Article in Quodlibet Journal
Written by Mark Van Steenwyk : April 14, 2005
I have an essay up on Quodlibet Online Journal called Defending von Balthasar’s Apology of Holiness. Check it out.
for further reading . . .
- None Found
Comments
5 Responses to “Article in Quodlibet Journal”
Got something to say?
Translate JM
Christarchy! is a growing network of small groups for people who want to put the ethical teachings of Jesus into practice.
Submergent is a network of leaders who, embracing the Anabaptist impulse, are living into the Kingdom of God in a postmodern, post-colonial, post-Christian world. Together, we will re-baptize the Christian imagination!
Anchored in the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis, Missio Dei is committed to following Jesus' way of peace, simplicity, prayer, and hospitality.
The Missio Dei Breviary includes morning and evening prayers for one month. Edited (and freely shared) by Missio Dei, it draws primarily upon the Gospels, reflects Anabaptist convictions, and emphasizes missional commitment.
Other Sites
- Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries
- Centurion’s Purse
- Christian Peace Witness
- Christian Peacemaker Teams
- Duluth Catholic Worker
- Ekklesia Project
- Emergent Village
- Empire Remixed Blog
- Geez Magazine
- Jesus Radicals
- Mennonite Church USA
- New Monasticism
- Orthodox Peace Fellowship
- Pentecostal Charismatic Peace Fellowship
- Red del Camino (english)
- Red del Camino (espanol)
- ReImagine
- Relational Tithe
- Submergent
- The Anabaptist Network
- The Catholic Worker
- The Center for Christian Nonviolence
- The Ecclesia Collective
- The Neighbors Project
- The Ordinary Radicals Film
- The Pentecost Project
- Third Way Cafe
- Unworthy Magazine
- Zoecarnate.com
Mark I sure hope you wrote that for a class and just got it posted on there. If you wrote that specifically for Quodibet then, my friend, its time to unplug!!
Yeah, it was a class paper my first year at seminary. Have no worries!
Mark,
Is it alright if I link your blog?
Sure.
the ?perfect? Christian is also the perfect proof of Christianity
First, I am neither a theologian nor a philosopher, I am a Christian trying to align what I know and experience with what I believe and do. Based on that I have some questions/comments not overly philosophical or theological but in reference to the working out my faith. I may be way off.
While would not disagree with the Platonic triune having merit- beautiful, good and true, perhaps even a cause and effect relationship, though that may read way too much into it, nor would I disagree that there is beauty in holiness, I do struggle with Balthasar?s assertion of where that beauty is to be found.
1. I initially rejected the idea that beauty could be found in the Christian living a holy life
a. This was based on a false definition of holiness
2. My reaction was 2 fold based on personal assumptions
a. Holiness equates to legalism
b. Christians being holy are ugly not beautiful
3. This reaction was driven by my impression/experience of self righteous Christians practicing self-salvation.
4. Upon further reflection I realized that this must not be what Balthasar had in mind
5. I got my mind right and came up with these questions
6. What does Balthasar mean by holiness?
7. How is that lived out? What are those practices that unbeliever?s find so appealing?
8. What does the observer see that they find so attractive?
9. What does the response look like “the practices”
After reading through your essay several times, trying to wrestle all this into my soul, I was reminded of Acts 2:42 -47. Here is a great example of the beauty of holiness. These believers devoted themselves to “the practices”
1. The apostles teaching (the good news?)
2. Fellowship
3. Community (what is the difference?)
4. Prayer
5. A sense of awe, is that an aspect of holy living?
6. Signs and wonders? the physical manifestation of the spirit
7. Selflessness
Is this the beauty to which B alludes? Maybe.
In light of this I find my initial reaction strange, because reading Acts 2 causes me to long for that kind of “beauty”. So, why the initial aversion; as I mentioned above the effects of my church experiences had a lot to do with it. I think my theological assumptions also played a role. I buy more fully into original sin that I do “new creature in Christ”. I have John Calvin to thank for that, but not only him, the whole roll of reformed/evangelical heroes? push the same emphasis. I think that is a bad thing because that reasoning leads to legalism not holiness. So what to do? I think the first step is to re-define holiness. The definition I have won?t do. Next I need to read and pray with the consequence of the resurrection in mind. Dead to sin–> alive with Christ, but also understand that even though I believe that I am made “perfect” by the Spirit, my spiritual life is very dependant upon what I do. Pray, read scripture, love my neighbor. It not only is a proof to others but a proof to me.