The Mark of a Deviant

From “The Incarnation of Thomas Merton” by Charles E. Kinzie:

Perhaps the peculiar mark of the modern saint is that he or she faces the crisis [the crisis that forms our existence] in his or her own life, and is therefore driven at least by the desire to experience Christianity in a pristine form beyond the decaying cultural forms that no longer serve to bring us to conversation. There is about such a life a minimum of self-betrayal.

I was fortunate to come across this passage today. I had to read it multiple times before the, “wow!” kicked in. It describes, in two sentences, the mark of a deviant.

A deviant knows that there is cultural baggage that needs to be shed in order to experience the fullness of God in the person of Christ

A deviant is always looking to rid herself of those beliefs which no longer bring her closer to Christ, but limit her ability to see him.

A deviant knows that what meets the eye isn’t the last step in reality.

A deviant is looking to live according to Spirit-led promptings, not rule-bound religion.

A deviant is so undeniably firm in their “non-negotiables” that he is willing and able to enter into discussion with those who don’t believe the same way he does.

A deviant knows what they believe–but more importantly why and how they came to believe it.

This is the life of a deviant. Is that you?

Discuss.