Christian Spirituality

Christian spirituality “refers to a relationship with God as lived in practice, as dynamics are formulated, as explored through formal study.”[1] There are three levels of meaning of the definition:[2]

At the practical level, Christian spirituality “is a lived relationship with God. We actually live out, in practice, a relationship with God."

At the level of dynamics, Christian spirituality “is the formulation of a teaching. We synthesize a way of understanding the dynamics of how relationship with God works."

At the level of academic discipline, Christian spirituality “is a formal ‘field’ of study. We engage in systematic investigation of the lived relationship or formulated teachings of the Christian church.”

Thus, Christian spirituality is to study and integrate the history of Christian experience in the history of the church.

[1] Evan B. Howard, The Brazos Introduction to Christian Spirituality (Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2008), p. 15.

[2] Ibid., p. 16.

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