Equality in the Spirit
by Debbonnaire Kovacs
Chapter 9 in The Monastery of the Heart is titled “Equality.” In it, Chittister begins by saying that we like to think equality is the characteristic of our age—that we are all equal now, with equal importance and respect, and equal opportunities. But, she contends that in fact “inequality is the greatest sign of our time.”
that enslaves the poor to the drudgery
of survival, that ranks women as lower human beings
than men,
that distributes the goods
we produce
according to race,
that worships at the feet
of the gods of money,
and lives in gated communities
in order to keep
the rest of the world out.
To this world,
Benedictine spirituality says clearly,
“No.”
She points out that elders, who have lived longer in the heat of life are considered as elders or wisdom figures, as signs that
. . . holier with experience,
. . .richer of heart
as the heart grows deeper into God.
But age and seniority
are also not its gods.
. . .”the Spirit often reveals what is better
to the younger.”
The principle is a clear one:
“The Spirit blows where it will.”
We cannot damp down
the fire of the Spirit
on the basis of anything
but the greater movement
of the Spirit itself.
I find it noteworthy that Chittister does not say “We must not.” She says “We cannot.”
I think it’s a principle at which the Adventist denomination as a whole would do well to step back and take another look. And a few more prayers.
Enough said.
We don't need Benedictine spirituality — we need the spirituality enjoined in the Holy Bible.
Maranatha
While it has been fashionable for a number of years to label anything Catholic as de facto born of hell and destined to take us all there with it if we touch or read it, who among us who has not ministered and won souls by using the Catholic translation of the Bible—in deference to the request of a Bible student? Surely a religion that can publish a book that leads so many to Adventism cannot be entirely diabolical….
I lived in a foreign country for a number of years where Benedictine priests, monks, and deacons from Holland had been assigned to operate the local Catholic benevolent society, the local Credit Union, and celebration of mass and instruction of the Catechism.
We found intermixed in this group some very fine people (in addition to some not-so-fine-folk) who were entirely dedicated to spirituality and the good of humankind, almost on par with the work of Mother Theresa of Calcutta. We thanked the Lord for these saintly souls who ministered to our spirits and surely as we ministered to the health of the people.
The name "Benedict" means (if my Latin serves) "well-spoken." The name "Debbonnaire" means "of a goodly air, or dapper presence." A good combination here, I should say!
In college I found some of my most compelling reading in the Spanish-language writings of the spiritually gifted nuns of Spain, 16th century. There is spiritual good to be found widely among professed Christians, even among those with whom we fundamentally disagree in some doctrinal areas of end-time truth.
We don't all agree on doctrine within the SDA church, either.
So many Adventists are totally unaware that it was the catholic church that gave us the Bible we have today; the doctrine of the Trinity and the humanity/divinity of Christ, and much more Adventism didn't spring forth from the founder's brains with no previous knowledge. All "God's chilluns" are found everywhere there is love, mercy and justice, as that is all that God requires of us: "To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God." If we all followed those doctrines, we could dispense with all the "unique" ones that do nothing to make us better people.
Elaine is corrrect of course.
If you strip away Catholic superstition, such as the worship of Mary and saints, Adventist theology as a theological system has far more in common than it does will many of Protestants, especially Reformed Calvinists. If you look at the Great Ecumincal Councils of the first 500 years or so of Christianity, when the truly big theological issues were being formulated, Adventistism would in most cases come done on the side of the 'orthodox' rather than the 'heretics.'
For that reason, one will also find it is often Catholics who defend us against other Protestants. Other Protestants for example say we are heretics because we don't really believe in all the 'solas', but Catholics point out Protestants can't agree on any of those points themselves.
And finally, one should consider that despite all the rhetoric, Ellen White made us far more 'Catholic' of the 'orthodox' variety of Christianity than we would have been without her.
I find with Catholics it is not necessarily the bare 'fundamentals' that is the problem because we often agree with them. It is just that they have been around so long, that tradition, philosophy and culture have taken those fundamentals to some truly bizare places. The Catholic position re women, celibacy and sexuality generally are case in point.
If the SDA Church is around for 2,000 years, I suspect the same will happen to us. You already see that in recourse to defend tradition amongst many 'historic' Adventists. No doubt that is why God needs to keep raising up new reforming movements.
Edwin, Benedictus is also translated as blessing. And it is clear that the Benedictines you were privileged to associate with were indeed a blessing in that community. Nice story.
And you do well to remind us that some of the most 'spiritual' of writings have indeed come to us from the mystics of the middle ages, of whom the Benedictines are chief.
If only Truth Seeker realised that benedictine spirituality contains the One who IS Truth, he/she might have a far deeper experience of the Divine than is apparent at present.
Debbonaire, this has been a very nice article, and it inspired me to go looking for something more about the Benedictines. I came across this: http://books.google.com.au/books?id=LHtQZf2ET2MC&pg=PA19&lpg=PA19&dq=benedictine+mystics&source=bl&ots=DwsuFg6rXY&sig=gDEfg2ZpBaGDvuXGiSrsIfbNJBo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=V2aNUdWLCM6ziQeFsIHwCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=benedictine%20mystics&f=false
It is a link to a Google book, and I offer this excerpt:
"The very first word of the rule of St, Benedict is 'Listen!' –'Ausculta— and all the rest of Benedictine discipline grows out of this one initial gesture of wholehearted listening.
Benedictine spirituality in turn is rooted in the broader and more ancient tradition of the Bible. But here, too, the concept of listening is central. In the biblical vision all things are brought into existence by God's creative Word; all of history is a dialogue with God who speaks to the human heart. …. God is One and Transcendent. Yet the still more admirable insight of the religious genius reflected in the Bible is the insight that God speaks! …. The human heart is called to listen, and respond."
If this is benedictine spirituality, we could all do with more of its understanding.
This article quoted from a book entitled Monastery of the Heart. What a great concept is caught up in that title. It sent me to the dictionary:
Middle English monasterie, from Late Latin monasterium,from Late Greek monastērion, from Greek, hermit's cell, frommonazein to live alone, from monos single.
But it also made me think of John 14.2 In my Father’s house are many mansions;
We are so familiar with that text, or think we are. The word for 'mansions' is μονη mone mon-ay’
AV-mansion 1, abode 1; 2
1) a staying, abiding, dwelling, abode
2) to make an (one’s) abode
3) metaph. of the God the Holy Spirit indwelling believers
The word is used again in v.23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
The word 'abode' is monay. Which could also remind us of the 'monay-stery of the heart.' So, far from the Harry Anderson view of mansions on streets of gold in the heavenly suburbs, Jesus is telling us He has prepared the way for us to abide in Him, and He, Father and Holy SPirit will make their 'mansion' / 'abode' / dwelling place, in us. This is the very essence of mysticism, and it is sad that so many who profess teh Saviour actually deny His real presence in them.
1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Tell us, Truth Seeker, does this benedictine Truth offend thee?