Religious or Spiritual?

One of the trustees of our church told me once that I shouldn’t plan on being chosen for pastor because I wasn’t what she (they) was (were) looking for in a pastor. She said in her opinion, that I was very spiritual but again, not what they were looking for. Has anyone ever intended to insult you but it turned out to be a compliment? She and a group of like minded people formed a “search” committee to review my qualifications. Nineteen candidates for the same position had come through the pulpit as I watched and served as liturgist. It is funny how things turn out. That was two years ago. I just “celebrated” my first anniversary as pastor of that church.

I am no where close to perfection. My God is though, and he loves me just fine. The question of are you religious or spiritual is common. People that have been insulted by Christians, hurt by churches, or frustrated by the hypocrisy of it all shy away from “religious” orders. We can mess up a good thing. Church is supposed to be where we worship God and fellowship with one another. It is supposed to be a place for healing and edification but instead its often stealing and pontification. People seek to steal the glory of God, lifting up themselves instead of Christ and promoting everything under the sun but the Son.

The dictionary doesn’t help distinguish between the two words. We define them ourselves. Religious to some means devout, and many progressive thinking people assume it means unintelligent blind fellowship of an antiquated system. Who would want that? Spiritual sounds better, more trendy, free, incorporeal.

Sex can be spiritual. Usually the brothers and sisters that tell me “they” are spiritual are pretty liberal sexually. They are into a lot of stuff that would make their grandmothers pass out. Well, maybe not these days, but “back in the day…”. Sex is one of the few things that hits on all cylinders. It’s no wonder pagans, pantheist and even Satanist use sex in their practices. Jezebel of the Old Testament was both religious and spiritual. Paul preached against the allure of the temple prostitutes of the idols worshipped in his time. It’s no wonder that some call out “Oh God” during an orgasm. Sex can be used to pervert and destroy people as well. It is a physical act that can spiritually destroy a person. I could expound on that but that is another subject. Whether it makes you numb to the truth or feeds some other need its part of the chaos we don’t manage well.

I think the real reason my friends have problems with “organized religion” is they don’t want to give up what gives us pleasure. They hope that all those uptight hardnosed Christians are wrong. Or at least let them be wrong till I get old and can’t have fun. Then I’ll change. (That is if I live that long). Religion is usually how we perceive or are comfortable worshipping God. Some day we will get that right. From what I have learned, it starts with humility and a contrite heart. I’m satisfied to find good people still seeking the truth. They help me do my job and remind me that by the grace and mercy of God I am still here.

You don’t have to stop living to become a good Christian. You just have to change your receptors. Everything you can legally do isn’t good for you. Everyone wants to receive God’s blessings but few want to give God what He doesn’t already have…your praise, worship and attention. Does that make you religious or spiritual?

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