GregLauriePosted By Greg Laurie On 02/10/2017 @ 6:01 pm In APP Frontpage,Commentary,Faith,Opinion

   In spite of the moral downturn in our nation today, America is, for the most part, still religious. According to the Pew Research Center, about three-fourths of adults in the United States claim a religion.

It is not uncommon to even hear someone who might be known for living a relatively decadent lifestyle say, “You know, I am actually a very spiritual person.” Of course, the term spiritual encompasses a lot of ideas, ranging from bizarre mysticism to a religion someone might have made up. And in the minds of some, it could even include Christianity.

We are a nation that has a guise of spirituality over us, yet there are many self-deceived people around today. There are some who think they are Christians, and they no doubt would fall into the category of those who say they believe in God or a universal spirit, but they really aren’t Christians at all.

In fact, Jesus said, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'” (Matthew 7:22, NKJV). Some might even add, “Did we not attend church on Sunday or give our tithes or be baptized?”

But Jesus will say on that day, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Verse 23, NKJV).

Not only are there people who are self-deceived, thinking they are Christians when they really are not, but there are also people in the church who are self-deceived. They think they are more spiritual than they really are.

What does it mean, then, to be a spiritual person in the best sense of the word? The Bible gives us the answer in James, Chapter 1. James tells us what pure religion really is and what it means to be a real Christian, an authentically spiritual person. James allows us to look into God’s mirror and see ourselves as we really are. And our very reaction to those truths will show whether we are truly spiritual people.

The person who really wants to know God is humble and always ready to learn. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many Christian leaders, those who would be considered household names in the evangelical community. And I can say without reservation that the most spiritual people I’ve ever met always have been the most humble – not proud, not arrogant, but humble men and women of God.

A truly spiritual person always will say there is so much more to learn, so much more in his or her life that needs to change.

In contrast, the self-deceived person, the person who thinks he or she is spiritual, really won’t be open to counsel. They won’t be open to teaching. They think they know it all, which only shows how little they know.

They are like those who are described in the church of Laodicea in the book of Revelation who were rich and said they had need of nothing. But God’s assessment of them was they were poor, wretched, blind, miserable and naked.

James gives us three indicators of whether we truly are spiritual people, three things we should be actively doing if we really are seeking to live godly lives.

First, a truly spiritual person controls his or her tongue. The true test of a person’s religion is not a person’s ability to speak his or her mind, but to hold his or her tongue. James says, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26, NIV).

We may pride ourselves on the fact that we don’t steal from others or attack other people or commit immoral acts. But we may bring a pain worse than a blow to the body by wounding the heart of someone with our words. We can steal their good name and their reputation, and that, too, is sin. Gossip, slander, and backbiting are widespread sins in our world today. If you are a godly person, a truly spiritual person, then you will have self-control over what you say.

Next, a truly spiritual person will care about others. We are told in verse 27, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble” (NKJV). The phrase to visit suggests the idea of caring for or looking after someone. It is not only seeing someone in need but also acting on it and doing something for them.

If you invite someone into your home, if you feed or clothe them, if you visit them when they are sick or in prison, Jesus said it is like doing it for him. He said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40, NIV).

Finally, a truly spiritual person will keep himself or herself unspotted by the world. James wrote, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27, NIV).

How do we get polluted by this world in the first place? It starts with friendship with the world. This leads to a love for this world. And it is that love for the world that will then result into being conformed to this world.

True spirituality is measured primarily not by what we say, but by what we do. A truly godly person will come humbly to the Bible, recognizing the great need for God and his truths. A truly godly person will control his or her words, will reach out to those who are hurting, and will keep himself or herself unspotted from the world. In short, a truly godly person will be a doer of God’s Word and not just a hearer.

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