I have been in several conversations recently with people who have talked about being spiritual people. We might welcome the idea that there is a spiritual awakening in our country.

Being spiritual so often means that people believe there is a greater "force." People hope that they can be centered or connected to the wider view of who they are and what they want to be. It would seem that we would have to agree that this is good. But we can make God in our own image. I could decide that my own view of morality and a sense of basic goodness will get me through life. God in this scenario is my coach, reminding me that I need to get better at loving, caring, being patient, forgiving.

I talked to a lady once who was very proud that she believed in religion. That is a cousin to believing in one's being spiritual. Everyone makes it through the day with certain principles of behavior and honor. But religion and spirituality is within me, on my own.

Being spiritual is like being a blown-up balloon that after a while will lose its air. It means nothing but that one tries hard to be honorable. Remember, that is like trying to diet or get more exercise or learn how to cook new foods. One never arrives.

Being Christian means that we acknowledge we cannot make it on our own. Our efforts may work on this earth but will have no staying power after the air goes out of our spiritual balloon and we die. Being Christian means acknowledging that God the Father sent our Lord Jesus Christ to die for us. We have been cured from the outside. Our life is a settled response. Our Christian life is not an effort to show God or ourselves or others that we are good. It is to pour out the restorative power of His resurrection so that God does the healing. Our Christian life involves pouring God's grace out. That is the God who is revealed in the Scriptures.

We can acknowledge our sinfulness that still haunts us. But the bottom line is not trying to get better but celebrating His victory. Unless I am hearing about what He has done and reading what He has done, I will morph into a view that is spiritual and religious. We need to caution each other not to wander. That is why we worship and commune and study the Scriptures. We also express our love for Christ our Lord by yearning to be with him, now and into eternity. Being Christian is a reality and not an emotion or mood. It gets into the second and third article of the creed, not just the first. We talk about redemption and sanctification, not just a beautiful creation.

Let us examine ourselves and pray our Lord to keep us from wandering from the faith or finding excuses for others. This power is the Good News that lasts forever. Blessings in Him!

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp