Recently I was drawn into a conversation about religion versus spirituality. Really the question was Christianity versus spirituality.
Is Christianity an outdated thinking that is a misunderstanding? That true faith or belief is actually found in spirituality?
Apparently, there is a saying that religion is for those who don’t want to go to hell. Spirituality is for those who’ve already been there.
The implication is for those that don’t know, religion is a facade that offers an illusion. While those who have “experienced” hell have the true knowledge and insight and the path is through spirituality.
This catch all phrase that separates the sugar from the salt … offering a true path to enlightenment through meditation, exercise, self help.
2 Timothy 4:3 captures the essence of this thinking: For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Rather than confront the truth and recognise our desperate need and yearning for a relationship with our Creator; we veil this inner desire with well crafted words, rituals and routines forming our own version of religion, to suit our own lifestyles.
Each persons spirituality is aligned to their own desires, its foundations built on the latest fad or trend, guru or spiritual mentor.
Please don’t misunderstand, Christianity suffers from the intrusion of this as well. Plenty of gurus or spiritual mentors offering the five keys to revival or prosperity!
Alas, I think what has been lost is relationship. A deep, personal, intimate relationship with our Creator. Who is the same from the beginning, to the present and through to the future.
Christianity is not outdated! Some churches might be. Some practices. But the Word is infallible, and so is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Foundations are important – for when the storms come (and they will) how will they fare? Can they stand the torrent of financial hardship? Relationship issues? Health scares?
Will they answer the deeper questions of purpose? Morality? Destiny? Meaning?
“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6)
I challenge you to explore this bold claim, don’t let go until you have made a clear, educated, informed decision – for it has eternal consequences.