The Bible teaches that we should be spiritual people.

Paul wrote, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God and neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Rom. 8:5-8.)

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." (Gal. 6:1.)

"Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." (Heb. 12:14.)

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 2:5.)

True spirituality is found in these words: "If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Col. 3:1-4.)

There are three major words that we use to speak of being like God. They are godly, Christian, and spiritual. Each of these words is based upon the divine Beings, God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. To be spiritual is to be godly and to be a Christian. They mean the same thing.

One good way of learning what something means is to learn what it is not. This helps to draw some boundaries around it so that we can begin to understand its scope. I believe that spirituality is grievously misunderstood. There are many pseudo or false expressions of it among religious people. One speaker described false spirituality as one parasailing without being anchored to anything! For my first time, this past summer, I went parasailing. It was fun and did not seem dangerous at all as long as I stayed attached to the boat which was pulling me and controlling my movements. False spirituality is like parasailing without that attachment and guidance. You may get high and sail with the rest for a while, but where you land and how you land is the real problem!

Pseudo spirituality looks good and might make people feel good about themselves for a while, but it is very dangerous spiritually and cannot build Christian character. It comes in many different forms from which you may choose. It deceives and misguides many. While embracing these false forms, genuine spirituality cannot be obtained.

Here are some of the many different forms of false spirituality.

One of the most common forms is self-exaltation. While men follow this well-worn path, the Spirit of Christ which abides with the humble cannot be possessed. Jesus often exposed the pretensions of men, spiritual pride and boasting. (Matt. 6:1f---praying, giving and fasting.)

Concerning righteousness, Paul asked, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay, but by the law of faith." (Rom. 3:27.) "As it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Cor. 1:31.)

"And he (Jesus) spake this parable unto certain which trusteth in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14.)

We must learn that righteousness and spirituality does not originate with man. It is imputed upon those with faith in the Lord. (Rom. 4:22-25.) Spirituality must never be thought to be some achievement of man before conversion or after. We must always be humble before the Holy One of heaven. Man it seems is an incurable being sold on himself. Even after God transforms and heals us, making us after the image of His Son, we then turn and herald ourselves as if we did it. May God save us from our pride and self-exaltation. It is false spirituality. We have a spirit, but it is God’s Spirit that makes us spiritual. It is His Spirit that we need.

Degrees and offices. How hard it is to find true spirituality after degrees are conferred upon us or after we have been appointed to some position in the church! Our heads become so enlarged that we can hardly walk anymore.

"And (the scribes and Pharisees love) greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth, for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called master, for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." (Matt. 23:7-11.) The Jewish rabbis dressed in their ecclesiastical robes thought of themselves as righteous above most of their fellow men. To be called by special titles confirmed the fact that the common man recognized their spiritual state. Sinners had to go through them to know the things of God! No wonder Jesus forbade spiritual titles in the church. They hinder true spirituality.

Obtaining some position in the church can be just as devastating. Paul wrote these penetrating words about those who would be appointed as elders: "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." (1 Tim. 3:6.) The young are most susceptible to falling through pride, but it can affect the young and old alike. Many cannot handle such appointments of service. They invariably feel that the appointment is a reward for their spiritual progress, confirmed by the present leaders, and grudgingly accepted by the members. The members tremble knowing what has happened to so many before him. Will he think that he has been exalted to the right hand of Jesus to rule over one of his congregations? Will he lord it over God’s heritage? Will he too fall through pride by the condemnation of the devil?

Being appointed to positions in the church has ruined many good men. Men love power, but they often fail to understand their servant role. Instead of sacrificing themselves, they sacrifice others. One is not automatically more spiritual the moment he is appointed as an elder, deacon, song leader, prayer leader, preacher or any other leader. He may then have more trouble with spirituality than any time before he was appointed.

Denying the flesh (asceticism)

Another common form of pseudo spirituality is denying the flesh. Paul wrote:

"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though in the world, are you subject to ordinances: Touch not, taste not, handle not, which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh." (Col. 2:18-23.)

Spirituality is such an illusive quality and so misunderstood that some resort to denying the flesh in order to promote the spirit. It sounds logical enough. Man is made of both flesh and spirit. We should not and must not sow to the flesh, but rather to the spirit. It is true that we must abstain from things that are wrong. However, there are many things that pertain to the body that are not wrong and do not stand in opposition to the spirit. To force a complete separation from body and spirit is to embrace the false position of dualism. Flesh is not inherently evil. If so, then Jesus would have been sinful and evil. He came in the flesh. (John 1:14, 1 John 4:2-3.)

Some think that denying themselves any sexual enjoyment will make them more spiritual. One major religious body teaches that the celibate state is more holy than the married one. But Paul wrote, "Marriage is honorable in all and the bed is undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (Heb. 13:4.) It is wrong if people who are married drift into the celibate state, denying their marriage partner "due benevolence." (1 Cor. 7:3-5.) Like Augustine of old, some have not been able to reconcile the expression of their sexuality, even in marriage, with spirituality.

Others have a similar form of pseudo spirituality when they take pleasure in being rebuked by the preaching of the Gospel. There are some who will sing your praises if you raise your voice, turn red in the face, and denounce loudly everything as sinful and damnable. To them true spirituality consists in afflicting themselves. The more the better.

The Colossian heresy included an emphasis upon the worship of angels. They intruded into things concerning which they had no specific word from the Lord. They were vainly puffed up in their own minds. They spoke about things which were entirely conjecture on their part, but it sounded spiritual and godly.

Over the past decade, Americans have had a fascination with the subject of angels. Bookshelves in the stores are filled with them. A popular TV series, "Touched By An Angel," emphasizes the role of angels in everyday life. All those stories sound wonderful and oozes with spirituality. But there is a problem, a serious problem. All this leads people away from true spirituality---something we have not yet clearly identified.

Man is prone to try nearly everything but the right one in his search for spirituality. The reasons are as numerous as the efforts. Man wants to emphasize himself someway and somehow. Self-denial is not an easy path for man.

Paul defeated all of the problems confronting the Colossians and other early Christians in one powerful stroke. There are many false forms of spirituality, but only one true form. The true measure of one’s spirituality is his emphasis upon Jesus Christ. Note that following the heresies in chapter 2, Paul begins chapter 3 this way, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God." He said that Christ is the life of the Christian. (3:4.) Earlier in the letter, he wrote this about Jesus: "He is before all things, and by him all things consist. He is the head of the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." (1:17-19.)

Another serious form of pseudo spirituality is to claim an intimacy and involvement with the Spirit that you do not have. The Holy Spirit speaks of the things concerning Jesus Christ, not the preacher. No one should speak so familiarly about the Lord or the Spirit. Some act as if they were classmates of theirs. Preachers are heard to say things like: "The Lord told me to preach this message to you today." "When I was getting dressed the other day, the Spirit said to me, thus and so." Many claim to have spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit that they do not have. They have this "air" about them, basting in the personal approval of the Spirit every moment. These false claims can never produce Christian character. In fact, such deception will lead one further away from the Spirit of God.

Christians are spiritual, not by going off in some Holy Spirit movement. The Holy Spirit purposefully takes a second seat to Jesus Christ. He did not speak about himself, but whatever was given unto him to reveal about Jesus, that he spoke. Neither should we put angels in some prominent position above Jesus Christ in our lives. We are spiritual if we have been united with him and if we live with him.

Being spiritual is not some trance that we enter, or some special number of times a day that we pray or read the Scriptures. Being spiritual, truly spiritual, is having Christ in your thoughts and minds. It is following Him each day.