This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Dr. Ron Braley. This is NOT the opinion of the Taylor Press.
Want to get thinner?
Eat better and less. Want to get fit? Move. Want to get stronger? Work out at the gym. These excellent disciplines can improve physical, mental, and emotional health. Easy?
Nope! I wouldn’t be writing this if they were! But discipline, hard as it may be, is crucial to developing good habits—even for spiritual growth. So, today, we’ll go to the ‘spiritual gym,’ beginning with foundational discipleship.
Everything needs a solid foundation, including your house, vocation, relationships, and Christianity. Most things wither or fail without one! Christian foundation is formed through discipleship. But discipleship, with ‘discipline’ at its core, happens intentionally through training and imitation. Learn and imitate what? Prayer.
Study. Charity. Purity.
Operating by God’s Spirit. Discipling others. How did Jesus disciple people? Tell, demonstrate, test, correct, and send.
Spiritual Formation.
But, at some point, ongoing formation geared toward maturity must take over and build upon the foundation: “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity … ” (Hebrews 6:1). Ongoing formation seeks to build spiritual muscles to help the God-fearing Christfollower endure until the end of this world. We must discipline ourselves to build good, Godly habits like athletes, according to the apostle Paul: “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things… Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27) Of course, no one wants to be disqualified from salvation (God’s rescuing) to come (1 Peter 1:3-5)! So, let’s briefly address the spiritual formation He expects.
In loving ourselves (so we can obediently honor God and love others), we must be relationally, emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually healthy. Weakness in any of these areas can distract us from bearing God’s image, being an ambassador of His Kingdom, or honoring our part of the two-way covenantal relationship with Him. We begin our journey to wellness in all areas by “presenting our bodies a living and holy sacrifice” and remapping our brains (Romans 12:1-2). How do we do that? By disciplining ourselves to pray regularly and study the Bible often (praying all the while for illumination). And, by being continually charitable with time, talents, and treasures while pursuing purity according to God’s righteousness—His standards.
Summary: Here, we went to the spiritual gym for foundational discipleship and ongoing spiritual formation to be healthy enough to please God. What’s next? It’s way past Independence Day, but let’s see what it means to say, “I pledge allegiance to God!” in the following article. In the meantime, be kind, just, merciful, and pure above being religious. Questions or comments? Email [email protected].
Blessings and peace, Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.
