Generally speaking, spirituality is looked upon favorably by our culture today. We humans recognize that we are more than mere physical matter that exists in this human form for a brief amount of time only to return to the Earth when we die. We sense that there is a deeper, spiritual part to who we are; a part that can’t be seen, heard touched or measured, and yet is essential to making us who we are; a part that continues to exist even after our hearts stop pumping blood through our arteries and veins; a part that connects us to a spiritual something or someone who is beyond this world. Different people have different ideas of who or what this something or someone is – the big man upstairs, the spirit in the sky, extraterrestrials, Allah, God, the “force” – but the one thing that all would agree upon is that this spiritual something or someone is behind everything that is going on in this world, and that in order for us to reach our full potential as humans, it is essential that we are in some sort of relationship with this someone or something.
Recently I spoke with a girl who shared with me that she had planned to go on a three week fast during which she would only drink water. Three weeks! That’s a long fast! When I asked her why she desired to do so she told me (and I’m paraphrasing here) that she needed to figure out some things in her life and that this fast would give her an opportunity to do some soul searching. She seemed to be implying that by performing this spiritual discipline (fasting as a practice is based upon the idea that there is more to us than our flesh and bones which require food for sustenance – a spiritual side.) she would be able to look inside herself and find answers to her life problems. Popular spirituality often focuses on the power within, self-actualization, self-enrichment and self-empowerment through the proper spiritual exercises. However, this view is a quite different from Christianity’s view of spirituality.
Now I am by no means opposed to an individual taking time to be introspective and look within. In fact, I believe this is a crucial part of Christian spirituality. But where I believe popular spirituality differs from Christian spirituality is in what one expects to find when they do this soul searching. Popular spirituality looks for answers and spiritual power from within, but Christian spirituality is very skeptical of anything our soul tells us. As Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things.” Why this drastic difference? Why does the Bible promote such a seemingly pessimistic view of the human soul/heart? It’s because of the understanding that humans in and of themselves are spiritually corrupt – that ever since the fall into sin the human heart has been the source of evil, not holiness (Mark 7:14-23). Spiritual power in the Christian view is a gift to be received from without – from Jesus and the Holy Spirit who come to us through God’s Word.
With this being the case, why is it beneficial for an individual to look inward? Because when one looks within and compares their heart/soul to the standard set by God in His Word, he sees his own wretchedness and is shown the importance of looking to He who is the source of spiritual power and enlightenment – Jesus and His Word. Christian spirituality begins, continues and ends with Jesus.
As I continue with this series on Christian spirituality I hope to show how God uses various spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditation and fasting to give us His spiritual power and wisdom.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Peace in the Community Intro
Starting Sunday, March 20th and continuing for the month leading up to Easter, Peace launches a new venture called Peace in the Community. The idea behind Peace in the Community is quite simple – we would like for as many of our ministries as possible to conduct their regularly scheduled meeting time somewhere in the community. Do you have a Bible study that usually meets at Peace on Sunday mornings? How about meeting at a local coffee house? Do you have a small group that ordinarily meets in a home? How about a local restaurant? Or what about a board meeting at a local pub (Just like Lay Ministry did in January!)? This is a simple and effective way for Peace to be a Christian presence to the world around us. There will be fliers promoting Peace’s Holy Week events available in the office so that when your group goes into the community you can easily invite those you encounter (and maybe the next people to visit the table you were at?) to our worship services. We strongly encourage you to participate with us being Peace in the Community this year. Be creative with the places you choose to go and be sure to share your stories with the church office. God bless you as you serve as a light to the world!
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