Showing posts with label Unspiritual Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Unspiritual Thoughts. Show all posts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Unspiritual Thoughts: conclusion
Although elements of touchy-feely spirituality are present in the New Testament, the main focus is placed on practical spirituality. Doing what Christ commanded in terms of service of the kingdom is of first importance. Praying is important too as are other forms of spirituality, but the point is that practical stuff is the primary focus of the New Testament. My initial idea was right--as a whole the Church has misplaced its focus on touchy-feely spirituality. Some churches are better than others, perhaps, but in my experience, all but one of the churches I have been to--and I have been to several--are focused on the wrong thing. A faith that is not practical is a dead faith. Until the Church consistently focuses on practical faith, then those within the Church will either be immature or dead in faith, generally speaking. We need to get our hands dirty and dig deep, grounding our faith in what Christ has called us to--good works, which we were created for!
Unspiritual Thoughts: Romans
I wanted to take another look at Paul in regards to this spirituality issue. I thought I would take a look at Romans, since it has been one of the most influential books of the New Testament throughout history.
Romans says these things:
1. You need to be doers of the law and not merely a hearer (2:13)
2. You need to uphold the law (3:31)
3. Present your body as a living sacrifice to God (12:1)
4. Be transformed by the renewal of your mind (12:2)
5. Prove what the will of God is (12:2)
6. Do not think of yourself more highly than you should (12:3)
7. Think with sober judgment (12:3)
8. Think according to the measure of faith God has given you (12:3)
9. Use the gifts that have been given to you (12:6)
10. Genuinely love (12:9)
11. Hate what is evil (12:9)
12. Cling to good (12:9)
13. Love your brothers and sisters with brotherly affection (12:10)
14. Outdo others in showing honor to them (12:10)
15. Be aglow with the Spirit (12:11)
16. Never flag in zeal (12:11)
17. Rejoice in your hope (12:12)
18. Be patient in tribulation (12:12)
19. Be constant in prayer (12:12)
20. Contribute to the needs of the saints (12:13)
21. Practice hospitality (12:13)
22. Bless those who persecute you (12:14)
23. Do not curse those who persecute you (12:14)
24. Rejoice with those who rejoice (12:15)
25. Weep with those who weep (12:15)
26. Live in harmony with others (12:16)
27. Do not be haughty (12:16)
28. Associate with the lowly (12:16)
29. Do not repay evil for evil (12:17)
30. Take thought for what is noble in the sight of all (12:17)
31. Seek peace when necessary (12:18)
32. Do not avenge (12:19)
33. Do not be overcome by evil (12:21)
34. Overcome evil with good (12:21)
35. Be subject to the government (13:1)
36. Do what is good (13:3)
37. Pay your taxes (13:7)
38. Pay revenue (13:7)
39. Pay respect (13:7)
40. Pay honor (13:7)
41. Do not owe anything to anyone (13:8)
42. Owe only love (13:8)
43. Put on the armor of light (13:12)
44. Conduct ourselves becomingly (13:13)
45. Do not give yourself to reveling or drunkenness (13:13)
46. Do not give yourself to debauchery or licentiousness (13:13)
47. Do not give yourself to quarrelling or jealousy (13:13)
48. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ (13:14)
49. Make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires (13:14)
50. Welcome those weak in faith (14:1)
51. Do not despise the weaker in faith (14:3)
52. Do not pass judgment on others (14:13)
53. Decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother (14:13)
54. Don’t let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died (14:15)
55. Pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding (14:19)
56. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food (14:20)
57. The faith that you have, keep it between you and God (14:22)
58. Bear with the failings of the weak (15:1)
59. Please your neighbor for his good—edify him (15:2)
60. Live in harmony with others (15:5)
61. Welcome others (15:7)
62. Abound in hope (15:13)
63. Be full of goodness (15:14)
64. Be full of knowledge (15:14)
65. Instruct each other (15:14)
66. Take note of and avoid those who cause dissensions (16:17)
I find an emphasis here on unity. Paul is emphasizing all sorts of deeds that build up the unity of the church. He is practical in his letter to the Romans. There are touchy-feely spiritual elements within Romans, but the majority of the letter is practical exhortations. Paul has placed his stock in practical disciplines and not elsewhere.
Romans says these things:
1. You need to be doers of the law and not merely a hearer (2:13)
2. You need to uphold the law (3:31)
3. Present your body as a living sacrifice to God (12:1)
4. Be transformed by the renewal of your mind (12:2)
5. Prove what the will of God is (12:2)
6. Do not think of yourself more highly than you should (12:3)
7. Think with sober judgment (12:3)
8. Think according to the measure of faith God has given you (12:3)
9. Use the gifts that have been given to you (12:6)
10. Genuinely love (12:9)
11. Hate what is evil (12:9)
12. Cling to good (12:9)
13. Love your brothers and sisters with brotherly affection (12:10)
14. Outdo others in showing honor to them (12:10)
15. Be aglow with the Spirit (12:11)
16. Never flag in zeal (12:11)
17. Rejoice in your hope (12:12)
18. Be patient in tribulation (12:12)
19. Be constant in prayer (12:12)
20. Contribute to the needs of the saints (12:13)
21. Practice hospitality (12:13)
22. Bless those who persecute you (12:14)
23. Do not curse those who persecute you (12:14)
24. Rejoice with those who rejoice (12:15)
25. Weep with those who weep (12:15)
26. Live in harmony with others (12:16)
27. Do not be haughty (12:16)
28. Associate with the lowly (12:16)
29. Do not repay evil for evil (12:17)
30. Take thought for what is noble in the sight of all (12:17)
31. Seek peace when necessary (12:18)
32. Do not avenge (12:19)
33. Do not be overcome by evil (12:21)
34. Overcome evil with good (12:21)
35. Be subject to the government (13:1)
36. Do what is good (13:3)
37. Pay your taxes (13:7)
38. Pay revenue (13:7)
39. Pay respect (13:7)
40. Pay honor (13:7)
41. Do not owe anything to anyone (13:8)
42. Owe only love (13:8)
43. Put on the armor of light (13:12)
44. Conduct ourselves becomingly (13:13)
45. Do not give yourself to reveling or drunkenness (13:13)
46. Do not give yourself to debauchery or licentiousness (13:13)
47. Do not give yourself to quarrelling or jealousy (13:13)
48. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ (13:14)
49. Make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires (13:14)
50. Welcome those weak in faith (14:1)
51. Do not despise the weaker in faith (14:3)
52. Do not pass judgment on others (14:13)
53. Decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother (14:13)
54. Don’t let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died (14:15)
55. Pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding (14:19)
56. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food (14:20)
57. The faith that you have, keep it between you and God (14:22)
58. Bear with the failings of the weak (15:1)
59. Please your neighbor for his good—edify him (15:2)
60. Live in harmony with others (15:5)
61. Welcome others (15:7)
62. Abound in hope (15:13)
63. Be full of goodness (15:14)
64. Be full of knowledge (15:14)
65. Instruct each other (15:14)
66. Take note of and avoid those who cause dissensions (16:17)
I find an emphasis here on unity. Paul is emphasizing all sorts of deeds that build up the unity of the church. He is practical in his letter to the Romans. There are touchy-feely spiritual elements within Romans, but the majority of the letter is practical exhortations. Paul has placed his stock in practical disciplines and not elsewhere.
Unspiritual Thoughts: 1 Corinthians
So, now that I have explored James, 1 John and Luke, thus covering some general epistles and gospels, I thought it would be good to explore some of Paul. Now I am looking at Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians.
Paul tells the Corinthians these things in the first epistle:
1. Be unified--no dissension--by agreeing with one another (1:10)
2. Boast only in the Lord (1:31)
3. Judge all things if you are a spiritual person (3:14-16)
4. You should be a servant of Christ (4:1)
5. You should be a steward of the mysteries of God (4:1)
6. You should be a steward that is trustworthy (4:2)
7. Do not pronounce judgment on yourself or others (4:5)
8. Do not be puffed up in favor of one over another (4:6)
9. Be imitators of Paul (4:16)
10. Remove the wicked brother or sister from among you (5:2)
11. Do not associate yourself with the immoral brothers and sisters (5:9-13)
12. Do not take up lawsuit against your brothers and sisters (6:1-6)
13. Glorify God with your body (6:20)
14. Take a wife or husband if you must, but if you can, be single (7:1-11)
15. If you have an unbelieving spouse, stay with him or her unless they want to leave you (7:12-16)
16. Keep the commandments of God (7:19)
17. Stay in the state in which you were called to faith (7:20)
18. Love God (8:1-2)
19. Don't cause your brother or sister to stumble (8:7-13)
20. You should pay those who serve the body of Christ (9:3-14)
21. Do not desire evil (10:6)
22. Do not be idolaters (10:7)
23. Do not be involved in immorality (10:8)
24. Do not put the Lord to the test (10:9)
25. Do not grumble (10:10)
26. Shun the worship of idols (10:19)
27. Do not be partners with demons (10:20)
28. Do not seek your own good (10:24)
29. Seek the good of your neighbor (10:24)
30. Do everything to the glory of God (10:31)
31. Try to please all men (10:33)
32. Men: do not pray with your head covered (11:4)
33. Women: do not pray with your head uncovered (11:5)
34. Do not be contentious (11:16)
35. Do not take communion in an unworthy manner (11:27)
36. Earnestly desire the higher gifts (12:31)
37. Be love--be patient and kind, not jealous or boastful, not arrogant or rude, not insistent on your own way, not irritable or resentful, not rejoicing in wrong but rejoicing in what is right, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping in all things, and enduring in all things (13:4-7)
38. Make love be your aim (14:1)
39. Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts (14:2)
40. Especially desire the gift of prophecy (14:2)
41. Strive to excel in building up the church (14:12)
42. Let all things be done for edification (14:26)
43. Earnestly desire the gift of prophecy (14:39)
44. Do not forbid speaking in tongues (14:39)
45. Do everything in a decent and orderly way (14:40)
46. Do not be deceived (15:33)
47. Come to your senses (15:34)
48. Sin no more (15:34)
49. Be steadfast (15:58)
50. Be immovable (15:58)
51. Always abound in the work of the Lord (15:58)
52. Always know that the work done in the Lord is not in vain (15:58)
53. Financially support through weekly offerings those who are devoted to the service of the saints (16:2)
54. Be watchful (16:13)
55. Stand firm in your faith (16:13)
56. Be courageous (16:13)
57. Be strong (16:13)
58. Do everything in love (16:14)
59. Subject yourself to the services of the saints (16:16)
60. Love the Lord (16:22)
Paul spends a lot of time emphasizing that his readers in Corinth were infant Christians. Note in chapter three that he says they are still of the flesh. However, we know that the Corinthians were abundantly using all kinds of spiritual gifts in a disorderly way. What Paul emphasizes is that spiritual demonstrations and even works and deeds are nothing if they are not done alongside of love (chapter 13). Everything must be done in love, whether spiritual disciplines or acts of service. However, notice all the various commands. They are focused on the spiritual well-being of the believer, but not in the way we are taught to be nourished today. We are exhorted to do various things, many of which are for the purpose of unity and edification of the Church. Some of them, such as praying and prophesying, are expected of believers. Yet, these are not given as emphasis as the other things, such as love.
Paul exhorts his readers to be or to have love. How do they do that? By being kind and patient. Definitely not by being jealous, boastful, arrogant or rude. Certainly not by insisting on your own way. Obviously not by being irritable or resentful. In order for one to have or to be love they must not rejoice in wrong-doing but rejoice in what is right. They must bear, believe, hope and endure all things. For Paul, love is the most excellent way, and it must be characteristic of all believers. His readers were expected to love each other and to love God.
The emphasis in 1 Corinthians does not fall on touchy-feely spirituality; even though it does contain certain elements of it; rather, it falls on love in and through deeds—work in the Lord. The evidence points towards an emphasis on a practical faith in this epistle. The emphasis does not lie elsewhere.
Paul tells the Corinthians these things in the first epistle:
1. Be unified--no dissension--by agreeing with one another (1:10)
2. Boast only in the Lord (1:31)
3. Judge all things if you are a spiritual person (3:14-16)
4. You should be a servant of Christ (4:1)
5. You should be a steward of the mysteries of God (4:1)
6. You should be a steward that is trustworthy (4:2)
7. Do not pronounce judgment on yourself or others (4:5)
8. Do not be puffed up in favor of one over another (4:6)
9. Be imitators of Paul (4:16)
10. Remove the wicked brother or sister from among you (5:2)
11. Do not associate yourself with the immoral brothers and sisters (5:9-13)
12. Do not take up lawsuit against your brothers and sisters (6:1-6)
13. Glorify God with your body (6:20)
14. Take a wife or husband if you must, but if you can, be single (7:1-11)
15. If you have an unbelieving spouse, stay with him or her unless they want to leave you (7:12-16)
16. Keep the commandments of God (7:19)
17. Stay in the state in which you were called to faith (7:20)
18. Love God (8:1-2)
19. Don't cause your brother or sister to stumble (8:7-13)
20. You should pay those who serve the body of Christ (9:3-14)
21. Do not desire evil (10:6)
22. Do not be idolaters (10:7)
23. Do not be involved in immorality (10:8)
24. Do not put the Lord to the test (10:9)
25. Do not grumble (10:10)
26. Shun the worship of idols (10:19)
27. Do not be partners with demons (10:20)
28. Do not seek your own good (10:24)
29. Seek the good of your neighbor (10:24)
30. Do everything to the glory of God (10:31)
31. Try to please all men (10:33)
32. Men: do not pray with your head covered (11:4)
33. Women: do not pray with your head uncovered (11:5)
34. Do not be contentious (11:16)
35. Do not take communion in an unworthy manner (11:27)
36. Earnestly desire the higher gifts (12:31)
37. Be love--be patient and kind, not jealous or boastful, not arrogant or rude, not insistent on your own way, not irritable or resentful, not rejoicing in wrong but rejoicing in what is right, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping in all things, and enduring in all things (13:4-7)
38. Make love be your aim (14:1)
39. Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts (14:2)
40. Especially desire the gift of prophecy (14:2)
41. Strive to excel in building up the church (14:12)
42. Let all things be done for edification (14:26)
43. Earnestly desire the gift of prophecy (14:39)
44. Do not forbid speaking in tongues (14:39)
45. Do everything in a decent and orderly way (14:40)
46. Do not be deceived (15:33)
47. Come to your senses (15:34)
48. Sin no more (15:34)
49. Be steadfast (15:58)
50. Be immovable (15:58)
51. Always abound in the work of the Lord (15:58)
52. Always know that the work done in the Lord is not in vain (15:58)
53. Financially support through weekly offerings those who are devoted to the service of the saints (16:2)
54. Be watchful (16:13)
55. Stand firm in your faith (16:13)
56. Be courageous (16:13)
57. Be strong (16:13)
58. Do everything in love (16:14)
59. Subject yourself to the services of the saints (16:16)
60. Love the Lord (16:22)
Paul spends a lot of time emphasizing that his readers in Corinth were infant Christians. Note in chapter three that he says they are still of the flesh. However, we know that the Corinthians were abundantly using all kinds of spiritual gifts in a disorderly way. What Paul emphasizes is that spiritual demonstrations and even works and deeds are nothing if they are not done alongside of love (chapter 13). Everything must be done in love, whether spiritual disciplines or acts of service. However, notice all the various commands. They are focused on the spiritual well-being of the believer, but not in the way we are taught to be nourished today. We are exhorted to do various things, many of which are for the purpose of unity and edification of the Church. Some of them, such as praying and prophesying, are expected of believers. Yet, these are not given as emphasis as the other things, such as love.
Paul exhorts his readers to be or to have love. How do they do that? By being kind and patient. Definitely not by being jealous, boastful, arrogant or rude. Certainly not by insisting on your own way. Obviously not by being irritable or resentful. In order for one to have or to be love they must not rejoice in wrong-doing but rejoice in what is right. They must bear, believe, hope and endure all things. For Paul, love is the most excellent way, and it must be characteristic of all believers. His readers were expected to love each other and to love God.
The emphasis in 1 Corinthians does not fall on touchy-feely spirituality; even though it does contain certain elements of it; rather, it falls on love in and through deeds—work in the Lord. The evidence points towards an emphasis on a practical faith in this epistle. The emphasis does not lie elsewhere.
Unspiritual Thoughts: Luke
I thought it would be appropriate to look at one of the Gospels after having looked at James and 1 John. I chose to look at Luke because it is the longest of the Synoptics and because I had already looked at some Johannine literature.
This is what Luke wrote:
1. John the Baptist preached care for the needy (3:11)
2. John the Baptist preached only to take what was necessary (3:13)
3. John the Baptist preached against extortion (3:14)
4. Jesus preached love for enemies (6:27)
5. Jesus preached for you to do good to those who hate you (6:27)
6. Jesus preached for you to bless those who curse you (6:28)
7. Jesus preached for you to pray for those who mistreat you (6:28)
8. Jesus preached for you to give to those who ask of you, including your enemies (6:35)
9. Jesus preached for you to be merciful (6:36)
10. Jesus preached for you to not judge (6:37)
11. Jesus preached for you to not condemn (6:37)
12. Jesus preached for you to forgive (6:37)
13. Jesus preached for you to give to those who ask (6:38)
14. Jesus expected you to hear his words and put them into practice (6:47)
15. Jesus gave the Twelve apostles power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases (9:1)
16. Jesus sent the Twelve out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick (9:2)
17. Jesus taught the denial of one’s self for following him (9:23)
18. Jesus sent 72 disciples before him to preach the good news of the kingdom of God and to heal the sick and to drive out demons (10:1-23)
19. Jesus taught the necessity of loving those in need, i.e. neighbors (10:25-37)
20. Jesus taught the necessity and essentials of prayer (11:1-4)
21. Jesus taught that those who hear the words of God and obey them are blessed (11:28)
22. Jesus taught care for the poor (11:41)
23. Jesus taught for the provision of the poor by selling one’s possessions and giving the money to them (12:33)
24. Jesus taught that you should humble yourself (14:7-11)
25. Jesus taught for the invitation of the poor, crippled, lame and blind to banquets (14:13)
26. Jesus taught repentance (17:3-4)
27. Jesus taught the necessity for persistence in prayer (18:1-8)
28. Jesus taught the provision for the poor (18:22)
29. Jesus taught the responsibility of taxes (20:20-26)
30. Jesus taught the blessing of giving out from one’s poverty (21:1-4)
What I find interesting is that Jesus really pushes care for the poor. Jesus calls his disciples to preach and to heal but his main focus was on the lost poor. Yes, it is important to persistently pray, but that was not given much emphasis here. What is given the overwhelming majority of the emphasis is the practice of Jesus’ words; it is not enough simply to hear it--something must be done in addition to the hearing. And what does Jesus expect to be done? Caring and aiding the poor among other things like forgive and not judging. It all rests on a simple principle: do to others as you would have them do to you. If you see a poor person, think about what you would want others to do to you if you were in that situation. Would you not want help in your low position? Then give to that person whom you see is poor and help them. If someone comes to you and repents for a wrong doing they have done for you, then what should you do? Hold a grudge or forgive? Well, put yourself in his or her shoes. Would you want to be forgiven by the person you ask for forgiveness? Then forgive those who ask you to be forgiven.
The main evidence here in the Gospel of Luke is that spirituality is practical. Jesus cares for the poor. He wants you to pray, but he is more concerned that the poor are included and taken care of. He wants believers who put his words into practice. The explicit focus of Luke is simply that, and it is nothing else.
This is what Luke wrote:
1. John the Baptist preached care for the needy (3:11)
2. John the Baptist preached only to take what was necessary (3:13)
3. John the Baptist preached against extortion (3:14)
4. Jesus preached love for enemies (6:27)
5. Jesus preached for you to do good to those who hate you (6:27)
6. Jesus preached for you to bless those who curse you (6:28)
7. Jesus preached for you to pray for those who mistreat you (6:28)
8. Jesus preached for you to give to those who ask of you, including your enemies (6:35)
9. Jesus preached for you to be merciful (6:36)
10. Jesus preached for you to not judge (6:37)
11. Jesus preached for you to not condemn (6:37)
12. Jesus preached for you to forgive (6:37)
13. Jesus preached for you to give to those who ask (6:38)
14. Jesus expected you to hear his words and put them into practice (6:47)
15. Jesus gave the Twelve apostles power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases (9:1)
16. Jesus sent the Twelve out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick (9:2)
17. Jesus taught the denial of one’s self for following him (9:23)
18. Jesus sent 72 disciples before him to preach the good news of the kingdom of God and to heal the sick and to drive out demons (10:1-23)
19. Jesus taught the necessity of loving those in need, i.e. neighbors (10:25-37)
20. Jesus taught the necessity and essentials of prayer (11:1-4)
21. Jesus taught that those who hear the words of God and obey them are blessed (11:28)
22. Jesus taught care for the poor (11:41)
23. Jesus taught for the provision of the poor by selling one’s possessions and giving the money to them (12:33)
24. Jesus taught that you should humble yourself (14:7-11)
25. Jesus taught for the invitation of the poor, crippled, lame and blind to banquets (14:13)
26. Jesus taught repentance (17:3-4)
27. Jesus taught the necessity for persistence in prayer (18:1-8)
28. Jesus taught the provision for the poor (18:22)
29. Jesus taught the responsibility of taxes (20:20-26)
30. Jesus taught the blessing of giving out from one’s poverty (21:1-4)
What I find interesting is that Jesus really pushes care for the poor. Jesus calls his disciples to preach and to heal but his main focus was on the lost poor. Yes, it is important to persistently pray, but that was not given much emphasis here. What is given the overwhelming majority of the emphasis is the practice of Jesus’ words; it is not enough simply to hear it--something must be done in addition to the hearing. And what does Jesus expect to be done? Caring and aiding the poor among other things like forgive and not judging. It all rests on a simple principle: do to others as you would have them do to you. If you see a poor person, think about what you would want others to do to you if you were in that situation. Would you not want help in your low position? Then give to that person whom you see is poor and help them. If someone comes to you and repents for a wrong doing they have done for you, then what should you do? Hold a grudge or forgive? Well, put yourself in his or her shoes. Would you want to be forgiven by the person you ask for forgiveness? Then forgive those who ask you to be forgiven.
The main evidence here in the Gospel of Luke is that spirituality is practical. Jesus cares for the poor. He wants you to pray, but he is more concerned that the poor are included and taken care of. He wants believers who put his words into practice. The explicit focus of Luke is simply that, and it is nothing else.
Unspiritual Thoughts: 1 John
After having looked at the Epistle of James, I decided to look at 1 John--another one of my favorite books in the Bible--to see what it had to say about touchy-feely spirituality and practical spirituality. Here’s what I found.
John has this to say to those who would read his epistle:
1. Walk in the light (1:7)
2. Confess your sins (1:9)
3. Obey Christ’s commands (2:3)
4. Love your brother and sister (2:10)
5. Do not love the world or anything in the world (2:15)
6. Ensure what you heard from the beginning remains in you (2:24)
7. Remain in Christ (2:27)
8. Continue in Christ (2:28)
9. Hope that when we see Christ we will be like him (3:3)
10. Do not keep on sinning (3:6)
11. Do not let anyone lead you astray (3:7)
12. Do what is righteous (3:7)
13. Love each other (3:11)
14. Do not murder (3:12)
15. Do not be surprised that the world hates you (3:13)
16. Lay down your life for your brothers and sisters (3:16)
17. Use what you have to take care of those in need (3:17)
18. Love in deeds not with words (3:18)
19. Believe in the name of Jesus Christ (3:23)
20. Love one another (3:23)
21. Do not believe every spirit (4:1)
22. Test the spirits to see if they are from God (4:1)
23. Love one another (4:7)
24. Love one another (4:11)
25. Acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God (4:15)
26. Know and rely on God’s love for us (4:16)
27. Live in love (4:16)
28. Love your brothers and sisters (4:19-21)
29. Believe that Jesus is the Christ (5:1)
30. Believe that Jesus is born of God (5:1)
31. Love the Father (5:1)
32. Love the children of God (5:1)
33. Love God (5:2)
34. Carry out God’s commands (5:2)
35. Obey his commands (5:3)
36. Overcome the world (5:5)
37. Believe Jesus is the Son of God (5:5)
38. Believe in the Son of God (5:10)
39. Pray for your brother who sins in a way that does not lead to death (5:16)
40. Do not continue to sin (5:18)
41. Keep yourself from idols (5:21)
John’s understanding of faith is also very practical in a similar way to James. John is particularly interested in his readers demonstrating lives of love. Hate and murder are totally uncharacteristic of believers and therefore mark someone as an unbeliever. Love is characteristic of believers and therefore marks someone as a believer. True faith is one that acts out love for the children of God. This is the explicit truth of 1 John; faith is love acted out. Why does he not make much mention of touchy-feely spirituality? Well, he actually might.
Touchy-feely spirituality is to me a kind of spirituality focused on prayer and Scripture reading, for example, although it is not limited to such activities. One of the ways we love the children of God is by obeying the commands of God. One of those commands is in fact to dive into the words of Jesus, to keep his words and remain in them. John indirectly involves touchy-feely spirituality, but what he emphasizes is love first and foremost. But then I must ask, “What is love?”
Isn’t love a spiritual gift? Wouldn’t spiritual gifts fall into the touchy-feely spirituality mentioned already? Well, yeah, it could, but what would we make then of all the commands to love one another? Love is both a requirement and a gift. Therefore, it is possible to argue that John is all about the touchy-feely spirituality by way of his numerous exhortations to live a life of love, but it is not probable, as his exhortations are ethically guided for everyone in mind as a fruit of faith and of the Spirit, and it is not just for those who have this particular spiritual gift.
Real faith is identified by love for the brothers and sisters. Real faith is practical. I think it is fair to say that this message is one that has been preached fairly well in all of the churches that I have been to. I do want to point out that the emphasis of this letter is on being practical and not on touchy-feely spirituality, although it contains both elements in the epistle.
John has this to say to those who would read his epistle:
1. Walk in the light (1:7)
2. Confess your sins (1:9)
3. Obey Christ’s commands (2:3)
4. Love your brother and sister (2:10)
5. Do not love the world or anything in the world (2:15)
6. Ensure what you heard from the beginning remains in you (2:24)
7. Remain in Christ (2:27)
8. Continue in Christ (2:28)
9. Hope that when we see Christ we will be like him (3:3)
10. Do not keep on sinning (3:6)
11. Do not let anyone lead you astray (3:7)
12. Do what is righteous (3:7)
13. Love each other (3:11)
14. Do not murder (3:12)
15. Do not be surprised that the world hates you (3:13)
16. Lay down your life for your brothers and sisters (3:16)
17. Use what you have to take care of those in need (3:17)
18. Love in deeds not with words (3:18)
19. Believe in the name of Jesus Christ (3:23)
20. Love one another (3:23)
21. Do not believe every spirit (4:1)
22. Test the spirits to see if they are from God (4:1)
23. Love one another (4:7)
24. Love one another (4:11)
25. Acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God (4:15)
26. Know and rely on God’s love for us (4:16)
27. Live in love (4:16)
28. Love your brothers and sisters (4:19-21)
29. Believe that Jesus is the Christ (5:1)
30. Believe that Jesus is born of God (5:1)
31. Love the Father (5:1)
32. Love the children of God (5:1)
33. Love God (5:2)
34. Carry out God’s commands (5:2)
35. Obey his commands (5:3)
36. Overcome the world (5:5)
37. Believe Jesus is the Son of God (5:5)
38. Believe in the Son of God (5:10)
39. Pray for your brother who sins in a way that does not lead to death (5:16)
40. Do not continue to sin (5:18)
41. Keep yourself from idols (5:21)
John’s understanding of faith is also very practical in a similar way to James. John is particularly interested in his readers demonstrating lives of love. Hate and murder are totally uncharacteristic of believers and therefore mark someone as an unbeliever. Love is characteristic of believers and therefore marks someone as a believer. True faith is one that acts out love for the children of God. This is the explicit truth of 1 John; faith is love acted out. Why does he not make much mention of touchy-feely spirituality? Well, he actually might.
Touchy-feely spirituality is to me a kind of spirituality focused on prayer and Scripture reading, for example, although it is not limited to such activities. One of the ways we love the children of God is by obeying the commands of God. One of those commands is in fact to dive into the words of Jesus, to keep his words and remain in them. John indirectly involves touchy-feely spirituality, but what he emphasizes is love first and foremost. But then I must ask, “What is love?”
Isn’t love a spiritual gift? Wouldn’t spiritual gifts fall into the touchy-feely spirituality mentioned already? Well, yeah, it could, but what would we make then of all the commands to love one another? Love is both a requirement and a gift. Therefore, it is possible to argue that John is all about the touchy-feely spirituality by way of his numerous exhortations to live a life of love, but it is not probable, as his exhortations are ethically guided for everyone in mind as a fruit of faith and of the Spirit, and it is not just for those who have this particular spiritual gift.
Real faith is identified by love for the brothers and sisters. Real faith is practical. I think it is fair to say that this message is one that has been preached fairly well in all of the churches that I have been to. I do want to point out that the emphasis of this letter is on being practical and not on touchy-feely spirituality, although it contains both elements in the epistle.
Unspiritual Thoughts: James
In thinking on my initial post in this series, I decided to look at the New Testament in a more thorough way here on my blog. I decided to start with the Epistle of James, which is one of my favorite books of the New Testament let alone of the Bible.
James has these things to say to his readers:
1. Consider going through trials a joy (1:2)
2. Ask God for wisdom if you lack it (1:5)
3. When you ask God for wisdom you must believe without doubt (1:6)
4. The person in humble circumstances should take pride in that high position (1:9)
5. The person in rich circumstances should take pride in that humble position (1:10)
6. Be quick to listen (1:19)
7. Be slow to speak (1:19)
8. Be slow to anger (1:19)
9. Get rid of moral filth (1:21)
10. Get rid of the prevailing evil (1:21)
11. Humbly accept the word of God (1:21)
12. Listen to and practice the word (1:22)
13. Continually pry into the word and continually do what it says (1:25)
14. Keep a tight reign on your tongue (1:26)
15. Take care of orphans and widows (1:27)
16. Keep yourself unstained by the world (1:27)
17. Do not show favoritism (2:1-11)
18. Show mercy to others (2:12-13)
19. Demonstrate your faith by your works (2:14-26)
20. Tame your tongue (3:1-12)
21. Demonstrate your wisdom and understanding by your works (3:13-18)
22. Don’t quarrel (4:1)
23. Don’t be friends with the world (4:4)
24. Submit yourself to God (4:7)
25. Resist the devil (4:7)
26. Draw near to God (4:8)
27. Purify yourself of your sins (4:8)
28. Humble yourself before the Lord (4:10)
29. Do not slander others (4:11)
30. Do not boast (4:16)
31. Do the good you know you should do (4:17)
32. Be patient (5:7)
33. Stand firm (5:8)
34. Don’t grumble (5:9)
35. Don’t make promises (5:12)
36. Pray for your troubles (5:13)
37. Sing songs of praise for your happiness (5:13)
38. Be prayed for and have your head anointed with oil by the leaders of the Church if you are sick (5:14)
39. Confess your sins to others (5:16)
40. Pray for the healing of others (5:16)
41. Bring wanderers back to the truth (5:19)
In this list I fail to see a touchy-feely spirituality. James is clearly bent on a practical faith. If this epistle was the only book we had for the New Testament, all we would expect of the Christian faith is to be something that is practical. There is a great deal of personal obligations to follow here with internal ramifications, but I find two points extremely important. First, James identifies what true religion is. Is it touchy-feely spirituality? Is it to read the Bible? Is it to pray? Well, perhaps, and if so, then only indirectly. James identifies that true religion is faith that takes care of those in need, such as widows and orphans, and it is one that keeps itself unstained by the world. Now, if touchy-feely spirituality, which involves much prayer and Scripture reading, is done in an attempt to keep one’s self from being stained by the world, then indirectly it is following in the footsteps of true religion as understood by James. It is important to note that what James specifically understands to be true religion is explicitly taking care of those in need and keeping one’s self from being polluted by the world.
Second, James identifies eight fruits of true, heavenly wisdom and understanding. A person demonstrates that they have been given true wisdom from God by being pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, sincere and peacemakers. The marker of true wisdom is identified by James in this way and in no other.
James understands that the Christian faith is one that must be practical. If it is not, it is dead. Therefore, one could be praying all the time and reading the Bible often, but if it does not do anything to further the kingdom of God, e.g. take care of those in need, like widows and orphans, then it is a dead and useless faith. It’s not everyday that we hear that message preached in church, is it?
James has these things to say to his readers:
1. Consider going through trials a joy (1:2)
2. Ask God for wisdom if you lack it (1:5)
3. When you ask God for wisdom you must believe without doubt (1:6)
4. The person in humble circumstances should take pride in that high position (1:9)
5. The person in rich circumstances should take pride in that humble position (1:10)
6. Be quick to listen (1:19)
7. Be slow to speak (1:19)
8. Be slow to anger (1:19)
9. Get rid of moral filth (1:21)
10. Get rid of the prevailing evil (1:21)
11. Humbly accept the word of God (1:21)
12. Listen to and practice the word (1:22)
13. Continually pry into the word and continually do what it says (1:25)
14. Keep a tight reign on your tongue (1:26)
15. Take care of orphans and widows (1:27)
16. Keep yourself unstained by the world (1:27)
17. Do not show favoritism (2:1-11)
18. Show mercy to others (2:12-13)
19. Demonstrate your faith by your works (2:14-26)
20. Tame your tongue (3:1-12)
21. Demonstrate your wisdom and understanding by your works (3:13-18)
22. Don’t quarrel (4:1)
23. Don’t be friends with the world (4:4)
24. Submit yourself to God (4:7)
25. Resist the devil (4:7)
26. Draw near to God (4:8)
27. Purify yourself of your sins (4:8)
28. Humble yourself before the Lord (4:10)
29. Do not slander others (4:11)
30. Do not boast (4:16)
31. Do the good you know you should do (4:17)
32. Be patient (5:7)
33. Stand firm (5:8)
34. Don’t grumble (5:9)
35. Don’t make promises (5:12)
36. Pray for your troubles (5:13)
37. Sing songs of praise for your happiness (5:13)
38. Be prayed for and have your head anointed with oil by the leaders of the Church if you are sick (5:14)
39. Confess your sins to others (5:16)
40. Pray for the healing of others (5:16)
41. Bring wanderers back to the truth (5:19)
In this list I fail to see a touchy-feely spirituality. James is clearly bent on a practical faith. If this epistle was the only book we had for the New Testament, all we would expect of the Christian faith is to be something that is practical. There is a great deal of personal obligations to follow here with internal ramifications, but I find two points extremely important. First, James identifies what true religion is. Is it touchy-feely spirituality? Is it to read the Bible? Is it to pray? Well, perhaps, and if so, then only indirectly. James identifies that true religion is faith that takes care of those in need, such as widows and orphans, and it is one that keeps itself unstained by the world. Now, if touchy-feely spirituality, which involves much prayer and Scripture reading, is done in an attempt to keep one’s self from being stained by the world, then indirectly it is following in the footsteps of true religion as understood by James. It is important to note that what James specifically understands to be true religion is explicitly taking care of those in need and keeping one’s self from being polluted by the world.
Second, James identifies eight fruits of true, heavenly wisdom and understanding. A person demonstrates that they have been given true wisdom from God by being pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, sincere and peacemakers. The marker of true wisdom is identified by James in this way and in no other.
James understands that the Christian faith is one that must be practical. If it is not, it is dead. Therefore, one could be praying all the time and reading the Bible often, but if it does not do anything to further the kingdom of God, e.g. take care of those in need, like widows and orphans, then it is a dead and useless faith. It’s not everyday that we hear that message preached in church, is it?
Unspiritual Thoughts
I have been feeling unspiritual lately. I have never been a touchy-feely Christian and I am not inclined towards it because it is not focused on what the New Testament picture of a follower of Christ is. Although touchy-feely spirituality is not bad, it is unnecessarily expected of Christians as a marker of true faith.
Jesus did not require his followers to experience God in a mystical way nor did he demand that they be super-spiritual believers. Please recognize that this fact does not mean we are not spiritual beings and that we do not need to nourish our spirits. What it does mean is that Jesus had a particular thing he wanted us to focus on and it wasn’t touchy-feely spirituality. Touchy-feely spirituality is understood by me to be a kind of spiritual life that involves large amounts of prayer times, reading and internalizing Scripture in a personally meaningful way, raising hands in praise and calling out shouts of praise, going down for every alter call, crying, speaking Christianese, and all those other various attempts at “experiencing God” in one’s own life. All of these things are good in themselves, but they are not necessary nor do they identify and make valid one’s faith. Jesus wasn’t focused on this kind of spirituality. Rather, he was focused on something much more practical.
Jesus required his followers to use their faith. He required his followers to spread the gospel, to heal the sick and care for the poor. His brother, James, who probably took much of the Sermon on the Mount to heart when he wrote his epistle, identified true faith as a practical faith. If faith does not have deeds or works to back up the existence of that faith, then that faith is worthless--dead (James 2:14-26). In other words, what is the point of having a touchy-feely spirituality if no good deed comes forth from it? James taught that true religion is one that takes care of those in need, widows and orphans, and to stay pure, unpolluted by the world (1:27). Unless we do something with our faith, we can be as spiritual as we want, but it is worthless.
Allow me to speak my mind by way of a metaphor. This story is one about two different Christian people. The first person, a young man who goes to church every Sunday and Wednesday, prays for at least one hour every day and is an uber-spiritual person, drives by a beggar on the side of the road. The beggar is not an unfamiliar sight; he appears to be homeless and has a cardboard sign that he is holding with the following words written with burnt charcoal: “Hungry. Please help. God bless.” Scoffing at him, the young man doesn’t hesitate to drive on by without giving any aid to the man, because he thinks to himself that if he were to give this man money, he would just go buy booze or drugs with it, which would not be good for himself to support, even if indirectly. The second person, a woman who goes to church on Sundays but isn’t much involved in experiencing God beyond those Sunday visits, also drives by the same beggar. Welling up inside with pity, she rolls down her window and reaching into her purse she grabs five bucks that she hands over to the beggar without hesitation. Of these two people, which one did what Jesus would want? The latter of course. How often do we do what the young man did? All too often. And yet, we don’t ever check ourselves on it!
My point is simple: we push and preach for the kind of touchy-feely spirituality that seeks to experience God, but we neglect to emphasize what Christ himself emphasized--to take care of those in need, to preach the good news of Jesus Christ to the world, and to share the love of Christ to all those we come into contact with. Why do we hear less of the latter and more of the former in church? This sort of thing frustrates me! In the same way that it is pointless for one to know the good if one does not be the good, it is pointless to know Christ if one does not be Christ. Christians are to be marked by the good things that they do for others as they seek to advance the kingdom of God, not by the Christianese that they speak nor the way they praise God in musical worship.
Yes, I feel unspiritual, because I am not a touchy-feely spiritual kind of believer. Instead, I put my faith into practice, or at least I attempt to, which I believe is what Jesus wants me to do. I guess you could say that I feel practical, but I think that is to say that I feel spiritual in the sense that Jesus calls us to be. It is necessary for all believers to further the kingdom of God; it is within this practice that I believe followers of Christ are truly spiritual. All other spiritualities, including touchy-feely, are second-rate. They might be good, but they are not necessary.
Jesus did not require his followers to experience God in a mystical way nor did he demand that they be super-spiritual believers. Please recognize that this fact does not mean we are not spiritual beings and that we do not need to nourish our spirits. What it does mean is that Jesus had a particular thing he wanted us to focus on and it wasn’t touchy-feely spirituality. Touchy-feely spirituality is understood by me to be a kind of spiritual life that involves large amounts of prayer times, reading and internalizing Scripture in a personally meaningful way, raising hands in praise and calling out shouts of praise, going down for every alter call, crying, speaking Christianese, and all those other various attempts at “experiencing God” in one’s own life. All of these things are good in themselves, but they are not necessary nor do they identify and make valid one’s faith. Jesus wasn’t focused on this kind of spirituality. Rather, he was focused on something much more practical.
Jesus required his followers to use their faith. He required his followers to spread the gospel, to heal the sick and care for the poor. His brother, James, who probably took much of the Sermon on the Mount to heart when he wrote his epistle, identified true faith as a practical faith. If faith does not have deeds or works to back up the existence of that faith, then that faith is worthless--dead (James 2:14-26). In other words, what is the point of having a touchy-feely spirituality if no good deed comes forth from it? James taught that true religion is one that takes care of those in need, widows and orphans, and to stay pure, unpolluted by the world (1:27). Unless we do something with our faith, we can be as spiritual as we want, but it is worthless.
Allow me to speak my mind by way of a metaphor. This story is one about two different Christian people. The first person, a young man who goes to church every Sunday and Wednesday, prays for at least one hour every day and is an uber-spiritual person, drives by a beggar on the side of the road. The beggar is not an unfamiliar sight; he appears to be homeless and has a cardboard sign that he is holding with the following words written with burnt charcoal: “Hungry. Please help. God bless.” Scoffing at him, the young man doesn’t hesitate to drive on by without giving any aid to the man, because he thinks to himself that if he were to give this man money, he would just go buy booze or drugs with it, which would not be good for himself to support, even if indirectly. The second person, a woman who goes to church on Sundays but isn’t much involved in experiencing God beyond those Sunday visits, also drives by the same beggar. Welling up inside with pity, she rolls down her window and reaching into her purse she grabs five bucks that she hands over to the beggar without hesitation. Of these two people, which one did what Jesus would want? The latter of course. How often do we do what the young man did? All too often. And yet, we don’t ever check ourselves on it!
My point is simple: we push and preach for the kind of touchy-feely spirituality that seeks to experience God, but we neglect to emphasize what Christ himself emphasized--to take care of those in need, to preach the good news of Jesus Christ to the world, and to share the love of Christ to all those we come into contact with. Why do we hear less of the latter and more of the former in church? This sort of thing frustrates me! In the same way that it is pointless for one to know the good if one does not be the good, it is pointless to know Christ if one does not be Christ. Christians are to be marked by the good things that they do for others as they seek to advance the kingdom of God, not by the Christianese that they speak nor the way they praise God in musical worship.
Yes, I feel unspiritual, because I am not a touchy-feely spiritual kind of believer. Instead, I put my faith into practice, or at least I attempt to, which I believe is what Jesus wants me to do. I guess you could say that I feel practical, but I think that is to say that I feel spiritual in the sense that Jesus calls us to be. It is necessary for all believers to further the kingdom of God; it is within this practice that I believe followers of Christ are truly spiritual. All other spiritualities, including touchy-feely, are second-rate. They might be good, but they are not necessary.
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