A friend and I were discussing the difficulty of teaching Christian disciplines, i.e. discipleship, without creating a to-do list that becomes an end in itself. My friend was struggling with this, and I was attempting to offer something resembling a biblical approach. I’m afraid my input was rather muddled, because this really is a dilemma; and I don’t think I’ve solved it yet.
Our problem is that we are all legalists at heart, and are most happy when we feel like we are doing good. It is, therefore, quite natural for us to compile lists of rules and disciplines, and then to judge our spiritual condition according to our degree of success in adhering to those disciplines. The discipline becomes the goal.
Or perhaps we view discipline as a means to an end. If certain practices are diligently observed, the result, we believe, will be spiritual growth, greater holiness, etc. This is where things get sticky, because unlike the philosophy presented in the previous paragraph, this view contains truth. There are certain activities without which we cannot hope to grow, or even live: reading and meditating on Scripture, for example. Without them we will die spiritually. So in a sense, we do these things to live.
If asked you why you read the Bible and pray, you might give an answer pertaining to your need to do so, as well as the benefits you expect for doing so. But what if I asked you why you breathe? How would you answer?
“I know that if I don’t breathe, I will die; so I have chosen to breathe, and discipline myself to inhale 12–20 times per minute, or more, if I’m exerting myself.”
Of course, you would give no such answer. While it is true that you would die if you stopped breathing, you have made no decision to breathe. Living things breathe. You don’t breathe to live, you breathe because you are alive.
Now . . . you make the application.
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3 Comments:
#1 || 10·01·11··17:37 || Daniel
One of the most frustrating things I had to endure in the infancy of my faith was the profound lack of guidance when it came to the question, "What should I do if I want to be the best Christian I can be?"
The most accurate answer I received was also the least helpful according to my mindset - the answer was, "Believe on Him whom God sent" - and it was frustrating because my mindset was so immature. I had a way that seemed right to me - to find out what is good to do, and then to do it - and that way wouldn't bring me any closer to God that it brought the Pharisees so many years ago.
In the end, it was God who was, and is, always pursuing me. I see that now so clearly. My job is to walk in the light, by the Spirit, through the faith that comes by grace. Plain and simple.
#2 || 10·01·11··17:40 || Bill Weber
Maybe you could humor me and tell me what your own application might be?
#3 || 10·01·11··18:32 || David
Bill,
I’m afraid my application is rather muddled, which is why I left it hanging like I did.
To skip to the end, I come to this: confess that I can’t follow Christ with pure motives, ask his forgiveness, and trust God to continue conforming me to the image of his son (Romans 8:29).
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