05/21/2023 – Chapter 27 – “Activity and Receptivity” – Group Discussion and Fellowship
Funny, Peter Kraft’s “How to be Holy” , is only around 160 pages but contains 35 chapters, so, as is typical, I end up summarizing further a chapter that is only three pages of reading. haha. But I think even for just myself, it helps me to be even more receptive, and to translate that into either new or renewed daily habit.
So, a repeat one sentence theme to this book: ” ‘Not as I will, but as you will’ is the essence of holiness. And I will excerpt the 2nd paragraph off the first page:
“Since activity and receptivity are the two halves of our nature, of our love, and of our holiness, therefore two errors are possible: Martha-like activism that devalues contemplation and receptivity, and passive quietism that devalues action.” So, just in the allegorical theme of “Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan, the challenge in the Christian walk is to find that seemingly narrow path, avoiding falling off the clif to either side.
Finally, I will take the excerpt starting on page 126 as a concluding note:
“A theological footnote about activity and receptivity: in the Christian theology of the Trinity there is receptivity even in God, for the Son is begotten by the Father as well as the Father begetting the Son, and both are equally divine acts as well as equally Divine Persons.”
Next week, we will look at Chapter 28, an important chapter in our time: “Spiritual Warfare”.
Always connected through prayer and by His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Jimmy