on Kyria.com
blogs we're watching
« Using Your Gifts | Main | Book Review: Three Cups of Tea »
January 26, 2010Spirituality at Starbucks
Why do so many people look for meaning in people and things other than Christ?
TweetAt first I thought it was a women’s Bible study group. They’d pulled up a circle of chairs right next to the little table I’d claimed at Starbucks. They had journals and thick books in hand, were introducing themselves to one another, and looked pumped to have a great conversation.
Then I decided that it must be a book-club group meeting for the first time as they said things like, “I ended up reading six chapters. I just couldn’t stop!”
I tried to ignore them and stick to typing away on my laptop, but their enthusiasm was effusive (and their volume was rather loud). My ears perked up when I heard this comment: “I feel like this is the first time anyone has ever told me the truth about God . . . and about myself.”
Hmmm . . . what kind of book did they read? I wondered. Maybe this is a Bible study.
I heard more comments along these lines: “It is just so refreshing to realize I can experience God without having to go through a religion!”
“I used to go to church, but I haven’t gone much over the past few years. I’ve felt really guilty about it . . . but now I feel free. I’ve realized that I don’t need church anymore.”
“I want spirituality in my life—not a system of rules.”
Ah-ha! I deduced: This is an Oprah book club!
It was a group of women who’d gathered to read and discuss Eckhart Tolle’s book A New Earth and who’d begun watching weekly global cybercasts on spirituality hosted by Oprah.
Spirituality is the religion du jour. According to a recent Newsweek poll, 30 percent of Americans claim to be “spiritual but not religious.” Another survey found that 37 percent of evangelical Christians believed that various religions could provide truth and lead to eternal life.
One of the appeals of popular spirituality is that it can sort of be whatever you want it to be—it can include elements of Christianity with some eastern mysticism thrown in for flavor. It can combine Native American beliefs with Buddhism and some good ‘ole New Age self-actualization. Or it can be completely made up: no dogma needed, no religious text required, just your own ideas about your self, the planet, and the divine.
Oprah’s not the only cultural icon espousing popular spirituality; books like Eat, Pray, Love are growing cultural interest in spiritual leaders like Deepak Chopra and the Dalai Lama. And even the enduring influence of novels like The Da Vinci Code have led many people (including many Christians) to redefine their sense of what it means to be a spiritual person.
I began to feel really sad as I sat there at Starbucks and thought about the comments I’d heard. I could sense the strong feeling of longing—the desire for meaning—expressed in each of the women’s voices. I wondered what they thought Oprah could offer them that Jesus couldn’t. And I felt especially sad when I heard them talk about the idea that we can find true meaning and divinity within ourselves; what a false promise! Eugene Peterson describes the essence of Christian spirituality as just the opposite: “[It’s] getting so tired and fed up with yourself [that] you go on to something better, which is following Jesus.”
How have you seen “pop spirituality” integrating itself into our culture and even into the beliefs and practices of Christians? Why is the message of Oprah and other pop spirituality gurus so appealing to women in our culture? How can we effectively share with others the true spirituality our souls were designed for: intimacy with Jesus—the authentic way, the ultimate truth, and the source of abundant life?
Tweet
recent posts
resources
tags
- books; hot topics,
- Abortion,
- acceptance,
- action,
- Advent,
- attitudes,
- balance,
- beauty,
- Beauty; self-image,
- Bible study,
- Birth of Christ,
- blessing,
- Blessings,
- Books,
- books,
- Books; social justice,
- Cancer,
- character,
- Christ,
- Christmas,
- Commandments,
- Commitment,
- communion,
- community,
- Community,
- Comparison,
- Compassion,
- compassion,
- confession,
- Contentment,
- Culture,
- culture,
- death,
- Depression,
- direction,
- Discipleship,
- discipline,
- discomfort,
- Discouragement,
- Doubt,
- empowering,
- Encouragement,
- ethics,
- faith,
- Faith,
- faithfulness,
- family,
- Family,
- Family's faith,
- Fasting,
- fear,
- food,
- forgiveness,
- Freedom,
- Friendship,
- friendship,
- Generosity,
- gifts. mission,
- gospel,
- grace,
- Grace,
- grandchildren,
- grandparents,
- grief,
- Growth,
- Guidance,
- Guilty,
- Hardships,
- health,
- Health; Social Justice,
- help,
- holiness,
- Holiness,
- Homosexuality,
- hope,
- Hope,
- Hospitality,
- hospitality,
- humility,
- Humor,
- husband,
- identity,
- Identity,
- identity; purpose,
- Idols,
- Illness,
- individuals,
- Innocent,
- integrity,
- isolation,
- Jesus,
- Judge,
- judgement,
- Jury,
- Justice,
- justice,
- Kindness,
- law,
- Leadership,
- Lent,
- life,
- Loneliness,
- loneliness,
- lost,
- Love,
- love,
- Luke,
- Marriage,
- marriage,
- Mentoring,
- mercy,
- Messianic Jews,
- Middle-East,
- Ministry,
- ministry,
- mission,
- Modesty,
- Motherhood; gifts,
- Mothers,
- Movies; Life of Jesus,
- Music,
- narrative,
- new year,
- obedience,
- Parenting,
- parenting,
- patience,
- Perfectionism,
- perseverance,
- politicians,
- Politics,
- pop culture,
- Pop culture,
- Pornography,
- practices,
- prayer,
- Prayer,
- pride,
- Priorities,
- purpose,
- Redemption,
- relationship,
- relationships,
- repentance,
- Rest,
- Resurrection,
- righteousness,
- Sabbath,
- Scripture,
- self-denial,
- Selflessness,
- servanthood,
- Service,
- service,
- Sex,
- Sexuality,
- sharing,
- Social action,
- Social action; Women,
- Social justice,
- society,
- spiritual development,
- Spiritual Development,
- Spiritual discipline,
- Spiritual Disciplines,
- spiritual disciplines,
- Spiritual gifts,
- spiritual growth,
- spiritual identity,
- standards,
- stewardship,
- story,
- Submission,
- Surrender,
- Theology,
- Tiger Mother,
- travel,
- trust,
- truth,
- Virgin Mary,
- waiting,
- webinar,
- wife,
- wisdom,
- Wisdom,
- Women,
- Women's issues,
- Women's Ministry,
- women's ministry,
- Work,
- worry,
- worship,
- Worship,
- worth,
Comments
What a great article. I have always been a "Christian," but was never devoted to learning about God, Jesus, and how wonderful it is to know them until now. I have always been a self proclaimed self-help junkie and looked to those books to help me turn my life around. I do feel like self help books all contain valuable information that can be used to make your life a little bit better.
But I tell you, no book can turn your life around like The Bible.
I have tried to read The Power Of Now for two years, but have never been able to get through it. I thought it could completely turn my life around because everyone made such a big deal about it, but was disappointed each time I would try to read it, because I knew it wasn't the ultimate truth.
Being a 21-year-old today is difficult, but ever since I started getting deeper in the word of God, getting to know who He is and what His Son did for me, I have never felt better about myself.
Posted By: Miciah | January 27, 2010 8:46 PM
Oh Kelly, I feel your pain! A good friend of mine, who has been fascinated with my walk with Jesus ever since I got saved, also got into the Tolle book and called me specifically to tell me how she finally had found meaning in her life, had been drastically changed, etc. She sounded just like someone who had just met Jesus for the first time. I didn't know anything about the book, so I did a little research and then met with my friend for lunch. I listened to her effusive "realizatons" and prayed the whole time, commenting when I felt the Holy Spirit quickening me. The next time we met I brought her a copy of The Purpose Driven Life, thinking a NY Times bestseller might be attractive to her, but no. There is a real block to considring Jesus, to considering anything that isn't "me" driven. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." We need to pray.
Posted By: Sharon | January 29, 2010 2:41 PM
It is getting scary how the devil is "evangelising" to the people of the world today.One thing is certain, we need to tighten our belts and do more than we've done so far to snatch our brothers and sisters away from his influence.Our reassurance in this battle is that we have overcome the world in Jesus name!Let's get to the job at hand.
Posted By: Hilda | January 30, 2010 6:17 AM
It is amazing to me that when you even mention the name of our Creator people are offended in today's culture. It makes me so sad to see how far people have strayed from God, but also so hopeful when I look around and see so many of His good works occuring everywhere in this world. For the Lord truly is everywhere and His glories are marvelous and for those of us whose eyes are open, it is an amazing world indeed. Only prayer for those around us who are smitten with worldly pleasures can help open their eyes to His goodness and help them turn away from this new agey world that we live in.
Posted By: Nicole | January 30, 2010 7:25 AM
Well said, Sharon! I agree - we cannot waver, but stand on the
Word. There is much deception out there, and those that are not grounded in Christ can get taken in by it all. I pray that as we share our faith, a seed of truth would be sown into the hearts of those that don't yet believe, as well as those that have been misguided.
Posted By: Patricia | January 30, 2010 7:45 AM
We need to pray that Oprah gets a wake up call from the Lord. She is leading women away from the true meaning of life into her own mixed mashed view of womanhood. So many men and women follow Oprah's every word!! It is so sad to see these women belive they can have it all. God is not going to take much more of Oprah's jibber-jabber, remember, he is a jealous God and will make his persence know!!
Posted By: Christine | January 30, 2010 12:02 PM
I find it heartbreaking that women that desire more with their relationship with Christ can find themselves so seeing in the wrong areas. Our culture and media has wrecked to a great extent the pure longing for Christ and the ready sources have resulted in a drift from the blueprint of God's Word. Many want more,( perhaps a fix of "feel good" and an instant "Christianity") that many have lost or never will gain the true meaning of a daily relationship; a relationship that is not a turn on and turn off when I desire one but one that is committed to sticking with the Word, Church, and prayer when the chips seem to be down. The media offers a 3 step and 30 minute to success formula and many books have been sold merely out of impatient hearts that have not learned the process of surrendering to Christ, learning from Him, and watching Him in His time teach us and provide the solution only He can do. We have too much yet many are so bankrupt in their spirits as a whole that they chase the next fad or next secular fix-- a panic to come to wholenes and peace that can only come through our Savior. Those that have seen this tragedy in others need to have the heart of an intercessor to pray forth true revelation in the way many need to exercise their walk with the Lord. Sometimes it is a coming to the end of oneself that God can then begin to woo some as they desperately cry out. Satan has used many popular individuals and given them a voice and many have fallen prey due to their drifting from their first love. I do not point fingers at those that have gone astray because I too can fall if I allow my attention to be distracted.
Posted By: Valerie Caraotta | January 30, 2010 2:28 PM
We must remember Jesus is triamphant over all, but we as christians must ban together and pray for all our families who do not know GOD. we must always keep our minds on the only thuth and way to Heaven and LIFE We have to stand in the gap and speak truth and pray pray pray.
Posted By: Audrey | January 30, 2010 3:15 PM
If sitting in Starbucks discussing spirituality is so bad, what were you doing there evesdropping? Getting your ears full of...people looking for God? Sounds like it could have been worse. Oprah may not be perfect, but she does more to help others than most "born agains" who say those things about her faith.
Just because those young women you were listening to were quoting Oprah's words, does not mean that they put her above Jesus. My guess is that she wouldn't let them do that.
Truthfully, God can begin to talk to anyone through any person. She may be reaching people that Billy Graham cannot, and giving someone a flicker of hope. You never know.
There are reasons there are other religions in the world besides our own, and those reasons are not "bad." All cultures evolved with a sensing of a Creator, and over millenniums they interpreted and expressed that awareness of a God according to their cultural understanding and with the communication tools that they had available to them, including language, which is very limited in expressing experience of God. The Bible says God is Almighty, so He could have made everyone the same faith by now if He wanted.
At least the group you were overhearing was talking about a civilized subject, and about "the Good" within us all! Be thankful they weren't telling disgusting jokes or sharing stories about their one-night stands. Sounds like it could have been much worse.
As one gets older, you learn to preserve your own faith without thinking everyone else is destined for hell.
Hope things go well for you.
Posted By: Charmaine | February 1, 2010 7:49 PM
If people are truly "Christian," then they should be more concerned with themselves telling the truth, than with others being a bit syncretistic in their "religion." People look to spirituality because spiritual is what organized religion is supposed to make us! Face it, organized religion has let some people down. So, they look to live "The Truth" away from the "boxes" of organized faiths that may operate on overly-rigid rules for getting to know God. Jesus said that the ones who love are His brothers and sisters, and the ones He will see in heaven. He also left room for those who fall short but have repentant hearts.
Following the Commandments and appreciating the Beatitudes are the ultimate goals of sitting in any church, and this is true because Christ said just saying "Lord, Lord," isn't enough to get you into Heaven! Telling the truth—being honest—and not bearing false witness, means not trying to make other Christians look bad just because they are not part of your particular group.
Now, I'm done with posting, since it appears this isn't set up with the best intentions.
Read your Bible, take a mass media law class to learn about ethics and legalities of internet boards. Ask yourself, why does it take "2000 laws to enforce the Ten Commandments?" That is a question I once saw posted on a Lutheran church readerboard. Good question!!!
Charmaine
Posted By: Charmaine | February 1, 2010 8:17 PM