The essay entitled “Bridges for Evangelicals: Journeying into Contemplative Spirituality and Spiritual Direction” by Elsa McInnes discusses five “great divides” that evangelical followers of Christ must cross over in order to enter into a more contemplative spirituality. I offer these here for your review and comments …

1.  Sacred or Secular. The ancient Greek philosophical idea that divides sacred things from secular things is not part of the life of Jesus Christ. With this divide removed, God is then free to express himself to us through his creation, through the arts, music, etc.

2.  Knowing or Feeling, the Head or the Heart, law or love. Evangelicalism stresses knowing God through the mind. Yet knowing about someone is not the same knowing someone personally. As with our close personal relationships with other people, we must not only approach God intellectually but also through our emotions and senses.

3.  Doing or Being, Inner Journey or Outer Service. Evangelicalism stresses visible ministry activities and generally looks down upon any inner spiritual reflection. Yet we are and must be human beings before we can become “human doings”. Who we truly are, spiritually, our true spiritual identity, is just as important (if not more so) than the spiritual or religious ministries we perform.

4.  Individualism or Faith Community. Evangelicalism emphasizes salvation of the individual. Yet evangelicals often find themselves isolated from the rich traditions of other parts of Christianity. It’s only in the whole of the experience of the greater Christian community that someone can find his or her true identity and calling in Christ.

5.  Mastery or Mystery. Evangelicalism tends to want to define the exact meaning of the Bible and the nature of God. Yet those same sacred scriptures say that God’s ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Yet even with our close human relationships, there is always an element of discovery and mystery. How much more so with God?