On Friday Apr 25 and Sat Apr 26, Jack Stapleton, Guardian of the Aidan Trust in the US, spoke at Bethany Community Church in the Greenlake neighborhood of Seattle. He spoke on the topic of “Living by a Way of Life”.
Introduction
Jack Stapleton began the evening by telling his story: impacted in 1967 by the Jesus Movement and by David Wilkerson’s book Cross and the Switchblade, he began his faith life with charismatic experience and evangelical experience. He then discovered the incarnational tradition (the sacramental church). Then somebody bought him a subscription to Sojourners magazine, which showed him the prophetic tradition (social justice). Then he discovered the contemplative tradition. All wonderful pieces, but all clearly from one source.
He found a spiritual director. He hooked up with the Third Order of the Society of St. Francis and established a personal Rule of Life, which for him was complete but was stifling.
He then went to a weekend retreat abut Celtic Christianity. There he discovered the Order of St. Aidan (now Aidan and Hilda), and the 10 elements of their Way of Life. He loved them, found them freeing. In this Way he found all the traditions he had experienced, all woven together. The Christian experience has been unbiblically separated; this is a way to “restore the woven cord”, as the book written by Ray Simpson is titled.
This life of faith has to be lived completely. You don’t have (get) to pick and choose.
Jack references Richard Foster’s book, Streams of Living Water (he also has with him Dallas Willard, The Great Omission).
But this doesn’t work on your own! Discipleship is community based.
Here’s a fantastic quote from Jack:
“You cannot grow in Christ if you are not close enough to step on each other’s feet.”
About Ways of Life
Human beings like routine. Who set up your routine? Was it intentional, or did you just stumble into it?
Your Way of Life is a 7-day Way of Life. But who set it up and where is it taking you? At what point did you ask God about the shape of your life and how you should choose things?
In choosing to establish a Way of Life, you have to begin where you are, not where you hope to end up. Not where you think you have to be, but where you actually are.
Theses:
- Every life has a way of life, chosen and unchosen.
- A quote:
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The life of a person who doesn’t choose a way of life is like a boat on the bay without rudder, sail or paddle. You can’t really choose where you’re going to end up. What I’ve noticed about Christian lives and Christian communities is that we’re like a piece of driftwood.
- Whose image do we bear?
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We are to be a people who reflect the character of Jesus through the prism of our unique personality
There must be a journey here.
During a 15-minute break, consider these 3 questions:
- What’s your way of life (your everyday system)?
- How did it happen; who chose it?
- Whose values does my life represent?
After break:
The story in Genesis of the fall of humanity after the forbidden fruit is eaten:
- Relationship with God is broken (fear)
- Relationship with self is broken (shame)
- Relationship with others is broken (blame)
- Relationship with creation is broken (curse)
Note this: The earth did not fall in that Genesis story. Creation did not fall. It is still good. Our relationship with the earth fell. The earth is under the control of crazy people.
Find a better way of live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Find a community that will enable you. That’s difficult, because you spend more time at work than with your church, your friends, your family.
Q: How can you be agents of change?
A: Live by an intentional, prayerfully considered, group – discerned Way of Life. But not alone.
pat loughery 
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