Are you religious or spiritual? Both? Neither (well, in that case you probably wouldn’t be reading this!)?
Ravi Zacharias in “Why Jesus?” posits that the growing belief among Americans that they are spiritual, but not religious, has opened a door to the New Age peddlers of sort of a pseudo-spirituality that’s pervading our culture.
Bill Hybels at Willow Creek Community Church observation that the traditional, formal, structured way of worship was not attracting people the way an Acts 2 community should pioneered the revolution of how to do church.
Researchers have been applying the principles developed by sociologists for years to study popular culture and church–and church has come up short in most research. I took my first class studying those results somewhere around 1973. I’ve seen some in the past five years or so.
So, what is religion? I’ve been guilty of taking the “I’m spiritual but not religious” approach in my life. But it’s all about the definition of religion. I grew up Protestant, which probably colors my thinking. My year of teaching in a Catholic school attending Mass twice a week was an enlightening experience–but didn’t convert me.
What I was against was organized religion. Groups that draw boundaries with admittance requirements–many requirements. Groups that fought each other. At that time long ago, the term Acts 2 church wasn’t talked about, but that’s what I was seeking. Small communities–maybe a house church–of committed followers. Not an exclusive priesthood with a huge bureaucracy.
I also don’t care for church politics. I’ve studied bureaucracy both from public and business perspectives. It applies to church denominations, too. Bureaucracies tend toward self-perpetuation. Cover up negative situations so that you always project truth and light.
There is also the phrase, doing things religiously. That means with regularity and reverence. I think this is the kind of religious we lost with a generation or two rejecting the formal religious stance.
Developing regular Spiritual practices (disciplines) actually can be just a New Age synthesis of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and hocus-pocus promulgated by rock-star handsome speakers or seemingly sincere women.
It’s the reverence toward God that puts things in perspective. I’m part of a church community, but I have had nothing to do with church politics for most of 30 years. I just teach. You need a grounding in doctrine and community to keep you on the narrow path.
But, don’t let people off the hook with the “I’m spiritual but not religious” comment. It’s a cop-out. They’re free (in their minds) to believe about anything–minerals, pyramids, auras, vague spirits. Don’t get lost. But stay Spiritual.
Faith Venture 