The move from the socialized mind to the self authoring mind might well be characterized by the move from being told what to see, believe and how to fit in, to how to see, come to your own conclusions and what what it means to be an interdependent individual. (have you gotten his book yet?)
The question I think facing the church as we head into the second decade of this millennium is whether or not we are comfortable with facilitating peoples journeys within the context of community or whether we are more concerned to create cookie cutter clones who believe the same thing, quote the same verses, have the same views on the Left Behind series, homosexuality, politics, woman’s role in marriage and church and genetic engineering.
Interestingly, thank goodness, there are well meaning, well studied, well informed, spirituality mature Christ-followers that hold different positions on each of the above. Differences like these illustrate the “believe” component of our Christianity is far more complex and nuanced than those committed to the socialized mind are willing to admit, nor can they admit it. The socialized mind only has one position, one mold, one framework. Conform or else.
Spirituality isn’t about believing, nor is transformation. Spirituality is about seeing. Seeing from a bigger mind, not the little ego and seeing a bigger reality not the visible little world in which we all often get caught up. When we see from a different place, I would call this the shift from ego to imago (imago dei, the image of God in us) we can for the first time see the world, truth, and reality is more variegated, hued, textured than our monolithic and monochrome perspective had allowed.
When that shift happens the journey begins. When that shift happens an enlightenment roots and the eyes of our heart see a new world.
