Appearing Spiritual Rather Than Being Spiritual.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Woe to you,teachers of the law and Pharisees you hypocrites!You are like whitewashed tombs,which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.
In the same way,on the outside you apear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hyprocrisy and wickedness. MATT.23:27,28 NIV

In Jesus's day there were many who were more concerned with appearing righteous or spiritual rather than possessing genuine spirituality.

In our day,there are those in the Christian faith to strive for mere ritualism and kind of Holier than thou one upmanship rather than have a real Spiritual walk with Jesus Christ.

True Holiness is both inward and outward,but when one has true Spirituality they don't have to flaunt theirselves outawardly to show others how holy they are.

When one is secure in Christ ,one realizes that their lifestyle is a testimonial of the grace of God, and their works testify of their faith in Christ,and their outward behaviour is an outgrowth of their walk with God.

You see we need both pratical modesty and behaviour that reflects Biblical Holiness and well as manifesting the fruit of the Spirit.

For a child of God, being Spiritual should have priority over trying to appear Spiritual because when one is truly Spiritual the Holy Spiritual will manifest it self from the inside to the outside,and everyone will notice because God has done a work,that ritualism cannot do.

[OneAccord]

Very good Bro Scott. A REAL spirtual man (or woman) will:

.... discern through the Spirit and not after the "seeing of the eyes". 1Cr 2:14

.... make every attempt to restore a fallen brother or sister. Gal 6:1

.... be led by the Spirit

....acknowledge the Word od God when it is preached or taught. 1Cr 14:37

....have the knowledge of God's will and spiritual understanding. Col 1:9

....not be carried away with every wind of doctrine. Eph 4:14

....pray with the Spirit. 1Cr 14:14

[TalkLady]

A genuinely spiritual person will most of all show LOVE to God and others. What greater love did Jesus Christ show than to give Himself as a sacrifice? The more spirituality, the more love and the more sacrifice. The more love and the more sacrifice, the more we're like Him. If we Love Him, we'll keep His commandments and Love our neighbor as our self but love Him the most - with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. - Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27

Matthew 24:12
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

The lack of spirituality, in my opinion, is because of a lack of love, sacrifice, and genuine caring for others. Often, we're too busy for commitment. We're too busy to take the time to help others or listen to their needs and concerns. I am saying "we" including myself. (Probably ought to just go ahead and say "I" here.)

Help me not to lose my commitment and first love for Jesus Christ. I want to keep that desire and love for Him always in my heart.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by TalkLady

A genuinely spiritual person will most of all show LOVE to God and others. What greater love did Jesus Christ show than to give Himself as a sacrifice? The more spirituality, the more love and the more sacrifice. The more love and the more sacrifice, the more we're like Him. If we Love Him, we'll keep His commandments and Love our neighbor as our self but love Him the most - with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. - Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27

Matthew 24:12
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

The lack of spirituality, in my opinion, is because of a lack of love, sacrifice, and genuine caring for others. Often, we're too busy for commitment. We're too busy to take the time to help others or listen to their needs and concerns. I am saying "we" including myself.

Help me not to lose my commitment and first love for Jesus Christ. I want to keep that desire and love for Him always in my heart.

What a refreshing word. Its good to read something other than "Psst...did you hear about....? Its good to just share in the Word together.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Thank you all for the great comments.

[Monkeyman]

Great stuff bro.

I am a moderate, I guess. If you looked at my wife, most would say conservative....but the thing that has always irked me is the word "Holy" or "Holiness" always used for the outward. It took me a long time to understand that being "holy" was waaaay deep inside.

Thanks for the reminder...

[Scott Hutchinson]

Mostly what I am talking about is people who have to try to flaunt their Spirituality or lack of it ,but trying to superspiritual, or appear to be.
Some people can be modest looking and we should be modest, but their Spirit is incorrect.
Then some folks think they are holy because they put others down ,like the guy that gets up in testimony service and spouts off but how everybody ought to go visting should like he does,and he tells folks he is the one in the church doing anything for God.

[simplyme]

When I first ever heard "holiness" my first instinct was that it meant INNER.."spiritual"., and that sat well with my soul., the understanding was indwelt with me all along.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Mostly what I am talking about is people who have to try to flaunt their Spirituality or lack of it ,but trying to superspiritual, or appear to be.
Some people can be modest looking and we should be modest, but their Spirit is incorrect.
Then some folks think they are holy because they put others down ,like the guy that gets up in testimony service and spouts off but how everybody ought to go visting should like he does,and he tells folks he is the one in the church doing anything for God.

Kind of like my old saying: "I'd rather have the right Spirit and be wrong doctrinally than to be right doctrinally but have a wrong spirit".

The right spirit will lead you to correct doctrinal truth, but a bad spirit will lead away from the truth.

Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Get the "inner man" right, and the "outer man" will follow. And that goes far beyond how we dress. The fruit of the Spirit and, above all else, charity, will be shown through those whose "inner man" is made holy through the Blood of Jesus!

Great discussion, Bro. Scott!

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Very good Bro Scott. A REAL spirtual man (or woman) will:

.... discern through the Spirit and not after the "seeing of the eyes". 1Cr 2:14

.... make every attempt to restore a fallen brother or sister. Gal 6:1

.... be led by the Spirit

....acknowledge the Word od God when it is preached or taught. 1Cr 14:37

....have the knowledge of God's will and spiritual understanding. Col 1:9

....not be carried away with every wind of doctrine. Eph 4:14

....pray with the Spirit. 1Cr 14:14

A genuinely spiritual person will most of all show LOVE to God and others. What greater love did Jesus Christ show than to give Himself as a sacrifice? The more spirituality, the more love and the more sacrifice. The more love and the more sacrifice, the more we're like Him. If we Love Him, we'll keep His commandments and Love our neighbor as our self but love Him the most - with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. - Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27

Matthew 24:12
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

The lack of spirituality, in my opinion, is because of a lack of love, sacrifice, and genuine caring for others. Often, we're too busy for commitment. We're too busy to take the time to help others or listen to their needs and concerns. I am saying "we" including myself. (Probably ought to just go ahead and say "I" here.)

Help me not to lose my commitment and first love for Jesus Christ. I want to keep that desire and love for Him always in my heart. TalkLady

Excellent posts

Blessings, Rhoni