Christian Proficiency

by Martin Thornton

Books are rarely written for Christians "proficient" in spirituality--those who are neither beginners nor advanced in their lives of prayer. Finally back in print, Christian Proficiency is a valuable handbook to those laypersons that have reached that point in their development where they need guidance and direction to make further progress in their spiritual proficiency. Martin Thornton offers articulate insights Developing a discipline of spirituality, a rule of life as a framework for prayer Choosing a confessor The pitfalls of aridity, distraction, and the problem of being over-scrupulous The "mechanics" of prayer Essential terms in spirituality (see the Glossary in the back of the book) The crucial importance of spiritual direction Making retreats

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Prayer, Theology, Spirituality

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Timothy Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It is curious that the man who sticks to his job in illness, the sportsman who carries on in pain, the soldier who remains at his post in spite of wounds, are all subjects of admiration. None are doing brilliantly well but they are showing courage and stamina; we admire them in their hardship cheerfully borne, in their sinking of self-interest for the common good. Yet if we continue with our prayer when it is dull and arid, we are 'insincere.' If we assist at worship when we are ill, tired, and distracted, we are 'irreverent,' and when a man under intense temptation struggles, falls, confesses; struggles, falls, confesses, over and over again without despair, then he is a 'hypocrite.' Quite independent of interest or enthusiasm, work can be done efficiently, and prayer is work, vocation is the call to a job, conversion and Baptism imply not so much psychological experience as professional status."

A recommendation from my priest, and a very helpful bit of work. Its more technical points were helpful as I continue to better understand the doctrine of my Anglo-Catholic church, but I was primarily struck and encouraged by such tidbits of pragmatic wisdom as the one quoted above.

"'Supposing I leave something out by accident, or my confession seems afterwards to have been inadequate, and I do not feel forgiven?' Your feelings cannot make the remotest bit of difference to a positive act of God, nor can any mistake the priest might make. God knows all about human effort, and he does not make rash promises and fail to keep them."

[David Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Meanwhile, for the rest of us, serious training and slow struggle, not brilliance but stamina, is God’s chosen way.”

Super duper close to 5 stars. If Goodreads were like Letterboxd this would be one of those 4.5s.

[Mark]

In brief, I would recommend this book.

But to be more wordy, I would only recommend it to those who are either Anglican, Catholic, or who are more than willing to struggle through terms that are from those worlds--terms with which I have been (and continue to be) largely unfamiliar. If you are able to get around the Anglican-specific terminology, I do think you will find many gems herein.

M

[Darren Maxfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

I spent a fair amount of time while reading this book trying to decide if I was going to finish it. Ch. 13 was the best chapter in the book so I’m glad I did. But it was a bit of a roller coaster ride.

[David Jamison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as helpful as I had hoped

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably, in retrospect, the best introduction to Thornton, because it is focused on what he believes the Christian striving for spiritual maturity should actually do. In a word: Pray. More specifically: pray with Scripture, pray by taking Communion, pray by colloquy with God—all with a clear structure in place to keep you consistent, as in athletic training (the root of askesis), and a spiritual director to help you modify your training plan as needed. The point is not to kill off spontaneity, but to create the conditions where spontaneous and creative prayer can thrive sustainably.

On reread, I would bump this up a star. When I first read it eight years ago, in the wake of Spiritual Direction and English Spirituality, I found it a bit redundant to them. They were addressed to directors; this one, to directees. Why not read the specialist text and be done? Now, with more life and a lot more humility, I can see how many profitable lessons there are here for me and my prayer life.

For instance: A point Thornton makes throughout his work is that the measure of our spiritual growth is whether we are sinning less often. It follows that we cannot measure progress (or regression!) unless we are regularly and specifically confessing our sins, preferably to someone else whom we trust to keep track of how that is going. Suffice it to say, I was convicted by this reminder.

Thornton is very English, very much of his time (mid-C20), and very, very much an Anglo-Catholic. I would still recommend much of what's here to Protestants, whether Anglican or otherwise, as a possible guide to the elements of a structured, intentional prayer life.

[FatherSwithin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on living the Christian life as a life of prayer. Definite Anglican perspective and respect for the Daily Office and the Eucharist. If you want to make progress as a Christian, this book is a very good starting point.

[Caden Cramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best intro to ascetical theology in the Anglican tradition. Must read

[Allan Savage]

Like his English Spirituality, this book, Christian Proficiency is written for the English context but is capable of speaking to Christians everywhere. Thornton acknowledges that certain literary accommodations have been made for North American readers in the Morehouse-Gorham edition (1959). These accommodations do not alter the book's premises and this review is based on that edition. Thornton reverses the perspective of his writing in this book compared to his approach in Pastoral Theology: A Reorientation (1958). Christian Proficiency is addressed to the faithful laity, not to clergy and theological students. Thornton warns of a lay tendency to over-rate devotion in the Christian life which takes on the character of a particular age and culture. What is needed currently is a pastoral theology not a devotional theology. In typical English fashion, he writes: "My assumption is that the faithful, the serious but perfectly 'ordinary' Christian to whom I write, does not want to be particularly 'pious' or 'devout' or even vaguely 'good': he wants to be efficient." This is truly a pastoral (practical) book for developing the spirituality of a Christian life. It is a prayer book, not a book on praying. Engaging and digesting the content of this book illustrates how secular and pseudo-prayerful our present Christian thinking has become. The book contains a valuable theological glossary which lists 200 entries succinctly and clearly.

[Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written from a traditional Anglican orthodox viewpoint. Author Thornton advocates for a personal adoption of a Rule for ones own life. (Not meant for monastics; meant to be read by the rest of us.)

If we profess to be Christians why not work at your faith to improve it and become more effective in your personal life?

Several of my favorite lines from the book . . .

(1) "Prayer is a positive adventure not a negative duty." From page 42.

(2) "This [recollection] is the state of permanent God-centredness [sic] wherein the presence of God is known, felt, or realized continuously and without major interruption." From page 59.

(3) "Whether or not we believe it, or even know of it, God is the ground of our being. The Incarnation and Atonement are objective-ontological-truths quite independent of their acceptance by us or anyone else." From page 131.

A treasure chest of mature insight about improving your daily walk with Jesus Christ. Get it and read it to advance your journey.

[Joanna Hazelden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was dense and I was glad to read it with a weekly book group. The ideas were simpler than I realized at first-basically instruction to become a commonsense, practical member of your parish and the wider church. It convinced me to continue the Morning Office (podcast) with Revd Catherine Williams from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire which has been rewarding. The book also clarified the purpose of a formal confession and the importance of further study. The language is a little formal for casual reading, but worth the extra time and effort.

[Chris Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I have tried to show, at considerable length and in much detail, how this theology finds practical expression in the Office objectively "given" to God Almighty, the Eucharist centred upon Our Lord Jesus Christ, and private prayer inspired by the Holy Ghost. And it follows that the three parts of this framework-Office, Mass, private prayer-are as indissociable one from another as the three Persons of the Trinity himself.”- Fr Martin Thornton

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thornton is becoming one of my favorite spiritual writers. If you doubt there can be a distinctively Anglican approach to spirituality, one that neither slavishly imitates post-Tridentine Rome or caves to essentially Protestant modes, I think Thornton makes the strongest case for it. Many excellent practical chapters on prayer and spiritual direction.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real perspective shift for me regarding the practice of ministry, the life of prayer, and the disciplines of the Christian life. I’m grateful for an Anglican perspective and history that was previously foreign to me.

[Joel Zartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thornton has wit and insight, so that reading him is never tedious and always illuminating. Not being an Anglican, I don't follow him in all, but he has a way of inspiring with his detailed practicalities and panoramic visions.

[Br. Thanasi (Thomas) Stama · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very dated and obtuse discussion about theology and monastics. There are some pearls within this volume but are they worth the time and effort?

[Jason Stehly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Left me a little baffled. Perhaps I am not yet proficient?

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely and totally magnificent :’)

[Russeller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource. Plan to use it for my adult ed classes at church.