A Little Guide to Christian Spirituality: Three Dimensions of Life with God (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Glen Scorgie has produced a guide to Christian spirituality that is deeply informed without being pedantic, concise without sacrificing the essentials. -- Simon Chan, PhD
Earnest Lau Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Theological College Singapore

Scorgie charts the relational journey of Christian spirituality with vibrant, integrative wisdom. -- Steven J. Sandage, PhD
Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Studies, Bethel Seminary

Product Description

Navigating the contemporary spiritual maze is a challenge. This book will help readers:
* Think clearly about Christian spirituality
* Understand its basic dynamics, and
* Utilize classic and contemporary resources with discernment

Join Glen on his sabbatical pilgrimages to Iona Abbey in Scotland, spiritually significant sites in Italy and Turkey, and renewal centers in North America. Listen as he provides brief profiles of memorable people and places from the rich history of Christian spirituality. Consider his rediscovery that Christian spirituality is about living all of life before God in the transforming and empowering presence of his Spirit. This biblically informed book traces the contours of such an encompassing spirituality. It offers a simple yet comprehensive model with three dimensions:
* A relational dimension (Christ with us)
* A transformational dimension (Christ in us), and
* A vocational dimension (Christ through us)

It is not meant to replace any of the devotional classics or a single one of the many helpful contemporary treatments of Christian spirituality. It is a companion volume to the rest--a modest-sized but reliable guide to the whole field.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310274591
• ISBN-13: 978-0310274599
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #823,712 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Plain English Layman's Guide, June 14, 2008

By	Milton N. Burgess - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dr. Scorgie's style of writing is refreshing. Many theologians have difficulty writing for non-theologians. The terms of art used in their world usually require so much interpretation that the reader loses interest long before the end of the book. And he doesn't talk down to lay people, which often happens. Because of his excellent writing style, the book is a page-turner which catches the reader by surprise. His self-deprecating humor rounds out the stories he tells in a way that brings Christian spirituality (typically a snoozer) to life. Read and enjoy it.

4.0 out of 5 stars A good Introduction, December 9, 2008

By	Brian Fulthorp - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Spirituality is really popular today, especially in an ever increasing spiritually eclectic America. The problem is, what exactly is spirituality? The lack of clear definitions, or explanations have lead to all kinds of dangerous choices for people. Bruce Waltke once said in a lecture on Proverbs, The problem in America is that we are open to everything but committed to nothing. Wisdom, he said, would save us from destruction. Reading Dr. Scorgie's Introduction to Christian Spirituality will set you on the path to rightly understanding what spirituality is, and more specifically, what Christian Spirituality is.

There is such a thing as a distinctive Christian spirituality. It is one that Scorgie lays out as involving three essential dynamics: the relational dynamic, the transformational dynamic, and the vocational dynamic.

As I noted, there is a great deal of interest in spirituality today. It is important that Christians have even a basic understanding of the issues so they are able to engage such issues competently so as to help others and to grow spiritually in their own lives.

If we ask the question, what is spirituality? One answer could be, as Scorgie's daughter said, "it's about encountering the transcendent and being changed by it" (25). Christian Spirituality then, would be to encounter God and be changed by him. So leading into Christian Spirituality then, Scorgie writes:

Authentic Christianity has always celebrated the possibility of experiencing God in [a] direct and interactive sense. At the same time it has insisted that there is more to being a Christian than this. And this brings us to the holistic definition of spirituality. Such spirituality is about living all of life before God. In its full sense [Christian] spirituality is synonymous with the Christian life lived with God. It involves more than experiences, although it has an important place for those. It also encompasses things like repentance, moral renewal, soul-crafting, community building, witness, service, and faithfulness to one's calling (26).

So Christian Spirituality then, is about living all of life before God in the transforming and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Scorgie lays out three essential dynamics of how this can happen.

The first is the relational dynamic, or Christ with us. The relational dynamic involves knowing that we are not alone - that, in the words of Francis Schaeffer, "there is a God, and he is not silent." Through the work of Christ on the cross and through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, God brings us into a dynamic relationship with him - that relationship then flows into our relationships with others and with the creation - in following the sacrificial love of Christ for us, we are to imitate that in seek to love others sacrificially through displays of grace and mercy to those who need it.

The second is the transformational dynamic, or Christ in us. The ultimate goal of the Christian life is the inner (and outer) transformation of sin sick hearts and minds in to hearts and minds that reflect the holiness of God. One can encounter God but ultimately, that encounter, like Isaiah when he saw the throne of God in Isaiah 6, should bring a deep level transformation and healing to our hearts and lives. If we encounter God and there is no transformation, have we really encountered God? God wants us to be both holy and whole - the transformation that happens in us, through the work of the Holy Spirit, should move us toward holiness and wholeness, both in our own lives and in our relationships.

Finally, the third is the vocational dynamic, or Christ through us. Frequently one will hear that the Christian life is more about being than about doing. The emphasis is placed on being in relationship with God. We tend to shy away from the doing aspect for fear of legalism or a works righteousness. Scorgie argues differently. He argues that the Christian life involves connecting, becoming and doing. It needs to be remembered that Ephesians 2:10 tells us, "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." God hasn't called us simply to exist but he has called us to purposeful living, to contribute to a cause greater than ourselves. To understand this we need to align ourselves with God's invitation to steward the creation (that means take care of it), to evangelize the nations, and to build his kingdom. If this is the case, we've got a lot of work to do!

In closing, it is important that we live an integrated spirituality that encompasses all three relational dynamics. Our ultimate goal is to live a Christ-centered, Spirit-filled life characterized by a sense of relating to God and other, being transformed by these encounters and living out our lives accordingly. As we do this we'll live a spiritually healthy life. To do so we must live with disciplined intent, which involves keeping in step with the Spirit and intentionally creating space for God in our daily lives realizing that the Christian life is really, as Eugene Peterson puts it, "a long obedience in the same direction" - this is Christian Spirituality.