I had a carpenter working at my house a week or so ago.  I made mention of not being at Bible study on that particular day, which led him to say something about the Lord.  I jumped right in and he eventually opened up a little more.  I could tell he was sincere and he led me to believe he was trying to maintain direction, biblically speaking.

Eventually, he said, “I’m spiritual, but not religious.”  I said nothing about his comment at the time but later thought, What do people mean when they say this and what do they want you to understand about them? 

I believe in Christianity as a religion, i.e., I follow Christ.  So when someone says they are not religious but only spiritual, does that mean that they adhere to no set beliefs?  What disciplines do they follow and what are their core values?  Do they mix a little of this and a little of that to come up with what they believe in?

To me, it sounded rather trendy and cosmic to use this term and it sounds like people are rejecting doctrine of any kind.  I fully understand that what has come to light in today’s society to many is the fact that there are those who try to sell religion as something feel good and only you reaping. 

I believe that we have to have some kind of framework by which we live our lives.  I do not call myself Catholic, Baptist or Methodist but I am bound by the absolute truths found in Christianity.  When we share our beliefs with one another, we are sharing our religion.  So, I have to tell my carpenter friend when I see him again that he was sharing in religion, whether he saw it that way or not.

Whether you reject being religious or not, the bottom line is we do not need to label ourselves.  As long as we know God and do all we can in our lives to learn “the more” of Him and share Him with others, that is all that is important in this whole wide world.

Katie Altobellis