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7. Christian Spirituality
Called Apart
We often use the word "spiritual" today. It may refer to any meaningful activity, especially a "search for the sacred." "Spirituality," in a narrow sense, concerns itself with "matters of the spirit," a concept closely tied to religious belief, the church and faith, a transcendent reality, and God. "Spiritual matters" are thus those matters regarding humankind's ultimate nature and purpose, "not only as material, biological organisms but as beings with a unique relationship to that which is beyond both time and the material world." ✞
Good News
The New Testament Greek word for "church" is "ecclesia" and translates the Hebrew word, "kahal," meaning "assembly." So, a church is fundamentally an "assembly." The term "ecclesia," however, has two parts, "Ek," meaning "out of," and "klesis," meaning "a calling." These words combine to make "church" "an assembly called apart to the Lord." In New Testament writings, the church is invariably a tiny local worshiping group of Christians rather than a building. It is merely people who are "called apart" to worship the Lord. The modern word "church" comes from the Scottish word "kirk" and the Greek "kyriake." ✞
Bring a Message
The other name which connects to "church" is "evangelism," though the need to reach out to others with Christian truth is seen by many as unimportant and unnecessary today. The Greek word "Evangelium" means "a reward for good news given to a messenger." "Eu," says "good," and "angelium," which means "I bring a good message." The word "angel," which interestingly often described a servant of God sent out with a message, was of the same root as the words "evangelism" and "good news." This latter term gives rise to the word "Gospel" as in the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. ✞
"Christian Spirituality"
by Ron Meacock © 2021
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