In the World, Not of the World

This is a reflection and place for dialogue on my sermon (click here to listen) and related themes from the seventh Sunday of Easter, on the Gospel text from St. John 17:6-19. 

The relationship between Christians and the wider world has been a complicated one. Should Christians separate themselves from the world to maintain a purer form of Christian life and practice? Or should Christians throw themselves into the world to maintain a Christian life and practice that transforms the world? Within the history of Christianity and even on the contemporary scene both answers have found significant hearing and emulation. Often, not always, Christian congregations, traditions, and individual who lean one way on this spectrum find themselves in tension with those on the other end. This could be understood as another manifestation of the perennial clash of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Martha is helping to prepare the meal and busy meeting practical needs. Mary is sitting as a disciple, listening to her teacher.  

The problem with pitting contemplation/prayer/separation from the world against activity/practical help/engagement with the world is that conflict finds no justification in the life of Jesus Himself. Jesus’ life was a continual flow from quiet time withdrawal with His Father to active life and ministry among people. One could say that Jesus’ model of “being in the world but not of the world” was to abide in His loving relationship with God while abounding in loving acts with people. This basic pattern should be the paradigm for the Church and for Christians more generally. Further, there are dangers to emphasizing one pattern to the exclusion of the other. The contemplative path runs the danger of isolation or quietism. The active path runs the dangers of burn out, rootlessness, and activity for the sake of activity. In the history of the Church there have been individuals who have given themselves exclusively to these paths.

Those individuals and communities (e.g. monastic) that have committed themselves largely to the contemplative path have been a source of great blessing to the Church and the world. In the same way, those individuals and communities that have committed themselves to the active path have been a source of great blessing to the Church and the world. Historically, there has also been something called the “mixed life” which seeks to embrace both elements, much as our Lord did. It might be argued that most individuals are called to the active path (which requires Sabbath, prayer, and rest for it endure) with the mixed path and contemplative path compromising smaller groups. If this is true, that means the Church will need to give attention to supporting the active life, while also lifting the importance of the contemplative life in a frantic world that might otherwise be unaware of it. 

What did you hear in the sermon, in the text, or this reflection? What would you challenge, what would you add? What are you still wondering about?