What is spirituality? (2)

Does spirituality make life better? That's the assumption, isn't it? That if one pursues a deep spiritual life, their natural life will be happier, more complete.

Why do we assume that to be true? Well, we hear it often from preachers, pundits and other voices pushing us toward a higher life.

Yet I think the assumption (that spirituality increases well being) comes mostly from own experience. The happiest people I know are those who hunger to be spiritual the way a plant stretches toward the light.

In fact, happiness (joy) tops the "fruit of the Spirit" list (Galatians 5:22). Which brings me to the main point: one can't truly be "spiritual" without the Holy Spirit.

Notice how the Holy Spirit radically changed Jesus' own disciples and caused them to grow in spirit:

Jesus had nicknamed James and John "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17) - probably because of their hostile approach to any who weren't part of the group (Mark 9:38) and their eagerness to call fire from heaven down on those who insulted Jesus (Luke 9:54).

Yet, after the coming of the Holy Spirit, John later writes, "We should love one another... Anyone who does not love remains in death... Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 3:11; 3:14; 4:8 NIV).

And Peter had the same radical experience. Although seemingly bold and assertive, when the crisis came he wilted. After protesting to Jesus, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death", Peter couldn't even admit that he knew his Master when the trial started (Luke 22:33, 54-62).

But after his encounter with the Holy Spirit, Peter preaches boldly in Acts chapter two to the same mob that shouted for Jesus to be crucified. And he even went against fifteen centuries of Jewish law, entered a Gentile's home and spoke the gospel to the Centurion's family (Acts chapter ten).

So true spirituality hinges on one's relationship to the Holy Spirit. If He is present and active in your life, He will increase the strength and and maturity of your spirit.

"People who do not have God's Spirit do not accept the things that come from His Spirit. They think these things are foolish. They cannot understand them, because they can only be understood with the Spirit's help. " (1 Corinthians 2:14 ERV).