Spiritual Styles might also be called heavenly communication styles - it’s how we best hear God’s voice and feel His presence in our lives. It's a way of connecting with God. Most of us have a preferred method of building relationships. The same is true for our most important relationship - our spiritual one.
It depends on who you ask - some list four, others list nine, but the seven shown above seem to be the most common and universally agreed upon.
A brief Introduction to Spiritual Styles
Theologian and researcher Christian Schwarz studied the natural ways that people respond to God. His work included interviews and surveys in 70 denominations in 109 countries. He notices and identified patterns in the way different people experience God and presented this research in his book, The 3 Colors of Your Spirituality.
Sensing - Spirituality expressed through the five senses. Able to experience God in the beauty of nature or in beauty created by human beings. People with this style can be extremely creative in music, poetry, art, crafts. They tend to have a strong sensitivity for the environment around them.
Intellectual - Spirituality expressed by applying logic in one’s approach to God. Science and technology play an important part. People with this style distrust easy answers. They question, they think, they reflect, until they really understand something, and that is often when they gain spiritual energy. Some would say it is when they feel closest to God.
Bold Idealistic - The accuracy of the person’s beliefs is very important because, from these beliefs, he or she will take a stand for a cause even at great personal expense. People with this style demonstrate a strong sense of justice. They do the right thing guided by the Bible and Christian principles flowing from it.
Authority-driven - The Bible is the ultimate authority guiding the person’s life experiences. Young people with this style discover truth as they study Scripture, and they remain faithful to it. They try to put into practice what they read, resulting in a life that is pleasing to God.
Sharing- People with this style are driven by the desire to bring love into everyday life. They give their time, talents and resources to get involved in their community and the needs of other people. They experience God most strongly when they can pass on to others what they have received.
Enthusiastic - Spirituality expressed through openness to experiencing divine activity in our world. People with this style take seriously the reality that coincidences could trace back to God’s involvement. Many like to pray for miracles. They often seek excitement in life and don’t want to feel bored.
Sacramental - Faith expressed by making use of material things as a visual expression of faith—such as ceremonies, traditions, buildings, stained glass—and in repetition found in liturgy, prayers, inspirational quotations. People with this style can feel close to God in visible, tangible, physical ways when they are alone, or in community with others.
© 2024 Janet Logan, used with permission.
God is always reaching out to us - telling of His existence and presence through nature, Scripture, Holy Spirit, others, and the list goes on and on. We each respond to God’s messages from our “spiritual style” - the primary method or “language” we hear God in. Spiritual styles might also be called heavenly communication styles - they are how we best hear God’s voice and feel His presence in our lives. These styles are where a real relationship and attachment to God can develop.
When I was introduced to the idea of spiritual styles by Janet Logan, I knew that an understanding of spiritual styles could be a powerful tool for all believers to build a deep and meaningful personal relationship with Jesus, and an especially effective resource for those who work with kids.
As a high school teacher of 22 years I know every kid is a little bit different. They have their own life story and perspective, hurts and hangups, talents and challenges. And just like each kid has a personality all their own, each kid has a unique way in which they build relationships - both with people and their Heavenly Father.
What if we could maximize that knowledge by identifying the way every kid connects with God and then encourage them in that relationship by helping them pursue God in the way that they were uniquely designed? I believe understanding spiritual styles has the power to do just that.
Let's put this a different way -
Have you ever loaded a dishwasher wrong? I mean, you probably didn't think you loaded it the wrong way, but your spouse or roommate or parent most certainly informed you that you did.
By the time we reach adulthood, many of us have a preference on how things are done. Whether it's how we load a dishwasher or how we connect with God, we are pretty certain that our way is the right way. But just like personalities and human relationships, and the "right way" to do chores, the way we connect with God varies from person to person. And when we assume that our kids or those around us will connect with God the same way we do, we threaten the authenticity of their personal relationship with God. Understanding spiritual styles can help us intentionally cultivate a meaningful relationship with Jesus for everyone in our lives including ourselves and the kids and teens we work with and love.
They are NOT an excuse to neglect Spiritual Disciplines. All believers should pray, read their Bible and take part in important spiritual traditions like baptism and communion.
They are NOT the sole answer to why young people are leaving the church (but they certainly might help young people feel like their faith is their own).
They are NOT Spiritual Gifts. Spiritual Gifts are talents or abilities given by Holy Spirit to build up the body of Christ and bring God glory in this world. In the simplest terms possible, spiritual styles are how we build a relationship with God, spiritual gifts are how we serve God.
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