Overview of Spiritual Disciplines

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Spiritual disciplines help us answer the question: How do we know? Because we can neither build a physical tower nor a metaphorical tower to God, especially since Pentecost (Gen 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-4), God himself in His Holy Spirit has worked with us in the spiritual disciplines to answer this question. This is sometimes referred to as the process of sanctification (Phil 3:7-11).

Spiritual disciplines may serve at least three objectives. One objective is to help remove impediments that affect our relationship with God—things like sin. Another objective is to respond to a special path of grace that God has uniquely given us. A further objective is to facilitate the process of reconciliation with those we have sinned against.

For example, contemplative prayer focuses on reducing impediments to our relationship with God. Foster (1992, 161–164) sees three steps in contemplative prayer: recollection (concentrating our minds to become fully present), quieting our spirits, and spiritual ecstasy—God’s response.

By contrast, Thomas (2010, 7, 83, 211) sees nine spiritual personality types that lead us to God’s grace. These are: naturalists, sensates, traditionalists, ascetics, activists, caregivers, enthusiasts, contemplatives, and intellectuals. For example, the traditionalist experiences God through three main elements: ritual, symbol, and sacrifice. By contrast, for intellectuals, the sermon is not just part of worship—it is worship.

The process of reconciliation is seldom addressed as a separate spiritual discipline, but needs to factor into many disciplines and may even be part of church governance. We see it addressed, in part, in Christian service, in work relationships, our marriages, our small groups, and our worship. If the spiritual disciplines are ranked in order of need, reconciliation would clearly rank near the top of the list.

For Presbyterians, church governance stresses reconciliation through group decision-making. Almost every decision in church life requires committee approval and oversight. By building reconciliation into basic decision-making processes, the need to practice a specific spiritual discipline is, accordingly, minimized. However, when special problems arise, reconciliation may be a separately highlighted process, sometimes referred to as peacemaking  (Rom 12:18; Sande 2004, 22).

References

Foster, Richard J., 1992. Prayer: Find the Heat’s True Home. New York: HarperOne.

Sande, Ken. 2004. The Peace Maker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict. Grand Rapids, MI: BakerBooks.

Thomas, Gary. 2010. Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Soul’s Path to God. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Overview of Spiritual Disciplines
Also see:
Preface to A Christian Guide to Spirituality
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Purchase Book: http://www.T2Pneuma.com





Newsletter:  https://bit.ly/Urn_2021
 

The post Overview of Spiritual Disciplines appeared first on T2Pneuma.net.