Healthy SpiritualityStudies in 1 John: Avoiding Darkness

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Last 2 Times: 1 John 2:7-8 7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.

Now: 1 John 2:9-11 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

John’s style Simplistic, concrete, like someone who is

speaking a second (or third) language Many contrasts:

‘the one who does not sin’; ‘the one who loves’; ‘the one who walks in the Light

versus‘the one who sins’; ‘the one who hates his brother’; ‘the one who walks in darkness’

Now: 1 John 2:9-11 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

So: An Exhortation Not to Hate Principle: Healthy Spirituality pushes away

from the dark energy of hating What else?

Hating Can Take You Off-track Example: Jack’s client

But It Can Also Keep You from Getting Started You end up focusing on the person that has

hurt you and you lose sight of going forward in life

My early faith experience

Augustine’s Confessions The world’s first autobiographical journal

(written around A.D. 400) Some great prayers, insights into the human

condition:

“Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee”

“O Lord, grant me chastity, but not yet!”

The Strangeness of the Book All about his life (Books 1-10) Suddenly an explanation of Genesis 1:1-2

(Books 11-13)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

The Secret What he is implying is that his life was

‘formless and void’ when he lived in darkness and chaos before committing his life to Christ

Ever since that time, God has been gradually forming him (helping him to become like Christ and to do the things Christ would do in the world) and filling him (giving him a deep internal sense of the knowledge of God that strengthens him to keep going)

Another Principle If you get side-tracked by bitterness (or fear,

or greed, or pride, or addiction), you lose the ability to see what you should be doing, what you should be becoming

You go round and round in meaningless circles until you finally resolve things

Reminder of Francis (1182-1226) Experience at San Damiano

“Go now, and repair My church, which you can see lies all in ruins . . .”

Prayer Before a Crucifix“Most High and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart, and give me true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord—that I may carry out Your holy and true command. Amen.”

Cataracts What it’s like How many of us are walking around with

‘inner cataracts’? Makes new sense of Jesus’ words in the

Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:1-5 1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

3 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

Matthew 7:1-5 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?

5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Cleansing Story On the road to Jackie Pullinger-To “Why does the devil think he has the right to

afflict me this way?”