That was quite the post, Jo! Thanks for the detailed response and for the kind things you said in a couple places.
So I think we've come to a moment of clarity between us. We don't agree and that is fine. (I don't agree much of the time with anyone - even those I meet with!
) Concerning your stance, let me suggest that often those who take an extreme view even see balance as an extreme . . . or as a compromise. In looking at that article on "The Dangers of Lactio Divina" I differ in my opinion of it, because I believe that the bottom-line is we need both exegesis and fresh/ongoing enjoyment of the Spirit. And they are not mutually exclusive. Many in my local gathering, including me, testify that deep scriptural study is very enjoyable and God provides needed light through this. It is certainly an aspect of the rich enjoyment of Christ, but so is meditating on the word and pursuing the Lord daily in prayer, song and His word. It's most scriptural, right? Of course, right! We need both ways to pursue the Lord. Does the LC go too far in their way - perhaps, but so what! (I have my life to live and they have theirs)
Humans tend to go to extreme, but only the Lord really knows folks' hearts and whether He will honor such practices - whether on the studious exegesis side or on the Lactio Divina side. Either can be devoid of Christ and either can be rich. Again, I think we need both. (reminds me of an ongoing discussion I've had for years about speaking in tongues with one brother. He is a big tongues advocate. I believe it can be a real thing, and though I've prayed for it, God has not yet given this gift to me. The bro still tries sometimes to convince me how good tongues is and that I should too, but I know that not all speak in tongues. However our views differ, we still don't separate ourselves over this . . .)
You have posted your personal approach and practice (quoted below) - thank you for sharing this, because I think it really does help provide some clarity! However, and sorry to say, it is completely different than what I believe is edifying and healthy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jo S
You asked what my morning devotional practice looks like. Well, I don’t have one. I don’t view devotional reading as a routine. Rather I approach scripture when the Lord allows me to. Sometimes I go long periods without reading scripture. Other times I’m deeply lost in it. I trust the Lord to decide when the time is right to learn scripture. In personal devotion, scripture should be viewed as the road to Emmaus where the Lord decides when to open the scriptures to you. If scripture is viewed as a means to connect to God at your own will you risk turning scripture into an idol; this is because you’re not doing so by God’s needs and His leading, you’re doing so by the leading of your emotional neediness or your intellectual ambitions. So you see exegesis (“Exit Jesus”, lol) isn’t the problem, it’s our selfish motives that cause the “deadness of the letter”. This is true for the mystic and for the intellectual alike.
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This differs from my belief, in that
I see the bible clearly exhorting us to be proactive and take the initiative. I just posed something over on an older thread (we were both quite involved with) from last year.
SEE HERE: Eating & Drinking Jesus Daily . . . Here are some verses from the post I made yesterday on that thread, which illustrates how the bible says we can and should take the initiative to contact the Lord and pursue Him:
"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you . . ." 2 Tim 1:6
"work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose . . . " Phil 2:12-13
"exercise thyself rather unto godliness." 1 Tim 4:7
"whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev 22:17
"The spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets." 1 Cor 14:32
ADD: "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest." Hebrews 4:11
You might read the entire last post of mine on that thread, to get a fuller picture of how the Lord certainly allows and wants us to take the initiative. I practice this kind proactive pursuit, along with (I think safe to say) millions of other Christians. Morning meditations in His word are just one way to facilitate this pursuit. (again, not talking about the extreme rote practice many in the LC do)
Jo, I'm not so much trying to convince you as to share with you how I think we've arrived at clarity between us (at least as far as I'm concerned). You seem to discern such practices as mine as outright mysticism, and tend to be quick to label anyone who practices such things as a mystic. (personally, I don't even see that as a bad thing to be called!) Please forgive me, but I tend to think that what you practice is being pretty dead and fruitless.
Again, I think we need both sides of this flapjack, not an unturned cake!
So with that clarity - if indeed it is clarity - what shall we do? Hopefully just love each other bro!