It happened again over the course of this past weekend. A relative stranger, on discovering that I pastor a church said to me that she was more spiritual than religious. The phrase has spread to be representative of a new cultural trend away from organized religion but toward spiritual practices and beliefs.
What exactly does it mean to be more spiritual than religious?
Shiloh's Bible study groups have been working at deciphering cultural trends that affect the church and have come to some important conclusions. The conversation is an extension of our definition of faith as fidelity to God's will. (See last week's post to The Shiloh Insider for a discussion surrounding this definition.)
If God's will is the Christ archetype, a model of Crucifixion/Resurrection, the Hellenistic Heavenly virtues - or, as Mrs. Keller taught my kindergarten class, "Just be nice." - then our definition of faith calls us to be committed to this description of God's will. Our loyalty and devotion are to that which is revealed in the mission and ministry of Christ Jesus.
Maintaining the link between the will of God and our devotion, commitment and loyalty is either religion or spirituality. While spirituality, as an approach to maintaining God's will, is organic and natural to the relationship, religion, as an approach, is external and mechanical.
Let me try to clarify. In spirituality, we may understand that God's will is, in fact, a function of human essential nature. If life itself is understood as God's Spirit being breathed into otherwise inanimate matter, then human beings are essentially both spirit and flesh. It is no less a function of human essential nature to live according to the higher virtues of the spirit than it is to live according to the desires and hungers of the flesh.
The Spirit, as part of essential human nature, allows that humanity may naturally live out God's will in every relationship and at every moment. To do less is to be less than fully human. Failing human potential leads to disjointedness in the human condition, frustration, dissatisfaction, anger and disillusionment with the ways of the world. Humans who fail to live out their spiritual selves disconnect with the logos of the universe, thus creating division, hatred and self-loathing.
On the other hand, religion is a mechanical and external attempt at maintaining God's will as a function of faith. As Sigmund Freud noted in Totem and Taboo, humanity creates religion for two purposes: 1. To render the mortal immortal and 2. To control the behavior of one's self and others. The religious super ego is seen as over and above human essential nature. In fact, it corrects the flaws of human essential nature by creating moral standards and psycho/social mores. The divine is above. It is other. Religion, then, provides sets of orthodoxies, rituals and beliefs that are prescribed by an external being, with whom humanity forms a contentious relationship.
So, if being more spiritual than religious means that persons are choosing to live out of the spiritual side of human nature instead of giving in to some external control mechanism, then I am more spiritual than religious as well. So, it turns out, are many of those who attend our Tuesday and Thursday Bible studies at Shiloh Church. To be completely honest, I must confess that I see the transition from religion to spirituality in the church as a further step in human spiritual evolution.
Are you spiritual or religious? Can we be both?
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
Faith as Fidelity to God's Will
In the season after Pentecost, Shiloh's Bible study groups have been working on an alternative definition of what we mean when we say "faith." We have arrived at this preliminary statement:
Faith is fidelity to God's will.
The problem with any such attempted definition is in defining the terms that are used. The Bible study groups have been careful in their considerations. Let's begin with the foundation. What is God's will to which faith is commitment?
God's will, we have concluded together, is best reflected in the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ, though not exclusive to it. There is a Christ ethic that is established in Jesus' earthly ministry and an archetype that is established in his Crucifixion and Resurrection. The Jesus ethic and the archetype of Christ witness to the Hellenistic world's Heavenly virtues. It is always better for humankind when persons go out of their way for their brothers and sisters, sacrificing themselves to serve others. This single belief lies at the core of world religions. It is better to serve others than to provide exclusively for one's self.
God's will is revealed in the Jesus ethic, the Christ archetype, the Heavenly virtues, in simple acts of kindness, generosity, grace and mercy. It is to this will that faith demands fidelity. It demands complete and total commitment, loyalty and devotion. The Jesus ethic is a way of life that reflects God's will for humankind. The Christ archetype is a way of life that witnesses to God's will. The Heavenly virtues are concrete ways of life that articulate a spiritual reality that is over and above the physical and material realm. People of faith are asked to exhibit complete commitment to these ways of life.
Faith, then, is the practice of the will of God as a way of life. Faith, we concluded, is less about belief and more about actions. It is more a verb and less a noun. We do not possess or lack faith. We either do acts of faith or we fail to do them. We either live out of our complete and utter fidelity to God's will or we fall short.
Faith is fidelity to God's will.
This definition of faith is contrary in some important ways from several more traditional alternative definitions. Faith has often been tied to belief systems, to orthodoxies, and they form "isms" or "anities." Post-Reformation denominationalism is the result of this definition of faith. Schism and division result from sometimes minuscule differences of interpretation and tradition. People are divided into "belief camps" by how they were taught about a myriad of aspects of right practice.
Particular definitions of faith have also been used as litmus tests for inclusion. As a Pastor, I have been asked many times whether or not I believe in things like God's six-day Creation, or Jesus' virgin birth, or whether or not Jesus walked on water. If I say I do, I am patted on the back and welcomed into the old buddy club of church tradition. If I say I do not, then I am branded a heretic and ushered out.
Faith as fidelity to God's will rests only on these beliefs: 1. That Jesus Christ reveals God's will and 2. People of faith may dedicate their time, energy, talent and enthusiasm to that which Christ Jesus reflects. Perhaps this seems simplistic. Maybe it seems obvious. Yet, religious groups seem to want to spend a great deal of time and energy on considering aspects of orthodoxy and metaphysics that lead the church away from the practice of God's will, as revealed in Christ and others.
Shiloh's Bible studies are held on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel and are open to anyone. Upon occasion, specialized studies are held at Boston's Bistro and Pub, in a program that Shiloh calls "Bible @ Boston's." Again, everyone is welcome. Join us as we work toward an even deeper understanding of faith as fidelity to God's will.
Faith is fidelity to God's will.
The problem with any such attempted definition is in defining the terms that are used. The Bible study groups have been careful in their considerations. Let's begin with the foundation. What is God's will to which faith is commitment?
God's will, we have concluded together, is best reflected in the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ, though not exclusive to it. There is a Christ ethic that is established in Jesus' earthly ministry and an archetype that is established in his Crucifixion and Resurrection. The Jesus ethic and the archetype of Christ witness to the Hellenistic world's Heavenly virtues. It is always better for humankind when persons go out of their way for their brothers and sisters, sacrificing themselves to serve others. This single belief lies at the core of world religions. It is better to serve others than to provide exclusively for one's self.
God's will is revealed in the Jesus ethic, the Christ archetype, the Heavenly virtues, in simple acts of kindness, generosity, grace and mercy. It is to this will that faith demands fidelity. It demands complete and total commitment, loyalty and devotion. The Jesus ethic is a way of life that reflects God's will for humankind. The Christ archetype is a way of life that witnesses to God's will. The Heavenly virtues are concrete ways of life that articulate a spiritual reality that is over and above the physical and material realm. People of faith are asked to exhibit complete commitment to these ways of life.
Faith, then, is the practice of the will of God as a way of life. Faith, we concluded, is less about belief and more about actions. It is more a verb and less a noun. We do not possess or lack faith. We either do acts of faith or we fail to do them. We either live out of our complete and utter fidelity to God's will or we fall short.
Faith is fidelity to God's will.
This definition of faith is contrary in some important ways from several more traditional alternative definitions. Faith has often been tied to belief systems, to orthodoxies, and they form "isms" or "anities." Post-Reformation denominationalism is the result of this definition of faith. Schism and division result from sometimes minuscule differences of interpretation and tradition. People are divided into "belief camps" by how they were taught about a myriad of aspects of right practice.
Particular definitions of faith have also been used as litmus tests for inclusion. As a Pastor, I have been asked many times whether or not I believe in things like God's six-day Creation, or Jesus' virgin birth, or whether or not Jesus walked on water. If I say I do, I am patted on the back and welcomed into the old buddy club of church tradition. If I say I do not, then I am branded a heretic and ushered out.
Faith as fidelity to God's will rests only on these beliefs: 1. That Jesus Christ reveals God's will and 2. People of faith may dedicate their time, energy, talent and enthusiasm to that which Christ Jesus reflects. Perhaps this seems simplistic. Maybe it seems obvious. Yet, religious groups seem to want to spend a great deal of time and energy on considering aspects of orthodoxy and metaphysics that lead the church away from the practice of God's will, as revealed in Christ and others.
Shiloh's Bible studies are held on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel and are open to anyone. Upon occasion, specialized studies are held at Boston's Bistro and Pub, in a program that Shiloh calls "Bible @ Boston's." Again, everyone is welcome. Join us as we work toward an even deeper understanding of faith as fidelity to God's will.
Monday, July 07, 2014
Universal Condition of Kindness
Lisa and I spent a wonderful July 4th holiday, celebrating both our nation's independence and her birthday, in the St. Louis area. Since Lisa is from the area, and since most of her family resides there still, it was a short family vacation. We stayed with Lisa's sister and brother-in-law, Kristy and Bill Hartman. We lounged by the pool and enjoyed the hot tub, all in the natural environs of country living. It was a great visit.
On Saturday, we attended the Cardinal's baseball game. (Both Lisa and I are long-time Cardinal fans...painful as that may be in Reds nation.) The seats we used were complimentary from Kristy's business, (Some of you are aware of my rant against the money and craze that lies in the professional sports world, though I admit to giving the organization plenty of money.) That rant will come at another time.
At the ballgame, we sat about eleven rows behind first base, in foul ball territory. The couple who sat next to Lisa did not say a word to us. In fact, the woman who sat directly next to my wife spent a few minutes, before the game started, actually clipping her fingernails. No apologies for the one that flew in Lisa's direction and actually hit her arm. In front of us sat a couple from Tennessee, with their very young daughter.We interacted a bit with them during the game, sharing baseball park Swizzlers (it's like licorice, but not quite). The mother spoke no English, and looked to be considerably younger than her husband. It was her first bite of Swizzlers as well.
The young lady who sat on the other end of our foursome knew absolutely everything about Cardinal baseball, and was eager to share information, but did not interact beyond that. The family that sat behind us carried on conversations throughout the game...something about an upcoming trip...but never interacted with anyone around them. In front of us, a family exhibited very close relationships, but only within their small group.
Isn't it interesting that the greatest degree of interaction at the game took place between us and a couple from Tennessee, she of Philippine descent, speaking no English, with her very young daughter, who looked remarkably like her mother, and he a forty-something, outwardly successful and very protective provider. The daughter was a true beauty. She turned and watched us early on, so we began to interact with her. In time, we communicated with the parents, wondering if we could give her some of the Swizzlers that we had purchased. (She and her mother tried some, by the way, but seemingly found the taste a bit overpowering.)
People can be nice even at the ballpark. Even within the maddening 42,000 crush of humanity and the mad rush to traffic jams afterward, people can be kind.
I sincerely hope that the young daughter of the couple in front of us remembers that there are nice people around, and that sometimes they share their Swizzlers. I hope that her experience was made better by interacting with the weird couple who sat behind her and played with her throughout the game. I sincerely hope that it plants a seed and that, years from now, she might share her Swizzlers with a stranger who sits in front of her, heightening the experience of kindness for that stranger. (I should add, by the way, that she repeatedly tried to share from her sippy cup with Lisa, much to the amusement of everyone around us.)
It is interesting, too, how others around treated one another. It was as if walls separated families, couples and persons from one another. There was scant little kindness. People did not, by and large, go out of their way to be nice.
But kindness shone in the face of the little girl in front of us. No matter what language one speaks, or from where persons come, there is always a value to being nice and doing things that are kind. Upset the status quo. Disrupt the usual. Shake the foundations of the walls that divide us. Be nice. Be kind.
On Saturday, we attended the Cardinal's baseball game. (Both Lisa and I are long-time Cardinal fans...painful as that may be in Reds nation.) The seats we used were complimentary from Kristy's business, (Some of you are aware of my rant against the money and craze that lies in the professional sports world, though I admit to giving the organization plenty of money.) That rant will come at another time.
At the ballgame, we sat about eleven rows behind first base, in foul ball territory. The couple who sat next to Lisa did not say a word to us. In fact, the woman who sat directly next to my wife spent a few minutes, before the game started, actually clipping her fingernails. No apologies for the one that flew in Lisa's direction and actually hit her arm. In front of us sat a couple from Tennessee, with their very young daughter.We interacted a bit with them during the game, sharing baseball park Swizzlers (it's like licorice, but not quite). The mother spoke no English, and looked to be considerably younger than her husband. It was her first bite of Swizzlers as well.
The young lady who sat on the other end of our foursome knew absolutely everything about Cardinal baseball, and was eager to share information, but did not interact beyond that. The family that sat behind us carried on conversations throughout the game...something about an upcoming trip...but never interacted with anyone around them. In front of us, a family exhibited very close relationships, but only within their small group.
Isn't it interesting that the greatest degree of interaction at the game took place between us and a couple from Tennessee, she of Philippine descent, speaking no English, with her very young daughter, who looked remarkably like her mother, and he a forty-something, outwardly successful and very protective provider. The daughter was a true beauty. She turned and watched us early on, so we began to interact with her. In time, we communicated with the parents, wondering if we could give her some of the Swizzlers that we had purchased. (She and her mother tried some, by the way, but seemingly found the taste a bit overpowering.)
People can be nice even at the ballpark. Even within the maddening 42,000 crush of humanity and the mad rush to traffic jams afterward, people can be kind.
I sincerely hope that the young daughter of the couple in front of us remembers that there are nice people around, and that sometimes they share their Swizzlers. I hope that her experience was made better by interacting with the weird couple who sat behind her and played with her throughout the game. I sincerely hope that it plants a seed and that, years from now, she might share her Swizzlers with a stranger who sits in front of her, heightening the experience of kindness for that stranger. (I should add, by the way, that she repeatedly tried to share from her sippy cup with Lisa, much to the amusement of everyone around us.)
It is interesting, too, how others around treated one another. It was as if walls separated families, couples and persons from one another. There was scant little kindness. People did not, by and large, go out of their way to be nice.
But kindness shone in the face of the little girl in front of us. No matter what language one speaks, or from where persons come, there is always a value to being nice and doing things that are kind. Upset the status quo. Disrupt the usual. Shake the foundations of the walls that divide us. Be nice. Be kind.
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