The Pursuit of God

Resources for Application

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thousand years of God’s activity in the world and ignores the voices of the majority of Christians. Through Christian spiritual classics, we can give Nicholas of Cusa, Benedict of Nursia, or Athanasius of Alexandria a seat at the theological table. We can compare and contrast our observations of Scripture with John Woolman, Phoebe Palmer, or Howard Thurman. When we have a question, we can “discuss” it with John Calvin or “ask” Thomas Aquinas’s opinion. Their collective years of prayer, study, and discernment are available to us in spiritual classics and help us better interpret Scripture. Like Scripture, spiritual classics should be read slowly and devotionally. Just as the psalmist advises us to meditate on God’s law (Ps 1:2), so we should meditate on, mull over, and carefully read spiritual classics. Devotionally reading spiritual classics can be viewed as an opportunity for spiritual apprenticeship. When we begin regarding spiritual classics as opportunities for mentorship rather than simply analytic study, they can begin speaking to our hearts in addition to our minds. Spiritual classics should be read both critically and charitably. Everything read in a spiritual classic must ultimately be tested by the words of Scripture. When we do find a problem with a spiritual classic, we do not need to reject the whole classic. Rather, reading a spiritual classic is like eating ribs: eat the meat, but leave the bones (1 Thess 5:19–21). We thankfully take in the spiritual nutrients without choking on the bones of unbiblical teaching. The key to discerning the difference is a growing knowledge of Scripture and personal conformity to the character of Christ.