Christian Spirituality is not mysticism, or inwardness. It is not a state of consciousness that Christians enter into in order to feel closer to God. It is rational, concrete and objective. It does, however, fully embrace the reality that as human beings we are passionate and emotional especially about the things we love. (like God.)

Romans 8:29 | 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:4 | Ephesians 4:24; 5:1
Colossians 3:9-10 | 1 Thessalonians 1:6 | James 3:9

Genesis 1:26-28 | Genesis 5:1-3 | Genesis 9:6

Christian Spirituality overwhelmingly embraces the physical world,
finding concrete expression in rather “ordinary” ways :

• in our basic relationships as husbands & wives, fathers & mothers, children, friends, neighbors
• in our professional endeavors as employers & employees, entrepreneurs & civic leaders, teachers, gardeners, beauticians, carpenters
• in the realm of creativity, music, art, literature & poetry,
  dance & movement, decorating & homemaking, preparing a meal.
  

Christianity absolutely denies that evil is intrinsically bound to the physical world.

We are not “spiritual beings on an earthly journey.” We are not spiritual beings in earthly containers. We are essentially physical body-soul beings [psycho-somatic beings] longing for a glorious physical-spiritual existence in the world to come at the resurrection of our bodies.

Read the Song of Solomon

Genesis 2:7 | Mark 7:21-23 | Luke 7:36ff
Romans 12:1-2 | 1 Corinthian 6:20 | 2 Cor 4:16-5:10
Ephesians 5:18ff. | Colossian 3:17ff. | 1 Peter 4:10-11
James 1:26-27

Christian spirituality affirms the basic goodness of God’s Creation,
encouraging us to enjoy the things God has placed in this world
for our pleasure

things that satisfy our tastes, our bodies, our eyes, our minds

using them appropriately, as the Bible instructs us.

The Holy Spirit comes to war against what we are as sinners — the bad fruit of our moral rebellion against God — not what we are as human beings created in the image of God.

Systems of religious legalism, intimidation and/or spiritual manipulation are not Christian — although they may claim to be so.

Neither are groups that forbid eating certain foods, drinking alcoholic beverages, enjoying marital sexuality, listening to “secular” music, reading literature and philosophy, and engaging in other supposedly unspiritual activities.

The Bible alone must rule the conscience of any Christian. To legislate where God has granted freedom is damnable.

Christian spirituality looks to the Bible for understanding God’s will and God ’s ways, seeking the God-intended meaning of each book, passage and verse, praying for Spirit-aided insight, knowledge and wisdom for daily life.

Spirit-led, Spirit-filled Christians live according to God’s precepts found in Scripture formed as verbal propositions taken in, analysed and deciphered by the mind, given “light” by the Holy Spirit .

Personal revelations and other phenomenon are — at best — rare.
Moreover, they have never been an ongoing, universal form of declaring God’s mind and will for individual lives.

What many Christian’s today regard as “God speaking to them” is,
in reality, the “voice” of conscience. It is part of their basic humanity, now sanctified by the Spirit, and sensitive to God’s will —
as revealed in the scriptures.

Read Psalm 119

Matthew 4:4 | Acts 17:11 | Romans 12:1-2
2 Timothy 3:15-17 | Hebrews 10:15 | 2 Peter 1:19

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