The Holy Spirit and Christian Spirituality

So recently I've been looking to get a biblically- and theologically-informed understanding of the Holy Spirit and Christian spirituality, and I've noticed that both the church as a whole and Lutheranism in particular don't have many resources on either that are primarily biblical or theological. Resources on the Holy Spirit and Christian spirituality tend to be the writings of mystics and practitioners (at best) and how-to guides of modern American evangelicalism (at worst).

The one Lutheran book I know of is Spiritus Creator, by Regin Prenter, which is a fairly dreadful read. It covers Luther's theory on the Holy Spirit before, during, and after the conflict with the Schwarmerei (Enthusiasts), but pretty much subsumes the doctrine of the Holy Spirit under the doctrines of the Word, Christ, the sacraments, and the church. I don't mean to say that the Spirit should be disconnected from those (anathema!), but it really seemed more like a justification for the historic Lutheran reticence to talk about the Spirit.

Outside of Lutheranism, I'm somewhat familiar with the theological and biblical works of Jurgen Moltmann, James D.G. Dunn, Gordon Fee, Veli-Matti Karkkainen, Yves Congar. To be honest, I've only really read Dunn (and though I'm on my third 1000-page book by him right now and he brings up Jesus' and early Christians' experience of the Spirit often, I haven't read his Jesus and the Spirit or his edited volumes, The Christ and the Spirit).

If you've read any of those works and have any comments, please feel free to share.

Has anyone else been wondering about or concerned about this?

Does anybody ever feel like they aren't properly engaged on a spiritual level during liturgy, prayer, or just during the day?

It seems like Pneumatology would be one of the classes one would take in seminary.

Found this if you read Spanish.

Biblioteca teológica Concordia: Pneumatología (Concordia Theological Library: Pneumatology)

Tangible said:

It seems like Pneumatology would be one of the classes one would take in seminary.

Found this if you read Spanish.

Biblioteca teológica Concordia: Pneumatología (Concordia Theological Library: Pneumatology)

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Systematics III covers Pneumatology, the sacraments, and the church, and was taught by the author of that book, Leo Sanchez. I honestly didn't get much out of it, though. He's the one who assigned Spiritus Creator. I'm interested in his interactions (as a Latino) with Latin American Pentecostalism, but we never much got into that in the class. And no, I don't currently read Spanish (though if my wife and I move to San Antonio, that could change in a hurry).

I think a point by point take-down of Pentecostal and Evangelical pneumatology would be a valuable resource, especially since many Lutheran laity have absorbed that kind of theology from the culture.

What about The Lutheran Difference? Are there any resources given as references there?

Spanish is the easiest second language to learn, and if you have any knowledge of Romance languages at all you're already halfway there.

Hi There,

I highly recommend "Lutheran Spirituality". It's a bit of a heavy read but I found it very interesting and gave me a deeper sense of my faith. It is like a course as you read on essay and then must do some 'homework'.

It is available from Concordia Publishing House.

I can recommend two books.

Berthold von Schenk, The Presence: An Approach to the Holy Communion (Concordia).

Bo Giertz, Christ's Church: Her Biblical Roots, Her Dramatic History, Her Saving Presence, Her Glorious Future (Resource Publications)

Has anyone here ever walked the labyrinth?

GratiaCorpusChristi said:

Has anyone here ever walked the labyrinth?

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Tangible said:

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Most terrifying part of the whole film.

GratiaCorpusChristi said:

Has anyone here ever walked the labyrinth?

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Yes at St John the Divine cathedral here in New York and on retreat. There's a Lutheran parish with a labyrinth that takes up the back half the nave and is walked/ prayed by individuals in various church groups.

Cool. There's been a furor recently about labyrinths in Facebook related to a book recommendation on the subject at Concordia Theology's website.