Christian Spirituality for Beginners
Sometimes we try to make things so complicated. Have you looked at the "spirituality" section in a bookstore recently? It could wear you out just reading through the titles. The spirituality section is second only to the health and fitness section for confusing often contradictory advice.
If you are curious about Christian spirituality and want to know where to start or if you are seasoned Christian just looking to bone up on the basics, here are some tips to help you out.
Christianity is all about nurturing a relationship with God through Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus was God "in the flesh". We believe that because of Jesus' life, death and resurrection that we can have a relationship with God. That we don't have to fear God. That we can be forgiven. And as a result we should be able to love and forgive others. Easier said that done. Right?
Traditionally Christian spirituality has had a four fold-focus.
(1) Devotional Life. This is that part of our life we devote to private spiritual pursuits. Usually it has been divided into two pieces. Bible reading and Prayer.
Bible Reading. The Bible is the Christian scripture. It is where we learn about how God has related to the world and to people throughout history. It is where we learn most about Jesus as well. The Bible is broken up into two "testaments" the Old Testament and the New Testament. Both "testaments" consist of various books by various authors. The Old Testament is shared by Judaism and Islam as being sacred writing. The New Testament is the story of Jesus (told from different perspectives) and the story of the religion that developed around him.
If you are new to Bible reading, I suggest you start with the New Testament book of Matthew or Luke. These are two of the most complete stories of Jesus' life. Once you finish one, read the other. Then go to Acts. These books will give you a broad overview of Jesus' life from two different perspectives. Really reading them and thinking about the lessons contained therein will take a while. It's worth it.
Prayer. Prayer is conversation with God. If you are new to prayer, my recommendation is to start with what Christians call "the Lord's Prayer" or the "Our Father". You can find it in Luke chapter 11 or Matthew chapter 6. I would use Matthew. Use this prayer. Don't just repeat what Jesus said, but elaborate on it. When it says, "Our Father who is in heaven, praised be your name." Stop and think about all the reasons why God's name should be praised. And then praise Him for it. Just tell him how grateful you are... for your job, for your house, for your family, for your vegetables (okay - maybe that's taking it too far!). You get the idea.
Rest assured, God is much less worried about what you say than He is about you saying it.
(2) Service. So much of what Jesus taught is that we are supposed to reach out and help others. Find some way to make a positive difference in someone else's life. You can start in your own family. Do the dishes without being asked. Take out the trash. Read to your kid. Do something with the sole purpose of helping and making life better for someone else. If you are a little more ambitious you could look for a place to volunteer. If you are in Bangkok, I recommend getting in touch with Dwight at In Search of Sanuk. He's a madman with a passion for volunteering. That's what his organization is all about.
(3) Fellowship. Fellowship is just a fancy word for making friends (and being friends) with people who share some of your values and convictions. Find some other Christians and talk to them about God. See if there is a group of Christians who meet together regularly in your area to encourage one another. Often these groups will be called "Bible study groups" or "home groups" or "small groups". They mean basically the same thing. Find one. This will make a huge impact on your spiritual life.
(4) Worship. Find a church to worship with regularly. Not all churches approach worship the same, so find one that suits your personality and style. My church (International Church of Bangkok) for instance has two very different worship services. One on Sunday mornings. We sing traditional Christian hymns mostly written between 1600 and 1900. We sit in rows. It's a fairly quiet. Reserved service. But casual at the same time. Our Evening Worship is a little more lively. The jokes are a little louder. It's smaller and more intimate. The music is more modern (guitars) with easier to understand lyrics. Experiment and see what fits you best.
These are four "basics" of Christian spirituality. As those in recovery often say... Keep It Simple Stupid. By doing so you'll have better focus and a much more fulfilling relationship with God and God's people.
