The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice [Hardcover]

This book caused me to examine my spiritual life in ways many other books haven't... The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice by Tony Campolo and Mary Albert Darling. Those coming from a traditional Protestant background will have a few struggles with the concepts and terminology, but I'm convinced it's worth the effort.

Concepts:
Part 1 - Knowing God Intimately - Where Christian Mysticism Can Take Us: What Mystical Christianity Is All About; Christian Mysticism and Personal Evangelism; Christian Mysticism and Working for Justice
Part 2 - Fueling Intimacy - The Mystical Path: Awaking to Mysticism and a Holistic Gospel (Even If You're Not a Monk); Cultivating Holy Habits; Moving from Self-Awareness to God-Awareness - The Prayer of Examen; Becoming God's Friend - Lectio Divina; Deepening Our Intimacy with God - Centering Prayer; Committing to a Holistic Gospel
Part 3 - Taking Intimacy with God into the World: Avoiding Two Temptations; Connecting Intimacy and Action
Postscript; Notes; The Authors; Index

As I come from a more traditional evangelical Christian experience, seeing a word like "mysticism" raises a whole bunch of red flags. I found it extremely difficult to lay aside my preconceived notions and connotations of that word in order to give the book a fair chance. But once I did that (numerous times, I might add), then the message started to seep through. Using the practices and the lives of well-known saints throughout the ages, Campolo and Darling show how building a life of spiritual practices (intimacy with God) needs to lead to a life of social justice (action). It's not enough to live on a mountaintop trying to obtain a spiritual "high". That relationship with God should lead to following Jesus' example of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and caring for widows and orphans. It's that "action" part that's missing in far too many Christian experiences today.

The partnership of these two authors is what makes the concept work for the book. Darling comes from more of a Catholic background, with the formalized practices often associated with that group. Campolo is the Protestant side, where the need for ceremony and ritual is often ignored or condemned. But the blending of these two mindsets leads you to realize that saints of old, like Francis of Assisi, didn't just spend all their time chanting in a cathedral. They fought for social justice and took action in their communities. This is so different than the typical "what have you done for *me* lately, God" mindset found all too frequently in today's world. I only wish there were different words to use than "mysticism" and "mystical". I'm afraid that many might be too quick to condemn the material as "new age" without understanding the deeper meaning and results.

I'd recommend this book to anyone looking to deepen their Christian experience and become more action-driven in today's society.

Christian activist, Tony Campolo, who is also professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University in the United States, has teamed up with Mary Albert Darling, a spiritual director from the Ignatian tradition to produce a book on "mystical Christianity." Darling is the associate professor of communication at Spring Arbor University and is a Protestant who is well versed in Roman Catholic mystic tradition.

They define "mystic Christianity" as a "holistic Christianity" which includes mystical spirituality, evangelism and social justice (p.xiv). A mystic as defined as "one who experiences God in transrational and nonempirical ways." (p.4). What this means is that all Christians are mystics as they will have personal experiences of an encounter with God. Campolo highlights five types of mystical experiences:
1. New insights
2. I-Thou relationships
3. Heightened awareness
4. Conversion experiences
5. Breakthrough experiences (p.4-12)

He takes care to compare these with what William James described in his book, The Varieties of Religious Experience. While William James' research was not in a Christian context, there are enough similarities to accept Campolo's descriptions.

The main thesis that Campolo and Darling proposes is that a Spirit-filled Christians who have had mystic spiritual experiences will subsequently be concerned for evangelism and social justice. Campolo writes, "I believe there are four basic consequences for a sense of justice that grows from mystical unity with Christ. Each of them is essential to actualize something of the justice and social well-being that are part of what the Bible calls the Kingdom of God. They are
1. An awareness that Christ is in the poor and oppressed, waiting to be loved and served
2. A call to challenged institutionalized religion
3. An understanding of the importance of entering into one another's sufferings
4. A plan for the world as it should be" (p.41)

This thesis is not new. Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen were the latest in the long line of Christian mystics who propose such a thesis. Merton's activism comes from his time of contemplation in a monastery and Nouwen from his contemplative experience in the academia. Merton's activism were in the political and cultural arena while Nouwen were in the handicap and socially deprived.

It is a common misconception that contemplatives are too otherworldly to be of any earthly use. A study of the life of Gregory the Great, Teresa of Avila and Catherine of Siena is enough to convince anyone that contemplatives are also social activists. What is new in this thesis is that two Protestants, Campolo and Darling propose it. What is also interesting is that social activist Campolo has to draw on the experience of Darling to support his concept of "mystical Christianity." To develop or experience a mystical Christian life, Darling suggests the practice of the following `ancient' spiritual disciplines
1. The prayer of examen
2. lectio divina
3. Centering prayer

will transform Christians into becoming more aware of the need for evangelism and to act for social justice. This is an important point because without a depth in God, our social activism will be mere `good works'. Thomas Merton explains it in Contemplation in a World of Action as thus, "He who attempts to act and do things for others or for the world without deepening is own self-understanding, freedom, integrity and capacity to love, will not have anything to give others. He will communicate to them nothing but the contagion of his own obsessions, his aggressiveness, his ego-centered ambitions, his delusions about ends and means, his doctrinaire prejudices and ideas."

This is a good book in which the interconnectiveness of Christian spirituality and practices, evangelism and activism for social justice are revealed as essential for a holistic Christian life.

The God of Intimacy and Action by Tony Campolo and Mary Darling urges the reader to work for justice and tells us that "it is our intimacy with Christ that ignites us to do what God commands."

Intimacy with God is a concept that I have been attracted to for as long as I can remember, but never really understood how to obtain. I consider myself a person who is concerned about justice and loves the Lord, but I have been stuck in a rut. Is going to church, praying when I think about it, and trying to be "good" enough? Darling points out that "a relationship with Jesus should be anything but stagnant of stuck." I came to this book asking, "what next?"

This is not just an inspirational book; it is a textbook on the mystical path. It instructs the reader in practical ways to fuel intimacy. These practices include:
1. The prayer of examen
2. Lectio Divina (holy reading and meditation on the word)
3. Centering prayer
Like many, I have been uncomfortable with words like "mystical," and intimidated by any sort of ancient or meditative practice. Campolo and Darling approach the topic with such humility and add personal stories that lack presumption and are a joy to read.

I was incredibly convicted by this book and didn't realize how much I needed to read it until I was finished. How do I remain full in such an empty world? How can I have a relationship with God that is not just about me, but encourages me to action? How can I expect to be God's light to the world without proactively pursuing intimacy with him? How do I even begin that journey? This book is a must-read for anyone struggling with these types of questions.

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