As an English major and critical, occasionally cranky thinker, I think it's important to think about the language we use. Especially when talking about God and the spiritual life. Our language affects us in so many powerful, subconscious ways. Phrases and metaphors of unclarity or dubious truth need to be rejected or clarified. I'd like to suggest a metaphor frequently used by many, myself included, needs to be rethought: the idea of spirituality as a linear path.
The phrases "journey"; "farther"; "advanced"; and "path," in reference to the life of the soul, are probably not good. ("Journey" is okay as a verb, I think.) If the Christian life is a path, it is possible to easily compare spiritual maturity and say, Well, I'm farther down the path than you are. But spiritual growth just doesn't work that way. I might pray more than somebody else does. But that somebody might give more sacrificially to the needy than I do. Who's more spiritually advanced? I don't know. Did you factor in our different backgrounds and present challenges and blessings? I don't think anybody can answer these sorts of questions. We all pale before the radiant righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Generally people who use these path analogies aren't trying to compare people. But that language, especially in our hyper-competitive culture, makes comparison possible, at least in the back of our minds.
"Path" language also perpetuates the fallacy that God has one life plan picked out just for us. Unfortunately, the Bible never says, "I will be with you, and show you exactly what major, career, car, and sandwich to pick." Not to say God doesn't provide guidance. He does, all the time. But lots of times he doesn't, and we have no biblical evidence for saying God has specific destinies chosen for us. That's too easy. It eliminates the struggle that is faith, the intimacy of prayers, questions, and mistakes. But yes, I would love it if God had an itinerary for the rest of my years!
Driving along the interstate is boring, solitary, and uneventful. These are the implications of calling the Christian life a path, too. In reality, we are supposed to journey (remember, I said as a verb it's fine!) in community. And it's supposed to be overwhelmingly exciting! The exhilaration of bringing somebody one inch closer to Christ, the ecstasy of praise, the anguish of suffering beside people you love... Not boring. Not one bit. Okay, sometimes when you're waiting around for God that's boring, but I think it's better described as annoying, like when the person you're meeting is late and you're tapping your feet and wondering if they'll ever get here. Actually, normally I'm the person who is late. But I digress.
Today I heard a pretty good sermon about the Transfiguration. It talked about the mountains and valleys in life. I think those are good spiritual analogies, especially because they are biblical and intuitively correct. (A Wesleyan sermon, built from Scripture and experience!) But, if you read into these images the idea of a path-- determined, straight, perfect-- things get screwy.
I think of all the times I've missed turns, doubled back, needed a detour. I'm not on a path. This is not an endless highway. I am going on to perfection, which is my destiny as a believer in Jesus, becoming holy as he is holy, fully reconciled to God, to the world, to myself, when he comes again.
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