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Streaming In?

Streaming In?

Why did people "stream up" to Irish monasteries?

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORDshall be established as the highest of the mountains...and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD...that he may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths.”

  - Micah 4.1, 2

Here then the excellent man began to build a monastery. At the news of this people streamed in from all directions in order to consecrate themselves to the practice of religion, so that the large number of monks scarcely had sufficient room. The children of nobles strove to come thither; despising the spurned trappings of the world and the pomp of present wealth, they sought eternal rewards.

  - Jonas, Life of St. Columban, Italian, 7th century

Columbanus’ reputation for boldness, fairness, brilliance, wit, courage, and uncompromised conviction spread rapidly throughout Gaul.

That’s because he, and his twelve companions, went regularly among the people of Gaul, showing them a quality of Christian life they’d never seen before, and proclaiming a Gospel that demanded everything of them – all their lives, all the time – and promised eternal joy and glory, beginning now.

By the time they finished building their first monastery at Anegray, there was need of a second, which they constructed at Luxeuil – and it was over-occupied before it was finished. People literally, as Jonas explained, “streamed up” to these centers of spiritual vitality in order to know the “eternal rewards” of the life of faith.

People are drawn to holiness, earnest spirituality, reverence, courageous adventuring for Christ, and the lifestyle of humble service and simple obedience. People still respond to the Gospel of the Kingdom when it’s explained to them personally, meaningfully, and in terms of its demands and promise.

That we don’t believe these things today is evident from the fact that we try everything else to attract people to us besides the things Columbanus did so well. The people of his day fled the corrupt and self-indulgent culture which they knew was destroying them to find life and meaning amid the austere but loving and devoted environs of a Celtic monastery. 

They came to the monasteries because they had witnessed and heard the promise of the Kingdom by those from the monasteries who came among them.

In other words, Personal Mission Field, Celtic style.

Today we dress our churches up in the culture of the corrupt and dying world in the hopes that those folks out there who seem to love everything hip and pop and casual and entertaining and focused on me will feel right at home in our churches.

And, not surprisingly they do – for now.

But the jury is still out on the contemporary church and its eager embrace of all things sizzling and secular.

Micah foresaw a day when people would stream into the church from all quarters. Why? “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Mic. 4.2).

“The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life” (Jn. 6.63). Live the Word, proclaim the Word, bring the Word to bear on every aspect of life and culture until the corruption and decrepitude of our day stand out in all their embarrassing ugliness. Do so every day, making the most of every opportunity, then see if earnest, seeking people don’t flock to Anegray and Luxeuil once again.

Psalm 72.7, 8, 16, 17 (Martyrdom: “Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed?)
Let righteousness abundant be where Jesus’ reign endures;
Let peace increase from sea to sea ‘til moonlight shall be no more.

And let the earth abound with grain, let fields His fame proclaim;
And may our King forever reign and nations bless His great Name.

Lord, what does this mean? I don’t see people streaming up to the churches of the land. Are we – am I – missing something?

The Celtic Revival began with Patrick

This spring we will be featuring the writings of Patrick in our Scriptorium column (we’ll return to the present theme a bit later). You won’t want to miss a single weekly installment in this exciting, first-person narrative of one man’s devotion to his Personal Mission Field and how God used him to “save civilization” (in the memorable words of Thomas Cahill). Besides, imagine how clever you’ll be on March 17 to be able to talk intelligently about the man whose memory is routinely abused on that important day. Here’s grist for many good conversations during this month, and we’re praying you’ll make the most of them. We’d like to send you a copy of The Legacy of Patrick, which provides an overview of Patrick’s life and work and shows how his faithfulness led to nearly four centuries of revival, renewal, and awakening throughout Ireland and Europe. For your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe this month, in any amount, we’ll send you a copy of The Legacy of Patrick. Use the donate button here or at the website, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452. Or you can order The Legacy of Patrick and a copy for your pastor or a pastor friend, by visiting our online bookstore.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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