What Does a Rhythm of Spiritual Disciplines Look Like?

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11: 28-30 -The Message Bible

"In the end, this is the most hopeful thing any of us can say about spiritual transformation: I cannot transform myself, or anyone else for that matter. What I can do is create the conditions in which spiritual transformation can take place, by developing and maintaining a rhythm of spiritual practices that keep me open and available to God" From the book Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton

I love both of those quotes. I love the freedom that they describe. I really like the use of the word rhythm. I believe God created us to live in balance and rhythm. I think sometimes the word “discipline” scares us. It makes us think of added burdens and struggle not freedom and lightness. When a football team is in rhythm it is at its best. The team doesn’t quit working or trying but everything seems to come easier. I think that’s what happens when we discover our God designed rhythm.

I believe that a rhythm of spiritual disciplines will look different for every person. Each of us must find our own rhythm - the rhythm that works for us. In the classic on spiritual disciplines Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster – Foster describes twelve distinct disciplines. The twelve disciplines are divided into three categories. The inward disciplines are meditation, prayer, fasting, and study. The outward disciplines are simplicity, solitude, submission, and service. The corporate disciplines are confession, worship, guidance, and celebration. I believe that each of us will establish a repertoire of disciplines that best suit us.

In my life I have a daily rhythm, a weekly rhythm, and an annual rhythm. Some of the disciplines I practice daily. Things like prayer, study, confession and meditation. Other disciplines I practice weekly – things like simplicity, service, worship, celebration, and Sabbath rest. Some disciplines I practice periodically throughout the year – things like extended periods of silence & solitude, guidance, and larger acts of service.

I’ve discovered that some of the disciplines are harder for me than others. I’ve also discovered that some are more meaningful for me than others. I’m definitely not an expert in this area – but I do think that the idea of us finding our personal rhythm is a key. What works for you? In order to answer that question you have to experiment with all of the disciplines. I’ve found that sometimes it helps to submit myself to a “guided” experience with a discipline or disciplines that I’m not familiar or comfortable with.

Here are a few of the best resources that I’ve found. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard, Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life by Tony Jones, and The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg. Fosters book is the classic on the subject, but recently I read Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton and it has become my favorite. Barton’s discussion of “Christian Fatigue Syndrome” is really good.

Well those are some of my thoughts. I’m sure some of the others that read this blog can add more insights.

What is a disciple & how do you make one?

We all know that the great commission tells us to go and make disciples. Most of us assume we know what a disciple is and how disciples are made. For many in churches -- their assumption is that disciples are made through the progams of the church. For a number of years now I have been challenging that assumption. I've started over - asking some basic questions. The following are some of my most recent thoughts. I would love to have your imput. I'm sure I've forgotten something really important.

1. What is a disciple?

1) A disciple is a person who is an apprentice of Jesus and his “way.” Disciples believe that pursuing the way of Jesus is just as important as believing in Jesus.
2) A disciple is a person who is pursuing a relationship with God through Jesus.
3) A disciple is a person who is determined to embody the character of God as modeled by Jesus.
4) A disciple is a person who is committed to align his or her life with God’s dream for the world as demonstrated by Jesus.
5) A disciple is a person who is moving towards restored wholeness because of Jesus.

2. How are disciples made?

1) Disciples are made through intentionally learning from Jesus.
2) Disciples are made through engaging in real community with a group of other disciples.
3) Disciples are made through practicing a rhythm of spiritual disciplines.
4) Disciples are made through an ongoing relationship with a mentor/coach/soul friend.
5) Disciples are made through the practice of missional living. Disciples both demonstrate & announce the good news of the kingdom.

Authenticity - the cardinal virtue?

“The cultural context of postmodernity and its hermeneutic of suspicion offer us a reminder of the Christian virtue of humility, of listening, and of self-sacrificing love for one’s neighbor that is free from the need to colonize or co-opt. To give the gift of oneself, of authenticity amid a world consumed by façade, is a necessity and a demonstration of the nature of the God revealed in Jesus Christ. If hypocrisy is the cardinal sin in a postmodern context, then authenticity is the cardinal virtue. Unfortunately Christians who have been consumed with the “truth” are at times less concerned with honesty and authenticity. While it seems that these ideas would exist seamlessly together, most of the time they do not. But where authenticity and honesty exist in people and communities, such postures go a long way in communicating to those around us a willingness to serve and not simply exploit for the realization of our own vision.”

From Intuitive Leadership by Tim Keel

I think that authenticity is a key value in the postmodern world. For many of us, the modern world trained us to trust no one. Even the modern church instilled in us a culture where you couldn’t be real. The modern church made it clear that to fit in you had to agree with the beliefs and agenda of the church. Any questions were quickly answered with “the” answer. Doubts, fears, and mistakes weren’t tolerated. The modern church became an “unsafe” place for many. Even the contemporary worship service is viewed as slick, orchestrated, and contrived.

Authenticity is a discipline that must be re-learned. It will require courage. It will also require trust. I believe that the only place that real authenticity can flourish is in the safety of a trusted community of fellow travelers. We earn the right to authenticity when we prove we’re trustworthy. We prove our trustworthiness when we listen to others with empathy, when we refuse to condemn or preach, when we maintain confidences and when we handle other peoples “stuff” maturely. I’ll talk more about creating a “safe place” in another blog post. For now let me just say that I long for a community where I feel that I can be authentic - I long to be around other authentic people. I’m so grateful for the Wellspring community – because they are that safe place for me. I love to quote my wife Becky who describes Wellspring as “the most ‘real’ thing I’ve ever been a part of.”

So that’s what I think, what do you think?

Mystery

I’ve just recently finished reading a book that I really enjoyed. The title of the book is Speaking of Faith and it’s written by Krista Tippet. I love what she says about embracing mystery. The following is from her book:

"But we are left, in the end, with arms full, minds full, of mystery."

"At their orthodox core, religious traditions themselves ask us to hold our notions of earthly certainties and transcendent mystery – what we believe we know, and what we can never know for sure in time and space – in an exacting, creative tension.
Mystery is the crux of religion that is almost always missing in our public expressions of religion."

"Mystery resists absolutes. It can hold truth, compassion, and open possibility in relationship."

"If mystery is real, even more real than what we can touch with our five sense, uncertainty and ambiguity are blessed."

"I find that mystery is a word people of every tradition love, whether they speak it often or not. It is a word that many nonreligious people are open to embracing and exploring, perhaps more so now than in previous generations. Introduce mystery into any conversation and the conversation gentles…"

I believe that fully embracing the concept of the mystery of God is crucial as we move into this post-modern era. What do you think?

A Great Quote

Here is a quote from the Monk Thomas Murton. I love it!

Anxiety is the mark of spiritual insecurity... It is the fruit of unanswered questions. And there is a far worse anxiety, a far worse insecurity, which comes from being afraid to ask the right questions because they might turn out to have no answer. One of the moral diseases we communicate to one another in society comes from huddling together in the pale light of an insufficient answer to a question we are afraid to ask.

Isn't that great!