Marking Time: Forming Spirituality through the Christian Year

Ses s i on 3: Keep i ng the Rhy thm of the Sp i r i t 79

him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

b. We are to be taken captive by no system or tradition, even one which purports to make Christ center, Col. 2.8-10 (ESV) – See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. [9] For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, [10] and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

c. Tradition, in and of itself, severed from Scripture and allegiance to Christ, can actually make void the Word of God in our lives, cf. Mark 7.3-13; Matt. 15.2-9.

d. Authentic spirituality, the kind that ought to be developed and shared in the city, must be rooted in the person of Jesus Christ himself, Phil. 3.7-8 (ESV) – But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. [8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

4. In keeping the Church Year we affirm the mystery of Christ in the world, and recognize that our time today ( chronos ) has been superceded by the incarnation of God in this world ( kairos ).

5. As amazing as it may seem, with the entrance of Jesus Christ into the world, this time today has become the fullness of time in history! , Gal. 4.4-6 (ESV) – But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as