Christian spirituality
In today's postmodern, pluralistic world, with its multiple influences from Eastern non-Christian religions, animism and other sources, the meanings of concepts related to "spirituality" have become ambiguous and conflicted. Some in today's culture use the term "spiritual" as a generic, all-inclusive word for sensory, emotional, physical, intellectual, or relational experiences intended to build a positive relationship with a nebulous "higher power" inside or outside the self.
Part of the challenge for us Christians is that some words used to convey biblically faithful meanings can also be used to convey biblically unacceptable meanings. Therefore, as in all matters of faith, Christians need to safeguard their and practices about spirituality to ensure they do not depart from biblical principles.
Biblical spirituality can be defined as the process of the divine restoration and healing of the broken relation between the Triune God and humanity. As such, biblical spirituality is the response of a repentant human heart and mind to the loving heart and mind of God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; Romans 8:14). God created us in His image with the capacity to communicate with Him in a personal relationship. This capacity and relationship were fatally distorted by sin (Genesis 1:27; 3:1-9). It is God who calls us to Himself, vivifies the lifeless spiritual capacities of the sinful human heart and leads us to know, love, depend upon and obey God (Genesis 3:9; John 17:3; Colossians 1:21-23; Ephesians 1:17-19; 2 Peter 1:2-3). Initiated by God, biblical spirituality is a conscious walk with God in which we enjoy His awesome presence and depend on Him.
This dynamic spiritual life born of God gives victory over the powers of darkness (2 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 John 4:4). It springs into a desire to surrender self to God in faithful obedience, heartfelt worship, and unselfish service to others (Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 25:31-46).
So, biblical spirituality means to be born of God (John 1:12‐13; John 3:5-8; 1 John 4:7), be changed by the grace of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1‐2), surrendered and obedient to the Spirit, live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4‐11), and consequently empowered by the Spirit to draw others to find life in the Spirit.
While our Christlikeness is personal, it is also ecclesial.
When the Spirit unites us to Christ, He gives new life, which produces fruit—a display of our new life of goodness. By connecting us to Jesus’ obedient life, the Spirit produces the very character of Jesus himself. In Christ, our lives are increasingly characterized by his character and life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, etc. The transformation God creates within us is for the benefit and blessing of the church. When Paul spoke to the church at Ephesus, he stressed traits that God’s people should embody over the totality of their lives. These marks—unity, universality, holiness, truth, love—communicate and reflect God’s goodness, which is why such attributes are sometimes called God’s communicable attributes. The church bears these marks precisely because the church displays God’s goodness in its life together.
Part of the challenge for us Christians is that some words used to convey biblically faithful meanings can also be used to convey biblically unacceptable meanings. Therefore, as in all matters of faith, Christians need to safeguard their and practices about spirituality to ensure they do not depart from biblical principles.
Biblical spirituality can be defined as the process of the divine restoration and healing of the broken relation between the Triune God and humanity. As such, biblical spirituality is the response of a repentant human heart and mind to the loving heart and mind of God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; Romans 8:14). God created us in His image with the capacity to communicate with Him in a personal relationship. This capacity and relationship were fatally distorted by sin (Genesis 1:27; 3:1-9). It is God who calls us to Himself, vivifies the lifeless spiritual capacities of the sinful human heart and leads us to know, love, depend upon and obey God (Genesis 3:9; John 17:3; Colossians 1:21-23; Ephesians 1:17-19; 2 Peter 1:2-3). Initiated by God, biblical spirituality is a conscious walk with God in which we enjoy His awesome presence and depend on Him.
This dynamic spiritual life born of God gives victory over the powers of darkness (2 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 John 4:4). It springs into a desire to surrender self to God in faithful obedience, heartfelt worship, and unselfish service to others (Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 25:31-46).
So, biblical spirituality means to be born of God (John 1:12‐13; John 3:5-8; 1 John 4:7), be changed by the grace of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1‐2), surrendered and obedient to the Spirit, live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4‐11), and consequently empowered by the Spirit to draw others to find life in the Spirit.
While our Christlikeness is personal, it is also ecclesial.
When the Spirit unites us to Christ, He gives new life, which produces fruit—a display of our new life of goodness. By connecting us to Jesus’ obedient life, the Spirit produces the very character of Jesus himself. In Christ, our lives are increasingly characterized by his character and life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, etc. The transformation God creates within us is for the benefit and blessing of the church. When Paul spoke to the church at Ephesus, he stressed traits that God’s people should embody over the totality of their lives. These marks—unity, universality, holiness, truth, love—communicate and reflect God’s goodness, which is why such attributes are sometimes called God’s communicable attributes. The church bears these marks precisely because the church displays God’s goodness in its life together.