INTERVIEW WITH DR. BETH STOVELL

Dr. Stovell also uses the term perichoresis here to say that when the Holy Spirit interacts with us, we are experiencing Jesus and God as well. The Trinity and how we interact with God as Father, Son, and Spirit is monumentally difficult for us to grasp. How do you do this in your own life? Is your tendency to think of them as separate individuals? Is there a way to correct this, or do you think we shouldn’t be overly concerned with figuring it out?
Have you considered before that you and the community you are part of a continuous flow from the book of Acts and Jesus’ own ministry?
Sometimes we put communal cultures on a pedestal as though they naturally carried each other’s burdens but Paul’s instructions in Romans 12 make it clear that’s not the case. It requires intentionality to care for others. In your mind, or on paper list the people you are caring for, who you have been weeping with or rejoicing with. How many of them are in your family, church family and friends or co-workers outside the church? Do you believe you are carrying too little, too much or about what you can handle?
Do you make a point of paying attention to the people in your church community, or a portion of it, and noticing their needs?
Is attentiveness or noticing enough? Praying for people? Short interactions expressing sympathy or encouragement? What is the appropriate level of caring when our church families are too large for deep relationships with everyone? What is helpful?

A Collective Culture