“It was for this the world was made: That there should be beings capable of receiving God, entering into closest fellowship with him, sharing all that he is and has.” Ruth Burrows, OCD
This post is just a very brief highlight of my thoughts on God for the last three years.
English Carmelite nun, Ruth Burrows, shares a description (above) of the Christian faith that is quite different from that which is preached from most pulpits today. She takes the idea of “relationship over religion” quite seriously. In fact, she goes so far as to state the world was created for one purpose: relationship with God in love. And yet, our religion seems to be more concerned with “correct” behaviors and beliefs, while almost totally ignoring deep and intimate love.
Deep Intimacy with God
But that is not the case at all. Check out two Scriptures lessons:
Think about it… when was the last time you have heard that God has granted you permission to “partake in the divine nature?” Or that you might be “filled up to all the fulness of God?”
As I have studied the medieval Christian mystics, I have concluded that everything God has done and desired in biblical history has something to do with initiating intimate relationship with the creatures he created. It was the medieval Christian mystics who emphasized this thought that lost its influence during the Age of Reason and the Enlightenment, when “proof” became more authoritative than “faith.”
When Performance Matters Little
But genuine Christianity is much less about performance to impress God than it is about actions to demonstrate love to God and to those in need.
In my opinion the bulk of endeavors of the mystics are rightly summed up in Burrow’s statement (see top of page) that the world was made for: (1) receiving God, (2) entering into the closest relationship with him, and (3) sharing all that he is and has—including his very “Godness.”
“This” is the good news, the gospel: that every human being can share in the divine nature and be ruled by one obligation: to give and receive love.
Only One Things Matters
Love
Photo courtesy of bestdesigns at istockphoto
