The spirituality of a community can be measured not merely by its doctrinal statement but by the passions that are most deeply aroused. Is our passion for worship elbowing out our passion for self? Does our passion to trust nudge aside our passion to control? Does our passion to grow make us willing to suffer whatever pain is needed? Is our passion to obey relieving the pressure to do something right? Instead, is it causing us to delight with anything we do right?
Spiritual passions, those generated by realizing the staggering provisions of the New Covenant, are the centerpiece of spiritual community. They are what we pour into one another. Truly spiritual passions communicate more truth to deeper places in people than well-presented teaching, because they can exist only if the gospel is true.