Nor Cal / Nev College Ministries

Introduction

Discipline is training that corrects, molds, and perfects the mental abilities and moral character of a person. We often think of punishment first when we consider discipline, but even good punishment should serve to penalize a person due to their lack of self-control (trusting that the direct attention will aid in the development of self-control). Thus, to discipline simply means to impose order upon disorder within the mind, heart and spirit.Spiritual disciplines are tools of training for the spiritually unruly which will cause growth in the knowledge of God, growth in putting on the irnage of Christ, and growth in living an effective Christian life-style. The disciplines enable the "fruit of the Spirit" to come to a bountiful harvest in our lives, bringing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

"Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people...

Neither should we think of the spiritual disciplines as some dull drudgery aimed at exterminating laughter from the face of the earth. Joy is the keynote of all the disciplines. The purpose of the disciplines is liberation from the stifling slavery to self-interest and fear... Singing, dancing, even shouting characterize the disciplines of the spiritual life...

Our ordinary method of dealing with ingrained sin is to launch a frontal attack. We rely on our willpower and determination...we determine never to do it again; we pray against it, fight against it, set our will against it. But it is all in vain, and we find ourselves once again morally bankrupt or, worse yet, so proud of our external righteousness that "whitened sepulchers" is a mild description of our condition...

Willpower will never succeed in dealing with the deeply in­grained habits of sin... Willpower has no defense against the careless word, the unguarded moment. The will has the same deficiency as the Law-it can deal only with externals. It is not sufficient to bring about the necessary transformation of the inner spirit.

The needed change within us is God's work, not ours. The demand is for an inside job, and only God can work from the inside.

Our world is hungry for genuinely changed people. Leo Tolstoy observed, 'Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself.' Let us be among those who believe that the inner transformation of our lives is a goal worthy of our best effort." (From Richard J. Foster's Celebration of Discipline. Emphasis added.)

A Sampling of Solomon's Wisdom Concerning Discipline

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline" (Proverbs 1:7).

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in" (Proverbs 3:11,12).

"At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. You will say, 'How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors. I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly"' (Proverbs 5:11-14).

"He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray" (Proverbs 10:17).

"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates corrections is stupid" (Proverbs 12:1).

"He who ignores discipline despises hirnself, but whoever heeds correc­tion gains understanding" (Proverbs 15:32).

Also see Proverbs 1:2,3; 5:21-23; 6:2O-23; 9:13-18; 13:18,24; 15:5-10.

Obstacles to a Disciplined Life

A. The age of permissiveness we live in encourages an undisciplined approach to life.

The dominant world-view in America assumes that there is nothing which is universally right or wrong; nothing which is intrinsically good or bad. Good and evil are not built in, essential, unchangeable qualities of life; they are only descriptions of our perceptions in different situations. Everyone is really "free" to think, live and love as they feel best. Therefore, there is no standard to which we should aspire, other than the "standard" within each of us.

B. The over-spiritualization of spontaneity.

In some Christian circles those things which are planned or scheduled are often seen as less "Spirit-led". Strategy in ministry and missions is viewed with the suspicion that the "flesh" must be in control. Only those activities of the Spirit which occur on the spur of the moment or are received by special revelation carry ultimate spiritual weight. This is not to say that special revelation is in any way to be undercut, on the contrary, we are enormously blessed when the Holy Spirit works among us in this manner. But over-spiritualization occurs when we exclusively cling only to the special word. This misses the dimension that faithful commitment produces much fruit. Often "spiritual spontaneity" is only a mask for spiritual irresponsibility.

C. We develop a sacred/secular dichotomy.

We have a great tendency to divide our lives into those things which have spiritual value and the rest which is non-spiritual. This flies in the face of a true understanding of spirituality. Our Christian faith must be integrated into the entire fabric ofour normal lives. Moreover, this is precisely an essential task of discipleship, to lead disciples into concrete under­standing of how relationship with Jesus relates to every fiber of our lives.

D. The failure of the church and home to teach skifls for the maturing of the spiritual life.

In many cases the normal Christian life has become as lackadaisical and as haphazard as modern secular society. Discipline causes pain for gain, and we live in a society which will do anything necessary to avoid suffering in any form at any cost. Often suffering is equated with evil itself. The local church and the nuclear Christian family must assume their responsibility for training believers in righteousness.

Four Foundational Truths Concerning the Spiritual Disciplines

A. Spiritual disciplines are not an end in themselves, but a means to a greater end.

The goal is not to be known as a great pray-er, but to know God better. The goal is not to see how rigid a life we can live, but to become as effective as possible for the Kingdom of God in our daily lives. "I can't see the forest for the trees." This is what happens often to disciples. They focus so much on the immediate issue of "I didn't pray today", to the exdusion of seeing the larger picture of a God who wants to be in relationship with me, and wants me to know Him.

B. Discipline brings healing into our broken lives.

Just as the beauty of God's universe was an outgrowth of God making order out of the primeval chaos, so order coming into our disorderly lives will bring healing and beauty. Unchecked anger brings hurt, but anger brought under the Spirit's control will produce understanding, forgive­ness, and healing.

C. The flip-side of loving compassion is loving discipline.

The writer of Hebrews 12:5-13 quotes Solomon, reminding us that God the Father disciplines every child that He loves. Maturity and proper self-understanding only come by way of this type of loving discipline. To not act with discipline toward someone straying way off the narrow path is most unloving on our part. Remember, when the Lord Jesus commands that we follow Him, His words bring blessing and curse at the same moment. Blessing for those who respond to His love, and destruction to those who reject His offer.

D. Blessing comes to the disciplined.

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11).

The Facets of Discipline

A. The Discipline of our Spiritual Resources

A spiritual growth project:
The previous chart is based on the structure of Richard Foster's book, Celebration of Discipline. This book has filled a void that has existed for several decades. Very little had been written on the spiritual disciplines during most of the century. We recommend one of two things for you:

a. Get a copy of Foster's Celebration of Discipline and read it over Christmas Break, Spring Break, Summer Vacation, or even better...

b. Make this book serve as a spiritual growth project for the next year. There are 12 disciplines mentioned. Study and try to implement, as fully as possible, one discipline per month for the next year. Every chapter has much practical instruction assisting you to incorporate the discipline into your life. The effects of this spiritual growth project would without a doubt produce blessing for a lifetime.

B. The Disciplines of our Material Resources

1. Finances

a. Tithes

It is an Old Testament principle that one-tenth of all of our income belongs to the Lord and should be given at the storehouse (where we are experiencing daily Christian community, where we are fed the Word, where we worship, where we minister to other members of Christ's body, and where we are held accountable for the faith within us). The New Testament expands the principle that all belongs to the Lord. A beginning stage should start with at least one-tenth and then increase as the Lord directs. (For a creative option, read about the Graduated Tithe in Rich Christians In An Age Of Hunger: A Biblical Study, Ronald J. Sider, Inter-Varsity Press, 1977).

b. Offerings

Offerings are financial giving that go beyond our regular tithes. Whereas tithes should go to your immediate spiritual community, offerings could go to Kingdom needs outside the local community, like missions or benevolent assistance.

2. Hospitality

Giving assistance and opening up our dwelling places to guests to provide fellowship is a very strong theme throughout the Old Testament and central to the life-style of Jesus.

3. Tangible Goods

Sharing and giving away of the material blessings we have received from God's grace (clothes, books, gifts, food, etc.) is demonstrating God's ownership of all things and our willingness to be a good steward of those blessings.

C. The Discipline of our Relational Resources

There are disciplines that must be learned in regard to how a disciple relates to his/her parents, teachers, employers, peers, opposite sex, and the community of Christ, as well as to one's self.

Time and time again we are called in the New Testament to demonstrate love and allegiance to one another. We are consistently called to minister to those around us. All of this calls for modeling, teaching, and the doing of Christ's will.

D. The Discipline of our Temporal Resources

Each year about 25% of most campus fellowships graduate. Among those graduating are approximately 30% of the fellowship's discipleship leaders. Each year 30% of the typical campus fellowship is composed of new recruits and converts. Without fail, a central issue in these student's lives is the issue of time and priorities.

It doesn't take you very long as a new university student to discover that you can't join everything; can't support every good cause; and you can't give of yourself to every needy person. We are all faced with the law of an effective disciplined life-style. Effectiveness demands choices, choices, and more choices. What you chaose bath now and throughout your life will determine to a significant degree, your impact in this world for Christ. The priorities of your life are most clearly seen by your use of time. If being committed to Christ is the top priority of your life, but it is nowhere reflected in your weekly schedule, then this priority is only a dream or wish and not a part of actual reality.

As important as this whole area is, it is very distressing to see that very little, if any, training is given prior to coming to the university in the area of time management and prioritizing of commitments. Because of this, a great majority of students feel that they don't have time to participate in Bible classes, outreaches, small groups or prayer meetings.It is safe to say that most of today's university students are wasting at least 8-10 hours a week or are involved in unimportant and time consuming commitments. Christian students must become more disciplined in the use of their time. In order to do that, more thought will have to go into the setting of personal priorities. For significant results in ministry to occur, it becomes an absolute necessity. A typical small group discipling leader will spend about fifteen hours per week preparing, leading, training and following up on his/her small group. This includes the large group gatherings and leadership meetings. If we are to seriously attempt to reach our world, we must help one another develop in our use of time.