Over Spiritualising: When the Basics Obscure the Truth

The first extreme is one I see all the time, particularly in the faith community: over-spiritualising everything. We get so caught up trying to make everything so "supernatural" that we end up losing sight of the foundational, simple truths God has already given us.

We are so focused on waiting for the next miraculous intervention that we completely overlook the basic, fundamental wisdom that He’s already deposited in us, given us access to through His Word, or taught us through the path of Christ.

The Illusion of Complexity

When we overspiritualise, we often create an illusion of complexity where none exists. We turn simple stewardship, strategy, and diligence into spiritual warfare. We are waiting for a demon to leave when, in reality, we just need to implement a basic ministry system, commit to a routine, or face the harsh reality of the situation.

Sometimes, what we think is a debilitating spiritual struggle is actually just a lack of wisdom, strategy, or even just "simple math."

If your ministry is struggling, is it because of a spirit of debt, or is it because your spending exceeds your income? If your ministry is stagnant, is it a spiritual attack, or is it because you haven't mastered basic communication and organisational skills? When we overspiritualise everything, we refuse to deal with the real facts.

The Problem of Excuses

The life of Jesus provides a perfect example for us. Yes, His life included supernatural elements that required operating in faith, but it was also grounded in daily wisdom and strategic action. For example, when Jesus fed the 5,000 (Matthew 14:17-19), He didn't just provide people with a meal to eat; He used it as a spiritual moment that taught His disciples simple strategies for distribution.

If we overspiritualise the journey to the point where everything seems unattainable or too complicated for the average believer, we miss the very essence of God's wisdom. More dangerously, when we overspiritualise, we unintentionally excuse ourselves from doing the necessary, practical work God has actually called us to do.

It's a way of saying, "This must be a deep spiritual issue that only God can fix," when the truth is, it's a practical issue that God has equipped us to fix using the spiritual intelligence, resources, and wisdom He has already provided. To conclude, as believers, we need to stop making simple obedience look like spiritualised theology.