Mary Of Nazareth: Exemplar Of Biblical Spirituality -- By: Diane Stinton

Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 12:4 (Fall 1998)
Article: Mary Of Nazareth: Exemplar Of Biblical Spirituality
Author: Diane Stinton


Mary Of Nazareth:
Exemplar Of Biblical Spirituality

Diane Stinton

A graduate of the University of Calgary (B.A., B.Ed.) and Regent College (M. T.S.), Diane Stinton is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Edinburgh. She has also been a lecturer in biblical studies and served as a chaplain at Day star University in Nairobi, Kenya. An earlier version of this article was published in Alive to the Love of God (Vancouver Regent College Publishing, 1998).

Currently there is a cloud of confusion surrounding the subject of “spirituality.” From “creation spirituality” to “feminine spirituality” to “secular spirituality,” the proliferation of seminars, articles, and books attests to the burgeoning interest in this field. Perceptions of spirituality are often ill-conceived and indistinct. Furthermore, the means to spiritual growth presently advocated include deep breathing, Mongolian chanting, seeking jolts of psychic energy from crystals, and even donning a magnetic helmet which is claimed to induce “mystical states” on par with St. Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus.1 With the plethora of options available to explore spirituality, it is not surprising that confusion abounds both inside and outside the Church.

Consequently we need access to lives that are reliable and authentic in their experience of God, lives that will help to clarify this nebulous subject. In his presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Luke introduces certain individuals who responded appropriately to the revelation of God in Jesus. One such person was Mary of Nazareth. A closer look at a few familiar passages, the Annunciation and the Magnificat (Lk 1:26-56), reveals certain characteristics of biblical spirituality that are exemplified in Mary.

The Biblical Imperative

First, however, it is necessary to provide rationale for specifying “biblical spirituality,” given the smorgasbord of “spiritualities” offered within our consumer-crazed culture. The word “spirituality” is relatively recent, coming into vogue this century and these past few decades in particular. However, as its usage has become more popular, its meaning has become increasingly obscure. While the term is obviously derived from “spirit,” the primary focus is often placed on the human spirit rather than God’s Spirit. Hence “spirituality” becomes viewed as an “aspect of human nature,” like sexuality, which ought to be fostered to enhance personal fulfillment. For example Jonathon Porritt, director of Friends of the Earth and author of Seeing Green, defines “spiritual” as “that aspect of human nature that allows people to transcend the limitations of th...

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