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The Holy Spirit  /  Why We Should Care About the Holy Spirit  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 7
Harding’s quote criticizes “semi-infidel materialistic notions that leave God, Christ, the Holy Spirit wholly out of a Christian’s life,” even suggesting some prayers are “reflex reaction”; what parts of your Christianity could honestly be described as reflexive or materialistic, and what would repentance look like at the level of expectation and worldview?
Another way to ask: Harding says some Christianity leaves God and the Spirit out, and even prayers can become automatic. What parts of your faith feel automatic or shaped by a materialistic way of thinking, and what would repentance look like in what you expect from God?

Direct Answer Chuck’s use of Harding suggests “reflexive” Christianity is when we keep religious behaviors (even prayer) while living as if only the material, measurable world is real and God is not actively present. Repentance would mean changing expectations—returning to a worldview where God, Christ, and the Spirit are personally involved, and prayer is real dependence rather than routine.

Support from Transcript:

  • Harding’s critique (quoted by Chuck): “semi-infidel materialistic notions that leave God, Christ, the Holy Spirit wholly out of a Christian’s life.”
  • Harding describes the belief underneath: thinking spiritual beings “left us when the Bible was finished” and “we now have to fight the battle alone.”
  • He adds a sharp observation about practice: “Some of these people pray, but what they pray for is more than I can tell unless it’s a reflex reaction.”
  • Chuck explains how this view forms a “wooden mechanical faith,” where God “leaves us on our own,” making prayer seem unimportant.
  • By contrast, Jesus promises ongoing help: the Spirit will “abide with you forever,” and believers receive the Spirit “in [their] hearts as a guarantee.”
  • Chuck frames the deeper issue as foundation: distorted views of God create surface problems, so repentance involves correcting the underlying view of God.
Discussion Follow-ups Where do you act as if the Christian life is mainly techniques and routines? What would change this week if you truly expected God to be actively helping, convicting, and strengthening through the Spirit?

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