📘 Lexicon Entry: Non-Instrumental Presence

Presence with others valued for its own sake rather than as means to other ends, challenging utilitarian approaches that reduce relationship to outcomes or effectiveness

Non-Instrumental Presence represents theological understanding that presence with others constitutes intrinsic rather than instrumental good, challenging utilitarian approaches that reduce relationship to outcomes or effectiveness. Grounded in understanding of divine presence as expression of love rather than merely instrumental to salvation, this concept recovers the intrinsic value of being with others as theological good. Through historical development from desert fathers’ non-possessive contemplative presence through Benedictine stability to contemporary recovery through Bonhoeffer, Vanier, and contemplative renewal movements, non-instrumental presence directly counters Practical Atheism’s instrumental focus on outcomes over presence, challenges Prosperity Materialism’s reduction of relationships to transactional utility, transforms Binary Apocalypticism’s instrumentalization of relationships for apocalyptic conflict, and addresses Authoritarian Spirituality’s use of people as means rather than ends.

Theological Alternative

Non-instrumental presence, intrinsic value, contemplative spirituality, relationship, presence, divine character, L’Arche communities

Geevarghese-Uffman, Craig. “Non-Instrumental Presence.” *Political Theology Lexicon*. https://www.commonlifepolitics.com/p/lexicon. Accessed [date].

Presence with others is valued for its own sake as reflection of divine character

Relationship rather than outcome constitutes the theological good

Divine presence with humanity models non-instrumental relationship

Contemplative attention to other honors divine image without possessive intention

Presence valued only for utility in achieving other goals, relationships reduced to transactional exchanges, divine presence instrumentalized for personal advancement, ministry as technique for producing outcomes

Relationships reduced to transactional exchanges

Divine presence instrumentalized for personal advancement

Ministry as technique for producing outcomes

Reduction of relationship to vehicle for achieving evangelistic, social, or political objectives

Instrumental use of presence as method for more effective service delivery or message communication

Utilitarian calculation that evaluates relationship based on measurable outcomes rather than intrinsic value

Functional approaches to ministry that prioritize efficiency over presence

Transactional understanding of divine-human relationship as exchange rather than communion

Intrinsic rather than instrumental value of relationship

Contemplative attention without possessive intention

Presence as expression of divine character rather than technique

Challenge to utilitarian reduction of relationship to outcomes

Intrinsic Value: Relationship valued for its own sake rather than utility for other purposes

Presence Priority: Being with others takes precedence over doing for or achieving results

Divine Modeling: Reflects God’s choice to be with humanity as expression of love rather than strategy

Anti-Utilitarian: Resists reduction of relationship to instrumental function or measurable outcome

Accompaniment Focus: Emphasizes staying with others through circumstances rather than changing circumstances

Desert fathers developing non-possessive contemplative presence through hesychasm

Benedictine tradition of stability creating space for presence without agenda

Franciscan spirituality emphasizing presence with creation and marginalized

Twentieth-century recovery through Bonhoeffer, Vanier, and contemplative renewal movements

Trinitarian Love: Divine persons existing in perfect communion valued for its own sake

Incarnational Commitment: God’s choice to be with humanity permanently rather than temporarily

Friendship Theology: Jesus calling disciples friends rather than merely servants or instruments

Sabbath Principle: Rest and presence valued beyond productivity or achievement

Contemplative Tradition: Union with God as end rather than means of spiritual discipline

Jesus’s presence with disciples apart from teaching (Mark 3:14)

Mary sitting at Jesus’s feet (Luke 10:38-42)

Jesus’s incarnational presence as divine "being with" humanity (Matthew 1:23)

Jesus weeping with Martha and Mary (John 11:33-35)

Jesus calling disciples friends rather than servants (John 15:15)

God’s delight in creation declared "very good" before any human activity (Genesis 1:31)

Jesus’ promise to prepare a place and return (John 14:2-3) emphasizing presence over problem-solving

Hospice movement prioritizing presence with dying over cure-focused medicine

Contemplative communities practicing non-possessive attention to divine and human presence

Restorative justice emphasizing relationship repair over punitive outcomes

Environmental movement based on intrinsic rather than instrumental value of creation

L’Arche Communities: Shared life with individuals with intellectual disabilities without agenda for improvement

Contemplative Communities: Monastic practices emphasizing prayer and presence over productivity

Friendship Evangelism: Approaches to faith sharing that prioritize authentic relationship over conversion outcomes

Sanctuary Movement: Presence with undocumented immigrants focused on accompaniment rather than legal solutions

Samuel Wells frames “being with” as alternative to “working for,” emphasizing presence over problem-solving

Jean Vanier’s L’Arche communities demonstrate non-instrumental presence through shared life with intellectually disabled persons

Emmanuel Levinas highlights ethical significance of face-to-face encounter recognizing other as irreducible

Rowan Williams explores contemplative dimension of presence without attempt to possess or control

Studies of L’Arche communities demonstrating how non-instrumental presence creates conditions for mutual transformation and growth

Research on effective caregiving showing superiority of presence-centered over task-oriented approaches in hospice and palliative care

Anthropological studies of friendship across cultures demonstrating universal human need for non-instrumental relationship

Theological analysis of contemplative traditions showing how non-instrumental union with God provides foundation for instrumental action

Related Primary Concepts: Being With provides broader framework for non-instrumental relationship

Theological Alternatives: Divine Presence shows divine model for non-instrumental relationship

Key Mutations Addressed: Practical Atheism through presence over effectiveness

Contemporary Applications: Hospice care, contemplative communities, restorative justice, therapeutic presence

May 25, 2025

*This entry is part of the Political Theology Lexicon, accessible exclusively to subscribers. View the complete lexicon to explore related concepts and the full theoretical framework.*