And he spoke to him as if to a knight embarking on a holy quest, saying: “…Make every effort in adding virtue to faith; for with it your spiritual knowledge will increase, as well as self-control and steadfastness, which in turn will produce godliness.” (2 Pet. 1:5)
For those who have set their sights on following Jesus, his life is an illustration of the fact there is a marked difference between belief in God and the conviction that arises from a heart-felt conversion, through faith, that there truly is a God. For it is through faith in God that compassion arises, which in turn compels one to act, and in doing so, forms the image of Christ, in us. For it is not the sepulcher of religion where Christ may be found, but in action through which the life of Christ may be seen. As the angel at his tomb said: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here; he is risen! (Pet. 24: 5,6) With Christ before us, and the world behind us, we follow Jesus until his saintliness is realized in us!
Contrary to what many believe, the transformative work and mystery of the cross does not come about through election, with some being destined for salvation and others are not, but salvific grace is for anyone “…who loves God (and responds in kind to the light of his gifting), according to his purposes, so that all things might work together for good.” (Rom. 8:28) Yet, as He said: “You will only find me when you seek for me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13) An important consideration for many professing Christians, as true faith is not a normative in the Christian experience; it is the miracle of God, supernaturally endowed and nurtured through works of faith that are pleasing in His sight.
Unfortunately, from the time of the Advent until today, the written ‘Word” inevitably supplanted that of the lived experience; an intellectual construct devoid of direct contact with “Kingdom reality” or any involvement in its expression here on earth. The truth is that faith can only be apprehended and confirmed, supernaturally, through the lived experience. The initiate of faith then is left with little choice but to express the supernatural by through his actions – Your either believe what Jesus said or you don’t! And it is through this process of actualization that you become not only an initiate, but a friend of God and Jesus-like; one who speaks with authority and “…not as the scribes.” (Mat. 7:29)
That said, it might be worth noting that many Indigenous peoples around the world today still consider direct experience as the only valid criteria for one who has acquired spiritual knowledge. As can be seen for instance in the “…Hawaiian concept of Ma ka Hana ka ‘ike (knowledge comes from direct experience), and Ma mum ka hana, ma hope ka wala’au (direct experience comes first, discussion comes second.” (UH. Manoa) In contrast, the mainstream’s inveterate dependence on the written “Word,” to the exclusion of direct experience, has resulted in making “The Living Way” little more than an interpretive exercise. – “…forever learning, but never coming to a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim. 2:7) Ultimately, and tragically for many Christians, an internalization of truth through direct revelation has become nothing more than academic inference and rote memorization of the biblical narrative. As if by some miracle, a simple digestion of information can replicate The Last Supper, and the apostolic sustenance of His eternal grace.
CoupStick Chaplain 