I don't speak in deep reverential tones in my sermons, nor do I pray to a two syllable "Gaa-awd!" I love to laugh, wear blue jeans, and eat bean burritos with all the consequences that go with them. I confess that I don't spend hours each day on my knees in the church's sanctuary. I like country music and enjoy a good action flick. Does that mean I am not spiritual? To some, perhaps.
Spirituality gets confused with quietness, introspection, and piety, by some. True spirituality is just doing what God wants done, being responsive to the Holy Spirit moment by moment. Eugene Peterson, best know for his work in bringing us the paraphrase of the Bible called The Message, was a pastor of a small church for many years. In an article published in Christianity Today, March, 2005, he observed, "The people who give me the most distress are those who come asking, "Pastor, how can I be spiritual?" Forget about being spiritual. How about loving your husband? Now that's a good place to start. But that's not what they're interested in. How about learning to love your kids, accept them the way they are?"
The disciples in the Church in the city of Corinth got all excited about being 'spiritual,' and they thought they were quite impressive because they spoke at length in tongues, prophesied, and had meeting that were chock full of Holy Spirit manifestations. Paul wrote a long corrective letter them that all those who aspire to spirituality need to read. Imagine the shock they felt when they heard his letter and he said, "Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life." (1 Corinthians 3:1, NLT)
He went on to point out that despite their all their spiritual gifts, their lives were a mess! They fought with each other. They lacked love. They would not serve each other. They sued each in court. They could not deal with sin in their own congregation. They were proud of their knowledge of spiritual freedom and cared little if their actions caused someone less mature in faith to be offended. So Paul says, "You think you're so spiritual, but you're really not very deep in God, at all! You have not even grasped the basics!" Throughout his letter, he reminds them that true spirituality will produce a transformation of character, that being spiritual is always show by a deep and consistent love for God and others. Note the underlying attitude of loving service that informs his instruction about their 'spiritual' worship. "What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church." (1 Corinthians 14:26, NIV)
True spirituality has nothing to do with one's mastery of Biblical Greek, ability to speak in tongues, pray in 16th century Elizabethan language, or follow forced practices of external piety. Genuine spirituality is:about repentance when we sin against God, about choosing daily to die to our need to be first or to be recognized, and about submission to God for love's sake. It is expressed, not our church behavior, but in how we live at home and in the street.
When others judge our spirituality, we need to remember that we have one Master and "If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help." (Romans 14:4, The Message) It is important to remember that if we try to make others think of us as 'spiritual,' we will become actors and before long, looking good will take precedence over being good! That said, I sincerely hope that you see Jesus in me, that there is a consistent bent to loving care, a concern for the world around me, and a desire to do His will - living so as to honor the One Whom I call, "Lord" with a life of integrity.
Here's a word from the Word. I pray it will lead us to truer spirituality today!
"So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.' " Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall." ...
"So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up."
(Romans 14:10-13, 19, NLT
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