A number of years ago, I came across the phrase, the inward journey and the outward journey of faith. Many of my friends use this phrase and most credit the folks at The Church of the Savior in Washington DC with using the phrase first. The life of faith involves an inward journey toward God and the outward journey toward neighbors and into the world.
Similarly, Jesus responded to questions about the law of God by saying all the commandments could be summarized by two: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. In the Bible we read this verse, "For anyone who does not love his brother [or sister], whom he [or she] has seen, cannot love God, whom he [or she] has not seen." (1 John 4:20b, NIV)
But it is a constant struggle for most Christians to find the balance between the inward journey and the outward journey. In fact, congregations tend to lean toward one favoring one over the other. Too often congregations emphasize the inward journey. These folks tend to believe that if you focus on the inward journey mission will flow from that connection. But, that it is not the case. We have to be intentional about prayer and mission, worship and mission and the inward journey and mission.
We cannot just assume the outward journey will automatically follow intentional inward practices. Recently I encouraged my congregation to find a balance between the inward and outward journeys. In response, someone said to me later, "Rather than finding a balance, I like to think of giving 100% to both!" I like that enthusiasm. Loving God and loving neighbgor go together. The inward journey and the outward journey are essential to the life of faith.
