Years ago I heard someone say that a pastor is someone who helps others transition from one spiritual level to the next. I knew that this is what I want to do.
Of course, what he had in mind was helping people move from an immature evangelical theology and lifestyle to a more mature evangelical theology and lifestyle.
That’s not what I have in mind.
“Spirituality” has become a difficult word because it travels with all kinds of assortments of baggage. Someone asked me yesterday, “What do you mean by ‘spirituality’?” I said that a healthy spirituality is about being fully alive. Period. Of course there’s more to it than that. But that’s what I’m concerned about.
The vocation of “pastor” still applies because I love helping people transition from one level to the next in becoming fully alive. For some I’ve pastored, this has actually meant helping them transition out of the church and even out of a recognizable Christian theology. And they are grateful for it.
My experience of pastors has generally been the opposite: they try to keep people faithful to one level and not change. They are firm in their beliefs and what a righteous life looks like and impress this idea upon the ones they pastor.
It is almost impossible to transition in this milieu because it usually means one must leave the community and that pastor’s oversight to do so.
My name is David Hayward, and I am the nakedpastor. I am a graffiti artist on the walls of religion.
So true. I think churches almost cannot help but keep people at a low/fixed spirituality. I think the goal of spirituality is universal care/love. Most churches are focused on the promotion of their group/subset and in so doing, cut themselves off from true unconditional love.
Are there levels? I remember a pastor giving a talk on how higher level folks were there to give us lower level folks a hand up.
Sounded like an arrogant fool to me.
I agree Mark. “Levels” has a dangerous ring to it. What I actually pictured was a journey forward, not up. Stages maybe, but that still conjures up some of what you speak of. Maybe “phases”.
Yeah I agree with the definition of a pastor helping people transition through stages of faith. While often it is not the case. I would be interested in your opinion of James Fowlers “stages of faith”?
Scott
scott: i have and have studied Fowler’s stages of faith, and i find it helpful. however, even the use of the word “faith” has become impossible if we care about open dialog with everyone. and as i said earlier because of mark’s comment… it might be better to say “phases” or something like that.
thanks for your comment.
Perhaps your role as a free range pastor gives you a unique ability to offer this freedom. You don’t need to impose anything on the flock. It appears from reading your blog that many find your work here liberating and refreshing.I also like it.
I like this. I am going to ponder it. My friend who is a hospice worker often talks of helping people die. In this definition of a pastor, you are helping people live more fully. Ponder ponder ponder.
Even phases leaves me feeling a bit queasy. I like the idea that the journey *is* the destination, and that what we should be doing is helping each other to experience the journey as fully as possible.
yes mark. true. language is very important. i agree that the journey is the meaning. how can we journey better? and help others to journey better? maybe?
This is the first I’ve read of your blog and I really enjoyed what you’ve said here. As for the comments, may I suggest “points along the line” or “points in the journey”? Points don’t signify levels, which I think is what is bothering people.
Am in the middle of analyzing data for my dissertation. I tried to use a blog as a tool to facilitate a spiritual reading group. The question: can spiritual well-being influence be influenced by such. Definition I am using for spiritual well-being: “awareness and experience of God in daily experience.” I think this will look different for all of us in the different phases or stages of life but hopefully in whatever stage of life we are in, we are growing in spiritual (and in all areas of) well-being. Certainly not a static but dynamic concept so we can never say we have arrived! Not sure all of the implications of this but maybe it will contribute to the discussion.
Thank you for this site and this post. You remind me of one of my favorite quotes. St. Irenaeus, 2nd century Bishop of (what is now) Lyons, France, is believed to have said, “The Glory of God is the human person fully alive.”
Imagine, a liberal Quaker, (as opposed to the Evangelical kind) quoting a Catholic Bishop. But that is the beauty of an open church – that we find our inspiration in many places and are open to what we Friends call ‘continuing revelation’.
blessings to you all.
“He has come that we might have life, and have it abundantly.” Isn’t that what this means? That is, I’m trying to agree with you emphatically. Thanks.
my comment was meant for another article. oops. please moderate it out and I’ll find where it’s supposed to go.
I said that a healthy spirituality is about being fully alive. Period. — you.
“He has come that we might have life, and have it abundantly.” Isn’t that what this means? That is, I’m trying to agree with you emphatically. Thanks.