Faith Involves Your Brain, Too

16-04-14 2:47Faith Involves Your Brain, Too | RELEVANT Magazine

Pgina 1 de 3http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/faith-involves-your-brain-too

The American church hasdone an excellent job ofcatering to a devotional oremotional style of spirituality

Faith Involves Your Brain, TooI dont like devotional books.

I rarely get swept up in emotional worship experiences.

And as much as Ive wanted to be the girl who sings with her arms raised, eyes closedand heart full of joy, I just end up fixated on whether or not Im flashing sweaty armpitsto everyone around me (spoiler: I probably am).

For years, I participated in small groups and Bible studies feeling like there must besomething wrong with me. I couldnt connect to the kind of devotional, emotionalspirituality so many of my friends seemed to enjoy; and most of the time Id rather studythe details of Pauls arguments about justification than meditate on a Psalm.

Then I came across an essay by C.S. Lewis called, On the Reading of Old Books, and itcompletely changed my perspective. For my own part, I tend to find the doctrinal booksoften more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, Lewis wrote, and I rathersuspect that the same experience may await many others. Years of worry that I wasunspiritual or a bad Christian began to melt away. Lewis continued:

I believe that many who find that nothing happens when they sit down, orkneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbiddenwhile they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe intheir teeth and a pencil in their hands.

Swap the pencil for a laptop and the pipe for a beer and hed nailed my experienceexactly. But if C.S. Lewis of all people was on my side, why did it seem like we werehanging out alone?

You see, the American church has done an excellent job ofcatering to a devotional or emotional style of spiritualityandthats a good thing! But its also a bad thing, because it leaves a



lot of us, the ones for whom nothing happens when we try togrow closer to God that way, out in the cold.

This is a shame, not only because of the feelings of frustration and inadequacy it cancause people like me, who dont fit the devotional mold, but also because Jesus showedHe was more than capable of loving and ministering to both of these spiritual styles.

Remember Mary and Martha, the sisters of Bethany? These women were on the oppositeends of the emotional-intellectual spectrum of spirituality. When Jesus came to raisetheir brother Lazarus, each sister met him with the exact same lament: Lord, if you hadbeen here, my brother would not have died. But Jesus does not respond to themidentically.

To Mary, He gives emotional comfort, openly grieving with her. He doesnt explainHimself or the circumstances; He simply weeps with her. She seems content with this;an explanation is not what she seeks.

To Martha, however, Jesus offers intellectual comfort through teaching. When Marthasays But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask, shes not justmaking a statement; shes challenging Jesus to fix her situation. And Jesus challengesher in turn, pushing her to examine the depth and source of her faith. Though tears werewhat Mary needed, just weeping together would not have helped Martha.

Mary is emotionally comforted by Jesus empathy; Martha is intellectually comforted byHis word.

The story doesnt present either spiritual style as better than the other; it presents aSavior who can love and use them both. As the corporate body of Christ, we must havethe same adaptability. So what does that look like for intellectual types in the modern,American church?

Dont be scared to speak up.



Though it may be a naturalhuman tendency to do so,we neednt value heart overhead (or vice versa!)

If you want to study some heavy theology instead of another devotional book, say so! Iwas afraid for years to tell people that devotional-style books didnt resonate with me,because I thought I was the only one. But Im not; and youre not; and Im betting thateven those who have a more emotional spirituality would be up for trying somethingnew with you.

Figure out new ways to participate.

If the current roles available at your church dont fit with yourspiritual gifting or style, create new roles. For example, if youdont feel comfortable leading an emotional prayer time, ask ifyou could instead read and briefly explain a passage of

Scripture which is relevant to the topic at hand.

Practice emotional spiritualitysometimes.

Its important to engage in spiritual practices which work for you, but for those of us onthe intellectual end of the spectrum, theres a real risk of emotional disengagement. Justas we have a unique perspective to offer our more emotionally oriented friends, so weneed to learn from them. It may feel strange or awkward, especially at first, but Jesusnever said following Him would be easy.

Extend grace to people you dont understand.

Though it may be a natural human tendency to do so, we neednt value heart over head,Mary over Martha (or vice versa!). Both have important contributions to make to thebody of Christ. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord, who is as deftwith Marthas challenges as He is with Marys tears.

Faith Involves Your Brain, Too

Documents

Transcript of Faith Involves Your Brain, Too