Our Reason to Hope

Ross

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2010
• ISBN:
  9781621893158
• Topic: Theologie & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

In a carefully crafted evangelistic sermon, five questions of ultimate concern are introduced to illustrate how a conversation about spirituality can lead to an invitation to ask Christ to abide in your life.

Our Reason to Hope

George R. Ross

RESOURCE Publications - Eugene, Oregon

But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. (1 Pet 3:15–16)

Have you ever noticed how often the word spirituality is bantered about in people’s conversations, especially if the topic of discussion is religion? “I am not a religious person,” one individual will argue, “but I am spiritual! I don’t go to church or anything like that, but I am spiritual! I do believe in a higher power, but this Jesus stuff is not for me. But I am spiritual!”

This reminds me of the story of an alcoholic who joined Alcoholics Anonymous to help him stop drinking. Others in the group indicated that he needed to place his faith in a higher power. So he proceeded to place his faith in a beautiful thirty-foot-high oak tree. Remarkably, he remained free of alcohol for nearly twenty-five years. But then one day an ice storm hit his tree and it was destroyed. Needless to say, so was the poor soul’s sobriety. As he sat in the bar, drunk once again, he lamented the loss of his limited and finite “higher power” that served as the core of his spirituality.

The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms (1996, p. 268) defines spirituality as “the quality of being spiritual (pertaining to the spirit or nonmaterial).” Elaborating, the dictionary explains that “historically, varieties of spiritualities have emerged relating to different religious traditions. They take place through rituals and practices.” Other writers point out (Miller and Thoresen, 1999, pp. 5–9) that “for at least as long as his...