Another diversion includes the theme of “spiritual journey.” Instead of the one true proposition of Christ’s atoning death, we are told, we ought to allow people the freedom to experience spirituality in their own way as part of their own journey of discovery. So Spencer Burke and Colleen Pepper conclude that Christians need to be less like tour guides telling people where we are going and more like fellow travelers. They write:
Tour guides don’t feel free to deviate from the “route” other Christians have set. What’s more, they’re apt to impose that same kind of rigid structure on others. Becoming a traveler, however, enables you to be true to yourself … As a traveler, I am free to love and to be loved. I’m not worried about taking a wrong step or losing my position. I’m just one more person on the journey – a beloved child of God.[1]
Journey is the goal, destination is of a secondary (if any) importance. Kevin DeYoung summarizes the contemporary postmodern, emergent, trend well.
The journey is more wandering than direction, more action than belief, more ambiguous than defined. To explain and define the journey of faith would be to cheapen it. The Christian faith is not a math problem to be solved, we are told.[2]
But all of this, however “cool” and freeing it sounds, misunderstand the theme of pilgrimage and ignores the Scriptures. In Scripture there is a very clear path outlined for us. Paul writes in numerous places that we are to “abstain” from certain things and to “pursue” other things. The apostle Peter even writes to Christians on their journey, he calls them exiles, saying that there is a pattern for their lives. Peter writes:
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:13-19)
From the Biblical perspective, then, there is a real path not an ambiguous journey. There is a path to holiness that involves rejecting the “futile ways” and not being “conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,” and instead being “sober minded” and “setting our hope fully on the grace” of God. This postmodern journey analogy leaves much to discretion of the “traveler” and ignores the clear Biblical message of one truth, namely Jesus. The gospel message is not about taking a trip to personal spiritual discovery; it’s about having spiritual eyes granted to you that you would see and believe that Jesus is THE WAY!
[1] As quoted in Why We’re Not Emergent. 32.
[2] Ibid. 33.
Pastor Dave Online 