Can Spiritual Direction Strengthen the Church?
Church, as we know it, is being recreated. Does that feel scary, dangerous, risky? Or inviting, hopeful, and exciting? Or maybe we can agree that it is all those things. Blame it on the pandemic, politics, cultural and generational shifts, the church, and nearly every individual connected to it, is rethinking and re-imagining what it means to be “the body of Christ.” Some call this “deconstructing faith,” but I prefer to think of it as reimagining faith. For me, I believe reimagining the church and the congregation is opening doors to new ways of expressing our journey together, and spiritual direction is playing a role in opening that door.
Most people — churchgoers and otherwise — are noticing that these shifts have brought us into ourselves. We are discerning what is important to the spiritual life. What is life-giving, and how can we experience a deeper intimacy to the Divine while learning to be present to ourselves, and others? This kind of inner reflection cries for an expression of faith that is outside the realm of what has typically been offered within the church.
Spiritual direction is one of those expressions of faith that can aid and strengthen the church by partnering with individuals as they explore their spiritual landscape. Spiritual direction is a ministry of listening and seeing people where they are on the journey, without feeling the need to set them on another path or to fix what we think is broken. And equipping the church to help people on this journey inward is what Paul prayed for his church in Ephesus, so that “you may be strengthened in your inner being…”
So how can the church engage in spiritual direction as a ministry to individuals exploring their faith, longing to know the presence of God in their ordinary lives? I wish there was one easy answer to that question, but the possibilities are unlimited. In general, it can be gathered under one umbrella called “Listening.” This is the heart of spiritual direction. Many churches are strong on teaching, telling, speaking, preaching, discipling. But few are set up with people trained to simply listen, to see people where they are, to be a companion, to be a presence with others on their journey.
What a difference it might make for those wrestling with their faith to find a place of grace and hospitality within the church that welcomes them into that conversation, that doesn’t have an agenda to “fix their faith” but to simply be with them, to listen, to see and bear witness to their journey as holy ground.
I know, it’s scary….and exciting and hope filled. But reimagining what it means to be the church is the co-creative work of the Spirit, calling us to draw closer to the Divine One, to open the doors a little wider to a broader expression of what it means to walk with Jesus through this life. Remember the childhood game of “Here’s the church. Here’s the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people.”
Let’s do that. Open the doors. See all the people.
For Spiritual Direction Conversation:
How has my experience of church or a faith community changed over the past two years?
What is it that God is calling me to consider in my faith practices, my spiritual disciplines?
Who is the faith community who listens to my story and journey in a safe environment? How might I build that support group if one doesn’t exist?
What different might it make to share my journey more intentionally with a spiritual director or friend?
