Recent studies have shown that there is a growing number of people who would call themselves "spiritual but not religious" or "spiritual but not affiliated."  These categories describe people who have a willingness to entertain generic spiritual concepts without aligning themselves with any particular religious institution.  Many who fall into these categories are not openly hostile to any one faith system, but enjoy the freedom to take pieces from each one and create their own unique spirituality.  

If you guessed that the preceding paragraph was describing 21st century society, you'd be right.  But the same paragraph could have been written about 1st century Corinth.

Our study through Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, A Better Way, continues with another discussion of wisdom.  in chapter 1, we discovered that the Corinthian church had several varieties of wisdom to choose between.  Choosing worldly wisdom was leading to division and quarreling in the church.  In response, the Apostle Paul makes a distinction between Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom.  The distinction is clear: Godly wisdom comes through the Holy Spirit, while worldly wisdom comes through the world.  Many in Corinth who claimed to be "spiritual" didn't really know or listen to the Holy Spirit, and their actions demonstrated their "spirituality."  In chapter 2, Paul describes the ramifications of the fact that God sent the Holy Spirit to help his people understand His wisdom.  As we examine his argument, I pray that we will be led to consider whether we are "spiritual" people or Holy Spirit people.