Spiritual But Not Religious

"I am spiritual, but not religious."

In today's post-Christian era, this statement is frequently heard. It is generally used as an explanation of why the person does not participate in traditional church life. The statement acknowledges the spiritual as an important dimension of that person's life. It rejects religious practices, i.e., church activities, as having little value. The statement is often accompanied by a statement about the church being an irrelevant, man-made institution based on human traditions, perpetuating an out-dated way of thinking and living.

The statement expresses rejection of traditional church life. But it might just be a gift, if we church people can receive it. The statement helps us to see how non-church and fringe-church people see the institutional church today.

The statement is a commentary on the church in current, Western culture. It basically says the church has failed (is failing) to do what it is designed to do: to help us encounter God, to connect with God, to live in relationship with God, to live as God's people.

The statement is a mirror non-church people are holding up to us church people to help us see ourselves through the world's eyes. They see too much "church" and not enough of God.

The statement is a reminder of how the human ego seeks to supplant the place of God. Religious life is supposedly about God and the things of God. It's amazing how we turn it to make it about us - what we like, what we have always done it and want it to be, what makes us feel good.

The statement reminds me of Jesus' words, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations, but you have made it a den of robbers," (Mark 11:17, NRSV).

What would it take for the church to be a place where spiritual people would turn to find God?