The Rev Dr Vinson Samuel is Pastor-in-Charge of
WHAT SPIRITUALITY MEANS TO ME
Walking with Jesus
By Vinson Samuel
INTEREST IN SPIRITUALITY is on the rise and extends well beyond the parameters of Christianity. Publications on spirituality line the shelves in many bookstores and countless websites explore the subject.
Last year I had a conversation with a conference delegate which soon moved into the area of faith. “I have faith in a Higher Power,” he said, “I am a spiritual person too.” A recent conference on spirituality in mid-west
How should we understand spirituality? Spirituality is more than a belief in a supernatural power or a weekend retreat of reflection or even a daily hour of meditation. It is a personal relationship, an ongoing communion with a living God that results in a love for others. Christian spirituality is defined by Christ and His ways as shown in the Scriptures. It is the growth that develops when a believer makes a consistent and ongoing choice to surrender to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is living out the Christian life by consciously choosing to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide our thought, word and deed (Romans 6:11-14; Eph 5:18). It is bearing the “fruit of the Spirit”(Galatians 5:22-23), i.e., being controlled by the Holy Spirit, having a sound speech, a consistent spiritual walk and making decisions based on the teachings of the Scriptures. It is a life-long process of progressively relying on God’s Spirit.
Critical factors that influence our experience of spirituality are our personal beliefs and values, our denominational perspectives and our attitudes to the world, culture, tradition and history. John Wesley’s teaching on “the means of grace” and “works of piety” has been pivotal in my journey in Christian spirituality. These means of grace include: Worship and the Lord’s Supper, Searching the Scriptures, Conferring with others and Prayer and Fasting.
To evaluate the spirituality of our personal experiences, we should ask, Does this religious experience draw me to a deeper and closer relationship with God? Is this experience or practice grounded in love for God and neighbour? Does it draw me to prayer and to the reading of the Scripture? Does this experience result in a life of ethical action and good works?
Therefore, Christian spirituality involves a choice to “know and grow” in a daily relationship with Christ by yielding to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Christian spirituality takes us beyond our self-centred lives by expanding our hearts with compassion towards all.
The Rev Dr Vinson Samuel is Pastor-in-Charge of