Liturgy: A Door to the ‘More’
What does it mean when people say, "I am spiritual but not religious?"
What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.
This week’s Scripture readings:
Psalm 148
John 13:31-35
Acts 11:1-18
Revelation 21:1-6
This week’s liturgy is contributed by Eric Bennett, Vice President for Student Development:
If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say, “I am spiritual but not religious,” I wouldn’t be any wiser about what that means, but I would be richer. People often say it to me when they learn that I work at a Christian college. In that context, people are trying to say that they have a sense of the divine but they are not churchgoers.
I understand what they mean by “religious.” It is the “spiritual” part that is harder to grasp. My guess is they know there is more to life than what meets the eye. They have experienced this “More” in nature, in love, and in art. And yet, if we harbor a sense that there is more to life than we are being shown, where is the treasure hidden?
People seem willing to look all over the place for this treasure. The last place most of us look is right under our feet, in the everyday activities, accidents, and encounters of life. What possible spiritual significance could a subway trip have? How could something as common a headache be a door to the “More?”
The reason so many of us cannot see the X that marks the spot is because we are standing on it. The treasure we seek requires no expedition, no expensive equipment, and no superior aptitude. All we need is the willingness to imagine that we already have everything we need. The only thing missing is our consent to be where we are.
Whoever you are, you are human. Wherever you are, you live in the world, which is waiting for you to notice the holiness in it. So when the psalmist calls us to “praise the Lord,” he does not mean we have to say correct things. We do not have to use theological language that conforms to the teachings of the church. The good news is that we have everything we need to begin.
Praise the Lord.