Spiritual Letters

 

One thing I believe in adamantly is the practice of writing spiritual letters. Have you ever heard of such a thing as a spiritual letter?  It is the discipline of following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul and writing letters of encouragement, rebuke, doctrine, and piety to one person or a group of people with the intent for it to be read by multiple people for the upbuilding of the church.  Paul's example is critical.  He has written 14 letters in the New Testament and those are not the only letters in there.  What are we to do with this?

Paul says, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ".  Not only did Paul pray and preach and share the good news and suffer with patience and debate philosophers and die to sin: he wrote letters!  How obvious of a thing to think about.  The bible is replete with infallible spiritual letters.  We should be so admiring of scripture that we literally go and do likewise. 

I have found that it is the most soul satisfying adventure to write a letter with joy and hope that the recipient will either receive Christ as their savior or be edified.  In Paul's chapter on love in his letter to the Corinthians he explains that love is patient, kind, and love builds others up.  There is, friends, no greater way to build up another person or group of people than by sending them a spiritual letter.  

What should you include in a spiritual letter?

1.  Encouragement.   Make sure you tell the recipient that you are praying for them and pray for them as you write the letter.  To encourage them, try to thank them for something they have done to promote the Gospel and build up the church.  Find ways to uplift them with verses from the Psalms.

2. Rebuke.  This is something you can mix into your letter as needed.  Rebuke is one way we love our neighbor and a letter is possibly one of the best ways to do it because it is not so confrontational and they will have time to reply in a sensible manner.  

3. Theology.  A spiritual letter is an opportunity to take biblical theology, the things you know about God and put them into action.  It's a place to talk about how God's attributes impact our lives.

4.  Address specific concerns.  Often times a spiritual letter will give you the opportunity to deal with things as a response to a previous letter or to things you know about through daily life.  It could be heresy, sexual immorality, bereavement, suffering, illness, or employment.

5. Share your faith. This is your chance to shine your light to others.  Writing a spiritual letter gives you an opportunity to give "a reason for the hope" you have witihin you.  A chance to testify to the truth of God's love in your life.  You never know the impact that your faith in Jesus will have to those who read your spiritual letters.

6. Praise God with your words.  Oh, this is the most important part of the spiritual letter.  Take a chance to quote a Psalm of praise or a hymn of praise.  End your letter with doxology.  Let praise flow from your finger tips as you testify to the Holy One of Israel.