Tag: material

Spiritual?

Gary Pollard

The word “spiritual” and the concept of “spirit” is something I’ve been trying to understand for well over a decade now. I wish it was possible to say, “I now understand it,” but that would be grossly inaccurate. But with the complexity of reality, with the multidimensional nature of scripture (and Christianity in general), with its relationship to the material universe, and with the daily march of life, I was not satisfied with what seems to be the general understanding of “spiritual”. Many seem to believe (because this is how it’s taught) that “spiritual” means “otherworldly” or “preternatural” — ie., not physical, tangible, or substantive, but inaccessibly transcendent, ghostly, incompatible with this universe. It brings to mind an essentially alternate reality of spirit beings in a dimension totally foreign to our own. 

This is not a “salvation issue” or anything so serious as that. However, I don’t believe the Bible explicitly communicates the idea of “spiritual” in the way that we might understand it. This article is me thinking out loud, so please keep that in mind if you continue to read. 

The simplest definition of “spiritual” or “spirit” that I could think of is this: the sum of its parts. There are billions of people on earth, most of them far more intelligent than I could ever dream of being, so there’s a good chance someone else has already outlined this far better than I’ll be able to. 

What does this definition mean? In the following example, the object under consideration is a forest with materials of interest to many different disciplines: 

  1. The trees are examined by various scientific professionals and their findings recorded. 
  2. The soil is examined by its respective professionals, their findings recorded. 
  3. Fossils and the remains of other forms of life are studied, findings recorded. 
  4. Archaic buildings (if present) are studied, the findings recorded. 

All of these disciplines, studying the same problem, offer “up” a piece of the puzzle. A writer will eventually attempt to construct a tangible puzzle from each of those pieces, presenting to the world a tentative picture of what happened, or what the significance was, or what may happen in the future, etc. Other writers may attempt the same thing, but the result will usually be some kind of contribution to narrative. Narratives become/define culture. Culture has zeitgeist. Zeitgeist is the spirit of the times. 

Jesus “upholds the universe with the word of his power” (Hb 1.3).  

What does that mean for earth? He promotes or suppresses narratives to enact his will. He sets up governments and dismantles them. He creates the boundaries of each nation, and manages their constant evolution. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

What does that mean for our local system? He ensures the continued, fixed rotation of earth, allowing us to see evidence of this stability through precession and many other processes. He keeps the planets in a predictable, steady orbit around the sun. He manages the cosmic objects we swim through in our rotation. He keeps everything just as it needs to be, and ensures that all things stay consistent. He is the creator and sustainer. 

Thinking about spiritual things means taking the highest altitude “view” with the most appropriate “resolution” for each aspect of reality. The most important command is “love the lord your God with all your heart” — that is the spirit behind everything we do. The second is like the first, “love your fellow man the same way you love yourself.” That should drive all of our decisions, imperfect as we are. 

So, “spiritual” seems to be something like “the sum of its parts” and “the highest altitude view with the most appropriate resolution for each entity’s purpose.” It is the summary of many smaller causes. It is the result of conscious input. It is the picture of a completed puzzle, rather than its individual pieces. It is our hope for immortality, sometimes dampened by our obsession with material things. It is the mind’s desire to be like Jesus, in opposition to our body’s desire to satiate physical desires. It is the complete working of God, through Jesus, in infinite specific forms. It is the system, not the cells, though composed of cells. It is really, really difficult to define in one article, or understand in one lifetime. 

Conquered The World And Left It With Empty Hand

Neal Pollard

Somehow, it has come down through the ages that Alexander the Great made this dying request, that he should be buried with his hands outside his coffin so that all his subjects could see that despite all the riches he had accumulated in life that he left the world empty-handed.  Artists through time have famously depicted this posture. It has been retold repeatedly.  Whether or not Alexander requested it, the sentiment reflects divine truth.  Paul told Timothy, “For we have brought nothing into this world, so we cannot take anything out of it either” (1 Tim. 6:7).  Similarly, Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there” (Job 1:21). Solomon similarly states of the wealthy, “As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand” (Ecc. 5:15).

While even world conquerors cannot transport their treasures from time to eternity as they make the transition, everyone will exit the world having left so many things behind us.  We leave behind so much more than our financial assets.  We leave behind memories of ourselves, encouragements either given or withheld, speech either edifying or destructive, deeds which brought others closer to or further from Christ, family members influenced either to follow Christ or abandon Him, and similarly impactful matters.  When we leave earth, our hands are empty.  We have bequeathed all that we are and have for those whose lives we touched and influenced.  They pick up our habits, worldview, pleasures, interests, and priorities.  Some day, they will die and leave empty-handed, too, passing along what in some way we gave them to give.

You may never be a world conqueror, but here is how you conquer the world.  It takes faith and spiritual rebirth (1 Jn. 5:4).  But do not simply possess it.  Be sure to pass it along.