Faith and Discipline—Reflections on Albert Edward Day, Part 2

The power of a life, where Christ is exalted, would arrest and subdue those who are bored to tears by our thin version of Christianity and wholly uninterested in mere churchmanship.

We have talked much about salvation by faith, but there has been little realization that all real faith involves discipline. Faith is not a blithe “turning it all over to Jesus.” Faith is such confidence in Jesus that it takes seriously his summons, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

We have loudly proclaimed our dependence upon the grace of God, never guessing that the grace of God is given only to those who practice the grace of self-mastery. “Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling for God is at work in you both to will and to work his good pleasure.” People working out, God working in—that is the New Testament synthesis.

Humans, working out their salvation alone, are a pathetic spectacle—hopelessly defeated moralists trying to elevate themselves by their own bootstraps.

God, seeking to work in a person who offers no disciplined cooperation, is a heartbreaking spectacle—a defeated Savior trying to free, from sins and earthiness, a person who will not lift his or her face out of the dust, or shake off the shackles of the egocentric self.

Real discipline is not a vain effort to save one’s self. It is an intelligent application to the self of those psychological principles which enable the self to enter into life-giving fellowship with God who is our salvation.

We must recover for ourselves the significance and the necessity of the spiritual disciplines. Without them we shall continue to be impotent witnesses for Christ [emphasis added]. Without them Christ will be impotent in his efforts to use us to save our society from disintegration and death.

—From Discipline and Discovery by Albert Edward Day

Last week, I noted the richness of Day’s writing and reflected on what a Christ-exalted life might look like. Today, I want to consider Day’s assertion that God’s grace is only given to those who practice the grace of self-mastery. What does that mean exactly? In my readings of the great devotional masters, a common theme is quite apparent. In every case, I read of a disciplined life that enables them to be fully open to God’s presence. Wesley, for example, referred to this as partaking in the “means of grace.” That is why we see him arising each morning at 3:30 to begin a lengthy time of Bible reading and prayer. That is why we see him retire early each night so that he can get up at that early hour. That is why we see Luther plunging deeper into prayer during those times of his life he found to be the most distressful and demanding, precisely because the nature of the events demanded it.

Having the discipline (Latin disciplina ‘instruction, knowledge, from discipulus ‘learner,’ from discere ‘learn’) to partake in the means of grace (Bible reading, prayer, the sacraments, worship, Christian fellowship) enables us to be open to God’s grace and to respond to it. It also demonstrates our willingness to truly make Jesus our Lord and makes us better equipped for God to work in us. Make no mistake. I’m not talking here about works righteousness where we delude ourselves into thinking we can earn our salvation. Rather, I’m talking about doing the things necessary for God to work fully in us because God never forces himself on us. It is not unlike passing someone we know on the street and being completely oblivious to his presence. We know of our friend’s reality and existence but at that given point, we are too occupied with other things to take note of his presence in the moment. A disciplined devotional life helps us become aware of “Christ in [us], the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) so that we don’t miss his presence or his will for us in our lives and in the moment.

Moreover, discipline takes work and effort on our part and if I’m at all representative of the human race, this is never easy. Discipline requires “mortification,” the idea that we must put to death our sinful, slothful selves and surrender entirely to Jesus. Personally, I’d rather sleep in or feel free to do whatever I want to do at any given moment. Yet if I let my slothful nature override my need to live a disciplined life, I cheat myself out of the chance to grow in my relationship with Jesus and thus hinder my ability to grow to his full stature (Ephesians 4:15). I also prove myself to be a liar when in prayer I ask that Jesus’ will be done, not mine.

No, if we intend to be faithful Christians and profess Jesus as Lord by our words and deeds, we can’t just sit back and let it happen. Life, and especially the devotional life, just doesn’t work like that. If we fail to be disciplined in our faith, we fail to “work out our salvation in fear and trembling” because we cut ourselves off from Jesus’ saving grace and power by failing to respond to his ever-present availability. And so while I sometimes balk at submitting myself to needed discipline, I also realize it is for my own good that I do so, not just with my devotions but with every aspect of my life. You see, I also have to deal with sloth and gluttony (among others) and the remedy for them is the power of Christ working within me; on my own, I do not have the strength to conquer my sins. Consequently, when I refuse to be disciplined, I deny myself that power and exalt myself, not Jesus. I hate it when that happens. 🙁

What about you? Do you believe discipline is an essential part of faith? If so, what prevents you from partaking in a disciplined life of faith? What do you do to help you establish a discplined devotional life? If you do not see discipline as essential to living a life of faith, then what are your essentials? Share your insights and examples with us so that together we might gain the necessary discipline to grow in grace.

Faith and Discipline—Reflections on Albert Edward Day, Part 1

The power of a life, where Christ is exalted, would arrest and subdue those who are bored to tears by our thin version of Christianity and wholly uninterested in mere churchmanship.

We have talked much about salvation by faith, but there has been little realization that all real faith involves discipline. Faith is not a blithe “turning it all over to Jesus.” Faith is such confidence in Jesus that it takes seriously his summons, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

We have loudly proclaimed our dependence upon the grace of God, never guessing that the grace of God is given only to those who practice the grace of self-mastery. “Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling for God is at work in you both to will and to work his good pleasure.” People working out, God working in—that is the New Testament synthesis.

Humans, working out their salvation alone, are a pathetic spectacle—hopelessly defeated moralists trying to elevate themselves by their own bootstraps.

God, seeking to work in a person who offers no disciplined cooperation, is a heartbreaking spectacle—a defeated Savior trying to free, from sins and earthiness, a person who will not lift his or her face out of the dust, or shake off the shackles of the egocentric self.

Real discipline is not a vain effort to save one’s self. It is an intelligent application to the self of those psychological principles which enable the self to enter into life-giving fellowship with God who is our salvation.

We must recover for ourselves the significance and the necessity of the spiritual disciplines. Without them we shall continue to be impotent witnesses for Christ [emphasis added]. Without them Christ will be impotent in his efforts to use us to save our society from disintegration and death.

—From Discipline and Discovery by Albert Edward Day

Wow. Day gives us LOTS to ponder in this excerpt above and I will attempt to address it a bit at a time over the next few reflections. Today I want to reflect on this power of a Christ-exalted life that Day talks about. I read on titusonenine today about the declining numbers in the Lutheran denomination, at least in West, and in the Presbyterian denomination. The numbers are both startling and disturbing to those of us who care about Christ’s church. What is particularly interesting about the Lutheran report is that their numbers appear to be growing in the Global South, as is the case with the Anglican Communion—growth in the Global South, decline in the West. Why is that? Nor is this trend unique to the Anglicans, Lutherans, or Presbyterians. It is the affliction of every mainline Protestant Church in the West. Again, why is that? This is a question that demands thoughtful and prayerful discussion.

In my Global Anglicanism class, we are also talking about how to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate missionary activities in regard to indigenous populations and their respective cultures, i.e., when does respect for meeting people (and their cultures) where they are end and syncretism (the combining of multiple faiths to form a new amalgam) begin? In my mind a syncretistic Christian faith betrays a lack of confidence and trust in the One who loves us and gave himself for us. It also indicates a tacit rejection of the “faith once delivered” and so this notion of a Christ-exalted life has been on my mind recently.

In Acts, Luke reports that where the Holy Spirit is present and active, there we find growth and power and so that seems to me to be a reasonable benchmark (but not the only one) to use when talking about a Christ-exalted life. So what does a Christ-exalted life look like that would be so “arresting” to others?

Several things come to mind. Does the person show compassion and respect for all persons, especially those most marginalized by a society? Does that person demonstrate a confidence in the power of Christ to raise all people up and free them from their sin? Does that person put his/her faith into action in the name of Christ for the betterment of Christ’s creatures? Does the person dare to be countercultural and desire a better way for God’s creatures and creation? Does the person but his/her culture to the test using the prism of Christ rather than vice versa? Is there something “above and beyond” the person that allows others to see a peace and grace that is not his or hers? Does a person treat his/her enemies with grace and compassion?

These questions certainly are not exhaustive, but a quick reading of the saints of Christ over time and across culture will surely identify a consistent pattern in their lives. The question then becomes, how do we become equipped to live Christ-exalted lives? I’ll continue with that question in my next reflection.

It’s your turn now. Do you agree or disagree with Day about the power of a Christ-exalted life? If you agree, what does a Christ-exalted life look like to you? Do you agree or disagree with my suggested list of characteristics above? Why? Does your own life exalt Christ? If so, how? If not, why do you think that is so and what do you need to do to live such a life? Do you even want to live such a life?

Share your stories and reflections with us so that we can better learn to recognize Christ among us.

Follow-Up—Tales From The Trenches

Last week I wrote about my struggles with seminary work and obeying God’s call. I appreciate the response and apologize to the folks who took the time to share their experiences and offer support. I simply didn’t have time to respond to you but covet your responses nevertheless.

Today I would like to provide an update to last week’s reflection because I’ve wrestled mightily with this in my prayers this past week and have benefited from the God-inspired advice my dear friend, Fr. Ron Baird, offered me regarding seminary and Christian formation (his advice: shut up and ask Jesus what he wants me to learn from seminary). What I’ve learned this past week is that I don’t have to enjoy the demands of seminary work to do it. Enjoyment seems to be a value-added feature and this is where trust comes into play. God may call me to do arduous work I don’t enjoy. Yet if I am doing what God wills, my enjoyment becomes secondary—contentment should follow and has.

Make no mistake. I’m still busy and still overloaded. The difference is that I am now handling the burden with Jesus’ help. Like Paul, that must be sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9) and enables me to do all things (Philippians 4:13).

I am thankful that Jesus has answered my cries for help. Note that he did not answer me in a way I might have preferred but he did answer me. I would do well to continue listening to him and do my best to obey. If I am smart enough to do so, I have utter confidence that seminary will turn out well and that my faith will grow as a result.

What about you? How do you respond to Jesus when he answers you in a way you do not particularly like? What have been the results? Do these moments provide you with the opportunity to grow in grace? If so, how? Share your own tales from the trenches that we might learn from each other and provide Jesus with an opportunity to help us grow.

The Cost of Discipleship—Tales From the Trenches

Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!—1 Corinthians 9:16 (NIV)

I am going to share something intensely personal with you because I think it represents the struggle most Christians must wage in an attempt to live faithful lives. The issue is quite simple. I feel the call to ordained ministry and have enrolled in seminary. The work is so time-consuming that it is starting to become oppressive. It’s not hard and I can do the work, but it is so time-consuming that I wonder if I can survive two years of this.

Yet if I give up, am I not rejecting God’s call to me? Am I unwilling to endure hardships for the sake of Jesus? Did I not stop and count the cost before embarking on this road? Is this my sinful rebellious nature or is Satan involved? Perhaps it’s both, I don’t know.

And so I share verbatim what I wrote in my journal on Friday last. I will let the entry speak for itself and ask for your prayers.

Friday, Feb. 3, 9:36 a.m.

I am at a crisis here. I’m spending almost all my time studying and it is getting to be oppressive and I am getting resentful. And so I need to decide if I can keep this up. I don’t think I can. I am unwilling to give all my free time to study and must conclude I am unwilling to do what it takes to answer the call. That saddens me but I believe it is the truth of the matter. Once again I am unwilling to give my all to Jesus. Perhaps the better question is if Jesus wants me to continue the work. I can’t seem to get an answer from him and don’t know what to think about that.

Then there is my beloved wife who is getting beaten up by the Luddites at her school. I am angry at them for doing that to her and angry at myself for not being supportive of her last night. Instead I went into my own little selfish funk over seminary work. That is just not acceptable behavior for one who wants to lead this house. And so here I sit this morning, sad, angry, and unsure about what to do next. If I quit seminary and give up the priesthood, then what? Will God utterly abandon me? Why would he call me to something he knows I’m incapable of doing? I guess it’s not a matter of ability as it is will. Why should I spend every spare moment studying? How can I keep that pace for 2 years and add CPE to the mix? Why can’t I serve at St. Matt’s as a layman?

Perhaps I ought to see what it would take to get a local preacher’s license in the UMC. Surely it wouldn’t require the same amount of work on my part and I guess that’s the issue—my willingness to put in 60 hour weeks over the long haul. Again, I need to go back to the question, what does Jesus want me to do? If he does want me to pursue this, I can reasonably expect him to sustain me but I ain’t gettin it. Why? My stomach is in knots because of the stuff I have to do and I haven’t even started my paper! Why? Is this the devil attacking me again? I don’t know and so I go to God in prayer, looking for some answers.

The day’s lesson is Luke 22:24-27. Jesus reminds us that we are to be servants as he was a servant. What does that look like? I guess the essence of ministry is service—devotion to helping build up Christ’s body and reaching out to those who are not of the Body. Can I do that w/o being ordained? I don’t see why not. I did not stop to count the cost before I began this journey and now will look foolish if I drop out. So be it. The greater question is whether I can be faithful to God’s call w/o being an ordained minister. That’s what I hope to learn in prayer today. Am I willing to live with the “not mine but your will be done” if the answer is no?

As a postscript, it is easy to see the flaws in my thinking as well as my foibles, but that really isn’t why I shared it with you. Instead, I hope you felt the anguish that comes with the struggle to do what I know is right versus the desire to give into my slothful self. It’s what usually happens when the path of discipleship becomes arduous. I hope you also caught the glimmer of hope, be it ever so faint, in my entry.

This business of losing one’s life to find it can be tricky—but it is not without hope.

So what have I heard from Jesus? Nothing directly. But I did receive two emails—one from a Christian brother and another from a dear friend and brother in Christ—that were greatly supportive of my call. Yet they were also willing to give me a kick in the rear as well (there’s only a six inch difference between a pat on the back and a swat on the arse, you know! :)). I guess that’s what good Christian friends are for and why Wesley believed there was no such thing as an isolate Christian. Given that I have not discerned a change in marching orders and believing that these two email voices represented the voice of Jesus, I press on. I’m not a particularly happy camper, but I press on believing that the One who calls and sends also sustains.

Sometimes we just have to stop protesting, be quiet, and do what our Lord tells us to do.

What about you? Have you had a problem like this in your Christian walk? Do you ever wrestle with God? What’s that look like and how have you resolved it (or have you)? How do you see faithful discipleship manifesting itself in your life? How does Jesus sustain you?

I’m also wondering if I really mean “your will be done” when I say it during prayer. Of course God’s will be done; it’s ridiculous to think otherwise. But will I surrender to it or fight it? Have you ever struggled with this issue? If so, have you resolved it or are you still working on it? Tell us your stories so that we might continue to “watch over each other in love.”

Happy Birthday, Dad—Reflections on the Writing of John Stott

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:37-39 (RSV)

One of the most searching tests to apply to any religion concerns its attitude to death. And measured by this test much so-called Christianity is found wanting with its black clothes, its mournful chants and its requiem masses. Of course dying can be very unpleasant, and bereavement can bring bitter sorrow. But death itself has been overthrown, and ‘blessed are the dead who die in the Lord’ (Rev. 14:13). The proper epitaph to write for a Christian believer is not a dismal and uncertain petition, ‘R.I.P.’ (requiescat in pace, ‘may he rest in peace’), but a joyful and certain affirmation ‘C.A.D.’ (‘Christ abolished death’).

—From Authentic Christianity by John Stott

I don’t usually write a blog on the weekends, especially Sunday, but today I make an exception because it is my dad’s birthday. He would have been 83 today.

The piece I quote from John Stott above was one of the first things I read from him and as a writer, Stott immediately captured my heart. His affirmation of faith resonates with me and gives me hope—hope for living each day and hope for an eternity—and provides the basis for my celebratory reflection today.

My dad died almost two years ago and I still miss him dearly. I suspect that will be the case until the day I die. But that’s about ME and my sense of personal loss, not dad’s dying in Christ. Dad’s death is not the final chapter here because I KNOW he is alive in Christ and I KNOW I will see him again someday. And when I do, we will never, ever be separated again because we will have both died in the Lord Jesus. Having done so will allow us to live face-to-face with each other and with Jesus for all eternity. O glorious and blessed hope and anticipation! Make no mistake. I’m in no hurry to die nor am I eager to do so. But neither do I fear death because Jesus has conquered it for me, for my dad, and for all Christians who place their sole hope and trust in him.

Happy Birthday, dad. I miss you and look forward to the day when there will be no more tears shed. I thank God with my whole being for blessing me with a man like you to be my earthly father for over 50 years. I also thank you for being such a great dad, husband, community member, role model, and Christian man. Well done, good and faithful servant!

Thanks be to God in Jesus Christ our Lord! Christ HAS abolished death and made this reflection possible today! Alleluia!!

The Cost of Ministry—Reflections on Philippians 1

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.—Phil. 1:20-26, 29-30 (NIV)

As I read this passage from Paul to the Philippians today, a passage he wrote while a prisoner for Christ, I was struck by its power. In this remarkable passage, Paul reflects on his own suffering and counts it as joy to be able to do so for Christ! This relationship with Jesus seems to be the source of all Paul’s strength, courage, and joy. Hence, we can reasonably conclude that for Paul, to be without Christ, to not have relationship with him and/or be in his presence would be the most awful thing he could experience, it would be like true death. I don’t know about you, but I confess that I’ve not always been able to empty myself the way Paul does. In failing to do so, I wonder how much I’ve given up or lost for the sake of self?

Furthermore, Paul poignantly subordinates his own desires to be delivered by death to be with Jesus for the sake of his ministry to the Philippians. Here, then, are two elements of Paul’s ministry. First, his source of hope, strength, joy, and courage is Jesus. Death is not something to be feared because it constitutes deliverance and a chance to be fully present with Christ. This was why Paul was willing to suffer and refers to suffering as a privilege. Imagine that. How many of us would consider suffering for Jesus to be a privilege and joy? I’m afraid I can’t fully count myself to be among those who do. What about you?

Second, Paul looked at his ministry as a form of serving his Lord—it was self-sacrificial and he was willing to remain in the body so that he could continue his work for his beloved Master as well as for the sake of those to whom he ministered. It seems that in emptying himself for Jesus, Paul was able to take on the very characteristics of his Lord, thereby enabling Paul to serve others in a selfless manner. What about you? Does your ministry look like Paul’s in its selflessness? Does it have the same Foundation as Paul’s? I confess mine doesn’t always and signals a dire need for me to continue to partake in the means of grace (Bible, prayer, sacraments, worship, fellowship) in the hope that it eventually will.

Mind you, I don’t think this passage refers exclusively to ordained ministers because as Christians we all have ministry to do in service to Christ’s church. I hope that if called to do likewise I can come to see suffering as an honor and privilege. Doing so would certainly be a tangible sign of growth in the Spirit by the grace of God. Yet I know myself and have to wonder if I really could “answer the bell” if called to do so. Certainly by my own power I would fail. Yet the great hope for us in this passage is its testimony to the reality of living in and by the power of the Spirit. And so I press forward, asking Jesus each day to transform me and to deepen our relationship so that someday I might take joy in suffering for the One who loved me and gave himself for me. O blessed privilege!

What about you? Have you ever been called to suffer for Christ? If so, how did you respond? If you’ve not been called to suffer, why do you think you have been spared? Is suffering for Jesus the same as other kinds of suffering? If so, how? If not, how is it different? What lessons, if any, can be learned about your faith by what you have (or have not) suffered? Do you agree with my assessment that to see suffering as a privilege is a tangible sign of growth in grace? Why or why not? Tell us your stories so that we might learn from each other and comfort one another.