Prayer, fasting and giving - the loss of spiritual discipline in contemporary Christianity.

William Bramwell, an early Wesleyan preacher from Liverpool wrote to a friend in 1809:

The reason why Methodists in general do not live in this salvation is, there is too much sleep, too much meat and drink, too little fasting and self-denial, too much conversation with the world, too much preaching and hearing, and too little self-examination and prayer.

You know, this description of Methodism in England from 200 years ago is so similar to contemporary Methodism (and I fear contemporary Christianity in many other mainline Christian denominations in South Africa).

I am frequently classified as a 'liberal', sometimes more accurately as a 'liberal evangelical'. I am evangelical - that's for sure! I believe that we have a responsibility to be passionate about the WHOLE 'evangelion' (the WHOLE Gospel). I believe that we need to encounter individuals with the life transforming power of Christ, but that we also need to encounter systems and structures with that same power and love! The whole Gospel for the whole world!

Yet, I find that I am seldom up to that task. I am weak, soft, ill preparted - I lack the necessary urgency and determination to truly and courageously encounter the world with this marvelous Person (Jesus) and His saving message!

I do find, however, that the spiritual disciplines help me to come a little closer to what it means to be a 'better' disciple (if there is such a thing).

In this short video I discuss the notion of salvation by faith (and not by works, or ascetic discipline), yet keeping the need to maintain and develop spiritual disciplines in order to be an effective disciple of Jesus Christ.



What do you think? Do any of you practice regular spiritual disciplines? If so, what do you do and how does it help you?