I refer to the concept of “spiritual” a lot, and it’s not helpful if we aren’t thinking about it the same way. Granted, there will be differences in what we think of as spiritual. This particular description is meant to speak to Christians, who I believe have lost connection with the mystical part of their faith in favor of dogma, ritual, creed, and tribal perspectives. Losing connection is pretty easy because our daily lives are immersed in the mundane reality of the physical world. Furthermore, we try to distill precepts down to a formula that can be followed by more than one person. That formula can take the form of a ritual (like baptism, sign of the Cross, even prayer such as saying the Lord’s Prayer or thanks for food) or a creed, doctrine, or dogma.
Creed, doctrine, dogma
| Feature | Creed | Doctrine | Dogma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | Concise statement of core beliefs | Broader set of teachings and principles | Most authoritative and unchangeable set of beliefs |
| Origin | Often formulated by religious leaders | Varied sources, including scripture, theological reasoning, and pronouncements | Formally declared by religious authorities |
| Flexibility | May evolve with interpretation | More flexible than dogma, but still considered authoritative | Fixed and unchangeable |
| Enforcement | Generally accepted within a community | May vary depending on the specific doctrine and tradition | Strict adherence demanded, dissent might be considered heresy |
God is non-corporeal. He’s spirit (John 4:24)*. Our journey toward the Throne is not a physical one or a rules-based, mechanical one. It’s one that requires a type of transformation of our minds and perspectives such that our souls can align with the divine will (harmony) and allow us to see and learn the details of a deeper relationship with Him as we near the Throne.
* John 4:24: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
A direct, unambiguous statement that Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well while discussing the appropriate place for worship. He emphasized the importance of spiritual, rather than physical, worship.
“Spiritual” refers to matters concerning the spirit or soul, as opposed to physical or material matters. It encompasses aspects of life and human experience related to meaning, purpose, and transcendence — those that go beyond the visible world of phenomena and base animal natures.
To be spiritual, in the broadest sense, involves a pursuit of deeper understanding and consciousness — striving towards a more profound sense of purpose, seeking connections with others and the universe, aspiring for personal and moral development, cultivating inner peace and happiness, and, for some, seeking experiences of the divine or ultimate reality.
The spiritual journey, then, is the process of personal transformation, self-discovery, and growth in these areas. It’s a path of exploration and development of one’s spiritual self that involves the use of practices or disciplines to achieve. It isn’t just bestowed. The specifics of what this journey looks like can vary widely from person to person based on their individual beliefs, values, experiences, and goals.
Navigating earthly concerns while pursuing spirituality is a delicate balancing act. It involves understanding that while we live in a physical world with material needs, we also have an inner life that requires attention and nourishment. We also have to faithfully represent a spiritual being in accordance with how His son commanded and admonished us to emulate. This can be achieved by:
- Mindfulness and Reflection: Paying attention to our thoughts, emotions, actions, and experiences, and reflecting on what they mean for our larger life purpose. This can be practiced through various means like meditation, prayer, journaling, etc.
- Ethical Living: Making choices that align with our spiritual values. This can involve things like treating others with kindness and respect, being honest, working towards social justice, etc.
- Cultivating Inner Peace: Finding ways to maintain calm and peace within ourselves despite external circumstances. This can be achieved through stress management techniques, practicing gratitude, spending time in nature, etc.
- Spiritual Practices: Engaging in practices that help us connect with the transcendent and deepen our spiritual understanding. This could involve prayer, meditation, reading spiritual texts, participating in religious ceremonies, etc.
- Serving Others: Many spiritual traditions emphasize the importance of altruism and serving others as a way of spiritual growth.
- Lifelong Learning: Continually seeking to learn and grow in our understanding of ourselves, others, and the universe. In particular, learning about the language and culture wherein the Bible was written; and learning how to recognize an earthly concern and to convert that to an exercise in spirituality.
Remember, being spiritual doesn’t mean abandoning or rejecting the physical world, but rather seeing and engaging with it from a deeper, more conscious perspective.
Approaching the throne is a spiritual metaphor that refers to entering a closer relationship with the divine, a relationship that brings about a more profound understanding of the divine character, His ways, and His desires for humanity. The idea is: the closer we get to something, the more details we can see. Here, as we spiritually draw nearer, we perceive the nuances and details of God’s divine attributes, discern His guidance in our own lives and in the world around us, and we experience the transformative power of His love and grace. It’s a journey of intimacy.
These details factor into spiritual growth and maturity in several ways:
- Increased Knowledge and Wisdom: As we delve deeper into spiritual truths, whether through personal experience, prayer, meditation, or studying sacred texts, we gain knowledge and wisdom that help us navigate life with more insight and discernment.
- Expanded Capacity for Love and Compassion: A closer relationship with God often fosters in us a greater capacity for love, compassion, and empathy, aligning our hearts closer to the divine heart.
- Enhanced Moral and Ethical Understanding: Understanding more of God’s character and His desires for humanity often provides a framework for ethical and moral living.
- Transformation of Character: As we draw closer to the divine, we’re often transformed in the process. Our priorities, attitudes, and character traits may shift, becoming more aligned with spiritual virtues.
- Deeper Sense of Purpose and Meaning: Understanding more about God and His vision for the world can give us a profound sense of purpose and meaning, guiding our decisions and life direction.
- Strengthened Faith and Trust: Encountering God in deeper and more nuanced ways can strengthen our faith and trust, enabling us to face life’s challenges with greater courage and resilience.
It’s important to note that the journey toward the divine is not a linear process, and each person’s path will look different. The key is openness, humility, and a genuine desire to seek and grow. And the more you mature spiritually, the more you bear spiritual fruit. You might think that’s a big “Duh!”, but most people think they can force the fruit to manifest.
An apple tree does not grunt out fruit. It produces apples as a function of being an apple tree. If you are a cottonwood tree, you’re not going to grunt out apples because you want to.
Reflect on the story of Peter walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33). When he kept his eyes on Jesus and his mind focused on the divine, he was able to do what seemed impossible: he walked on water. This wasn’t a conscious, forced effort on his part. Rather, it was a natural outcome of his single-minded focus on the divine, a direct result of his spiritual alignment with God.
In that moment, he was a spiritual tree. And there’s another lesson there: you don’t have to be a mature tree all at once. Baptism didn’t make you a mature tree. It made you a seed.
In much the same way, our spiritual journey is not about striving to achieve a list of feats or tick off moral boxes. Instead, it’s about a profound inner transformation, a process that gradually aligns our thoughts, feelings, and actions with God’s will in accordance with Christ’s commands. As our understanding deepens and our perspective changes, we begin to naturally embody the virtues of love, compassion, forgiveness, and humility that are central to the faith. Our actions, like Peter’s, become a seamless expression of our spiritual focus, rather than a forced attempt to follow rules.
The humble recognition of our own limitations is a crucial part of this journey. Without humility, we can easily fall prey to the illusions of self-sufficiency and pride, becoming blind to our need for God’s grace. We can mistake a facsimile of spiritual fruit for the fruit itself. And when we get an orchard full of facsimile fruit, we think we have arrived. It’s an illusion of closeness to the Throne. Like a hologram or CGI backgrounds illustrating the vividness of our imaginations.
Talking on the Think 