I'm bewildered when I hear some people say they are "spiritual but not religious." It has become an over-used cliché fueled by the cynicism and confusion of our contemporary religious environment. Orthodox Christian teaching from the earliest years of the Faith and articulated by the holy fathers and mothers of the church teaches that God is not abstract but personal. Genuine spirituality is one's entire life as understood, experienced and decided upon in relationship to God in Christ Jesus and empowered by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Religion, puts into tangible practice and gives expression to our spiritual relationship with the living God. Another way of putting it is to say that what language is to thought, religion is to spirituality. Orthodoxy says that spirituality is not a "state of feeling, but a state of being." It is a life long process, not static but dynamic.
Because we are accustomed to immediate gratification in most aspects of our life, we imagine that spirituality and its fruits must produce results right now, or we move on to something else-- a new guru, another gimmick, another methodology.
If we want our life to be spiritually fruitful, we must cultivate good roots, eliminate the weeds and cooperate with God's pruning by thanking and developing an uninterrupted remembrance of Him, not only in the joys but also the struggles of life.
We must also prayerfully wait for the harvest.
Growth in faith does not happen overnight. It takes time. It's not instantaneous. God takes two days to make a mushroom; He takes 60 years to make an oak tree. Do you want to be a mushroom or an oak tree?
When you examine your spiritual growth---you may wonder, "Why is it taking me so long to get better? I've been at this for years, and I'm not seeing much change. I'm still struggling with so many problems. Why? "
Do you want to be a mushroom or an oak tree?
Spiritual growth, like natural growth, takes time: the best fruit ripens slowly.
Notice what Jesus says in John 12:24. He was talking about his death, but the principle applies to us as well. He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit". When Jesus says, "Truly, truly," He's saying, "Listen and listen well. This is really important."
The point Jesus stresses here is that death precedes life. Just as a grain of wheat must die to produce fruit, so must we die to ourselves to produce spiritual growth. And dying to our own selfishness and egocentricity takes time.
Our tendency is to dig up the seed periodically to check on its progress, instead of trusting God to do His work in our lives. The truth is---Christ will produce fruit in our lives if we remain in Him. In the Gospel of John 15:1-8, the passage on the vine and the branches--the key word is remain. We must remain in Him.
Remaining in Christ means keeping in contact with Him, depending on Him, living for Him and trusting Him to do His work in our lives in His perfect timing. Never give up! It's always too soon to quit! Wait for God's promised harvest and, in the meantime, rejoice in His presence in your life. God loves you at every stage of your spiritual growth. He's not waiting until you're perfect to begin loving you. He will never love you any more than He already does.
Are you seeing any spiritual fruit in your life? Perhaps you have reviewed the fruit list in Galatians 5:22-23. If not, I'd encourage you to do so. The scripture lists the harvest as this: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
Think about how these qualities could be seen in the life of Jesus, and count on Him to produce them in you by the working of The Holy Spirit. If you're not seeing as much fruit as you'd like, don't despair. Remember that growth takes time.
This is precisely why I think of myself as spiritual and not religious because of people of religion claiming to define my spirituality for me. I am not Christian and so many religions teach that their path is the best path if not the only path. I have explored Buddhism, Hinduism and different pagan practices resulting in a solid foundation and inner peace. Yoga and meditation practices keep me well centered and I've found eastern philosophy to be open minded and life changing. I have no use for Christianity, having been brought up going to Catholic schools where I never experienced one moment that felt 'spiritual'. I've known people who practice no religion who seemed far more evolved, if a capacity for love and compassion is any measure, than any priest or minister I have ever met with an advanced degree in theology.
There is a movement in this country away from organized religion and towards spirituality, people are exploring world religions, mysticism, all kinds of spiritual and mind opening practices, most organized religions are decades if not centuries out of date. I really see no difference between the homophobic and sexist garbage coming from the head of the Roman Catholic Church and bigots like the Reverend Hagee. Many people feel the same way.
Does not your own 'good book' say "Knock and the door will open, ask and it shall be given" ?? !! Does it say it shall be given after decades of 'practice'. ?? Does it mean the door will only be opened a tiny crack, unable to let you squeeze through, just to tease you for the rest of your life ??
Upon what stone tablet has God written that it is 'better' to be an oak than a mushroom? Are we not called upon to love and appreciate ALL of the creation, without ascribing such a value judgement? The 'soul' of the mushroom lives beneath the surface in an unseen matrix of spores, and the little emerging cap that you see is merely the flowering expression of something that is every bit as large, and every bit as strong, every bit as resilient - in its own way - as the oak that appears to tower above it.
The Kingdom of God is at hand. It's not up the road, over the mountain, and halfway down the river. It's at hand - right here and now - in the moment - within easy reach. It doesn't take 60 years to find.
Unless you chose the "path" of religion.
Then you may never find
Then you may never find it.
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The questions can become even more personal. Where was God when my alcoholic father was pounding the crap out of my mentally retarded little brother. The reason for Bobby's beatings? He was mentally retarded. Don't give me some mysterious ways crap I am not buying it.
Why do I have to take religion based upon faith. Maybe an occasional communication would be help. Why the big secret? Seems to be very confusing to me. Maybe a smiting of the occasional really evil person would help me out. Also, there is this whole Horus story which sounds amazingly like the whole Jesus story. What's up with that?
There are many questions the church doesn't answer anymore. Or they say that you have to make a leap of faith. Well in these catholic schools I attended they were big on evidence and the evidence doesn't seem to really do much to support your case or your argument. A look into the heavens at night gives me much ponder about what you say and its accuracy.
I have oh so many questions and so few answers; forgive me if I am having trouble buying what you say.
To "blame" God is to really miss the point about what God IS and what "his/hers" existence means.It is a notion of a personalized God that has done much damage; but in this way Christianity is similar to Hinduism in that they represent God figuratively though the various representations are symbols for aspects of God, not God per se.
Holding on to the Mystery is the best I've been able to do; the gift I HAVE received from Christianity is the knowledge that we ARE one; that we are each other's keeper; that we are to help the less fortunate and give and be of service; in short that we are to love thy neighbor as our self. Kierkegaard has a wonderful essay on this in Works of Love.
The people I have identified as "personal heroes" have all lived this truth. Lastly, their call for social change has been profound (Ghandi, MLK, Mother Teresa,DesmondTutu) etc, so it ties in with my personal politics.
I wish you peace.
It makes sense to me to commit to a faith though the wisdom of Budddhism is unquestionable; in today's world it may be a far more accessible truth than Christianity. Buddhists certainly set a far better example in the public arena than do Christians (Dali Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, executed monks in Burma).
Where are the Christians that don't support this war?and don't support Bush's policies? Where are the Christians that understand the world is bigger than issues such as abortion and gay marriages?
We're out there just too silent I guess.
However, "what language is to thought, religion is to spirituality"? Wrong. Very, very wrong. Dogmatic and exclusive religions prevent a development of spirituality beyond what is practised in their own canons. So, unless one builds upon the spirituality present in all religions, or bypasses formal credos completely and goes straight to spirituality, one may find that a religion is more of a hindrance to "salvation" or "enlightenment" than a trustworthy road to follow.
Another example: in the Christian New Testament, Christ does not say to form the Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Orthodox, Coptic, Baptist, or any other religion. He teaches, but does not start any religions. Thus, the religions which have sprung up after his life and death are more likely to build on the teachings that they individually value, and exclude all others, than they are likely to value the entire body of his work.
Lastly, Christ was not preaching a religion, but spirituality itself.
Religion and spirituality are form and content.
Buddhism has no god. It has no entitity to worship.
Religion, especially Christianity, is just to weird and unrealistic to me.
when I was a child I had to go to cathechism where the "good Father Michael" told us about the fruits of heaven and then threatened us with hell and eternal damnation if we did not follow the bible and led a godly life. That was many years ago and when I reached the age of reason, I decided that a religion that is based on fairie tales of virgins bearing children and snakes conversing with humans isn't for me, ESPECIALLY since christianity is apparently based on blackmail!
I respect everyone's right to chose whether they want to follow a religion or not. I have chosen NOT to follow any. Nor do I see why I should respect any religion that tries (UNSUCCESSFULLY) to impose it's agenda on anyone not following thatb particular doctrine. Keep your faith in a house of worship, but please, keep it out of my life and more importantly: Keep religion out of politics!
We seem to be evolving away from authoritarianism. We require it as children. Not as adults. Spirituality is, in one sense, post religion, post dogmatism. Free of one particular religious story. Maybe we could say religion is particular and spirituality is universal.
The phrase refers to the fact that religious (as spiritual) experience is not exhausted by organized religious dogmas or groups.
Religion is not necessary to be spiritual, but honesty is an absolute requirement. Today our religious President who believes himself to be very spiritual is a known liar. His belief in Jesus is not used to promote any fruit harvesting but rather as a cloak to protect him from criticism and insulate him from taking personal responsiblility for his decisions.