Embracing Contemplation

What does a Christian life lived "by the Spirit" look like?For many Christians throughout history, fulfilling Paul's command in Galatians 5:25 included a form of contemplation and prayer that leads to spiritual formation. But in large part, contemporary Christians—perhaps especially evangelicals—seem to have lost or forgotten about this treasure from their own tradition.Bringing together scholars and practitioners of spiritual formation from across the Protestant spectrum, this volume offers a distinctly evangelical consideration of the benefits of contemplation. The contributors draw on historical examples from the church—including John Calvin, Richard Baxter, Jonathan Edwards, and John Wesley—to consider how contemplative prayer can shape Christian living today. The result is a robust guide to embracing contemplation that will help Christians as they seek to keep in step with the Spirit.



Kyle C. Strobel (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is associate professor of spiritual theology and formation at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, where he teaches in the Institute for Spiritual Formation. He is the author of several books, including Jonathan Edwards: An Introduction to His Thought, Jonathan Edwards's Theology: A Reinterpretation, and Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards.



John H. Coe (PhD, University of California, Irvine) is director of the Institute for Spiritual Formation at Biola University. He is also professor of spiritual theology and philosophy at the Talbot School of Theology and Rosemead School of Psychology. He is the coauthor of Wildlife in the Kingdom Come and Psychology in the Spirit, and contributor to Reading the Christian Spiritual Classics and Psychology and Christianity. He was the founding editor of the Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care and has contributed articles to the Journal of Psychology and Theology and the Journal of Psychology and Christianity.

Acknowledgments


Introduction: Retrieving the Heart of the Christian Faith—John H. Coe and Kyle C. Strobel
Part 1: Historical Inquiries


1. The Controversy Over Contemplation and Contemplative Prayer: An Historical, Theological, and Biblical Resolution—John H. Coe


2. Is Thoughtless Prayer Really Christian? A Biblical/Evangelical Response to Evagrius of Pontus—Evan B. Howard


3. Medieval Ressourcement—Greg Peters


4. Sabbatical Contemplation? Retrieving a Strand in Reformed Theology—Ashley Cocksworth


5. "To Gaze on the Beauty of the Lord": The Evangelical Resistance and Retrieval of Contemplation—Tom Schwanda


6. Christian Contemplation and the Cross: The Pathway to Life—Diane Chandler
Part 2: Constructive Proposals


7. Biblical Spirituality and Contemplative Spirituality—Steven L. Porter


8. Contemplation by Son and Spirit: Reforming the Ascent of the Soul to God—Kyle C. Strobel


9. Gospel-Centered Contemplation? A Proposal—Ryan A. Brandt


10. The Beatific Vision: Contemplating Christ as the Future Present—Hans Boersma


11. Contemplative and Centering Prayer—James Wilhoit


12. Contemplative Prayer in the Evangelical and Pentecostal Traditions: A Comparative Study—Simon Chan


13. A Distinctively Christian Contemplation: A Comparison with Other Religions—Glen G. Scorgie


Conclusion: Recovering Contemplation—John H. Coe and Kyle C. Strobel


Contributors


General Index


Scripture Index

"This book is an important contribution in a time when there is growing evangelical interest in contemplative spirituality. For the skeptical, this work addresses many of the common concerns. For the curious, this is an excellent introduction to the major themes and unique voices of contemplative spirituality. For all, this is a deep dive into a broad and rich Christian tradition in which you'll discover hidden treasures you didn't know were available to you—right here in your very own theological home. I'm grateful to Strobel and Coe."



"We have needed this resource for quite some time—a thorough consideration of the character of Christian contemplation that is biblical, historical, theological, comparative, and practical. And thanks to the editorial work of Coe and Strobel we have it—an invaluable guide to the state of the current evangelical conversation regarding this essential dimension of the Christian life." weniger anzeigen expand_less