The Super-Spiritual Syndrome
January 22, 2008
While reflecting on Psalm 119 I couldn’t help but be impressed and depressed with David’s yearning and affections for God’s Word. I am referring, of course, to statements like:
“In the way of Your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.” (14)
“My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.” (20)
“The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” (72)
“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” (97)
“Therefore I love Your commandments above gold, above fine gold.” (127)
Etc, etc, etc. I am profoundly impressed by these statements (which I believe to be utterly true representations of David’s heart); yet at the same time I cannot help but be somewhat depressed. I looked within the barren recesses of my heart to ask the painful question, Can I say those things about God’s Word? Sometimes, yes; but far too often, no. David’s affections seemed beyond the reach of my sinful carnal nature. You could say that I had become a victim of the Super-Spiritual Syndrome.
I submit to you that this syndrome is far more prevalent and destructive than many believers realize. I think this condition must be akin in some way to the heretical dualism that has infected the church for centuries and centuries. Like dualism, the super-spiritual syndrome tends to isolate a spiritual standard or experience from the sphere of physical reality. If we isolate the Psalmists statements from the man himself we will construct an unattainable and unsustainable spiritual experience. But if the Psalmist is David, we know that David is not a super-spiritual person. In the real world the David we know is a great sinner. Even apart from his most infamous encounter with Bathsheba and her husband, David evidences significant fault - especially as a father. Looking at his sons, David failed miserably in the discipline and spiritual nurture of his children. No wonder he cried out, “For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness…” (Psalm 38:4-5).
As I reflected on the paradoxical fleshly nature of David and his spiritual affections for the Word evidenced throughout Psalm 119, I began to notice a fascinating theme that ran all through the chapter. David was a persecuted, afflicted man. He had people troubles. As a matter of fact the theme of trouble is only second to the Word in Psalm 119. Affliction unlocked the mystery for me between sinful David and spiritual David. The Psalmist wrote, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word” (119:67). David’s affections for the Word didn’t spring from some inner spirituality; but rather God used trouble to drive him to the word for comfort, guidance, and promise. It was only after he experienced the poverty that trials bring could David discover the excellent worth of God’s Word. Those verses I referenced above didn’t come from a super-spiritual man; they came from a super-troubled man. Now this is something every believer can relate with.
My struggles with Psalm 119 ultimately led me to reflect upon the dangers of a super-spiritual standard that we tend to apply to so many other facets of Christian living – whether it be evangelism, prayer, devotions, dedication, consecration, or a myriad of other Christian duties. The old hymn “Sweet Hour of Prayer” is a sterling example. Most believers could only sing this hymn thoughtlessly or despairingly because very few can attain, practice, or sustain an hour of praying. But if their job was about to be eliminated or if their child was extremely sick, they could pray an hour almost effortlessly. The super-spiritual syndrome unwittingly applied to the believer idealizes Christian living to the extent that it is unattainable and unsustainable. And when the spiritual ideal is divorced from human reality discouragement and even despair will be the end result. But there are no super-spiritual people. The people who run hard after God are the people God is chasing down with trials and afflictions.
It is bad enough to apply this standard to ourselves, but it is much worse when we apply this standard to other people. When such an attitude is found among the leaders of God’s people, it results in a hyper-critical attitude towards the very people they are charged to build up and encourage. Oh how much better to turn struggling souls to Christ and His sufficiency! I think the apostle Paul understood the paradoxical nature of Christian living. He understood that a chasm often exists between the standard and the experience. Writing to the Thessalonians, he urges believers to fill that gap with patience. He wrote, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Amen.
As one who owes everything to God’s pursuit and not his own,
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I love this post! I have been immersed in Psalm 119 lately and I have found I totally relate to David. I am very fleshly, but it is exactly that fleshiness that has driven me to run hard after God. My favorite line in this is “The people who run hard after God are the people God is chasing down with trials and afflictions.” Thank you for this truth. It has been an encouragement to me today.
Courtney
http://establishmyfootsteps.wordpress.com