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SPIRITUAL VANDALISM: INTRODUCTION 

(Sins Against the Holy Spirit)

I Corinthians 3:16-17

    What is the sin against the Holy Spirit?  This question has caused more misery and more confusion than almost any other.  I’ve heard an alcoholic ask an evangelist this question.  I’ve heard of a young minister who called across the continent at midnight to ask a professor this question.  Both sinners and saints ask this question.  Most of the enquiries boil down to one terrifying uncertainty:  “Have I committed the unpardonable sin?”

    Before we can answer such questions we need some general information about the Holy Spirit and that’s not easy to obtain. 

    The theologian asked, “What is your doctrine of the Holy Spirit?”  The dedicated Christian answered,  “I have no doctrine of the Holy Spirit.  I only have an experience.”  That’s probably true of most people.  We can use things, better than we can explain them.  We can feel things, better than we can define them.

    Doctrines and dogmas may be hollow and useless, but experience is irrefutable.  It’s significant that the commandment was not “Believe ye the Holy Spirit;” but rather “Receive ye the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22).  This word receive doesn’t mean to meekly accept.  It means to actively obtain. 

    The subject of the Holy Spirit is very complicated.  It can cause divisiveness and misunderstanding.  It can lend itself to superstition and sensationalism.  It can lead to unrealistic and destructive behavior.

    Many of these problems are caused by the fact that early writers did not have the appropriate language tools to interpret psychological principles.  Today, we know a little about the influence of the sub-conscience.  They didn’t!  Today, we understand some of the processes of the brain.  They didn’t!  Today, we realize that there are connections between mental expectations, emotional sensations and physical phenomena.  They didn’t! 

    Their efforts to describe great life changing events were hampered by an inadequate vocabulary.  If their biblical insights could be translated into modern psychological terminology, perhaps we would achieve some Spiritual enlightenment.

    So, just who or what is the Holy Spirit?  How does the Holy Spirit fit into ordinary everyday life?  Is the Holy Spirit a supernatural external creature? Or is the Holy Spirit a natural internal motivator?  These are  complex and intriguing questions.

    The term spirit originally came from the word air or wind.  Since breath was considered the stuff of life, in the beginning, the term merely meant existence.  This spirit differentiated the living from the non-living.  It was the activity of the Spirit that was stressed in the Old Testament.  The Spirit was an agent in creation.  It animated the universe.  It vitalized living things. 

    This influential force could be either good or evil.  The Old Testament writers saw the effects of the Spirit for good in men such as Gideon.  “The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon . . .” (Judges 6:34). 

    Conversely, they saw the effects of the Spirit for evil in men such as Saul.  “Saul’s servants then said to him, ‘Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you . . .” (I Sam. 16:14). 

    Later, as prophetic insights progressed, the spirit came to mean the divine element or Spiritual aspect of mankind.  “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes . . .” (Ezek. 36:27). 

    After Christ’s incarnation and Pentecost, the Holy Spirit began to denote God’s presence in us.  “God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5). 

    Indeed, the importance of the Holy Spirit event, described in Acts, lies in its practical, personal application.  God may be an abstract, ideological concept.  Jesus may be a concrete, historical person; but the Holy Spirit can be an  internal, psychological reality. 

    When we have emotional assurance and confidence; when we sense the moral guidance of our conscience; when we live by our intellectual insights and values; when we are forgiving and tolerant in social relationships; when we use our creative abilities to the fullest, we are experiencing the Holy Spirit.

    How much our actual thoughts and deeds are affected, however, depends upon our own willingness to listen carefully and choose wisely. 

    Throughout our lives, heavenly signals are coming through.  Throughout our lives, divine messages are being sent.  Throughout our lives, admonitions and directions are being given.  Maybe we don’t receive them because we aren’t tuned in.  Maybe we haven’t learned the Spiritual language.  Maybe we don’t want to hear unpleasant things.  Maybe we don’t want to be disturbed.

    At any rate, we never have to beg God to give us the Holy Spirit.  On the contrary, the Holy Spirit is like the air, which fills any space that is opened to it.  Make room, and the air is there.  The Holy Spirit is like the light which fills any space that is opened to it.  Lift the shades, and the light is there. 

    To be filled with the Spirit has something to do with housecleaning.  We must throw out unproductive junk.  In other words, if our thoughts and lives are cluttered up with negative emotions and materialistic anxieties, then there isn’t much room for the Holy Spirit to operate. 

    To be filled with the Spirit has something to do with opening doors.  We must let in fresh ideas.  If our mind is closed off into tight compartments, with many areas designated as off limits, then there are fewer aspects of our lives for the Holy Spirit to permeate. 

    To be filled with the Holy Spirit has something to do with breaking down barriers.  We must remove walls so the light of truth can shine.  If we have restricted outlooks and are unwilling to accept new facts and discoveries, then there is little opportunity for the Holy Spirit to effect growth.  These are serious considerations.

    The New Testament has many, many references to the Holy Spirit.  He was a very real and present reality in the lives of the early Christians.  Probably the clearest and most important Scriptural concept is that the Holy Spirit is in us.  “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God . . .” (I Cor. 6:19). 

    The Holy Spirit is a gift from God that provides us with a permanent link to the divine.  “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit” (I John 4:13). 

    The Holy Spirit helps us, as Christians, by lifting us above natural instincts.  “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you . . .” (Rom. 8:9).

    The Holy Spirit helps us recognize truth and inspires us to live constructively.  “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever: that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you” (John 14:15-17).

    The Holy Spirit strengthens our will.  “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16).

    The Holy Spirit is not only in us.  He is an intrinsic part of us.  He actually uses our physical senses and affects what we see and hear and say and do.  The Holy Spirit is truly the Christ in us, and the Holy Spirit is truly the Christ in others.  That’s why we must not treat ourselves or our associates with disdain.  “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who has also given unto us his Holy Spirit” (I Thes. 4:8, KJV).

    What is the role of the Holy Spirit?  Why do we need a Holy Spirit?  Does the Holy Spirit make a real difference in our lives?  What is the sin against the Holy Spirit?  These are legitimate questions.

    It’s evident that few of us are totally secure and confident; few of us are absolutely certain about crucial decisions;  few of us have the knowledge and wisdom we need; few of us have excellent social relationships with all associates; and few of us live up to our full potential. 

    In fact, most of us use only a fraction of the powers we possess.  Psychologists say the average person operates at about a twenty percent level of efficiency.  That’s shocking!  Imagine a football team that had eleven men, but only sent in two to play the game.  Imagine a football coach who took nine men off the field, and left just a center and a quarterback? Imagine an athletic group operating at 20 percent efficiency.  They wouldn’t win! 

    Neither can we!  To conquer life we need to operate at peak efficiency.  The Holy Spirit helps us do just that. 

    God is generous.  He is noted for giving gifts to His children.  Jesus said it is God’s good pleasure to give to those who love Him (see Luke 12: 32).

    These very special divine benefits are often called gifts of the Spirit.  “God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will” (Heb. 2:4).

    It is God’s will to give, but there are some things that even God cannot do.  God can’t make a square circle--that’s a contradiction in terms.  Likewise, God can’t give the Holy Spirit or any of its advantages to those who won’t receive it. Gifts require both donors and recipients.  The number of blessings we realize and the amount of power we utilize and the level of competence we reach, is up to us! 

    Researchers tell about a strength test in which people were asked to grip a dynamometer as hard as they could.  After the first squeeze had been measured, they were hypnotized and told they were very strong.  Later, when asked to grip the device again, their scores averaged forty percent better.  When they were hypnotized again and told they were weak, their scores dropped about forty percent. 

    Now, our normal strength capacity doesn’t increase or decrease under hypnosis, but our ability to use that strength does!  When we believe we are stronger or weaker, we react accordingly.     Unfortunately, there is a sense in which we all go through life hypnotized.  Much of what we do is determined by what others have told us, and by what we have told ourselves.  If this information is negative and false, we operate accordingly.  God can change that by offering us the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    In reality, no subject is more vital than the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is Christianity personalized.  The Holy Spirit is religion individualized.  Each of us reflects a facet of God that no one else can reflect.  Each of us can achieve Kingdom purposes that no one else can achieve. 

    When the Holy Spirit fuses with our unique personality, a valuable one of kind creation is formed.  “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (I Cor. 3:16).

    Vandalism is a terrible, senseless crime.  When there is wanton waste of an owner’s property; when there is disarray of a house, a business, or a school, no one wins and everyone loses!  However, there is something even worse than the wreck and ruin of material vandalism.  That’s Spiritual vandalism!

    Spiritual vandalism is the deliberate, willful damaging of property belonging to God.  Now, this type of vandalism doesn’t break stained glass windows or paint obscene words on the altar.  No!  This type of vandalism does something worse!  It destroys the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

    Destroying the temple of the Holy Spirit is a far greater crime than vandalizing a church building.  The temple of the Holy Spirit is the most sacred place on the face of the earth.  To be guilty of damaging or destroying this temple is a very serious and dangerous thing.  In fact Paul says, “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred and you are that temple.” (I Cor. 3:17). 

    Destroying our own body, mind or soul is a capital offense!  Destroying another person’s body, mind or soul is a capital offense!  The temple of the Holy Spirit must not be desecrated by thoughtless destructive sins, because that Spirit has vital functions to perform and priceless gifts to bestow. 

    Unfortunately, we don’t always realize the possibilities within us.  Unfortunately we don’t always realize the possibilities within others.  We don’t treat our own soul with proper respect, and we certainly don’t treat the souls of others with proper respect. 

    Only God knows the value of the Spirit within each person.  For years tourists visiting the Capitol in Washington, D.C. have stopped to marvel at one of Borglum’s best known sculptures, a huge head of Lincoln.  When Borglum was working on the head, his concentration was interrupted by a family who came to visit in his studio.  The face was just beginning to emerge on one side of the enormous block of stone. 

    The five-year-old daughter of the couple stood before the granite block and gazed in wonder at the giant features of Lincoln’s face.  After a few minutes of contemplation the little girl ran over to Borglum and tugged at his sleeve.  “Mister,” she said.  “Mister, is that Abraham Lincoln?”  “Yes!  Yes it is!” he replied.  “Well,” the little girl queried, “I just want to know one thing.  How did you know he was in there?” 

    That’s our story.  Few casual observers really know what’s in the undeveloped character of a person.  God knows and He wants to bring it out.  Few people know there’s a Holy Spirit within each soul.  God knows and He wants us to activate and treasure that Holy Spirit!

    The crucial importance of this divine presence in man may help us interpret the meaning of some significant Scriptures concerning sins against the Holy Spirit.

    This subject creates much unnecessary and unproductive anxiety.  We should realize that an intelligent, loving God didn’t decree one crucial mysterious commandment that can be broken by accident.  We should realize that an intelligent, loving God didn’t establish one fatal offense that can be committed through ignorance.

    In fact, the Scriptures mention five kinds of transgressions against the Holy Spirit:  Blaspheming, deceiving, resisting, grieving and quenching. 


From:  Spiritual Vandalism, by Maralene and Miles Wesner, Diversity Press, 1988 (Plastic Comb binding).

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Copyrighted 2009 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THIS MESSAGE IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.  The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works. 

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Miles E Wesner

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