So, the assignment on this book was a little different than was written in my syllabus (I suppose that’s what I get for getting started the week before class!), so instead of 1.75-2.25 pages I’m supposed to write 175-225 words. That is a drastic difference. Basically instead of two pages I’m to write two paragraphs. So, these entries will get significantly shorter, but I will be also posting other reflective/soul care and thoughtful types of assignments, thoughts, and ideas, so have no fear—plenty of new content is here!
Chapter 10 is about Sacramental Prayer, and I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant. Basically, he’s exploring and advocating some use of liturgical prayer using Scripture, The Book of Common Prayer, and other aids. I was struck by his recalling a period in his life where he sought “religionless Christianity”, where he sought to follow after God without “props”—no liturgy, no Eucharist, no church, no preaching, no worship services, no Bible, no set times of prayer, nothing. What he discovered was that he desperately needed those so-called props to help his wayward heart stay close to the Father! This reminded me of a sermon I once heard by the famous Bible expositor Kris Zyp (!). He spoke on humility and shared an interesting and unexpected twist on it. He insisted that a mark of humility is our willingness to submit to the rites and rituals that keep us near to God. To think that we are able to maintain a spiritual depth in our life and grow in Christlikeness without these things is a form of spiritual pride. That has always stuck with me.
One thing I love about going to church with my mother-in-law is the use of liturgy. I wouldn’t necessarily like it every Sunday, but I do enjoy occasionally it use because, as Foster points out, it keeps us from revolving our entire prayer and religious life around ourselves (as we commonly do in “freestyle” prayer) and the stateliness and formality of liturgy helps us realize that we are in the presence of real Royalty. Sure, there are plenty of dangers in using liturgy, but we as non-denominational, twenty-something freestylers tend to focus all too often on those and not enough on the benefits. We criticize what we do not know, so I endeavor to know more about the value of Sacramental Prayer.