Journal of Spirituality and Practical Theology

The Concept of Humility According to St. Isaac the Syrian: Adoption, Perfection, and Repentance

Hendi — 2024-08-21

The virtue of humility, as espoused by both Old Testament prophets and Jesus in the New Testament, is not merely a commendable personal quality; rather, it can be experienced as a profound spiritual state. St. Isaac the Syrian articulates three key concepts of humility that elucidate its connection to spiritual experience, which are applicable to both laypersons and church leaders. Firstly, humility enables the individual to be adopted by God as His child, thereby suggesting that humans, through humility, can participate in the divine nature when united with God in eternity. Secondly, humility functions as a conduit for the perfection of the soul. Those who achieve spiritual perfection do so through the virtue of humility, which shapes their attitude towards worldly pleasures and desires, aligning them more closely with the love of God and the pursuit of eternal values. Finally, humility is a crucial element in the process of repentance. Genuine repentance, characterised by the acknowledgement and remorse of one's sins, is grounded in humility. This humility cultivates a profound sense of gratitude for God's grace and mercy, enabling individuals to recognise their vulnerabilities and seek divine guidance. Consequently, humility not only facilitates personal spiritual growth but also reinforces one's relationship with God.

Konsep Doa Yesus Menurut Kallistos Ware: Sebuah Doa Yang Mencapai Kesempurnaan

Chrisnatalia Hia — 2024-08-21

Prayer is an important aspect of human life, especially Christians. However, sometimes people pray when they are in trouble and suffering from what they are experiencing and then they need God in their lives. For this reason, the aim of the research is to explain the true power of the Jesus puja prayer and why this prayer has become an important part of Christian life based on the book written by Kallistos Ware from Diokleia. The method used by the author in this research is a literature study with a descriptive qualitative approach where the book "The Power of the Name of the Jesus Prayer in Orthodox Spirituality" is the most important book in this research. The author also collaborates with other sources such as journals, the Bible and the writings of the church fathers. The results of this research show that the Jesus puja prayer can be used anytime and anywhere or in situations that are not possible for someone, and this prayer can also help people to establish good communication with God, so that the relationship between humans and God remaining firm in faith that achieves salvation and likeness to God or achieves theosis.

Mistikus Cinta dalam Sejarah Gereja: Sebuah Apresiasi Kritis bagi Spiritualitas yang Dinamis

Paulus Dimas Prabowo — 2024-08-21

Protestantism is considered a movement for the desacralization of Christianity which tends to prioritize doctrinal knowledge over spiritual experience. In fact, the Protestant Christian movement is seen as the fruit of the Enlightenment era. In fact, the aspect of affection or feeling does not have a place in this tradition, let alone spirituality and mysticism. The term 'mysticism' is even considered something evil. However, history seems to be filled with church mystics, some of whom influenced the thinking of the reformers. Those who understand the theology of mystical love are recorded as having a very deep experience of faith with God. This article seeks to provide a critical appreciation of the mysticism of love in church history and how this understanding contributes to the spirituality of Christians today. The method used is literature study, involving primary and secondary sources. The results show that some of the thoughts of the mystics of love can be applied today in the Protestant tradition, including Evangelicalism, and some cannot.

Konflik Israel-Palestina: Bagaimana Seharusnya Gereja Bersikap?

Ragil Kristiawan — 2024-08-21

The protracted conflict between Israel and Palestine has made countries take a stance on it. Countries with a majority Muslim population will be inclined to support Palestine. In contrast, countries with a majority Christian population will tend to favor Israel because its name is often mentioned in the Bible. This research seeks to find answers about how the church should behave in response to this conflict. Using the qualitative method of literature study, a single conclusion was reached that the church should be neutral in this conflict. The church's main call is not to get involved in the political feud between Israel and Palestine. Four main reasons why the church should be neutral on this conflict. First, Contemporary Israel is very different from the Israel of the OT in that it still rejects Jesus Christ as the Messiah today. Second, there are often misinterpretations of Genesis 12:3 especially in terms of blessing or condemning Israel and the blessings that come with it. Third, the truth exalts the status of the nation, but sin is the taint of the nation. The high degree of the nation is produced from how much truth is held by the nation. Defending Israel or defending Palestine does not make the church full of God's blessings. Fourth, God loves the nations very much. Just as God loves Israel, so He loves Palestine. Praying for peace between Israel and Palestine is the right step in accordance with God's heart.

Toleransi Umat Beragama Dalam Tantangan Post Modern Di Sekolah Menengah Pertama

Endik Firmansah — 2024-08-21

This study examines religious tolerance in a post-modern context at Sei Menggaris State Junior High School 2. This research examines how students, teachers and school policies play a role in promoting religious harmony amidst the challenges of the post-modern era. This study also explores the main challenges faced and effective strategies for strengthening religious tolerance in the school environment. This research uses a qualitative approach to understand the dynamics of religious tolerance at Sei Menggaris 2 State Junior High School. A qualitative approach was chosen because it allows researchers to explore an in-depth understanding of the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of students and teachers regarding religious tolerance. With this method, if the right policies, inclusive education and support from all communities in schools are produced, inter-religious harmony can be realized even in the midst of post-modern challenges.