As Brian McLaren releases more bits of Naked Spirituality a few more themes surface.
Here are the latest for today.
Consider his thoughts as they unfold.
Day 39 - On the "practice" of spirituality which includes specific actions deliberately attuned to spiritual life.
Day 38 - On religion as connectedness.
Day 37 - On religion and spirituality in harmony.
Day 36 - On the fluidity of naked spirituality.
Day 35 - On life in the Spirit and Jesus' ministry.
Religion does not have to be at odds with spirituality. The connection that religion brings fits well with the life in communion with the Holy Spirit. McLaren mentions the root 'lig' in Latin implies connection such as 'ligament' to explain religion in this light. Naked spirituality is intimate and vulnerable. There are few barriers between one's soul and God's Spirit.
This can be uncomfortable for sure. We may try to find coverings just as Adam and Eve did when they hid from God after partaking of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. It is the awareness of sin which necessitates a covering from God's sight. Rather than retreat in shame, we can rejoice how this exposes the true beauty of the cross. Christ's covering enables us to be truly naked again before God without the threat of His punishment. We cannot undo our disobedience, but we can simply partake of the covering God provides in order to have the transparency and openess that a genuine life with God entails.
More thoughts to come tomorrow.
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