I’m not certain how and when it happened, but it’s as if I went out for popcorn, and some of my favorite words changed. In our cultural identity crisis, it’s hard to keep up with even common definitions. “Family” and “marriage” and “gender” and “tolerance” and “rights” all have shifted in meaning.
But perhaps the most infamous is the word “spiritual.” It tracks biblically with God’s Spirit and all that pertains to the third member of the Trinity. But not in common conversation. We hear or read sentences like these. . .
“I’m not religious, but I am spiritual.”
“I’m an agnostic, but I have a spiritual side.”
“Hearing that band was a spiritual experience.”
So “spiritual” today has to do with the immaterial part of us, our soul, mind, and will. It is a generalized word meaning (apparently) almost nothing in particular.
The danger for Christians is that with the muddle may come a dilution of meaning in the things of God. The way we name things reflects the way we imagine them, and vice versa.
While the word “spiritual” is certainly subject to interpretation, there is no denying that the word has a rich, clear New Testament heritage for some very precious things.
Spiritual as in gifts of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 1:7
Spiritual as in God’s Law. Romans 7:14
Spiritual as in Christlike maturity. 1 Corinthians 2:13; 3:1
Spiritual as in our resurrection body. 1 Corinthians 15:44
Spiritual as in compassionate burden bearing. Galatians 6:1
Spiritual as in the content of our music. Ephesians 5:19
So, are you spiritual? You are if you are indwelt by the Spirit!
“To set the mind on flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Romans 8:6 ESV