I’ve been reading this book and I commend it to you. It describes a progression of belief that I’d like to lift up to you, to see if it resonates at all. The book focuses on what the author calls “polarities” of discipleship defined thusly:
- monopolar – self orientation “holiness of the moment and the person”
- bipolar – acknowledgiong God as the “other” who introduces humility into the equation – reflective discipleship
- tripolar – bringing in the other in humanity into the equation, recognizing that our experience of God is defined in our love for other people
All three are lifted up as pieties that we can see out in the world and tripolar spirituality if hailed as the most completely biblical and faithful example. The Anabaptists are given as the main modern adherents of this kind of spirituality (if you want a glimpse of what tripolar spirituality would look like in action, think of the Amish response to the man who came in and killed the schoolgirls in Pennsylvania. That is defining love for God in love for others) and he had once taught at a Mennonite seminary.
He proposes the following sentences as indicative of the progression into and through the various polarities:
- I believe the story of Jesus
- I believe in Jesus
- I believe Jesus
- I believe what Jesus believed
How many of these can you lay claim to?
How do you understand the statements as they reflect your life, your behavior, your hopes for the future?
God of life and light, let us see. Let us see you in all that we do. Let us hear you in our voice as we proclaim your salvation. Let us know and welcome you as we have been known and welcomed.
