Are you a Spiritual Christian or Just a Christian Who Attends Church?

Psalm 103:7
He made known his ways (relationship) unto Moses, his acts (demonstration of power or ability) unto the children of Israel.

This is a powerful Scripture that exemplifies the manifestation of God in the lives of believers: God’s ways vs. God’s acts. Do you have a relationship with God or are you just a Christian? Think before you answer, because even if you are a Christian the answer might surprise you. Now don’t get off-course and get carnal, I’m here to challenge your thinking. I’m not saying that you are or are not a Christian. Remember the BG Street motto: get relevant information, and think critically about that information so that you can make sound decisions that affect you and your family. This is an article that will challenge your walk with God. It will cause you to back up and reassess your beliefs, your relationship with God, and possibly to cause you to go to a higher level in God. This isn’t the article that’s going to feed your fleshly appetite like the sex article or the dating article that I wrote. This article is going to challenge your heart (spirit). Those that have ears to hear and eyes to see will grasp the principles outlined in this article. Regardless of your spiritual growth level in God, if your heart is right, you can jump right into this article, find yourself in God, and gain powerful insights to further solidify what you have with God. So again I ask you, “Do you have a relationship with God or are you just a Christian?”

For the sake of time and space, let me just say as lovingly and honestly as I can that just because all humans are created by God doesn’t mean that we are all God’s children (John 1:12). Creation is one thing; and being a child of God is another. According to the 1997 World Almanac, statistics for mid-1995 world religious groups accounted for nearly 2 billion people claiming to be Christians. That is a lot of people, and some of you might be intimidated by such a large number of people. Well, don’t be intimidated, because if you follow the principles of the Word of God in this article, you will become a more spiritual Christian who walks more closely with God.

God loves everyone whether they accept Christ or not (John 3:16; Romans 5:8), so please understand that God is not mad at you no matter your situation, sin or vice. The believers of Jesus have a spiritually correct relationship with God, He is our Father and we are His children. That is a spiritual relationship that we have because we are spiritually born of Him (John 1:13), and our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). This is a great position in which to be, but it is a very shallow one if that is all that you have. Going to Heaven one day is a great thing, but if you are just a Christian who is saved and that’s it. How sad is that? Remember the opening Scripture? Moses knew God’s ways and the children of Israel knew God’s acts. Moses had a relationship with God, and the children of Israel only knew the might and power of God. Can you imagine being related to the person who created the land, sky, sea and all that is in them? Can you imagine Him making available to you the Wisdom of the Ages? Can you imagine not being proactive and not finding out what’s in His heart? What’s on His mind? Can you imagine having the invitation, but not cultivating a relationship with a being this great?

A lot of times, this is the case in the church. The church is related to God, but many haven’t cultivated their relationship passed the spiritual connection (receiving salvation). Shouting in church, boisterous prayers from the orators, quoting Scriptures, speaking in tongues, and saying the latest church lingo is not the litmus test for having a serious relationship with God. In fact, it isn’t based upon outward things such as these; yet it is based upon a yielded life to Him. Think about it in natural terms: a coach, a teacher, a boss, a trainer will impart more information and time into the protégé or student who obeys and makes time to be with him/her. God is the same way. He is a gentleman who doesn’t force His Word, Will or Wisdom on anyone. Make yourself available to God and He will oblige you. Jesus said in Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” The key words are hunger and thirst; these are words that cause one to pursue that which will satisfy emptiness. So just because God is your Father doesn’t mean you’re going to have God’s insights, and ways. You have to pursue God. When a man wants a woman, he pursues her. When we get hungry, we go get something to eat. Pursuit demonstrates your desire for what you say you want. Remember that! The Apostle Paul said in Romans 10:1 “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” He proved that he had a desire by praying. Desire is the prompting, but prayer was the action. Put some action with your prompting.

You can be a born again Christian but still be a carnal or unskilled Christian (a Christian that doesn’t do things according to God’s way of doing things). We all start out in this position, just like a baby, but as a baby grows naturally, a Christian should grow spiritually from drinking spiritual milk to eating spiritual meat (1 Corinthians 3:2; 1 Peter 2:2).

A few things to consider if you want to be a spiritual Christian:

• Remember that God loves everyone and He is available to everyone (John 3:16)
  
• God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).
  
• God desires us to fellowship with Him. (John 14:23)
  
• According to Romans 2:4 “the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” God’s goodness is His glory or a manifestation of who He is, and this will lead you to repentance (signifying a relationship). God reveals Himself so that you will pursue Him. Then you pursue the initial revelation and your relationship with God gets a little bit stronger. As the relationship strengthens, God will reveal more of Himself, which will in turn cause you to seek after more of God; and your relationship with God will strengthen, and you’ll seek after more revelation, et cetera, ad infinitum. It’s a cycle that never ends unless you stop it, because God wants to always satisfy your desire for Him. This is the earmark of a spiritual Christian: pursuing more of God. He is inexhaustible, and we can always improve ourselves and receive more.
  
• Spiritual gifts, great prayers and quoting many Bible verses are not a litmus test for spiritual strength or a strong relationship with God. The Corinthian Church was operating in the spiritual gifts of God (speaking in tongues, prophecy, healings, etc.), but the Apostle Paul said that they were carnal because they lacked loved and spiritual maturity (1 Corinthians 3:3).
  
• Always remember that your relationship with God is personal and that only you can cultivate it and make it stronger. (Philippians 2:12-13; Philippians 3:13-14).
  God is your sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5).
  
• Remember that your relationship with God will not deviate from the foundation of the Word of God, Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:10-11).
  
• If you pray according to God’s Word on any matter then stand bold and confident that you have the answer (1 John 5:14-15)
  
• Remember, not all Christians will encourage you to seek after God and have a personal and genuine relationship with Him. Everyone has different motives, drives and desires. Just be concerned with following your own heart and passion.
  
• Remember, not everyone in the Church has a strong relationship with God. God may reveal things to you that others don’t understand. Always discern the spirituality of those with whom you associate. Don’t act like you’re better than others, but merely use discretion in discussing certain things with certain people. Joseph made that mistake and revealed God’s dream to his brothers (Genesis 37). In return, he was beat up, thrown in a pit and sold into slavery. Follow God’s timing and leading if you want to share His wisdom with others.
  
• Have a routine and an atmosphere that works for you in developing your relationship with God. There is no set way to commune with God. What works for one person, may not work for another. For example, you may or may not like music on while spending time with God; you don’t have to pray for five (5) hours a day; you don’t have to pray while you’re kneeling; you don’t have to go on a forty (40) day fast; you don’t have to read the Bible everyday. It’s your relationship with God, so whatever you and God decide, do that.
  
• Listening to good teaching of the Word of God is great, but always take that teaching back to the Word of God and test it (1 Thessalonians 5:21). No mere mortal is greater than the Word of God, so use it as your standard and not your leaders and/or mentors. If you hear a teaching that you aren’t too sure about, don’t follow the teaching, follow the witness in your heart (1 John 2:20). God will give you wisdom (James 1:5).
  
• Always be willing to pass your faith on to those who are pursuing what you have.
  
• Never take credit for the things that God is doing in your life. Have an attitude of gratitude to God.
  
• Let God deal with you on the sins, shortcomings and character flaws that you have. People will try to condemn you but only God knows your heart, and He has your best interest in mind. God will deal with you on areas He wants you to fix. Be true to yourself and to God, and always follow your conscience (John 16:13).
  
• Never frustrate the grace of God (Galatians 2:21) and purposefully sin because you know that God will forgive you (1 Peter 2:16). He will forgive you (1 John 1:9), but remember that you are walking with God (Micah 6:8).
  
• Remember that we do live under grace and not under the law. Don’t let people put you in bondage because they may have overcome a sin that may still afflict you. If you ever feel condemned, that isn’t of God (Romans 8:1). The Holy Spirit will prick your heart (Acts 2:37) to repentance.
  
  
  

Examples of Christ’s relationship with the Father (Christ is our example to follow).

Notice how Jesus continually mentions that He KNOWS HIM. Knowing God personally, and reading about God in a book is totally different. Salvation is instantaneous, but building a personal relationship takes time. Jesus began His earthly ministry at age 30. A lot of preparation was done for approximately a 3 year ministry. But the results of His ministry were powerful and are still changing the world.

• John 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
  
  
• John 7:28-29 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
  
  
• John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
  
  
• John 8:55 Yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His saying.
  
  
• John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
  
  
• John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
  
  
• John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
  
  

Can you honestly say that you know God? Not know about Him, but know Him? Don’t be a religious Christian, be a truly spiritual Christian in private and in the public. Use these insights and live well!