The Real Spiritual Life

This is adapted from this blog entry. What I found interesting and poignant is in the comment at the end (from the same blog).

I never met a Christian

I never met a Christian who…

…reads the bible enough

…prays enough

…spends long enough having a quiet times

…or feels they have enough QT’s anyway

…isn’t always quick to confess these slacker
bible and prayer faults

…isn’t reassured that they are not alone as a series of confessions follow each one revealing greater and deeper bible ignorance and prayer absence

…hears from God enough

…isn’t a secret fan of quiche

…feels slightly uncomfortable when forced to dutifully say some response like ‘Amen’ out loud in church

…doesn’t view the tambourine with distinct suspicion

…doesn’t love a good meaty bible sermon

…can’t do realistic & convincing impressions of guilt, shame, and moral outrage!

comment

I know this is meant to be tongue in cheek but I can’t help finding this quite sad and poignant (especially the first half of the list) and it quite neatly sums up much of my frustration with evangelical spirituality (and why I feel I have had to move on from it or at least supplement it) – the real spiritual life always seems to be just around the corner, just out of reach.