Spiritualism - Lesson #1
The spiritual wilderness many people inhabit today, particularly in the western world, can be traced back to the European Enlightenment of the eighteenth century when "reason" emerged to challenge faith and question the accuracy of the biblical text. Thus began the emergence of science as the solution to the questions people ask. In the nineteenth century Darwin's theory of evolution further challenged faith in God so setting the course of agnosticism. Since then genetics, robotics, astronomy, psychology, archaeology etc. have together laid the foundations of the post-modern world we currently live in. And this constant deluge of "facts" seems to have caught people of faith unawares (by which I mean Christians) leaving them on the back foot playing catch-up with their: "God of the Gaps." But it needn't be like this as science and religion are not in conflict with each other but complementary. Why? Because until the end of time human-knowledge will only ever be partial and incomplete (1 Cor. 13:12).
Psychology has played its own part in the spread of today's spiritual wilderness. It was Descartes who first identified mind separate from matter (dualism) a discovery that has been largely rejected in modern times. Yet psychology has no answer to the questions people ask about who they are and why they are here. What is consciousness? Are we conscious or not? Where in the brain does consciousness lie? Is there a continuous "movie show" going on in the brain and so on? Neither does psychology have any answer to "what do we mean by self?" except to deny self altogether. For many psychologists everything we see, feel and experience is an illusion without meaning or purpose – all the product of a material brain end of story. No wonder people are confused and searching for answers – science cannot satisfy the deep longings we human beings have.
Jesus said: The Spirit of God is upon me to preach good news…………" (Luke 4:18). And with an open, trusting and accepting response to that good news people will come alive spiritually to have their deepest human needs satisfied. Trust in Jesus brings us into fellowship with God (who is Spirit) through spiritual rebirth. It comes down to faith. But not a faith that is "unreasonable" but a faith rooted in historical fact and therefore accessible to the mind – a mind that is constantly being conformed and renewed by God (Rom. 12:2). Faith takes us beyond human knowledge and the science of Apologetics can assist in this. Apologetics encourages us, as Christians, to meet people where they are with all their doubts, questions and fears. Not to beat them down with clever arguments but with truth that comes from personal experience (1 Peter 3:15). And the more we engage in this the better we will become at it. So, we shouldn't argue with people seeking to wear them down or prove them wrong; we should act with sensitivity and consideration mindful that sometimes the questions people ask mask the real questions they have on their mind. We need to be attentive and listen, compassionate and patient.
People are different and learn in different ways – this has long been known. To be effective witnesses for Jesus we need to recognise different personality types - and do it quickly. In one course I did it was three personality types we were taught each having its own particular characteristics. Some people are outgoing; others subdued and still others compliant – all three can be found in church Sunday by Sunday. And I've met them all many times. It is vital, therefore, that our preaching, teaching and conversations appeal to each of them (sometimes together) if our ministry is to be effective. Each personality type (and some people may be a combination of several) should be easily identifiable within a minute or so. If we are to lead people to Christ, who is able to bring them to life spiritually, we need to know people (really know them); know the gospel; and preach it with knowledge; sincerity; conviction and understanding.
Rev Derek Marsh BA (hons) DHT
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