Abstract
Gary Tyra provides a practical and theologically sound perspective on spirituality in this volume. With the evidenced heart and experience of a pastor and professor, Tyra articulates a well-organized understanding of living a spiritually missioned life, not a spiritual life found in segments, but in the whole of life. He provides the reader with an understanding of spirituality rooted in Scripture and key writings on Christian spiritual formation. He sets up his readers to cultivate a lifestyle of faithfulness to the Lord. This book is part of the Foundations for Spirit-Filled Christianity series that provides biblical and practical understanding of spirituality and theology of interest in the Pentecostal and Charismatic fellowships with an inclusive focus for various Christian denominations and traditions.
This work is written for those who have a basic understanding of Scripture. Readers who have completed a New Testament survey course, either through a college course or Sunday School class will have a good foundation and be well-positioned to delve into this book. The volume could be used as a textbook in a college or institute course, the main text in Sunday School class or small group, or for personal study and growth. At the end of each chapter is a “Topics for Review” section, with four to six questions to help the reader revisit the key ideas. These questions are helpful for the individual reader to reflect and further engage with the content. These questions could also be used by a professor, teacher, or small group leader to promote class discussion in a face-to-face college course, a Sunday School class, or a small group. The questions could also be used to promote engagement and reflection on the text in an online course discussion board/forum.
Tyra notes that the Apostle Paul as one of his mentors (127), which is evident by his comprehensive explanation of Pauline theology and practices regarding spirituality. Tyra’s overarching theme in this book is “the cultivation of a biblically informed Christian spirituality” (4). He provides a thorough biblical explanation of spirituality as well as a comprehensive synthesis of many individuals whose writings have provided practical and theological implications for a life of faithfulness. Tyra does this work in three sections: the convictions or roots of Christian Life Spirituality, the commitments or shoots of the Christian Lifestyle, and concludes with the customs or fruit of Christian Lifestyle Spirituality.
In the first section, the Convictions or Roots, Tyra provides the theological foundation for lifestyle spirituality. He references several passages of Scripture from Pauline literature to guide the reader through an understanding of a “Spirit-enabled mindset that is necessary for Christ followers to live in a way that pleases God” (8) and frequently notes Paul’s admonition to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22). Tyra notes three key characteristics of God, charity, sanctity, and missionality, that communicate the relational nature of God with humanity. He explains “I-Thou” spirituality, rooted in the work of Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, as “a relation of subject to subject, while ‘I’-It’ is a relation of subject to object. Most basically, this means in an ‘I-Thou’ relation I recognize the other as a whole, complex, wonder-filled personal being I can never fully comprehend much less manage or control. It is a relation of profound respect and is earmarked by humility and, hopefully, love. An ‘I-It’ relation differs greatly. Here I am not interacting with a whole, complex, personal being, but a thing-something I can deconstruct, analyze, comprehend, master, control” (25).
Tyra continues with the Commitments or Shoots of Christian Lifestyle Spirituality, with a readable synthesis of the role of the Spirit in the life of the believer. Again, referencing Paul’s practices and writings about the work of the Spirit in his own spiritual growth, Tyra explains that “stand firming in Christ is God’s doing rather than ours” (64) and “that God does this work through the enabling work of the Holy Spirit” (64). Tyra further explains that the Spirit does the initial work as well as the on-going work to spiritually form us. He notes “the need for some ongoing surrender and cooperation on the part of the disciple with respect to the work of the Spirit” (65). He also details the need for a mentoring relationship with Jesus and notes key Pauline passages as well as classic Christian works like Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God. Tyra concludes this section by elaborating on missional spirituality that is multi-faceted, meaning, growing in one’s relationship with Christ involves both a relationship with Jesus and caring for one’s neighbor and that the pursuit of justice in one’s community is part of putting one’s belief in Jesus into action. In a holistic pursuit of spiritual faithfulness, one will fully live out the calling as a Christ follower.
In the last section, Tyra examines some practices or customs of spiritual faithfulness that will exhibit the fruit of “keeping in step with the Spirit” (see Galatians 5). He begins this section with a methodical chapter on living out “praying without ceasing”. He begins with practical tips on acknowledging the Spirit each day and surrendering to His leading. In the latter half of the chapter, he provides a theological and scientific understanding of glossolalia or praying in tongues. He provides a scriptural foundation for this practice and continues with neurological studies of brain imaging from the Center for Spirituality and the Mind at the University of Pennsylvania. Interestingly, individuals in the study who were mediating had increased activity in their frontal lobes, but individuals who were speaking in tongues, there was a decrease in frontal lobe activity and the language center of the brain was not activated. “This too makes sense, they say, because while speaking in tongues involves relinquishing control, it does not entail an experience of dissociation (a tracelike state)” (120), but rather a connection with God. He continues that as individuals pray in tongues, they are indicating their “belief in and sense of connection with God or strengthens this sense of intimacy-or both” (120).
Tyra continues with the customs of spiritual faithfulness, with a deep practice of abiding in Christ as “a lifelong journey that must be eased into rather than rushed, and enjoyed rather than endured” (142). He culminates the volume with how to share one’s faith by a gracious attitude toward others, empathetic listening, and conversations that work through misconceptions about the Gospel. He also articulates the need to include those who have not made a formal commitment to Christ as allowed to belong in the faith community so that they can experience Christ by being around His followers.
This work provides the reader and/or student with a solid biblical understanding of spirituality, the beliefs that will guide and sustain a life of Christian growth, and practices to continue a cultivation of spiritual development. True to the mission of the Foundations for Spirit-Filled Christianity book series, topics of interest in the Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions with applicability to the larger Church, this work includes a spirit-filled theology integrated with a thorough biblical and historical understanding of Christian spirituality. Although this book could be read and studied alone, college professors, teachers, and ministry leaders will find this volume to be helpful in developing those they teach, serve, and lead in the academic and practical aspects of discipleship.