Spiritual passion is the fuel that keeps a congregation active and excited about the faith it has to share with the world. Without spiritual passion, a church, no matter what its size, will either crash and burn or become a hollow shell of its former glory. Just as the body is fueled by a nutritious diet, so a church is fueled by a healthy, passionate, spirituality.
Three Questions – One answer
Q1) What makes a church different from a social club? A: Spiritual Passion
Churches often focus on being nice, growing membership, and having relevant programing. We are just like the YMCA, except, we have a deep passion for Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to transform our lives.
Q2) What guarantees diversity in a church? A: Spiritual Passion
In this world, community is usually formed around shared interests (hence Facebook). The churches that form their community around a shared passion for God, make themselves available to the Holy Spirit’s emphasis on diversity.
Q3) What determines the lifespan of a church? A: Spiritual Passion
It isn’t loss of membership or poor management that kills churches, its loss of meaning. Unless the congregation’s rank and file understands prayer to be effective, scripture to be relevant, witnessing to be the sharing of the thing they are most passionate about, and look forward to each week’s worship because it inspires them deeply, they will flake off to other activities.
In Screwtape Letters, CS. Lewis gives us insight into how the demons veiw congregations with low spiritual passion:
“A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all—and more amusing.”
“One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we [the demons] see her, spread but through all time and space and rooted in eternity, terrible as an army with banners.”