Means of Grace, the Sabbath and Pastor Interview: Studying Challenges and Strategies for Promoting Spiritual Growth

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Table of Contents

Wesley’s Means of Grace
Practicing the Sabbath as a Minister
Interviewing a Pastor
Interview Reflections: Text (Body)
Conclusion
References

Wesley’s Means of Grace

The idea of grace is intrinsically intertwined with the Christian philosophy and is seen as its traditional value, yet its interpretation has seen significant changes. In the Wesleyan tradition, the notion of grace is represented as the state of being that cannot be granted to a Christian immediately but, instead, should be earned through hard work and piety (Mulholland & Barton, 2016). Therefore, the means of grace through the lens of the Wesleyan perspective should be seen as an incentive to practicing Christian values and accepting the Christian philosophy and traditions in their entirety.

Unlike other interpretations of the meaning of grace in the Christian tradition, Wesley’s approach toward the subject matter suggests splitting the concept of the means of grace into the works of piety and those of mercy (Nouwen, 1981). Thus, the Wesleyan interpretation of the means of grace is expected to have a gradual yet profound impact on Christians. The described approach to interpreting the notion of grace is quite different from the approach suggested by Calvin, who insists that the notion of irresistible, or efficacious, grace is the correct interpretation (Johnson, 1999). Implying that salvation will occur to those chosen by God, it does not focus on a personal and spiritual journey as much as the Wesleyan doctrine. Specifically, the promotion of unity as the foundational Christian principle should be deemed as the direct contribution to Christians practicing these ideas.

However, being overzealous in practicing the described ideas will not lead to positive results. According to the Wesleyan philosophy, maintaining balance in the process of achieving grace is also critical for Christians (Wesley, n.d., I1). For instance, one should bear in mind that God is above all means in the Christian tradition, hence the necessity to focus primarily on the intended outcome of spiritual development rather than on viewing discipleship and sanctification as the means in itself. Thus, both neglect and overemphasis on the means of grace are believed to have a profoundly negative impact on Christians since each suggests deviating from the process of practicing Christian values.

As stressed above, Wesley described the means of grace as a system of two notions, including piety and mercy. Both are typically represented by individual and communal practices, the former implying personal spiritual growth through reading Biblical texts, and the latter suggesting engaging in Christian conferencing (Wesley, n.d., I3-I4). Therefore, Wesley’s approach toward achieving the state of mercy invites possibilities for comprehensive spiritual development, including both individual growth and the acquisition of spiritual knowledge by the entire community.

Practicing the Sabbath as a Minister

The notion of the Sabbath has a specific meaning in Christianity, with the idea of rest and gladness being the foundation of The Sabbath. According to the Christian tradition, practicing the Sabbath is an essential step in the spiritual development of a Pastor, including those that work in a part-time setting (Olson, ‎Rosell, Marsh, & Jackson, 2018). Thus, a part-time Minister must engage in Sabbath-related practices, including the pursuit of rest and gladness during the Sabbath (White, 2018). However, Minister faces numerous challenges in exercising their Sabbath-related practices due to the necessity to guide their congregation.

A Minister should keep in mind that the obstacles described above may vary in the extent of their impact depending on the personal perception of the Sabbath and its rituals. The process of Sabbath-keeping requires combining the promotion of emotional health and following the sacred rhythms that allow one to imbue their rest with meaning (White, 2018). Allowing one to replenish one’s energy, the Sabbath-related practices as one of the key concepts of healthy spirituality lead to emotionally healthy spiritual development (Scazzero, 2006). Simultaneously, practicing the Sabbath enables one to restore the notion of the sacred rhythm as applied to rest (Barton, 2010). Specifically, pacing the beginning of the Sabbath, its key stages, and its logical conclusion allows a minister to start their week in a fashion as productive as possible, inviting students and members of their parish to engage in spiritual growth.

Approaching the notion of the Sabbath from the perspective of a personal understanding one may view the notion as the process of weekly cleansing of unproductive thoughts and ideas. The Sabbath practices allow a Minister to rearrange priorities and reset goals, evaluating the progress that has been made with their students and parish members. Moreover, a pastor can gain a more profound insight into ministry, in general, during the Sabbath. Due to the emphasis on spirituality as a crucial part of the process of rest, the latter should not be seen as completely devoid of depth. Instead, engaging in contemplations and meditations related to the spiritual progress of parish members, as well as personal spiritual growth, should be regarded as priorities during the Sabbath (Mulholland & Barton, 2016). Overall, maintaining emotional health and replenishing one’s energy to become more productive should be seen as the ultimate goals of the Sabbath practices. Thus, a Minister will be able to remain a good leader in the target community and guide students and parish members toward Christian values.

Interviewing a Pastor

Introduction

Exploring the process of spiritual formation is quite challenging due to the unique experiences of each Christian and the elusive nature of the subject matter. To study the phenomenon, an interview with Pr. Theophilus, who is an African American spiritual leader, was conducted. Aged 41, Pr. Theophilus has already gained quite a deep insight into the process of fostering the development of spirituality in people, including sanctification and other tools.

Interview Reflections: Text (Body)

Discussing sanctification

The results of the interview with Pr. Theophilus have shown that the process of teaching sanctification as a crucial notion in the Christian tradition is fraught with a few challenges. The idea of fulfillment in Jesus as the foundation for teaching sanctification seems to have shifted from gaining a pastoral insight to its practical application (Nouwen, 1992). As a pastor, one has to assist the members of the Christian congregation to achieve the described state of fulfillment as the process of understanding the relationships between a Christian and their Creator and, thus, embrace sanctification.

Thus, the outcomes of the interview have provided insightful interpretations of the notion of sanctification. Specifically, Pr. Theophilus raises the question of whether the process of personal salvation may occur when encouraging a Christian to explore the transformation of justification to sanctification (Nouwen, 1981). The proposed viewpoint allows a Minister to increase the extent of commitment among Christians in their parish, as well as among their students, therefore leading to their spiritual development. By studying the various means of sanctification that God uses, such as abiding in Christ, a Minister invites the opportunity for Christians to partake in their spiritual journey.

Gaining security

As a Minister, one needs to address the issues that life hacks away at them. The challenges associated with managing unexpected problems are quite difficult to manage, yet, when seeking the sources of one’s security, one may need to consider one’s spiritual roots, as Pr. Theophilus explained in his interview. The phenomenon of spiritual security as the notion that Jesus mentioned in His teachings is an important source of resilience for a Christian, hence the necessity to explore one s opportunities of reaching it.

According to Pr. Theophilus, as a minister, one should promote and encourage the search for one’s source of spiritual comfort that one will require at the time of serious emotional distress. However, the interview also revealed that the notion of spiritual security and the roots thereof are individual notions that may vary extensively in Christians of different backgrounds and personal histories. Therefore, a Minister must ensure engagement in the discussion of the subject matter on a personal level, allowing people to develop an emotional rapport with a Priest (Scazzero, 2006).

Change in demeanor, words, or heart

Even with the noblest intentions and an open mind, a human being remains fallible and prone to negative changes. When facing difficulties or temptations, one may succumb to the need to satisfy their immediate desires instead of pursuing long-term spiritual goals and seeking salvation. It was quite surprising to learn that even Ministers are not immune to changes in demeanor, words, and heart caused by deprivation of sources of joy, as Pr. Theophilus explained in his interview. According to the respondent, when being deprived of the items that contribute to his spiritual growth, Pr. Theophilus may experience the need to change his demeanor toward a less appealing one.

However, the respondent also pointed out that the observed change could be turned into an exercise in humility and spiritual progress. When studying changes in one’s emotional well-being and spiritual development, one will gain a better understanding of oneself and, thus, will be able to avoid similar scenarios in the future. Moreover, negative changes in demeanor, words, or heart, when noticed and corrected, may spur further spiritual growth through the acknowledgment of one’s mistake, further repentance, and search for salvation.

Customary and specific practices

Being a Minister implies that one should practice spiritual disciplines that facilitate the continuous development of one’s heart and mind. According to the results of the interview, Pr. Theophilus promotes the idea of developing one’s unique customary practices that allow experiencing a more personal connection with God. The key approaches that the Pastor suggested involved setting a particular time for praying and performing other religious rituals.

The described approach toward improving one’s understanding of the concept of spirituality and engaging in unceasing personal development is in line with the promotion of people-oriented Christian leadership. By making the process of spiritual growth as unique and personal as possible, one will make Christian practices an essential part of one’s identity and, thus, become a part of the Christian community. Therefore, one may infer from the outcomes of the interview that creating customary religious practices should be an important part of developing Christian values and beliefs. Thus, as a Minister, one will need to encourage one’s students and the members of one’s parish to consider adopting a personal approach toward exploring and studying the Christian discipline.

A successful pastor and a successful church

For a Minister and their congregation to be described as successful, the notion of spiritual growth should be interwoven into every spiritual practice. As the interview with Pr. Theophilus has confirmed, a Pastor has to encourage their students and parish members to explore every opportunity for gaining new insights into the Christian faith and their perception thereof.

In addition, the results of the interview have shown that, for a Pastor and their church to be successful, it is critical to balance spiritual and emotional growth. While practicing Christian traditions and rituals is an important part of the process, one should also consider the necessity of rest and its role in spiritual progress. Accepting one’s emotions and recognizing the shifts in one’s mood should be turned into an important part of the spiritual practice to address faults in one’s personality and become a better person.

Moreover, the principle of unity should lie at the foundation of any successful church, as the results of the interview indicate. Pr. Theophilus made it clear that the members of a parish should grow into a community that offers extensive support to all of its members and promotes the unceasing dialogue between them. The discussion of the ideas of Christianity, the role of Christian values, and the pathway to achieving a new stage of spiritual development should become an intrinsic part of the parish members’ lives. With the promotion of unity as a notion, one will enable people to continue their spiritual journey and seek salvation.

Conclusion

Exploring the idea of spiritual growth and promoting it among Christians, as well as experiencing it as a Priest, are important yet challenging tasks. The interview with Pr. Theophilus has shown that the focus on emotional development alongside personal introspect allows for vast progress in building one’s spirituality. Furthermore, it is important to focus on individual perspectives of spiritual practices to ensure that the latter becomes an inseparable part of one’s life.

References

Barton, R. H. (2010). Sacred rhythms: Arranging our lives for spiritual transformation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Johnson, R. (1999). Your personality and the spiritual life. Gainesville, FL: Center for Applications of Psychological Types.

Mulholland, M. R., & Barton, R. H. (2016). Invitation to a journey: A roadmap for spiritual formation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Nouwen, H. (1981). The way of the heart: The spirituality of the desert fathers and mothers. New York, NY: HarperOne.

Nouwen, H. (1992). In the name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian leadership. New York, NY: Crossroad Publishing.

Olson, ‎R. P., Rosell, R. L., Marsh, N. S., & Jackson, A. B. (2018). A guide to ministry self-care: Negotiating today’s challenges with resilience and grace. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield.

Scazzero, P. (2006) Emotionally healthy spirituality: Unleash a revolution in your life in Christ. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.

Wesley, J. (n.d.). The means of grace. Web.

White, D. F. (2018). Practicing discernment with youth: A transformative youth ministry approach. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers.

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