Religion or Spirituality

I am not religious, but I am spiritual is a common refrain.

Being spiritual is now considered a high value, but being religious is akin to pavement in a park. Useful perhaps, but ugly. Religion as defined by present day culture is the extreme opposite to Spirituality. Religion has clearly defined boundaries, rules, and expectations. We know who is in and who is not. Spirituality has no such restrictions; by this culture’s definition it is fluid. Subjectivity, transcendent, and esoteric are the hallmarks of modern day spirituality. To many, spirituality is in vogue and to be religious is out of date and old fashioned. Interestingly, religion is making a comeback.

We are seeing a revival of traditional liturgical worship services. Alt-right/left groups are growing. Religion is in the news more than ever.

So what is going on here?

Each speaks to a deep emotional need and that is to connect with or identify with something outside of self. There is a hunger in the soul that longs to be fulfilled. There is an itch to be satisfied in the deepest parts of the human heart. We were created with the desire to have purpose beyond ourselves. Therefore we are drawn either to religion or spirituality.

How did we get there?

The prophet Jeremiah can instruct us here.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV) 23  This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24  but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

One’s intellectual prowess, or the power we exercise, or the wealth that we possess, will never meet the deepest need of the human heart. Therefore, do not boast in this. Whether you frame it in religion, (doing all the right things, following a strict moral code) or couch it in spirituality (rejecting absolutes, embracing one’s own personal moral code) you will be left empty and searching still.

The prophet asserts, if you really want to hit the high point, here is what you should boast in, that one understands and knows God. Not the god of your own making or understanding, but the God who exercise kindness, justice and righteousness. Why is this important? Because we become what we worship.

It is God’s Kindness that draws us to him. (Romans 2:4)

It is His Justice that makes us right before God. (Romans 6:23)

And it is His Righteousness that is transferred to me. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Bottom line, it is not Religion or Spirituality but where is it leading you to: self or God.

This Sunday, I will be sharing on how to be religious and spiritual at the same time. I will clearly define the terms and help us to understand that through the person of Jesus we can be fulfilled, our hunger satisfied, and the itch in our soul gratified.

Looking forward to seeing you.