Five Components of Supernatural Christianity

Some of us really like categories and lists. The problem is that when we categorize topics with bullet points (Schnase's five practices, Wesley's three simple rules, Warren's five purposes), we sometimes forget that the individual items are usually connected with each other and hardly ever stand alone.

I've been a reading Christian since my conversion as a young teenager in 1986. I like to read contemporary books and more traditional books from practically every theological viewpoint under the sun. With most works, I usually take what I think is good and leave what isn't. In other words, I eat the meat and spit out the bones, at least as I see it. It works for me because it keeps me from getting stuck in a theological ghetto where I'm only reading authors who don't stretch me either spiritually or intellectually. And that's one of the reasons I stay Methodist, because we're in the middle of the spectrum and that gives me a little freedom to experiment theologically.

Over the years, I've found myself exploring ways to make my faith both more practical and more supernatural. I've said many times that theology is useless if it doesn't work on the streets. (I don't get much "hate mail" on this blog, but this one comment has probably brought me more than any other.) I still stand by it.

I owe a great debt to my "mentors"... past and present authors who have shaped my faith with their writings. People like John Wesley, John William Fletcher, E.M. Bounds, Andrew Murray, John White, Will Willimon, Greg Boyd, Martin Luther, Derek Prince, Charles Finney, Charles Kraft, Peter Wagner, R.A. Torrey, Francis MacNutt, Charles Spurgeon and Jack Hayford. There are many others, but I'll stop there. No matter where you stand theologically, someone on this list probably makes you cringe, because what these people have in common is that they've been willing to experiment with and even challenge perceived orthodoxy when it has become lifeless or stale. My own ideas have been so influenced by these people that my writings are a sort of "Chex Party Mix" of what I've learned from them, perhaps with new analogies and my own experiences thrown in. I don't claim to be a great thinker. Instead, I read books by great thinkers, process it all and then try to explain what I learn to others in the most simple and creative way that I can.

In my own faith journey, I've been trying to focus on five "components" that I feel have been somewhat neglected (or underdeveloped) in much of modern Christendom. In no particular order, here they are, submitted for your approval. (Did you catch the nod to Rod Serling?)

When I use the term word, I'm most often referring to the Word of God. This simply means what God has said, whether it be Scripture (with which we measure all other revelation) or God speaking directly into a situation (prophecy, impressions, circumstances, etc.) When we exercise faith, we're simply believing what God has said. As human beings created in God's image, we have tremedous power to speak God's word into situations and change them. How can we believe God if we don't know what he's saying? No word, no faith. That's why Romans 10:17 is especially significant- "Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ" (NRSV).

I sent out a tweet the other day that went something like this: "I've been thinking about how unspiritual so much of what we call 'Christianity' has become. Even spiritual disciplines." Many of us talk about the Holy Spirit but the reality is we're pretty clueless about what he actually does. For some of us, the Holy Spirit is more like Casper the Friendly Ghost than the third person of the Godhead. And we often forget that we have a spirit too that's distinct from our body and our soul. There's a whole spiritual realm out there that's largely ignored by Christianity.

When I worked for the United Methodist Publishing House's retail division, I put together a day long Vacation Bible School preview in Austin and guess what the big controversy was that year? Group Publishing's VBS curriculum featured the hymn "Nothing But the Blood". Some of the United Methodist Christian educators were offended by references to the blood of Christ! They complained that this subject was graphic, harsh and unpleasant. That's the point, people! When only the blood of God's son brings forgiveness for sins, that should give us pause when we commit sin! Scripture is full of references to what the blood accomplishes, and while this needs to be taught in an age appropriate way, any kind of Christianity that attempts to be "bloodless" is ultimately going to be powerless.

Some of us spend a lot of time learning how to talk to people, but we don't spend much time learning how to talk to God. A few days ago I wrote that the primary reason I pray is to change the reality around me. Prayer helps us bring God's kingdom to the here and now. I'm going to be writing a lot more about prayer in the coming months.

My views on spiritual warfare have convinced a few of you that I'm nuts, and I can live with that. But whether we're actively participating or not, all Christians are affected by a huge spiritual conflict that has been going on since the earliest times. This isn't a physical war, although physical war is definitely affected by it. Those of you who think that talking about spiritual warfare promotes physical warfare are missing the point. God and humans exist, but so do angels, demons and a whole spiritual dimension that would probably scare the hell out of us if we could mentally process all of it. 

To be continued.

Comments

[Joe Tognetti]

Shayne,

Good summation of what drives you to do what you do; I've really enjoyed how you challenge your readers in the areas you talked about, particularly as it relates to the blood of Christ and spiritual warfare (the latter of which I honestly have ignored most of my life).

However, I have one question: As someone who's attended Catholic, Presbyterian, and Methodist schools and churches, I've NEVER heard of a distinction between our spirit and our soul. By our spirit being independent of our soul, do you mean that our spirit is how our body and soul connect to the Holy Spirit? Do you mean to equate our spirit with our emotions? Maybe I've been missing something all these years, but I was really confused by that.

Thanks for any clarification you can provide.

Blessings,

Joe

[Ray Worsham]

Really enjoyed your post. I believe we (active christian churches) actually do fair job with prayer, and not bad with the word, but at least in many Methodist and mainsteam protestant congregations really neglect the Spirit and ignore spiritual warfare. Many methodist pastors I know seem to fear the Holy Spirit - or have had the spirit wrenched out of them at seminary.

[Shane Raynor]

Joe,
Good question... and it's not easy to answer because it's not easy to understand, at least for me. Scripture talks about the three parts of human beings... one verse that comes to mind is 1 Thessalonians 5:23: "May the God who gives peace make you holy in every way. May he keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. (GWT)"
The body is sort of easy to comprehend, but I don't think the dividing line between the spirit and the soul is as easy. In fact, Hebrews 4:12 tells us "God's word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God's word judges a person's thoughts and intentions." This scripture tells me that it's not easy to distinguish between the two... the place where soul and spirit meet is hard to define. Perhaps this is an oversimplification, but I view the human soul as the intellect, emotions and will and the human spirit as that part of us that relates directly to God. Hopefully I can write more completely about this soon.

[Daniel]

I have looked into the spirit/soul distinction in several Christian reference books and the writings of the Early Fathers. It seems that some make a distinction - our spirit is our "life" and our soul is our "rational part" capable of relationship with God and his will, but large parts of the Christian tradition simply use these terms interchangeably. Certainly they are connected - as body and soul are connected.

[John Meunier]

Shane,

You say you select these five because they are neglected.

I'm curious what you think the 'five words' of Christendom are if none of these make the list.

On the "blood" issue, the early conversations about the new UM Hymnal included a significant ground swell to get rid of "happy clappy blood" songs. The adults are not supposed to sing them either. No word on whether that excludes 'O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.'

[Joe Tognetti]

Shane,

Thanks for the clarification. You learn something new everyday. Thanks also to Daniel for following it up; I'll look into it more myself.

P.S., sorry I keep botching your name by adding a "y" in your first name!