WHAT SPIRITUALITY MEANS TO ME
IN A SENSE, the title is irrelevant or superfluous. It is not personal opinion of spirituality that counts but what the Bible leads us to. In this respect it seems to me that Biblical or Christian Spirituality is frequently misrepresented because we are influenced by general views of spirituality that often emphasise the dichotomy of body and soul/spirit leading to very mystical concepts as if the material is secondary.
For example, for many, to worship “in spirit and in truth” implies what happens “within” a person is what really counts. If it were true that worship “within” is what counts then Baptism and Holy Communion, our Sacraments, would make little sense; they are very material rituals. Perhaps this is one reason why the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple, said that Christianity “is the most materialistic of religions”. Christian spirituality does not emphasise the body and soul/spirit dichotomy. Body and material are important as well.
It seems to me that Biblical Spirituality actually revolves around spiritual formation. This is derived from Galatians 4:19 “ … until Christ be formed in you”. This parallels Colossians 1:28,29 “… so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that He powerfully inspires in me”. For the apostle Paul, these two objectives were complimentary (similar?) aims of his ministry.
Next question: What is Christian maturity?
It seems to me that if “until Christ is formed in you” is any guide, then maturity is growth in Christ-likeness, Christ-like character or “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal 5:22, 23). (Some Christian circles define “fruitfulness” in terms of converts or disciples but the case for this is not strong).
And if we look towards Biblical fruitfulness then John 15 (Jesus as vine) must be instructive. Fruit must be grown, the result of nurturing the plant. The picture from John 15 seems to indicate that “abiding and pruning” may represent what the Church has long recognised as spiritual disciplines – fasting, prayer, study, service, worship, etc. In John 15 this is the key to fruitfulness.
As spiritual disciplines nurture the soul the fruit of the Spirit grows in the Christian.
So, Biblical spirituality involves the processes of spiritual formation, the goal of which is Christian maturity in all Christians. Maturity is Christian character or the fruit of the Spirit grown by nurturing the soul through spiritual disciplines. True spiritual disciplines involve body/material and soul/spirit.
This, to me, is Christian or Biblical spirituality, individual and corporate.
Note: I am greatly indebted to Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline) and Dallas Willard (The Spirit of the Disciplines). They have helped me also see that Christian spirituality very much involves the body (material) and thus avoids the body/soul dichotomy.
The Rev Melvin Huang is the Pastor-in-Charge of Wesley Methodist Church.