Why Aren’t Christians Known For That?
When you think of a practicing Muslim, what is one of the first things that comes to mind?
- They recite an oath/creed.
- They pray five times a day.
- They keep certain strict rules regarding eating and socializing.
- There are moral codes of modesty.
When you think of someone practicing Judaism, what is one of the first things that comes to mind?
- They say the Shema.
- They memorize the Torah.
- They keep kosher.
- They live a strict liturgical week with Shabbat.
When you think of someone practicing Christianity, what is one of the first things that comes to mind?
…?
Christians are known for a lot, but why aren’t we known by our spiritual disciplines? More provocatively, are we truly Christians if we are not known by our disciplines?
There are groups such as the new monastics or the young people returning to Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy that are trying to answer these questions. There are many Protestants, like me, who continue to live in a Protestantism while living out spiritual disciplines that are much more in common with Catholics. There are people in the emerging and evangelical movements that are grappling with what it means to be ancient but future as well. All these movements or groups, in there own way, are trying to reintroduce some form of discipline into the Christian life.
The other Abrahamic religions have, generally speaking, refused to give up the disciplines which set them apart from the world enough to be a "peculiar people" or "other." Disciplines make us unique and set us apart—they make us holy.
In the West Christianity under Protestantism has lost much of the veracity that the spiritual disciplines once held in culture at large and most importantly for the church. If the Church does not practice the disciplines the members will not, and the whole thing has so devolved in America that the disciplines of Christians are almost exclusively fellowship based with no sense of common discipline. Christians are known for going to church and having political beliefs. We aren’t known for praying the daily office, fasting, or taking off time for religious observance like a pilgrimage or retreat.
There is a broad movement to change this, and I am optimistic that it will happen sooner rather than later. The Spirit is stirring the body back into exercise and discipline. Pray that it will happen.
i heard shane claiborne speak a while back and he said the three things Christians are known for: anti-gay, hypocritical, judgmental. a great list to be sure. “they will you know you by your love.” wish that was true! great post…
this will spark some thought by this fellow!
could it be the average person claiming to be Christian doesn’t really know enough about Christ?
We were known for “cannibalism” (i.e., eating the body and blood of Christ) and “love,” but that’s been lost in recent years, but I think it is on its way back.
We have the surety of Christ in our salvation, and I wonder if that makes us somewhat complacent in living out our lives in a spiritually disciplined way.
He did all the hard work for us, the “heavy lifting” as it were. It is a shame that instead of diligently practicing the disciplines He calls us to; we seem more content to relax in our assured victory.
If love is a discipline then that ought to be what we’re known by, not simply our diligence in duties. I was reading in Romans this morning about those who were, as The Message translation puts it, “living life in a hall of mirrors.”
It’s easy to get caught up in the disciplines and brand ourselves as that sort of Christian–easier than it seems. But that’s only a hall of mirrors reflecting not only our immediate self, but whoever else is standing in our company. Better to be far from the looking glasses that create tally-marked Christianity and standing in the middle of opportunities to extend the hand of Jesus. He prayed, He fasted, He walked, He slept, He hid, and He loved. John 4 gives us the discipline of Christendom: My food is to do the will of Him Who sent me.
If we live as though our food is walking in the Spirit, then disciplines, love, set-apartess, and community, these things will result.
I personally do not consider the activities I engage in relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit disciplines. I used to define those things as disciplines however once the revelation that you can not develop and grow any relationship by disciplining yourself to do things that grow one with anyone hit me I no longer considered them disciplines.
If a husband or wife said to there spouse I discipline myself to spend time with you, do good to you, communicated to you the spouse would not feel loved. I do not have to discipline myself to do good to, spend time with, or communicate with those I love. God doesn’t do so either.
The biblical purpose of those things often called spiritual disciplines is to build relationship if we love truly love God, because he first loved us, and if we love our neighbors as we love ourselves we will not have to discipline ourselves. I placed faith in Christ 31 years ago and I am more head over heals in love with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit today then the first day my sins were washed away.
As a Protestant who endeavors to practice spiritual disciplines, I found this article deeply compelling. And too, the ensuing conversation and various perspectives.
Thank you for the sharpening…