How spiritual are you?

In an April edition of USA Weekend (April 2-4, 2010) the cover story asked, “How spiritual are you?” One main point made in this article was that a person could be comfortable with being closer to God or a person’s supreme being without going to a church or meeting place, even on a regular basis.  An increasing number of Americans polled have indicated they have a spiritual relationship without being religious, and 15 percent of Americans do not like to be labeled with any religion.  I have addressed part of this controversy in the in Designer Faith column previously published.

According to the article, Catholic priest James Martin believes that spirituality can be expressed in everyday life and this is the basis for his book, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life.  Anyone can be a Jesuit without the need a priest or even be Catholic.  He joined the religious order 20 years ago when be left behind a successful business career as an executive.

I can understand the desire to be free to worship as one desires.  It is in the Constitution. However, when a person experiences a religion, there is better experience when there is a gathering of like-minded people.  It may be even better understood with a leader of that group, one who has demonstrated further insight into that religion.  This does not always translate into a regular morning service attended every Sunday at a large church building with expenses and overhead.  My youth ministry program thrives on locations away from a church building, and leaders of these groups are older youths who have been through special training and have a great deal of faith.

Like a teacher who acts as a facilitator or mentor, this spiritual leader encourages the group in that faith and answers any questions a member of the group may ask.  If a person becomes one in a faith by themselves, who do they turn to, a book?  A person can learn from a book. That is a fact. I know of and recommend a Good Book. Whether the person reads it all or wants to extend the research depends on a person’s motivation. With family management and job responsibilities taking a big chunk of our non-sleeping hours, motivation may wane or disappear.  This is, according to the national numbers, really happening. The letters by Paul encourage a fellowship of believers with appropriate leadership.

Many people have not found what they are looking for, and there are other people who will take misguided souls into cults under the guise of a religious banner. The aims of the leader of these groups may mix with militarism, violence and exploitation of the people who are looking for their religious experiences.  The results may even turn deadly as history has shown.

Therefore, there is a balance to be reached where a person seeks his or her own religious experience and who is leading a group of people for this religious experience.  As for me, it is my job at my church to lead hundreds of youth in the direction I believe is right.

Peace be you with always,

Rev. Paul Abernathy

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” -2 Peter 1:2

Contact Paul Abernathy at paulabernathy@gmail.com.

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