Comments on: Spiritual disciplines and culture http://danielfarrell.com/blog/archives/2004/08/22/spiritual-disciplines-and-culture/ My journey to a sacred place Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:43:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Daniel http://danielfarrell.com/blog/archives/2004/08/22/spiritual-disciplines-and-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Daniel Wed, 25 Aug 2004 01:49:53 +0000 http://simplepilgrimage.org/daniel/archives/2004/08/22/spiritual-disciplines-and-culture/#comment-102 Welcome Dennis. Yeah, I was working from some imaginary list of disciplines that combines what Foster and Willard have listed. I definitely agree with you about meditation, confession and submission. If we look at what the lack of those would cause in our lives we would be stressed, guilt-ridden and rebellious. As someone who has been all three of those I think you speak wise words. Thanks for sharing. Anyone else have a perspective on this? Welcome Dennis. Yeah, I was working from some imaginary list of disciplines that combines what Foster and Willard have listed. I definitely agree with you about meditation, confession and submission. If we look at what the lack of those would cause in our lives we would be stressed, guilt-ridden and rebellious. As someone who has been all three of those I think you speak wise words. Thanks for sharing. Anyone else have a perspective on this?

]]> By: DennisS http://danielfarrell.com/blog/archives/2004/08/22/spiritual-disciplines-and-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-99 DennisS Wed, 25 Aug 2004 00:28:32 +0000 http://simplepilgrimage.org/daniel/archives/2004/08/22/spiritual-disciplines-and-culture/#comment-99 I'm not sure what list of disciplines you use. Richard Foster's "Celebration of Discipline" lists 12 spiritual disciplines: (Inward Disciplines) Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, (Outward Disciplines) Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, (Corporate Disciplines) Confession, Worship, Guidance, & Celebration. The most difficult inward discipline for me is meditation. This is in direct opposition to the noise, hurry, and crowds of contemporary society. The most difficult corporate discipline is confession. It is difficult to reveal failures and shortcomings to others. Of course, some are going to say that sin is only between us and God. James 5:16 says to "confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another..." Two other fellows and I are going to start gathering every week in an accountability group, and these things will be included. Of the outward disciplines, submission seems most difficult. There is freedom in the ability to lay down the terrible burden of always needing to get our own way. It is easy to demand things, and easy to maintain a grudge for long lengths of time. When we drop the matter we realize that it is usually not as important as we made it out to be. We fight for a sacred principle, but often at the root of the fight is the desire to get our own way. Instead, "we are commanded to live a life of submission, because Jesus lived a life of submission." I’m not sure what list of disciplines you use. Richard Foster’s “Celebration of Discipline” lists 12 spiritual disciplines: (Inward Disciplines) Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, (Outward Disciplines) Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, (Corporate Disciplines) Confession, Worship, Guidance, & Celebration.

The most difficult inward discipline for me is meditation. This is in direct opposition to the noise, hurry, and crowds of contemporary society.

The most difficult corporate discipline is confession. It is difficult to reveal failures and shortcomings to others. Of course, some are going to say that sin is only between us and God. James 5:16 says to “confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another…” Two other fellows and I are going to start gathering every week in an accountability group, and these things will be included.

Of the outward disciplines, submission seems most difficult. There is freedom in the ability to lay down the terrible burden of always needing to get our own way. It is easy to demand things, and easy to maintain a grudge for long lengths of time. When we drop the matter we realize that it is usually not as important as we made it out to be. We fight for a sacred principle, but often at the root of the fight is the desire to get our own way. Instead, “we are commanded to live a life of submission, because Jesus lived a life of submission.”

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