Reflecting on 2021: Spiritual Things

Today I'll be reflecting on "Spiritual things" I've gotten to witness over the last year. 

Just by mentioning the word "Spiritual" there is opportunity for confusion. For some people Spiritual things are otherworldly. For some these are the things of fictional legends. For other people, Spiritual things are the privately held beliefs about the Divine. For still others, Spiritual things means events and circumstances that happen in life's most dramatic moments. For others Spiritual things might as well mean religious nonsense. For others Spiritual things means nothing more than the visible religious ceremonies attached to any particular belief system. 

A definition for what I mean by "Spiritual things": 

"Spiritual things refers to the inward dispositions, beliefs, and attitudes, which then lead to outward actions, habits, and pursuits. In this way, Spiritual things can be thoughts, words, or actions"

I get this definition by looking at a couple of passages from the New Testament:

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:13-18)

Notice in James how wisdom is known in a good life. That good life is in contrast to "bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts". When our inward dispositions, beliefs, and attitudes are selfish, or envious there "you find disorder and every evil practice". There is a clear relationship established between the inward heart, and the outward actions. An abundantly evil inward disposition leads to an abundantly evil outward life. This abundance of evil is contrasted with a wisdom that comes from heaven which is pure and loves peace. Rather than being selfish, wisdom from heaven is considerate and submissive. 

While many think that "Spiritual things" are the unobservable, God's Word in the Bible seems to say just the opposite. The book of James isn't the only place we find this emphasis on Spiritual things and observable life. Consider the contrast between the fruit of the Spirit and the acts of a sinful nature in Galatians:

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-25)

This list is like a diamond of godly character. You could look at this list in many different ways to study it's beauty and bright angles. This list in Galatians, in a similar way to James, associates attitudes, dispositions, and inward desires with outward actions. Spiritual things are often times observable. R

Thanks to God's Word we can move forward with this definition of Spiritual things in mind. 

1. LOVE

Over the last year many within our church have had opportunities to show selfishness, or kindness.  One way this was demonstrated was through food and fellowship. At the start of the year, everyone was excited, but also nervous about beginning things like potlucks and other meal ministries. Many were nervous because of potential illness. Many were giddy to renew fellowship, sharing time and food. Would factions emerge? Would dissensions and divisions be the lasting impact of choosing to begin sharing food once again? Would peace reign, or would discord reign?

Many within the church were praying about these things and seeking God's wisdom about what would be most pleasing to Him. God was gracious to us as a church and spared us from any quarrels or strife or illness as we celebrated our first potluck since the first lockdowns of March 2020. 

I doubt Potlucks rank highly on the list of many people's list of "Spiritual things". Yet sharing food together undoubtedly was an outward expression of inward attitudes, pursuits, and desires. God's people wanted to be together. God's people wanted to spend time in thanks and celebration. These first meals together were a demonstration of love and self-control. The family of God gathering for food was a tangible manifestation of God's work in the life of our church. 

Food became a staple of our daily lives together as a church in 2021. Plentiful amounts of food were available to children during VBS, to families who were mourning the loss of dearly beloved kin, and to rushing church volunteers attending meetings directly after a hard day's work. Food is a big way that we love one another well in our church. We have many who serve the community by bringing meals on wheels, and many more who bring encouragement through food and gift cards to individuals and families in the church. 

Sharing a meal with someone says much about priorities, and desires. Taking time to share a meal with someone means that person becomes a priority for that time. Sharing a meal shows common desires to eat, and a common desire to be together. I'm thankful for the hospitality our church has shown to each other both during large "potluck" events, and during smaller gatherings. I'm thankful to get to witness how God is growing charity, love, self-control and discipline within our congregation. 

2. CONSIDERATION

This week while reflecting I've alluded to many opportunities for conflict and some actual conflict that our church has experienced over the last year. We've had several opportunities for disagreement about updates and maintenance issues within the church grounds. We've had several opportunities for evil quarrels regarding worship, and ministries of the church. In the past, I've witnessed a single person remain stubborn (or steadfast) on a particular resolution they thought was best. Regardless of whether their outlook was correct or not, I've seen (and been myself) inconsiderate towards those during disagreements. Sometimes what starts as a simple difference in approach, can turn into serious accusatory attitudes of distrust and discord. 

As a work of God's goodness, consideration cares for the people involved. Not only does Godly consideration care for how the result of a decision or process impacts others, but also for how the decision making process itself impacts others. I have seen huge amounts of consideration on display this past year. Consideration was present in deciding to begin normal pre-covid-19 aspects of our community life. Some people who wanted to move things quicker, decided to move slower for the sake of others. Some people who wanted to move more cautiously were open to ideas that allowed others who were not as cautious to gather. 

Many decisions, discussions, and relationships could have turned towards sinful quarreling, bickering, infighting and malice. Instead, the congregation was considerate of one another. Recognizing that everyone impacted were beloved of God and thereby worthy of respect, dignity, and kindness. 

There is more that I could add to this, but for the sake of brevity I'll throw in some quick hitters:

3. Peace

Peace has grown in our church even in the midst of many hard feelings, difficult relationships, and struggles. The peace that has grown isn't a Disney fairy tale like peace that someday everything in this world will be roses and apple pie. The peace that has grown has been one of contentment that whatever occurs in this life, Christ Jesus is still Lord and his power is made perfect in our weakness. 

4. Sincerity

Our congregation is very honest, straight forward, and filled with sincere people. When someone is wrong, it's most likely not out of some devious hidden agenda. We are growing in our sincerity even as true sincerity is already a huge strength. When a question is asked, it's genuine. When a statement is made, it's genuine. For all the cliches about church politics (yes, our church has some), we are open in our discussions and forthright in our aims. Sincerity isn't a "Midwestern" quality, it's a Godly aspect of Spiritual growth.

5. Goodness

I've gotten to witness how God's people desire goodness. We are growing in goodness as our church learns to question what the differences are between what the world, the flesh, and the devil call "good" and what God calls good. Many of us have struggles, aches, pains and daily battles. Those battles are evidence of God at work in us stirring us to fight against the ways of our old dead spiritual selves, and instead to live in our new nature given life through Christ. 

I hope you have enjoyed some transparent reflections from my point of view this week. There are many more stories I've witnessed, but those are not my stories to share. When others feel they are ready to share, I hope they do for the encouragement and benefit of God's people. My prayer for 2022 is that God would grow our congregation in our witness of His power in our local community and surrounding region.