The following is
a temporary post of the outline for the new book on spiritual formation—the
final book should be published by Summer 2005.
Thank to all who responded with ideas and corrections to the original
drafts posted here throughout the fall of 2004. Your ideas and tips helps the later drafts take better form. Thanks again for the help. If you have just gotten on the scene—the book
can be purchased from the Wesleyan
Publishing House where I’ll get a royalty that will buy me a USA Today—or
from Amazon where I’ll get a royalty
that will buy me, well maybe a gumball so at Amazon please buy two books so I
can buy today’s newspaper ;-) –Keith Drury
The
Means Of Grace
Personal Spiritual Formation
through the Spiritual
Disciplines
Preface
There are three terms important to the idea
of this book: spiritual disciplines, the means of grace and the
notion of spiritual formation.
The spiritual disciplines are those
things we do or abstain from that have traditionally brought us closer to God.
They are discipline of actions like journaling, prayer, reading Scripture and
doing deeds of charity. They also include disciplines of abstinence like
fasting silence, solitude and simplicity. However none of these disciplines can
change us. Only God can do that. We cannot make ourselves holy no matter how
much we do or don’t do. We are saved by
grace and we are “sanctified” likewise—by grace and not by any thing we do. Only God’s grace will make us become what He
calls us to be. So why should we
practice the Spiritual Disciplines?
Because they are means of grace.
God has chosen certain channels through which He most often sends
His transforming grace—these we call these the “means of grace.” They are the ordinary channels where God
meets His people. Thus when we practice
the spiritual disciplines we put ourselves in the current of God’s grace where
it can change us best. God could have
chosen reading newspapers, or jogging or even golf to sanctify us but He
didn’t. He might use these things
occasionally but they are not his “ordinary channels” of grace. The spiritual disciplines are the ordinary
channels of God’s grace to us personally.
This book is about these ordinary channels of
grace. It is does not cover the
communal means of grace (the Lord’s Supper, public reading of Scripture,
Baptism, preaching of the Word and so forth) but the personal and private
means. Occasionally the disciplines in
this book will involve others (like confession or charity) but the focus even
then is on personal spiritual growth.
So what are the spiritual disciplines for and
what do the “means of grace” accomplish?
They form us. These disciplines
shape us, fashioning us into an image of God’s son Jesus Christ. This is called spiritual formation—the
work of God in his people to make them more like Christ. When seen individually
it is the sanctifying work of God in us to transform us into becoming like His
Son. Thus the three terms are wrapped
up in this book like this: It is about certain spiritual disciplines
that are means of grace that God can use for our personal spiritual formation.
Disciplines of
Abstinence
In the discipline of abstinence we abstain
from things that could be a barrier to nearness to God as means of grace or
channel through which God can change us. In fasting we abstain from food, in
silence we abstain from noise and speaking.
In solitude we abstain from companionship and crowds. In simplicity we abstain from materialism.
In rest we abstain from work and the frantic pace of life. In secrecy we
abstain from getting credit for the good things we do. We do not abstain from these things because
they are sinful but because when cleared away we can more perfectly focus on
God and His will for us.
Fasting
Fasting is abstaining from
food for a time in order to master the physical realm opening ourselves to the
spiritual. It has been practiced
consistently by Christians through the ages as a means of getting closer to
God. Not just by Christians, but people
of all religions fast. Perhaps the notion of fasting is built into the very
nature of human beings—as a way of reaching out to God. Jesus
assumed His followers would fast and thus simply gives instructions on
how to do it(Matthew 6:16). He did not
say “If you fast do not fast as the hypocrites…” He said “When you fast…” Fasting was
an assumed discipline to Jesus. And it
has been assumed to be an important part of the Christian lifestyle ever
since. Until recently, that is. Only in recent times have Christians decided
that prayer and Bible reading are required disciplines while fasting is now an
optional one. Instead of fasting we
diet.
Section titles for this chapter
Silence
Silence is abstaining from
sounds, opening our ears to better listen for voice of God. God seldom speaks deafeningly. His voice comes to us more often as a “still
small voice” not more than a whisper to our minds. The chatter and clamor of our lives easily drowns out God’s soft
voice. When we draw away to a shelter
of silence the whisper becomes clearer.
Section titles for this chapter
3
Solitude
Solitude
Solitude is abstaining from
people in order to be alone with God.
It is fasting social contact for a time removing others from the
God-and-me equation. Its value for us is in closing off the relationships of
many in order to focus on our most important relationships—with ourselves and
God.
Section titles for this chapter
4
Simplicity
Simplicity
Simplicity is intentionally paring our lives down toward the essentials in order to free ourselves from the “tyranny of things.” Few other disciplines go against our culture so much but when taken up provide greater freedom. The simple life is easier and less complicated to live which enables us to focus on more important things. We abandon our preoccupation with the latest gadgets, styles and must-have symbols of success in order to focus on more important and lasting things. In a culture that believes piling up treasure on earth brings happiness the discipline of simplicity is our statement that we believe true happiness is not found in the abundance of our possessions but in the fewness of our wants. When we practice this discipline we will find the freedom and joy of the uncomplicated life and a “single eye” will emerge focusing on God and eternal things.
·
Breaking free
Rest
In
the discipline of rest we abstain from the frantic pace of life in order to be refreshed
and restored. This discipline is what
makes us take our days off, and our vacations, and get a full night’s
sleep—every night. It is the antidote
for workaholism. The discipline of rest is an emerging discipline that may have
been less critical in the slower paced middle ages than it is in modern
times. In rest God restores the body
mind and soul. With the proper
discipline of rest we can return to the high velocity life with new strength,
clearer purpose and adjusted priorities.
Rest is a tune-up for our lives.
·
The Sabbath Sunday
·
Do it while you can?
Secrecy
The discipline of secrecy is abstaining from personal credit for the good we do. Secrecy is doing good deeds for God alone, not the praise of others. It avoids showiness for the sake of getting credit from others as a good person or a spiritual person. When we take up the discipline of secrecy we learn to rely on God alone for our affirmation and approval. It strengthens our Father-child relationship with God and at the same time weakens our thirst for human approval. The discipline of secrecy helps us reorient our “credit compass” to the north pole of God’s approval alone.
·
Vainglory
Disciplines of
Action
In the disciplines of abstinence we do
without something—abstaining food, talking, companionship, possessions, work or
credit. The disciplines of action are
not about doing without but doing something.
Of course in normal spirituality the disciplines of abstinence and
action are intertwined, but we are studying them here separately. The discipline of action are things we can
do that open us up to God’s work. The
disciplines featured in this book are hospitality, journaling, penance,
confession, charity, Scripture,
Prayer,
Hospitality
Hospitality is opening our
homes, our hearts, and our lives to others in order to develop loving
relationships to the glory of God. The English
word might sound too much like “hospital” or “hospice” for us to greet the
discipline with delight. The Greek word brings out its biblical meaning
better—it literally means “lovers of strangers.” Hospitality is inviting people we don’t know very well into our
personal space and making them feel at home.
It is a friend-making skill.
Practiced in a church it opens up our cliques to newcomers and welcomes
people different than ourselves. It gives us wonderful new friends and we meet
interesting people, in the process becoming more interesting ourselves. In Hospitality we both give and get
friendship. When we learn it well it
becomes an antidote to loneliness—our own and that of others.
Section titles for this chapter
Getting nearer to God
Journaling is communing and
communicating with God through writing. It is turning our thoughts into words
and putting them down where we can face them squarely. It is talking and listening to God without
speaking out loud. Journaling preserves
our communication with God so we can later review it and see progress and
express gratitude for what God has done in our lives. In journaling we can practice prayer, listening, study, worship
and confession. Journaling is a method
discipline—a discipline for doing other disciplines. It is a discipline that provides perspective on life and helps us
recalibrate our priorities. It can help
us recover from emotional doldrums or feelings of failure and depression. Journaling moved our spiritual life from the
ear inside our heads (where we hear God’s quiet voice) to our hands (with which
we write) our eyes (with which we see) the content of our spiritualality. It brings our communication with God closer
to the tangible, touchable, readable, and for most of us that brings new life
to the relationship and makes it feel more real. When we feel God appears distant and remote, and we cannot sense
any clear guidance from Him, and His presence seems far off, this is the time
to begin journaling, for this discipline brings our communication with God
nearer.
Section titles for this chapter
· Being honest with ourselves
· Journal-praying
· Journaling Scripture
· Guidance from God
· Remembering and rejoicing
Confession
Confession is humbly
admitting our sins and shortcomings to another as a means of spiritual
healing. Confession is good for the
soul—to God and man. Confession costs
us nothing with God—He already knows our sins and faults. Confession to another person is more
expensive, and more humbling. True
confession strips of us image-casting as if we are better than we are. It lets another “see through us”—in
confession we become transparent. In
confession we make known to others what is already known to God and
ourselves. Another person cannot
forgive our sin and wrongdoing—only God can do that. But a “confessor” can speak for God in assuring us that we are
indeed forgiven of our offenses.
Confession is the route to healing and joy. There is no stronger vice than a hidden vice. Bringing our sins and temptations before
another gives us now power to be victorious.
While most of the other spiritual disciplines are personal and private,
this one requires another person to complete.
It is an interpersonal spiritual discipline not just a personal
one.
Section titles for this chapter
Penance
Penance is willfully
embracing earthly punishment for wrongdoing that has already been forgiven by
God. It is done to rectify past wrongs
and to make us better persona and often brings us into reconciliation with
others and ourselves. It is the
spiritual discipline of “doing our time” for what we have done wrong and
“making things right.” In the
discipline penance we do not try to earn God’s forgiveness but we accept and
even assign ourselves consequences of our wrongdoing. When we’re wronged another person penance is voluntarily “making
it up to them” by balancing the earthly books. Penance is a means of
disciplining and training ourselves.
Section titles for this chapter
Charity
Charity is giving aid to the poor motivated by selfless love. It is love in action, love with gloves on, sometimes known as the biblical virtue of loving-kindness. While the term sometimes refers to an organization (a “charity”) dedicated to helping the poor, it is a personal discipline too. It is central to the Christian faith it and evidence for it. While faith is critical to Christians, and hope is precious, charity is “the greatest of these.” This spiritual discipline is not merely an attitude of pity or a feeling of love, but an action to help. The Bible calls charity “giving alms” and it was simply expected of the Israelites and the disciples. James the brother of Jesus even considered charity a test of pure religion—showing that we are indeed followers of God. Practicing this discipline changes the lives of the poor and the lives of those who practice it. We find fulfillment as God uses our hands do His work in the world. In this discipline we take up Christ’s work, becoming His hands, His feet, His gift to the poor.
Section titles for this chapter
·
Active seeking the needy
Scripture
Scripture as a spiritual
discipline is reading, study, memorizing, meditating and obeying the Bible in
order to know God and become like Him.
Scripture is perhaps the primary personal spiritual discipline
today and is usually practiced in the modern habit of private “devotions” where
it is combined with prayer. It is not
the oldest spiritual discipline (probably prayer is that) but since the advent
of the printing press and the Protestant reformation it has become the most
important one. In scripture we find the
story of God and His people. Here we
discover God’s values, God’s commands, God’s character and thus we know what He
expects of us. The Bible was not given
primarily to tell us how to live but to show us who God is—for once we know who
God is we will know how to live.
Certainly the Bible demands a particular lifestyle, but it is not merely
a collection of rules—it is a story of God—He is the primary subject of the
Bible. It is His-story, not our
story.
Section titles for this chapter
·
Study
Prayer
Prayer is a conversation with God that develops our relationship and reliance on Him as we come to know Him better. Prayer is not just asking God for things, though it does indeed include prayers of petition. Praying is more about getting right than getting things. It is a means of drawing near to God and sensing Him draw near to us. In prayer we pledge allegiance to our God and assert our total reliance on His grace. It is perhaps the oldest spiritual discipline even preceding Scripture. It may be the most fundamental spiritual discipline of all.
Section titles for this chapter
Discipline
of Response
In the discipline of response we control how we
respond to the things life brings us—good or bad. Much of our spiritual growth is a result of our response to life,
not just our disciplines of action and abstinence. How we respond to an enemy, suffering, material blessings, or
temptation become the template for future spiritual formation. God is always forming us—not just when we
are fasting or having devotions. Our
response to a searing retort from a fellow worker can be the basis of our
spiritual formation just as fasting or prayer can. But a right response will not be automatic. If anything the “natural” response might be
the wrong one. Thus it is a
spiritual discipline to respond
the way Christ calls us to respond.
The Disciplines of response
So far in this book we have
dealt with the spiritual disciplines of action and abstinence—things we do or
abstain from in order to get close to God and let Him change us. These are vital and classic ways to
experience God. However the “third leg
of the stool” is often overlooked in our spiritual formation: the spiritual
discipline of response. The Spiritual
Discipline of response is controlling our reactions to what life brings us—both good and bad. Our character is formed in the dozens of
tiny reactions we have to bad things like opposition, suffering, pain,
temptation, divorce, enemies, defeat, persecution and how we face the death of
a loved one—or our own impending death.
Similarly we are changed by how we respond to good things—wealth, power,
promotion, favor, opportunity, or success.
We do not respond to these good and bad things in a single moment—but
over time we make hundreds of little responses to these experiences of life and
they come to form us spiritually.
Practicing the disciplines of action and abstinence helps us develop
these Christian responses, but they are actually separate disciplines. And it is a discipline to respond according
to the teachings of Jesus. For instance
it seems more natural to respond to success by attributing it to our own
cleverness than to give others the glory—thus it is a discipline. The response may be in what we say, do or
attitudes we develop in our thoughts—but we are responding a thousand times a
day. Each of our thousand little
responses to life becomes thread that weaves together the ropes of our
character. Character
is the sum and total of a person's choices
Limitations and dangers
If you skipped here to the end of the book as a shortcut it may be a sign of your own lack of discipline. Perhaps you need to go back and do the “grunt work” of reading through the entire book before reading this chapter. However, if you have read through the chapters (at least many of them) this chapter includes some cautions for you. There are limitations and dangers in practicing the personal spiritual disciplines. While these disciplines are a powerful “means of grace” for God to change us any blessing can become a curse if treated wrongly. If you have tried yet failed week after week to get any of these disciplines into practice then this chapter is also not for you. But if, on the other hand, you have delighted at your progress in the disciplines, and now feel you’ve gotten a grip on the path to holy living this chapter is written precisely to you. It outlines the dangers of the disciplines.
·
Body of Christ
·
Bride of Christ
So
how do we pass on to others what we gain in the spiritual disciplines? We give our time to others. God changes people through people. Indeed we are one of His primary tools. So where do we start? We start with one other person, perhaps our
spouse, our child or a friend at work.
We may call this mentoring or not—it doesn’t matter. The person might know what is happening or
they may not think we are doing anything more than being friends. But we become a spiritual mentor to our
friend or spouse or child. We give
time. We believe in them. We meet with them. We turn the conversation to spiritual things and learn to ask the
right kind of questions. We do not try
to make them become like us. We try to
help them become like Christ. We invest
what we got in our solitary moments into the life of another. God multiplies our investment and makes it
fruitful. We see the lives of others changed.
This is mentoring.
Or we might join a small group of four or
five or ten. In this men’s
accountability breakfast, student Bible study, or woman’s prayer group we find
a place to minister to others with the insights and wisdom we gained while we
were alone with God. Or we might be
challenged to teach a large class in our church where our biblical
understanding and wisdom can be passed on to others.
Whatever we do we invent our treasure and do not
bury it in the ground. We see our
investment change lives. This is what
God does with his people—uses them as channels of change in others people. We will be astonished at how much God uses
us. People will tell us they sense
God’s presence in us. They will recognize God’s wisdom. They might even just think we are wise or
smart. But we will know where it came from—it came from time alone with God. As
we continually pour our time into others we become instruments in God’s hands
for their spiritual formation. God is
molding others through us. This is what the disciplines are for—for us
to get from God then give to others
The disciplines start out as channels of God grace to us but then we
become channels of God’s grace to others.
The disciplines start out as “means of grace” to us but eventually we
ourselves become a “means of grace” to others—that is, we become God’s chosen
channel through which he supplies grace to others! What a wonderful plan!
Helps for teaching and
leading your class or small group through this book are located at the back of
this book.
Thanks for looking through the outline
of this book. I’m working now (November-December
2004) on editing and polishing the manuscript for publishing. It could be available this summer for the
Fall season of study in local churches.
I like how it is coming along.
Thanks for your help --Keith Drury
Keith
@DruryWriting.com