In recent weeks I have been out mining for good quotes and perspectives. It is enjoyable work! The following are two quotes from Francis Schaeffer on the nature of true spirituality. While I would not nor do I speak of spirituality in the terms he uses, I love it when someone uses a phrase I believe is important! Here is Schaeffer stating what it means to live in "active passivity" through the gospel.
"Thus I am to live now by faith, rooted in the things which have been, such as Christ's death and resurrection; what is, such as the second stream of reality in the unseen now; and what will be such as my coming bodily resurrection and return with Christ. And this is not sheer passivity, as we have seen. God will deal with me in the circle in which he made me; that is, in his image- as a man, not as a stick or stone. There are unbiblical forms of "spirituality" which put their emphasis almost entirely upon some sort of "resignation." The Bible rejects this. You are not just a beast in the field. It is not just a case of accepting, there is to be an activeness in our passivity. We have to be creatures because that is what we are- creatures. But in Christ we are presented with an opportunity, a calling, to be a creature by choice, to be creatures glorified. Through an active passivity, we are creatures, not of necessity but by choice, here in this present space-time, historic world. When I come to this point, no matter how many times I preach or write it, it still takes my breath away."
Francis Schaeffer, True Spirituality, 82.
What is he saying? First, all of us are living in two-world existence. We are living in the here and now temporal framework of this universe, and we also are living in a very real spiritual realm that is marked by eternity. What we do here touches on the eternal realm. What Christ did in the eternal realm can and should impact our everyday experience in the here and now. Schaeffer argues that living by faith means acknowledging and living as a citizen of both realms.
How does this look in real life? Schaeffer argues that we must actively, by choice, live as creatures now glorified. Honestly, I do not know exactly what he means here. Let me follow up with another quote from later in the book that might clarify what he said.
"So we must believe God's promises at this one moment in which we are. Consequently, in believing God's promises, we apply them- the present meaning of the work of Christ for the Christian- for and in this one moment. If you only can see that, everything changes. As we believe God for this moment, the Holy Spirit is not quenched. And through his agency, the risen and glorified Christ, as the bridegroom of the bride, the vine, brings forth his fruit through us, at this moment. This is the practice of active passivity. And it is the only way anybody can live; there is no other way to live but moment by moment."
Francis Schaeffer, True Spirituality, 86.
So, the way of life is to believe and live out the promises of God in the moment by moment existence of everyday life. In this manner, we actively rest in what God has done in Christ.
No matter what your occupation or situation in life, the eternal realm is as real and even more important than what we see in our temporal realm. Authentic spirituality means living by active faith in Christ's finished work. I beg of you, allow the eternal to touch and influence the temporal!
May this week be marked by faith. May we walk in light of Christ's finished work that makes all the difference in eternity and in every day, moment by moment, life.
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