What Are the Sacred Pathways?

Overview

Sometimes it can be easy to feel far from or even disconnected from God. I have found that when I feel this way, advice like, “You need to read the bible more… pray more… listen to worship music more… (etc.)” is not always helpful.

Essentially, the person giving the advice is sharing what helps them connect with God. While that might be how they connect with God, it might not be how you or I do. Because of this, advice like, “You need to ______________ more.” is not always helpful.

During my leadership graduate studies, I read a book called, Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas. In the book, he writes, “Your worship may differ from the worship of the person who brought you to Christ” (p. 17).

Meaning, there are different ways that people can connect with God. In his book, Thomas explains that there are nine different ways that people connect with God. These are our “sacred pathways” or “spiritual temperaments.”

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The Nine Sacred Pathways and Spiritual Temperaments

1. The Naturalist

This is someone who connects with God through his creation. You may be a naturalist if you connect with God through being in his creation. Being in creation can help us connect with our creator. 

1 Corinthians 1:16 reads, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” (NIV).

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2. The Sensate

This is someone who connects with God through their senses. You may be a Sensate if you connect with God through sights, sounds, tastes, and smells. God mad us with five senses, so it makes sense that we would be able to connect with him through them. 

Psalm 34:8 reads, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (NIV)

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3. The Traditionalist

This is someone who connects with God through spiritual practices. You may be a Traditionalist if you connect with God through symbols, rituals, and liturgies. These practices can help set our hearts and minds on the spirit.

Romans 8:5 reads, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (NIV). 

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4. The Ascetic

This is someone who connects with God through solitude. You may be an Ascetic is you connect with God through solitude as well as simplicity and silence. In scripture, we often see Jesus connecting with God the Father this way. 

Luke 5:16 reads, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (NIV). 

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5. The Activist

This is someone who connects with God through confrontation. You may be an activist if you connect with God through justice and intercession. God is a God of justice. Therefore, one of the ways that we can connect with him is by partnering with him. 

Isaiah 61:8 reads, “I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing” (NIV).  

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6. The Caregiver

This is someone who connects with God through compassion. You may be a caregiver if you connect with God through serving others. The primary characteristic of God is love (1 John 4:7-21). In the same way he shows love to us, we can show love to others. In doing so, we connect with God through his love. Brennen Manning wrote in Abba’s Child (1994), “If (God) ceased loving, he would cease being God” (p. 153).

Matthew 25:40 reads, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (NIV) 

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7. The Enthusiast

This is someone who connects with God through praise. You might be an enthusiast if you connect with God through singing, dancing, playing music, etc. God created us to worship him. C.S. Lewis wrote in Reflection on The Psalms (1958), “It is in the process of being worshiped that God communicates his presence to man” (p. 93).

Psalm 100:1-2 reads, “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs” (NIV).

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8. The Contemplative

This is someone who connects with God through wonder. God is bigger than any of us could ever imagine. Because of this, being in awe of him, and reflecting on him is one of the ways that we can connect with him.

Exodus 15:11 reads, Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (NIV). 

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9. The Intellectual. 

This is someone who connects with God through his word. You might be an intellectual if you connect with God through reading and studying his word. One of the ways we get to know someone is by learning about who they are. Scripture is the primary way that we can learn about who God is. It’s also one of the ways we can encounter the presence of Jesus.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV). 

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Final Thoughts 

Which “Sacred Pathway” do you relate to? Thomas argues that we are not a single pathway or temperament. Instead, we are a mix of several. 

If you’re sure which pathway(s)/temperament(s) you are, you can take take a quiz here: https://groupleaders.org/spiritual-pathways-assessment

_{Originally posted on June 12, 2020. Last updated on October 31, 2025}