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 Jesus, it may be worth noting that there is a marked difference between a motivation derived from a belief in God and one that arises from a heart-felt repentance and conviction that there is a God. For it is through faith in God that that compassion arises, which in turn compels one to act, thus forming Christ in us, one step at a time. For it is not in the sepulcher, of religion where Christ may be found, but in the sanctuary of action where Christ can be demonstrated. but. As the angel guarding 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, the life of a saint is realized in us!
Contrary to popular opinion , the transformative work and mystery of faith is not an election process, with some destined for salvation, while others are not, but for anyone “…who loves God (and responds to his calling), according to his purposes, so that all things might work together for the good.” (Rom. 8:28) Yet, God has said: “You will only find me when you seek for me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13) An important consideration for Christians, as true faith is not a normative in the Christian experience, but a miracle of God, supernaturally expressed through activity of faith that produces holiness.
Unfortunately, from the time of the Advent until now, the written ‘Word” inevitably supplanted that of the lived experience, in turn becoming nothing more than an intellectual architecture. As truth can only be apprehended spiritually, and confirmed through direct experience in actuality, the supernatural remains a significant factor when it comes to the activity of faith. In reality, the initiate of faith is left with little choice but to internalize the supernatural, and in the process becoming not only an other-worldly intimate, but a friend of God, one who speaks with authority and “…not as the scribes.” (Mat. 7:29) To clarify, it might then be worth noting that many Indigenous peoples 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.” (University of Hawaii) In contrast, the mainstream’s growing dependence on the written “Word,” in lieu of the actual experience, has reduced what once had been a “lively faith” to simply that of a convoluted pharisaic interpretation. — “…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 personal revelation has given way to academic inference and rote memorization of the Holy Writ, as if through the digestion of information we can somehow arrive at the moment of truth, where the supernatural activity of the Holy Spirit still remains the determining factor in a salvific process leading to redemption.
CoupStick Chaplain 