new church life: september/october 2014
a detailed view of the human mind: how it is structured, functions
and evolves or devolves – becoming more open, or more closed, to the
spiritual light of truth.
5. They teach us the laws of Divine providence and how it operates in our
lives every moment to achieve the Lord’s goal of preparing us for the
eternal happiness of life in heaven.
6. And they include a whole book on the spiritual essence and purpose
of marriage, in which we are given a view of it that can only be called
heavenly, beautiful and inspiring. The view of marriage is “spiritual” to
the nth degree, as well as eminently realistic and practical.
7. And throughout all the teachings of all the books we are shown that: “All
religion relates to life, and the life of religion is to do g ood.” (Doctrine
of Life 1) Spirituality, in other words, is not an “add-on” or a separate
special interest, but an integral part of human life. In fact, it is the most
essential part, entering into the whole of life as blood from the heart
courses through the whole body.
Spirituality is not just a hobby or side-interest or a matter of esoteric
knowledge, but is the reception of LIFE from the Lord – and a loving, grateful,
joyous response to this gift.
It is to facilitate and increase our reception of the gift of life that the Lord
has always revealed His Word so that there would be a church on earth in which
He is known and loved; and so that people may not remain merely natural but
become spiritual. And now, in the Heavenly Doctrine of the New Jerusalem,
we have the crown of all revelations, and resting upon it the crown of all the
churches that have ever existed. There could be no greater manifestation of
spirituality than this.
(WEO)
398