Introduction
This post is about a major flaw in Christianity: ignorance of the human spirit. Unfortunately, most Christians are ignorant of their own human spirits. But it’s not their fault. It’s the fault of clergy and theologians who are also ignorant of the human spirit. They’re ignorant despite the many references to the human spirit in the New Testament writings. They can’t teach the faithful what they don’t know themselves. It’s time to expose the ignorance, tell how Christians became ignorant of the human spirit, identify the consequences of the ignorance, and point out references in the New Testament writings where Jesus, Mary, and the disciples speak about the human spirit. When Christians become aware of the human spirit, they learn more about their own spirits. When they learn more about their human spirits, they experience the benefits of their knowledge and can share it with others.
What Ignorance of the Human Spirit Means
The major flaw of ignorance of the human spirit doesn’t mean Christians are stupid. Ignorance means not knowing, ignoring. Christian ignorance of the human spirit is due to ignoring multiple references to it in the New Testament writings.
Who ignored it? The Early Church bishops, priests/presbyters, apologists, theologians, and deacons ignored references to the human spirit in their writings, preaching, and teaching.
Most of them ignored it because they were trained in the Greek philosophy of Socrates and his students, Plato and Aristotle. Their philosophy exalted reason and rationality and demoted the very thing that makes and keeps us alive: the human spirit.
Besides exalting reason and rationality, they also focused narrowly on the Holy Spirit. They wrote, preached, and taught about the Holy Spirit. They also debated and disagreed about the Holy Spirit. Their narrow focus on and debates about the Holy Spirit only deepened their ignorance of the human spirit.
How Christians Became Ignorant of their Human Spirits
Christian bishops, priests/presbyters, apologists, theologians, and deacons ignored the human spirit. They didn’t teach the faithful about it, so the faithful didn’t learn about it. Due to no fault of their own, the faithful became ignorant of their human spirits.
Prior to being converted to Christianity the people—young and old, wealthy and poor, educated and uneducated, sick and healthy—were very aware of their own human spirits, They were also very aware of other spirits. They were aware of the spirits of animals, plants including trees, stones, and invisible beings of all kinds. Some were helpful. Others were harmful. They were also aware of the spirits of the land, mountains, valleys, caves, rivers, springs, fires, and winds as well as the stars, planets, and seasons of the year.
After being converted, Christian clergymen told the faithful that other spirits were of the Devil. Those spirits were evil and should be feared and renounced. The only spirit that mattered was the Holy Spirit. In spite of what the bishops and others preached and taught, many of the faithful secretly maintained awareness of their own spirits and of the spirits of others they knew. Even today, many Christians remain aware of both the Holy Spirit, their human spirit, and the spirits of other living things.
The Consequences of Being Ignorant of the Human Spirit
One of the most damaging consequences of the flaw of being ignorant of the human spirit and the spirits of other living things is the lack of awareness of spirit. Since so many ignore their own human spirits, they attribute what their spirit does to the work of the Holy Spirit of God.
By attributing to the Holy Spirit what their spirit does, they disempower and wound themselves. When they disempower themselves, they limit and diminish what they can achieve. It makes it harder for them to know the life-affirming desires of their hearts (their human spirits) and realize their dreams and joys. They are here to realize their dreams and joys. When they do that, they make positive contributions that benefit so many others. They make the whole world more wonderful for everyone.
Being disempowered only benefits church officials, government officials, and heads of corporations. They gladly accept the benefits of being in positions of power over others.
References to the Human Spirit in the New Testament Writings
Listing some New Testament references to the human spirit is the best way to empower Christians to overcome ignorance of their human spirits. Here are a few references.
NOTE: None of the quotes are about the Holy Spirit. All are about the human spirit that is in every one of us.
Jesus said—
“Blessed are the poor in spirit” Matthew 5:3
“How then doth David in spirit call him Lord? Matthew 22:43
“Jesus… was troubled in spirit and, and said…one of you will betray me…” John 13:21
“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
“Father. Into thy hands I commend my spirit” Luke 23:46
Mary said—
“My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior” Luke 1:47
Mark said—
“Jesus perceived in his spirit” Mark 2:8
Luke said—
“And the child (Jesus) grew, and waxed strong in spirit” Luke 1:80
“And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway” Luke 8:55
“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit” Luke 10:21
John said—
“That which is born of Spirit (or spirit) is spirit” John 3:6
“True worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and truth” John 4:23
“It is the spirit that quickeneth…the words I speak to you are, they are spirit, and they are life” John 6:63
“He (Jesus) groaned in the spirit, and was troubled” John 11:33
James said—
“The body without spirit is dead” James 2:26
Feel free to look up more references to the human spirit in the Bible of your choice. There are many more references!
Summary and Call to Action
I specialize in teaching clients about the human spirit, what it is, its anatomy, and its taxonomy. Understanding your human spirit empowers you to live a healthier, happier life and realize your dreams. When you are ready to learn more about your spirit and feel empowered, click on this link and schedule a FREE online 30-minute initial consult. I look forward to working with you!