Cruciformity: In Christ Mysticism and Pauline Spirituality

Albert Schweitzer’s book The Mysticism of the Apostle Paul dared to argue that ‘justification by faith’ was not the center of Paul’s theology, but rather a subsidiary to the more important mystical doctrine of redemption through being-in-Christ. This point was taken up and modified slightly by E. P. Sanders some 40 years later and propagated as the center of Pauline theology and termed it participationist eschatology; essentially ‘participation in Christ.’ It is Gorman’s task in the second half of this chapter (3) to unpack exactly what Paul meant by the term ‘in Christ.’

The vast majority of the time the ‘in Christ’ phrase, Gorman argues, refers to existence in Christ, a spatial existence within the sphere of influence of Christ. ‘‘In Christ’ means to be under the influence of Christ’s power, especially the power to be conformed to him and his cross, by participation in the life of a community that acknowledges his lordship.’ It is important to note that in this definition spirituality for Paul is not solely a private affair but rather a thoroughly communal one.

This ‘in Christ’ spirituality is further unpacked by adding the narrative elements of the life and self-giving love exemplified in the crucified Christ. Thus Cruciform spirituality is a life-style of love and humility, in fact the ‘narrative of the crucified and exalted Christ is the normative life-narrative within which the community’s own life-narrative takes place and by which it is shaped.’

In this chapter the reader is shown the impact of Paul’s Damascus experience and shown how Paul conceives of life as being ‘in Christ.’ It must be noted that the key to Paul’s conception of ‘in Christ’ spirituality is the exalted Christ. Cruciform spirituality would make little sense if it was not the exalted Christ who indwells or is indwelt.

While I have given you a brief account of this chapter, I must tell you that this brief summation doesn’t really do the chapter justice, you really ought to read it yourself.

Technorati tags: Albert Schweitzer, Michael J. Gorman, E. P. Sanders, Cruciformity, Spirituality, Exalted Christ, In Christ

Cruciformity: Paul’s Narrative Spirituality of the Cross: Some Definitions

Michael J. Gorman’s book, Cruciformity: Paul’s Narrative Spirituality of the Cross, was one of the few books that I read whilst working on my doctoral thesis that both made me understand Paul better and made me want to follow the Crucified Lord in a whole new way. I thought I would take some time to highlight some of the things I found really useful in this book.

The introduction of this book does a good job of laying out what exactly the author is trying to accomplish in this book focusing both on the early Christians experience and on what the modern interpreter can gain from focusing on the cruciformity. It is obvious that what can be found by both groups is that in the crucified messiah there is a model of humility, self sacrifice, and suffering worthy of imitation.

In the rest of the introduction Gorman lays out a series of definitions essentially exegeting the title of the book so the reader can have a clear idea of the terms involved in such a study, a couple of import include:

Spirituality:

Gorman describes this as the lived experience of Christian belief, or the experience of God’s love and grace in daily life. An experience that includes both receiving love and responding in love.

The purpose of Paul’s letters:

Gorman sees the various kinds of narratives within the letters of Paul, not as theology per se but rather as a means to mold behavior. The purpose of his letters, in other words, is pastoral or spiritual before it is theological.

Cruciformity:

Gorman defines cruciformity as conformity to the crucified Christ. He elaborates further stating, that this conformity is the dynamic correspondence in daily life to the strange story of Christ crucified as the primary way of experiencing the love and grace of God. Cruciformity is, in other words, Paul’s oddly inviting, even compelling, narrative spirituality.

Gorman closes that introduction stating, ‘For Paul, “to know nothing except Jesus Christ – that is, Jesus Christ crucified?’ is to narrate, in life and words, the story of God’s self-revelation in Christ. We attempt in this book, then, to understand Paul’s experience of God, mediated by the cross of Christ, as one of cruciform faith, love, power, and hope, and to do so with an eye on how that experience may challenge us today.’