Jay Forrest - Jay Forrest's Blog

Four Wisdom Traditions

A wise man once said, “It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place it becomes rigid and stale.”

We see this “rigid and stale” in the old churches. The longer the tradition the worse it can be. There is no openness to new moves of God.

The Four Traditions

Personally, I find four wisdom traditions particularly meaningful. They are the contemplative, the evangelical, the charismatic, and the sacramental

I have not chosen the four traditions of Christianity haphazardly. I have chosen them so that their strength and weaknesses complement one another. More could be added, but these I find most helpful.

Comparing the Traditions

For example, the evangelical is an active and extroverted tradition. It works great in public life and outreach. The contemplative, on the other hand, is more introverted and passive, cultivating inward stillness and an awareness of God.

Another example, the charismatic tradition is about the current movings of God, exercising the gifts to edify and empower believers. While the sacramental is about honoring the faith and traditions handled down from our spiritual ancestors.

Four Elements

The contemplative is like air, for in it we seek the breath in God’s presence. The evangelical is like water, for it brings us back to the washing of the water of the word. The charismatic is like fire, for it is the wild working of the Holy Spirit. And the sacramental trady is like earth, grounding us in the sacraments and traditions of the ancient church.

Having four wisdom traditions allows us to draw wisdom from many different places and people. It also helps keep our minds and hearts from becoming rigid and stale. Understanding the four wisdom traditions will help us become more whole, balanced, and wiser.

Few Should Become Hermits

Thomas Merton rightly said, “The eremitical life is a charism reserved for few.” Everyone can benefit from solitude, but only a few should follow the way of the hermit.

What is a Charism?

A charism is a divinely conferred power or ability. Without it The hermit life can lead to confusion and delusion. Most people need a spiritual mentor to help guide them into a deeper relationship with God.

I didn’t all of a sudden decide to become a hermit. After four decades of walking with God, I felt the inward urging into the desert of solitude.

I heard the mystics of the Roman Catholic Church and the Hesychasts of the Eastern Orthodox Church speaking to me. They were calling me away from the world into God.

The Middle Way

I found the middle way of Anglicanism that helped me bridge the gap between ancient traditions and modern realities. Merging streams of the movings of God in all ages. Opening me to new horizons and old truths.

The Church is Not the Church

In order to even talk about this subject, we must begin with introducing a very important Greek word. The Greek word ekklésia is translated into English as “church.” But ekklésia is not the church.

Definition of Church

First, let’s look at the definition of the English word church. From Proto-Germanic kirika, which thought to be borrowed from Greek kyriakon doma, “the Lord’s (house).” Oxford English Dictionary gives these definitions:

a building used for public Christian worship
a particular Christian organization, typically one with its own clergy, buildings, and distinctive doctrines
(the Church)
the hierarchy of clergy of a Christian organization, especially the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England
institutionalized religion as a political or social force

Definition of Ekklésia

Second, let’s look at the definition of the Greek word ekklésia. Derived from the Greek preposition ἐκ (ek, “out of”) and the verb καλέω (kaleō, “to call”). Therefore, ekklésia means “called out ones.” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon gives these definitions:

among the Greeks… an assembly of the people convened at the public place of council for the purpose of deliberating
in the Sept…. the assembly of the Israelites… especially when gathered for sacred purposes
any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance or tumultuously
in the Christian sense, a. an assembly of Christians gathered for worship…. b. a company of Christians, or of those who, hoping for eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ…. used even by Christ while on earth of the company of his adherents in any city or village…. the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth; collectively, all who worship and honor God and Christ in whatever place they may be…. the name is transferred to the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven

The Fundamental Error

The fundamental error that still persists is most denominations is the confusion between the church as an organization and the church as an organism. The Roman Catholic Church believes that its organization is the “church”. But the Roman Catholic Church is not the ekklésia. It contains many who are a part of the ekklésia. The same is true of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

You don’t go to the ekklésia, you are the ekklésia. The ekklésia is not an organization, it is not an institution, it is not a building or place. It is “the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth.” When you are baptized, you don’t join an organization, you join a spiritual community. The organization can recognize it, but they do not create it. God alone does.

An Example

When you read the Bible, and you come across the word church, substitute the phrase called-out-ones and see if the passage doesn’t make more sense. For example, look at 1 Corinthians 14:12 with the the word church replaced with called-out-ones:

“Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the called-out-ones that you seek to excel.” For a building or organization cannot be edified, only people can.

There are many other examples. May God open the eyes of your understanding.

Just Living is Not Enough

I want to let you in on a little secret, you don’t get wise by just living.

You might think that old age brings forth wisdom, it does not. Even experience doesn’t help some folks.

Wisdom requires a level of self-reflection and self-doubt that is far too uncomfortable for many people.

Many people would rather be right than to be wise.

Wisdom begins not in knowledge, but in knowing that you don’t know. The four most powerful words in the English language are, “I do not know.”

They say that the larger your pool of knowledge, the greater your shores of ignorance.

It’s true.

An Ecumenical Hermit

What does it mean when the Apostles’ Creed affirms, “I believe in… the holy catholic Church?” The word Catholic, when not capitalized, means “universal.” It is not referring to the Roman Catholic Church

Ecclesia

The real misunderstanding is in the word Church, which is capitalized. The Greek word is Ecclesia, literally meaning “the called out ones.” So when I say “I believe in the holy catholic Church,” I mean that I believe in the “holy universal called out ones.”

Now what does that mean? It means that I believe that there exists a spiritual organism, created by God and not men, that includes the whole community of Christians everywhere and throughout all time

It’s important to realize that the Ecclesia is not an institution or organization, but all people everywhere who have put their faith in Christ. The Ecclesia is the whole body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27 Eph. 4:12).

I don’t believe that the Episcopal Church is the Ecclesia, but rather that many of its members are a part of the Ecclesia. The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are also not the Ecclesia, but many of its members are part of the Ecclesia.

Ecumenical

Why do I consider myself an ecumenical hermit? “Ecumenical” is derived from the Greek word “oikoumene” which literally means “the whole inhabited world.” In Christianity, it refers to the recognition of the unity of all Christians, and therefore seeks to promotes the cooperation and unity among all Christians.

I am ecumenical because I believe that all Christian, everywhere and in every organization, are part of the Ecclesia. Therefore I read and quote from Roman Catholic authors, Eastern Orthodox authors, and Protestant authors. I learn from all, but cling to none but Christ Himself.

This does not mean that all denominations are equal and that there should be absolute unity. I think that would be disastrous. We need different perspectives and ways of practice. Diversity is a good thing, not a bad thing.