The most effective weapon for the spiritual warfare is the transition from self-centered to God-centered

This is my reflection on one specific documentation regarding Ignatius Loyola. Even if he is very controversial person, I just typed something I gained from my reading.

 

 

 

From the moment we become believers of Christ, it is to be seriously considered that we are created for His glory, praise, purpose and goals. During our life courses, it is highly recommendable that we should discipline ourselves to use means effectively and efficiently to fulfill the ends of Christ. However, instead of shaping ourselves into the straightforward way with the minimal means, we are inclined to fulfill ends of Jesus within means, which tempt us to have more and bigger. Unfortunately, it is easily seen that Christians experience the exchange of ends with means. By spiritual exercises such as observation of conscience, prayer, mental representation of biblical scriptures and voluntary determination of abandonment for affluent means of secular world, it is very likely that Christians can be away from being self-centered, which had long been deeply rooted.

                Struggle with particular sin or defect is related to the gradual decrease of strongholds Satan establishes within us. Despite the truth that perfect removal of them is impossible due to the innate sinful nature since the fall of Adam, the reduction of sinful force (p.49) should be established to certain degree which Christians can take advantageous steps during their spiritual journeys for the fulfillment of Jesus’ ends. Into the matter of whether the sinful realm increase or decrease, the analytical view on thoughts (p.50) is to be considered as the imperative element.

                In a metaphoric way, evil thoughts, while they are consistent and repetitive, can be interpreted as spiritual foods which energize strongholds of Satan to gain more grounds in us. When rejecting the sustenance of foods, one can shrink strength of demonic fortress toward being less powerful than the realm of Holy Spirit. This comment, “when the same evil thought comes to me and I resist it, and it returns again and again, but I continue to resist it until it is vanquished”(p, 50), emphasizes the value of disciplining our will in terms of spiritual warfare.

                In addition to this, the frequent observation of thoughts on an occasional basis is to be established along with the careful use of words and deeds. As an initial stage of spiritual exercises, the overcoming the habitual pattern of thoughts, words and deeds provides Christians with the springboard for different approaches to biblical description. Application of contemplative, imaginative and meditating skills into biblical scriptures seems less important if not accompanied by fruits of thoughts, words and deeds. And these outcomes obtained through spiritual discipline can be explained as spiritual muscles in a metaphorical way.

                By the time Christians acquire certain strength of spiritual muscles through struggle with sins and resistance of evil thoughts, Christians should make voluntary but determined decisions regarding secular means to achieve the ends of Jesus. Interestingly, it seems that the somewhat different approaches to biblical scriptures help people place the higher value on kingdom of God. Imaginative and contemplative way regarding some mysterious scenes such as “the Three Divine Persons seated on the royal throne of the Divine Majesty” and “Jerusalem VS Babylon”  (p. 70, 76). It is strongly believed that use of imagination and contemplation can be an effective tool for spiritual benefits. In the midst of contemplation on certain description of mysterious scenes such as angelic gatherings and heavenly counseling, Christians become inspired to acknowledge that secular means are less worthwhile than spiritual values. It is very likely that Christians can become immune to worldly means such as richness, marriage and power given as the form of blessing only to satisfy the ends of Jesus when inspired to understand fully mystery and wonder of spiritual realm. The depth of understanding on spiritual realities and experience of God’s glory can be the most passionate motivation booster in choosing voluntary poverty. The problem is that there are significantly many deceptions of demons in acknowledging the reality of spiritual realm.

                To me, it seems that contemplation and imagination can open doors for spirits so that they may pretend to be Holy Spirit. At this time, certain hallucination or experience of trance is often seen as the powerful weapon to hook Christians. Even if various approaches written in the documentation are considered as powerful method to motivate, it seems that Christians need to be very cautious, for it is not that easy to distinguish masquerading and deception from spirits. It is said that “The second occasion is present when one has developed a clear understanding and knowledge through the experience of consolation and desolation and the discernment of diverse spirits” (p, 84).

                It is believed that our various experiences of life issues fulfill the obvious purpose for which we are created and born into the world. Furthermore, it seems that focus on evil and Satan with the struggle of sin shifts to this concern; self-centered VS Christ-centered

                It is inferred that Ignatius had a very straightforward and passionate activist in terms of molding the faith. Based on the approach regarding all the attachments, (p. 78) it seems likely that lack of possession is more advantageous than affluence of secular means. It is very obvious that having less or the absence of possession does not necessarily mean being Christ-centered. But, Ignatius passionately supported that although it sounds somewhat radical, the simple design of life with dramatic abandonment of many attachments would please God. His attitude provides readers with brief picture of how the religious environment was. It is highly inferred that the interactive flow of knowledge, resources, education and finances is not established in the century where Ignatius was alive. From his perspective, he seems to have examined the occasional corruption of those who were endowed with the affluence of many things instead of experiencing generous provisions from people who had many things. Furthermore, a very restricted to access for various resources was so common that only elite group may enjoy the richness of resources.

                The mixture of societal situation and religious chaotic confrontation between Catholic and Protestantism were considered as the primary elements for Ignatius to emphasize the tolerance of poverty and contempt. If these attitudes came into existence due to the hatred against those who had much, the effort of being Christ-centered by following after the detachment of secular means can be demonstrated as one specific way of expressing the anger. However, if the detachment of secular means and emphasis of insufficient possession were established through spiritual discipline and observations regardless of social circumstances of the century, God would be pleasing with the behavioral patterns, which are highly favored in this spiritual exercise of Saint Ignatius.

                As Christians, it is very true that based on the reason for which we were created, we have to live. This is to live to serve Jesus, worship God, please the Lord and fulfill goals and purposes for which we are created. In order for us to satisfy these objectives, it is to be considered that we need to pursue for the ends of Jesus with the minimal means while we need to detach ourselves from many means which entangle us into being stuck. The radical abandonment of secular means and voluntary determination with satisfaction of minimal possession will help Christians flight away from self-centered and self-love mode. In recent Christianity of privileged countries, the bombardment of materialistic affluence affected significant numbers of Christians aversely. And instead of fulfilling the end of Jesus with minimal needs of daily life, achieving maximum secular means with minimal fulfillment of Jesus’ purposes seems to have been prevalent. Thus, the infiltration of unhealthy teachings and secular enlightenments into the theology has been seen as the form of either prosperous gospel or self-interest, which had long been lurking behind plausible teaching of Bible.

                In page 76 and 77 of documentation, there are description of Christ and Lucifer. And afterward, it is asserted that we need to encourage people to embrace poverty, contempt and humility rather than richness, worldly honor and pride. It is believed that there are connection between the truthful acknowledgement of the spiritual reality regarding what is going on among heavenly realms and mode of life. If we become deeply embedded with the depth of spiritual reality obtained through methodologies explained in the document, it would become rather easier for Christian to spontaneously choose minimal presence of secular means. Personally, it is challenging to abandon secular wealth while maintaining the status of becoming quite a good Christian. And exploring into the depth of my faith, what I figure out about myself really is embarrassing me. Shifting from being self-centered to being Christ-centered is harder than the way it looks. Although it can be interpreted as hallucinating moment or trance experience, it would become easier for me to live with minimal means when spiritual reality and real depth of understanding biblical scriptures are obtained in a phenomenal way during the use of imagination, contemplation and prayer.

                I would like to see the transformation of life mode from self-centered to Christ-centered.