Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people (Jeremiah 5:12)
Every day we experience our physical world through our five senses. What we know of our natural world is dependent on how well these senses function. Although they usually function automatically from birth, our senses go through a process of development as we mature. They also complement each other, by detecting a unique part of our natural world.
Our senses don’t create reality; they simply perceive it. They perform like a window through which we can experience our world in different dimensions. Amazing as they are, our sensory system is limited. There is more in our physical world than our five senses can perceive without assistance.
Throughout history men and women have imagined the reality of this invisible world and then proceeded to develop different aids by which to “see” it. On the micro level, for example, viruses were suspected even in the 19th Century, but it wasn’t until the invention of the electron microscope (1930s) that viruses were made visible.
At the macro level, until fairly recently, the only lens we used to look at the cosmos was some form of a visible light telescope. But with the development of infrared lenses, we can now see what has always been there but hidden.
The Bible tells us about a spiritual reality that is real but hidden from our natural senses. Our inability to “see” it doesn’t mean it is not there. Scripture teaches that there are spiritual realities that require spiritual receivers/sensors to perceive them. Amazingly, our spiritual sensory system resembles our natural one.
The inner man can see, hear, taste, smell, and touch. This is what Jesus meant when He said of the people: “They seeing see not, and hearing they hear not” (Matt.13:13). The inability to see and understand spiritual things is not the fault of the intelligence but of the heart. The eyes of the heart must be opened by the Spirit of God (Warren Wiersbe commentary on Ephesians).
Without a spiritual sensory system, there is a part of reality that remains a mystery. Greek philosophers referred to the non-bodily essence of God, for example, as not just invisible but “nonsensible”: not perceived by our natural five senses. And although intangible, the essence of God is intelligible through the “eyes of the soul”.
Part of our spiritual birthright is a new sensory system that must be developed if we are to benefit from it. We know that our natural senses can be developed with practice and training. When we so choose we can develop a greater acuity in any one of the five senses. In my military infantry training we spent hours practicing detection of hidden things in the landscape. Initially most of us missed seeing what later became fairly obvious. We had to learn to pick up subtle clues that enhanced our ability to see.
Likewise, we must learn to use, rely on, and develop our spiritual sensory system. Scripture refers to spiritually seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and even smelling. When our spiritual senses are developed, they allow us to perceive what is hidden or unknown but nevertheless real.
The writer of Hebrews rebukes his audience for their immaturity caused by their defective spiritual sensory system.
Concerning him (ascended Jesus) we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant…. (Heb. 5:11-13).
Evidently, the Hebrew audience had digressed in their spiritual capacity to hear, resulting in being spiritually dull or deaf. They were still spiritual infants needing a liquid diet of milk rather than a solid diet of meat.
He then goes on to say that, “…solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Heb. 514). There are several reasons we could list for spiritual immaturity, but evidently a defective sensory system is one of them. Conversely, a developed spiritual sensory system that sees, hears, tastes, and touches, is key to our development and maturity.
It is difficult to imagine physical maturity without a healthy sensory system allowing us to perceive and interact with our environment. The same is true spiritually. Discipleship involves the process of developing our spiritual senses so we can experience this real but “nonsensible” reality. Correspondingly, disciple making is helping others develop their spiritual senses so that they are equipped to grow towards maturity.
Although the prophet Eli in the Old Testament, had become dull of hearing the voice of God, he was able to help young Samuel detect and respond to God’s voice. Perhaps teaching Samuel to hear the voice of God was Eli’s greatest contribution in preparing Samuel to become a leader of Israel and a mighty man of faith.
In the following series I want to explore our spiritual senses both as disciples and disciplemakers. Fulfilling the great commission of making disciples is more than passing on biblical truth, it is training others to develop spiritual sensory acuity.
For Reflection:
1. How are our senses both unique and complementary?
2. What are some ways we can develop sensory (spiritual and physical) acuity?
I’m looking forward to the topic of discipleship from this perspective!