EVERYDAY SPIRITUALITY

Most times those involved with spirituality are seen in the monastery or in the cavern. They are people who have chosen to dedicate themselves totally to prayer and the reading of the Bible constantly. At other times, spirituality is often linked with “believers” who never get angry or upset, possess special powers, and have the inside track to God. Spirituality is often linked to saints who have forsaken everything about the world, taken vows of poverty and isolated themselves from whatever is worldly. While this may not be absolutely wrong, the issue at stake is, can there not be spirituality for those of us in the everyday life? Could there not be ways of seeking and knowing God in the home as a mother with children, worker in the civil service and as students amidst the crowd that cared less about God? What about the single, widowed, or divorced family sitting next to me in the church? Could there be spirituality for those whose heart ache or yearn for the healing presence of God? How can we help them to understand that God cares for such hearts in the same way and manner He cares for those who totally dedicate themselves to Him?

The Spirituals of the Bible
What landed Jesus on the cross was the prosperous idea that common, ordinary, broken people could be godly. Those who opposed Jesus’ ministries in His time on earth were people who claimed to be “perfect” religious but who would have nothing to do with imperfect nonreligious people. The shock they got from Jesus was that anybody could become acceptable and receive the very presence of God. Jesus affirmed to the Samaritan woman, who had had five husbands and even currently lived with one who was not her husband that God is Spirit and is looking for those who would worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Spirituality is not a formula; it is not a test. It is a relationship. Spirituality is not about competency; it is about connection. The way of the spiritual life begins with our accepting where we are now – one who needs helps. Accepting the reality of our broken, flawed lives is the beginning of spirituality not because the spiritual life will remove our flaws totally but because we let go of seeking perfection and, instead, seek God, the one who is present in the tangledness of our lives. Spirituality is not about being fixed; it is about God’s being present in the inadequacies of your everyday lives.

A look at the Bible reveals that its pages are filled with stories of men and women of faith who have spots around their lives. The Bible writers did not edit out the flaws of its heroes. Noah is a typical example. He was obedient to God even when people around him thought he was crazy. His behaviour was a little strange when he started to build a boat in a desert, anticipating rain that has never fallen before. He was a courageous, a man of great faith and strong will. Against every ridicule, he believed God and when the rain came, he was saved with his household. After the flood receded, Noah triumphantly left the boat got drunk and got naked.
The New Testament characters were not much better. Jesus was always seen dining with tax collectors who had received bribes and extorted money from people, prostitutes and adulterers and losers of all kinds. In selecting His disciples after much prayers, Jesus chose people who were very much less than saints to be known as His followers. They were committed to Jesus, were ready to follow Him anywhere but they were also full of infighting as regard who would occupy a higher position, very selfish and disloyal. Most of the time, they did not understand what Jesus was talking about and after Jesus died, they were quick to go back to their old trade – fishing.
Look within the disciples: there were James and John who wanted to call down fire on the Samaritan who would not allow Jesus to perform His ministry among them (This is the same John that is called the beloved); there was Thomas who would never believe until he saw the risen Saviour face to face; there was Peter who was ready to deny Jesus in the face of being persecuted by the mob even after he had a hint from Jesus about the denial; and there was Judas Iscariot who sold out his Lord for thirty shekels of silver. We have not even mentioned many disciples of whom we have no record of any of their activities during and after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These all enjoyed the presence of the Lord and so could we, if we put the first thing first; desiring the Lord in our everyday activities.
Distortion of Spirituality
The misunderstanding of true spirituality has caused immense damage to the Christian Church. Many who claim to be spiritual are really judgmental. Getting clear on what spiritual life looks like is no casual affair. This is the life or death of the soul. A quote from a book says, “The strongest argument for Christianity is Christians, when they are drawing life from God. And the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians, when they become exclusive, self-righteous, and complacent.”
Dallas Willard is a strong advocate of Spiritual Formation. He wrote,
How many people are radically and permanently repelled from The Way by Christians who are unfeeling, stiff, unapproachable, boringly lifeless, obsessive, and dissatisfied? Yet such Christians are everywhere, and what they are missing is the wholesome liveliness springing from a balanced vitality with the freedom of God’s loving rule… Spirituality wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God.
So how do I know if I am settling for pseudo-transformation instead of the real thing? In the gospel according to Matthew, Jesus offers a list of warning signs. Here are a few that you may find helpful:

Am I spiritually “inauthentic”?

Woe to you… hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of extortion and excess.… Woe to you… hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (Matthew 23:25, 27)

To be inauthentic means to be preoccupied with appearing to be spiritual. Many times people speak Christian language, dress “Christianly,” and behave in manners that are so unnatural. All in a bid to convince others that they are spiritual, yet they are only superficial and inauthentic. Ask yourself, “How many times have you appeared godly when in truth you know it was fake and only calculated at presenting a false image?”

A little boy went to church and since he knew everything in church was to be about Jesus, he was quick to answer a question about who discovered the River Niger. The boy raised his hand and said “It is Jesus although my social science book says Mango Park!”

We all act like that. We try to say spiritual things, even when we don’t know what we are saying.

Am I becoming judgmental or exclusive or proud?

They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogue. Matthew 23: 6

Pride is one potential problem to everyone who takes spiritual growth seriously. In describing a haughty spiritual heart, a mystic wrote,
When beginners become aware of their fervor and diligence in their spiritual works and devotional exercises, this prosperity of theirs gives rise to secret pride…they conceive a certain satisfaction in the contemplation of their works and of themselves… They condemn others in their heart when they see that they are not devout in their way.

Have you at any gathering divided people you just met into categories? Have you internally chosen to mix with a setoff people and decided never to have anything to do with some people? Have you at a point thought you were in a competition with some people you should be walking the pilgrims pathway?

Am I becoming more approachable, or less?

“They love… to have people call them rabbi.” Matthew 23: 7

In Jesus’ day, lepers and prostitutes and tax collectors were especially careful to steer clear of Rabbis, who were considered especially close to God. The Rabbis had the mistaken notion that their spirituality required them to distance themselves from people. The irony is that the only rabbi the outcasts can touch turned out to be God Himself.

Jesus was the most approachable person they had ever seen. The religious leaders had a kind of differentness that pushed people away. Jesus had a kind of differentness that drew people to Him. True spirituality is that way.

Am I growing weary of pursuing spiritual growth?

“They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others”
Matthew 23: 4.
The pursuit of righteousness is always an exhausting pursuit when it seeks a distorted goal. Tragically, conventional religious goodness manages to become both intimidating and unchallenging at the same time. It becomes intimidating because it may involve many rules about one issue (For example: there may be thirty-nine rules about the Sabbath only). It may also become unchallenging – because we may devote our lives to observing all the rules and yet never open the heart to love or joy.

Reflection Questions to Assess Personal Obedience

• Am I giving control of my life to God on a regular basis?
• When I look back at my spiritual life, do I see a consistent pattern of growing obedience?
• Are there things God controls in my life now, which I held to myself in the past?
• Is every area of my life, as far as I can see, open to the purifying fire of God's conviction and molding?
• Is my heart's desire to belong completely and wholly to Him?
• The Soul at Rest: A Journey into Contemplative Prayer. Tricia McCary Rhodes. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers, 1996, p. 198-199.
• Am I measuring my spiritual life in superficial ways?
• Blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! (Matthew 23:24)

There are many in our society and churches who measure their spirituality not according to the Word of God but according to the ways people around them live. It is not suprising that many believers have reached a point of satisfaction in their spiritual journey only because they assume a better prayer language, intepretation of Scripture and a facial dominion that expresses gentility. Paul wrote to the Corinthians,

We wouldn't put ourselves in the same class with or compare ourselves to those who are bold enough to make their own recommendations. Certainly, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they show how foolish they are. (2Corinthians 10:12)

Jesus also wrote to the Church in Laodicea about how wrong they were in their assessment of themselves
You say, 'I'm rich. I'm wealthy. I don't need anything.' Yet, you do not realize that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:17)

The only One to whom believers must seek to measure themselves is Jesus Christ Himself. The writer of Hebrews advised,
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. (Hebrews 12:2 MSG)

There is no doubt that spiritual maturity is difficult to measure, but it certainly can be done. In fact, it must be addressed if congregational leaders believe it to be a priority in congregational life.
It seems to me that the two great priorities for the church are clearly spelled out in Luke 10:27, "And he answered and said, 'You shall love the LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOU MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." This teaching is also found in Mark 12:30-31.
Loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind point to spiritual formation and maturity. Loving our neighbor as ourselves indicates outreach and evangelism.

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