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Title: The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice
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Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
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| The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice by Jossey-Bass A Small Book That Is Shaping Up as a Classic In Reconnecting Evangelicals with Forgotten Spiritual Treasures | I have been an admirer of this book since its release -- but I'm writing this Amazon review now as a sign of how much this book has grown on me over the months. I think that, in 25 years, when we look back as journalists chronicling this era of religious reawakening -- this book likely will turn up as a classic. It's a milestone of these returning waves in Christian reflection that are brining many evangelicals -- including Tony Campolo and his co-author Mary Albert Darling -- to a new appreciation of timeless spiritual disciplines.
This isn't about converting anyone to anything -- or urging evangelicals to switch Christian denominations. This book is both a manifesto -- and a sturdy guidebook -- for the journey of reclaiming much that has been lost in certain branches of the Protestant world. In light of early 2008 data from the massive Pew study about American religious affiliation -- indicating that traditional Protestant numbers are dwindling -- this book is a hopeful, helpful window to where anxious Protestants are finding both solace and great new vitality.
Think of this book, perhaps, as something like Dr. Spock's timely book on child care at the height of the baby boom. It's not that Spock or Campolo or Darling have come up with brilliant new discoveries. What they have done in a timely and pitch-perfect way is try to re-equip millions for the journey in which they are already engaged.
In his 70s, sociologist and evangelist Tony Campolo still is doing some of his most important religious work. There's a concise power in his messages these days and, within his 56-page section of the new, "The God of Intimacy and Action," Campolo lays out a major contribution to the debate over the place of spirituality and social justice in the 21st-century Protestant church.
Mary Albert Darling of Spring Arbor University writes the rest of the book, taking Campolo's eloquent call to embrace both pillars of religious life and shaping it into a practical guide to what she calls "The Mystical Path."
If you've never read Campolo and regard him vaguely as a popular speaker somewhere out there in the evangelical arm of Christianity -- then you must buy this book and discover a true spiritual bridge-builder hard at work.
In Campolo's section, you'll meet St. Francis and John Wesley again from perspectives you probably won't expect.
Let's say a little prayer for Dr. Campolo's continued vigor! And let's add a prayer that Darling will emerge from her co-author's role into a vigorous new voice herself. | | The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice by Jossey-Bass Connecting the Dots | Christian activist, Tony Campolo, who is also professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University in the United States, has teamed up with Mary Albert Darling, a spiritual director from the Ignatian tradition to produce a book on "mystical Christianity." Darling is the associate professor of communication at Spring Arbor University and is a Protestant who is well versed in Roman Catholic mystic tradition.
They define "mystic Christianity" as a "holistic Christianity" which includes mystical spirituality, evangelism and social justice (p.xiv). A mystic as defined as "one who experiences God in transrational and nonempirical ways." (p.4). What this means is that all Christians are mystics as they will have personal experiences of an encounter with God. Campolo highlights five types of mystical experiences:
1. New insights
2. I-Thou relationships
3. Heightened awareness
4. Conversion experiences
5. Breakthrough experiences (p.4-12)
He takes care to compare these with what William James described in his book, The Varieties of Religious Experience. While William James' research was not in a Christian context, there are enough similarities to accept Campolo's descriptions.
The main thesis that Campolo and Darling proposes is that a Spirit-filled Christians who have had mystic spiritual experiences will subsequently be concerned for evangelism and social justice. Campolo writes, "I believe there are four basic consequences for a sense of justice that grows from mystical unity with Christ. Each of them is essential to actualize something of the justice and social well-being that are part of what the Bible calls the Kingdom of God. They are
1. An awareness that Christ is in the poor and oppressed, waiting to be loved and served
2. A call to challenged institutionalized religion
3. An understanding of the importance of entering into one another's sufferings
4. A plan for the world as it should be" (p.41)
This thesis is not new. Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen were the latest in the long line of Christian mystics who propose such a thesis. Merton's activism comes from his time of contemplation in a monastery and Nouwen from his contemplative experience in the academia. Merton's activism were in the political and cultural arena while Nouwen were in the handicap and socially deprived.
It is a common misconception that contemplatives are too otherworldly to be of any earthly use. A study of the life of Gregory the Great, Teresa of Avila and Catherine of Siena is enough to convince anyone that contemplatives are also social activists. What is new in this thesis is that two Protestants, Campolo and Darling propose it. What is also interesting is that social activist Campolo has to draw on the experience of Darling to support his concept of "mystical Christianity." To develop or experience a mystical Christian life, Darling suggests the practice of the following `ancient' spiritual disciplines
1. The prayer of examen
2. lectio divina
3. Centering prayer
will transform Christians into becoming more aware of the need for evangelism and to act for social justice. This is an important point because without a depth in God, our social activism will be mere `good works'. Thomas Merton explains it in Contemplation in a World of Action as thus, "He who attempts to act and do things for others or for the world without deepening is own self-understanding, freedom, integrity and capacity to love, will not have anything to give others. He will communicate to them nothing but the contagion of his own obsessions, his aggressiveness, his ego-centered ambitions, his delusions about ends and means, his doctrinaire prejudices and ideas."
This is a good book in which the interconnectiveness of Christian spirituality and practices, evangelism and activism for social justice are revealed as essential for a holistic Christian life.
| | The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice by Jossey-Bass Great ways to connect with God! | For anyone looking to connect with God on a deeper and more personal level - this is the help you are looking for.
If you want to test and see just how good God really is, then this is the way to begin.
Tony and Mary present both the arguments in favor of, and methods for, Christian maturity in an easy to read and inspiring format. But don't just read it - try doing it! It will revolutionize your relationship with God in a really positive way! | | The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice by Jossey-Bass The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice | | This book is very helpful, clearly written and illustrated with many experiences of people. It has prompted me to start my own practice of lectio divina, centering prayer and prayer of examen. | | The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice by Jossey-Bass Will seriously challenge your spiritual self-centeredness... | This book caused me to examine my spiritual life in ways many other books haven't... The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice by Tony Campolo and Mary Albert Darling. Those coming from a traditional Protestant background will have a few struggles with the concepts and terminology, but I'm convinced it's worth the effort.
Concepts:
Part 1 - Knowing God Intimately - Where Christian Mysticism Can Take Us: What Mystical Christianity Is All About; Christian Mysticism and Personal Evangelism; Christian Mysticism and Working for Justice
Part 2 - Fueling Intimacy - The Mystical Path: Awaking to Mysticism and a Holistic Gospel (Even If You're Not a Monk); Cultivating Holy Habits; Moving from Self-Awareness to God-Awareness - The Prayer of Examen; Becoming God's Friend - Lectio Divina; Deepening Our Intimacy with God - Centering Prayer; Committing to a Holistic Gospel
Part 3 - Taking Intimacy with God into the World: Avoiding Two Temptations; Connecting Intimacy and Action
Postscript; Notes; The Authors; Index
As I come from a more traditional evangelical Christian experience, seeing a word like "mysticism" raises a whole bunch of red flags. I found it extremely difficult to lay aside my preconceived notions and connotations of that word in order to give the book a fair chance. But once I did that (numerous times, I might add), then the message started to seep through. Using the practices and the lives of well-known saints throughout the ages, Campolo and Darling show how building a life of spiritual practices (intimacy with God) needs to lead to a life of social justice (action). It's not enough to live on a mountaintop trying to obtain a spiritual "high". That relationship with God should lead to following Jesus' example of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and caring for widows and orphans. It's that "action" part that's missing in far too many Christian experiences today.
The partnership of these two authors is what makes the concept work for the book. Darling comes from more of a Catholic background, with the formalized practices often associated with that group. Campolo is the Protestant side, where the need for ceremony and ritual is often ignored or condemned. But the blending of these two mindsets leads you to realize that saints of old, like Francis of Assisi, didn't just spend all their time chanting in a cathedral. They fought for social justice and took action in their communities. This is so different than the typical "what have you done for *me* lately, God" mindset found all too frequently in today's world. I only wish there were different words to use than "mysticism" and "mystical". I'm afraid that many might be too quick to condemn the material as "new age" without understanding the deeper meaning and results.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking to deepen their Christian experience and become more action-driven in today's society.
| | The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice by Jossey-Bass Product Description | | In The God of Intimacy and Action, beloved author and activist Tony Campolo teams up with spiritual director Mary Albert Darling to show how contemplative spiritual practices can lead to greater intimacy with God and fuel passion for reaching out to others through spreading the Good News and fostering justice for the poor and oppressed. The authors reveal why this combination is not only crucial but historical and is vividly demonstrated in the lives of saints such as St. Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, and Catherine of Siena. |
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