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This seemed more crucial as I began seeing angel pins, books, and stories in every checkout lane, bookstore, and on TV.

At first I took this as another sign of people becoming more interested in spiritual (to me, meaning biblical) things. After all, the Bible teaches that angels are "ministering spirits," assigned by God to help us in many ways. But when I began comparing the media's portrayal of angels with the Bible's account of angels, I quickly discovered major differences.

In popular culture, an angel is often portrayed as a beloved family member who dies and then gets his wings. The parents or children left on earth then seek guidance and help from their departed relative-now-turned-angel. So what's the problem with that?

For one thing, the Bible is very clear that angels are not repackaged souls of people but spiritual beings created by God to serve his purposes. By portraying them as reincarnated humans, the horrible reality of death as the dreadful consequence of sin is blunted. There is no judgment or hell to consider if we all turn into cute angels when we die.

The truth is, everyone will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, who was sacrificed for sinners and promises salvation to those who are waiting for him (Heb. 9:27-28). Jesus is the only mediator between God and man—not angels.

Remember, "Christian" words or songs aren't necessarily Christian. One day I heard the glorious strains of "Amazing Grace" coming from my TV set. I ran to see who sang with such power, certain only a Christian could so magnificently sing those wonderful words: "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me." After the song ended, the show's host complimented the soloist, a well-known recording artist, on her performance. She thanked him and explained how meaningful the song had been to her.

"So does that mean you've got religion in your life now?" the host asked. I waited, eager to hear a wonderful story of conversion to Jesus Christ.

Instead the singer replied, "Of course not. Religion is what you get when you're afraid of hell. Spirituality is what you get when you've been there and back." I couldn't believe it!

Although she'd sung the whole story of Christ's atoning work for her, the fact that she needed a Savior from sin seemed the furthest thing from her mind. To her, being saved meant she'd been rescued from the lostness of "not knowing who I was." Being "born again" meant getting in touch with her "inner self."

In the past, I'd occasionally examined supposedly spiritual claims by comparing them to Scripture. But I'd never thought to see what the Bible said about the whole idea of spirituality.

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