Sacred Pathways Gary Thomas Analysis

There are some Christians who can easily spend hours of quiet time in contemplative prayer. Being around them, it can be easy to covet the way they do things. Nevertheless, we are not meant to covet each other’s paths to finding God. We are all created differently. Also, we will seek and find God in various and different ways. We are hardwired to love God. There is no one formula of what loving our heavenly father should look like. Gary Thomas unpacks this much debated topic in his book Sacred Pathways. Thomas unfolds nine specific spiritual temperaments. He elaborates on what it means to be a naturalist, sensate, traditionalist, ascetic, activist, caregiver, an enthusiast, a contemplative, and an intellectual. Each chapter goes in depth on …show more content…
Perhaps the most known to the outside Christian world, traditionalists love God through ritual and symbols. Their faith is fed by historical dimensions and the studying of history. They take great delight in rituals, symbols, sacraments, and sacrifice. They live a disciplined life and an extremely disciplined faith. Some outside of this traditionalist view, may think that this is legalistic. However, like all matters of the faith, it is the heart that must be considered. The same is true for those who think traditionalists view God as more of a religion and not a relationship. For some, the acts and practices of religion may be what fuels the relationship that they have with Christ. On the downside, rituals can become meaningless and repetitive. Traditionalists must constantly evaluate their motives and ensure that their heart is in the right place. Traditionalists also may be wary of thinking that other forms of worship may seem "wrong.” For a traditionalist, it is wise to set a regular time and place to meet with God every …show more content…
Contemplatives enjoy loving God through adoration. They refer to God as their lever or bridegroom. They seek to love God with the deepest and most intimate love imaginable. They desire privacy and a quiet atmosphere to gaze upon the face of our heavenly father. They strive to give themselves over wholly and completely to God. They must go beyond meditation and strive for an alignment of will and obedience to Christ. Contemplatives may benefit by carrying a pocket piece to always have something to remind them of their wonderful creator.
The final spiritual temperament that is covered, is the intellectual. Intellectuals love God with their minds. They are likely to be found studying and in deep emersion of the history of God 's people. Their hearts become awake when they understand something new about God and His ways. They remind us of the high calling of loving God with our minds. While some may not view the sermon as a part of the worship service, intellectuals may view this is the most worshipful part of the service. They fulfill scripture by seeking out wisdom and