Christian Spirituality

Is there room for spirituality within a traditional text-based religion?

At a recent Southern Baptist conference, theologian Donald Whitney told listeners, "Postmodern spirituality will draw from almost any source. If a perceived spiritual benefit can be achieved then the practice is considered valid regardless of whether or not it is in the Bible. People believe that something they perceive as so beautiful spiritually must be right and they get into heresy."

Clearly, the need for him to issue this warning demonstrates just how many Christians would disagree. The church would do better, I suggest, to adapt and allow for Christian spirituality within the confines of the Bible rather than to condemn it as "postmodern" heresy. Perhaps what Whitney meant to suggest, and what he hints at, is that the Bible is complete in and of itself, and no extraneous spiritual practices, postmodern or not, are needed.

The danger of heresy, he argues, comes from the utilization of unnamed spiritual practices from other religions because "you unwittingly take some of the beliefs that go along with it". Unwittingly? So, for example, is it really impossible to take a yoga class without a bit of traditionally Hindu spirituality rubbing off?

What do you think? Is there room for, and, is there a need for spirituality within the confines of a text-based religion such as this conservative branch of Christianity?