What are you saying ‘Yes’ to? 4 Contrasting Invitations to Spiritual Growth
It can be helpful to see our spiritual journey as saying “Yes” to spiritual invitation.
Our spiritual lives are profoundly shaped by what we understand that invitation to be. The invitation we say ‘yes’ to sets the tone for the entire journey. If the invitation is misunderstood, everything that follows will be off balance and will affect our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with God.
As I’ve mentioned previously, I’ve been privileged to journey with people in a wide range of cultures, and I have noticed clear patterns that transcend culture and religion.
In this post I’m going to share some spiritual “invitations” I observe. Three of them can seem attractive but carry some serious drawbacks. The fourth one, I’ve seen consistently lead to sustained spiritual and personal growth.
(I’m going to use “God” language in this and future posts, but the dynamics are pretty universal across different expressions of spirituality. If that’s not language you use, feel free to substitute for a word that makes sense for you. Chew the meat and spit out the bones. 🙂)
Three Common But Not-So-Great Invitations
1. The Invitation to Change Teams
This invitation suggests that spiritual growth is like changing football teams or getting a marriage certificate. It implies a change in legal status, with nothing further required. The ceremony is over and you’ve changed allegiance — now just wear the team colours and conform to the community culture. This approach sets you up for superficiality. It leads to great religion, but can make for a shallow spiritual life.
2. The Invitation to Accept God as CEO
In this scenario, God is the CEO, and you have a job to do. He’ll pay you and guarantee your retirement, but you have to work hard to meet KPIs and run errands. This perspective frames God as an employer who accepts you conditionally. You’ve got to earn your way, and if you mess up, the Boss will be unhappy and might even sack you. This sets you up for a lifetime of performance anxiety, where spiritual growth is measured by your ability to meet the expectations of a taskmaster.
3. The Invitation to Accept God as a “Sugar Daddy”
This invitation promises that God will look after you completely. Just say “yes,” and He’ll take care of everything and pay all your bills in advance. You’re free to do whatever you feel like — He just wants you to have a good time! While this might sound appealing, it sets you up for a life of meaninglessness. Pursuing wealth or other desires without deeper purpose has long been recognized as futile — just ask Solomon, Siddhartha Gautama, and Jesus.
A Better Invitation?
4. A Living Relationship with a Loving Father-King
What if the real invitation is to connect deeply with a loving Father-King who wants to include us in His family? A Father-King who desires to be intimately involved in our daily lives, and involve us as He works to bring healing and peace to broken lives and communities?
This invitation calls us to step into an identity as beloved children. It’s an invitation to a relationship that is two-way, participatory, non-manipulative, and mutually respectful. It asks us to lay down our agendas, fears, and desires, offering the freedom to find true spiritual life, discover ourselves, and genuinely love others.
It sets the stage for a dynamic, lifelong relationship with Someone who is constantly communicating, comforting, healing, and stretching us. This relationship invites us to grow, deepen, and become authentic in our interactions with ourselves, others, and God.
OK in theory, but in practice?
Most people find this idea both attractive and slightly scary. The other three invitations put me in the driver’s seat, but engaging in a living relationship requires me to open myself up to the Other.
How exactly does that work? How do you practically have that kind of spiritual relationship?
It is challenging, but it is both possible and fulfilling. In a few weeks I’ll share some of the things I’ve observed and learned in that space.
Next Up…
Before we go there, I want to look at “the invitation” from another angle.
I’ve observed four different patterns in how people live out their spirituality and respond to God. I’m tempted to say they are universal… they are certainly surprisingly consistent across different cultures and spiritual traditions.
The pattern we choose shapes our spiritual life and growth in profound ways. Stay tuned!
