From The Illumined Heart …
April 4th, 2007
This morning I read the following and thought I would share it with you all. It is from one of my favorite books, The Illumined Heart: The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation by one of my favorite authors, Frederica Mathewes-Green.
“We think of theology as an intellectual undertaking, an attempt to construct a systematic, comprehensive explanation using tools of ordinary reason. But for earlier Christians all theology, teaching and preaching, had the practical aim of assisting the believer toward theosis.” (pg. 27)
Mathewes-Green a bit earlier in the reading defines theosis this way…
“…one’s essential being is permeated and filled with the presence of God. It is something more than merely resembling Jesus, more then merely following. It is [total] transformation.”
Have your students ever heard of the word theosis? Have you? I am not trying to be or to come across as demeaning or insult you if you have never heard of that term/concept. I just hope you’ll investigate its deep, rich and life-changing meaning and share it with the students you are shepherding.
April 4th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Hey Chris,
Good Post.
Athanasius, the fourth-century Bishop of Alexandria, is considered a major theologian and leader of the church (even by Protestants). He wrote much on the subject of theosis. His classic work “On the Incarnation” is a fantastic read - very rich. The translation I read also had an appendix on “Praying the Psalms” by Athanasius that should not be overlooked.
Your friend,
Mike King
April 4th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
I love McLaren’s comment about Theosis, “sounds like a bad case of God!”
Great stuff from Frederica!
April 4th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
I’m telling you, I’d like to get me some of that Theosis! seriously, transformation is part of my daily prayer, asking God to search me, reveal my junk that needs his touch…Colossians 1:6–the Good News, bearing fruit everywhere and changing lives. Not behavior modification, but transformation.
April 5th, 2007 at 9:47 am
doug — i remember being with you at that covenant midwinter thing in chicago when mclaren prayed that we would all catch a bad case of theosois. i love it! thanks for the reminder…