Voices of faith: What questions should I ask in seeking a spiritual home?

Voices of faith: What questions should I ask in seeking a spiritual home?

The Rev. Pat Rush, pastor, Visitation Catholic Church, Kansas City, Mo.: God calls people to a spiritual home in many ways. Many people choose one because a spouse is already a member. These people ask the question, “What is best for my family?” They also ask, “Do I fit into the demographics of this community, and do I feel welcomed by this community?”

People often join a community based on the spirituality of that community.

Two very important questions these people ask are, “Am I comfortable with the way this community worships, and am I comfortable with the way this community reads and understands Scripture?”

A companion question is, “Am I comfortable with the way this church responds to the rest of society, especially to the needs of the oppressed, marginalized and poorer members of society?”

People often choose a spiritual home based on the preaching they hear from the pulpit and sometimes on the teachings of that denomination. Therefore, an important question is, “Do I want a church where I agree with all the positions taken, for example, on life, social justice and moral issues; or do I want a church where I am frequently challenged to rethink my values and positions?”

A further question here is, “Do I want a church that emphasizes and challenges me to grow through individual piety, or one that emphasizes and challenges me to grow through communal spirituality and inclusion into its collective mission?”

The Rev. Duke Tufty, pastor, Unity Temple on the Plaza, Kansas City, Mo.: Imagine for a moment you came face to face with God and posed the question of what you should look for in choosing a spiritual home.

First, God might say: “All people come forth from one source; all people are one in spirit. Therefore, look for a spiritual home that honors the diversity of the Earth and holds all beings equal, whether it is between woman and man, Christian, Muslim or Jew, homosexual and heterosexual, black, white, Asian, Hispanic or Native American.”

Just as God has no prejudices or discriminations toward any person, then an institution that is intended to bring people closer to God should have none either.

Second, God might say: “Choose a spiritual home that empowers you, not overpowers you. One that supports you in living the life your heart desires and not one that depreciates your individual value by insisting you are a sinner, unworthy in the eyes of God, and then shellacking you with guilt and shame.”

Last, God might say: “Find a spiritual home that instills within you a strong sense of peace and harmony and encourages the congregation to join together to increase the peace and harmony in the world.”

You have a strong mind and a wise inner source of direction; you will know when you are in the right place.

McClatchy Newspapers