AUTHOR: James Bryan Smith
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2022, (240 pages).
How do we distinguish the differences between the self and the soul? Firstly, recognize our narrative. Smith shows us how the self has become defined in terms of self-reliance; self-dependence; and ultimately; self-idolizing. He pushes back against this type of self which is less about authentic spiritual growth and more about self-absorption, self-accumulation, and self-accomplishment. He lists out several differences between the self and the soul, focusing on the longings within our souls and how only in God can we find true fulfillment. One exercise we can do to distinguish our soul's need from self-needs is an exercise of restraint. In his chapter on "Soul Training," we are taught to learn the values of resting our souls; of resisting the need to accomplish things; and of finding true meaning when we for ourselves into a position of doing nothing. This is not easy given the nature of our modern lifestyle of busyness and resistance against any form of idleness. Secondly, recognize the dangers of dualism. We are also taught the importance of recognizing our bodies are sacred. This avoids us falling into the ancient gnostic practices of dualism, which assumes that the body is evil while the soul is good. Such a heresy still exists today and we need to be mindful of the threats of such teaching to our souls. We are not an accident but people created with a purpose. We are loved unconditionally. We are not made for ourselves but for God. We are forgiven. Finally, after removing the false narratives and the heresies that threaten to derail our understanding of our true selves and souls, Smith shows us the way forward in terms of our purpose, our significance, and our calling. This forms the majority of the book that shows us the way to grow is to know God and to know His purpose for us.
My Thoughts
One of the first things that came to my mind is how the author seeks to make a difference between the self and the soul. For the layperson, it could be a non-issue. Yet, I can sense the careful reasoning behind the author's meticulous efforts. For some of us, the differences are too subtle to detect. That is because it is easier to tell the inner from the outer, instead of two inner subjects. Moreover, inner things are not easily discerned, which could lead us to a metaphysical domain. Perhaps the reason for any confusion is because of our starting point. We are already in a world that needs a way to clean up the dust or clear away the blockages that are affecting our vision of the world and ourselves. Thankfully, the spiritual exercises at the end of each chapter give us a chance to reflect and to weigh the teachings within. After all, the final test of any type of baking is the taste itself. I can also understand why the author makes a case to distinguish the self from the soul. For the past decade, there has been a slew of self-help books that introduce the ideas of positive thinking and new thought philosophies. Many of these focus on inspiring the self-gratifying inner being in us instead of the hungry soul. The former crave junk food but the latter needs solid food. The former focuses on temporal while the latter looks beyond. This gives us a clean slate to start growing toward the good and beautiful person that God has created us to be.
My Thoughts
One of the first things that came to my mind is how the author seeks to make a difference between the self and the soul. For the layperson, it could be a non-issue. Yet, I can sense the careful reasoning behind the author's meticulous efforts. For some of us, the differences are too subtle to detect. That is because it is easier to tell the inner from the outer, instead of two inner subjects. Moreover, inner things are not easily discerned, which could lead us to a metaphysical domain. Perhaps the reason for any confusion is because of our starting point. We are already in a world that needs a way to clean up the dust or clear away the blockages that are affecting our vision of the world and ourselves. Thankfully, the spiritual exercises at the end of each chapter give us a chance to reflect and to weigh the teachings within. After all, the final test of any type of baking is the taste itself. I can also understand why the author makes a case to distinguish the self from the soul. For the past decade, there has been a slew of self-help books that introduce the ideas of positive thinking and new thought philosophies. Many of these focus on inspiring the self-gratifying inner being in us instead of the hungry soul. The former crave junk food but the latter needs solid food. The former focuses on temporal while the latter looks beyond. This gives us a clean slate to start growing toward the good and beautiful person that God has created us to be.
Secondly, this book continues Smith's emphasis on spiritual formation. His earlier books have shown us what spiritual formation looks like from God's purpose, the community, and the common life. While they have incorporated personal practices as well, the author senses a need for more. Our present culture cannot be changed overnight. We need to begin where we are. Where we are is that we are living in an increasingly individualistic and self-absorbed world. With social media, the trend is going to get worse before it can get any better. Yet, we cannot allow heresies to hijack the words of self-improvement and self-needs. Spiritual formation is more than switching semantics from the "self" to the "soul." In fact, the use of words here is mainly as a handle to enable us to know where we are and where we need to go. Smith bases his work on his late mentor, Dallas Willard, who reminded him about the importance of an "anthropological foundation" for any authentic Christian Formation. This is not a one-off activity or program. It is a lifestyle. It is about a focus on the kind of people we want to become. This in itself is the single biggest reason why this book is so valuable.
Finally, if you are new to books by Smith, this book could be a launchpad for you to appreciate and to read his earlier books which cover a lot of the material, albeit from a different angle. See these four books as complements instead of summaries of one another. Jesus has often described spiritual growth in terms of agriculture. Growth is pretty much agrarian. That means diligence and preparedness, followed up by anticipation and patience. Not every seed will become fruitful. Likewise, not every spiritual practice would generate the results we want. Growth is not just seeing progress according to our eyes. It is also about waiting to see God's glory being manifested at all times. The more we can see God's glory in our lives, the greater will be our spiritual discernment. Just like the greatest commandment given to us, the work we do in this world should come out of love. This love means that we love God sufficiently to give thanks to Him all the time. The more we could do that, the more we will become the good and beautiful you.
James Bryan Smith is the author of The Good and Beautiful God, The Good and Beautiful Life, and The Good and Beautiful Community.
He is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas,
where he also serves as the executive director of the Apprentice
Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation. A founding member of
Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré, Smith is an
ordained United Methodist Church minister and has served in various
capacities in local churches.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
No comments:
Post a Comment