Session 1 – Journey of
discovery
Is there something more?
By David Woodbury
Is there something beyond the physical world in
which we live? Human behaviour would seem to suggest that there is. As a boy I
noted that in my mother’s women’s magazines there would be a small column on
your future according to the stars. Today, many magazines devote numerous pages
to articles on psychic predictions and spiritual mysticism.
There seems to be within the nature of humanity a
deep seated belief that there is more to life than just the physical and
material world which we can experience through our senses. Even in today’s cynical world there is still
an overwhelming belief in God and the spiritual world. A poll conducted by the
Harris organisation in 2006 and quoted on the website of the Coburg Atheist, revealed that 75% of Australians
believed that there was a God[1].
Most of us have a sneaking belief that there is
something more, something which cannot be easily explained or identified, and
something beyond that which is simply identifiable within our day to day existence.
We feel there is an inner part of us on which we cannot easily place a label,
and for the sake of simplicity we will call it spirit.
For most of us in the 21st century it is
probably the part of our being that is largely ignored through our lack of
understanding and insight. Yet we have this disturbing awareness of it, and it
doesn’t seem to go away. Some will embark upon a journey and explore this
largely unknown and perhaps scary part of us.
One of the reasons some decline to pursue the
spiritual side of their being is the many distractions, particularly in the
western lifestyle, now available. If we have spare moments they can be quickly
filled with electronic gadgetry, such as video, computer and electronic games.
The dramatic rise in popularity of social networking
websites enables us to have almost instant and round-the clock communication
with family and friends. We are able to download the latest movies at will to
watch during those idle hours.
We can fill life up on a 24 seven basis and totally
ignore that which is part of our being, the spiritual dimension. To pursue the
spiritual dimension of our being is a voyage of discovery we embark upon of our
own volition.
Much of our world has been discovered and there are
few areas of new exploration left to the average person. Areas such as space
exploration are the domain of a very select few and other fields of discovery
require high degrees of academic expertise and education, consequently the
ordinary person has few fields of discovery left open to them. However, there
is a journey of discovery every one of us can pursue, exploration of the
inner-life, and the journey to self-discovery.
Does God exist?
There are those who believe that there is no supreme
being and nothing beyond that which we experience in the here and now and that
death is the cessation of all existence. That is an understandable viewpoint to
hold since it is impossible to prove that which is invisible and beyond our
comprehension.
We owe it to ourselves to fully explore the
possibility of the existence of God; a spiritual dimension within our own lives
and the possibility of a spiritual existence beyond death. To deny that is to
be at odds with most civilisations that have existed. Ever since humanity
existed there has been a belief in an existence that transcends the grave.
If you believe that there is no God and nothing
beyond this life I ask you to open your mind to the possibility there is, and
go on a journey of discovery. You may well be surprised.
At this point in our journey we do not need to be
convinced about the existence of a supreme being but rather the acknowledgement
that there is a part of our person that is beyond the mere physical. A
spiritual dimension that is not easily identifiable.
For the moment the spiritual dimension may exist in little
more than a fleeting awareness, awakened by a circumstance, an encounter or by
a personal quest. For most people the spiritual dimension might be largely
dormant awaiting the stimulation of a questioning heart that will launch us on
a journey of discovery.
The reality of this spiritual journey is that it is
uniquely personal. It cannot be taught or caught; every human being who would
experience it must embark on their own personal journey of search, discovery
and revelation. Some would claim that they have no interest in such an
expedition, however, somewhere along life’s pathway something will stimulate
their interest and an inner voice will pose unsettling questions about that which
is beyond perceptible physical senses.
Although
brought up in the Church of Ireland, C.S. Lewis, the Christian apologist who
wrote the Chronicles of Narnia, abandoned his faith by his mid-teens.
Religion had become to him more a chore, or duty, devoid of real meaning and
consequently, Lewis embraced atheism. His questioning and brilliant academic
mind dismissed the possibility of the existence of God.
Later
in life Lewis began to think through the spiritual aspect of his life and came
to realise that there was more to life than that which can be experienced
through our human senses. One night, riding on a double-decker bus in the
summer of 1929, C.S. Lewis came to the place where he felt he had no choice but
to acknowledge that there was God. Back in his room at the university he fell
to his knees and prayed. You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling,
whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting
approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly
feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and
admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most
dejected and reluctant convert in all England. [2]
To seek and embrace the spiritual side of our being
is to experience the beginning of a journey to wholeness. While ever our
spiritual dimension is ignored or neglected, for whatever reason, we close
ourselves to part of our existence, and there is a sense of unfulfilled living.
To venture on our own spiritual journey is to seek meaning to life and find an
inner awareness that transcends mere physical and material experiences.
In an age that focuses on instant satisfaction it
should be noted that this journey of discovery will take time and energy, and
results may not be instantaneous. A journey of inner discovery is always a work
in progress, but a task that will bring rewarding outcomes.
Has the church failed?
It could be possible that Christianity has failed to
convince 21st century humanity that it has the means whereby we can
experience a world that is beyond the mere physical. Christian spirituality has
suffered from a complexity that has ranged from dry traditionalism, to excessive
emotionalism and through to incomprehensible mysticism. Consequently many
thinking people, who are searching for a spirituality that is understandable,
real, and meets their needs, have rejected the Christian message.
In our western world the Christian church has been
an integral part of society and possibly the familiarity of its existence has
reduced the impact of its spiritual focus. Its compassion and awareness of
human need and its subsequent response to meet these needs have also combined
to paint the Christian message as one of mainly practical action, and it could be
that the deeper need of humanity, that of the spiritual realm has become
secondary.
In the 21st century the church faces more
stringent opposition than it has encountered for many years. During the 19th
and 20th centuries the church maintained a high public profile as it led the social
reform revolution. However, with many non-church organisations now becoming
involved in social reform and governments moving toward the welfare state, the church
could find itself fighting a rear-guard action in profile and public opinion.
It may be that in its desire to alleviate human
suffering the church has diluted the message of personal spirituality and the
moment of reawakening is at hand.
It might be that the church in the 21st
century has to face up to an element of failure in its message of personal
spirituality. However, failure on the part of the church, an organisation
composed of fallible human beings, does not diminish or annihilate the reality
of a personal spirituality.
One of the obstacles the church now faces is that
its message of personal spirituality is often seen today as just another
alternative in a society that has an excess of options. Our western lifestyle
provides us with a plethora of activities and distractions that can divert us
from seeking the path of personal spirituality.
Perhaps the time has come when the Christian church
needs to elevate the pursuit of personal spirituality above many of the other
activities that are part and parcel of the life of the church. It some areas of
Christian life and ministry this has begun to occur and now needs to be
encouraged by church leadership.
A divine life-force
An integral belief within the Christian lifestyle
is an unshakeable belief in a spiritual existence. If we are to accept that
belief then we need first of all to discover the origin of this spirit or life-force
that inhabits humanity.
Christianity believes that God created human beings
with a body and a life-force, whether we call that life-force spirit or soul is
a matter of conjecture. Quite often the Bible uses the words soul and spirit
interchangeably. For the sake of this discussion we will assume that spirit and
soul can be interchanged.
God created us with a body, which came from the
dust and will return to the dust, and a soul/spirit, which God himself
imparted. Then the Lord God took dust from the
ground and formed man from it. The Lord breathed the breath of life into the man’s nose. And the man became a living
person. (Genesis 2:7 - ICB)
God, who is in essence himself spiritual[3], provided
humanity with part of their being which is also spiritual. This
soul/spirit is eternal since it is part of God and returns to him following the
death of the body. What happens after the soul/spirit returns to God is a
matter of his judgement.
We also have a clear view of humanity’s special
relationship with the creator God. Not only did God create us in his own image,
we are the only living creature into whom God breathed a life-force, the breath
(soul/spirit) of life. Humanity was the pinnacle of God’s creation, formed in
his image and permeated with his life-force.
We are created as both physical and spiritual
beings, and until we can integrate these two sides of our person we are unable
to experience an authentic and effective wholeness.
The gift
Inherent and central in this Christian message is
the person of Jesus Christ. He offers a lifestyle that can be practical and realistic,
yet reaches beyond the mere physical to meet the needs of humanity; mental,
physical and spiritual. The central theme of his preaching during his ministry
was the real possibility of human beings becoming citizens in a kingdom that
was both physical and spiritual; a present experience, and an experience yet to
come[4].
Within the message of Jesus was a process whereby we
could discover the spiritual side of our being and integrate it into our
ordinary, day to day existence, and in so doing enrich every part of our
living.
The world in which we live today is a place of fluid
populations. Many people are on the move from their country of birth looking
for a place to settle and call home which will improve their lifestyle and
provide better opportunities for their family. Many will settle in a place
where they will embrace a way of life that is different and become citizens of
that new country. Some will even renounce their previous citizenship and
totally embrace the culture and lifestyle of their new country.
Christianity contains within its beliefs a similar
concept. In becoming a Christian we leave behind a way of life which had its roots
in a mere physical existence, and embrace citizenship in a new lifestyle, the
kingdom of God. Like many concepts from the Bible the kingdom of God is an all
too familiar phrase which most of us have heard, but perhaps not fully
understood. A good understanding of what is meant, implied and lived out in
this kingdom, is essential to the life and well-being of seekers after
spiritual truth and reality.
In our search for a meaningful and fulfilling
spirituality the way of Christianity has much to offer in its simplicity and
completeness. It offers us a spiritual journey in which we can face up to the
issue of evil and a way it which it can be resolved on a personal level. The
path into the kingdom of God is not shrouded with mysterious rites or
initiation processes, but has three essential keys which will unlock our path
into that kingdom.
BIBLE
BACKGROUND
John 4:24
Luke 17:20-21
1 Peter 2:9-10
Ø
Am
I able to admit to myself the possibility of an existence of a spiritual
dimension within? If so, how do I intend to explore this possibility?
Ø What
makes this spiritual journey important is to me?
Ø In
light of what else is happening in my life, how and where does this spiritual
journey fit?
Ø
Do
I believe that my spirit has been imparted to me by God? If so, how will I
react to this belief?
Ø
In
what ways is this concept of the kingdom of God important to me?
Ø
In
what ways can the kingdom of God impact my day to day living?
GROUP INTERACTION
Ø
Share
a personal experience (not necessarily spiritual) that was meaningful to you
and burnt into your memory.
Ø
Discuss
the ways in which we can explore a spiritual journey.
Ø
Read:
Genesis 2:7, Job 33:4, 1 Corinthian 15:45 – Discuss the reality of the life
force (spirit) given by God.
Ø Share your understanding of the kingdom of God.
Ø
In
what ways should the kingdom of God impact our day to day living?
VIDEO:
Click on or paste the following link to watch the video for sessions 1
https://youtu.be/kKHBLO5Q0pYhttps://youtu.be/kKHBLO5Q0pY
DOWNLOADS:
Click on or paste the following link to download or print documents for session 1.
Click on or paste the following link to download or print documents for session 1.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqcRuZ3XUOKql2VhthNCyRfSADan?e=ws0bMH
(Right click to view or download individual files)
(Right click to view or download individual files)
[1]http://www.cobourgatheist.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76:belief-in-god-by-country&catid=211:churches&Itemid=141
[2] C.S.
Lewis, Surprised by Joy, p. 228-229.
[3] John 4:24
[4] Luke 17:20-21
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