i n g a n d

n u r t u r i n g o u r ow n f a t t e n e d c a l ve s , i n s t e a d o f

e ye i n g o u r n e i g h b o r s ’ . viii

B I B L I CA L M E N TO R S

L i k e t h e p r o d i g a l s o n ’ s b r o t h e r , I h a d

b e e n t o o b u s y t r e a t i n g m y f e l l ow b e l i e ve r s a s

t h e “ w i n n e r s ” o f o u r Fa t h e r ’ s a t t e n t i o n a n d

b o o h o o i n g m y s e l f a s t h e “ l o s e r ” t h a t w h e n I

h a d a s k e d G o d t o s p e a k t o m e o r t h e S p i r i t t o

a c t i n m e , i t w a s o f t e n w i t h a n u n d e r c u r r e n t

o f d e f e a t i s m . “ My p r aye r s m u s t n o t m a t t e r ve r y

m u c h t o h i m , ” I r u d e l y r e a s o n e d . H ow c a n

t h o s e o f u s w h o s t r u g g l e w i t h s p i r i t u a l e nv y

b r e a k f r e e f r o m t h i s d e f e a t i s t ( a n d i r o n i c a l l y ,

p r i d e f u l ) m i n d s e t ? T h e e x a m p l e s o f M a r t h a

a n d E l i z a b e t h o f f e r u s a w ay f o r w a r d .

A p p e a r i n g i n L u k e a n d Jo h n ’ s G o s p e l s ,

M a r t h a i s t h e f r a z z l e d , ove r wo r k e d , b u t l oy a l

s i s t e r o f L a z a r u s a n d M a r y . L u k e d e s c r i b e s h e r

a s f o l l ow s :

A woman named Martha welcomed [Jesus] into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me. ” (Luke 10:38-40, NASB)

W h e n i n t e r p r e t i n g t h i s p a s s a g e , we o f t e n f o c u s

o n M a r t h a ’ s ove r v a l u i n g o f wo r l d l y p r i o r i t i e s ,

b u t M a r t h a ’ s r e b u k e o f M a r y a l s o i n d i c a t e s a

t w i n g e o f s p i r i t u a l e nv y . M a r t h a , w h o i s d u -

t i f u l l y t r y i n g t o p l e a s e G o d t h r o u g h h e r s e r -

v i c e a n d h o s p i t a l i t y ( w h i c h a r e s p i r i t u a l g i f t s

a n d a c t s o f l ove i n t h e i r ow n r i g h t ) , w a t c h e s

w i t h f r u s t r a t i o n a s M a r y g r ow s

a p p a r e n t l y c l o s e r t o t h e L o r d . I n -

d e e d , M a r y e n j oy s a u n i q u e phy s i -

c a l c l o s e n e s s t o J e s u s , a s s e e n w h e n

s h e a n o i n t s h i s f e e t w i t h h e r h a i r

i n Jo h n ’ s G o s p e l ( Jo h n 1 2 : 3 ) . M a r -

t h a l i k e l y e nv i e s M a r y ’ s a b i l i t y t o

t o u c h a n d l i s t e n t o J e s u s w i t h o u t

a h i n t o f a n x i e t y , r e s t l e s s n e s s , o r

s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a l l o f w h i c h we

c a n i m a g i n e p l a g u e p e o p l e - p l e a s i n g

M a r t h a . W i t n e s s i n g M a r y ’ s j oy a n d

t r a n q u i l i t y , M a r t h a c o n t r a s t s i t t o

J e s u s r e c og n i z e s t h e e nv y a n d h u r t i n

M a r t h a ’ s h e a r t . H e r e a s s u r e s h e r t h a t h e k n ow s

h e r b y c a l l i n g h e r b y n a m e , h e a c k n ow l e d g e s

h e r s u f f e r i n g , a n d h e e n c o u r a g e s h e r t o s e e k a n

u p - c l o s e - a n d - p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h h i m .

“ T h e L o r d a n s we r e d a n d s a i d t o h e r , ‘ M a r t h a ,

M a r t h a , yo u a r e wo r r i e d a n d b o t h e r e d a b o u t s o

m a ny t h i n g s ; b u t o n l y o n e t h i n g i s n e c e s s a r y ,

f o r M a r y h a s c h o s e n t h e g o o d p a r t , w h i c h s h a l l

n o t b e t a k e n aw ay f r o m h e r ’ ” ( L u k e 1 0 : 4 1 - 4 2 ,

N A S B ) . H e r e , J e s u s m a k e s i t k n ow n t h a t h e

w i l l n o t d e ny h i s f o l l owe r , M a r y , h e r s p i r i t u a l

g i f t o f p i e t y t h a t s e r ve s h i s K i n g d o m .

O n c e M a r t h a a c c e p t s t h a t M a r y ’ s g i f t

p l e a s e s G o d , s h e u n b u r d e n s h e r s e l f o f h e r j e a l -

o u s y a n d f o c u s e s o n c u l t i v a t i n g a u n i q u e r e l a -

t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d , w h i c h b e c o m e s e ve r y b i t a s

v a l u a b l e a n d b e a u t i f u l a s t h a t h e r s i s t e r e n j oy s .

I n f a c t , i t i s M a r t h a , n o t M a r y , w h o r u n s t o

J e s u s a f t e r h e r b r o t h e r ’ s d e a t h a n d e x p r e s s e s

u nw ave r i n g f a i t h i n h i s a b i l i t y t o r e s t o r e h e r

b r o t h e r t o l i f e ( Jo h n 1 1 : 2 0 - 2 1 ) . L o n g b e f o r e h i s

r e s u r r e c t i o n , M a r t h a k n ow s , t h r o u g h p r o f o u n d

t r u s t , t h a t d e a t h h a s l o s t i t s s t i n g i n J e s u s . ix

N o t a b l y , M a r t h a d o e s n o t g l o a t i n M a r y ’ s

s p i r i t u a l m o m e n t o f we a k n e s s w h e n t h e l a t -

t e r d e c l i n e s t o m e e t J e s u s a f t e r L a z a r u s ’ d e a t h

( Jo h n 1 1 : 2 0 ) . I n s t e a d , f r e e d f r o m e nv y , M a r -

t h a c a l l s h e r s i s t e r b a c k i n t o r i g h t - r e l a t i o n s h i p

w i t h G o d , t e l l i n g M a r y t h a t t h e Te a c h e r ( J e -

s u s ) h a s c a l l e d f o r h e r ( Jo h n 1 1 : 2 8 ) . T h e G o s -

p e l d o e s n o t i n d i c a t e t h a t J e s u s h a d d o n e s o a n d t h u s i m p l i e s

h e r ow n a n x i o u s m i n d a n d f e e l s s p i r i t u a l l y n e -

g l e c t e d . Ye t r a t h e r t h a n h e r s e l f p u r s u i n g c l o s e -

n e s s w i t h C h r i s t , M a r t h a a t t e m p t s t o y a n k h e r

s i s t e r aw ay .

t h a t M a r t h a a p -

p e a l s t o h e r s i s -

t e r o u t o f l ove

a n d e v a n g e l i s m ,

n o t m e r e l y o u t

o f d u t y . M a r t h a

c o u l d s avo r h e r

m o n o p o l y o n

J e s u s ’ a t t e n t i o n .

I n s t e a d , s h e i n -

v i t e s h e r s i s t e r

b a c k i n t o t h e

c o m m u n i o n s h e h a d o n c e c ove t e d , a s a n e q u a l

s h a r e r i n t h e l ove o f C h r i s t . I n M a r t h a , we s e e

a n e x a m p l e o f e nv y ove r c o m e . M a r t h a ’ s s o f t e n -

i n g t ow a r d M a r y i n s t r u c t s u s t o s e r ve a n d e n -

c o u r a g e t h o s e i n o u r l i ve s w h o s e h o l i n e s s t h e

E n e m y w a n t s u s t o f e e l t h r e a t e n e d b y . L i k e M a r -

t h a , we a r e c h a l l e n g e d t o a c c e p t d i f f e r e n c e s i n

s p i r i t u a l g i f t s ( s u c h a s M a r t h a ’ s h o s p i t a l -

i t y ve r s u s M a r y ’ s p i e t y ) a s p a r t o f G o d ’ s

p e r f e c t p l a n .

A n o t h e r wo m a n o f t h e N e w Te s t a m e n t ,

E l i z a b e t h , p r ov i d e s f o r u s a n e x e m p l a r o f h u -

m i l i t y a n d f e l l ow s h i p i n t h e B o d y o f C h r i s t .

W h e n M a r y , p r e g n a n t w i t h t h e M e s s i a h h i m -

s e l f , v i s i t s h e r c o u s i n E l i z a b e t h , t h e l a t t e r e x -

h i b i t s n o e nv y o f M a r y ’ s u n i q u e c l o s e n e s s t o

G o d , n o r d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h h e r ow n r e l a t i ve -

l y p e r i ph e r a l r o l e i n s a l v a t i o n h i s t o r y , t h o u g h

b o t h r e a c t i o n s wo u l d b e n a t u r a l e n o u g h . I n -

s t e a d , s h e rej oices w i t h M a r y , r e c og n i z i n g M a r y ’ s

m o t h e r h o o d a s c r u c i a l t o t h e K i n g d o m o f G o d

w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e g i v i n g t h a n k s f o r h e r

ow n b l e s s i n g h e r m i r a c u l o u s l y c o n c e i ve d s o n ,

Jo h n E l i z a b e t h c e l e b r a t e s M a r y a s “ b l e s s e d

a m o n g wo m e n ” a n d h u m b l y a s k s , “ A n d h ow

h a s i t h a p p e n e d t o m e , t h a t t h e m o t h e r o f

m y L o r d wo u l d c o m e t o m e ? ” ( L u k e 1 : 4 2 - 4 3 ,

N A S B ) . W i t h a n o p e n h e a r t , s h e a c c e p t s t h e

l ove t h a t h e r h o l i e r c o u s i n s h ow s h e r , a n d s h e

vo i c e s h e r ow n l ove i n r e t u r n .

E l i z a b e t h e m b o d i e s t h e u n - j e a l o u s p e r -

s o n o f C y p r i a n ’ s d e s c r i p t i o n : “ [ s h e ] w h o k n ow s

n o t t o b e j e a l o u s , a n d w h o w i t h o n e h e a r t a n d

i n m e e k n e s s l ove s [ h e r ] b r e t h r e n , i s h o n o r e d

w i t h t h e r e c o m p e n s e o f l ove a n d p e a c e . ” x E l i z -

a b e t h c o u n t s h e r ow n b l e s s i n g s and h e r n e i g h -

b o r ’ s ( M a r y ’ s ) a n d g i ve s t h a n k s f o r b o t h . S o

We are called to rejoice in the victories of God in others.

m u s t we d o a s we l l . L i k e E l i z a b e t h , we a r e

c a l l e d t o r e j o i c e i n t h e v i c t o r i e s o f G o d i n o t h -

e r s .

H E A L I N G F R O M S P I R I T U A L E N V Y

D r aw i n g e n c o u r a g e m e n t f r o m t h e s e B i b -

l i c a l m e n t o r s , we c a n c o n f i d e n t l y m a k e c h a n g e s

i n o u r ow n l i ve s , w i t h G o d ’ s h e l p . F i r s t , we c a n

r e f r a m e o u r m o m e n t s o f s p i r i t u a l i n s e c u r i t y ,

n o t a s G o d ’ s d i s f avo r o r n e g l e c t , b u t a s H i s i n -

v i t a t i o n s t o s e e k o u t s p i r i t u a l f o o d , p e r h a p s b y

a s k i n g f o r t h e r e c i p e ( i n t h e f o r m o f s p i r i t u a l

g u i d a n c e ) f r o m t h o s e w h o s e p l a t e s a r e f u l l a n d

w h o m we a r e wo n t t o e nv y . T h i s c o u l d m e a n

f e l l ow s h i p p i n g w i t h o t h e r C h r i s t i a n s , f i n d i n g

a s p i r i t u a l a d v i s o r , j o i n i n g a B i b l e s t u d y , d o i n g

c o m m u n i t y s e r v i c e , o r r e c o n c i l i n g w i t h a f a m -

i l y m e m b e r . S e c o n d , we c a n d a r e t o p r ay t h e

p r aye

r t h a t i r r i t a t e s o r s c a r e s u s . T h e E n e m y

w a n t s t o p e d d l e u s c h e a p e nv y , s u s p i c i o n , a n d

c y n i c i s m t o d i s t r a c t u s f r o m G o d ’ s t r e a s u r e s .

I ’ m l e a r n i n g t o

l e a n i n t o h o l y

p r a c t i c e s t h a t

u s e d t o a n n oy o r

u n n e r ve m e i n

o t h e r s , s u c h a s

d e m o n s t r a t i v e

p r aye r p o s t u r e s , p u b l i c p r aye r , a n d f a s t i n g , a n d

I ’ ve n o t i c e d a

d e e p e n i n g i n

m y r e l a t i o n s h i p

t o C h r i s t a s a

r e s u l t . F i n a l l y ,

we c a n r e m i n d

o u r s e l ve s t h a t

d i s c i p l e s h i p i s a

t e a m s p o r t , n o t a r a c e . We c a n i m a g i n e o u r

C h r i s t i a n b r e t h r e n a s f e l l ow O l y m p i a n s r e p -

r e s e n t i n g t h e s a m e n a t i o n ( t h a t i s , t h e K i n g -

d o m o f G o d ) a l o n g s i d e u s . S o m e d ay s , o u r

t e a m m a t e s w i l l w i n g o l d w h i l e we w i n b r o n z e .

R a t h e r t h a n b e c o m i n g d i s c o u r a g e d b y t h i s d i f -

f e r e n c e , we c a n b e g r a t e f u l t h a t t og e t h e r , we

a r e s t r o n g e r t h a n e i t h e r o f u s wo u l d b e a l o n e .

A s C y p r i a n r e c o m m e n d s , “ f avo r t h o s e w h o m

yo u e nv i e d … . I m i t a t e g o o d m e n , i f yo u a r e a b l e

t o f o l l ow t h e m ; b u t i f yo u a r e n o t a b l e t o f o l -

l ow t h e m , a t l e a s t r e j o i c e w i t h t h e m , a n d c o n -

g r a t u l a t e t h o s e w h o a r e b e t t e r t h a n yo u . M a k e

yo u r s e l f a s h a r e r w i t h t h e m i n u n i t e d l ove . ” xi

W h e n we d e d i c a t e o u r s e l ve s t o a h u m -

b l e , t e a m - o r i e n t e d p u r s u i t o f h o l i n e s s , we “ t e a r

o u t f r o m [ o u r ] b r e a s t [ s t h e ] t h o r n s a n d t h i s -

t l e s , ” o f e nv y , “ t h a t t h e L o r d ’ s s e e d m ay e n -

r i c h [ u s ] w i t h a f e r t i l e p r o d u c e … [ a n d ] a l l b i t -

t e r n e s s w h i c h h a d s e t t l e d w i t h i n b e s o f t e n e d

b y t h e s we e t n e s s o f C h r i s t . ” xii R e a d e r , i f yo u

a r e aw a r e o f t h e l ove o f C h r i s t , t h e n yo u h ave

a l r e a d y b e e n o f f e r e d a c o m p l e t e i n h e r i t a n c e .

H o l i n e s s i s a n i n f i n i t e r e s o u r c e t h a t i s a l w ay s

av a i l a b l e t o yo u . Yo u r n e i g h b o r ’ s h o l i n e s s d o e s

n o t d i m i n i s h yo u r ow n b u t r a t h e r h a s t h e p o -

t e n t i a l t o s t r e n g t h e n a n d r e f i n e i t . I n d e e d , i n

t h e w i s e wo r d s o f T h é r è s e o f L i s i e u x , “ e ve r y

f l owe r [ G o d ] h a s c r e a t e d h a s a b e a u t y o f i t s

ow n . . . t h e s p l e n d o r o f t h e r o s e a n d t h e l i l y ’ s

w h i t e n e s s d o n o t d e p r i ve t h e v i o l e t o f i t s s c e n t

n o r m a k e l e s s r av i s h i n g t h e d a i s y ’ s c h a r m s . . .

s o i t i s i n t h e wo r l d o f s o u l s , t h e l i v i n g g a r -

d e n o f t h e L o r d . ” xiii I h o p e yo u w i l l j o i n m e

i n c o m m i t t i n g t o s p e n d l e s s t i m e c o m p a r i n g

a n d m o r e t i m e t h a n k i n g G o d f o r t h e d i ve r s e

g a r d e n t h a t i s t h e C h r i s t i a n f a m i l y , w h i l e c o n -

t i n u i n g t o p u r s u e p e r s o n a l d e vo t i o n t o C h r i s t .

That others may become holier than we, provided that we may become as holy as we should Jesus, grant us the grace to desire it!xiv

If you are aware of the love of Christ, then you have already been offered a complete inheritance. Holiness is an infinite resource that is always available to you.

i T h o m a s A q u i n a s , Summa Theologiae , I I - I I . 3 6 . 2 , 1 4 8 5 ,

a c c e s s e d O c t o b e r 2 0 1 9 , h t t p : / / w w w n e w a d ve n t o r g / s u m -

m a / 3 0 3 6 h t m

ii C h a r l e s Po p e , “ H ow E nv y i s D i f f e r e n t f r o m J e a l -

o u s y a n d I s a D i a b o l i c a l S i n , ” Community in Mission , A p r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 , a c c e s s e d O c t o b e r 2 0 1 9 , h t t p : / / b l og. a d w .

o r g / 2 0 1 6 / 0 4 / h o w - e nv y - i s - d i f f e r e n t - t h a n - j e a l o u s l y - a n d -

i s - a - d i a b o l i c a l - s i n /

iii C y p r i a n o f C a r t h a g e , “ O n J e a l o u s y a n d E nv y , ” Tr e a -

t i s e 1 0 , a c c e s s e d O c t o b e r 2 0 1 9 , h t t p : / / w w w n e w a d ve n t

o r g / f a t h e r s / 0 5 0 7 1 0 . h t m . E m ph a s i s m i n e .

iv. S e e “ T h e L i t a ny o f H u m i l i t y , ” a t t r i b u t e d t o R a f a e l

M e r r y d e l Va l ( 1 8 6 5 - 1 9 3 0 ) , a c c e s s i b l e a t E W T N , h t t p s : / /

w w w . e w t n . c o m / c a t h o l i c i s m / d e v o t i o n s / l i t a ny - o f - h u m i l i -

t y - 2 4 5

v C y p r i a n o f C a r t h a g e , Tr e a t i s e 1 0

vi S e e 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 2 : 7

vii. Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n c h a r i s m t h e o l og y , s e e Catechism of the Catholic Church , 7 9 8 - 7 9 9 .

viii

O n a p e r s o n a l n o t e , w h e n I f i n a l l y r e c og n i z e d m u s i c

a s a s p i r i t u a l g i f t i n m y l i f e , I w a s a b l e t o s t o p p i n i n g

a f t e r v i s i o n s o r t o n g u e s a n d f o c u s o n g r ow i n g c l o s e r t o

G o d i n t h e p r e s e n t t h r o u g h t h e g i f t w i t h w h i c h H e h a d

a l r e a d y b l e s s e d m e . I f yo u f i n d yo u r s e l f s t r u g g l i n g t o

i d e n t i f y yo u r s p i r i t u a l g i f t s , I e n c o u r a g e yo u t o n o t o n l y

p r ay , b u t a l s o a s k yo u r f r i e n d s , f a m i l y , a n d / o r c o n g r e g a -

t i o n ( w h o a r e o f t e n m o r e p e r c e p t i ve o f o u r g i f t s t h a n we

a r e ) , o r t a k e a S p i r i t u a l G i f t I nve n t o r y a s s e s s m e n t s u c h

a s t h a t d e ve l o p e d b y M i c h a e l H ay wo o d , w h i c h i s w i d e l y

av a i l a b l e o n l i n e

ix. S e e 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 5 : 5 5 .

x C y p r i a n o f C a r t h a g e , Tr e a t i s e 1 0 .

xi C y p r i a n o f C a r t h a g e , Tr e a t i s e 1 0 .

xii

xiii

C y p r i a n o f C a r t h a g e , Tr e a t i s e 1 0 .

M a r i e F r a n ç o i s e -T h é r è s e M a r t i n , a l s o k n ow n a s S a i n t

T h é r è s e o f t h e C h i l d J e s u s a n d t h e H o l y Fa c e , The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul , t r a n s -

l a t e d b y M i c h a e l D ay ( C h a r l o t t e : T a n B o o k s , 2 0 1 0 ) , 4.

xiv

A d a p t e d f r o m t h e L i t a ny o f H u m i l i t y .

I read both of these books this year in search of help understanding my own pain: I had just lost both my mother and my mother-in-law within ten months of each other, and I was experiencing serious grief for the first time in my life I was also figuring out some-

C.S. Lewis

The more we think we can figure things out on our own, the more we need pain to show us that we are insufficient for our own needs.

thing that I had in common with Lewis, which is that I did not know what grief was like until it actually happened to me. Lewis knew perfectly well that suffering is part of life; he had written the book on it. He writes in A Grief Observed, “I had been warned I had warned myself not to reckon on worldly happiness. We were even promised sufferings. They were part of the programme. We were even told ‘Blessed are they that mourn ’ and I accepted it. I’ve got nothing that I hadn’t bargained for.”i He goes on to say that he had even thought about the fact that suffering would be different when he personally experienced it than when he was just observing it happening to other people. But he still was not prepared for how much it hurt. Me neither. Like Lewis, I understood intellectually that suffering was a part of life, but I did not know what to expect when grief became part of mine Each of Lewis’s two books on pain helped me to understand and process my grief in a different way.

In The Problem of Pain, Lewis gives three reasons for why pain is necessary why it is, in fact, good for us. The first reason that we need pain is that it is an unmissable sign that something is wrong, so we can no longer convince ourselves that “all is well.”ii In one of the most famous lines in The Problem of Pain, Lewis puts it this way: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”iii But why does God need to rouse us at all? Why can he not just leave us alone?

Lewis’s answer is that God uses pain to wake us up

specifically, to the reality that we need a relationship with him because he loves us. Leaving us alone in our sin and our self-absorption, even if we thought we were happy that way, would not be loving. We can look to our own experiences to see that: “It is for people whom we care nothing about that we demand happiness on any terms: with our friends, our lovers, our children, we are exacting and would rather see them suffer much than be happy in contemptible and estranging modes.”iv It is indifference, not love, to leave someone alone to do whatever they want, even if what they want is bad for them. God’s love for us means that he desires our real good and our real happiness.

we have, whether good or bad in itself, is our own and enough for us.”v God knows, Lewis writes, that the only way for human beings to be happy is for us to surrender our wills to him and become what he has meant for us to be. Either we are “like God” and “share His goodness in creaturely response ” or we are “miserable” not because God is making us miserable, but simply because no other way to be happy actually exists.vi The more we think we can figure things out on our own, the more we need pain to show us that we are insufficient for our own needs. “This illusion of self-sufficiency may be at its strongest in some very honest, kindly, and temperate people, and on such people, therefore, misfortune must fall,” Lewis writes.vii Even people who know that not everything is well are tempted to think that they can make things right on their own. Suffering reminds us that we cannot. And again, per Lewis’s first reason, we need to know that in order to be really happy and well

It helps to understand that pain exists for a reason, and to try to make the most of the lessons it teaches.

Finally, Lewis argues that we cannot know that we have surrendered our wills to God without pain. Giving up our own inclinations is painful in and of itself, even when to do so is the only way to find true happiness. We are too accustomed to turning our own way for it to be otherwise. The fulfillment of our real purpose and nature is on the other side of that pain: “Human will becomes truly creative and truly our own when it is wholly God’s, and this is one of the many senses in which he that loses his soul shall find it.”viiii We do have to lose something in the process, because otherwise we would still be stuck in the same efforts toward self-fulfillment that led us to need pain in the first place. For all three of these reasons, Lewis argues, God allows people to experience pain in order to do us good. It is a manifestation of his love for us.

The second reason why pain is good for us is that it breaks down “the illusion that what

But though Lewis thought a great deal about suffering and had written a book arguing

that we can believe in a good God not only in spite of the existence of pain but in fact because of it, he was undone by the experience of grief. He fell in love, and the person he loved most in the world died. In the first grip of grief, he did not turn away from God, but he felt the comfort of his faith falling away. “Talk to me about the truth of religion and I’ll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I’ll listen submissively. But don’t come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don’t understand,” he writes in A Grief Observed. ix

A s h e wo r k s h i s w ay t h r o u g h h i s g r i e f ,

L

f

o u t , t h i s c o n f i r m s h i s hy p o t h e s i s f r o m The Prob-

lem of Pain a b o u t t h e n e c e s s i t y o f p a i n t o b r i n g

o u r ow n i n s u f f i c i e n c y t o l i g h t : “ N o t h i n g l e s s

w i l l s h a k e a m a n o r a t a ny r a t e a m a n l i k e

m e o u t o f h i s m e r e l y ve r b a l t h i n k i n g a n d h i s

m e r e l y n o t i o n a l b e l i e f s . H e h a s t o b e k n o c k e d

s i l l y b e f o r e h e c o m e s t o h i s s e n s e s O n l y t o r -

t u r e w i l l b r i n g o u t t h e t r u t h . O n l y u n d e r t o r -

t u r e d o e s h e d i s c ove r i t h i m s e l f . ” xi We h ave t o

g o t h r o u g h t h e a c t u a l s u f f e r i n g t o l e a r n i t s l e s -

s o n s . T h e r e i s n o o t h e r w ay t o k n ow i f yo u t r u s t

t h e s t r e n g t h o f a r o p e e x c e p t t o t r u s t yo u r w h o l e

we i g h t t o i t o n t h e e d g e o f a c l i f f . I t wo u l d b e

wo n d e r f u l i f we c o u l d t r u s t G o d a n d s u r r e n d e r

o u r w i l l s t o h i m i n t h e g o o d t i m e s , b u t p e o p l e

f i n d ove r a n d ove r a g a i n t h a t we c a n n o t . L e w i s

c o u l d n o t . N e i t h e r c o u l d I . I s e e m y s e l f i n L e w -

i s ’ s a r g u m e n t s i n The Problem of Pain . I s e e m y

We do the best we can, and when God needs to, he knocks down our best efforts and shows us how insufficient they are.

t o m a k e t h e m o s t o f t h e l e s s o n s i t t e a c h e s . B u t

s e e i n g L e w i s ’ s r e a l g r i e f a n d r e c og n i z i n g t h

t h e e x p e r i e n c e d s o m e o f t h e s a m e t h i n g s I d i d ( a n d e x p r e s s e d t h e m a l o t b e t

m o r e .

Once Lewis got through the most immediate aftermath of losing his wife and grieving for her, he started to put his faith and his ideas back together. He knew how insufficient it still was. He writes, “And all this time I may, once more, be building with cards. And if I am He will once more knock the building flat. He will knock it down as often as proves necessary.”xii That is how we people are. We do the best we can, and when God needs to, he knocks down our best efforts and shows us how insufficient they are. It hurts, sometimes almost unbearably, but it is not a sign that God has abandoned us it is quite the opposite. Lewis, once again, put it best: “Two widely different convictions press more and more on my mind." One was that what God had in store for him might be " even more painful than our severest imaginings can forbode. But the other, that ‘all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.’”xiii

ow n c o m p l a i s a n c e , m y s e l f - s a t i s f a c t i o n , a n d I

r e c og n i z e t h a t I n e e d e d s o m e t h i n g t o s h ow m e

t h a t t h e g o o d t h i n g s I h a d i n m y l i f e we r e n o t

e n o u g h , a n d t h a t m y f a i t h w a s j u s t a “ h o u s e o f

c a r d s ” w h e n i t w a s t e s t e d . I t h e l p s t o u n d e r -

s t a n d t h a t p a i n e x i s t s f o r a r e a s o n , a n d t o t r y

FULFILLED BY BEAUTY HIMSELF

H o w A r t L e a d s U s t o G o d a n d a C o m p l e t e L i f e

BY X A N T H E K R A F T ' 1 6

W H AT M A K E S A L I F E C O M P L E T E ?

Th e c u l t u r a l l y w i d e s p r e a d c o n c e p t o f t h e

b u c k e t l i s t i m p l i e s t h e r i g h t e x p e r i e n c e s

m a k e o u r l i ve s c o m p l e t e . F r o m s k yd i v i n g o r a

t r i p t o I t a l y t o a p p e a r i n g o n t e l e v i s i o n , w r i t i n g

a n ove l , o r ow n i n g a d og , h u m a n b e i n g s l o n g f o r

f u l f i l l m e n t , a n d b u c k e t l i s t s e n s u e . S u c h l i s t s ,

a s t h e i r n a m e i m p l i e s , s u g g e s t t h a t e x p e r i e n c e s

o r a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s c o m p r i s e a l i f e c o m p l e t e d .

H owe ve r , s a t i s f y i n g b u c k e t l i s t i t e m s r a r e l y

s a t i a t e s t h e d e s i r e s t h a t c r e a t e d t h e m . O f t e n ,

u p o n c o m p l e t i n g l o n g - a s p i r e d t a s k s o u r s e n s e

o f l o n g i n g r a t h e r t h a n d i s a p p e a r i n g t a k e s o n

n e w l i f e i n t h e f o r m o f a n o t h e r i t e m , o r w a r p s

i n t o a n e ve n d e e p e r e m p t i n e s s - t i n g e d s e n s a -

t i o n . N o m a t t e r h ow l o n g o u r

b u c k e t l i s t s b e c o m e , o r h ow

m a ny i t e m s we c h e c k o f f , t h a t

l o n g i n g r e m a i n s . S o m e o f

t h e m o s t c o m m o n a s p i r a t i o n s

r e l a t e t o t r ave l , a s phy s i c a l

j o u r n e y i n g m a s k s a m o r e p r o -

t h e d u a l i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve v i e w o f r e a l i t y e x p l a i n s

w hy m a ny p e o p l e ’ s c o n c e p t o f r e a l i t y i t s e l f c a n

k e e p t h e m f r o m i n t e n t l y p u r s u i n g a f u l f i l l i n g

l i f e E x a m i n i n g t h e ph i l o s o ph i c a l u n d e r p i n -

n i n g s o f t h e s e p a r a t i o n o f t h e m a t e r i a l f r o m

t h e s p i r i t u a l w i l l h e l p d e l i n e a t e t h e c o n n e c t i o n

b e t we e n o n e ’ s v i e w o f t h e n a t u r e o f r e a l i t y a n d

i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e p u r s u i t o f a c o m p l e t e l i f e .

T h e t h i r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y I t a l i a n ph i l o s o ph e r B o -

n ave n t u r e w r i t e s o n h ow b e a u t i f u l o b j e c t s l e a d

u s t o a f u l f i l l i n g l i f e a l i f e u n i t e d w i t h G o d .

B y n av i g a t i n g t h e t h e o r e t i c a l d e t a i l s o f a s a c r a -

m e n t a l a n d d u a l i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve v i e w o f r e a l i t y ,

we c a n b e c o m e c o nv i n c e d o f t h e ve r y r e a l c o n -

n e c t i o n b e t we e n t h e m a t e r i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l . T h i s

How do spiritual goals and understandings evolve beyond comforting but vague platitudes?

f o u n d s p i r i t u a l p r o b i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t o b e i n g

h u m a n . H owe ve r , t h e c o n n e c t i o n b e t we e n t r a -

ve r s i n g t h e G r e a t Wa l l o f C h i n a a n d t r ave r s i n g

t h e f u n d a m e n t a l t r u t h s o f h u m a n i t y s e e m t o

m a ny a s a c c h a r i n e a n a l og y , n o t a r i g o r o u s l y a c -

c e p t e d r e a l i t y . M a ny A m e r i c a n s u n k n ow i n g l y

v i e w t h e s p i r i t u a l a n d m a t e r i a l a s p e c t s o f r e a l -

i t y a s s e p a r a t e . Pe r h a p s t h e m a t e r i a l r e a l i t i e s

a r e a l l t h a t m a t t e r s t o s o m e o n e , w i t h s p i r i t u -

a l i t y s e e n a s a n a d d - o n t o a n a l r e a d y we l l - e s -

t a b l i s h e d l i f e . H ow d o t h o s e w i t h s u c h a v i e w

t r a n s i t i o n t o e m b r a c i n g t h e s p i r i t u a l r e a l i t y

c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e m a t e r i a l ? H ow d o s p i r i t u a l

g o a l s a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g s e vo l ve b e yo n d c o m -

f o r t i n g b u t v a g u e p l a t i t u d e s ? U n d e r s t a n d i n g

t h i s t h e o r y o f m a t e r i a l / s p i r i t u a l s e p a r a t i o n

m a t e r i a l i t y -

s p i r i t u a l i t y

i n t e g r a t i o n

o r sacramen-

tal wo r l d v i e w

i n s p i r e s u s t o

i n c l u d e m o r e

b e a u t i f u l o b j e c t s i n o u r l i ve s a n d d r aw c l o s e r t o

G o d i n o r d e r t o l i ve a c o m p l e t e l i f e .

M AT E R I A L S P I R I T U A L S E PA R AT I O N

M a ny A m e r i c a n s , a n d p e o p l e a c r o s s t h e

g l o b e , l i ve t h e i r e ve r yd ay l i ve s a s i f t h e s o u l

( o r m i n d ) a n d b o d y a r e m u t u a l l y e x c l u s i ve ,

a n d t h a t l i t t l e o f w h a t we d o w i t h o n e i m p a c t s

t h e o t h e r . F l o u r i s h i n g a m o n g m a ny P r o t e s t a n t

t h i n k e r s o f t h e s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y , t h i s m i n d /

b o d y d u a l i t y w h a t I t e r m a dualistic-exclusive

v i e w o f r e a l i t y p e r s i s t s i n A m e r i c a n c u l t u r e

e ve n a s C h r i s t i a n i t y d e c l i n e s . Va r i o u s b u t c o m -

m o n ph r a s e s l i k e “ i t d o e s n ’ t m a t t e r w h a t yo u

l o o k l i k e , i t ’ s w h a t ’ s i n s i d e t h a t c o u n t s ” a n d “ m y

f a i t h i s b e t we e n m e a n d J e s u s a n d n o o n e e l s e ”

o r “ I b e l i e ve i n s c i e n c e b e c a u s e o n l y s c i e n c e i s

w h a t i s r e a l ” r e ve a l a m e t a n a r r a t i ve t h a t t h e

m a t e r i a l wo r l d a n d s p i r i t u a l wo r l d ( i f i t e x i s t s )

a r e d i s t i n c t a n d n o n - i n t e r a c t i n g e n t i t i e s . I n t h e

e x t r e m e , t h i s d u a l i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve v i e w b e c o m e s ,

t o s o m e o n e w h o d o u b t s t h e v a l i d i t y o f a ny s p i r -

i t u a l r e a l i t y , e x t r e m e m a t e r i a l i s m o r s c i e n t i s m .

A s c i e n t i s m a d h e r e n t b e l i e ve s t h a t o n l y w h a t i s

m e a s u r e d b y t h e s c i e n t i f i c m e t h o d , o r e m p i r i -

c a l l y o b s e r ve d , i s r e a l a t a l l . W i t h i n s c i e n t i s m ,

c o n c e p t s l i k e j u s t i c e , t r u t h , l ove , a n d a ny t h i n g

n o t phy s i c a l l y f o u n d i n t h i s wo r l d d o n ’ t a c t u -

a l l y e x i s t o n t h e i r ow n . R a t h e r , t h e s e c o n c e p t s

e x i s t o n l y i n

o u r c o m m o n

o p i n i o n o f

t h e m . O n t h e

o t h e r h a n d ,

t o t h o s e w h o

v a l u e s p i r i t u -

a l i t y , a d u a l -

wo r l d ; t h i s p r o p o s i t i o n s e e m s s i m p l e e n o u g h

t o a c c e p t . H owe ve r , t h e f a c t t h a t o n e c a n e x -

p e r i e n c e , ye t r a r e l y d i r e c t l y o b s e r ve , t h e t r a n -

s c e n d e n t i n t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d m a k e s s p e a k i n g

a b o u t p u r p o s e a n d a c o m p l e t e l i f e c h a l l e n g i n g

E ve r y m a t h t e a c h e r k n ow s t h a t e ve n i f ove r -

a r c h i n g p r i n c i p l e s , l i k e t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e -

t we e n s i d e s o f a t r i a n g l e , c a n b e d e d u c e d f r o m

e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d , n o t e ve r yo n e

r e a d i l y g r a s p s t h e m . I d e a s o r c o n c e p t s , l i k e

g e o m e t r i c r e l a t i o n s h i p s , m u s t b e p e r c e i ve d a n d

c o n c e p t u a l i z e d i n d i v i d u a l l y b y e a c h t h i n k e r i n

h e r ow n w ay . T h e f i f t h - c e n t u r y N o r t h A f r i c a n

ph i l o s o ph e r A u g u s t i n e e x p o u n d s o n

t h i s f a c t i n h i s wo r k Of Music . J u s t

What makes a life complete is not treating the soul and body as discrete.

i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve v i e w o f r e a l i t y e n t a i l s t h e m a t e -

r i a l h a s l i t t l e o r n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h s p i r i t u a l i t y

S u c h a d h e r e n t s o f t e n p r o p o s e t h a t t h e m i n d i s

a l l t h a t m a t t e r s : a s l o n g a s yo u ’ r e h a p py , t h a t ’ s

a l l t h a t i s i m p o r t a n t . I n t h i s v i e w , i f a n a b l e -

b o d i e d a d u l t l i ve s i n h i s p a r e n t ’ s b a s e m e n t f o r

a l l o f h i s l i f e , s u b s i d i z e d t o p l ay v i d e o g a m e s ,

a s l o n g a s a l l m e m b e r s i nvo l ve d i n t h i s s c e n a r -

i o c o n s e n t a n d s ay t h e y ’ r e h a p py , o r f e e l h a p py ,

w h a t ’ s t h e p r o b l e m ? D i f f e r e n t t h i n g s m a k e d i f -

f e r e n t p e o p l e h a p py , s o i f s o m e o n e s ay s t h e y ’ r e

h a p py , t h e y a r e . H owe ve r , b o t h o f t h e s e e x p r e s -

s i o n s o f d u a l i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve r e a l i t y d o n o t t a k e

i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e ve r y r e a l r e l a t i o n s h i p

b e t we e n t h e s p i r i t u a l a n d t h e m a t e r i a l t h a t

b o t h a s p e c t s o f t h e wo r l d a r e p a r t o f a l a r g e r

s t r u c t u r e o f r e a l i t y a n d ve r y m u c h i n t e g r a t e d .

W h a t m a k e s a l i f e c o m p l e t e i s n o t t r e a t i n g t h e

s o u l a n d b o d y a s d i s c r e t e . O u r m i n d s a n d b o d -

i e s a r e c e r t a i n l y d i s t i n c t , b u t n o t s e p a r a t e . U n -

d e r s t a n d i n g t h e c o h e s i ve n e s s o f t h e m i n d a n d

b o d y p r o m o t e s l i v i n g i n a w ay t h a t e n a b l e s t h e

w h o l e b e i n g t o t h r i ve a n d l i ve a c o m p l e t e l i f e .

E x a m i n i n g b o t h t h e h i s t o r y o f C h r i s -

t i a n i t y a n d t h e s e p a r a t i o n o f t h e m i n d f r o m

t h e b o d y h e l p s u s u n d e r s t a n d h ow t o l i ve a

l i f e u n i t e d t o G o d . H u m a n b e i n g s c a n e x p e -

r i e n c e a n d o b s e r ve m a t e r i a l i n t h e m a t e r i a l

l i k e a g e o m e t r i c t h e o r e m , e v i d e n c e

o f G o d ’ s o r d e r e d d e s i g n o f t h e u n i -

ve r s e ( w h i c h h e c a l l s t h e R hy t h m o f

G o d ) c a n o n l y b e s e e n i n t h e m a t e -

r i a l wo r l d b y a m i n d w h o p e r c e i ve s

a n d c o n c e p t u a l i z e s i t . i O t h e r w i s e ,

s i n c e t h e c o n c e p t o f a d i v i n e l y o r d e r e d d e s i g n

d o e s n o t e x i s t i n t h e p e r s o n ’ s b r a i n , i t d o e s n ’ t

p r a c t i c a l l y e x i s t ( t o t h e m ) a t a l l .

T h e p r e c i s e n a t u r e o f G o d ’ s o r d e r e d d e -

s i g n t h e n a t u r e o f G o d H i m s e l f w a s h e av i l y

t h e o r i z e d a n d d e b a t e d w i t h i n m e d i e v a l u n i ve r -

s i t i e s . C h r i s t i a n s a t t h i s t i m e , w h i l e d i s a g r e e -

i n g o n m i n u t i a e o f G o d ’ s n a t u r e a n d t h e r e f o r e

h ow p r e c i s e l y t o l i ve i n u n i o n w i t h H i m , a g r e e d

t h a t G o d i s s o m e t h i n g b e yo n d w h a t we o b s e r ve

i n t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d a n d t h a t l i v i n g i n u n i o n

w i t h H i m s t e m s f r o m a n d i n c l u d e s t h e g r a c e s

g i ve n i n a c t i ve c h u r c h l i f e . P a u l w r o t e i n h i s

l e t t e r t o t h e P h i l i p p i a n s , “ F i n a l l y , b r o t h e r s ,

w h a t e ve r i s t r u e , w h a t e ve r i s h o n o r a b l e , w h a t -

e ve r i s j u s t , w h a t e ve r i s p u r e , w h a t e ve r i s l ove l y ,

w h a t e ve r i s g r a -

c i o u s , i f t h e r e i s

a ny e x c e l l e n c e

a n d i f t h e r e i s

a ny t h i n g wo r t hy

o f p r a i s e , t h i n k

a b o u t t h e s e

t h i n g s . ” ii We

g l i m p s e i n H i s

c r e a t e d wo r l d

t h e t r u t h a b o u t w h o we a r e t o

G o d . W h a t i s g o o d , t r u e , a n d b e a u t i f u l a r e a l l

d i f f e r e n t d e s c r i p t o r s f o r w h a t e x i s t s t o t h e f u l l -

e s t : B e i n g I t s e l f G o d . T h e s e scholastic i d e a s

c h a m p i o n e d b y T h o m a s

A q u i n a s G o d a s B e i n g

I t s e l f , a n d t h e c o m p l e t e

a n d f u l f i l l e d l i f e l i ve d

i n e x c e l l e n c e w i t h i n

t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h

d o m i n a t e d t h o u g h t i n

t h e m i d d l e a g e s .

T h e s e s c h o l -

a r s r e c og n i z e d t h e a u -

t h o r i t y o f t h e C a t h o l i c

C h u r c h t h r o u g h s c r i p -

t u r e , t r a d i t i o n , r e a s o n , a n d l i v i n g w i t n e s s e s o f i t s m a ny o u t s t a n d i n g

s e r v a n t s , d e s p i t e t h e c o r r u p t i o n o f c e r t a i n

c h u r c h m e m b e r s . Ye t i t w a s n ’ t u n t i l t h e s i x -

t e e n t h c e n t u r y t h a t ph i l o s o ph i c a l a r g u m e n t s

d i s p u t i n g t h e n a t u r e o f G o d wo u l d b e t u r n e d t o

q u e s t i o n t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h .

P r e v i o u s l y , i n t e l l e c t u a l s l i k e t h e s c h o l a s t i c s

a n d n o m i n a l i s t s r e c og n i z e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f

t h e C h u r c h t h a t J e s u s e s t a b l i s h e d b e i n g t h e

u n i f i e d l i n e o f a p o s t o l i c s u c c e s s i o n a n d t h e r e -

f o r e b l e s s e d b y C h r i s t H i m s e l f t h a t t h e g a t e s

o f h e l l wo u l d n o t p r e v a i l a g a i n s t . iii T h e r e f o r e ,

d i s a g r e e m e n t ove r G o d ’ s n a t u r e w a s n e ve r u s e d

t o j u s t i f y s e p a r a t i o n u n t i l f i f t e e n h u n d r e d ye a r s

a f t e r J e s u s ’ d e a t h . A t t h i s t i m e , c l e r i c a l a b u s e s

a n d d e s i r e s f o r C h u r c h l a n d a m o n g m a ny o t h -

e r c a u s e s i n s p i r e d P r o t e s t a n t ph i l o s o ph e r s t o

t u r n t o t h e o r i e s o f t h e n a t u r e o f G o d t o s h ow

w hy t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h w a s n o t a n i m p o r -

t a n t e n t i t y f o r r e c e i v i n g J e s u s ’ s a l v a t i o n . A f t e r

t h e P r o t e s t a n t R e f o r m a t i o n , t h e g o a l o f t h e h u -

m a n l i f e a s l i v i n g i n u n i o n w i t h G o d b e g a n t o

d i s a p p e a r f r o m a c a d e m i c a n d c u l t u r a l t h o u g h t ,

s i n c e i t b e c a m e u n c l e a r w h a t t h a t l i f e l o o k e d

l i k e a n d s i n c e p e o p l e c o u l d b e e x t e r n a l l y j u s -

t i f i e d b y G o d a l o n e . H ow d i d o n e p r a c t i c a l l y

l i ve l i f e u n i f i e d w i t h G o d , b e yo n d r e a d i n g s a -

c r e d s c r i p t u r e , i f a l l o f s c r i p t u r e ’ s a p p l i c a t i o n s

h a d t o b e i n t e r p r e t e d b y t h e r e a d e r ? A l l i d e a s

h a d t o c o m e f r o m t h e r e a d e r ’ s o p i n i o n . B u t i f

t h e r e a d e r ’ s o p i n i o n d i f f e r e d , w h a t a u t h o r i t y

c o u l d d e l a r e i t b e t t e r o r wo r s e t h a n s o m e o n e

H i s C h u r c h w a s r e p l a c e d b y t h e n o t i o n o f p a s -

s i ve l y b e i n g s ave d w i t h s a l v a t i o n a s a s t a t e o f

Luther sought to argue a logical secession from the authority of the Catholic Church without undermining its moral teachings.

b e i n g : o n e i s e i t h e r s ave d o r

n o t s ave d . L i v i n g l i f e w i t h G o d

w a r p e d i n t o s i m p l y a m a t t e r

o f p r o f e s s i n g G o d , w i t h n o t h -

i n g m o r e n e e d i n g t o b e d o n e .

N o s a c r a m e n t s , n o c h u r c h l i f e ,

n o t h i n g o f t h e c u l t u r e o f t h e

C a t h o l i c C h u r c h w a s e x p l i c i t -

l y n e c e s s a r y f o r s a l v a t i o n : sola

scriptura . v

T h e P r o t e s t a n t R e f o r m a -

t i o n d i s r u p t e d t h e m e d i e v a l

u n i t y o f t h o u g h t r e g a r d i n g

G o d ’ s n a t u r e , i n a d ve r t e n t l y r e p l a c i n g t h e m e d i -

e v a l s a c r a m e n t a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f r e a l i t y w i t h

a d u a l i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve s e ve r i n g o f t h e m a t e r i a l

a n d s p i r i t u a l . M a r t i n L u t h e r a n d o t h e r P r o t -

e s t a n t r e vo l u t i o n a r i e s , c o n t r a r y t o A q u i n a s ’

s c h o l a s t i c i s m , f avo r e d a d i f f e r e n t m e t a phy s i -

c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f G o d : v i e w s c o m b i n i n g

nominalism a n d voluntarism . D r aw i n g f r o m Jo h n

D u n s S c o t u s , a n o b s c u r e t h i r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y

C a t h o l i c ph i l o s o ph e r w h o e m ph a s i z e d G o d ’ s

u n l i m i t e d p owe r , L u t h e r h e l d t h a t G o d w a s

n o t B e i n g I t s e l f b u t i n s t e a d t h e h i g h e s t , m o s t

p e r f e c t ve r s i o n o f a B e i n g. L u t h e r s o u g h t t o

a r g u e a l og i c a l s e c e s s i o n f r o m t h e a u t h o r i t y o f

t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h w i t h o u t u n d e r m i n i n g i t s

m o r a l t e a c h i n g s . To d o t h i s , L u t h e r a n d o t h e r

P r o t e s t a n t s v i e we d G o d not a s B e i n g I t s e l f , b u t

a s t h e S u p r e m e B e i n g s h a r i n g t h e e s s e n c e o f

c r e a t u r e w i t h h u m a n s . I f G o d i s n o t B e i n g I t -

s e l f , b u t t h e S u p r e m e B e i n g , H e d i r e c t l y i n t e r -

a c t s w i t h h u m a n s i n t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d , a n d i f

G o d d i r e c t l y i n t e r a c t s w i t h h u m a n s a s a n o t h e r

c o m p e t i n g f o r c e i n e x i s t e n c e , t h e n t h e s a c r a -

m e n t s a n d t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h a r e n o l o n g e r

r e q u i r e d t o l i ve a l i f e c l o s e t o G o d . I n L u t h e r ’ s

n o m i n a l i s t - a d a p t e d v i e w , G o d d o e s n o t i n t e r -

a c t t h r o u g h t h e m a t e r i a l i t y o f s a c r a m e n t s a n d

m a t e r i a l n a t u r e i t s e l f b u t i n spite o f i t . G o d i s

H i s ow n B e i n g a l t og e t h e r a n d H i s w ay s a r e

H i s w ay s : d i s t i n c t f r o m t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d , t h e

C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , o r a ny c h u r c h . T h i s c h a n g e

i s i n c o n t r a s t t o t h e s c h o l a s t i c v i e w o f l i v i n g

l i f e i n u n i o n w i t h G o d , w h i c h i nvo l ve d e x p e -

e l s e ’ s ? iv T h e r e f o r e , t h e n o t i o n o f a c t i ve l y l i vi n g s a l v a t i o n t h r o u g h l i v i n g l i f e w i t h G o d i n

r i e n c i n g G o d through l i v i n g l i f e t o t h e f u l l e s t

w i t h i n t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d w i t h t h e s a c r a m e n t s

o f t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h . L u t h e r ’ s f o r m u l a t i o n

o f G o d a s a B e i n g , t h e H i g h e s t B e i n g , s o u g h t

t o e m ph a s i z e G o d ’ s ove r r i d i n g a u t h o r i t y t o b e -

c o m e c l o s e t o a nyo n e o f G o d ’ s c h o i c e . L u t h e r

r e a s o n e d t h a t t h e ve r y i d e a o f h u m a n s s t r i v -

i n g t o l i ve - l i f e - t o - t h e - f u l l e s t w a s i n c o m p a t i b l e

w i t h G o d ’ s ove r r i d i n g p owe r t o b e f u l l y u n i t e d

w i t h a ny h u m a n b e i n g H e c h o o s e s , r e g a r d l e s s

o f h i s o r h e r s t a t e o f l i v i n g. L u t h e r t h o u g h t

t h e n o t i o n o f l i v i n g l i f e t o t h e f u l l e s t p u t t o o

m u c h e m ph a s i s o n t h e a b i l i t y o f h u m a n b e i n g s

r a t h e r t h a n G o d ’ s a b i l i t y . T h e r e f o r e , i n s t e a d

o f C h r i s t i a n s a c t i ve l y l i v i n g a l i f e - l o n g p u r -

p o s e t h r o u g h a n d i n a c o n t i n u o u s r e l a t i o n s h i p

w i t h G o d , P r o t e s t a n t s f avo r e d a s t a t i c l a b e l o f

“ C h r i s t i a n ” t h a t r e l i e d o n l y u p o n t h e b e l i e ve r ’ s

p r o f e s s i o n o f f a i t h , n o t u p o n a l i ve d i d e n t i t y .

vi Fu r t h e r m o r e , b e c a u s e t h e i d e a o f l i v i n g - l i f e -

t o - t h e - f u l l e s t w i t h G o d r e q u i r e d C a t h o l i c

c l e r g y t o d i s t r i b u t e s p i r i t u a l g o o d s ( t h e s a c -

r a m e n t s ) , a b o l i s h i n g t h i s a c t i ve p u r p o s e o f

t h e C h r i s t i a n l i f e a b o l i s h e s t h e n e e d f o r t h e

C a t h o l i c c l e r g y o r i t s a u t h o r i t y a t a l l . I n L u -

t h e r ’ s v i e w , G o d a i d s s i m p l y b e c a u s e

G o d w i l l s i t , n o t b y a c t i n g t h r o u g h

a ny h u m a n ( p r i e s t ) o r a ny m a t e r i a l

o b j e c t ( t h e s a c r a m e n t s ) L u t h e r a n d

o t h e r P r o t e s t a n t s ’ d u a l i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve

m e t a phy s i c s i n t e n d e d t o s ave C h r i s -

t i a n i t y f r o m w h a t t h e y v i e we d a s a n

i r r e d e e m a b l y c o r r u p t c h u r c h , ye t t h i s

c h a n g e f r o m a s a c r a m e n t a l t o a d u a l -

i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve v i e w y i e l d e d t wo m a j o r

c o n s e q u e n c e s . F i r s t , i t e l i m i n a t e d t h e

m a t e r i a l l y e n s h r i n e d u n i ve r s a l c a l l t o

l i v i n g l i f e i n u n i o n w i t h G o d . V i e w -

i n g G o d a s s e p a r a t e f r o m m a t e r i a l i t y

d e t a c h e d a l l h u m a n p u r s u i t s t h e m -

s e l ve s , f r o m t h e s t u d y o f m u s i c a n d

m o r a l i t y t o d ay - t o - d ay a c t i v i t i e s o f l i f e , f r o m a ny s p e c i f i c u l t i m a t e p u r p o s e .

B e i n g a C h r i s t i a n l i e s i n p r o f e s s i n g

f a i t h a n d n o t h i n g m o r e . T h e r e f o r e ,

w h a t m o r e c o u l d b e d o n e ? S e c o n d ,

a n d i m p o r t a n t f o r o u r p u r p o s e s , t h i s

d u a l i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve m a t e r i a l / i m m a t e -

r i a l s e p a r a t i o n s t r i p p e d t h e a b i l i t y o f

t h e m a t e r i a l t o h ave a ny d i r e c t s p i r i t u a l c o n -

s e q u e n c e s . W h e r e a s p r e v i o u s l y t h e t wo r e a l m s

a c t e d a s o n e l a r g e r r e a l i t y G o d a c t e d t h r o u g h

t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d ( t h e s a c r a m e n t s ) L u t h e r

h e l d t h e m a t e r i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l a s m u t u a l l y e x -

c l u s i ve . G o d d o e s n o t a c t t h r o u g h p r i e s t s , s a c -

r a m e n t s , o r t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d . R a t h e r , G o d

w i l l s h i s a c t i o n s w i t h i n t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d . H e

i s a n o t h e r m a t e r i a l c a u s e a c t i n g w i t h h u m a n s

i n t h e m a t e r i a l r e a l m o f c a u s a l i t y . vii I n f a c t ,

L u t h e r a r g u e d t h a t t h e m a t e r i a l i t y o f h u m a n

a c t i o n s d i s t r a c t e d f r o m G o d ’ s s e p a r a t e , ‘ i m m a -

t e r i a l ’ a c t i o n s a n d u n k n ow n awe s o m e p owe r .

T h e s e t wo c o n s e q u e n c e s o f d i s p o s i n g w i t h a

s a c r a m e n t a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f r e a l i t y e n f o r c e

t h e m i n d / b o d y d u a l i s t i c s e p a r a t i o n u n d e r l y -

i n g m u c h o f A m e r i c a n t h o u g h t t o d ay . L u t h e r

a n d o t h e r P r o t e s t a n t s p e r h a p s u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y

s p r a n g o n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t m e t a phy s i c a l p a r a -

d i g m s h i f t s i n h i s t o r y . viii

T h e A m e r i c a n d u a l i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve v i e w ,

i n h e r i t e d f r o m s i x t e e n t h - c e n t u r y P r o t e s t a n t

t h o u g h t , h o l d s t h i s m u t u a l l y e x c l u s i ve s o u l /

b o d y d i c h o t o m y . H owe ve r , s p i r i t u a l i t y d i s e m -

b o d i e d f r o m s a c r a m e n t s o r phy s i c a l c h u r c h e s

l e a d s p e o p l e t o b e l i e ve t h a t t h e y r e q u i r e n o t h -

i n g f r o m t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d b u t m a t e r i a l n e e d s .

I f a h o u s e , o r c h u r c h , k e e p s o n e d r y f r o m t h e

r a i n a n d i s r e a s o n a b l y f u r n i s h e d a n d c o m f o r t -

a b l e , i t ’ s s u f f i c i e n t . I f s o m e o n e m a k e s t h e i r

h o m e b e a u t i f u l o r t h e i r c h u r c h e x t r av a g a n t ,

t h a t ’ s n i c e , b u t i t ’ s a b ove a n d b e yo n d w h a t i s

r e a l l y n e c e s s a r y i n l i f e . N o t r u e spiritual n e e d

f o r t h e m a t e r i a l e x i s t s . I n a d u a l i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve

v i e w , t h e r e i s n o i m p o r t a n t s p i r i t u a l r o l e f o r

t h e m a t e r i a l l y e x t r av a g a n t , t h e d e c a d e n t , o r

t h e s u p e r f l u i t y o f b e a u t y o r t h e a r t s .

H owe ve r , t h e ve r y e x i s t e n c e o f h u m a n s

c a l l s t h i s d u a l i s t i c s e p a r a t i o n i n t o q u e s t i o n . I f

h u m a n s p i r i t s d o n ’ t n e e d t h e m a t e r i a l , o r h u -

m a n b o d i e s d o n ’ t n e e d t h e s p i r i t u a l , t h e n w hy

d i d G o d m a k e u s h u m a n s w h o p o s s e s s b o t h

s o u l a n d s p i r i t a s o n e u n i f i e d b e i n g ? M o r e -

ove r , w hy d i d G o d m a k e u s a t a l l ? H u m a n s

s e r ve n o m a t e r i a l p u r p o s e t o G o d We o u r s e l ve s

we r e b o r n o u t o f t h e s u p e r f l u i t y a n d e x t r av a -

g a n c e o f H i s l ove . I f we o u r s e l ve s h ave n o u s e

f o r t h e m a t e r i a l l y s u p e r f l u o u s t h a t w h i c h we

d o n ’ t phy s i c a l l y n e e d h ow c a n we u n d e r s t a n d

o u r ow n b e a u t i f u l s u p e r f l u i t y t o G o d ?

To l i ve a l i f e t h a t i s t r u l y f u l f i l l i n g

c o m p l e t e we n e e d t o l i ve s a c r a m e n t a l l y u n -

d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t w h a t we e n g a g e w i t h i n t h e

m a t e r i a l wo r l d d i r e c t l y i m p a c t s o u r s p i r i t u a l -

i t y . O u r m a t e r i a l a c t i o n s d i r e c t l y e n h a n c e o r

d e g r a d e o u r s p i r i t u a l h e a l t h . M a t e r i a l r e a l i t y

c a n l e a d u s t o G o d o r k e e p u s

f r o m H i m . We m u s t r e c l a i m

t h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e c o n -

n e c t i o n b e t we e n t h e m a t e r i a l

a n d s p i r i t u a l a n d r e c og n i z e t h a t

b y u n d e r s t a n d i n g c r e a t i o n , we

d r aw c l o s e r t o i t s C r e a t o r . T h e

m a t e r i a l l e a d s u s t o t h e s p i r i -

t u a l . W h a t c o u l d b e t t e r d e m -

o n s t r a t e t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , o f o u r

j e s t i c r o m a n c e o f G o d ’ s l ove f o r u s . I f we a s

C h r i s t i a n s e m b r a c e a s a c r a m e n t a l u n d e r s t a n d -

i n g o f r e a l i t y t h a t t h e m a t e r i a l l e a d s u s t o

t h e a l l - e n c o m p a s s i n g d i v i n e we n e e d b e a u t y .

We n e e d a r t We n e e d p o e t r y , m u s i c , p a i n t i n g ,

s c u l p t u r e , t h e a t e r , d a n c e , o p e r a . We e s p e c i a l -

l y n e e d t h e s a c r a m e n t s m a t e r i a l m a n i f e s t a -

t i o n s o f s p i r i t u a l r e a l i t i e s t o l e a d o u r s e n s e s

t o g r a s p g r e a t e r c o n c e p t i o n s . We n e e d phy s i c a l

ve s t i g e s o f b e a u t y t h a t b e a r t h e m a r k o f t h e i r

C r e a t o r ’ s b r i l l i a n c e . L i k e t h e d e e r l o n g s f o r

r u n n i n g s t r e a m s , o u r s o u l s l o n g f o r C h r i s t a n d

t r u e i n t i m a c y w i t h H i m . ix B y e n g a g i n g w i t h

a n d l ov i n g b e a u t i f u l t h i n g s , we l e a r n h ow t o b e

s u p e r f l u o u s l y a n d e x t r av a g a n t l y l ove d b y o u r

ow n M a k e r .

B O NAV E N T U R E ’ S T H E O RY

H ow , s p e c i f i c a l l y , d o e s b e h o l d i n g b e a u -

t i f u l t h i n g s e n g a g i n g w i t h t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d

o f n a t u r a l a n d c r a f t e d o b j e c t s l e a d u s t o G o d ?

We g l i m p s e i n H i s c r e a t e d wo r l d t h e t r u t h

a b o u t w h o we a r e t o G o d . B o n ave n t u r e , a t h e o -

l og i a n f r o m t h e t h i r t e e n t h c e n t u r y , d e s c r i b e s

h ow e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d l e a d s t o a

g r e a t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f G o d a n d h i s i nv i s i b l e

c r e a t e d r e a l i t y . R a t h e r t h a n v i e w i n g t h e m a t e -

r i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l a s p e c t s a s s e p a r a t e wo r l d s ,

B o n ave n t u r e u n d e r s t a n d s t h e i n t e r c o n n e c t e d -

n e s s o f t h e m i n d a n d b o d y a n d h ow s e n s i n g

t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d , b e i n g s t i r r e d b y i t s b e a u t i -

f u l o b j e c t s , l e a d s

o n e t o u n d e r s t a n d

By engaging with and loving beautiful things, we learn how to be superfluously and extravagantly loved by our own Maker.

r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d , t h a n a r t ? A r t i s m a t e -

r i a l l y d e c a d e n t , phy s i c a l l y u n n e c e s s a r y , a n d

s p e a k s b e yo n d o u r m a t e r i a l n e e d s t o n o u r i s h a

g r e a t e r s p i r i t u a l d e s i r e f o r G o d a n d i n t i m a c y

w i t h H i m . To l i ve a c o m p l e t e l i f e a n d r e c o n -

n e c t t h e m a t e r i a l - i m m a t e r i a l s e p a r a t i o n , we

n e e d t o e n g a g e w i t h a r t m a t e r i a l t h a t i m p a r t s

t o u s t h e d e c a d e n c e o f t h e i m m a t e r i a l : t h e m a -

G o d a s t h e A r t i s t

w h o c r e a t e d u s .

I n h i s b o o k The

Soul’s Journey into

God , B o n ave n t u r e

d r aw s f r o m A u -

g u s t i n e ’ s c i t a t i o n

o f 1 C o r i n t h i a n s

1 5 : 5 3 “ c l o t h i n g t h e m o r t a l w i t h i n t h e i m m o r -

t a l ” i n f o r m u l a t i n g h ow t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d ’ s

o r g a n i z a t i o n m i r r o r s G o d ’ s d i v i n e o r d e r . x T h e

i m m o r t a l , u n i f i e d o r d e r o f G o d m a n i f e s t s

i n t h e m o r t a l , m a t e r i a l wo r l d a t a l l l e ve l s . xi

G o d ’ s c r e a t e d wo r l d , v i s i b l e a n d i nv i s i b l e , i s

o n e c o m p l e t e r e a l i t y . E ve r y c h a n g i n g , c o r r u p t -

i b l e , a n d m a t e r i a l o b j e c t h a s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y

o f c o m m u n i c a t i n g u n c h a n g i n g , e t e r n a l , t r a n -

s c e n d e n t k n ow l e d g e o f G o d . B o n ave n t u r e e x -

p l a i n s p r e c i s e l y h ow o n e

d i s c e r n s t h i s i m m o r t a l

R hy t h m o f G o d f r o m t h e

m o r t a l , d i r e c t l y o b s e r v a b l e

r hy t h m s i n t h e phy s i c a l

wo r l d : a s c e n d i n g v a r i o u s

l e ve l s o f c o n t e m p l a t i o n .

H u m a n s g a i n k n ow l e d g e

o f t h e t r a n s c e n d e n t b y a p -

p r e h e n d i n g t h e m a t e r i a l

wo r l d t h r o u g h t h e s e n s e s

a n d r e f l e c t i n g o n t h e s e

s e n s a t i o n s . O n e b e g i n s b y

c o n s i d e r i n g o b j e c t s o u t s i d e

t h e m i n d , t h e n i n s i d e t h e

w i t h i n t h e m i n d , t ow a r d s l o o k i n g i nw a r d a t

i t s e l f . T h e t h i r d s t a g e c o n s i s t s o f c o n t e m p l a t -

m i n d , a n d f i n a l l y ( w i t h t h e h e l p o f G o d ) b e -

yo n d t h e m i n d . xii T h e j o u r n e y o f t h e s o u l i s t h e

d e s i r e t o l i ve i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G o d ’ s w h o l e

c r e a t e d r e a l i t y b y c o n t e m p l a t i n g t h e m a t e r i a l ,

p e r s o n a l , a n d t r a n s c e n d e n t w h i c h y i e l d s m o r -

a l , i n t e l l e c t u a l , a n d a r t i s t i c f u l f i l l m e n t :

The universe itself is a ladder in which we can ascend into God. Some created things are vestiges, others images, some are material, others are spiritual; some are temporal, others everlasting; some are outside us, others within us. In order to contemplate the First Principle, who is most spiritual, eternal and above us, we must pass through his vestiges, which are material, temporal and outside us… we must also enter into our soul, which is God’s image, everlasting, spiritual and within us… we must go beyond to what is eternal, most spiritual and above us. xiii

B o n ave n t u r e d i v i d e s r e a l i t y i n t o t h r e e

s ph e r e s : m a t t e r ( s e n s i b l e ve s t i g e s o r f o o t p r i n t s

o f t h e d i v i n e ) , t h e m i n d ( m e n t a l c o n c e p t s o r

i m a g e s o f t h e d i v i n e ) , a n d t h e E t e r n a l A r t ( t h e

e t e r n a l o r k n ow l e d g e - b e yo n d - i m a g e s ) . xiv O u r

m i n d s p r og r e s s i n k n ow l e d g e o f G o d t h r o u g h

t h i s o r d e r . F i r s t , o n e b e g i n s b y c o n t e m p l a t i n g

w h a t i s o u t s i d e t h e m i n d , t ow a r d s e x t e r i o r m a -

t e r i a l o b j e c t s . T h e s e c o n d s t a g e i nvo l ve s c o n -

t e m p l a t i n g w h a t o n e h a s s e n s e d , w h a t i s n ow

i n g w h a t i s a b ove t h e m i n d .

A s B o n ave n t u r e q u o t e s

f r o m t h e B o o k o f W i s d o m :

“ Fo r f r o m t h e g r e a t n e s s a n d

b e a u t y o f c r e a t e d t h i n g s ,

t h e i r C r e a t o r c a n b e s e e n

a n d k n ow n ” ( W i s d . 1 3 : 5 ) .

xv

H e c l a i m s o n e c a n c l e a r -

l y s e n s e t h e p owe r , w i s -

d o m , a n d g o o d n e s s o f G o d

t h r o u g h a t h o r o u g h s t u d y o f

t h e o r i g i n , m a g n i t u d e , m u l -

t i t u d e , b e a u t y , f u l n e s s [ s i c ] ,

a c t i v i t y , a n d o r d e r o f t h e

e x t e r n a l wo r l d . xvi B o n ave n -

t u r e ’ s d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e r o l e o f t h e e x t e r n a l

wo r l d b e s t r e ve a l s t h e v a l u e o f a r t t o l e a d s o u l s

t o G o d .

T h e e x t e r n a l wo r l d , a c c o r d i n g t o B o -

n ave n t u r e , e n t e r s o u r s o u l t h r o u g h f i ve s e n s -

e s v i a a p p r e h e n s i o n : t h e p r o c e s s o f a s e n s i b l e

o b j e c t p a s s i n g t h r o u g h t h e e x t e r n a l o r g a n a n d

b e i n g e n j oye d b y t h e i n n e r o r g a n . P l e a s u r e ,

o r a ny r e a c t i o n t o a n o u t s i d e o b j e c t , c o m e s

t h r o u g h t h i s s t a g e . A n o b j e c t i s p l e a s u r a b l e

t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t i t i s we l l p r o p o r t i o n e d . T h e

s e l f ’ s i n n e r f a c u l t i e s , a c c o r d i n g t o B o n ave n -

t u r e , d e l i g h t i n p r o p o r t i o n , a n d s o a ny t h i n g

t h a t i s s we e t , w h o l e s o m e , a n d b e a u t i f u l b r i n g s

j oy b e c a u s e o f i t s p e r c e i v a b l e o r d e r . H e h o l d s

t h i s p r o p o r t i o n w i t h t h e h i g h e s t r e g a r d , d e f i n -

i n g b e a u t y a s “ n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n h a r m o n i -

o u s s y m m e t r y , ” o r “ a c e r t a i n a r r a n g e m e n t o f

p a r t s w i t h p l e a s i n g c o l o r . ” I n t h i s w ay , e ve n

a n u n i n t e n d e d r e a c t i o n t o t h e s e n s o r y wo r l d

i s r i f e w i t h o p p o r t u n i t y t o d i s c e r n a n d e x p e r i -

e n c e G o d . xvii Fo r e x a m p l e , w h e n o n e l i s t e n s t o

B a c h ’ s St. John Passion a n d d e l i g h t s i n i t s d r a m a

f r o m d i s s o n a n c e t o c o n s o n a n c e , i t s t h r o b b i n g

r hy t h m s , a n d s e a r i n g m e l o d i e s . A f t e r a p p r e -

h e n s i o n a n d p l e a s u r e ( d e l i g h t ) , t h e s o u l e x e r -

c i s e s j u d g m e n t o n t h e e x p e r i e n c e f o r m i n g a

r e a s o n a s t o w hy t h i s i s o r i s n o t p l e a s u r a b l e .

xviii T h e o b s e r ve r a s k s , w hy i s t h i s b e a u t i f u l ,

w hy i s t h i s p l e a s a n t , w hy i s t h i s w h o l e s o m e ?

F r o m t h i s , t h e s o u l r e f l e c t s o n t h e p r o p o r t i o n

o f h a r - m o ny o f t h e o b j e c t o r e x p e r i e n c e s e n s e d .

Bonaventure

I n o u r c a s e , t h e l i s t e n e r p o n d e r s B a c h ’ s St. John

Passion a n d h ow i t s ove r a l l s t r u c t u r e , o r c h e s t r a -

t i o n , a n d c h o r d p r og r e s s i o n s m i r r o r t h e t u m u l t

o f h u m a n e m o t i o n i n r e s p o n s e t o u t t e r s c o r n

a n d b e t r ay a l c o u p l e d w i t h a d i v i n e l y r e s o l ve d

a n d p e r f e c t l ove e m p l oye d i n s u f f e r i n g f o r a n

u n d e s e r v i n g h u m a n i t y . W i t h e a c h r e f l e c t i o n

o n e a c h b e a u t i f u l t h i n g ,

we c o m e c l o s e r t o r e a l i z i n g

w h a t b e a u t y i s , o r r a t h e r ,

w h o B e a u t y I t s e l f i s . G o d

i s p e r f e c t p r o p o r t i o n : a

f u l l y h u m a n u n d e r s t a n d -

i n g c o u p l e d w i t h p e r f e c t

l ove . B e c a u s e t h i s d i v i n e

H a r m o ny d o e s n ’ t c h a n g e o r

p a s s aw ay , e ve r y i n s t a n c e o f

d e l i g h t r e f i n e s a n d c l a r i -

f i e s t o t h e s o u l w h a t e x a c t l y

t h i s H a r m o ny i s . T h e s e n -

s i b l e e n t e r s t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l

f a c u l t y t h r o u g h j u d g i n g ,

p u r i f y i n g , a n d a b s t r a c t -

i n g s e n s o r y e x p e r i e n c e s .

S e n s i b l e o b j e c t s , e s p e c i a l l y

b e a u t i f u l o r we l l - p r o p o r -

o b j e c t s d e m o n s t r a t e t h e r e a l i t y o f o u r h u m a n -

i t y . We o u r s e l ve s a r e n o t n e c e s s a r y t o G o d , a n d

ye t , t h e r e a l i t y o f o u r c o n d i t i o n i s t h a t we a r e

l ove a b l e . G o d ’ s l ove g i ve s u s wo r t h , n o t o u r m a -

t e r i a l n e c e s s i t y . T h e s a m e w ay i n w h i c h w h a t

m a k e s A r t wo r t hy i s t h a t w h i c h m a k e s i t l ov -

a b l e , w h a t m a k e s u s wo r t hy t o G o d i s G o d w h o

t i o n e d o b j e c t s , a i d i n i m p a r t i n g k n ow l e d g e

o f t h e d i v i n e t h r o u g h t h i s p r o c e s s o f o u r a p -

p r e c i a t i o n a n d c o n t e m p l a t i o n o f b e a u t y . xix

I M P L I CAT I O N S O F A S AC R A M E N TA L

WO R L DV I E W

M e d i t a t i n g o n b e a u t i f u l t h i n g s t e a c h e s

u s t h e e ve n g r e a t e r l ove G o d h a s f o r u s t h a n

we h ave f o r b e a u t i f u l o b j e c t s . L ov i n g b e a u t i f u l

o b j e c t s m i r r o r s G o d ’ s l ove f o r u s i n a s m a l l e r

w ay . B y e n g a g i n g w i t h a r t i s t i c i t e m s a n d t a k -

i n g d e l i g h t i n t h e m , d e s p i t e t h e i r n o t b e i n g

m a t e r i a l l y n e c e s s a r y t o u s , we l e a r n a b o u t h ow ,

t h o u g h we t o o a r e n o t n e c e s s a r y t o G o d , H e

l ove s u s b e yo n d c o m p r e h e n s i o n . G o d l ove s u s

a n d t e a c h e s u s a b o u t t h e s p l e n d o r o f H i s l ove

f o r u s u n n e c e s s a r y b e i n g s b y e vo k i n g o u r a b i l -

i t y t o l ove t h i n g s t h a t a r e m a t e r i a l l y u n n e c e s -

s a r y . A r t , n a t u r a l b e a u t y , a n d o t h e r e x t e r n a l l y

b e a u t i f u l o b j e c t s a r e l a r g e l y u n n e c e s s a r y t o t h e

d u a l i s t i c - e x c l u s i ve v i e w o f r e a l i t y . H owe ve r ,

w i t h i n a s a c r a m e n t a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f r e a l i t y

w h e r e t h e m a t e r i a l i n t e r a c t s w i t h t h e i m m a t e -

r i a l a n d l e a d s t o t h e d i v i n e b e a u t i f u l m a t e r i a l

m a d e u s l ove -

a b l e . O u r n a t u r e

i s t o b e l ove d b y

G o d a n d o t h -

e r s a n d t o l ove

G o d a n d o t h e r s

i n r e t u r n . O n l y

b e a u t y c a n t e a c h

u s t h i s t r u t h

a b o u t o u r e s -

s e n c e a s h u m a n s

a n d i n s p i r e u s

t o l i ve t h i s l ove

e ve r y d ay i n a

w ay t h a t c o m -

p l e t e s o u r l i f e

To l i ve a

c o m p l e t e l i f e ,

we n e e d b e a u t y .

We n e e d t h e e x t r av a g a n c e t h a t f e i g n s t o t h i n k

i t s e l f a n e s s e n t i a l , b e c a u s e we o u r s e l ve s a r e e x -

t r av a g a n t l y c r e a t e d b e i n g s . We a r e n o t n e c e s -

s a r y t o G o d , b u t we r e c r e a t e d a s a d d - o n s t o a

p e r f e c t l ove : T h e Fa t h e r , S o n , a n d H o l y S p i r i t ,

i n p e r f e c t , ove r f l ow i n g u n i t y . O u t s i d e o f t i m e ,

G o d i s c o m p l e t e . H e d o e s n o t c r e a t e h u m a n s

b e c a u s e h e t i r e s o f t h e a n g e l s , o r b e c a u s e h e

c r ave s a f f e c t i o n f r o m m a t e r i a l b e i n g s . H e c r e -

a t e s b e c a u s e H e l ove s . H e c r e a t e s b e c a u s e H e

i s l ove a n d t h a t ’ s w h a t l ove d o e s . C r e a t i o n n e c -

e s s a r i l y e x p a n d s b e yo n d i t s e l f , m a k i n g n e c e s -

s a r y t h e u n n e c e s s a r y . B e a u t i f u l l y , h u m a n i t y

i s c r e a t e d , n o t t o f u l f i l l a n e e d , b u t t o a c c e p t

a n i nv i t a t i o n : t o l ove o u r c r e a t o r i n r e t u r n . B y

o u r m e d i t a t i n g o n b e a u t i f u l t h i n g s , we b e t t e r

u n d e r s t a n d o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d w h o i s

l ove , H i s m a g n a n i m o u s s u p e r f l u i t y t o d e s i r e

o u r e x i s t e n c e . T h r o u g h d i s c ove r i n g t h e c o n n e c -

t i o n b e t we e n G o d a n d u s , a n d u s a n d b e a u t y ,

m e d i t a t i n g o n b e a u t i f u l t h i n g s m a k e s u s c o m -

p l e t e . H ow d o we l i ve o u r l i ve s w i t h m o r e

b e a u t i f u l t h i n g s ? G o d i s t h e o r i g i n o f b e a u t y ,

s o t o b e g i n we m u s t s p e n d t i m e i n p r aye r a n d

d i s c e r n w h a t m a g n i f i c e n c e o f H i s c r e a t i o n G o d

i s c a l l i n g u s t o e x p e r i e n c e . S t a r t w i t h a p i e c e

o f c l a s s i c l i t e r a t u r e yo u ow n t h a t yo u ’ ve a l w ay s

w a n t e d t o r e a d o r r e - r e a d . B r e w a c u p o f yo u r

f avo r i t e t e a a n d s i t d ow n . T a k e t h e s c e n i c r o u t e

t o c h u r c h e v -

e r y S u n d ay . A s k

G o d , a n d H e w i l l

g i ve yo u m a ny

m o r e i d e a s t h a n

a ny l i s t c o u l d .

p r o p o r t i o n e d p a i n t e d f i g u r e s t o u n d e r s t a n d

h ow f e a r f u l l y a n d wo n d e r f u l l y we a r e m a d e

a n d l e t t h a t i n s p i r e u s t o p r a i s e a n d g i ve o u r

l i ve s t o L ove , o u r m a k e r . xxi

T h e t r u e b u c k e t l i s t i t e m t h a t f u l f i l l s

o u r l i f e i s u n i o n w i t h t h e d i v i n e . T h a t i s t h e

i r r e p l a c e a b l e w i s d o m we g a i n

f r o m b e a u t y , f r o m l i v i n g l i f e

To live a complete life, we need beauty.

D o yo u h ave a l o c a l s y m ph o ny , m u s e u m , o r

c r a f t f a i r yo u a r e a b l e t o a t t e n d ? M a k e b e a u -

t y a p r i o r i t y . J u s t l i k e p r aye r s h o u l d o c c u -

py t h e f i r s t p l a c e i n a C h r i s t i a n ’ s l i f e , d o n ’ t

s h i r k yo u r r i g h t t o e x p e r i e n c e t h e w i s d o m

f r o m b e a u t y . U n d e r s t a n d a r t a s a s p i r i t u a l

n e e d a n d g i ve i t a n i m p o r t a n t p l a c e a s s u c h .

T h e s a c r i f i c e o f J e s u s s h ow s u s w h a t

l og i c d e c l i n e s t o s ay : t h a t G o d , s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t

a n d p e r f e c t w h o d o e s n o t n e e d u s , s h owe r s u s

w i t h g r a c e s a s t h o u g h H e d o e s T h e a l l - p owe r -

f u l c r e a t o r o f t h e u n i ve r s e d e i g n e d t o b e c o m e

f l e s h , r e s t r i c t e d f l e s h , t e m p t e d f l e s h , f o r o u r

s a k e . T h e m a k e r o f a l l e x i s t e n c e d o e s n ’ t j u s t

w a i t t o b e f o u n d a n d a d m i r e d ; H e s e e k s u s o u t

w i t h H i s l ove . H e i s a s p e n d t h r i f t l ove r , t o s s -

i n g c o i n s i n t h e p o n d j u s t t o g e t u s t o t u r n a n d

s e e H i m , b e c o m i n g h u m i l i a t e d a n d k i l l e d o n

a t r e e i n o r d e r t o g i ve u s l i f e , p i n i n g a f t e r u s

s o m u c h m o r e t h a n a s e l f - r e s p e c t i n g f a l l e n h u -

m a n wo u l d b e c a u s e l ove m a k e s o n e s i l l y , a n d

G o d ’ s f o l l y i s w i s e r t h a n h u m a n w i s d o m . xx

W h a t u l t i m a t e l y s i g n i f i e s a l i f e c o m -

p l e t e i s n o t t h e m e r e t a k i n g o f a t r i p t o I t a l y

b u t l e a r n i n g f r o m e x p o s u r e t o i t s a r t a b o u t h ow

G o d a r t f u l l y l ove s u s , c r e a t e d u s , a n d h a s a

p l a n a n d p u r p o s e f o r o u r l i ve s . We d o n ’ t n e e d

t o g o s o f a r a s t o w r i t e a n ove l , s w i m w i t h d o l -

ph i n s , o r d i ve t h r o u g h t h e a i r i n o r d e r t o g r a s p

t h e a r t f u l u n i q u e n e s s , p u r p o s e f u l g r a n d e u r , o r

e x h i l a r a t i n g a d ve n t u r e o f o u r e x i s t e n c e c r e a t e d

b y t h e m o s t b o u n d l e s s G e n i u s . B u t we d o n e e d

t o m e d i t a t e u p o n b e a u t i f u l o b j e c t s t o k n ow G o d

a n d o u r s e l ve s . We d o n e e d t o e x p e r i e n c e t h e

a c t o f l ov i n g t o c o m p r e h e n d t h e l i f e - a l t e r i n g

f a c t o f o u r b e i n g l ove d . We n e e d t o o b s e r ve i n -

t r i c a t e l y e m b e l l i s h e d c e r a m i c s , h e a r s u b l i m e l y

e vo k e d m e l o d i c ph r a s e s , a n d b e h o l d b r i l l i a n t l y

i m b u e d w i t h t h i s s a c r a m e n -

t a l c o n n e c t i o n o f t h e s p i r i -

t u a l i m m e r s i n g t h e m a t e r i a l .

We n e e d t o b e c o n t i n u a l l y r e -

m i n d e d i n o u r n e e d - d r i ve n l i ve s t o l ove f r e e l y

b e c a u s e we o u r s e l ve s we r e m a d e t o f u l f i l l a

w a n t , n o t a n e e d . We we r e m a d e t o b e l ove d .

i A l e x a n d r a X G K r a f t , Re-sounding Harmony: Nature, Longing, and Landscape as a Narrative Towards Transcendence

( P r o q u e s t , H a n ove r , N H : 2 0 1 8 ) , 2 7.

ii P h i l i p p i a n s 4 : 8 ( N A B R E )

iii M a t t h e w 1 6 : 1 8 .

iv. B r a d S G r e g o r y , The Unintended Reformation: How a Religious Revolution Secularized Society ( C a m b r i d g e , M A : H a r -

v a r d U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s , 2 0 1 2 ) , K i n d l e e d i t i o n , 4 8 5 , 1 9 0 2 .

v. G r e g o r y , 8 5 2 .

vi G r e g o r y , 1 8 9 6

vii G r e g o r y , 2 0 3 7.

viii. K r a f t , 2 7 - 3 0 .

ix Ps a l m 4 2 : 2

x B o n ave n t u r e , E we r t H . C o u s i n s a n d I g n a t i u s B r a d y , Bonaventure: The Soul’s Journey into God, the Tree of Life, the Life of St Francis ( M a hw a h , N J : P a u l i s t P r e s s , 1 9 7 8 )

xi S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h i s r e f e r e n c e f r o m 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 : 1 5

r e g a r d s t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n o f t h e d e a d . W i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t

o f t h e c h a p t e r , we l e a r n n o t o n l y t h a t o u r b o d i e s w i l l b e

r e s u r r e c t e d w i t h o u r s o u l s , b u t t h a t t h e u n i f i e d d e s i g n

o f t h e d i v i n e m a n i f e s t i n g i n t h e n a t u r a l a s we l l a s s u p e r -

n a t u r a l c r e a t e d wo r l d . xii

B o n ave n t u r e u s e s “ s o u l ” a n d “ m i n d ” i n t e r c h a n g e a b l y ,

t o m e a n t h e s p i r i t u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f t h e h u m a n p e r -

s o n .

xiii

xiv

xv

xvi

xvii

xviii

xix

B o n ave n t u r e , 6 0

B o n ave n t u r e , 6 0 .

B o n ave n t u r e , 6 3 .

B o n ave n t u r e , 6 5

B o n ave n t u r e , 7 1 .

B o n ave n t u r e , 7 2 .

K r a f t , 3 6 - 3 9

xx 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 : 2 5 .

xxi. Ps a l m 1 3 9 : 1 4 ( N R S VC E ) .

DARTMOUTH AND "CHRISTIANIZING THE CHILDREN OF PAGANS"

T h e B i b l i c a l a n d H i s t o r i c a l I n f l u e n c e s o n D a r t m o u t h ' s Fo u n d i n g V i s i o n

S A R A H O L S T O N ' 1 7

Th e c h a r t e r o f D a r t m o u t h C o l l e g e d e -

c l a r e s t h a t t h e i n s t i t u t i o n w i l l “ [ e d u c a t e ]

a n d [ i n s t r u c t t h e ] yo u t h o f t h e I n d i a n t r i b e s

i n t h i s l a n d i n r e a d i n g , w r i t i n g , a n d a l l p a r t s

o f l e a r n i n g t h a t a p p e a r n e c e s s a r y a n d e x p e d i -

e n t f o r c i v i l i z i n g a n d c h r i s t i a n i z i n g c h i l d r e n

o f p a g a n s … ” i W h i l e t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h a t s t a t e -

m e n t r a i s e s n u m e r o u s i s s u e s o f c o l o n i a l i s m ,

t h i s a r t i c l e f o c u s e s o n t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f D a r t -

m o u t h ’ s f o u n d i n g v i s i o n o f “ c h r i s t i a n i z i n g ”

N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s . T h e i d e a d r aw s i n p a r t o n

t h e i d e o l og i c a l c o r e o f t h e B i b l e ’ s t e a c h i n g s o n

e v a n g e l i s m t h e p r a c t i c e o f s p r e a d i n g t h e g o s -

p e l . T h o u g h m a ny i n s t a n c e s o f m i s s i o n a r y wo r k

h ave f e a t u r e d t h e u s e o f a g g r e s s i o n t o f o r c e t h e

C h r i s t i a n wo r l d v i e w o n o t h e r c u l t u r e s , t h i s i s

n o t e v a n g e l i s m i n i t s o r i g i n a l f o r m . T h e B i b l e

m e r e l y c o m m a n d s C h r i s t i a n s t o g o o u t a s s e r -

v a n t s a n d s h a r e t h e m e s s a g e o f t h e g o s p e l l i t -

e r a l l y , t h e “ g o o d n e w s ; ” w h e t h e r n o n - C h r i s t i a n

l i s t e n e r s c o nve r t t o t h e f a i t h i s b e t we e n t h e m

a n d G o d . T h e l a n g u a g e o f “ c h r i s t i a n i z i n g ” i n

t h e c h a r t e r , h owe ve r , c o m e s m o r e f r o m t h e

G r e a t Aw a k e n i n g , o n e o f t h e l a r g e s t a n d m o s t

s i g n i f i c a n t C h r i s t i a n r e v i v a l s i n A m e r i c a n h i s -

t o r y a n d a m a j o r i n f l u e n c e o n t h e f o u n d i n g o f

D a r t m o u t h t we n t y ye a r s l a t e r . M i s s i o n s wo r k

i n t h e G r e a t Aw a k e n i n g d i d m a i n t a i n s o m e

o f t h e i d e o l og i c a l c o r e o f b i b l i c a l e v a n g e l i s m ;

t h e m ove m e n t e m ph a s i z e d G o d ’ s i nv i t a t i o n t o

s a l v a t i o n a n d t h e t r u e h a p p i n e s s t h a t m i g h t

b e f o u n d t h e r e i n . I n p r a c t i c e , h owe ve r , i t f e l l

Graphic, "Handpainted Watercolor Three Kings Christmas Characters" by Canva Elements Team from canva.com

BY

s h o r t o f t h e b i b l i c a l f r a m e wo r k , f a i l i n g t o a p -

p r o a c h t h e N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s w i t h t h e h u m b l e

a t t i t u d e a n d i n t e n t i o n s o f a s e r v a n t , o r t o l e ave

a ny c o nve r s i o n t o t h e N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s a n d

t o G o d . T h o u g h t h e i d e a o f “ c h r i s t i a n i z i n g t h e

c h i l d r e n o f p a g a n s ” d r aw s f r o m t h e b i b l i c a l

c a l l t o e v a n g e l i s m , t h e v i s i o n u l t i m a t e l y s t r ay s

f r o m t h e B i b l e ’ s d i r e c t i ve

t o s e r ve n o n - C h r i s t i a n

c o m m u n i t i e s a n d l e ave

a ny c o nve r s i o n t o G o d a n d

t h o s e i n d i v i d u a l s , i n s t e a d

p r i o r i t i z i n g t h e c o l o n i a l

g o a l s o f E n g l i s h s e t t l e r s

a n d a s s u m i n g r e s p o n s i b i l -

i t y f o r c o nve r s i o n .

v a r i o u s m e t h o d o l og i e s , n o n e o f w h i c h i n c l u d e

v i o l e n c e o r f o r c e . S o m e o f t h e s e , a s q u o t e d p r e -

v i o u s l y , f avo r a c t i n g t o s e r ve n o n - b e l i e ve r s , b u t

n e ve r t o o p p r e s s t h e m . O t h e r p a s s a g e s f avo r

a n a p p r o a c h b y w h i c h n o n - C h r i s t i a n s c o m e t o

s e e a n d u n d e r s t a n d t h e g o s p e l b y o b s e r v i n g t h e

b e h av i o r a n d l i ve s o f b e l i e ve r s . C h r i s t t e l l s h i s

f o l l owe r s t h a t “ t h i s i s t o

m y Fa t h e r ' s g l o r y , t h a t

"The spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor."

T h e N e w Te s t a m e n t i s s u e s n u m e r o u s

c o m m a n d s t h a t C h r i s t i a n s s p r e a d t h e G o o d

N e w s , a n d t h e ove r a l l p i c t u r e t h a t t h e s e c r e -

a t e o f f e r s a f r a m e wo r k f o r e v a n g e l i s m i n w h i c h

t h e C h r i s t i a n g o e s f o r t h a s a s e r v a n t t o t h e

wo r l d t o e x t e n d t o t h e wo r l d G o d ’ s i nv i t a t i o n

t o a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h h i m I n o n e t r a n s l a t i o n

o f o n e s u c h p a s s a g e , G o s p e l w r i t e r L u k e s t a t e s :

T h e s p i r i t o f t h e L o r d i s o n m e ,

b e c a u s e h e h a s a n o i n t e d m e

t o p r o c l a i m g o o d n e w s t o t h e p o o r .

H e h a s s e n t m e t o p r o c l a i m f r e e d o m

f o r t h e p r i s o n e r s

a n d r e c ove r y o f s i g h t f o r t h e b l i n d ,

t o s e t t h e o p p r e s s e d f r e e . ii

I n a n o t h e r p a s s a g e , f r o m t h e B o o k o f M a t t h e w ,

J e s u s e x h o r t s h i s d i s c i p l e s t o g o t h r o u g h o u t t h e

wo r l d a n d “ p r o c l a i m t h i s m e s s a g e : ‘ T h e k i n g -

d o m o f h e ave n h a s c o m e n e a r . ’ H e a l t h e s i c k ,

r a i s e t h e d e a d , c l e a n s e t h o s e w h o h ave l e p r o s y ,

d r i ve o u t d e m o n s . F r e e l y yo u h ave r e c e i ve d ;

f r e e l y g i ve . ” iii A l l t h e s e a r e c o m m a n d s t o s e r ve ;

t h e s p r e a d i n g o f t h e g o o d n e w s i s i n t e n d e d t o

b e a s e r v i c e t o t h o s e w h o h e a r t h e m e s s a g e o f

h o p e , a n d e v a n g e l i s t s o u g h t t o a p p r o a c h t h e i r

l i s t e n e r s n o t a s m o r a l l y s u p e r i o r o r a s c o n q u e r -

o r s , b u t a s h u m b l e s e r v a n t s w h o h e a l t h e s i c k

a n d f r e e t h e o p p r e s s e d . T h o u g h e v a n g e l i s m h a s

o f t e n g o n e h a n d i n h a n d w i t h c o n q u e r i n g , v i o -

l e n c e a g a i n s t n o n - C h r i s t i a n p e o p l e s i s t h e o p -

p o s i t e o f t h e N e w Te s t a m e n t m a n d a t e .

I n f a c t , t h e ve r y wo r d i n g o f t h e p a s s a g e s

c a l l i n g C h r i s t i a n s t o s h a r e t h e g o s p e l s u g g e s t s

yo u b e a r m u c h f r u i t ,

s h ow i n g yo u r s e l ve s t o

b e m y d i s c i p l e s . ” iv H e

a l s o n o t e s t h a t “ b y t h i s

e ve r yo n e w i l l k n ow

t h a t yo u a r e m y d i s -

c i p l e s , i f yo u l ove o n e

a n o t h e r , ” v a n d h e e x h o r t s t h e m ove r a l l t o “ l e t

yo u r l i g h t s h i n e b e f o r e o t h e r s , t h a t t h e y m ay

s e e yo u r g o o d d e e d s a n d g l o r i f y yo u r Fa t h e r

i n h e ave n . ” vi I n t h e s e p a s s a g e s , i t i s s u g g e s t e d

t h a t b y l i v i n g t h e i r ow n l i ve s i n f u l f i l l m e n t

o f C h r i s t ’ s c o m m a n d s , C h r i s t i a n s s e t a n e x -

a m p l e t h a t p r o m p t s o t h e r s t o r e c og n i z e s o m e -

t h i n g d e s i r a b l e i n t h e m a n d t h e i r l i ve s . T h i s

a c k n ow l e d g e m e n t i n t u r n i n s p i r e s t h e s e n o n -

C h r i s t i a n s t o l i ve i n c o m m u n i o n w i t h G o d , a s

we l l . A t h i r d a p p r o a c h e n c o u r a g e s r e a d e r s t o

e n g a g e n o n - b e l i e ve r s i n t e l l e c t u a l l y , a n d “ a l -

w ay s b e p r e p a r e d t o g i ve a n a n s we r t o e ve r yo n e

w h o a s k s yo u t o g i ve t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e h o p e

t h a t yo u h ave . B u t d o t h i s w i t h g e n t l e n e s s a n d

r e s p e c t . ” vii T h i s e v a n g e l i s t i c m o d e l c a l l s o n J e -

s u s ’ f o l l owe r s t o a r t i c u l a t e t h e i r b e l i e f s c o n f i -

d e n t l y a n d c o m p a s s i o n a t e l y , h e l p i n g o t h e r s u n -

d e r s t a n d t h e s t o r y a n d m e s s a g e o f t h e g o s p e l ,

a s we l l a s i t s i m p l i c a t i o n s i n t h e i r l i ve s . N o n e

o f t h e s e B i b l i c a l m e t h o d o l og i e s c a l l C h r i s t i a n s

t o a c t i n v i o l e n c e o r a t t e m p t t o c o e r c e n o n -

b e l i e ve r s t o c o nve r t . R a t h e r t h a n i s s u i n g c o m -

m a n d s t h a t C h r i s t i a n s i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e l i ve s

o f o t h e r s , t h e n , t h e s e p a s s a g e s s p e a k d i r e c t l y t o

h ow f o l l owe r s o f C h r i s t o u g h t t o l i ve t h e i r ow n

l i ve s , t h a t t h e y m i g h t b e e f f e c t i ve m e s s e n g e r s

o f t h e g o o d n e w s . I n d e e d , t h e b i b l i c a l c a l l s t o e v a n g e -

l i s m c a r r y a c o m m o n t h e m e a m o n g t h e m : t h e

C h r i s t i a n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o s p r e a d t h e g o o d

n e w s d o e s n o t i n c l u d e a n o b l i g a t i o n t o s e e c o n -

ve r s i o n . T h e p a s s a g e s m e r e l y e m ph a s i z e t h a t

C h r i s t i a n s m u s t b e p r e p a r e d t o s h a r e G o d ’ s

i nv i t a t i o n t o s a l v a t i o n a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h

t h o s e w h o h ave o t h e r w i s e n o t h e a r d i t . E a r l y

C h r i s t i a n c o nve r t a n d e v a n g e l i s t P a u l f u r t h e r

r e i t e r a t e s t h i s c o n c e p t ;

w h e n h e w r i t e s t o t h e

C o r i n t h i a n s , P a u l s t a t e s

t h a t “ C h r i s t d i d n o t s e n d

m e t o b a p t i z e , b u t t o

p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l n o t

w i t h w i s d o m a n d e l o -

q u e n c e , l e s t t h e c r o s s o f

C h r i s t b e e m p t i e d o f i t s

w h o s e f a m o u s s e r m o n Sinners in the Hands of An

Angry God h a s c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e c h a r a c t e r i z a -

t i o n o f t h e e v a n g e l i s t i c s t y l e o f t h e p e r i o d a s

f o c u s i n g o n t h e t h r e a t o f d i v i n e p u n i s h m e n t

a n d e t e r n a l s u f f e r i n g f o r

t h o s e w h o f a i l t o a n s we r

To Paul, the real power to convert others was in the cross... and not in the words or actions of the evangelist.

p owe r . ” viii A t f i r s t g l a n c e , P a u l ’ s wo r d s s e e m

c o u n t e r i n t u i t i ve ; h e w a s i n s t r u c t e d t o s p r e a d

t h e g o s p e l , b u t h e c l a i m s n o t t o d o i t e s p e c i a l l y

p e r s u a s i ve l y . To P a u l , t h e r e a l p owe r t o c o nve r t

o t h e r s w a s i n t h e c r o s s t h e c o m p e l l i n g n a t u r e

o f t h e g o o d n e w s i t s e l f a n d n o t i n t h e wo r d s

o r a c t i o n s o f t h e e v a n g e l i s t . W h i l e t h e N e w

Te s t a m e n t f o r e g r o u n d s t h e c o m m a n d t o s h a r e

t h e g o o d n e w s w i t h a l l t h e wo r l d , t h e B i b l e

d o e s n o t d e m a n d t h a t C h r i s t i a n s g a i n c o nve r t s

b y a ny m e a n s n e c e s s a r y ; i t r e s e r ve s c o nve r s i o n

e n t i r e l y t o G o d .

T h e c h a r t e r ’ s d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t D a r t -

m o u t h w i l l “ c h r i s t i a n i z e ” t h e c h i l -

d r e n o f p a g a n s a l r e a d y r u n s c o u n t e r

t o t h e b i b l i c a l f r a m e wo r k f o r e v a n -

g e l i s m . T h e i d e a o f “ c h r i s t i a n i z -

i n g ” t h e N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s t u d e n t s

a s s u m e s t h a t t h e y w i l l e n d u p a s

C h r i s t i a n s , a n d , i n d e e d , t h a t t h i s

r e s u l t i s a n e c e s s a r y c o m p o n e n t o f

t h e r e a l i z a t i o n o f D a r t m o u t h ’ s v i -

s i o n . R a t h e r t h a n l e av i n g c o nve r -

s i o n t o G o d a n d t h e d e c i s i o n o f

t h e N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s t u d e n t s i n

G o d ’ s c a l l . W h i l e t h e f i r e

a n d b r i m s t o n e e l e m e n t s

o f Sinners we r e n ’ t e n t i r e -

l y u n u s u a l f o r E d w a r d s

o r t h e G r e a t Aw a k e n i n g ,

t o r e d u c e t h e t e a c h i n g

o f t h e p e r i o d t o t h i s e m -

ph a s i s i s t o n e g l e c t t h e ove r w h e l m i n g t h e m e

i n t h e m ove m e n t , a n d i n E d w a r d s ’ p r e a c h i n g

e s p e c i a l l y , o f t h e j oy a n d g l o r y t h a t a r e l a t i o n -

s h i p w i t h G o d p r o m i s e s . W h e n E d w a r d s d e -

s c r i b e d h i s ow n c o nve r s i o n t o C h r i s t i a n i t y , h e

r e c a l l e d , “ T h e r e c a m e i n t o m y s o u l , a n d w a s a s

i t we r e d i f f u s e d t h r o u g h i t , a s e n s e o f t h e g l o r y

o f t h e d i v i n e b e i n g ; a n e w s e n s e , q u i t e d i f f e r -

e n t f r o m a ny t h i n g I e ve r e x p e r i e n c e d b e f o r e . ”

H e w a s s o m u c h e n r a p t u r e d t h a t , a s h e p u t i t ,

“ I t h o u g h t w i t h m y s e l f , h ow e x c e l l e n t a B e i n g

t h a t w a s ; a n d h ow h a p py I s h o u l d b e , i f I m i g h t

e n j oy t h a t G o d , a n d b e w r a p p e d u p t o G o d i n h e ave n , a n d b e a s i t we r e

q u e s t i o n , t h e n , D a r t m o u t h c l a i m e d r e s p o n s i -

b i l i t y f o r b r i n g i n g t h a t a b o u t , a n d i n d o i n g s o

ove r s t e p p e d t h e b o u n d a r i e s o f h ow e v a n g e l i s m

o u g h t t o b e p r a c t i c e d .

M i s s i o n s wo r k d u r i n g t h e G r e a t Aw a k -

e n i n g r e v i v a l w a s l a r g e l y i d e o l og i c a l l y a l i g n e d

w i t h t h e b i b l i c a l f r a m e wo r k f o r e v a n g e l i s m ,

b u t i n p r a c t i c e f e l l s h o r t o f t h e v i s i o n f o r h ow

i t o u g h t t o b e c a r r i e d o u t . O n e o f t h e f o r e m o s t

p r e a c h e r s , m i s s i o n a r i e s , a n d t h e o l og i a n s o f

t h e G r e a t Aw a k e n i n g w a s Jo n a t h a n E d w a r d s ,

s w a l l owe d u p i n h i m . ” ix

E d w a r d s a l s o p r e a c h e d

t h a t “ [ t ] h e ve r y e n d f o r

w h i c h t h i s s u p r e m e l y

s o c i a l b e i n g c r e a t e d t h e

u n i ve r s e w a s … ‘ t h e c o m -

m u n i c a t i o n o f h a p p i -

n e s s ’ t o h i s c r e a t u r e s . ” x

E d w a r d s n o t o n l y f o u n d

h a p p i n e s s i n h i s ow n r e -

l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d , h e

a l s o b e l i e ve d t h a t G o d ’ s d e s i r e w a s t o b r i n g

t h a t h a p p i n e s s t o a l l o f c r e a t i o n , a n d t h a t

s u c h b l e s s i n g s we r e t h e r e f o r e t h e p r o m i s e t o

a l l w h o b e c a m e C h r i s t i a n . T h i s i s n o t t o s u g -

g e s t t h a t E d w a r d s e x p e c t e d t h e C h r i s t i a n l i f e

t o l e a d t o i n s t a n t a n e o u s u n m i t i g a t e d j oy , b u t

h e d i d b e l i e ve i t w a s t h r o u g h t h e t r i a l s o f f a i t h

t h a t t r u e h a p p i n e s s w a s r e a l i z e d , n o t i n g t h a t

“ [ r ] o s e s g r ow u p o n b r i e r s , w h i c h i s t o s i g n i f y

t h a t a l l t e m p o r a l s we e t s a r e m i x e d w i t h b i t t e r .

B u t w h a t s e e m s m o r e e s p e c i a l l y t o b e m e a n t b y

i t , i s t h a t t r u e h a p p i n e s s , t h e c r ow n o f g l o r y , i s

t o b e c o m e a t i n n o o t h e r w ay t h a n b y b e a r i n g

C h r i s t ’ s c r o s s b y a l i f e o f m o r t i f i c a t i o n , s e l f -

d e n i a l a n d l a b o r , a n d b e a r i n g a l l t h i n g s f o r

C h r i s t . ” xi T h e ove r w h e l m i n g e m ph a s i s o n t h e

t r u e h a p p i n e s s i n E d w a r d s ’ s w r i t i n g s e r ve s a s

a t e s t a m e n t t o h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e i nv i t a -

t i o n G o d o f f e r s a n d t h a t C h r i s t ' s c l a i m s c a n

o n l y b e f o u n d i n t h e C h r i s t i a n g o s p e l . xii

E d w a r d s ’ s w r i t i n g o n t h e t r u e h a p p i n e s s

o f a l i f e l i ve d f o r C h r i s t c a r r i e d ove r i n t o h i s

m i s s i o n s wo r k a s we l l . I n 1 7 5 1 , E d w a r d s

m ove d t o t h e t ow n o f S t o c k b r i d g e , C o n -

n e c t i c u t , w h e r e N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s a n d

E n g l i s h s e t t l e r s l i ve d s i d e b y s i d e . A t f i r s t

E d w a r d s e m ph a s i z e d t h e s i n s a n d v i c e s

o f t h e c o m m u n i t y , “ a s h e a l w ay s h a d i n

[ h i s c o n g r e g a t i o n i n ] N o r t h a m p t o n . ” xiii

H e q u i c k l y p i vo t e d , h owe ve r , t o p r e a c h -

i n g p r i m a r i l y o n t h e h a p p i n e s s a n d g l o r y

t h a t c o u l d b e f o u n d i n c o m m u n i o n w i t h

G o d . O t h e r m i s s i o n a r i e s h a d r e p o r t e d

g r e a t e r s u c c e s s s p e a k i n g o n “ t h e l ove

a n d c o m p a s s i o n o f G o d i n s e n d i n g h i s

S o n t o s u f f e r f o r t h e s i n s o f m e n , ” a n d

p e r h a p s E d w a r d s f o u n d t h i s t o b e t h e

c a s e a s we l l . E d w a r d s d i d n o t e n t i r e l y

s hy aw ay f r o m s p e a k i n g o n t h e h a r d e r

t o p i c s o f s i n a n d t h e s u f f e r i n g t h a t wo u l d

b e f a l l t h o s e w h o d i d n o t a c c e p t G o d ’ s o f -

f e r o f s a l v a t i o n , b u t n e i t h e r h a d h e d o n e

s o i n h i s p r e v i o u s c o n g r e g a t i o n , a n d i n

S t o c k b r i d g e h e t e m p e r e d t h e s e p o i n t s

w i t h G o d ’ s m e r c y a s m u c h a s h e c o u l d .

J u d g m e n t a n d l ov i n g m e r c y we r e i n t e r -

t w i n e d i n a l l o f E d w a r d s ’ p r e a c h i n g a n d

t h e o l og y . H e p r e s e n t e d G o d a s l ov i n g

b u t r i g h t e o u s l y i n d i g n a n t a t t h o s e w h o

r e j e c t l ove a n d l i ve u n d e r t h e r u l e o f t h e

d e v i l . G o d w a s a l s o m a r ve l o u s l y f o r g i v -

i n g i n s u f f e r i n g t o p r ov i d e s a l v a t i o n f o r

m a ny . W h i l e n o t a l t e r i n g h i s t h e o l og y ,

E d w a r d s d we l t e s p e c i a l l y o n t h e m e r c y

a n d c o m p a s s i o n o f G o d i n a l l ow i n g h i s

ow n s o n t o s u f f e r a n d d i e . xiv

t h e g o o d n e w s t h r o u g h o u t t h e wo r l d t h a t e v -

e r yo n e m ay h ave t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o k n ow G o d

i n J e s u s C h r i s t a n d t o b e s ave d f o r a l i f e w i t h

h i m . I n p r a c t i c e , h owe ve r , G r e a t Aw a k e n i n g

m i s s i o n a r i e s s t a r t e d t o s t r ay f r o m t h e b i b l i c a l

m o d e l f o r r e a l i z i n g t h a t v i s i o n ; t h e y p r i o r i t i z e d

t h e i r ow n c o l o n i a l g o a l s b y e x p a n d i n g i n t o N a -

t i ve A m e r i c a n t e r r i t o r y , a n d t h e y a l l owe d p o -

l i t i c a l c o n c e r n s t o c o r r u p t t h e i r e v a n g e l i s t i c

i n t e n t i o n s . T h e c o n t i n u o u s a d v a n c e m e n t o f

E d w a r d s ’ s e m ph a s i s o n h a p p i n e s s i n h i s

ow n C h r i s t i a n l i f e , h i s p r e a c h i n g , a n d h i s m i s -

s i o n s wo r k a l i g n w i t h t h e B i b l i c a l u n d e r s t a n d -

i n g o f w h a t e v a n g e l i s m i s m e a n t t o d o : s p r e a d

t h e E n g l i s h c o l o n i s t s o n t o N a t i ve A m e r i c a n

l a n d u n d e r m i n e d a ny i l l u s i o n t h a t t h e E n g l i s h

s aw t h e m s e l ve s a s s e r v a n t s , t h e w ay t h e y o u g h t

t o h ave a p p r o a c h e d t h e c o m m u n i t i e s t h e y

we r e e v a n g e l i z i n g. I n d e e d , “ [ e ] ve n i n a s e t t l e -

m e n t l i k e S t o c k b r i d g e , w h e r e g e n u i n e e f f o r t s

we r e m a d e t o b a l a n c e t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e t wo

p e o p l e s , t h e e ve r - e x p a n d i n g E n g l i s h p o p u l a -

t i o n i n e v i t a b l y t i p p e d t h e b a l a n c e i n t h e i r ow n

f avo r . ” xv R u m o r s o f a p l a n n e d m a s s a c r e o f t h e

E n g l i s h p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e t ow n s h e d l i g h t o n

t h e c o n f l i c t b e t we e n t h e t wo g r o u p s . S o m e o f

t h e N a t i ve A m e r i c a n yo u t h s w h o we r e i nvo l ve d

r e ve a l e d t h a t t h e y “ h a d b e e n t o l d t h a t t h e i r

p e o p l e we r e f o o l s f o r b e i n g t a k e n i n b y p r e t e n d -

e d s h ow s o f E n g l i s h k i n d n e s s a n d i n s t r u c t i o n

w h e n t h e E n g l i s h ‘ we r e o n l y o p e n i n g a w i d e

m o u t h t o s w a l l ow ’ e m u p , w h e n t h e y s h o u l d s e e

a c o nve n i e n t t i m e . ’ ” xvi G i ve n t h e r e a l i t y o f c o l o -

n i a l e x p a n s i o n , s u c h a p o i n t w a s h a r d t o a r g u e .

N o t o n l y d i d t h e E n g l i s h

s e t t l e r s p r i o r i t i z e t h e i r

ow n p e r c e i ve d n e e d s f o r

e x p a n s i o n , t h e y d i d s o t o

t h e o u t r i g h t d e t r i m e n t

o f N a t i ve A m e r i c a n c o m -

m u n i t i e s . I n p r a c t i c e ,

t h e n , t h e e v a n g e l i s m o f

t h e G r e a t Aw a k e n i n g

m i s s i o n s w a s n o t t h e

s e r v i c e - o r i e n t e d e n d e av -

w a s t o c o nve r t N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s t o C h r i s t i a n -

i t y ; i f m i s s i o n a r y wo r k o u g h t t o b e a b o u t s h a r -

i n g t h e g o o d n e w s a n d a l l ow i n g l i s t e n e r s t o

m a k e t h e i r ow n d e c i s i o n s , t h e n t h e p r i n c i p l e s

b y w h i c h t h e N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s l i ve d s h o u l d

h ave h a d r e l a t i ve l y l i t t l e b e a r i n g o n t h e e f f e c -

t i ve n e s s o f t h i s e x c h a n g e o f i d e a s . R e g a r d l e s s ,

t h e i n t e r a c t i o n w a s n o t c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y t h e

“ g e n t l e n e s s a n d r e s p e c t ” t h a t Pe t e r e n c o u r a g e d .

U l t i m a t e l y , t h e d e s i r e d e f f e c t o f b o t h

“ c i v i l i z i n g ” a n d “ c h r i s t i a n i z i n g ” w a s t o e n d e a r

E n g l i s h s e t t l e r s t o N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s , a p r o s -

p e c t w h i c h “ h a d i m m e n s e s t r a t e g i c i m p o r t a n c e

t o t h e E n g l i s h , w h o e x p e c t e d r e n e w a l o f w a r

w i t h t h e F r e n c h a n d u r g e n t l y n e e d e d t o d o

b e t t e r i n w i n n i n g I n d i a n

a l l e g i a n c e . ” xviii B y s e e k -

The evangelism of the Great Awakening missions was not the service-oriented endeavor the Bible calls for evangelism to be.

o r t h e B i b l e c a l l s f o r e v a n g e l i s m t o b e .

T h e c o l o n i s t s a l s o c o n s i d e r e d t h e “ c h r i s -

t i a n i z i n g ” o f N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s t o b e o f p o l i t i -

c a l a s we l l a s s p i r i t u a l v a l u e , a n d t h i s b l e n d o f

m o t i v a t i o n s l e d t h e m t o s t r i ve f o r c o nve r s i o n ,

r a t h e r t h a n s i m p l y s h a r i n g t h e g o s p e l m e s s a g e .

I t i s h e r e t h a t D a r t m o u t h ’ s g o a l s o f “ c i v i l i z -

i n g ” a n d “ c h r i s t i a n i z i n g ” b e c o m e h a r d e r t o

p a r s e o u t , a s t h e c o l o n i s t s b e g a n t o t h i n k t h a t

“ I n d i a n s m i g h t b e m o r e e f f e c t i ve l y e v a n g e l i z e d

i f t h e y l e a r n e d t o l i ve w i t h t h e E n g l i s h a n d a c -

c o r d i n g t o E n g l i s h p r i n c i p l e s . C i v i l i z i n g , i t w a s

b e l i e ve d , s h o u l d g o

h a n d i n h a n d w i t h

e v a n g e l i z i n g. ” xvii T h e

i d e a t h a t o n e m i g h t

b e e v a n g e l i z e d

m o r e e f f e c t i ve l y b y

a d o p t i n g t h e E n g -

l i s h l i f e s t y l e a l r e a d y

s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e

c o l o n i s t s ' i n t e n t i o n

i n g n o t o n l y t o c o nve r t

N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s t o t h e

C h r i s t i a n f a i t h , b u t a l s o

t o a s s i m i l a t e t h e m i n t o

a m o r e E u r o p e a n , a n d

s p e c i f i c a l l y a m o r e E n g -

l i s h c u l t u r e , t h e B r i t i s h

h o p e d t h e i r a l l i a n c e s

w i t h t h e N a t i ve A m e r i -

c a n s wo u l d b e s t r o n g e r h o p e f u l l y s t r o n g e r

t h a n t h o s e b e t we e n t h e N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s a n d

t h e F r e n c h . T h i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f p o l i t i c a l m o t i -

v a t i o n s i n t o t h e s p i r i t u a l d e s i r e t o e v a n g e l i z e

d i d n o t “ n e c e s s a r i l y m a k e e i t h e r s o r t o f m o -

t i ve t h e l e s s g e n u i n e . Fe w e i g h t e e n t h - c e n t u r y

C h r i s t i a n s wo u l d h ave t h o u g h t o f t h e t wo i n -

t e r e s t s a s s e p a r a b l e . ” xix T h a t t h e i n t e n t i o n s m ay

h ave b e e n g e n u i n e , h owe ve r , d o e s n o t c h a n g e

t h e f a c t t h a t b y c o n f l a t i n g t h e m , t h e e n d g o a l

w a s n o l o n g e r s i m p l y s h a r i n g t h e g o o d n e w s .

To r e a p p o l i t i c a l b e n e f i t s , t h e c o l o n i s t s n e e d e d

t h e N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s t o a d o p t t h e C h r i s t i a n

f a i t h , a n d t h e E n g l i s h c u l t u r e . I n d e v i a t i n g

f r o m t h i s m i s s i o n t o s h a r e t h e g o s p e l b y p r i o r i -

t i z i n g E n g l i s h c o l o n i a l g o a l s ove r s e r v i n g N a -

t i ve A m e r i c a n s a n d b y a s s u m i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

f o r “ c h r i s t i a n i z i n g ” t h e s e c o m m u n i t i e s , r a t h e r

t h a n l e av i n g t h a t u p t o G o d , G r e a t Aw a k e n i n g

m i s s i o n a r i e s f a i l e d t o r e a l i z e t h e b i b l i c a l i d e a l

f o r e v a n g e l i s m .

T h e i d e a o f “ c h r i s t i a n i z i n g ” i n D a r t -

m o u t h ’ s c h a r t e r i s r o o t e d i n a C h r i s t i a n c o n -

c e p t , b u t i s f i l t e r e d t h r o u g h t h e C o l l e g e ’ s h i s -

t o r i c a l c o n t e x t t o b e c o m e s o m e t h i n g r a d i c a l l y

d i f f e r e n t . I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o n o t e t h a t “ e v a n g e -

l i s m ” a s p r a c t i c e d b y G r e a t Aw a k e n i n g m i n -

i s t e r s w a s r a r e l y e f f e c t i ve . I n d e e d , w h i l e E d -

w a r d s m ay h ave b e e n r e s p e c t e d b y , a n d o n g o o d

t e r m s w i t h h i s N a t i ve A m e r i c a n n e i g h b o r s ,

“ t h e r e w a s n o r e v i v a l [ i n S t o c k b r i d g e ] a n d h e

m a d e n o r e p o r t s o f r e m a r k a b l e c o nve r s i o n s . ” xx

T h e f a c t t h a t “ t h e E n g l i s h we r e a l m o s t a l w ay s

t r y i n g t o s e t t l e t h e t e r r i t o r i e s w h e r e t h e y e v a n -

g e l i z e d ” b e c a m e “ t h e g r e a t d e f e c t i n E n g l i s h

m i s s i o n s t o t h e N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s , ” a n d c o n -

t r i b u t e d t o t h e w i d e s p r e a d f a i l u r e o f G r e a t

Aw a k e n i n g m i s s i o n s wo r k . xxi Fu r t h e r m o r e , i n

D a r t m o u t h ’ s c a s e o n l y n i n e t e e n N a t i ve A m e r i -

c a n s t u d e n t s we r e g r a d u a t e d i n t h e C o l l e g e ’ s

f i r s t 2 0 0 ye a r s . xxii T h o u g h t h e e x a c t r e a s o n s a r e

n o t k n ow n a t t h i s p o i n t , i t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t o n o t e

t h a t D a r t m o u t h C o l l e g e w a s a l s o i n e f f e c t i ve a t

“ c h r i s t i a n i z i n g ” N a t i ve A m e r i c a n s a s i t l a r g e l y

f a i l e d t o i n t e r a c t w i t h t h e c o m m u n i t i e s a t a l l .

Pe r h a p s s u c h a r e s u l t s p e a k s t o t h e i m p o r t a n c e

o f i n t e n t i o n a l i t y b e h i n d e v a n g e l i s m ; w h e n t h e

g o a l i s s p e c i f i c a l l y t o s e e t h e c o nve r s i o n o f n o n -

C h r i s t i a n c o m m u n i t i e s , t h e m e s s a g e o f t h e

g o o d n e w s i s c o m p r o m i s e d .

i D a r t m o u t h C o l l e g e C h a r t e r .

ii L u k e 4 : 1 8 ( N I V ) .

iii M a t t h e w 1 0 : 7 - 1 4 ( N I V )

iv Jo h n 1 5 : 8 ( N I V ) .

v. Jo h n 1 3 : 3 5 ( N I V ) .

vi M a t t h e w 5 : 1 5 - 1 6 ( N I V )

vii 1 Pe t e r 3 : 1 5 ( N I V ) .

viii. 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 : 1 7 ( N I V ) .

ix

G e o r g e M M a r s d e n , Jonathan Edwards: A Life ( N e w H a -

ve n , C T : Ya l e U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s , 2 0 0 3 ) , 6 6 0 - 6 6 1 , K i n d l e .

x. M a r s d e n , 1 1 4 4.

xi E d w a r d s i n M a r s d e n , 1 9 9 2 - 9 7

xii Jo h n 1 4 : 6 ( N I V ) .

xiii. M a r s d e n , 5 4 4 3 .

xiv M a r s d e n 5 4 4 8 - 5 4 5 1

xv M a r s d e n , 5 6 2 9 - 5 6 3 0 .

xvi M a r s d e n , 5 6 2 4 - 5 6 2 5 .

xvii M a r s d e n , 5 2 1 7 - 5 2 1 8

xviii M a r s d e n , 5 3 1 4.

xix M a r s d e n , 5 3 1 3 - 5 3 1 7.

xx M a r s d e n , 5 4 5 3 - 5 4 5 4

xxi M a r s d e n , 5 6 2 5 - 5 6 2 6

xxii “ T h e N a t i ve L e g a c y a t D a r t m o u t h C o l l e g e , ” Na-

tive American Program, h t t p s : / / s t u d e n t s d a r t m o u t h e d u /

n a p / a b o u t / h i s t o r y

FROM THE SIDE OF CHRIST

S a c r a m e n t a l i t y i n C h r i s t i a n L i f e

BY R O B E R T S M I T H ' 1 4

Many o f u s k n ow s o m e o n e w h o i s “ s p i r i t u -

a l b u t n o t r e l i g i o u s ” t h e t we n t y - s o m e -

t h i n g w h o l o s t f a i t h i n c o l l e g e b u t s t i l l b e l i e ve s

i n a H i g h e r Powe r ; t h e s e l f - i d e n t i f i e d a g n o s t i c

w h o r e c e n t l y a t t e n d e d a m e d i t a t i o n r e t r e a t ; t h e

g l o b a l t r ave l e r h o p i n g t o “ f i n d h i m s e l f . ” E ve n

w i t h i n C h r i s t i a n i t y , t h e r e a r e t h o s e w h o s ay

t h e y “ l ove J e s u s , b u t n o t t h e C h u r c h . ” T h i s i s

a n u n d e r s t a n d a b l e s e n t i m e n t , f o r t h e C h u r c h i s

p e r e n n i a l l y r o c k e d b y s c a n d a l , u n d e r m i n e d b y

i t s ow n m o r a l f a i l i n g s . We s e e k t r u t h b u t f i n d

i d e o l og i c a l p o s t u r i n g , hy p o c r i s y w h e r e t h e r e

s h o u l d b e w i t n e s s . I t c a n b e t e m p t i n g , t h e r e -

f o r e , t o m a k e t h e b a n q u e t i o f f a i t h a d i n n e r

b u f f e t f o r o n e , t o “ f o l l ow ” J e s u s w h i l e avo i d i n g

o u r n e i g h b o r . A f t e r a l l , i s n ’ t a p e r s o n a l r e l a -

t i o n s h i p w i t h H i m e n o u g h ?

T h i s i s t h e s t a t e o f s p i r i t u a l i t y i n A m e r -

i c a : a t o m i z e d , a u t o n o m o u s , a n d a n t i - i n s t i t u -

t i o n a l . ii We g o o u r ow n , d e r a c i n a t e d w ay s . B u t

s t r i p p e d o f i t s h i s t o r i c a l r o o t s a n d r e m ove d f r o m

w i d e r c o m m u n i o n , C h r i s t i a n i t y b e c o m e s m a l -

l e a b l e a n d a b s t r a c t . I r o n i c a l l y , a f u l l y s u b j e c -

t i ve f a i t h e n d s n o t i n p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b u t

i n p r a c t i c a l a t h e i s m . I t p r o d u c e s a C h r i s t i a n i t y

“ w i t h o u t a ny c o n c r e t e e x p r e s s i o n i n l i f e . ” iii I n

f a c t , i t s t o p s b e i n g C h r i s t i a n i t y a l t og e t h e r .

A t i t s h e a r t , C h r i s t i a n l i f e i s s a c r a m e n -

t a l . T h e C h u r c h i t s e l f i s a v i s i b l e s i g n o f i n -

v i s i b l e g r a c e , b o t h a n i m a g e a n d a n u n c h a n g -

i n g r e a l i t y T h i s i s a p u z z l i n g p a r a d o x I f t h e

C h u r c h i s a s i g n , t h e n i t i s c u l t u r a l l y p a r t i c u -

l a r a n d s h a r e d i n c o m m u n i o n . H ow e l s e wo u l d

i t b e i n t e l l i g i b l e ? A s A u g u s t i n e w r i t e s , “ I t i s

i m p o s s i b l e t o k e e p m e n t og e t h e r i n o n e r e l i -

g i o u s d e n o m i n a t i o n , w h e t h e r t r u e o r f a l s e , e x -

c e p t t h e y b e u n i t e d b y m e a n s o f v i s i b l e s i g n s o r

s a c r a m e n t s . ” iv B u t w h i c h s i g n s m a t t e r ? W h a t

s h o u l d we m a k e o f t h e c o n c r e t e t r a d i t i o n f r o m

w h i c h C h r i s t i a n i t y e m e r g e d , t h a t o f t h e O l d

L aw , w h i c h C h r i s t c a m e “ n o t t o a b o l i s h b u t t o

f u l f i l l ” ? v A n d i f t h e C h u r c h i s a l w ay s t i e d t o

c u l t u r e , t h e n h ow c a n i t r e m a i n f u n d a m e n t a l l y

t h e s a m e ? H ow w i l l C h r i s t s t ay , f o r u s , “ t h e

s a m e ye s t e r d ay , t o d ay , a n d f o r e ve r ” ? vi

Yo u s e e , we l i ve b e t we e n t h e n ow a n d

t h e n o t ye t , b e t we e n t h e I n c a r n a t i o n a n d t h e

E s c h a t o n . C h r i s t h a s c o m e , h i s s av i n g m i s s i o n

i s c o m p l e t e , a n d ye t s a l v a t i o n h i s t o r y s o m e h ow

c o n t i n u e s t o u n f o l d . T h e a g e - o l d s t o r y o f t h e

“ Pe o p l e o f G o d ” vii i s t o l d a n e w a n d n o t j u s t

t o l d , b u t l i ve d , f o r w h i l e we a r e “ w i t n e s s e s o f

t h e s e t h i n g s , ” viii we h ave a l s o b e e n b a p t i z e d

i n t o t h a t ve r y f o l d w h e r e C h r i s t i s w i t h u s “ a l -

w ay s , u n t i l t h e e n d o f t h e a g e . ” ix

T h e a g e h a s n o t e n d e d , x a s s t r a n g e a s

t h a t m ay s e e m . We i n s t e a d f a c e t h e u n d e n i a b l e

h i s t o r i c i t y o f o u r ow n l i ve s , a n d t h a t o f t h e

m y s t i c a l b o d y we c a l l t h e C h u r c h . xi T h e B o o k

o f H e b r e w s t e l l s u s t h a t t h o u g h “ G o d s p o k e i n

p a r t i a l a n d v a r i o u s w ay s t o o u r a n c e s t o r s , ” H e

h a s “ i n t h e s e l a s t d ay s ” s p o k e n t o u s d e f i n i t i ve -

l y “ t h r o u g h a s o n . ” xii Ye t t h i s S o n , t h e f u l l n e s s

o f G o d ’ s r e ve l a t i o n , w a s s o m e o n e w h o l i ve d a t

a p a r t i c u l a r m o m e n t i n t i m e . To t h e e x t e n t H e

s t i l l “ l i ve s ” w i t h u s t o d ay , t wo m i l l e n n i a l a t e r

t o s p e a k o f t h e Wo r d i n a t e m p o r a l s e n s e i t

i s n e c e s s a r i l y t h r o u g h s o m e m e d i u m : t h r o u g h

t h e C h u r c h , o t h e r p e r s o n s p e r h a p s , we m i g h t

s ay , t h r o u g h p a r t i c u l a r i t y i t s e l f . I f C h r i s t h a s

c o m e , t h e n w hy d o we s t i l l s e e “ i n d i s t i n c t l y , a s i n a m i r r o r ” ? xiii H ave n ’ t we a l r e a d y s e e n H i m

“ f a c e t o f a c e ” ? xiv

T h e c o n c e p t o f “ s a c r a m e n t ” i s a h e r -

m e n e u t i c f o r a d d r e s s i n g s u c h q u e s t i o n s . Fo r

C h r i s t i a n s , t h e r e i s p e r m a n e n c e a m i d e ph e m -

e r a l i t y . W h i l e o u r l i ve s a r e p a s s i n g aw ay , xv t h e y

a r e a l s o p a r t i c u l a r b y d e s i g n . T h e S c r i p t u r e s

s p e a k o f n o t o n l y a n e w h e ave n b u t a n e w

earth . xvi We s t a r t i n a g a r d e n a n d e n d i n a c i t y :

N e w J e r u s a l e m . xvii A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e s i g n s a n d

f o r m s o f C h r i s t i a n l i f e a r e n o t a n i l l u s i o n ; t h e y

m a t t e r i n e t e r n i t y . S o t o o d o t h e y m a t t e r t o d ay ,

i n a n e r a w h e n e t e r n i t y h a s a l r e a d y b r o k e n i n .

Th e E n g l i s h wo r d “ s a c r a m e n t ” i s d e r i ve d

f r o m t h e L a t i n sacer , m e a n i n g “ s a c r e d ” o r

“ h o l y , ” a n d t h e G r e e k wo r d musterion , m e a n i n g

“ m y s t e r y ” o r “ s a c r e d s e c r e t . ” xviii

S i m p l y p u t , a s a c r a m e n t i s a

s o r t o f s i g n t h a t b o t h r e ve a l s

a n d i s i m b u e d w i t h t h e h i d d e n

p r e s e n c e o f G o d . xix T h e C h u r c h

h a s h i s t o r i c a l l y a c c e p t e d c e r -

t a i n o u t w a r d s i g n s a s C h r i s t -

i n s t i t u t e d m e a n s o f c o n f e r r i n g

g r a c e , a n d t h i s i s w h a t f i r s t

c o m e s t o m i n d u p o n e n c o u n t e r -

i n g t h e t e r m “ s a c r a m e n t . ” xx B u t

i n a b r o a d e r s e n s e , s a c r a m e n t s

o f C h r i s t , ” w r i t e s H e n r i d e L u b a c . “ [ S ] h e r e p -

r e s e n t s h i m , i n t h e f u l l a n d a n c i e n t m e a n i n g o f

t h e t e r m ; s h e r e a l l y m a k e s h i m p r e s e n t . ” xxvii

C h r i s t , a s Wo r d , i s t h e f u l l n e s s o f

r e ve l a t i o n , s o we c a n c o n c l u d e t h a t p u b l i c

r e ve l a t i o n , xxviii

d i v i n e c o m m u n i c a t i o n t o m a n -

k i n d a s a g r o u p , h a s e n d e d w i t h H i m . xxix E s s e n -

t i a l m a t t e r s o f f a i t h a n d m o r a l s s i m p l y c a n n o t

c h a n g e . Ye t C h r i s t ’ s m e s s a g e m u s t b e t r a n s m i t -

t e d a c r o s s g e n e r a t i o n s , a n d s o i t i s n e c e s s a r i l y

e x p r e s s e d i n v a r i e d f o r m s . W h i l e t h e r e w i l l b e

n o f u t u r e s t a t e w h e r e m a n w i l l “ p o s s e s s t h e

g r a c e o f t h e H o l y G h o s t m o r e p e r f e c t l y t h a n h e

a r e t h o s e s h a r e d t h i n g s t h a t m a k e G o d ’ s g r a c e

p r e s e n t a n d t a n g i b l e t o u s .

We s h o u l d , o f c o u r s e , b e w a r y o f ove r e x -

t e n d i n g t h e i d e a I n r e c e n t d e c a d e s , t h e o l og i a n s

h ave s t r e t c h e d t h e c o n c e p t o f s a c r a m e n t t o i t s

b r e a k i n g p o i n t . D av i d B r ow n , f o r e x a m p l e , h a s

a r g u e d t h a t s o m e a r t i s s a c r a m e n t a l b e c a u s e

i t p o i n t s “ b e yo n d i t s e l f t o a n o t h e r o r d e r o f

r e a l i t y . ” xxi S a c r a m e n t s a r e n o t j u s t r e m i n d e r s

o f G o d , h owe ve r ; t h e y r e a l l y c o n f e r g r a c e . I f

we a d o p t t o o b r o a d a d e f i n i t i o n , “ i f e ve r y t h i n g

i s s a c r a m e n t a l , t h e n n o t h i n g i s . ” xxii I t i s b e t t e r

t o t h i n k o f s a c r a m e n t s a s e f f e c t i ve “ actions o f

C h r i s t i n t i m e t h r o u g h h i s C h u r c h . ” xxiii

E ve n s o , “ t h e e x t e n d e d u s a g e [ o f s a c r a -

m e n t a l i t y ] i s j u s t i f i a b l e , p r ov i d e d t h a t we r e -

a l i z e i t s l i m i t a t i o n s . ” xxiv O u r ow n l i f e i n t h e

C h u r c h h a s a s a c r a m e n t a l c h a r a c t e r , o n e t h a t

f i n d s p e r h a p s i t s f u l l e s t e x p r e s s i o n i n t h e o n e

w h o i s L i f e i t s e l f : C h r i s t , t h e s a c r a m e n t o f

G o d . H e i s , f o r u s , “ t h e i m a g e o f t h e i nv i s -

i b l e G o d . ” xxv A n d n o t o n l y a n i m a g e , b u t G o d

H i m s e l f t h e s i g n a n d t h e t h i n g s i g n i f i e d . xxvi

L i k e w i s e , “ t h e C h u r c h i s f o r u s t h e s a c r a m e n t

h a s p o s s e s s e d i t h i t h e r t o , e s p e -

c i a l l y t h e a p o s t l e s w h o r e c e i ve d

‘ t h e f i r s t f r u i t s o f t h e S p i r i t , ’ xxx”

t h e N e w L aw i s s t i l l “ s u b j e c t t o

c h a n g e w i t h r e g a r d t o v a r i o u s

p l a c e s , t i m e s , a n d p e r s o n s . ” xxxi

C h r i s t i a n d e n o m i n a t i o n s o b v i -

o u s l y d i s a g r e e a b o u t h ow t h i s

u n c h a n g i n g b u t m e d i a t e d t r u t h

i s p r e s e r ve d . W h i l e P r o t e s t a n t s

p r o f e s s sola scriptura , o r S c r i p t u r e

a l o n e , a s t h e s o l e a u t h o r i t y f o r

C h r i s t i a n d o c t r i n e a n d p r a c t i c e , C a t h o l i c s a l s o

p o i n t t o Tr a d i t i o n t o t h e C h u r c h i t s e l f a s a

c o - e q u a l a n d i n f a l l i b l e xxxii vo i c e . S t i l l , b o t h t r a -

d i t i o n s r e c og n i z e t h a t t h e t i m e l e s s Wo r d m u s t

b e c o m m u n i c a t e d a n e w i n t h e p a r t i c u l a r i t y o f

e ve r y a g e .

T h i s i s w h a t t h e C h u r c h d o e s , a l b e i t

w i t h g u i d a n c e f r o m a b ove . C h r i s t h a s g o n e

aw ay , i f o n l y f o r a “ l i t t l e w h i l e , ” xxxiii b u t h e h a s

s e n t a n “ A d vo c a t e , ” “ t h e S p i r i t o f t r u t h , ” t o a s -

s i s t . xxxiv O u r p o s t u r e t o d ay i s t h e r e f o r e ve r y d i f -

f e r e n t f r o m t h a t o f t h e A n c i e n t I s r a e l i t e s , w h o

we r e s t i l l aw a i t i n g t h e c o m i n g o f t h e M e s s i a h . xxxv

T h o s e o f u s w h o l i ve a f t e r C h r i s t ’ s c o m i n g h ave

b e e n r a d i c a l l y t r a n s f o r m e d i n a w ay t h a t t h e

A n c i e n t I s r a e l i t e s c o u l d o n l y a n t i c i p a t e . We

c o n t i n u e t o c o m m u n i c a t e t h e t r u t h t h r o u g h

i m a g e s a n d t h e r e f o r e t h r o u g h d e ve l o p i n g c u l -

t u r e b u t t h e s e “ i m a g e s ” a r e s o m e t h i n g m o r e .

T h e y a r e s a c r a m e n t s , e n d owe d w i t h a h i d d e n

b u t e f f e c t i ve g r a c e .

C h r i s t ’ s d i s c o u r s e o n m a r r i a g e i s i n -

s t r u c t i ve i n t h i s r e g a r d . T h e M o s a i c l aw h a d

a l l owe d f o r d i vo r c e , b u t “ f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g i t

w a s n o t s o . ” xxxvi I t w a s “ [ b ] e c a u s e o f t h e h a r d -

n e s s o f … h e a r t s ” t h a t M o s e s p e r m i t t e d t h i s e x -

c e p t i o n . xxxvii Fo r t h e C h r i s t i a n , h owe ve r , m a r -

r i a g e , i n i t s i n t r i n s i c a l l y i n d i s s o l u b l e n a t u r e ,

i s s o m e t h i n g b o t h o l d a n d n e w . I t i s e l e v a t -

e d t o t h e s t a t u s o f a s a c r a m e n t : a r e f l e c t i o n

o f C h r i s t ’ s ow n l ove f o r t h e C h u r c h . xxxviii L i k e

C h r i s t ’ s s a c r i f i c e , i t i s e f f i c a c i o u s , c o n f e r r i n g

g r a c e o n t h e c o u p l e a d m i n i s t e r i n g i t .

I n d e e d , i t i s o n l y i n l i g h t o f C h r i s t ’ s

s a c r i f i c e t h a t we c a n b e g i n t o u n d e r s t a n d s a c r a -

m e n t a l i t y g e n e r a l l y . C h r i s t ’ s p a s s i o n i s , f i r s t , a

s i g n . H i s d e a t h o n t h e c r o s s p o i n t s t o a s a l v i f i c

m i s s i o n . M o r e ove r , C h r i s t ’ s s a c r i f i c e i nvo l ve s

a n u n d e r l y i n g , b u t h i d d e n , r e a l i t y . H i s d e a t h

s ave s u s f r o m s i n , a n d i n t u r n m a k e s a l l o t h e r

s a c r a m e n t s p o s s i b l e . We r e f e r t o C h r i s t a s t h e

p r i m o r d i a l s a c r a m e n t , xxxix b e c a u s e i t w a s f r o m

H i s s i d e t h a t t h e r e c a m e f o r t h “ t h e wo n d r o u s

s a c r a m e n t o f t h e w h o l e C h u r c h . ” xl

G o d ’ s p l a n a s r e ve a l e d b y

C h r i s t ’ s l i f e , d e a t h , a n d r e s u r r e c -

t i o n a n d b y t h e s a c r a m e n t s i s

w h a t we c a l l t h e P a s c h a l M y s t e r y .

I t i s a p l a n t h a t r e ve a l s s o m e t h i n g

s t a r t l i n g : i n h i s e n t r a n c e i n t o

d e a t h , i n t o t h e d e p t h s o f p a r t i c u -

P a s s ove r . T h e P a s c h a l l a m b s y m b o l i z e d G o d ’ s

d e l i ve r a n c e o f t h e I s r a e l i t e s f r o m s l ave r y i n

E g y p t a n d f o r e s h a d owe d t h e c o m i n g o f t h e

M e s s i a h . I n o u r a g e , C h r i s t i s b o t h a s i g n a n d

t h e cause o f o u r s a l v a t i o n . “ Fo r t h e r e w a s o n c e a

t y p e , b u t n ow t h e r e a l i t y h a s a p p e a r e d , ” M e l i -

t o w r i t e s . xliii S t i l l , i n t y i n g C h r i s t ’ s s a c r i f i c e t o

t h e s i g n s o f t h e O l d Te s t a m e n t , M e l i t o h e l p s

u s t o s e e t h e c yc l i c i t y o f G o d ’ s s t o r y , h ow t h e

c ove n a n t a l s i g n s o f A n c i e n t I s r a e l h ave b e e n

t r a n s f o r m e d i n t h e N e w C ove n a n t . H e h e l p s

u s t o avo i d t h e e r r o r o f a s t r i c t s u p e r s e s s i o n i s m

t h a t d i s r e g a r d s t h e O l d Te s t a m e n t a s i r r e l e v a n t

t o t h e m o d e r n C h r i s t i a n .

T h i s a t t a c h m e n t t o a n c i e n t f o r m s s h o u l d

b e b a l a n c e d b y a r e s p e c t f o r i n c u l t u r a t i o n : t h e

i d e a t h a t C h r i s t ’ s m e s s a g e t h o u g h i t a r o s e i n a

c u l t u r e o f i t s ow n m u s t b e a d a p t e d t o each c u l -

t u r e f o r e v a n g e l i z a t i o n . J u s t a s t h e s i g n xliv o f t h e

b u r n i n g b u s h

i l l u m i n e d t h e

A Christianity that separates itself from the wider Christian body can never be life-giving.

l a r i t y , G o d h a s n o t o n l y p r ov i d e d t h e f u l l e s t

e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e divine l i f e , o f w h o He i s H e

h a s t r a n s f o r m e d human l i f e a s we l l . “ I n t h e

C r o s s o f C h r i s t n o t o n l y i s t h e R e d e m p t i o n a c -

c o m p l i s h e d t h r o u g h s u f f e r i n g , b u t a l s o h u m a n

s u f f e r i n g i t s e l f h a s b e e n r e d e e m e d , ” w r i t e s

Jo h n P a u l I I . xli G r a c e d o e s n o t d e s t r oy h u m a n

n a t u r e , b u t p e r f e c t s i t . xlii T h e r i s e n C h r i s t r e -

t a i n s h i s wo u n d s . S a c r a m e n t s , t h e r e f o r e , a r e

n o t m e r e l y a m e a n s t o a n e n d . A s s i g n s , i n

t h e i r form , t h e y h ave e t e r n a l s i g n i f i c a n c e .

T h u s , w h i l e r e l i g i o u s f o r m i s c u l t u r -

a l l y c o n t i n g e n t , i t i s a l s o e s s e n t i a l t o a u t h e n t i c

C h r i s t i a n l i f e .

I n h i s s e c o n d -

c e n t u r y s e r m o n

Peri Pascha , f o r

e x a m p l e , M e l i t o

o f S a r d i s s h ow s

h ow C h r i s t p a r -

a l l e l s t h e s a c -

r i f i c e d l a m b o f

p a t h t o t h e

i nv i s i b l e Ya h -

we h , t h e o n e

f r o m w h o m

M o s e s h i d h i s

f a c e , xlv s o m u s t

t h e C h u r c h b r i n g t h e l i g h t o f C h r i s t t o t o d ay ’ s

wo r l d A c c o r d i n g l y , s a c r a m e n t a l s i g n s s h o u l d

s i m u l t a n e o u s l y p r e s e r ve t h e l i n k t o a n c i e n t

H e b r a i c a n d C h r i s t i a n t r a d i t i o n , h ave m e a n -

i n g w i t h i n c o n t e m p o r a r y c u l t u r e , a n d ye t p o i n t

t o s o m e t h i n g b e yo n d c u l t u r e .

To l i ve s a c r a m e n t a l l y , t h e r e f o r e , we

m u s t a p p r e c i a t e t h e c u l t u r a l r o o t e d n e s s o f a l l

r e l i g i o u s p r a c t i c e . We m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t

C h r i s t i a n p r a c t i c e i n t h e s a c r a m e n t s i s a m e a n s

o f e n t e r i n g i n t o a s p e c i f i c s a c r i f i c i a l s t o r y . F i -

n a l l y , we m u s t l i ve i n c o m m u n i o n . To b e c u l -

t u r a l l y i n t e l l i g i b l e , s a c r a m e n t s m u s t b e s h a r e d .

A C h r i s t i a n i t y t h a t s e p a r a t e s i t s e l f f r o m t h e

w i d e r C h r i s t i a n b o d y c a n n e ve r b e l i f e - g i v i n g.

I n c o n t r a s t , t h e s a c r a m e n t a l i t y o f t h e l i f e o f t h e

C h u r c h c a l l s u s o u t o f o u r i n d i v i d u a l i t y i n t o

r e l a t i o n s h i p , i n t o t h e s o l i d a r i t y o f t h e “ n e w

Pe o p l e o f G o d . ” xlvi

I n a t i m e o f a l i e n a t i o n , i t i s e s s e n t i a l

f o r b e l i e ve r s t o r e s t o r e s a c r a m e n t s t o t h e c e n -

t e r o f C h r i s t i a n l i f e . T h e s a c r a m e n t o f t h e

E u c h a r i s t i s a p r i m e e x a m p l e o f h ow t h i s c a n

b e a c h i e ve d . T h o u g h r o o t e d i n t r a d i t i o n , t h e

b o d y a n d b l o o d o f C h r i s t i s a c c o r d i n g t o t h o s e

w h o b e l i e ve i n t h e R e a l P r e s e n c e xlvii a t r u l y

e f f e c t i ve s a c r a m e n t , a w ay o f b e s t ow i n g g r a c e .

I t i s a l s o a m a r k o f C h r i s t i a n u n i t y . xlviii We j o i n

w i t h t h o s e a c r o s s t h e a g e s w h o h ave s h a r e d t h e

s a m e m e a l , f r o m t h e c h u r c h f a t h e r s t o b e l i e v -

e r s a r o u n d t h e wo r l d t o d ay . T h i s i s t h e c o m -

m u n i o n o f s a i n t s b o u n d t og e t h e r i n s a c r a m e n -

t a l i t y , a n a n t i d o t e t o t h e l o n e l i n e s s o f o u r e r a .

I n t h i s w ay , i n u n i t i n g u s t o p a s t , p r e s -

e n t , a n d f u t u r e b e l i e ve r s , s u c h s a c r a m e n t s a l s o

h e r a l d t h e t i m e a h e a d . T h e y a n t i c i p a t e t h e e s -

c h a t o l og i c a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f G o d ’ s k i n g d o m a n d

m a k e i t p r e s e n t f o r u s h e r e o n e a r t h . “ T h e

h o u r i s c o m i n g , ” C h r i s t t e l l s u s , w h e n H e w i l l

n o l o n g e r s p e a k “ i n f i g u r e s ” b u t t e l l u s “ c l e a r l y

a b o u t t h e Fa t h e r . ” xlix Fo r t o d ay ’ s b e l i e ve r s , a n d

i n d e e d f o r b e l i e ve r s o f a l l t i m e , t h e s e p a r a -

d o x i c a l f i g u r e s a r e m o r e t h a n e n o u g h . We c a n

r i g h t l y s ay , e c h o i n g t h e d i s c i p l e s , “ N ow yo u

a r e t a l k i n g p l a i n l y , a n d n o t i n a ny f i g u r e o f

s p e e c h . ” l N ow , C h r i s t , yo u “ h ave c o n q u e r e d t h e

wo r l d . ” li

i M a t t h e w 2 2 : 1 – 1 4 ; L u k e 1 4 : 1 5 – 2 4.

ii. S e e g e n e r a l l y R o s s D o u t h a t , Bad Religion: How We Be-

came a Nation of Heretics ( N e w Yo r k : F r e e P r e s s , 2 0 1 2 ) ; “ I n

U. S . , D e c l i n e o f C h r i s t i a n i t y C o n t i n u e s a t R a p i d P a c e , ”

Pe w R e s e a r c h C e n t e r , O c t . 1 7 , 2 0 1 9 .

iii R o b e r t C a r d i n a l S a r a h , The Day is Now Long Spent ( S a n

F r a n c i s c o : I g n a t i u s P r e s s , 2 0 1 9 ) , 3 9 .

iv A u g u s t i n e , Contra Faustum 1 9 . 1 1 , q u o t e d i n A q u i n a s ,

Summa Theologiae I I I 6 1 1

v M a t t h e w 5 : 1 7

vi H e b r e w s 1 3 : 8 .

vii

viii

E x o d u s 6 : 7 ; J u d g e s 2 0 : 2 .

L u k e 2 4 : 4 8

ix M a t t h e w 2 8 : 2 0 .

x S e e M a t t h e w 2 4 : 3 4 : “ A m e n I s ay t o yo u , t h i s g e n e r a -

t i o n w i l l n o t p a s s aw ay u n t i l a l l t h e s e t h i n g s h ave t a k e n

p l a c e . ” M a ny e a r l y C h r i s t i a n s t o o k t h e s e wo r d s l i t e r a l l y ,

e x p e c t i n g C h r i s t t o r e t u r n w i t h i n t h e i r l i f e t i m e s .

xi 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 2 : 1 2 – 2 6

xii

xiii

xiv

H e b r e w s 1 : 1 – 2 .

1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 3 : 1 2 .

1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 3 : 1 2

xv 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 7 : 3 1 ; 2 C o r i n t h i a n s 5 : 1 7.

xvi R e ve l a t i o n 2 1 : 1

xvii

xviii

R e ve l a t i o n 2 1 : 2 , 9 – 2 7

O x f o r d E n g l i s h D i c t i o n a r y , 2 n d e d . ( O x f o r d : O x f o r d

U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s , 2 0 0 4 ) , s v “ s a c r a m e n t , n ”

xix

P a u l V I , “ S p e e c h O p e n i n g t h e S e c o n d S e s s i o n o f Va t i -

c a n I I ” ( Va t i c a n C i t y , S e p t . 2 9 , 1 9 6 3 ) .

xx T h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , f o r e x a m p l e , r e c og n i z e s t h e s e v -

e n s a c r a m e n t s o f B a p t i s m , C o n f i r m a t i o n , E u c h a r i s t , Pe n -

a n c e , A n o i n t i n g o f t h e S i c k , H o l y O r d e r s , a n d M a t r i m o ny .

xxi

P a t r i c k S h e r r y , “ T h e S a c r a m e n t a l i t y o f T h i n g s , ” New

Blackfriars , Vo l 8 9 , N o 1 0 2 3 ( 2 0 0 8 ) , 5 7 7

xxii

xxiii

xxiv

xxv

xxvi.

xxvii

S h e r r y , 5 7 6 .

S h e r r y , 5 8 8 .

S h e r r y , 5 7 5

C o l o s s i a n s 1 : 1 5 .

We s t m i n s t e r C o n f e s s i o n o f Fa i t h 2 7. 2 .

H e n r i d e L u b a c , Catholicism ( L o n d o n : B u r n s , O t e s ,

a n d Wa s h b o u r n e , 1 9 5 0 ) , 2 9 .

xxviii. I n c o n t r a s t t o private r e ve l a t i o n , w h i c h c o u l d b e o n -

g o i n g

xxix

C f . 1 T i m o t hy 6 : 1 4.

xxx. R o m a n s 8 : 2 3 .

xxxi A q u i n a s , I - I I 1 0 6 4

xxxii Va t i c a n I , Pastor Aeternus ( J u l y 1 8 , 1 8 7 0 ) , c h . 4.

xxxiii. Jo h n 1 6 : 1 6 .

xxxiv

Jo h n 1 4 : 1 6 – 1 7 ; Jo h n 1 6 : 7 , 1 3

xxxv A q u i n a s , I I I . 6 1 .4.

xxxvi. M a t t h e w 1 9 : 8 ; M a r k 1 0 : 5 - 6 .

xxxvii M a t t h e w 1 9 : 8 ; M a r k 1 0 : 5 - 6

xxxviii E ph e s i a n s 5 : 2 5 .

xxxix

E d w a r d S c h i l l e b e e c k x , Christ, the Sacrament of the Encounter with God ( N e w Yo r k : S h e e d a n d Wa r d , 1 9 6 3 ) , 1 5

xl Va t i c a n I I , Sacrosanctum Concilium ( D e c . 4 , 1 9 6 3 ) , s e c . 5 .

xli Jo h n P a u l I I , Salvafici Doloris ( Fe b . 1 1 , 1 9 8 4 ) , s e c . 1 9 .

xlii A q u i n a s , I 1 8

xliii M e l i t o , Peri Pascha , e d A l i s t a i r S t e w a r t - S y k e s ( N e w

Yo r k : S t . V l a d i m i r ’ s S e m i n a r y P r e s s , 2 0 0 1 ) , 3 8 .

xliv E x o d u s 3 : 1 2 .

xlv E x o d u s 3 : 6

xlvi Va t i c a n I I , Lumen Gentium ( N ov . 2 1 , 1 9 6 4 ) , s e c . 9 , 1 3 .

xlvii C f . Jo h n 6 : 2 2 – 6 9 .

xlviii C o r i n t h i a n s 1 0 : 1 7 ; A u g u s t i n e , In Joannis Evangelium

2 6 . 1 3 .

xlix Jo h n 1 6 : 2 5 .

l Jo h n 1 6 : 2 9

li Jo h n 1 6 : 3 3 .

This prayer by professor of religion Lucius Waterman appears on a plaque hanging outside Parkhurst Hall.

O L o r d G o d A l m i g h t y , we l l - s p r i n g o f w i s d o m , m a s t e r o f p owe r , g u i d e o f a l l g r ow t h , g i ve r o f a l l g a i n .

We m a k e o u r p r aye r t o t h e e , t h i s d ay , f o r D a r t m o u t h C o l l e g e . E a r n e s t l y e n t r e a t i n g t hy f avo u r f o r i t s

p e o p l e . Fo r i t s wo r k , a n d f o r a l l i t s l i f e . L e t t hy h a n d b e u p o n i t s o f f i c e r s o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o m a k e

t h e m s t r o n g a n d w i s e , a n d l e t t hy wo r d m a k e k n ow n t o t h e m t h e h i d i n g - p l a c e o f p owe r . G i ve t o i t s

t e a c h e r s t h e g i f t o f t e a c h i n g , a n d m a k e t h e m t o b e m e n r i g h t - m i n d e d a n d h i g h - h e a r t e d . G i ve t o

i t s s t u d e n t s t h e s p i r i t o f v i s i o n , a n d f i l l t h e m w i t h a j u s t a m b i t i o n t o b e s t r o n g a n d we l l - f u r n i s h e d ,

a n d t o h ave u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e t i m e s i n w h i c h t h e y l i ve . S ave t h e m e n o f D a r t m o u t h f r o m t h e

a l l u r e m e n t s o f s e l f - i n d u l g e n c e , f r o m t h e a s s a u l t s o f e v i l f o e s , f r o m p r i d e o f s u c c e s s , f r o m f a l s e a m -

b i t i o n s , f r o m h a r d n e s s , f r o m s h a l l ow n e s s , f r o m l a z i n e s s , f r o m h e e d l e s s n e s s , f r o m c a r e l e s s n e s s o f

o p p o r t u n i t y , a n d f r o m i n g r a t i t u d e f o r s a c r i f i c e s o u t o f w h i c h t h e i r o p p o r t u n i t y h a s g r ow n . M a k e , we

b e s e e c h t h e e , t h i s s o c i e t y o f s c h o l a r s t o b e a f o u n t a i n o f t r u e k n ow l e d g e , a t e m p l e o f s a c r e d s e r v i c e ,

a f o r t r e s s f o r t h e d e f e n s e o f t h i n g s j u s t a n d r i g h t , a n d f i l l t h e D a r t m o u t h s p i r i t w i t h t hy s p i r i t , t o

m a k e i t a n a m e a n d a p r a i s e t h a t s h a l l n o t f a i l , b u t s t a n d b e f o r e t h e e f o r e ve r . We a s k i n t h e n a m e

i n w h i c h a l o n e i s s a l v a t i o n , e ve n t h r o u g h J e s u s C h r i s t o u r L o r d , a m e n .

We a t t h e Dartmouth Apologia i nv i t e p e o p l e f r o m

a l l i n t e l l e c t u a l , ph i l o s o ph i c a l , r e l i g i o u s , a n d

s p i r i t u a l b a c k g r o u n d s t o j o i n i n o u r d i s c u s s i o n

a s we s e a r c h f o r t r u t h a n d a u t h e n t i c i t y . We d o ,

h owe ve r , r e s e r ve t h e r i g h t t o p u b l i s h o n l y t h a t

w h i c h a l i g n s w i t h o u r s t a t e m e n t o f b e l i e f .

We , t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e Dartmouth Apologia , a f -

f i r m t h a t t h e B i b l e i s i n s p i r e d b y G o d , t h a t

f a i t h i n J e s u s C h r i s t i s n e c e s s a r y f o r s a l v a t i o n ,

a n d t h a t G o d h a s c a l l e d u s t o l i ve b y t h e m o r a l

p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e N e w Te s t a m e n t . We a l s o a f -

f i r m t h e N i c e n e C r e e d , w i t h t h e u n d e r s t a n d -

i n g t h a t v i e w s m ay d i f f e r o n b a p t i s m a n d t h e

m e a n i n g o f t h e wo r d “ c a t h o l i c . ”

We ( I ) b e l i e ve i n o n e G o d , t h e Fa t h e r a l m i g h t y ,

m a k e r o f h e ave n a n d e a r t h , o f a l l t h i n g s v i s i b l e

a n d i nv i s i b l e .

We ( I ) b e l i e ve i n o n e L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t , t h e

O n l y B e g o t t e n S o n o f G o d , b o r n o f t h e Fa -

t h e r b e f o r e a l l a g e s . G o d f r o m G o d , L i g h t f r o m

L i g h t , t r u e G o d f r o m t r u e G o d , b e g o t t e n , n o t

m a d e , c o n s u b s t a n t i a l w i t h t h e Fa t h e r ; t h r o u g h

h i m a l l t h i n g s we r e m a d e . Fo r u s m e n a n d f o r

o u r s a l v a t i o n h e c a m e d ow n f r o m h e ave n , a n d

b y t h e H o l y S p i r i t w a s i n c a r n a t e o f t h e V i r -

g i n M a r y , a n d b e c a m e m a n . Fo r o u r s a k e h e

w a s c r u c i f i e d u n d e r Po n t i u s P i l a t e , h e s u f f e r e d

d e a t h a n d w a s b u r i e d , a n d r o s e a g a i n o n t h e

t h i r d d ay i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e S c r i p t u r e s .

H e a s c e n d e d i n t o h e ave n a n d i s s e a t e d a t t h e

r i g h t h a n d o f t h e Fa t h e r H e w i l l c o m e a g a i n

i n g l o r y t o j u d g e t h e l i v i n g a n d t h e d e a d a n d

h i s k i n g d o m w i l l h ave n o e n d .

We ( I ) b e l i e ve i n t h e H o l y S p i r i t , t h e L o r d , t h e

g i ve r o f l i f e , w h o p r o c e e d s f r o m t h e Fa t h e r a n d

t h e S o n , w h o w i t h t h e Fa t h e r a n d t h e S o n i s

a d o r e d a n d g l o r i f i e d , w h o h a s s p o k e n t h r o u g h

t h e p r o ph e t s . We b e l i e ve i n o n e , h o l y , c a t h o l i c

a n d a p o s t o l i c C h u r c h . We c o n f e s s o n e B a p t i s m

f o r t h e f o r g i ve n e s s o f s i n s a n d we l o o k f o r w a r d

t o t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n o f t h e d e a d a n d t h e l i f e o f

t h e wo r l d t o c o m e . A m e n .

[1 PETEr 3:15]