Walking in the Spirit vs walking in the Flesh

SERMON TOPIC: Walking in the Spirit vs walking in the Flesh

Speaker: Ken Paynter

Language: ENGLISH

Date: 9 September 2019

Topic Groups: HOLY SPIRIT, SIN

Sermon synopsis: Amalek was a type of the flesh and that they were the first enemy that the Israelites encountered when they fled Egypt. The battle was not won in the valley but on the mountain as Aaron and Hur held up Moses' arms (Spiritual battle). Under Saul’s rule the Lord said that Amalek must be destroyed completely, but Saul spared the best to offer to the Lord.

The Lord however makes it clear that he is not interested in anything that the flesh had to offer, not even it’s best and most noble attempts. (Obedience is better than sacrifice)
The flesh must die and only the life of the indwelling Christ and the fruits of that life are acceptable to Him.
God goes to great lengths to drive this point home.

1 Cor 1:27-29 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
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Walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit.

Brief recap of Sin the Sinner and the Law.

We are not sinners because we sin.

We sin because we are sinners.

We are all sinners: Romans 3:9-23.

Gods solution for our sin problem was for Jesus to live a sinless life and to die, so that we can die in him, and just as he rose from the dead, we can live a life of victory as we reckon ourselves dead to sin.

Sin the Sinner and the Law

In Romans 6 we saw that we have died to sin.

In Romans 7 we saw that we must also die to “The Law”

Romans 6 deals with freedom from sin.

Romans 7 deals with freedom from the law.

Sin the Sinner and the Law

Because we are sinners by nature, we saw in the last few weeks that the solution to this problem of being a slave to sin, was that we must die and allow Christ to live in us (Romans 6).

The solution to being married to the Law and yet been unable to meet the righteous requirements of this demanding husband, was that we must die so that we can be free to marry another, that is: Jesus Christ (Romans 7)

When I die to the Law and allow Christ to live through me, then the Law-Giver on the Throne becomes the Law-Keeper in my heart.

Freedom from sin was procured on the cross.

Freedom from the law is produced by the Spirit.

Walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit.

Lynn ministered on walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh on Friday 29 August, and she mentioned how Amalek was a type of the flesh and that they were the first enemy that the Israelites encountered when they fled Egypt. The battle was not won in the valley but on the mountain as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms (Spiritual battle)

Under Saul’s rule

The Lord said that Amalek must be destroyed completely, but Saul spared the best to offer to the Lord.

God does not want our best, the flesh must die.

The Lord however makes it clear that he is not interested in anything that the flesh had to offer, not even it’s best and most noble attempts. (Obedience is better than sacrifice)

The flesh must die and only the life of the indwelling Christ and the fruits of that life are acceptable to Him.

God goes to great lengths to drive this point home.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit

We firstly try to get to heaven, or be saved, by our works and in the strength of the flesh, and when we finally realize the futility of it, we throw ourselves on God’s Grace.

But then, we try again to be sanctified through the efforts of the flesh and our performance. This too is an exercise in futility, as God is not interested in our best, He only wants one thing, and that is Christ living His life through us.

It is not a case of being good or bad, but a case of walking in the flesh or walking in the Spirit.

That which you have started in the spirit don't try finish in the flesh.

Galatians 3:1-5.

Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish?

After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?

You are not a body with a soul and a spirit.

You are a Spiritual being with a body and a soul.

We must dictate to the flesh and not visa versa

1 Corinthians 9:27.

But I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

The flesh says

God’s Word says

I don’t feel like praying

1 Thessalonians 5:17. Pray without ceasing

I don’t feel like reading the Bible

Colossians 3:16. Let the Word of God dwell in you richly

I don’t feel like praising

Philippians 4:4. Rejoice in the Lord always

I don’t feel like going to church

Hebrews 10:25. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together

I don’t feel like fasting

Matthew 6:7. But When you fast (not if you fast)

We are saved because Jesus did what he did not feel like doing

but chose to do the Father’s will

Matthew 26:41.Watch and pray so that you .... temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak

Fruits identify a tree.

Fruits identify a tree.

Likewise, the fruits or works we produce are evidence of whether we are walking in the Spirit or walking in the flesh.

Galatians 5:16-21.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.

They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The Works of the Flesh.

Galatians 5:19-21.

The acts (works) of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The fruit of The Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-26.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The fruit of The Spirit.

Love

True, biblical love is a choice, not a feeling. It deliberately expresses itself in loving ways and always seeks the welfare of others. Biblical love is dependent on the giver’s character, not emotion.

For instance, a mature believer demonstrating love will not exercise his or her freedom if that action might harm another Christian in some way.

Rather than risking the possibility of causing the immature Christian to question and stumble, the mature believer will not exercise his freedom out of love for his brother

(Romans 14:1-15).

The fruit of The Spirit.

Love chooses to set aside one’s own preferences, desires, and needs to put the other person first.

Philippians 2:1-4.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

The fruit of The Spirit.

Joy

Sometimes we Christians tend to downplay the meaning of joy. But, the Greek word translated as “joy” in

Galatians 5 means “gladness and delight”.

It is a feeling of gladness not based on our physical circumstances.

The world’s joy cannot last because it is based on fleeting, physical circumstances. But the joy of the Lord is established in our spiritual, eternal circumstances.

As we cling tight to Jesus, abiding daily in our saving relationship with Him, we will experience the fullness of joy He promised (John 15:4-11)

The “Old nature” and the “New nature”.

Putting off the flesh and clothing yourself with Christ.

The flesh

The old man

The old self

The outer man

Your former self

The sinful nature

The works of darkness

The spirit

The new man

The new self

Your inner man

Christ

The divine nature

The armour of light

Walking in the Spirit.

Romans 8:5-14.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.

And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

Walking in the Spirit.

Romans 8:5-14 (continued)

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

We receive God’s Spirit at conversion.

Putting off the flesh and clothing yourself with Christ is an accomplished fact at Salvation but we will see in Scripture that it is also a daily choice.

What happened in principle at conversion (Galatians 3:27), must be seen in practice day by day (Romans 13:14).

Rom. 8:13.

Put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit.

The person who has been regenerated by the Spirit is not stuck in sin, by the Spirit, the pull of the flesh can be resisted.

“Be killing sin or it will be killing you.”

Clothing yourself with Christ past and present.

You have clothed yourself with Christ. Galatians 3:24-27. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

You must clothe yourself with Christ. Romans 13:14. Romans 13:14.

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Putting off the old self, past and present.

The work of Justification is a past event that takes place at our conversion.

Those in Christ have already put off the old self.

Colossians 3:9.

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.

The work of Sanctification is an ongoing process that involves our co operation and submission to the Will of God.

Those in Christ are instructed to put off the old self.

Ephesians 4:22.

[You were taught] to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.

Faith is a journey not a destination.

James 1:21.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Philippians 2:12-13.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Hebrews 12:1.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Put off the Old Self and put on The New Self.

Ephesians 4:21-32.

When you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Put off the Old Self and put on The New Self.

Ephesians 4:21-32.

Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Put off the Old Self and put on The New Self.

Put to death what belongs to the sinful nature.

Colossians 3:1-10.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Put off the Old Self and put on The New Self.

Colossians 3:1-10.

Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Note: The New Self is being renewed in Knowledge. It is vital to grow in knowledge as a Christian.

Putting on Christ.

Those in Christ are to put on love and other virtues.

We have already looked at the fact that these are not individual things that God offers us, but they are all included in Christ.

Colossians 3:12.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

Colossians 3:14.

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

As we die to the flesh and allow Christ to live out His life in us, these qualities will be seen in us, as that is His character and nature.

The Works of Darkness and The Armour of Light.

Romans 13:11-14. And do this knowing the time, that now is the hour to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent. The day is at hand.

Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in immorality and shamelessness, not in strife and envying’s,

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

The “Wedding Garment.”

NB V14: "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ."

A Christian is one who is clothed, who is garmented with the character, the disposition, the attitude, the habits and the virtues of Jesus Christ.

The new man "is Christ in you, the hope of glory" Colossians 1:27.

Remember in Matthew 22, the man who did not put on the wedding garment was not allowed into the wedding feast.

What wedding gown are you wearing to gain entrance,

your own dead works or the finished work of Christ?

The “Wedding Garment.”

Matthew 22:1-14.

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.

But they paid no attention and went off, one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

The “Wedding Garment.”

Matthew 22:1-14.

Then he said to his servants, The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find. So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend? The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited, but few are chosen.

The “Wedding Garment.”

The wedding garment was provided at Jewish weddings, this man chose not to put one on.

Some like the Pharisees have confidence in their own righteousness and don’t think they need the wedding garment that the Lord has provided with His own sacrificial death.

But Scripture tells us

Isaiah 64:6. All our righteous acts are like filthy rags

Putting on Christ past and present.

Those in Christ have already put on the new self.

Colossians 3:10.

You have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Those in Christ are instructed to put on the new self.

Ephesians 4:24.

You were taught to

put on the new self,

created after the

likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Putting on Christ past and present.

Those in Christ have already put on Christ. Galatians 3:27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Those in Christ are commanded to put on Christ. Romans 13:14. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

We are told not to make “Provision” for the flesh.

The best way to kill the flesh is to stop feeding it.

How does one overcome the pull of the flesh?

How can you extract all of the air out of a drinking glass? The most direct way to get all the air out of a glass is by filling it with something else.

You cannot extract thoughts that displease God from your mind, you need to be filled up with thoughts, with an entire mindset, that is oriented toward the things of the Spirit.

Philippians 4:8.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

What enables us to walk in the Spirit?

Firstly we need a change of mind.

Rom. 8:5-6. (Repentance takes place is the mind)

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Colossians 3:1-5.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

2. Get to know God’s will and His Word.

Colossians 3:9-10. You have taken off your old self with its practices

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 1:9-10.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

2. Get to know God’s will and His Word.

Romans 12:1-2. …… present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The blood washes away our sins (Justification) but we also need the washing of the Word (Sanctification)

Ephesians 5:25-27.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

What enables us to walk in the Spirit?

3. Spend time in prayer.

Matthew 26:40-41.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour? he asked Peter. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Peter would soon after this urging from Jesus, draw his sword and cut off a man’s ear.

What enables us to walk in the Spirit?

4. We need regular Fellowship

Hebrews 10:25.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more, as you see the day approaching.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

FELLOWSHIP.

The Family.

God instituted marriage and the family as a place of protection, strengthening and wholeness, and for the same reason he instituted the Local Church.

Years ago I was speaking to the undertaker at Sincere Funerals, and he was saying that Christmas season of the year from November to February is characterised by suicides.

People who are lonely are vulnerable that’s why Satan has so undermined the family.

Psalm 68:6. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing.

What enables us to walk in the Spirit?

The sad reality is that the majority of Christians, especially in the “Free World” where there is very minimal persecution, place no priority on the things which build up their “Spiritual man” In fact to get big attendances at Church, Many Mega Churches have adopted programs and a style of worship and ministry that panders to the flesh and is entertaining.

This is the so called “Seeker sensitive approach”.

Christians spend far more time in idle chatter than in discussing God’s Word, sports events, film shows, concerts, plays etc are far more appealing than Bible study and prayer.

THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY WAY OF DOING CHURCH.

www.thebereancall.org

Two churches are seen as models for this movement: Willow Creek Community Church (near Chicago), pastored by Bill Hybels, and Saddleback Valley Community Church (south of Los Angeles), pastored by Rick Warren. Their influence is stunning.

Willow Creek has formed its own association of churches, with 9,500 members. Last year, 100,000 church leaders attended at least one Willow Creek leadership conference. More than 250,000 pastors and church leaders from over 125 countries have attended Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Church seminars. More than 60,000 pastors subscribe to his weekly email newsletter.

THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY WAY OF DOING CHURCH.

We visited Willow Creek Community Church not too long ago, and it seems to have spared no expense in its mission to attract the masses. Looking past the swans gliding across a mirror lake, one sees what could be mistaken for a corporate headquarters or a very upscale shopping mall.

Just off the sanctuary is a large bookstore and an extensive eating area supplied by a food court with five different vendors. A jumbotron screen allows an overflow crowd or those enjoying a meal to view the proceedings in the main sanctuary.

The sanctuary itself is spacious and high tech, complete with three large screens and state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems for multimedia, drama, and musical presentations.

THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY WAY OF DOING CHURCH.

While impressive, Willow Creek is not unique among mega-churches with a reach-the-lost-through-whatever-turns-them-on mindset. Mega-churches across the country have added bowling alleys, NBA regulation basketball courts with bleachers, exercise gyms and spas, locker rooms, auditoriums for concerts and dramatic productions, and Starbucks and McDonald’s franchises—all for the furtherance of the gospel. Or so it is claimed.

Although it’s true that such churches are packing them in, that’s not the whole story in evaluating the success of this latest trend in “doing church.” The stated goal of seeker-friendly churches is reaching the lost. Though biblical and praiseworthy, the same cannot be said for the methods used in attempting to achieve that goal.

THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY WAY OF DOING CHURCH.

Let’s begin with marketing as a tactic for reaching the lost. Fundamentally, marketing has to do with profiling consumers, ascertaining what their “felt needs” are, and then fashioning one’s product (or its image) to appeal to the targeted customer’s desires. The hoped-for result is that the consumer buys or “buys into” the product.

George Barna, whom Christianity Today calls “the church’s guru of growth,” claims that such an approach is essential for the church in our market-driven society. Evangelical church-growth leaders are adamant that the marketing approach can be applied–and they have employed it–without compromising the gospel. Really?

THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY WAY OF DOING CHURCH.

First of all, the gospel and, more significantly, the person of Jesus Christ do not fit into any marketing strategy. They are not “products” to be “sold.” They cannot be refashioned or image-adjusted to appeal to the felt needs of our consumer-happy culture. Any attempt to do so compromises to some degree the truth of who Christ is and what He has done for us. For example, if the lost are considered consumers and a basic marketing “commandment” says that the customer must reign supreme, then whatever may be offensive to the lost must be discarded, revamped, or downplayed. Scripture tells us clearly that the message of the Cross is “foolishness to them that are perishing” and that Christ himself is a “rock of offense” (1 Cor:1:18; 1 Pet 2:8).

THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY WAY OF DOING CHURCH.

Some seeker-friendly churches, therefore, seek to avoid this “negative aspect” by making the temporal benefits of becoming a Christian their chief selling point. Although that appeals to our gratification-oriented generation, it is neither the gospel nor the goal of a believer’s life in Christ.

Secondly, if you want to attract the lost on the basis of what might interest them, for the most part you will be appealing to and accommodating their flesh. Wittingly or unwittingly, that seems to be the standard operating procedure of seeker-friendly churches.

They mimic what’s popular in our culture: top-forty and performance-style music, theatrical productions, stimulating multi-media presentations, and thirty-minutes-or-less positive messages.

THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY WAY OF DOING CHURCH.

The latter, more often than not, are topical, therapeutic, and centered in self-fulfillment–how the Lord can meet one’s needs and help solve one’s problems.

Those concerns may be lost on increasing numbers of evangelical pastors but, ironically, not on some secular observers.

In his perceptive book This Little Church Went to Market, Pastor Gary Gilley notes that the professional marketing journal American Demographics recognizes the following

THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY WAY OF DOING CHURCH.

People are ...into spirituality, not religion…. Behind this shift is the search for an experiential faith, a religion of the heart, not the head.

It’s a religious expression that downplays doctrine and dogma, and revels in direct experience of the divine–whether it’s called the ‘Holy Spirit’ or ‘cosmic consciousness’ or the ‘true self.’

It is practical and personal, more about stress reduction than salvation, more therapeutic than theological. It’s about feeling good, not being good.

It’s as much about the body as the soul….Some marketing gurus have begun calling it ‘the experience industry.’

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