audio transcript
3 Ask someone to explain what it means to be spiritual. . . Then he gets four different answers. It’s a humorous way to express a problem. The definition of spirituality is very vague. This term means different things to different people. So what is Biblical spirituality? Can we determine an objective definition of spirituality from the Bible?
That’s the question from a young woman today. And for her, it’s not a theoretical question at all. “Pastor John, my mother and I have different views on Biblical spirituality. She goes so far as to say that my husband and I are not spiritual. This does not mean she speaks in tongues, interprets dreams, etc. I think it’s because my husband and I embrace spirituality as a spiritual gift, such as , advocating for healing, etc. We work in the ministry field, are deeply involved in the church, and love the Lord in all things. I don’t know what to say to this. Is it possible that we, my husband and I, are not spiritual? When you see them tied together, you feel otherwise. How do you respond to such words about yourself? More broadly, what does authentic Christian spirituality look like? ?”
Let’s start with some comments about the importance of language use and definition, and then move on to the Biblical use of this term. spiritualThis is particularly interesting. Because in ESV, spiritual or Mentally This word appears 29 times, 27 times in the writings of the Apostle Paul and the remaining two times in Peter’s first epistle. So this is not a very widespread term, and when we talk about this meaning, we are primarily dealing with Paul—we are dealing with his understanding of it— spirituality or be spiritual In the New Testament.
Whose spirituality?
First, let’s consider some thoughts about language use. If a New Age spiritualist who practices divination, divination, necromancy, palmistry, and earth worship said to our mature Christian friends, how would our friends feel and think? Like me, you have these spiritual practices. ”
“The most basic way Paul uses the word ‘spiritual’ is to refer to true Christians who have the Holy Spirit.”
Now, my guess is that our friends know that those practices are not at all what the Bible means, so they won’t feel threatened or seriously criticized at all. Masu spiritual. In fact, quite the opposite is true; the Bible opposes these practices.But importantly, New Age Spiritualists spiritual According to his own definition. Therefore, it would be pointless to discuss which one is spiritual. If you don’t define your terms, you won’t get anywhere. If you say, “Which of us is more spiritual?” the discussion will go nowhere.Because they don’t agree on what it means. spiritual. They use this word in completely different ways.
So when a friend says, “My mother and I have different views on Biblical spirituality,” what she means is, “My mother and I agree on the meaning of the word, but my husband and I have different views on Biblical spirituality.” “Opinions differ as to whether or not we live according to the law.” that. “Or maybe she means they seriously disagree about the Biblical definition. spiritualityAs a result, we are unable to evaluate each other based on the same standards, and we end up misunderstanding each other.
Now, based on her words, I’m sure our friend takes the latter view. spirituality as spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, interpreting dreams, and claiming healing. That is, my mother thinks that being spiritual in the Biblical sense means exercising spiritual gifts, but our friend thinks that being spiritual means something else. Masu.
resident of spirits
Let’s go to Paul’s writings and see what this term actually means.Paul uses this word spiritual It refers to spiritual wisdom, spiritual blessings, spiritual songs, spiritual bodies, spiritual gifts, spiritual rocks, and spiritual food. Well, let’s put that aside. We will only talk about spiritual people here.
I think he uses the term in three ways, all based on the same basic idea. And the basic idea is that a person is spiritual if, by the power of the Holy Spirit, a person experiences a new birth and is no longer defined by the flesh, which is hostile to God, but by the Holy Spirit. I think that’s what it means. It makes him trust God and love God. Therefore, a spiritual man is, most fundamentally, a supernaturally transformed person who has been moved by the Spirit from a natural state of unbelief to a state of new creation in Christ, created by the Spirit. It is. They are spiritual in the sense that they are created by the Holy Spirit and are indwelt and formed by the Holy Spirit.
So, if I’m correct, Paul used this term. spiritual Its meaning is mainly derived from Of God not the spirit, my spirit. Paul does not call others spiritual because their spirits are especially active or because they have an unusual interest in the mystical or spiritual.
Spirituality vs. Nature
Now, the most important scripture in understanding these things is 1 Corinthians 2:12-15. Let’s read some scriptures.
Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. And we communicate this in words taught not by human wisdom, but by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to spiritual people. (1 Corinthians 2:12–13)
Now, who are “spiritual people”? We have received the Spirit. We communicate things from the Spirit through words taught by the Spirit, but we can only do this to “spiritual people.” who are they? Paul turns his attention to that. Only to them can Paul successfully communicate spiritual truths.
So Paul explains why and who they are in the next verse, verse 14. A “natural man”, an unregenerate, unsaved man without the Holy Spirit, is contrasted with a spiritual man. The Spirit of God, they are foolishness to God, and he cannot understand them. [assessed]” (1 Corinthians 2:14). They are valued spiritually. In other words, it means that the indwelling Holy Spirit enables a person to evaluate correctly. They are not stupid, they are true and beautiful.
He goes on to say that “the spiritual man”–which he now contrasts with the natural man, that is, the unregenerate man–“[assesses] everything but myself [assessed] By anyone. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord and been taught by him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:15-16). In other words, we no longer call wisdom “foolish” or “stupid” because the Holy Spirit shapes the way our hearts evaluate things. Instead, we evaluate things in the true light of Christ, something that the natural man is incapable of doing. They can’t do it because it’s not real to them. That’s just stupidity for them.
So my conclusion from this passage is that this is Paul’s most basic use of the term. spiritual This is a true Christian who has the Holy Spirit and is therefore no longer just a natural person, but a supernatural person who has been reborn by the Holy Spirit and who can therefore see in his heart the beauty and wisdom of Christ in the Gospel. point. Of God. Every true Christian is spiritual in that fundamental sense, and that is his most basic feeling.
Now, I think there are two other uses of this term in Paul, and both are applications of this meaning, so they are not contradictory.
mature in Christ
The first is that Paul can use the following terms: spiritual For Christians who are more mature in experiencing this newness of their spirituality.
“Herein lies the true test of being spiritual. It is not a gift, but obedience to the words of the apostle.”
He writes in 1 Corinthians 3:1, “But, brethren, I could not call you spiritual people.” This is different from saying they are spiritual people. do not have Spiritual people — “But…like little children in Christ.” This does not mean that they are not spiritual in the first sense, but rather that they act like one. I think that means it wasn’t there. I used to think so. Because strife and jealousy were rampant throughout the church, Paul treated them like babies.
Here is another example of how Galatians 6:1 uses more mature Christians spiritually. “Brethren, if anyone is in any sin, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of kindness.” Now he is a Christian, but he goes to restore himself. This is what we call “spiritual” people. Those who are walking in the more mature influence of the Spirit and have the fruit of the Spirit – the kind of meekness he refers to – go and get it back. This is his second time using this word, and is a more mature experience of his spirituality.
obedient to the bible
Other uses of this term spiritual There is irony in 1 Corinthians 14:37. It’s something like this: “If any of you consider yourself a prophet or spiritual, you should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.” There are people who have – and they really are, as our friend’s mother thinks (I think) – and they therefore claim to be spiritual. But Paul says: “Now, here comes the real test. For all of you who speak in tongues and have experienced healing and exorcisms, here is the real test of being spiritual. Obedience. Do you acknowledge that our words are from the Lord?”
Therefore, my advice to the friend who sent this question is to pursue all the fruits of the Spirit with all humility, without being ashamed of your mother’s misconceptions. Don’t let her words embarrass you. She needs to understand that having spiritual gifts does not make a person spiritual. That was Corinth’s problem. What makes a person spiritual is having the Holy Spirit and being formed into the image of Christ by His fruit. That is mature spirituality.
