Spirit of the Disciplines

[Editor’s Note: This post is part of a series on the Spiritual Disciplines.]

In talking about the Spirit of the Disciplines, we are talking about how we should view and approach them. So, I would like to offer a few clarifications on what they are and what they are not.

They are practices, not prerequisites. Whitney notes, “It’s crucial – crucial – to understand that it’s not our pursuit of holiness that qualifies us to see the Lord. Rather, we are qualified to see the Lord by the Lord, not by good things we do” (p. 3). The qualification comes from Jesus, the desire comes from Jesus, and the power comes from Jesus. The disciplines are rather the real-world, human-side points of engagement with the divine.

They are tactics, not trophies. The spiritual disciplines are strategies and practices for growth, but they are not necessarily the proof of growth. Just because you read your Bible an hour a day does not mean you are spiritually mature. Fasting is not something to brag about. These practices are not ends in themselves. They are means to an end.

They are opportunities, not automatic. You will not find a guaranteed one-to-one correlation between doing the practice and experiencing growth. I cannot promise you that because you practice charity today, you will be blessed today. Rather, in that practice, you are creating an opportunity to be blessed. As John Piper once remarked, I can’t promise that if you read your bible you will have instant insight, but I can promise you if you don’t read your bible you won’t have insight. Reading your bible creates an opportunity. All of these practices create opportunities.

They are adjustable, not one-size-fits-all. Your mileage is going to vary. The size and scope of use and impact will vary.

They depend on the Holy Spirit, not just effort. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). There are things we do, but God, through Jesus, by His Spirit works the miracle.

Three images that may help capture the dynamic here between your work and the Spirit’s work…

• Using these disciplines is like setting the sails. You cannot control the timing of the wind (Spirit), but you can set your sails and be ready.
• Using these disciplines is like making yourself a big target. We do not know when God will answer, but we can make ourselves a big target.
• Using these disciplines is like unwrapping a gift. The disciplines are not the gift, but they help unwrap it.

They require right motives, not just right actions. We know it is possible to read the Bible with no intention of obeying it (James 1:22). We know it is possible to fast twice a week and tithe all you have in the name of boasting (Luke 18:12). So the disciplines must be engaged with the proper motivations.

This last comment leads us to the next post… [Check back].