An example of Spiritual Sincerity
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Last year a friend of mine gave me a copy of The Confessions of Saint Augustine. Ever since I have found myself turning back time and again to this ancient work of Christian literature, which has been touted as 'the greatest spiritual autobiography of all time'. For me, the intriguing character of this book lies beyond the style of the prose or even its historical and theological significance. At the most fundamental level I am drawn to St. Augustine's spiritual sincerity.
Augustine is often criticized, and perhaps rightly so, for his views of original sin and predestination among other things. But whatever his position on a myriad of issues may be the example Augustine sets as one whose heart is open and contrite before his maker is truly humbling.
Like all his Confessions the above quote is part of an extended meditative prayer to God. Not too long ago I combined these words with a picture I took for the purpose of aiding in my own meditation. (This photo was captured while on a Riverboat cruise of the Grand River in Southwestern Ontario.)
posted by Jason at 10:50 p.m.
3 Comments:
What I love so much about Augustine is that he is a clear example of art imitating life, if I can call theology art. When viewed in the context of his life and his struggle, I would be surprised if his theology WASN'T centered on concepts like dualism, predestination, original sin, ecclesiastic institutionalism and so on. You're so right - Augustine was honest to a fault - probably moreso than any other theologian I have ever read; (including Paul) that is what gives Confessions such weight, not only as a theological work (wherein that label is only dubiously applied) but also as a devotional work. (which is a much more apt classification.) I think its interesting how Roman Catholics like him, Reformed theologians like him, and Evangelicals like him. (Usually by ignoring what the others like about him)
It is remarkable how Augustine's appeal cuts across so many ecclesiastical lines. I was recently doing some research in Calvin's Institutes and I was amazed with the number of direct quote he draws from the fifth century saint. At least in the part I was reading (I certainly don't claim to be an expert on the Institutes) Calvin made even more references from Augustine than direct quotations of scripture! As one of the key representatives of a movement characterized by so often by the words "Sola Scriptura" Calvin seems to vest a tremendous amount of genuine authority in Augustine.
Joseph
Thank you for your input relating to Augustine. The source I was quoting relating to the autobiographical nature of Confessions was found in the publisher's preface. Obviously it was not Augustine's intension to compose an autobiography in the sense as we know it today, yet the extent to which Augustine bears his own soul does give his readers unprecedented insight into the inner workings of his life and mind.
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