Have you ever met someone who made you think, “This person is connected to the Spirit.”? I have met a lot of them, and I always walk away feeling inadequate. I consider myself to be a spiritual person, and have no trouble praying regularly, but this is different. And I don’t mean the fake smile, “bless your heart” kind of person who exudes a kind of phony religiosity that seems far too common in public life. I have no time for the kind of person who says the right words and votes to take food from children and social security from retired people. It is part of my argument that what Jesus – and Paul, to a lesser extent – taught about bearing good fruit means more than what we say. Our words can say anything we want them to say, but our actions matter more.
I come in contact regularly with the Spiritual, But Not Religious types, and there are some who really are just that. By some, I mean few. Those who aren’t often use the term is a way to avoid the difficult question of what their approach brings to the world. Instead of being a path of personal and communal enrichment, it’s a phrase – a smokescreen. When I ask the vast majority of them what being SBNR entails, they glance nervously and fumble around and have no real answer – at least, any that satisfy my curiosity. If you aren’t a spiritual person, then don’t use the word. Since action-oriented spirituality is kind of my thing, be prepared to be quizzed. I really want to know – this is not a gotcha moment. If you want everyone to believe that you are connected to a higher power in some way, show us what that means. I won’t judge the depth or value of it – I just want to know.
There are just too many Christians claiming to be spiritual while walking a road that is not. For me, a spiritual person knows that God wants good works as well as thoughts and prayers. A spiritual person loves others – even the people they don’t much like – and cares what happens to them. A spiritual person sees hungry people and feeds them, whether by actually giving them food, or in the way they vote and pay taxes. A spiritual person calls someone they haven’t seen for a while and actually does something to help that person if they are in need – and if they will accept the help. Thoughts should bring about works – prayers should result in actions. This is why the Apostle Paul was so rough on the church in Corinth, I think; he reminded them that love matters more than anything else, and love results are tangible action. Spiritual parlor tricks won’t make up for a frozen, uncaring heart and life. You want to show me you are spiritual? Do something! Otherwise, move on. Your words mean nothing.
Prayer – Holy God, may the words of our hearts result in good for others. Amen.