Kempis "The Imitation of Christ"

Tomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ

Thesis: Educated by the disciples of Groote during the spiritual reformation period known as the New Devotion, Thomas a Kempis reveals the character of the period in his work, The Imitation of Christ, which stresses practical Christian spirituality.

· When man began adhering to vanities and knowledge rather than spiritual grace, Kempis preached to his religious followers to imitate the life of Christ and despise all vanities on earth.

o To understand and enjoy the words and teachings of Christ, one must strive to conform his whole life to Him

§ Many people have little desire to gain knowledge about the Gospel because they lack the spirit of Christ

§ To follow the Lord and “not walk in the darkness” in order to receive enlightenment and freedom from all pride of the heart, we must adhere to God’s way of life

o Disposing of vanities except loving of God and the serving of God include:

§ To court honor and excel with pride

§ To follow desires of the body and lust for things which deserve severe punishment later

§ To wish for long life rather than well-spent life

§ To be concerned with present only and not make provisions for things to come

§ To love what passes quickly and not look ahead where eternal joy resides

o One must “try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible, for they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.”

o One must shun knowledge and accept that God is all powerful and honorable and will satisfy your soul for you

§ “Many words [from your vast knowledge] do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mid and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God.”

§ Therefore, be humble in your life for you are always in the presence of God à never be proud of your skill, rather fear God because of the talent given to you

· For “All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself.”

§ A humble person who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul in order to study or led a purely secular life

§ However, if you wish to learn, learn how to be unknown and love to be unknown and become devout within the spiritual community without adhering to worldly obsessions or ideas