What is Christian Spirituality? Should You Have a Spiritual Practice Routine?

When I was in graduate school, I found myself wrestling with the whole concept of what it means to know God. I’m a trained theologian, so I adore spending time contemplating questions like “how does the incarnation work”, or “what does it mean to be human in light of the fact that we are created in the image of God?” 

            That said, because I know how to throw around some fancy Latin words and can explain some of the theories we came up with over the last thousand years, does that mean I know God? Or do I simply know about God? 

            Even now, this question comes up in new ways. I read and study the Bible, but just because I know what is found in those pages, am I truly getting to know God or simply more things about God? 

            I realize that this can sound a bit like splitting hairs, but hear me out. In Philippians, Paul opens his letter to the church in the usual fashion. A heartfelt greeting and a mention of what he’s praying for. But it was what he said in Philippians 1:9-11 that really stood out to me. 

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

            It seems pretty straightforward: know God and strive to live out the example modeled by Christ in the gospels. But then I decided to dig a little deeper and look at the Greek because hey total theology nerd, remember? 

            The word that Paul uses to describe knowledge is epignosis. It means knowledge of a particular point or perception. The root word is gnosis, which is all about knowledge that you have through a first-hand relationship. The HELPS study tool uses the phrase “contact-knowledge” that you gain through experience.

            So what Paul wants the Philippians to have is not theoretical knowledge of who God is, but real, experiential knowledge -- the kind of knowledge that can only come through spending time in relationship with God. 

            It’s the difference between knowing about some historical figure because you read their autobiography and knowing your best friend because you spend so much time around them. 

            Which leads perfectly into my argument for why spiritual practices are so vital in helping a person move from knowledge about God to a deep, relational knowledge of who God is.   

            That said there are certain things to keep in mind when thinking of Christian spirituality or considering a new practice to incorporate into your life. And as a disclaimer: the practices found within Christian spirituality are as diverse as the church itself is. This is in no way a complete list or a rule to live by. Consider it your friendly introduction into new ways of thinking about and approaching your relationship with God. 

            First and foremost: Christian spirituality and the practices that are part of it revolve around a person’s formation as a believer. They are the things you do daily, weekly, or monthly that slowly help you transform into someone who is more and more like Christ. 

            If the aim of the practice isn’t about growing deeper in your faith, or learning about yourself in connection to who God is, then it’s likely not Christian spirituality as much as it is mindset work or personal development. While useful, those things are not what we’re looking at here.  

            Second, Christian spiritual practices are rooted in scripture, tradition, and the life of the church. Many have been handed down through the generations, shaping the lives of believers throughout the life of the church. 

            Some, like prayer, fasting, or the study of scripture are spoken about and modeled in the Bible. Others, like contemplative prayer or lectio divina are based upon scripture, but are fleshed out through centuries of practice in the daily lives of Christians. 

            Because there is such a rich heritage to draw from, you can find practices to support you no matter where you are in your spiritual journey. Some are based around community while others are solitary and contemplative. Each guides the believer into becoming more like Christ while simultaneously helping you to become who you were created to be. 

            One of the best ways to learn more about these spiritual practices and how they shape the life of a believer is by reading the works of Christians from previous centuries and hearing about their experiences with God on a personal level. Some of my favorites are St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross—also known as Juan de la Cruz, and St. Julian of Norwich. 

            So back to the question from the start of the post: when studying scripture, is it done to get to know God personally? Or is it done with the intent of accumulating more knowledge about God? 

            The answer depends on your approach to it. The theologian in me is a big proponent of studying scripture and wrestling with some of these more complex questions like how do we respond to suffering. 

            But that shouldn’t be all we do. 

            There are times when our study of scripture should be entirely devoted to listening for what God has to say and show to us. And going a more contemplative route with it helps ensure the experience is all about what God wants to reveal about God’s self and less about questions we have.

            Practices like lectio divina help you cultivate and form a relationship with God that isn’t based around head knowledge, but rather around intimate, relational knowledge. 

            Likewise, there are times when we absolutely should devote our prayer to bringing all of the things that are on our mind before God. And there should be times where we are praying for those around us and things happening in our communities.  

            But our prayer life should be about more than just a stream of words from us. We should also have practices that allow us to sit and listen to God. That’s where something like contemplative prayer or meditation comes into play. 

             Have fun exploring the different traditions. See what resonates with you. Find practices that nurture your soul and your faith. Find new ways to approach the things that seem familiar like prayer and studying scripture. But most of all, find joy in getting to know God personally, not just intellectually. 

            If you’re drawn to the idea of a more meditative approach to reading the Bible, you can find an explanation of how it works in this post as well as a guide based on it I’ve created here.