Wind of the Spirit Blowing

by Howard Rice

Howard Rice, professor emeritus at San Francisco Theological Seminary and former Moderator of the General Assembly, offers occasional columns in Network News, providing insights from his deep explorations of spirituality combined with his life-long commitment to social activism.  this column appeared in the Spring, 1999 issue.

Spirituality: not a cocoon, but a call to caring


The times in which we live are witnessing the growth of many forms of spirituality and, at the same time, a decline of interest in justice. Is there a correlation between the rise of the one and the loss of the other? I think there is. Much spirituality, even that deeply part of the Christian tradition, is escapist and other-worldly. Many people seek to become spiritual because they think it is safe to do so. They see spirituality as a cocoon against the problems of the world. The problems of our world are difficult to understand and still more difficult to solve, thus spirituality serves as a convenient avenue of blessed escape. Do not trouble yourself with global warming, you are meditating, experiencing yourself with the alone, the inner emptiness of soul. Do not talk to me about continuing racism, my spiritual life has never been better.

Much "new age" spirituality is a way of baptizing this form of escape but within our churches it can serve the same purpose. Spirituality which does not take incarnation seriously quickly falls into a world-denying activity, feeding the desire to avoid hard decisions or painful actions that might cost something.

Christian spirituality is, at its best, grounded in the incarnation. Jesus of Nazareth, born to a woman, is at its center. To the degree that our spirituality is rooted in him, we cannot escape. He will not let us. Jesus has always been the one who ventures into the hard places, welcomes the unwelcome, lifts up the lowly, challenges the comfortable, and models a very earthy spirituality. A Christ centered spirituality cannot avoid dealing with those for whom he spoke up; it cannot seek ease and calm at the expense of the world's pain.

There is really no division between Christ-centered spirituality and doing justice in the world. That is just where Christ is to be found. He is in the center of the wounds of our world, he is with those people most ignored, stigmatized, or stereotyped. Wherever there is human pain and need, there the risen Christ is. Matthew captured the essence of a Christ centered mysticism, "Just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me."

In order to discover the presence of Christ, we must go where he already is, serving the poor, visiting those in prison, welcoming the unwanted, feeding the hungry wherever they may be. A Christ centered spirituality will lead us into a discovery of our call to serve, our call to do justice. Christ centered spirituality is no escape from trouble or pain. May we discover and practice just such a spirituality that goes against the grain of all the "feel good" spiritualities so popular today.

If you like what you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and growing!

Please consider making a special contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve this service.

Click here to send a gift online, using your credit card, through PayPal.

Or send your check, made out to "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to our PVJ Treasurer:

PVJ's Facebook page

Mitch Trigger, PVJ's Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!

Voices of Sophia blog

Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:

John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot

John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive

Got more blogs to recommend?