I’ve been reevaluating my use of the word Spirit and spiritual recently. I’ve had a high comfort level with these words over past years, and have used them freely in my writing and speaking. I will continue to use them freely, but am now seeing evidence that more explanation by what I mean when I use these words may be in order.
A few weeks ago, a shopper walking by my office stepped in to ask directions, told me she was a committed Christian and asked what I did. I told her I was a Christian Science practitioner, helped people through prayer and practiced spiritual healing. She was fine until she heard the word spiritual. There was instant horror on her face. I can only imagine what images went through her mind when she heard that word, but I sensed that she equated it with black magic, witchcraft, or something similar.
Last weekend I gave a lecture that was attended by some seminary students. They liked my message and hung around for an hour afterward. We had a very congenial discussion about some of the points I made. I took advantage of the opportunity and asked them point blank, “What did you think about my use of the word spirit, spiritual and spiritual healing?” They had a strong Christian background and I wanted to know what images those words brought to their attention.
Interestingly, one very articulate preacher in his own right replied, “It depends upon what spirit you’re talking about.” He made it clear that from what he heard me say, I was talking about the right Spirit! So, no problems there. But to clarify his point, he mentioned I John 4, where John wrote, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
I thought, “Aw interesting. This is very helpful.”
I realized that a student in Christian Science is strongly educated with the truth that there is only one Spirit, God. Period. There is no other. What the Bible calls evil spirits and unclean spirits are false beliefs that Christ casts out becomes an unspoken truism after much study in Christian Science.
But after this gentlemen’s assertion, I realized that few people outside of Christian Science may have this same point of view. They often believe in many spirits…good ones, bad ones, sick ones, healthy ones, happy ones, depressed ones, evil ones, including the spirit of the anti-Christ…etc. So, when they hear “spirit,” they may wonder, “What spirit? A good one, an evil one, the Holy Spirit, or is it the anti-Christ?”
Hmmmm…I thought as I assimilated his comments. To communicate effectively then, I knew I perhaps need to explain better what I mean by the word Spirit.
He went on to explain, for instance, that every congregation has a certain spirit, or feel, to their worship services. When he attends a new service he looks to see where the spirit of that group leads. Does it lead to Christ, or to person, ego, away from Christ, to somewhere else? If the spirit, in his words, leads to Christ, it’s the real thing, the right spirit. If it leads away from Christ, he quickly looks for the exit door.
So, I’m giving this some more thought, how best to use the word spirit, and to be sure my audience understands what I mean by that word. There is a big difference between the one Spirit I understand to be God, and the spirits of the human mind that lead away from God.
What’s been your experience?“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” I John 4:1-3
There is also the Happy Hour Spirits! But unfortunately the only proof it has is usually 90%. LOL
All I can do is commend you, Evan, for being willing and receptive to making your message clearer.
As my former Special Education professors taught me, it is so important to be sensitive to the learner. You must see the learning challenge as the learner does and strive to listen for ways to help them understand, usually through examples and analogies your learner or, in this case your audience, can relate to.
So’way to go,Evan!! Nice work.
Mary
Evan, thanks for continuing to clarify each idea you present! It’s very helpful!
Cheers! Leslie
Happy Hour Spirits…now that is funny! Yep, another angle I never would have thought of on my own!
LOL
So did the shopper leave in horror, or did you have a nice conversation quelling her fears?
Great alertness, Evan. Good reminder that just as I am sometimes baffled by others’ religious terminology, they might find mine unclear. Agree with thy adversarial lexicon quickly…
I recently heard a definition of Spirit that I liked: “Spirit is the constant flow of Good that effortlessly fills all space.”
Hi Evan, FYI. You might try Googling “Edgar Casey”. I think he was some sort of a psychic or channeler of a spirit other than his own. Gary
The shopper was sort of in a hurry to begin with, but left before we could talk further!
Very interesting and helpful. Thank you, Evan!
Really good point, Evan. There are a lot of different ideas about what it means to be spiritual out there these days. When I’ve talked about spiritual healing in the past, I’ve had people mistake me for some kind of New Age, alternative health care advocate, so now when the subject comes up, I try to remember to talk about the Christ as the spiritual power that brings healing in the practice of Christian Science. That’s been helpful.
Hi again Evan, I’d like to add a little more to this discussion.
There is a story in the Book of Acts when, around the start of the Apostle Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey, Paul was annoyed with the continuing harassment of a slave girl’s spirit of divination – and the Apostle told the spirit to take a hike, in Jesus’ name: “And it came out that very hour.”
Here’s how Acts 16:16-18 reads: “As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.’ And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, ‘I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.”
Likewise, like yourself, I think there need be no place in a Christian’s experience for any but God’s good and holy Spirit. Gary
Evan, I think you’re right on here! I have had some of the same reactions from people to the use of the word “spirit”. How do you think we should be clarifying this in our conversation about Christian Science? Seems it’s important to bring out the central difference between Spirit and matter. But even “matter” becomes a controversial term, now that the concept of “anti-matter” has found its way into physics!