Three types of spirituality

As I see it, three different types of spirituality have been competing against each other in Christianity from the beginning: (1) Apocalyptic; (2) Mystical; and (3) Prophetic. It is interesting how people gravitate toward the spirituality that suits their temperament, or they simply swallow whatever spirituality has been drilled into them over the years.

I was raised in an apocalyptic sect. I was taught from childhood that “Jesus is coming soon!” One woman in the church told me that I shouldn’t plan to go to college because Jesus would return before then; there wasn’t time. Needless to say, I’m glad I went to college. I’m also glad I left that church!

From that time on, I have been skeptical of apocalyptic spirituality. I reject dispensationalism and I don’t believe in “the secret rapture.” I view “doomsday theology” as a distortion of the gospel.

Christianity by nature is not a mystical religion (like Hinduism), but it has always had a mystical element in it. Mysticism, of course, aims at personal union with God. Through prayer and meditation, we can make our life a prayer. To be a Christian is to walk with Christ and to be awake to the Holy Spirit within us. Yet I would not describe myself as a mystic. Jesus himself had mystical qualities, but I do not believe Jesus was a mystic either.

This brings us to the final type of spirituality: prophetic. Christianity is a prophetic religion. It is based on the view of Jesus as the Messiah who spoke the prophetic word of God and did the will of God. Jesus was a prophet similar to the Old Testament prophets. Like those prophets, Jesus delivered a message of salvation that was social, and he died for God’s cause in the world. He was raised from the dead and now lives on in the Spirit through the church and its prophetic mission.

Prophetic spirituality applies the message of righteousness and justice to the social ills of our age. Prophetic spirituality is ethical. Its focus is not the apocalyptic end of the world, nor the mysterious inner life of the individual. Rather, prophets speak out against racism, social greed, militarism, poverty, and environmental destruction. Prophetic spirituality aims at social action. Like Jesus, the church is called to social action.

Having rejected apocalyptic theology, I try to blend mystical spirituality with a strong dose of prophetic spirituality. I’m not saying this is the only way to be a Christian, but it works for me.

--Brad