I will often have someone call and ask me to officiate their wedding. Most of the time I have never met the person and this is the first time we have talked. Recognize I am called to serve as a pastor. I do weddings as part of my duty, but I am not a wedding chaplain. In these situations, I will share that I am happy to officiate the wedding if the couple is willing to commit to receiving pastoral care. What this means, practically speaking, is attendance during Sunday worship, pre-marital counseling, and general participation in the life of the church. Sometimes people are agreeable to this and at other times they are not.
Recently, I had a young lady call me with such request. She insisted I needed to officiate her wedding even though she didn’t want anything to do with the church. She was a bit offended I didn’t want to officiate her wedding. I asked her why it was so important to be married in the church. Her reply was that she was “spiritual but religious.” She went on to tell me she believed in God and that God was important to her, but that she connected with God in her own way.
This has become a common saying. Many people identify as being “spiritual but not religious.” The typical interpretation is that this is a person who attempts to identify with God outside of organized religion. There are more than a few of you reading this who might identify as such. Let’s look at this.
You are Spiritual
Yes, you are spiritual. Every person is spiritual by nature. We live in the physical world, but God has created us for eternity. In each of us is a longing to connect with something that is bigger than ourselves. God just wired us that way.
The reason we want to connect with something bigger is we want our existence on this earth to have meaning and purpose. If there is no God, our existence here is empty. There is a reason why most people are not atheists. It is hard to be an atheist. God created you with a natural knowledge of him and a desire to know him. The pursuit of God is something that is in our very nature. To say you are spiritual is not to say anything new.
I wonder how many people who say they are “spiritual but not religious” are looking for God, but don’t know where to find him.
What does it mean to be Religious?
To be religious implies devotion and commitment. The sports fan who supports their team win or lose is religious. They are devoted to supporting their team no matter what.
We might say that just as every person is spiritual, every person is religious. We all have a religion. The question is to what religion we choose to devote and commit ourselves. Spirituality is about the desire to connect with God, religion is the path along which we seek that connection. Sometimes that path is organized, other times it is not.
To be “spiritual but not religious” is not to reject God, rather it is an attempt to define God on our own terms. It is creating our own religion. The worshippers of Baal in the Old Testament were very religious. It was just that their god was their own creation. There is nothing new under the sun. Being “spiritual but not religious” is a new form of idolatry – it is worshipping God created on our own terms rather than his.
An Invitation to Community
I understand why the idea of church is not appealing to many people. There are many excuses people use avoid church:
- Jesus is great, but his followers are not.
- It’s made up of a bunch of hypocrites.
- The church only wants your money.
- Everyone is so judgmental.
- I don’t get fed.
Indeed the church is far from perfect. Many are burdented with some incredibly negative experiences from the past. It takes some doing and the help of God to move past that.
If you are in the spiritual but not religious category, I would want to encourage you not to give up on the church so easily. Every church is different and they are not all the same. No church is perfect. No church has all the answers. The church is a group of imperfect people who work together to seek God’s path.
Jesus invites us to commmunity. He invites us to seek him together. While it is important to experience God individually, some of the best promises of Scripture are held for those who seek God in community.
Would love to see you on Sunday!
Questions for Reflection
- What do you think it means to be spiritual but not religious?
- Do you think you can be spiritual but not religious?
- Do you think it is more important to connect with God individually or together with other people? Why?
- Share your comments.
Lee says
This message is very informative and does open up and explain our being. It also answers so many comments that as a devote creation of God I am ask. Now I have a response to the questions that will relay my comment to a Heavenly Father. That you for your words.
Bob West says
This was a great message today. I attend a very wealthy Methodist church and I struggle with my tithe, looking for other avenues in order to further the Father’s Kingdom here on this earth, but I do it as is instructed in the Holy Word. But, you make a very pointed message. I try to be more spiritual than religious. I think that I am both, but not sure. I live my life through servant leadership as many of Paul’s letters have instructed, but a very interesting debate, not sure where the middle ground is. Any insights are greatly appreciated. I so much appreciated these messages I receive daily. God Bless you all and everyone.–bob
Joyce Gorman says
I love today’s devotional because it hits the heart of what so many people say these days. Thank you for your thoughtful comments and always look forward to your devotionals.