Abraham’s primitive spirituality was radically different than Moses’ deliverance spirituality. But then Moses’ spirituality was radically different than Samuel’s prophetic spirituality. And Samuel’s spirituality certainly looked a lot different than David’s earthy spirituality. And David’s spirituality looked a lot different than Jeremiah’s sorrowful spirituality. But then Jeremiah’s spirituality looked quite a bit different than Peter’s Messianic spirituality. And Peter’s spirituality looked a lot different than Paul’s missional spirituality.
Each one was different. They lived their own spirituality.
Then there are obscure stories such as the one of the man who was using Jesus’ name and the disciples asked Jesus if they should stop him. Jesus said that if he isn’t against him, then he’s for him. The man didn’t even have a personal relationship with Jesus and he was just fine.
I’m saying this to encourage you to go and find your own unique spirituality. Whatever it is. It is yours. It must be yours. Don’t be afraid.
illustrating spiritual paths
I can’t wait to see what this generates…
Your post would suggest that anybody’s spirituality will be just fine so long as they are not ‘against Christ.’ Are you saying that as long as a person is ‘spiritual’ in their own way, that all ways will lead to Christ? I wish; don’t we all? But there is so much more that we know scripture covers in its totality, not simply in just its parts (and I am not good at theological debating). Just curious if you wanted this to generate some good discussion, or perhaps are flirting with universalism?
speakingwinds: i’m not flirting. i’m only making observations and reporting what i see as faithfully as i can.
Awesome post. God has granted me some healing recently and I am not afraid to search anymore. I was so co dependant on what my old church thought about me (which they hate me) that it nearly destroyed me. I am not afraid anymore and they can think what they want. God is with me even if they don’t agree.
There are an almost infinite range of relationships because every individual is different. Therefore, God’s relationship with every individual will be unique.
In my experience, some of the people who are the strongest advocates of taking “…scripture…in its totality, not simply in just its parts…” are frequently quick to suggest that certain parts of the Bible are for Christians today whereas others passed away with the first century church.
It took my leaving “the church” (whatever that is) to actually find anything that even remotely resembles spirituality. Thanks for pointing how how different it was for each of these well-known Bible characters. I don’t think I had ever really thought about it.
David, your post really spoke to me…especially at this point in my Journey. I don’t believe you are promoting Universalism (as defined as all roads lead to God). I took your Context to be Jesus Christ as Messiah, and then diversity with the rest. If one wants to define that as Universalism…well then so be it.
I took your message to be that there is variety and an individualism to this “thing” we call the Way. “Work out your own Salvation…” “Those who aren’t against us are for us…” “Test yourself to see that you are in the Faith”…”Pick up your Cross and follow…”
Very personal. Very individual.
Add to that the variety of doctrines/Theologies within orthodox Christianity…with Consensus on a very small Core of Truths: God Is, We are not God, Jesus Christ is the Messiah and Salvation is Through Faith/Belief in Him…there is much that lacks Consensus and there are mountains of arguments and counter-arguments for each doctrinal/Theological position. Who is “correct”? The Truth is we don’t know, we can’t know.
Yet we divide and point fingers and look down our noses at those who have a difference of non-essential opinion.
Hey David,
While I’m sympathetic with what you’re saying here I have a few questions.
1) The word “spirituality” is being used very vaguely here. So vaguely, that I’m having trouble really understanding it. Can you flesh it out a bit?
2) While I would agree that faith is utterly personal I don’t think we want to say that it’s private, do we? Part of my concern here is that the way you’ve worded this sounds highly individualistic and yet the “spirituality” that Jesus seemed concerned with was highly communal. How do you see this working? Additionally, while you’re correct to note that all of those folks you’ve listed had a “unique spirituality” (again, how are we defining this?) because, after all, they were unique people, there was also something that bound all of their spirituality together: namely, Jesus Christ.
3) While your talk of spirituality is vague you also talk of Jesus, who is particular. I’m wondering how you see “spirituality” and “Jesus of Nazareth” connecting? Do you think that some spirituality can be more faithful to this particular Jesus than other spirituality?
Grace and peace.
As far as I know, the maxim, “Know Thyself” is the capacity to unravel the anatomy of the Christ and Sophia from within. The juiciest part of the journey for me was when they began dating before initiating the betrothal.
G-d leads us to all roads…
Spirituality is, in my opinion, being fully human, fully alive. Period.
So it is fiercely personal. But it is also social because we are human.
My use of the story of the man using Jesus’ name without being in relationship with him was intentional. What we could biblically call “the spirit of Jesus” can be discerned in surprising places.
David,
Indeed. “The glory of God is man fully alive.” ~ St. Irenaeus
Didn’t CS Lewis say ‘There will be many surprises at the eschaton.’? I would say that while I personally believe that Jesus is the absolutely only way, period… I do think that their are many ways to Jesus.
‘their’ = ‘there’…Jesus hates misspelled words:)
“Spirituality is, in my opinion, being fully human, fully alive. Period.”
There’s a sense in which I agree with you here although being “fully human” is not merely “spiritual” as humans are also fundamentally material. However, for the time being, let’s agree and say ‘yes’, “Spirituality is…being fully human, fully alive. Period.” This is still rather vague.
What does it mean to be fully human? Is there some way that we can know what spirituality is life-giving and humanizing and what spirituality is death-dealing and dehumanizing? Likewise, with being “fully alive”, how do we know when we’re headed towards being “fully alive” as opposed to heading towards death and destruction? If we define Spirituality as “being fully human” and then say “go and find your own unique spirituality” are we saying that there are multiple unique ways to be fully human? To be fully alive? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not arguing that we all ought to be carbon copies of one another but fundamentally I think we want to say that there is ONE PARTICULAR way to be fully human and fully alive and that ONE PARTICULAR way is unique to Jesus, not unique to us.
Is this fair to say?
may-be a way forward is to embrace agnosticism. This was a relgious tradition long before evangilicalism.
I guess I just don’t know what “spirituality” means.
I don’t know what to look for, strive for, or if I could recognize spirituality in my self or someone else.
I don’t know how my life (inwardly or outwardly) would change if I began to experience or progress toward spirituality.
I don’t know if there is any benefit at all to being or becoming spiritual.
I don’t know if I am already experiencing spirituality, or if I have in the past.
I don’t know if I know anyone who is experiencing spirituality.
I don’t know if (since I do not believe in spirits) I can even experience spirituality.
I don’t know.
I don’t know.
i think by “spirituality” i mean fullness of life. doesn’t involve “spirits”. i appreciate what you said bob because i think “spirituality” is an old word many don’t understand anymore, understandably.
Oooh. Ah, I liked this very much.
Awesome post David.
I really like your comment about spirituality being fully human and fully alive. I have the growing, reluctant, and disappointing certainty that the church (no matter how lousy or how great that church is) can ultimately only do one thing well and that is to traffic in death. Death of individuality, personality and spirituality. In the world I exist in I would have to call it “Possession of power for the purpose of trafficking in death”.
“Likewise, with being “fully alive”, how do we know when we’re headed towards being “fully alive” as opposed to heading towards death and destruction?”
That always seems like an easier question to answer from the outside than the inside. Sometimes it helps to try and see ourselves, or our communities, through the eyes of others. We are too easily blinded to try to answer this question alone or in insular communities.