A Personal Reformation: Duane W.H. Arnold
A Personal Reformation
I don’t think we can solve the issues that are confronting the Church. It seems to me that the most we can do is consider our lives as individuals and the intersection of our faith with our lives. We can opine and make grandiose statements about the state of the Church in America or, indeed, the world, but lacking a reformation in our lives as individuals, such statements run the risk of being disingenuous at best, or, at worst hyperbolic. Few of us, if any, have the unique charisma required to don the camel hair and leather belt of one crying in the wilderness. If, however, we cannot presage a new age for the worldwide Church, we might be able, with grace, to make some changes in our own lives that will not only be of benefit to us, but to the Church as well.
With this in mind, I have four suggestions for a “personal reformation”.
Firstly, pray. If you are part of a liturgical tradition, you likely have set forms of prayer. In the Anglican tradition, for instance, there is a set structure for Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. Such forms are often modeled on the daily prayer offices of the western monastic tradition and include not only set prayers, but also the recitation of psalms and the reading of portions of scripture. If you are not a part of such a tradition, you can easily construct your own discipline of daily prayer. It can be as simple as saying the Lord’s Prayer, reading a chapter from the Gospels, reciting a psalm, and then having a time of silent or extemporaneous prayer in which you remember and pray for those in need. Regardless of the form you choose, set aside a time and a place for daily prayer… It will change your life and your outlook on life.
Secondly, go to church. I know that this is a tough proposition. You most likely will not find exactly what you are looking for in terms of a church. I wrote the following, five years ago. “Friends, church is hard. Firstly, you’ll not find a perfect church, and if you do, it won’t be perfect after you join it. That’s just the way it is. Secondly, you’ll never find a perfect pastor. Setting aside those who are in ministry for all the wrong reasons – narcissists, abusive personalities, etc. – generally you’ll find a person who is really trying to do a good job. Not only are they trying to do a good job, they are generally sacrificing a great deal to do that job, especially in terms of family and financial security. Even the small perk of the respect that was once automatically given to clergy by the outside community is pretty much a thing of the past. It’s a tough job to do well. Moreover, they will make mistakes – some big, some small – and it will be up to you to extend grace to them as you would wish for grace to be extended to yourself. Church is a place to know and be known. Church is the first place in which we are called to live out the precepts of Christ in a common life with others.” I still believe that the Church is essential.
Thirdly, set your own ethical boundaries and markers based upon your faith rather than the commentary and opinions of media pundits and politicians. A good place to start are the words of Christ as reported in the four Gospels. Yes, you can haul yourself through the entirety of the Old and New Testaments finding “proof texts” (regardless of context) to address all sorts of social and cultural maladies. I would ask, however, how this measures up to the remarkably clear and contextualized words of the Sermon on the Mount or the parables of Matthew 25? Yet, it should be noted that much in terms of Christian ethics is personal. That is, it is about how we as individuals ethically navigate personal and inter-personal relationships as well as how we function in society as a whole. The shaping, or attempted shaping, of societal or cultural norms on the basis of our personal ethical views of any given issue carries little weight if we have not already embodied that ethic within our own lives or the community of faith to which we belong.
Fourthly, read… and read broadly. For myself, I always have two or three books going that I’m reading. Usually these will include something historical, perhaps one that has a theological theme and, quite often, another one dealing with art, architecture, or popular music. I don’t read to reinforce my own prejudices and/or presuppositions. In fact, I often read books that are a challenge to what I hold to be true. Apart from reading the stone tablets coming down from Mount Sinai, just because something is written and published does not make it true. In the best case, reading allows you to engage in a conversation with the author. One can agree, disagree or decide to look for more information. You can wrestle with the thinking of legendary writers such as Athanasius or Aquinas, or engage with marginalized voices whose life experiences and thought are radically different from your own. The point of the exercise is not agreement or walking in lock step, but learning.
Others may have additional suggestions which may be helpful. I offer these, however, in the interest of “starting small”. We may not live to see the Church reformed in root and branch, but we might begin to see a personal reformation that can change the smaller corner of the Church, which consists of our lives.
Thank you, Duane! Two years ago I was very concerned about the church I attended as the rhetoric from the pulpit tended towards “everyone is ‘agin’ us.” I was doing zoom church at the time, so I prayed much and wondered if I needed to change churches. Praying didn’t just change me; it totally changed how the church dealt with both COVID and politics. The church did open a couple of months before churches could officially open in my state, but with many good precautions in place. The ranting from the pulpit ceased. We got more updates from the full body of elders, not just the senior pastor, who was the main source of the rants. I would love to know what actually happened with the leadership, but I do know my prayers were answered! The church also made better use of the online platform, which has brought a bunch of new people into the church who are very involved. Prayer definitely works! Prayer also worked on this “pray-er.” I started looking at my own attitudes and less at the pulpit, realized where I could agree to disagree without being divisive. I’m still working on this journey, but I’m glad I didn’t jump ship two years ago.
I would heartily amen this list…almost.
Ideally, church is essential.
However, you could not drag me into one of the local assemblies under the threat of hell or mayhem.
There is a point when the messages and the culture are so toxic that they work against faith and we’re there in too many places.
That doesn’t mean you can’t find brethren to gather with…I think the next move of God may be informal meetings of believers “outside the camp”.
On the other hand, I may have finally become so jaded I can’t hear the Lord on this matter…
Michael
As in all things, discernment is needed. One can avoid the toxic and find smaller situations. I would only differ with you in that I consider church to be essential… Christianity is not a “lone ranger” faith. Of course I’m willing to be proven wrong on the basis of scripture, reason and tradition…😁
My only concern with informal gatherings of believers is the administration of the sacraments…which is a critical issue.
It is true that I cannot defend my position on the basis of reason, scripture, or tradition…which is a consideration as I consider withdrawing from any sort of public ministry.
Some heresies are best kept to oneself…
The one thing I would add to the list..find someone or someones to serve.
Whether in your own home or outside it…nothing changes us more than to participate in the Incarnation through serving someone who needs us.
Michael,
Yes, service is essential…
I do believe church is essential. It’s the only program that I see God gave in the NT for “growing” His people. A couple of times in my life I’ve been where a good church within 20 minutes of my home hasn’t been a reality, but I have attended church on the “periphery”, politely visiting services as a lurker but not getting too involved. It wasn’t ideal, but worked for temporary situations before I moved on.
Michael,
As to your “consideration”… we all are engaged in that task…
“Let our ‘seeking,’ therefore be in that which is our own, and from those who are our own, and concerning that which is our own, – that, and only that, which can become an object of inquiry without impairing the rule of faith.”
Tertullian
Linn
I’ve done the same…
Duane, this article of yours is one of the best things I’ve read on the PhxP.
IF the pastor is preaching (heats flowers and prosperity) not teaching from God’s Book,, it probably isn’t a good place… IMNSHO
Heats? No ! “hearts”
Xenia
Many thanks! It’s basic, but I think it is true…
I remember the day of my daughter’s funeral. Almost our entire parish showed up, and none of them had ever met Rachel, although they knew we had a very sick daughter. Everyone came and I will never forget their generosity of heart that led them to give up a Saturday morning to come and share in our sorrow. How can I not love these people? I would not trade this for anything.
I had a couple of inquiries in light of this article wondering what I do for “personal reformation”.
For me…it begins with the Daily Office.
Even if I’m just following along with another priest via an app, morning and evening prayer helps to hold me in place.
I also have a rosary where each bead represents someone that has requested prayer.
I still have a small church and thus I’m always doing sermon preparation.
I read as much as I’m able and have used audio books and classes every night for twenty years.
My ambition for my entire life has been to learn.
I do not watch TV news, nor do I listen to talk radio.
Most importantly, my life and faith have been shaped by calls to serve and to serve as Jesus did…sacrificially, lovingly, and without complaint.
This is a goal…I haven’t achieved it yet…but the service is more important than anything else I do.
Michael,
I think the point is, “it doesn’t just happen”. There is grace, but there is also intention.
Good advice. One question or maybe better and observation, I have been in church leadership as an elder and pastor for about 38 years. I stepped down from the pastorate and an an elder in Sept. of this year.
When it come to going to church, I find little hat is beneficial for me from the sermon. As a musician and a worshipper, I find very little virtuosity in musicianship and the popular worship tunes are poorly written—at last to me.
My learning style is more Socratic in nature and have found the three small groups I lead to be more inspiring and informative than sitting thru a 40 minute sermon.
All that said, I am looking for a body of believers of no more than 250 in size where I can serve in teaching (not from the pulpit) counseling, discipleship and prayer without wearing a title of pastor or leader.
In other words a church where I can serve. While important, I don’t want to sit on another subcommittee, write another white paper, attend a strategy session, or sit thru another 3 hour staff meeting. I just want to do the things that made me a church leader in the first place.
So I am currently working thru those issues and searching, and communicating with my current lead pastor.
Any advice?
David French wrote something yesterday along a similar vein. While his spotlight was on what we can do to “save” the country as opposed to “reforming” the church as Duane has written here, there would seem to be a similar approach in the principles espoused.
https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/john-adams-fear-has-come-to-pass?s=r
Officerhoppy
No advice, just my own experience… I’ve been in the ministry for 40 years. I have seven degrees inclusive of three master’s degrees and an earned PhD. I’ve written ten books and dozens of juried articles. The pastor of my parish is less than half my age. I attend on Sundays and sit in a back pew. I offer no advice unless I am specifically asked. Any conversations advising my pastor (when he asks) are done one on one… and if he takes my advice, I always make sure that it is “his idea and initiative”. The point for me is to serve and not in any way to “lead”. While not always easy to do, I’ve found it a useful exercise…
Kevin H
“When our crisis is one of hatred, anxiety, and despair, don’t look to politics to heal our hearts.”
Yes…
Just another thought about churches…when everyone was streaming I tried a few different churches in my community. One of them really might be a place for me if something happens at my current place of worship (although I am very optimistic that things will continue to go well). I couldn’t find a small group at my church where I fit (mostly scheduling issues), so I joined an international online women’s study. Mine happens to be in Spanish with members from four different countries. The point being-there is stuff out there if you look for it.
pray–your suggestion is broader and deeper, and therefore more intentional than many have practiced, and therefore worth the effort to try it.
go to church–the hardest for me to do. I think a good part of it is engrained habit at this point, but a lot still has to do with the shortage of options. Sitting silently in the back may be my only option.
ethical boundaries–the focus of my so-called deconstruction/reconstruction efforts are exactly what you’ve suggested.
read broadly–the second hardest, but due mostly to heavy demands on my time. I do listen to a number of podcasts primarily in the car while traveling and some offer much to weigh, consider, and sort.
thanks for the article and your thoughtful suggestions.
fil
Many thanks… BTW, Audible is a Godsend…
What do I do for my own personal reformation? Hopelfy it is something that occurs each day. I try to see God in all things and situations, an awareness, taught to me by the Quakers, Benedictines, Eugene Peterson and Leighton Ford among others. I use a Franciscan Prayer book, and a Celtic Prayer book. I read a Benedictine devotional most nights. I read poetry by people like Malcolm Guite and those who he recommends such as John Donne, Christine Paintner, Wendell Berry and a few others. I read sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. I spend more time in the Psalms for devotional reading and prayer. I teach twice a week and give much time to study and reflection of the passage that I am teaching.
I rarely watch TV. Reading stimulates my imagination so much more than watching TV or a movie.
“Finding God in all things…” The foundation of Jesuit education and the Spiritual Exercises…
these are so diverse and helpful even tho so very different from Keep your relationship with Jesus foremost . Its after all about that relationship its got to be personal and read your bible every day always . I must confess I like the above devotionals so much better and the serving .