The Atonement and Spiritual Direction

In Moon and Benner's book, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls, they give a section to Spiritual Direction from various traditions. Gary Temple offers an interesting description of Spiritual Direction in the Episcopal tradition that has me thinking.

I find it interesting that the "snake belly low"* Episcopal churches in America have, in their focus on the Atonement, left out spiritual direction all together (83). Every Thursday I hear from one local Methodist pastor whose congregation has Baptist roots. He has a hard time getting them past their salvation (a product of the blood) to see the importance of sanctification (spiritual formation). He notes that the most cantankerous trouble makers in his congregation often pray "Thank you that you have covered me with your blood," and yet it doesn't seem to amend their lives.

I come from a tradition myself that has a high view of the Atonement, or I should say a tunnel vision view of Atonement. I, too, have seen a reticence among the more evangelistic of my colleagues to see any importance for ministry beyond the salvation altar call. Certainly spiritual direction to many of them would be a foreign concept and a waste of time.

However, Temple offers the way out (94). Couch your high view of the Atonement in a high view of the Incarnation. Now you can appreciate the work of Christ's life as well as his death.

*This was the term used by Anglican retreatants at the Abby while I was on retreat in describing the vast variety in the Anglican Communion, from High Church to low - snake belly low.

Book of Common Prayer: Swiss Army Knife

If the Word of God is a double edged sword then the Book of Common prayer is a Swiss army knife. It is packed with applications. It has every type of service in it that a pastor may need to have, order and liturgy. But in addition it has gadgets that no Episcopal home should be without.

The Catholic Breviary takes four volumes, but packed into just a portion of this volume are the liturgies for the Daily Office, the psalter and a daily lectionary. For the home discipler, there is a liturgy for family or individual devotions and a catechism. You can use a table to figure out when Easter will be, or find a prayer that will collect the thoughts of the day (your pick of modern or high English).

The Anglican church has taken the formation of its people seriously since 1549. The Book of Common prayer, or BCP as those who pack them as folded knives into their pockets call it, has been a powerful tool for seekers and spiritual guides. As Thomas Merton says, liturgy can make it easier to be sincere. Some times even the fastest and loosest among us need a little structure and stricture. The Book of Common prayer has them in abundance.

My copy of the Book of Common Prayer was given to me by Ray Orth a Lutheran Pastor who often fills Episcopal Pulpits. It was given to him by a bishop who plucked it from a pew.