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Taking God seriously, taking life seriously : praying the Psalms as a congregational strategy for integrated spirituality
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Ludik, Cornelius Breda Hendriks, H. J. |
| Copyright Year | 1998 |
| Abstract | This study is concerned with integrated spirituality. Spirituality is understood as a lifeorientation that presents itself both in worship and in a re-ordering of the elements of a person's life to a growing correspondence with the reality presented in worship. It finds expression in a web of relationships between God, the particular individual, the other and creation. Integrated spirituality is spirituality that is equally serious about God and our life in the material world, and it refuses to separate these two passions. God is the constitutive reality of Christian spirituality. He is the source of perspective and energy for Christian spirituality. However, the shape of spirituality is co-determined by factors from material existence, such as context, confessional tradition, narratives (both personal narratives and narratives of one's community) and the personal make-up of an individual. Any congregational strategy that aims at facilitating integrated spirituality, needs to incorporate both these aspects of spirituality. Nonetheless, it will have to give priority to the focus on God, but in such a way that the focus on material life retains full attention. The spirituality that we encounter in the Psalter is a clear example of integrated spirituality. Both the subject-matter and the editorial structure of the Psalter exhibit a passion for God and full attention to the concrete realities of daily life. As such, they present us with a valuable tool for facilitating integrated spirituality. We contend that the strategy of using the Psalms as prayers in congregations will have a distinct impact on the kind of spirituality that will evolve in these congregations. The Psalms can be used as prayers in liturgical and pastoral contexts, as well as in the private devotions of members of congregations. Praying the Psalms in these contexts will lead to integrated spirituality. However, this will depend on a number of prerequisites: The Psalms should be prayed from a proper understanding of their meaning and inner dynamics. Additionally, the whole spectrum of meaning found in the Psalms should become part of the prayer life of a congregation. If a congregation attains this, the result will be growth in integrated spirituality. Our exploration into the dynamics of spirituality as well as our overview of the Psalter's dual focus on God and life in the material world, forms the basis for this conviction. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10019.1/15527/ludik_taking_1999.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
