Why Eric Butterworth’s Ministry Was Successful
Hi Friends -
Have you ever wondered how Eric Butterworth was filled with so much wisdom? Have you ever wondered why his ministry in New York was so successful? Have you ever wondered how he lived life so fully?
In a series of talks given many years ago, he credits three “great teachers”: Meister Eckhart, who “unlocked the key” for Eric’s understanding of Oneness with God (clip 18); Ralph Waldo Emerson, who who gave Eric the core idea for Discover The Power Within You (clip 38); Henry David Thoreau, who Eric read each year to keep his life and ministry on course (clip 44).
What I have to offer this morning is a transcript of each talk. Each transcript is segmented as Eric shifts from making one point to another. Inserted in each segment is an the audio clip, so you can now read the transcript while you listen to Eric speak. Each of these talks is downloadable as a PDF. And, as you can see by the graphic up above, there is a pocket-sized book in the works of all three talks.
Obviously, I want you to study these talks. They are important to anyone who cares about Metaphysical Christianity as taught by the Fillmores. Here’s why:
- Eric found his voice when he focused his message on conveying a few basic truths which he believed were worth devoting his personal life and ministry.
- As the title of these three talks says, he always stressed “their relation to Unity.”
- He focused his ministry on those who wanted to change their lives more than they wanted to change the world.
Eric Butterworth’s ministry is a model for ministries which are centers of practice, which I call Fillmore Fellowships. I need to repeat what I said in last week’s post:
Butterworth grew up in Unity but there is a good reason he reached back before Charles Fillmore for his spiritual foundation: These three great teachers embody the metaphysical foundations of what Butterworth found in Fillmore — Oneness with God (Eckhart), Jesus as our example (Emerson) and realignment of our thinking (Thoreau).
They convey the three tenets of Metaphysical Christianity: An awareness of our bondedness with a God who is active in our life, The desire to follow Jesus and practice his teachings, and The intention to align our thinking with our highest notions of virtue.
What Butterworth did is what a Fillmore student does—seeking supplements, like Eckart, Emerson and Thoreau, to better understand Metaphysical Christianity and the Fillmore teachings, rather than constantly seeking substitutes for the Fillmore teaching when the discipleship process becomes challenging.
Again, I ask you to consider what a Fillmore Fellowship looks like for you, and to click reply and share your thoughts. That would be most helpful for me.
July 7, 2024
