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The word "supernatural" is not biblical.

2/25/2019

12 Comments

 
There are ministers, pastors, who often talk or write about the “supernatural” from the pulpit or use it in other platforms, e.g., their books, Facebook. Why? Is the word, “supernatural” a word found in the bible? No, it isn’t. The first use of the word, according to etymonline.com, was in early 15thcentury. It refers to something unexplainable—above nature. It often refers to ghosts, monsters, etc. 
 
There is a television show that is called Supernatural, about two brothers who hunt down monsters, demons; supernatural creatures. My point is that Hollywood or the pop culture often has an impact on our words. Our words, as ministers, pastors, or Christians, should reflect that of our beliefs, which would hopefully come from our spiritual literature-the bible.  
 
Should we, as ministers of the Word, allow Hollywood or the pop culture to influence our speech or beliefs? I don’t think so. Supernatural sounds more exciting, it sounds more relevant compared to what may seem boring. What is more real, authentic? The fantasy of the word, “supernatural?” What is the correct word to use if “supernatural” should not be part of our professional language?
                                                                                               
The appropriate word that we should use as professionals is the word, “spiritual.” It may sound more boring than the word, “supernatural.” However, the word is more realistic coming from the pulpit or from words on paper; a book. After all, are in the spiritual business of ministry, pastoring. 
 
Paul uses the word, “spiritual” many times, as well as other writers. Peter uses the word in the encouragement to crave pure “spiritual” milk which, figuratively, is the Word of God, (1 Peter 2:2). He also states that “[we] are being built into a ‘spiritual’ house to be a Holy priesthood,” (1 Peter 2:5).
 
The words we use, e.g., “supernatural” vs. “spiritual” is not a reason to dis-fellowship. We should be mindful of the words we use. Why? Because we represent the Word of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord. And how we look at the meaning of those words may impact how we conduct ministry. In fact, ministry is all about words; our preaching, our teaching, impacts lives. 
 
We may have church members in our congregation that has mental health problems. Perhaps others may have an addiction. I know some pastors and ministers will call certain diseases or addictions a curse or blame it on demons; a spiritual being. The ideas "curse" or "having a demon" is not correct when it they refer to mental health issues. That comes from the idea of the word “supernatural.” Some Pastors and  ministers are correct when they refer to issues of mental health and addiction as spiritual struggles. By the way, you don’t have to have mental health or addiction problems to experience a spiritual problem. You can be sick or experience some other problems in life and it can lead to spiritual problems. 
 
Our calling in ministry, or even as laity, has spiritual meaning—not supernatural meaning. Again, the word “spiritual” is biblical. The word “supernatural” is not biblical. The word “supernatural” can be a marketing tool! 
 
© Dan Kinjorski, 2019
12 Comments
Pastor Kim
7/15/2020 09:34:17 am

Very enlightening

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steven
11/27/2020 09:43:07 pm

love you too. thank you

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Joseph Allen urioste
11/24/2021 09:15:58 pm

I personally like what 2 Peter says chapter one when it is written that we partake of his divine nature

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I link
1/25/2021 03:12:34 am

The word says: The WORD OF GOD IS A SPIRIT AND THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM, MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. WE must stay in the SHIP OF THE WORD OR WORDSHIP. THIS SHIP will cause you to walk in the SPIRIT AND NOT IN FLESH, THUS LEADING BACK TO WORSHIP/WORDSHIP. The True Worshippers will worship him in spirit and in TRUTH. Thank you so much for this website. THE ANOINTING OF GOD TAUGHT ME HIMSELF THAT HIS WORD IS SPIRITUAL NOT SUPER NATURAL, REPEITION of the Masses doesn't make it right. The word says try the spirits to see if they be of GOD OR NOT. THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH OR ERROR, BECAUSE WORDS OR SPIRITUAL.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR BIBLICAL ETHICS. IN CHRIST JESUS, SISTER MYRTLE

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Michael Jacocks
7/27/2021 09:34:00 pm

Tks for the wisdom

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Velmar Smith
5/7/2021 07:02:54 am

I'm an old Christian started over 65 years the Bible in the word that I always get from the Lord and from scripture about this personal nature is Holy the second word accommodating the Lord himself this is divinity 54 versus where he uses the word his divine nature his Divine character his Divine quality the word is divine it is a greater word then simply spiritual or Supernatural and requires absolute sanctification unto spiritual truth in God's Own Private nature no one is like him he is divine through and through and divine power read them for yourself 54 verses of his divine quality this is the word that most people do not quite catch. It's by his divine power and by his divine nature that we understand he is the creator and the true God and his divinity proves it

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Sonja link
8/19/2021 03:56:34 pm

Chaplain Dan I humble myself before you and I am sure you are a man of more Biblical knowledge than myself. however, I have a question. I realize that the word supernatural itself is not in the Bible, but in researching the word supernatural in the Hebrew and Greek there are several synonyms for supernatural that I did find in the Bible (NKJV), Miracles, Heaven/Heavenly, Metaphysical not in Bible but same meaning, Superhuman not in Bible but Elijah certainly was there are more but I hope my intended point is made. There are so many many supernatural things that are in the Bible they go beyond my knowledge. Last point our Salvation was supernatural. A Sister in Christ Jesus, Sonja,

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Dan KInjorski
8/22/2021 08:12:57 am

I am curious if you think that the miracles in the bible were spiritual rather than supernatural. Every miralce or event involved God. Salvation is a spiritual experience, not a supernatural experience. I wonder how our life would change if we begin to look at the events, miracles,salvation as spiritual. Perhaps our relationship with God would grow more personal verses looking for supernatural things, but more of a spiritual relationship with God. The Word is spiritual, not supernatural. Something to think about.

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Cassandra Smith
10/9/2021 08:02:05 am

I totally agree..supernatural phenomenon..came from the occult and witchcraft 600 year ago..just got more relation recently.
I know when testifying of the move of God and Miracles. I always said by the "Holy Spirit" or a " spiritual deliverance. "Or best of all healed by Jesus" Holy Spirit is a natural move of God.
I here this in many Christian titles and broadcast...
Thanks for this post.
Cassandra Smith

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David Ream
7/6/2022 05:58:40 am

"Supernatural" - coined as a word and as used, actually drives a wedge in the world that God created and in which God is omnipresent. It is a misnomer of the world as it is. To refer to something beyond a better word choice might be "Holy". This more truthful usage would reveal the materialists, naturalists actual intent. By relying on this word supernatural distances or bifurcates nature. Thus it is an aid whereby they believe (yes they believe) they may operate apart from the Holy.

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Pamela Brown Mead
8/25/2022 03:34:13 am

Thanks for helping me to explain why pastors especially should not be using the word supernatural I agree it can easily mislead alot of people and I've brought it to a few pastors that use it. It is a marketing tool not God's Word. No it's not a deal breaker but we need to be careful. God bless

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David Cheung link
1/7/2023 09:02:07 am

I totally disagree. The spiritual and supernatural are both biblical and intracritly linked with each other. They go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other.

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    Dan is in a second career, that of Counselor, but he is a pastor at heart. He desires to present the Word of God in its context and then challenge the reader in its application to our lives. It is the Word of God that brings revival to our souls. The psalmist writes, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.  

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Dan and Maribel Kinjorski 

Dan and Maribel are Bible Teachers. They love to expound on the Word of God. Maribel has been involved in Church since an early age. A graduate of the University of San German, Puerto Rico, in Business Administration and Economy. Dan is a graduate of East Coast Bible College (now shuttered) and the Pentecostal Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity (1999) , Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2019), and now working on a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology:  Counseling Education and Supervision. 
Maribel Pastored Lilly of the Valley, Church of God, a Hispanic Community in Medford, Oregon. Dan Pastored, at the same time, Family Life Church, Medford, Oregon. They both were each other's assistant in their perspective communities. Dan and Maribel were able to bring together an English speaking, Spanish speaking, and a Deaf (non-hearing) community as "one" in community. 
While serving in the military, Dan spent his last 13 years as an Army Chaplain, previously enlisted for seven years as a Communication Specialist. As an Army Chaplain, Dan often pastored Chapel Services ranging from the Gospel Service, General Protestant Service, to an Assembly of God Samoan Chapel Service at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Meanwhile, Maribel supported her husband and often found herself assisting in the Family Readiness Groups when Dan deployed to Iraq or the Middle East (Kuwait) and also working with the Protestant Women of the Chapel.  Dan and Maribel are proud parents of David (and Megan) with Olive (2nd grand); Michelle (and Street Wise Hercules) with Lilly (1st grand) and soon to be MJ, (3rd grand). 

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