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Graceful or Grace

Is viewing a beautiful sunset a spiritual experience? Does a drum solo enable the church to feel the heartbeat of God? Can a jazz concert help us grow in grace? Will liturgical dance enable us to worship God? Does a magnificent cathedral enhance worship?

The issue these questions raise is big; it invites us to define what we mean by spirituality and what comprises a true spiritual experience. Unfortunately there is little agreement among evangelicals on this issue today. A glance at any literature on the subject shows the vast range of spirituality ‘models’ that evangelicals have bought into.

To explore these is beyond the scope of this article. It is not even my intention to attempt to define a true biblically based spirituality (though this surely exists). My intention is much more modest; it is to draw attention to a distinction (and its implications) once clear to evangelical Christians but virtually lost to the modern church.

What distinction? The Bible teaches the existence of two realms or two worlds – the world that now is and the world to come. If we have a clear sense of these two realms and what properly belongs to each realm then we will have a better grasp of the place of dance routines, drum solos or delightful buildings in promoting spiritual life and experience

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About John

Hi there - I am a member of Greenview and have been for over 20 years. For a number of these years I functioned as an elder, however, indifferent health forced me to take more of a back seat. I see this as an opportunity to do a little writing, often focussing on issues that are a matter of evangelical debate today. Naturally the views expressed are my own and may not reflect the views of the elders or church at large, though differences are likely to be in the detail and not the substance.

These articles and sermons were written partly to clarify my own thoughts and partly with the intention of provoking thought in others who may read them. If you read one I hope you find it stimulating. Please feel free to give me feedback or discuss my articles in the forums.

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