Book Review: Life in Christ: The Core of Intentional Spirituality (2020)
At first glance at the cover, I see a long-haired Jesus of Nazareth on a blue background book cover simply titled “Life in Christ.” But inside the pages a more cosmic and universal Christ appears. Quickly, I pursue the chapters scanning for what is new in Steve Harper’s 30th book on spiritual formation in the Wesleyan tradition.
I am familiar with his early books, including: John Wesley's Message for Today and Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition. And I love his breakout-of-the-mold revolutionary book--Holy Love: A Biblical Theology for Human Sexuality—after which he self-identified as a progressive Wesleyan theologian, left Asbury Seminary, joined Northwind Seminary, and started a new blog series on the New Awakening he sees happening in the world as the Church undergoes radical transformation and a new Re-formation. https://oboedire.wordpress.com/
The new thing I found within the pages of this book--written and published during COVID Apocalyptic Year 2020—is a fresh expression of an ancient Christology for the nextChurch of the new Re-formation. Rooted in Scripture (especially in the “new birth” narrative of Nicodemus in the Gospel of John), grounded in Wesleyan spirituality, a tree of life grows from a strong trunk of the universality of Christ as taught by E. Stanley Jones, with panentheistic branches of new insights from Richard Rohr, Barbara Brown Taylor, and even Thich Nhat Hanh… and with leaves and fruit for healing and nourishing the questing soul.
E. Stanley Jones, according to Steve Harper, describes the Cosmic Christ as the sum total of all creation, “not only as a pervasive presence in all things, but also as the penetration into all things, ‘written into the nature of reality, written into our blood, nerves tissues, relationships—into everything.’ (E. Stanley Jones, The Way).”
Steve also invokes and quotes Richard Rohr’s The Universal Christ and Cynthia Bourgeault’s The Wisdom Jesus in support of his (and E. Stanly Jones’) mystical view of the universality of Christ in all things: “I really do believe in the Cosmic Christ, and I believe the presence is pervasive, not just within the world’s religions, but within every aspect of life, from the smallest particle to the farthest star.” (p. 140).
Steve was known and read widely as a popular, conservative, Evangelical, Wesleyan theologian in his earlier life and career as a VP/Academic Dean and Professor of Wesleyan Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. In this his latest book, he appeals more widely, not only to readers not yet professing faith in Christ, but to non-Christians committed to other religions: “I hope Life in Christ helps you recognize the universal Christ’s presence in your faith tradition and in your life.” (p. 140).
So, does this mean that the mature Steve Harper is now a universalist? If pressed, he would say, ‘No.’ Rather, his purpose in the book is to say ‘Yes’ to the universality of Christ as described in the scriptures:
“God revealed his hidden design to us, which is according to his good will and the plan he intended to accomplish through his Son. This is what God planned for the climax of all times: to bring all things together in Christ, the things in heaven along with the things on earth.” (Eph. 1:9-10)
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Col. 1:15-20).
Harper does not shy away from these scripture passages about the Cosmic Christ. Rather, he embraces them as the “core of intentional spirituality” for a New Awakening. “The heart of God is bent toward universality,” he writes. “We are in relationship with the God ‘who wants all people to be saved’ (I Tim. 2:4).” (p. 136). And why should God, who woes and reconciles all creation, not get what God wants by the end of time? “The culmination of life in Christ is in eternity.” (p. 137).
If you want an accessible, inclusive, prophetic, and profound book to study with a spiritual formation group or class, consider Life in Christ by Steve Harper.
Skillfully, he weaves together insights from classical Christian spirituality with contemporary spiritual writers in a new key. Ideal for a Lenten Study book, or a first dive into interspirituality, this is a book to share with a friend who may have given up on church, or is not yet a Christian, or anyone on the spiritual path. And if you want to follow the paper trail to see how Harper got from where he began his journey of faith to where he now is resting before his next book, read the footnotes! (Its where I always begin).
At the end of 141 pages, Steve summarizes his friendly book, and sums up and reduces all that he has learned and said in 30 books and 50 years of his life in Christ down to one simple truth and invitation: “become a person in love, using Christ as your pattern....because you are made in God’s image. You are God’s beloved.” (p. 141).
For information on Progressive Wesleyan Theology at Northwind Seminary, see Professor Steve Harper's courses and degree program here: https://www.northwindseminary.org/wesleyan-studies
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