Living Christianly

By Sylvia Walsh

Book Description

Sylvia Walsh invites readers into a profound exploration of what it truly means to live as a Christian in the modern world. Drawing from the philosophical insights of Søren Kierkegaard's later writings, this thoughtful examination reveals how authentic Christian existence operates through what Walsh identifies as an "inverse dialectic."

At the heart of this spiritual inquiry lies a compelling paradox: the negative aspects of Christian life are not obstacles to overcome, but essential pathways to genuine faith. Walsh carefully unpacks how experiences like recognizing our sinfulness, confronting the possibility of offense, embracing self-denial, and accepting suffering work in dynamic relationship with the positive dimensions of Christianity including faith, forgiveness, renewed life filled with love and hope, and the discovery of joy and consolation.

Through four detailed chapters, Walsh demonstrates how these seemingly opposing elements actually complement and strengthen each other in the Christian journey. Her central argument suggests that modern Christianity has largely overlooked these challenging negative qualifications, yet they remain crucial for understanding and experiencing the fullness of Christian existence.

This scholarly yet accessible work offers readers a framework for deeper spiritual reflection, challenging them to consider how embracing difficulty and paradox might actually lead to more authentic faith. Walsh provides both conceptual clarity and practical insight for those seeking to understand the complexities of living out Christian principles in contemporary life.