Hugh Welchel wrote an interesting article challenging validity of asking the question "How is your spiritual life?" You can read it here. The following are my thoughts on this topic.
When my son builds something with his lego, he authors that thing into existence. This makes him a creator, but not just a creator. That thing he created is his subject. He can manipulate it or destroy it as it pleases him. In this way, he is king over his lego!
It stands to reason that the author of this world would also be the ultimate authority over this world. Since God created the world, it should be the case that nothing could challenge his control over it. If this is true, then everything in this world is connected to him through his sovereignty; everything is made sacred by nature of their relation to him.
In light of this, there doesn't seem to be any reason for us to distinguish between things that are secular versus things that are sacred. It is, as Hugh Welchel argues, a false dichotomy.
A problem occurs when we read our Bibles and come across passages that ascribe Satan as the ruler of this world (John 12:31). Or when Paul calls him "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). John teaches us that "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19). How can we assert God's authority over this world when the Bible speaks of the devil as the ruler of this world?
There is help in Romans 13:1, "For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." When the Bible mentions Satan as the ruler of this world, it is not saying that Satan is the ultimate ruler. He rules because God allows him to rule. And thankfully, God does not intend for him to rule forever (Hebrews 2:14; Colossians 2:15)!
So, it is not the case that God's absolute sovereignty renders another ruler of this world impossible. There is a biblical dichotomy between those who side with Satan and those who side with God. And if this is true, then are there not other dichotomies in the Bible?
The reality is: there is a distinction between natural versus spiritual. One need only read 1 Corinthians 15:42-49 to get an idea of what that difference might be. On top of that, search other passages in the New Testament and a case can be made for the validity of using the word "spiritual" in church (Romans 7:14; Romans 12:1; Romans 15:27; 1 Corinthians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 3:1; 1 Corinthians 9:11).
"Spiritual" is a biblical word.
Unfortunately, Hugh Welchel manipulates us into thinking that this isn't true by writing, "Try to find the word 'spiritual' in the Old Testament. It is nowhere to be found." Why does he refrain from stating that it is found in the New Testament? Is it not because he wants to make his point truer than it actually is? Then he writes, without adequate proof, that there is nothing in the New Testament that points to a dichotomy between spiritual and secular. But, as I have shown, there is a distinction in the New Testament between worldly and godly; natural and spiritual. Why does he ignore the texts relevant to these distinctions?
I am not convinced that the question "How is your spiritual life?" is a wrong question to ask.
Why?
Because the question makes us think about worship. It makes us think about whether we've worshiped the Lord in our personal devotions or in the midst of our secular work. It makes us think about worship beyond the bounds of Sunday service and into our daily lives. It makes us think about our sin, while helpfully distinguishing it from our righeousness. It reveals worldliness in our hearts and unveils the holiness of God.
"How is your Spiritual Life?" is a Good Question to Ask
