Holiness, Not Spiritualness
1 Peter 1:15-16, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
“I’m spiritual.” I’ve heard this more times than I can count. Especially when people know that I’m a pastor, they always feel the need to claim this. Everybody has a concept of the importance of spirituality and they claim this as some sort of justification for how they live. Does claiming spirituality actually mean anything, though?
Not a bit! I’m sure, rather I know, there are are a lot of Christians or pastors who are quite ok with this statement and even get pleased by it. Honestly, it means nothing to me! What? That’s right! There is no secret that there is a spiritual world around us, but there’s something you should know. All spirits are not good. In fact, many, many spirits are not good. Therefore all spirits are not God. You can be “spiritual” and have nothing to do with God at all. I know some very spiritual people who are also the most flaky people. See, you can be “spiritual”, and also completely serving the devil.
Not far from where I live is the largest community of spiritualists in the world. Full of fortune tellers and palm readers; they have spiritual events all the time. Christians (at one time even me) foolishly will take part in these things thinking that they are doing something good or getting answers for their lives. They are getting answers alright, but I assure you they are not from God. They are of the devil and the Bible warns us about this. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” And 2 Corinthians 11:14 says, “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” Most people are quick to gobble up anything fed to them as long as it feels good going down!
God has called us to be holy (1 Peter 1:16), not spiritual. We are told to seek God and His Word for our answers, nothing else. We are not even supposed to seek angels, that is not their purpose. That does not mean God won’t use them or that we are not meant to but that’s another lesson.
Following God is not hard but it does require something from us, that is the truth. We must follow the truth, live in the truth, and be truthful people. Especially as it pertains to ourselves. The Bible has strong warnings about deception and I tell you that one of the greatest deceivers can be our own mind. The devil knows this fact and often exploits it. Often times, he needs very little help because we just let him. As a Pastor, I have caught myself “wanting” to believe something that just wasn’t true. Have you ever been there? You want to believe it because it feels good. That my friends is very dangerous. I refuse to believe anything that is not true.
If you stay with a pure heart in God’s Word, He will keep you from being deceived. Part of that is refusing anything, even what you have traditionally believed, if it does not line up exactly with what is written. I constantly evaluate what I say I believe and put it against God’s Word. If it passes, then I keep it unto myself. If it doesn’t, I make adjustments. This is the path of learning, this is the path that’s safe. You don’t know everything there is to know and neither do I, but God teaches us through His Spirit by His Word as much as we will keep it before us. Don’t be spiritual, be holy. When you’re Holy the right kind of spiritual will manifest in your life. You won’t have to tell anyone, it will be very evident.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Jeff
