Spirituality refers to recognizing that lives have a sacred meaning and connection with something far greater than human beings. On the other hand, sin is considered an immoral act that transgresses divine law. What most believers want to know is what the relationship between spirituality and sin is. So, is being spiritual a sin?
Being spiritual is not a sin. This is because people commit no immoral acts for recognizing that their lives have a sacred meaning and have a connection with a much greater being. No religion implies that spirituality is a sin.
So, what does the bible teach about spirituality? What does it mean to be spiritual? How does spirituality differ from religion? Do you believe in God if you’re spiritual? Can you be spiritual and not religious? Is God present in spirituality? What are the benefits of being religious and spiritual? What are the dangers of spirituality without religion? Can religion exist without spirituality? Which Bible verses can improve your spiritual life? Read on to learn the answers to all these questions.
What does the bible teach about spirituality?
Romans 8:6 says, ‘For to set the mind on flesh is death, but to set the mind of the spirit is life and peace.’ This scripture implies that their moral structure must be firm for believers to walk in the newness of life. This means that allowing the sinful nature of your life controls your mind eventually leads to death. However, when you let the Spirit control your mind, it will lead to peace and life.
Living spiritually means living a new quality of life in Jesus Christ. This stems from putting aside our judgments about what other people deserve and focusing on what would bring them a better life, whether they deserve it or not. The moral compass of the ones being saved by God’s grace is bringing life as a substitute for fulfilling the law. This is brought out in Romans 8:1, which states that ‘There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’.
What does it mean to be spiritual?
According to 1 Corinthians 2:14-15, ‘The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments.’ In this bible verse, the natural person is contrasted with the spiritual person. The spiritual person is said to be born again and have the Holy Spirit in them, whereas the natural person is unregenerate.
Being spiritual means seeking change and desiring it in our inner selves. It requires staying locked on what the Spirit desires by re-training our minds. This is recorded in Romans 8:5, which states, ‘ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.’
How does spirituality differ from religion?
Spirituality is defined as the focus on spiritual things without focusing on earthly things. In contrast, religion is a set of beliefs that bring a person into a correct relationship with God.
According to John 4:24, God is Spirit and spirituality is about becoming more like Him. True spirituality is possessing the fruits of the Holy Spirit in your life. These fruits include Joy, Love, Peace, Goodness, Patience, Kindness, Self-Control, and Gentleness. Religion, on the other hand, is all about faith. This means believing in something that is based on religion’s teachings. Through traditions and religion, religious people feel rooted and connected to their creator.
Do you believe in God if you’re spiritual?
According to (John 1:12-‐13; John 3:5-‐8; 1 John 4:7), spirituality means to be born of God. If you are spiritual, that automatically means you believe in God.
People who say they are spiritual believe that God exists and believe in Him. A spiritual person may not follow a particular religion but knows that there is an Ultimate cause of this world responsible for every being. This Ultimate Cause is their God. Spiritual people may not necessarily call their God as God, but their belief in something higher is the same as that of a religious person.
Can you be spiritual and not religious?
Author James Martin of “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything” notes that several people claim to be spiritual without attaching spirituality to any religion. They consider spirituality as just a state of mind. Just because people are spiritual does not automatically make them religious, especially when they make their rules, not about the Spirit behind those rules but about when they make their religion about the rules. Therefore, this concludes that yes, you can be spiritual without necessarily being religious.
Is God present in spirituality?
In the scripture, the term Spirit refers to God as the third person of the Trinity, thus presenting His presence in spirituality. This is brought out in John 4:24, which states that ‘God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ God is Spirit, therefore, implies that He identifies Himself with the Spirit and informs us that the acts of the Spirit are certainly His acts.
God’s spirituality, therefore, means that he is invisible and bears and bears all the characteristics and qualities of the Spirit who dwells in his people.
What are the benefits of being religious and spiritual?
Spirituality and religion have a way of impacting people’s mental health positively. For instance, both of these can help someone tolerate any kind of stress by generating forgiveness, purpose, and peace. Religion gives believers something to believe in, and spirituality helps people understand how they interpret the meaning of life. Both of these also act as key factors in tolerating stress.
Being religious helps us understand God better than we could by ourselves through the stories of other believers. Being Religious also helps transcend your imagination and understanding. For instance, if you imagine God as being a stern judge, then this will alternatively strengthen you to become a better person morally.
In conclusion, being both religious and spiritual form part of a relationship with God. One cannot be fully realized without the other.
What are the dangers of spirituality without religion?
Spirituality without religion can result in self-centered complacency separated from the wisdom of a community. This is mostly because there are no solid moral codes apart from inner conscience, meaning that nothing calls authoritatively for moral conversion.
Another danger of spirituality without religion is that spiritual but not religious people are more prone to suffer poor mental health. This is because they have nothing to believe in and tend to lose hope easily.
Can religion exist without spirituality?
Biblical scholars believe that religion exists without spirituality. They state that spirituality does not mean subscribing to a certain religion, but a feeling that something out there is more meaningful than the material world. Religion is about believing in something. This might be termed as ‘faith.’ Through faith, people can do something without worrying about the result. This is a clear demonstration of belief without spirituality.
Bible verses to improve your spiritual life
Jude 1: 20-21 states, ‘But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.’ This Bible quote strengthens the faith of believers by encouraging them to keep being prayerful and faithful so that one day they will obtain eternal life. As a result, it also improves the believers’ spiritual lives.
Romans 14:16-18 talks about not letting what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. This is because whoever serves Jesus Christ is accepted by God, and His kingdom is of joy in the Holy Spirit, righteousness, and peace. The bible verse strengthens believers not to let the judgment of others make them think that they are not righteous.
As per Isiah 40:31, those who hope and trust in the Lord will have their strength renewed. This verse strengthens Christians’ spiritual faith in the Lord by ensuring them that they will never tire as long as they have faith in Him.
References
- Theologyofwork.org
- What it means to be spiritual
- Spirituality Vs. Religion
- Difference between religion and spirituality
- Open bible
- God’s presence in spirituality
- Religious and spiritual benefits
- Religious and spirituality impact on mental health
- Attitudes towards spirituality and religion
- Spiritual people and their belief in God
- Religion without spirituality
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
