Spirituality of the Christian kind can be likened to the wind in a yacht’s sails — a powerful, driving influence. Religion can be likened to rowing: working hard to move forward while looking backward.
Some view spirituality as a vague thing, but true spirituality expresses itself in bricks and mortar. Some of the finest institutions had spiritual beginnings. God inspired General Booth of The Salvation Army to achieve great things in social welfare, and other Christians in the field of education (Both Yale and Princeton universities were founded on Christian values and principles). Over time, most institutions tend to lose their spirituality and become shells of what they once were.
Who are the most spiritual people in town? New Age people think they are and see view the Christian cross as merely a religious symbol and cathedrals as history set in stone. They view Christians as religious rather than spiritual. They question a spirituality that can be contained within the walls of churches — however ornate or impressive those walls may be. Spirituality to them means many things — none of them Christian.
So, while Christians meet on hallowed ground, New Agers gather at street markets. They’ve forsaken hymns for hums, and church bells for wind chimes. They marry in parks and gardens and have their ashes scattered rather than their bodies buried. They believe in life after life rather than life after death, in reincarnation rather than resurrection.
New Agers say, “Everything happens for a reason,” but do they wonder what that reason might be? In saying, “What goes around comes around,” they mean that in the end each of us gets what he or she deserves. The Bible calls this reaping what we’ve sown.
So what does it mean to be spiritual, in Christian terms? I’ve included the following verses from the Bible that define spirituality):
- Spirituality begins with a “born again” — literally, “born from above” experience — Jesus made this a “must” (John 3:7). We are natural (psychological) from birth, and need to be reborn to become spiritual enough to first see and then enter the kingdom of God.
- Spirituality means that your life becomes more than happy. Happiness is a valid emotion, but joy is indescribable. Joy is to happiness what a racecar is to a family sedan.) (Ephesians 5:19)
- Spirituality means that you get to understand spiritual people, find answers to complex questions, and discern world events in the light of the Bible. (1 Corinthians 2:8-13) These things may be new to you, but all will be of great relief.
Christians know that religion died the day Jesus was crucified. The New Age began when the Holy Spirit filled people on the Day of Pentecost (which is why people who have the same experience call themselves Pentecostals). (Read Acts 2:1-4)
Spirituality isn’t just a ‘feel-good’, ‘quality of life’ thing — it’s much more than that! It’s a guilt-free relationship with God; it’s love, joy and peace in your heart. It allows us to receive and to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit (which we cannot until we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and later tell others we believe). Maybe you are thinking of doing this now, right where you are. (Romans 10:9-10)
“God loved the world so much He gave His unique Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Once you believe, you will understand.