A Church Fully Alive

How do we understand what it is to live life to the fullest--spiritually and as a Church fully alive? St. Irenaeus of Lyons an early 2nd century spiritual guide wanted to nurture true spiritual community for those who wanted to be fully alive as human beings. But he suggested to do so--we must combine two elements: a supportive communal ethic that is nurtured in the Divine Presence or Spirit. He called it a 'rule of life' and it sought to foster a life paradigm of growth as a 'faith community'. After looking at the historical and theological influences on St. Irenaeus we will examine ways that his approach can help us explore this life affirming spiritual model as a modern example of 'praxis faith-lifestyle' that leads to authentic and enriching church community.