Four Examples of Spirit-less Spirituality

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

What’s interesting to me is how Paul speaks in the first person. He’s not saying, “If you speak in tongues of men and angels…” He says, “If I speak in tongues…” because he himself speaks in tongues, and has prophetic powers, and has the faith to move mountains, and has been led to give up everything he ever loved.

And probably just from examining his own heart, he’s seen that it’s possible to do all those things without love for God and others, which means doing it without the Holy Spirit. He’s giving us four possible examples of Spirit-less spirituality, things that many Christians view as signs of great spirituality but don’t actually require the Holy Spirit at all.

1. Mystical spiritual experiences

“Speaking in the tongues of men and of angels.” Anyone can have a mystical spiritual experience. I’ve seen Hindus in Southeast Asia go into trances and start speaking in tongues, and it sounds pretty much the same as some of the tongues I’ve heard from Christians. And that’s probably exactly the kind of comparison Paul’s trying to make. He says without love, you’re a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Just like the gongs and cymbals in pagan temples. Without love, your mystical spiritual experiences are no different from pagan rituals.

2. Academic knowledge

“Understanding all mysteries and all knowledge.”  Maybe you’ve studied the Bible, and read dozens of theology books, and you listen to three sermon podcasts every day. You’ve gained insights into God’s word that most people don’t have. But maybe you feel like your knowledge and wisdom makes you better than everyone else. People have to walk on eggshells around you, because they don’t know how you might react when they say something dumb. Your biblical knowledge doesn’t lead you to humility like God intended, it leads you to pride and arrogance. It’s Spirit-less spirituality.

3. Visionary leadership

“Having enough faith, so as to remove mountains.” Maybe you have big dreams and ambitions for what you’re going to accomplish in life. You’re going to march on the state capitol and turn the moral climate of the islands around. You’re going to start a petition to teach intelligent design in the schools, and put the 10 commandments on the wall. But if you’re doing it without love, it’s nothing. And it’s the same with the fourth example:

4. Humanitarian generosity

“Giving away all I have.” Maybe you give every homeless guy you see a $10 bill, and you go to third-world countries every summer to build orphanages. Maybe you’ve even given up part of your body for someone – “surrendering your body to the flames.” You could donate a kidney, and still do it without the love of the Holy Spirit.

It doesn’t matter how incredible our spiritual gifts or spiritual activities are – if we’re doing it without love, Paul says we’re nothing. Nothing! Not just slightly lacking in something. Not just less than ideal. We’re nothing, because we don’t have the Holy Spirit’s power. We don’t have God, who’s everything.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.