Growing in Christ: A Look at the Spiritual Disciplines

Drew Cover

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Colossians 2:6, ESV).

All believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior should seek to grown not only in their knowledge of Christ and His Word but also in living out their Christian life in the reality of living. This mandate from Paul might initially sound simple, but the command is jam-packed with implications for the believer. How does the follower of Jesus “walk in Him”? How is that accomplished? What does that look like in our daily lives? Has God established any means by which to see this as a reality in the lives of followers of Christ?

As is ALWAYS the case, God has not left His children guessing as how to grow in godliness and “walk in him.” He has given believers the Spiritual Disciplines. In his landmark work, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald Whitney has categorized the Disciplines this way,

“The Spiritual Disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are the habits of devotion and experiential Christianity that have been practiced by the people of God since biblical times”

As we begin a discussion of the Spiritual Disciplines as means of growth in Christ, it is important to realize that the Spiritual Disciplines, in and of themselves, are NOT magical or a guarantee of growth in Christ. Believers are saved by grace and grow in Christ by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV). That being said, as mentioned, God has instituted the Disciplines as means of growth in Christ. The Spiritual Disciplines are meant to be lived out in the daily lives of Christians for the purpose of growth in Christ. They are activities NOT an ideology or philosophy.

In Spirit of the Disciplines, the great Christian philosopher Dallas Willard sets the Spiritual disciplines into two categories: Disciplines of Engagement and Disciplines of Abstinence. Disciples of Engagement refer to the Spiritual Disciplines the believer in Christ actively engages in such as study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, and submission. Disciplines of Abstinence refer to the Spiritual Disciplines that the individual believer abstains from, limits, or avoids such as fasting, solitude, silence, frugality, chastity, secrecy, and sacrifice. It is not the prevue of this article of delve into each one of these at this time. Please do a deeper dive into each of these.

 

So what?

What are the implications of these disciplines for the everyday Jesus follower seeking to extend Gospel in how they work, speak, and live in the world today? We are told in Scripture things we should do or engage in as believers: prayer, worship. serving others (Philippians 2), confession of sin (1 John 1:9), submitting to one another (Ephesians 5). God blesses obedience to what He’s commanded. Obedience produces growth. As well, there are things or practices that God has instructed His children to avoid or limit. Believers are to flee from sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:18). In addition, believers are to sacrifice like Jesus modelled. Believers are to model righteousness, purity, and chastity (Phil 4:8). Finally, in Exodus 20, God tells us to avoid adultery, idolatry, and lying, among other things.

 

What are the results for the follower of Christ in wholeheartedly following and engaging in the Spiritual Disciplines in everyday life?

God will bless those acts of obedience with a growth in him, a greater sense of his presence, and an extension of the Gospel to those around us. The Spiritual Disciplines are NOT to be lived out in isolation but in our interaction with other believers and the lost on a daily basis. Dr. David Jeremiah sums up the benefits of Spiritual Disciplines by saying,

“We were built for more than the routine of everyday life. Adopting these godly habits will help us take the next step in our Christian Walk as we seek God with our whole heart. Today, choose to go deeper in your relationship with the Lord. Realign your priorities with God’s and develop habits that will help you grow close to Him. The place you might feel trapped in doesn’t need to be the end of your story-it can be the beginning of a new one!”

What a summary! Believers in everyday life don’t have to get stuck in their walks with Christ. The Spiritual Disciplines can help in giving us a closer more intimate walk with Christ as we walk our everyday lives. As we seek to follow God’s commandment to “Go and make disciples” (Matt. 28), the Spiritual disciplines give us an opportunity to grow closer and more intimate with Abba and extend His Gospel more effectively.

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Written by Dr. Drew Randle

Dr. Drew Randle is a Professor of Christian Ministry at Bryan College in Dayton, TN, where he has taught for 23 years. He is married to Kelly Randle and has two daughters, Julia Claire, 26, and Hallie Rose, 19.  He is published in The High Calling and has presented papers at The Evangelical  Theological Society, The Society of Professors of Christian Education, and The Appalachian Collegiate Association.  His greatest love is for King Jesus and his family.  His passion is for making disciples for King Jesus.