Spiritual Disciplines

In last week’s sermon we heard Pastor Paul expound the story of Elijah finding God’s still small voice contrary to the loud explosive forces of an earthquake, a storm or violent fire that surrounding cultures would regularly attribute to a god. I’d like to continue this stream of analysis with Paul on the consequence of silence as a spiritual practice leading to meditation, simplicity and guidance. These spiritual disciplines are habits that facilitate our formation into the likeness of Christ. This is precisely what Elijah was doing when he went to the top of the mountain to seek God draw near into His presence and it required him to overcome the obstacles of distractions in society into solitude in nature and find God beyond conventional associations in the surrounding pagan cults.

Elijah is one example of a spiritual practice of seeking communion with God by isolating himself in nature, drawing away from the crowd, outside the demands of the temple or serving as counselor to the king and is dedicated to communicating with God. This is an example in modern terms of what one calls a quiet time or devotion. In the gospels it is recorded Jesus got up early to a quiet place to pray (Mark 1:35). (A theme we will look at in greater detail next week.) Throughout the scriptures numerous examples show such as these of Elijah and Christ with admonitions from the Apostle Paul with the need to implement spiritual disciplines for the importance of shaping our character into likeness of God by maintaining our connection with him. First, we will look at the role of habits in our life the importance for incorporating spiritual disciplines. I would like to note I am taking my departure of reference from the Spiritual classic ‘The Celebration of Discipline’ by Richard Foster if you are interesting investigating this subject further please visit.

Habits

St. Thomas Aquinas states ‘a habit is a disposition by which we are well or ill disposed.’ Our habits vary according to the objects they are directed. The intellect is directed to the good of truth, the appetite to food for nourishment, fitness for health, communal gatherings for social connection. Each habit is shaped in proportion to the object one aims and it corresponds to our varying faculties intellectual, appetite or moral. ‘A good habit are acts of virtue that are appropriate to human reason. Acts of vice are not in conformity with reason. Another words it is repugnant to nature such as the damaging effect of smoking cigarettes upon one’s lungs.

A further qualification of habit being for good or ill depends on the amount. Aristotle says ‘virtue is in the mean’ courage for example is in between the deficiency of cowardice and foolhardiness. Virtue is the rightly lived life it is in the mean. In drinking one glass of wine can be beneficial whereas a whole bottle might give one a headache, store up excessive calories likely cause poor sleep. Habits are distinguished to higher and lower faculties of appetite and mind the spiritual appetite. Virtue is the way by which we live rightly, it is rightly measured action and always relates to the good. It is life lived in the mean not in depravation or excess but balance in all things. Cicero defined virtue as a second nature in accordance with reason. It is the good of the soul. At the end of virtue the object every person seeks is happiness though it be in one form or another differ according to each.

Why am I sharing these philosophical definitions of habits and virtues what is there importance? You might be familiar with this saying attributed to Lao Tzu, ‘Watch your thoughts, they become your words, watch your words they become your actions, watch your actions they become your character, watch your character it becomes your destiny.” Christ is clear on this point he is not care we have the precise doctrine and intellectual assent as much as our character and how we treat people which includes ultimately our habits. To be a follower of Jesus is not merely having the right doctrine Christ says ‘By your fruit you will know them. A good tree bears good fruit nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then you will know them by their fruits.’ Matthew 7:16-19 Paul tells us later in Galatians the fruit of the spirit is ‘love, joy peace, patience, kindness goodness and self-control”.

How can we cultivate character that witnesses the fruit of the spirit? Heidi Baker once who I had the opportunity to work with considered many to be a modern mother Theresa in Mozambique who planted thousands of churches, hospitals and schools would always say ‘all fruitfulness flows from intimacy”. Another words, in order to do good works we must stay plugged in and connected to God. The grace of God his empowering presence is a gift that energizes us do the good works that he has set for us beforehand. It is not sheer effort or willpower as in self development guides. The scriptures states, ‘It is by grace you have been saved through faith, not a result of works so that no man should boast’ (Ephesians 2:8). If it’s on our own strength spiritual pride and superiority, competition to others seeps in and out goes humility. ‘Aquiring virtues without humility is like gathering straw in the wind’ says St. Gregory.

Since habits are shaped according to the object and vary of higher and lower the appetite the intellectual we have a third object the realm of spirit. Virtue is the good nature cultivated by the habit in accordance with reason the mean no excess. The theological virtues of faith, hope and love are virtues beyond natural capacity they are infused into us by God ‘they are more than human virtues as they are partakers in divine grace’. One such example of someone infused with supernatural gift of love and forgiveness is Corrie ten Boom a holocaust survivor who later became a minister relates this story of beyond human capacity of forgiveness:

Corrie ten Boom was an amazing Dutch Christian who during the War hid Jews from the Nazis. And she was caught and arrested, as was her father and her sister, and they were taken to concentration camps. Her father died, and her sister Betsie, who went with her to Ravensbrück, died also in that concentration camp. But amazingly Corrie survived. And after the War she went round just talking about forgiveness, this message of forgiveness.

One time in 1947 she was in a church in Munich. And when she finished her talk, this man came up to her, and she recognized him as one of the guards in Ravensbrück concentration camp. He didn’t recognize her, but she recognized him, and she could remember his cruelty. And he came up to her and he said, ‘Thank you for your message, wonderful message about forgiveness. I have become a Christian, and I know that God has forgiven me. I want to know that you forgive me.’ And he stuck out his hand and said, ‘Shake my hand as a sign that you’ve forgiven me.’ And Corrie said she just – all the memories of her sister dying, his cruelty, came back into her head. She wrote this:

‘I stood there and I could not. Betsie had died in that place. Could he erase her slow, terrible death simply for the asking? It could not have been many seconds that he stood there, hand held out, but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I’d ever had to do. I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion – I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. “Jesus, help me,” I prayed silently. “I can lift my hand – I can do that much. You supply the feeling.”

‘And so, woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands, and then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. “I forgive you, brother,” I cried, “with all my heart.” For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I have never known God’s love so intensely as I did then.’

The theological virtues of faith, hope, and love are dispositions that order us to God. They enlarge our perspective from the preoccupations of survival, and elevate us to divine fusion with God’s boundless presence of peace that surpasses all understanding. The theological virtues are seeds of potential within us the spiritual disciplines are water that brings about the growth of the Spirit in our lives, deepen our relationship to God and secure an anchor in the storms when the hardships of grief and loss come our way.

In the remaining time I’d like to focus on the spiritual disciplines of meditation, simplicity and guidance that will enable us to deepen our roots in God’s presence, shape us into a people who reflect God’s nature and imbue us with the fortitude needed for life’s trials.

We must admit trying to implement new habits are not easy to implement and we face many obstacles to overcome. It’s easy to have this ideal almost as some New Years resolution. We know how easy it is to lapse on previous behaviors. The obstacles we face are noise, distractions, crowds, demands of family and the busyness of the day. In a book ‘California and Theology’ a group of scholars came together to look at the question of the influence of California’s culture and trying to define it. Joan Didion described California as a ‘wearying enigma’ it resisted definition by it’s extraordinary variety. Others brought to memory the history of California as the end of the manifest destiny, its association as the golden state, the history of the gold rush where people left family property familiarity in search of making a fortune. In modern times Silicone valley picks up on this deep yearning for dreams making a fortune to success. In one story Richard Mouw a former professor of mine and once president of fuller Theological Seminary spoke to a young venture capitalist who felt the need to revisit his college notes on Aristotle’s metaphysics. When asked why his answer was “I guess it has to do with the speed of life when you are constantly involved in startups you lose a sense of self that has a history. I have to keep working to connect to something of the past.” Richard Mouw goes on to make the parallel with California culture broadly and life in Silicon valley similar to surfing culture : ‘skimming across surfaces without a proper connection to anything stable beneath those surfaces’.

It’s even mentioned California stands out to the rest of the country for it’s restlessness. Since Silicon valley has a global presence through its products and technology exported around the world and has developed the platforms software nearly the whole world’s population are using today. In the virtual world we are all caught into the shallow surfing of the virtual surface world without substance and roots to connect to. Our mind is detached from our body, our attention is absent with difficulty remaining in the particular person in front of us in our surroundings. The reason meditation is so attractive is because people spend so much time out of there body in a phone, computer or T.V. we to do an intentional exercise of getting one’s head back into our body.

An important distinction is needed to be made for type of Christian meditation as opposed to an eastern approach. The Buddhist philosophy diagnoses desire as the source of human suffering, the need therefore is to purge ourselves of attachments that cause suffering. One must empty one’s self of desire and personality to attain a detached enlightenment of nirvana. Christianity takes a more positive view of creation, desires as good and attachments as gifts. Except something has gone wrong in our ordering placing things above people. In attachment to God the Holy spirit enables us to redirect our will in harmony with God’s purpose for mankind, his people and the world. Simply eastern meditation is detachment and emptying of mind. Christian meditation is attachment to God, inner wholeness leading to selfless service.

Meditation / (Pause Breath)

Meditation in the Hebrew hagah and shiya have various meanings such as listening to God’s word, reflecting on God’s works, rehearsing God’s deeds, ruminating on God’s law and more. Exodus 33:11 states ‘My eyes are awake before the watches of the night. It is simply to heed and obey God’s word to walk with him. Thomas a Kempis states in meditation ‘We are growing into a familiar friendship with Jesus.’ As in any relationship for it to grow time needs to be spent with one another in exchange of communication. In the same way meditation creates a space to invite God to be consciously aware of his presence who is always with us aware He is at the door of our heart knocking to enter in.

Meditation is deeply practical. Catholic monk and contemplative Thomas Merton wrote, ‘Mediation has no point and no reality unless it is firmly rooted in life.’ Meditation will lead to solutions for the right words to speak with a spouse, how to comfort a grieving friend or see a more complete view of a disgruntle at work. Meditation enables us to analyze send us back into the world with wholeness, balance and reasonable solutions.

How to? Like any craft or Art the best way to learn it is by doing. We can meditate anytime of the day in fact we are encouraged to by Paul to Pray without ceasing. I’ve found it helpful to aim for three times a day like mealtimes. This requires carving out space in the day what the early church fathers called ‘holy leisure’. This is difficult in our world with pressure for busyness and productivity. However, the result is if we follow through we will have a greater sense of peace, calm and enhance the quality of our activities in a healthy pace.

Place? Try to find a place that is quiet away from tv, phone or computer. If possible find a beautiful landscape the garden or a window where you find your surrounding is conducive to stillness in quiet. One will find the calm pace of nature facilitates this journey of meditation contrary to the distraction and fast pace of civilization. It is also recommended to find a posture that is comfortable and upright, for to slouch you will be inclined to sleep and uncomfortable will be irritated. The position and location that is comfortable, and least distracting is key. It can be helpful to close one’s eyes open the palms of one’s hands indicating a spiritual posture of receptivity and center your attention on Christ. Regardless how you approach the mediation the aim is to connect with God.

Meditation on The Word as Visual experience

In meditating on God’s word the Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon once said ‘God’s word is not water passing through a pipe it is a waterfall to be gazed at’. Meditate in the Hebrew has the connotation of chewing and digestion. Edmund Burke famously said reading without contemplating is like eating with digestion.’ More so in the meditation of scripture is slow, patient and requires a stillness to trust and be in God’s presence. In the process of being in God’s presence we will be changed our imagination transformed and will be able to discern God’s still small voice.

One way to approach meditation is a visual exercise using one’s imagination with scripture. For example, if we take the scripture ‘my peace I leave with you (John 14:27) or the meditation phrases in our bulletin ‘Abba, I belong to you’ or ‘Loving God I trust you’. Let’s imagine one is transported into the world of scripture as one of Christ’s disciples being addressed by him with his hand on our shoulder. Imagine as one feels his touch sensing comfort, the warmth of God’s infinitely powerful and personal guiding hand over one’s life. In this meditation we feel our way into scripture with our whole being and dispense with the analysis of breaking down words by scientific scrutiny. We are enveloped in God’s shalom peace with wholeness well-being and eternal security.

A second type of meditating prayer is recollection that dates back to the middle ages is a centering down. Here one would sit in an upright posture of open hands and palm down to empty worry. Recall the verse ‘cast your cares upon the Lord and he will sustain you for he will never let the righteous fall.’ When a worry comes turn your hand upside down as a symbolic gesture you are handing over a burden that will care for you. ‘How am I going to pay bills, or pissed off at the aggressive driver who cut you off. In silence turn within, for ‘the Kingdom of God is within you’. Having centered down remain in silence in God’s presence welcome the Holy spirit he Is our comforter. Perhaps images or impressions will come up. Regardless ‘in returning and rest is your salvation, quietness and trust is your strength’( Isaiah 30:15).

Looking to Nature

A third form of meditation particularly relevant to us in this location is focusing on nature. Look at the tree admire it’s shape the simplicity, listen to the breeze through the trees or admire the deep roots secure foundation of the tree or when visiting the ocean contemplate constant rhythm of the eternal regularity of the ebb and flow of the ocean’s waves. Experience the consistency and regularity of the created order and realize your belonging as an integral part of God’s interconnected web of creation.

Simplicity

Our next spiritual discipline is simplicity that brings lightness, freedom and joy. Duplicity the opposite brings about anxiety, worry and dissonance. Simplicity is wholeness, is present in the here and now. Duplicity is the division within oneself, attention split in the past or the future or another place. Meditation leads one to a simplicity of focus as Kierkegaard tells us,’purity of heart is to will one thing.’ And we know the pure in heart will see God. This interior form of simplicity will have a spill over effect in our personal interactions. One example of this I recall is in Heidi Baker who could have one hundred people waiting in line to speak to her and you could see she was wholly present completely focused on the one person in front of her not split or concerned thinking of all the people she had to speak with. As a result the person felt loved, important and understood.

Simplicity as an outward reality is concerned with our disposition to material positions. And as North Americans in the 21^st century might be one of our greatest difficulties to overcome in our spiritual journey. A great problem in society today is ‘we love objects and use people’ instead of God’s intended order of using objects and loving people. Simplicity is putting our love of God and neighbor as our highest priority above the pursuit accumulation of wealth and affluence secondary. The lust for material objects results in ‘buying things we don’t need, with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t know’. The result is as Pastor Rick Warren puts it, ‘we look good, feel good and have the goods but is not good enough.’ In my observation during missionary work in Africa I came across a young man who had only a Bible, a few pairs of clothes that had a radiant smile from ear to ear.  I found he was happier than friends of mine who had fancy, cars a nice house and a well paid job.

The scriptures speak to economics more than any single social issue and the poor are mentioned every sixteen verses. It would take an entire sermon series to adequately address the topic with the limited time and space I will confine this section to a few points on Scripture as it relates to our theme of simplicity.

If riches increase set your heart not them. (Ps 62:10)

He who trusts in riches will whither. (Proverbs 11:28)

No one can serve two masters , he will either hate the one and love the other or he will be despised by the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13)

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:3)

Do not store up treasures on earth… For where your treasure is there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19)

Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

In these verses it is clear money is not an evil in itself. It would be an unbiblical division to make a strict dichotomy as the material bad and the spiritual good. The two are intertwined and the scriptures speak to man’s relationship use of money. The scriptures admonish us to freely give as we have freely received. And if we give everything away there will be nothing left to give and have to forsake another spiritual commandment. In wisdom we give to the right person at the right time in the right way. We are called to share with those in need not merely hoard for isolated self-satisfaction or else we’ll end up like the dragon in The Hobbit, protecting a mountain of gold alone in a cave. ‘For a man wrapped up in himself makes a very small gift’, wrote John Ruskin. Simplicity on the other hand rejoices in God’s provision sees our material wealth as gifts to be stewarded by God and shared with others. John Wesley famously stated, ‘Earn all you can, save all you can and give all you can.’

A few practices of simplicity we can adopt

Consider your clothes buy what you need and give what you no longer use. It’s a waste of time, money and attention to buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t know with money we don’t have. It is prudent to buy clothes for their practical use, simplicity rather than excessive ornamental features.

Reject anything that involves addiction, impulse and excess. Find moderate use for coffee, alcohol and use of technology. If you watch the television to much perhaps fast from watching it try unplugging it into another room and going out in nature for walks. Or if one spends to much time on social media I’ve found it helpful to delete the apps for a period of time to detox, be present and focused on the tasks at hand. If you are addicted to checking the news consider taking the notification features off and only check it at the morning and night. Simplicity is the ability to guide one’s life according to moderation and not being swayed by every impulse.

A third habit is of giving. The scriptures say it’s more blessed to give than receive. If we have masses of clothes, items we don’t use give to a charity.

Fourth refuse to be manipulated by advertisements and staying up to date with every technological gadget. If it ain’t broke don’t replace it! One does not need the new Iphone every year if the one you have is functioning properly. One never notices the slight incremental improvements of features but your bank account notices a dent of thousands of dollars that could be wisely spent elsewhere for a greater good.

Fifth learn to enjoy things without owning them. This abolishes the desire for control and isolated satisfaction. Many of the best things in life are enjoyed free and communal such as going to the beach, a sunset, a local park or using the local library. Admire nature as the art of God a beautiful place we can live appreciate and recollect ‘the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof.

Ultimately, ‘seek first the wisdom of God and his righteousness and all things will be added to you.’ Happiness is a byproduct of a good conversation, than achievement it is accompanied with something else. Let’s recognize job passion status are gifts not ends to be sought after and each have their own proper place.

Guidance

In my undergraduate university Azusa Pacific was a Wesleyan methodist tradition as a part of faith integration informed the students on helpful framework that has stayed with me to this day is called the ‘Wesleyan quadrilateral’. Imagine a square with four sides of scripture, tradition, reason and experience. Each is a source we can consult to find guidance for our lives and find solutions to problems. The main way to find God’s guidance for our lives is the scriptures. The Psalmist says ‘Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path’(Psalm 46:10). The lamp used by the priesthood to get to the temple distributed enough light for the circumference of one’s current standing and to see the step ahead that enabled them to keep moving. This speaks to God’s word and light is our daily bread it is what is needful for the present moment but it is not a crystal ball to see into the future. The scripture tells us to walk by faith not by sight and not to worry about tomorrow for it will take care of itself.

I’ve found a daily reading of scripture in the morning before I start my day to be a helpful practice in bringing a balanced state of mind, strengthen my faith in God’s guidance for the day ahead. One way I do this is read one chapter of proverbs a day for there are 31 chapters it takes only a few minutes and you will often find a pithy statement that resonates with your or illuminates how to act in a situation. Once I saw an argument on Facebook and I thought I’ll tell them how it really is. Then I was reminded of the proverb ‘Don’t enter into an argument that’s not your own its like grabbing a dog by the ear in the opposite’. Then I appropriately abstained saved myself an unnecessary headache. I’ve not always been perfect in keeping this up but I certainly notice the consequences when I don’t read the word and meditate I am usually more easily frustrated and less a sense of focus. The scriptures tell us not what specific job or the person to marry rather the kind of person to look for the type of person we are to be in our work place in relationship to be loving and treat others well.

A second way God guides us is through our reason and common sense. The Scripture says the Word logos’ the governing principle of reality’ became flesh in Jesus Christ. For instance, in the parable of the talents God does not specify what each is to do with the talent only to make a return on the investment trusted to them. One way we will use our reason is to ‘test the spirits 1 John 4:1 says ‘test the spirits to see whether they are from God.’ One way to ask is it loving does it bring life? If someone said ‘I killed this person because God told me to do it’. We know God did not say that for God is the author and giver of life. ‘It is the devil that comes to kill steal and destroy.’ (John 10: 10)

In our experience, one barometer to discern God’s guidance for our life is to see whether the decision brings peace? The scripture says ‘God is not a God of confusion but of peace’(1 Corinthians 14:33).

Tradition is another source for guidance. This the collective wisdom of the past that can help guide us in our present circumstances. It is handed down to us in incidents of history, lessons from our parents and surrounding community. In facing a crisis we might ask how did my ancestors face this problem? One might look to history or ask a group of trusted individuals around them. The scripture states ‘in the multitude of counsel there is wisdom’(Proverbs 15:22). It might be one needs a balanced external objective viewpoint without vested interest if emotions are involved and clouding one’s judgment on a matter. Proverbs tells us ‘make plans by seeking advice’ (Proverbs 20:18). Ultimately, we are solely responsible for our decisions and live with the consequences though additional perspectives can help us see past our blind spots.

Lastly our experience is a source of guidance though it may often show us as John Lennon stated, ‘life’s what happens to you when you are busy making plans.’ Equally. We see through a glass darkly impartially and do not possess omniscient knowledge. The scriptures do not predict our life in every detail rather give us wisdom to fortify our lives build a ship to weather the storms when they most surely come. As Soren Kierkegaard says ‘life can be rationalized backwards but it must always be lived forward towards a future that is unknown.”

I’d like to end with an inspiring true story that is soon to be released in cinemas about the incredible actions of Sir Nicholas Winton.

Sir Nicholas Winton is now over 105 years of age. In December 1938 he was a young stockbroker on holiday in Prague, and he saw the Nazi occupation, and he realised that Jewish families were in jeopardy. And in the space of three weeks thousands of distraught parents were interviewed, and in the space of nine months he arranged for 664 Jewish children, who would otherwise have been killed in the Holocaust, to be transported in – it was called the Kindertransport – to this country. He managed to persuade the Home Secretary here to allow them into Britain. He found families for them who fostered. He forged the permits that got them over the border out of Czechoslovakia, placed them in the families here, and saved them.

When war broke out, he became a fighter pilot, and he absolutely forgot about what he’d done. He didn’t even tell his wife about it. Fifty years later, in 1988, his wife was in the attic and she came across this suitcase. And she opened it, and inside were all these pictures and letters relating to each of the children. And Esther Rantzen heard about it and tracked down some of the children and invited them to the studio, without telling Sir Nicholas Winton.

Nicholas Winton was invited to the studio, totally unaware of the reason for his attendance, and he was placed next to a woman called Vera Gissing, who was one of the children. Until that moment, she and the other children had no idea who it was who had saved them, had rescued them. And this is what happened:

But back here is the list of all the children. This is Vera Diamant, now Vera Gissing. We did find her name on his list! Vera Gissing is with us here tonight. Hello, Vera! And I should tell you that you are actually sitting next to Nicholas Winton!

[Shyly to Sir Nicholas] Hello!

And it was just so wonderful, so terribly, so terribly touching.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE. SIR NICHOLAS WIPES AWAY A TEAR.

[To Sir Nicholas] Thank you! Thank you!

I believe this story is a glimpse of what it will be like to stand in Eternity and God reveal to us all the unseen connections positive impact and ripple effects of the deeds we committed during our time on Earth. One day God will say to you ‘stand up turn around. And you will be amazed at the impact. By implementing the spiritual disciplines of meditation, simplicity and following God’s guidance will be signposts to assist us in reaching our Heavenly destination. Amen.