Dan J. Brennan

Incarnation, Sexuality, and Spirituality 2

 

Author Robin Shepard Arthur Roberts and I have something in common: we believe that the men and women friends in our contemporary churches need to "discover the ecstasy that arises from touch that wants to affirm not control."  In his book, Messengers of God: The Sensuous Side of Spirituality, he succinctly summarizes in about 3 paragraphs what takes me about thirtysomething pages in my manuscript to say.  Of course, I think there is a place for both!  As I dream, I dream about Christian communities who can move past the romantic idealism in contemporary evangelicalism in such a way that men and women may not only deeply delight in their spouses but also in their cross-gender friends.  In the twenty-first century, I see Christian communities--churches and academic institutions teaching on sexuality and friendship as spiritual and sexual formation.  I'd love to do that! 

"Physical affection is the moral use of touch," he notes.

Incarnation, Sexuality, and Spirituality

I think its possible for the incarnation, sexuality, and spirituality to intersect.  They did at least at one point in history, didn't they?  :-)  I push the proverbial envelope in my manuscript.  If the fall comes into play (when it comes to physicality, sexuality, and spirituality) into sexuality (i.e. broken sexuality--sexual abuse, aggression, rape, or the other extreme, sexual isolation) where does the incarnation come into play?  

It's a Messy Spirituality 5

In what was undoubtedly "healing relationships" from beginning until the end, Jesus never kept many of the professional boundaries modern therapists, theologians, and pastors are told they must keep in order bring healing to their clients, students, and immediate community.  Jesus ate together with his disciples (both men and women), traveled together with them, slept alongside them, and did ministry with them for three years.  What are some of the core values in professional psychotherapy (modern autonomy, Western separation, and individualism) were never the core values in Jesus' social world or the infant church.

This book, Boundary Wars is a rich compilation of essays were by various authors on the pros and cons on boundaries, ministry, friendship, and community in healing relationships.  Like so many other things on this side of modernity, perhaps we need to deconstruct modern boundaries (not boundaries altogether).  I suggest that no matter how we do it, if we deconstruct modern boundaries in professional relationships, we will enter into a "messy spirituality." 

Praying Your Heart to the Lord for Healing and Hope

So many in Christianity are confused about praying in faith, praying with authentic desires before the Lord in cases of illness, chronic sickness, terminal illness. 

Jeanne Olsen recently shared this on her blog in reflection of a prayer for healing service for John Fawcett.  Her sentiments mirror my own: 

Prayer for Healing: "I Don't Sidestep the Issues"

"I don't sidestep the issues," I said to them.  They were a mother, father, and their paraplegic adult son.  He's been paralyzed for many years; he's had more surgeries than you can count using your two hands.  They go to my church.  I don't know if I have mentioned this here before but I oversee the pastoral care prayer ministry for our church.  The mother asked if I was open to coming over to their home and praying for them--its much more convenient for them than trying to come over for prayer during worship. 

I gladly said I would. 

How does a Christian pray for someone with a chronic disease? Chronic paralysis? 

"When do we get to do the stuff?"

Some of you are probably old enough to remember Vineyard founder, John Wimber, who was known in the 80's and 90's as the one of the main characters in the "signs and wonders" movement. John's southern California casual style lured me away from my anti-cessationist  posture. 
Do you pray for physical healing?  Do you lay hands on others praying for resurrection life, physical shalom to come into the sick?

I try to distance myself away from the celebrity charismatic flash and fluff--and would no doubt be considered a "post-charismatic."  But I do believe we pray passionately for physical and emotional shalom and healing in this life submitting this to God's reign, goodness and love. 

One of the basic sayings Wimber became known for was his question to the Lord after rereading the Gospels afresh as he was studying the possibility of miraculous gifts might be for today: "When do we get to do the stuff?"