Kenneth Leech (1939–2015)

I retrieved from an inconspicuous corner of my library Kenneth Leech’s “Soul Friend”, a book purchased some 30 years ago. Its title suddenly became captivating, although it might well be the same captivation that prompted my initial acquisition. I mean, who doesn’t yearn for a friend that touches the soul, or belongs to that intimate part of oneself?

The subtitle of Leech book says “The Practice of Christian Spirituality”, a subject so vast and the practice so diverse that one show more wonders how the author can give them justice in barely over 200 pages. It turns out Leech focuses only on some specific areas of Christian spirituality, namely, spiritual direction, prayer, and an interesting appendix on the sacrament of reconciliation or confession.

Given my background as an evangelical Protestant living in 21st century North America, these topics sound immediately as rarity in our vernacular. Of course, one hears of the admonition to pray every now and then in our Christian circles, maybe even some quasi-theologies on reconciliation are propounded from time to time. But the deep spiritual disciplines Leech refers to in this book has long been abandoned practically by our “hot-tub” religion, to use J.I. Packer’s term. In our eagerness to maintain a “theological purity”, many evangelical Christians have repudiated the richness and learning of 20 centuries’ Church history and traditions. Such shallowness pervades in our worship (few refers to liturgy anymore), arts, conversations, and, yes, spirituality.

Leech covers in the initial chapters the practices of spiritual direction in various traditions; from the Desert fathers, monastics, to some modern practitioners. The vastness of the topic has probably prevented Leech from going into details of each tradition; the mere telling of the history seems monotonous at times to this reader. The contents get distinctly livelier in Chapter 5 when Leech embarks on the practice of the life of prayer. Here the readers may get practical advices on overcoming some barriers in prayer.

It is the appendix on the sacrament of reconciliation that left me an indelible notion with the book. Although theologically the confessional as a sacrament to me remains disagreeable, the social dimension and psychological impact of Christians confessing in private and in the congregation cannot be gainsaid. One could only bemoan with those Christians who in their gatherings have lost the authenticity and healing that can only be obtained in publicly confessing to each other and by receiving the absolution from Christ whose propitiatory death grants us peace. show less

Sol Friend examines the concept of spiritual guidance in the Christian tradition from the Desert Fathers to the more recent thinking of the Roman Catholic Church, and relates it to the contemporary quest for spirituality. This superbly unitive study, which is sympathetic to all traditions, aware of psychology without making theology a slave, strikes a proper balance between the mystical and the prophetic, and above all, his radiant with the gentleness of Christ.

This is a great book. As in Soul Friend Kenneth Leech brings the Christian tradition to bear upon the spiritual life. Here he explores the life of prayer within the framework of the Lord's prayer. He doesn't strictly exegete Jesus' prayer, but rather uses it as a spring board to discuss related issues. As such, his chapters are at times a rambling romp through various issues. I think this book could be tighter in its organization but Leech is deep waters and well worth working through.

Leech is the rare animal who can do good theology and good spirituality. In fact, he sees little difference between the two. I wish I had found this book in seminary. I would have gotten more out of the theology I was studying at the time.

Leech goes over several ancient themes, which he updates, and he does a good job or lending theological as well as spiritual understanding of the Christian faith.

I wish more people would read this book. Non-theologians would benefit by his emphasis on show more theology, and theologian would benefit by how he makes theology practical for the practicing Christian. show less