The life of discipleship: Disciplines of abstinence and engagement

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Psalm 139:23; Psalm 39:4,9; John 4:31–34

Search me, God, and know my heart.

Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is . . . I was silent; I would not open my mouth. . . .

Jesus’ disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

There are two things in the life of discipleship that must happen together for spiritual growth. One is what God does, and the other is what we do. What God does is up to God, working in us through the Holy Spirit. We cannot predict or control what the Holy Spirit will do. Jesus said that to Nicodemus (John 3:8).

Our part is a bit like opening curtains on a bright sunny day. We can’t make the sun shine, but we can open the curtains to receive its warmth. In the same way, we can’t make God act, but we can open our lives to receive his action.

So that is what we do. We make a space for God to act. That is the purpose of spiritual exercises or disciplines; they develop habits that make an opening in our lives so God can do what God wants to do.

Our part in discipleship focuses on what we do with our body. Our body is really the only part of our being over which we exercise complete control. We generally cannot control what we think, but we can control our bodily words and actions.

The apostle Paul recognized this. He frequently talked about the importance of using our bodies to glorify God. One example comes from 1 Corinthians 9:24–27. Paul talks about disciplining the body as an athlete does, comparing that to the spiritual life: “Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” He goes on to say, “I [make my body] my slave. . . .”

The life of discipleship, then, focuses on my body. In my body, I develop habits that create a space for God to do, through his Spirit, what he wants to do in me.

There are generally two kinds of spiritual disciplines. Disciplines of abstinence are habits we develop to take the place of bad habits that keep us from growing spiritually. Disciplines of engagement are habits we begin that involve us in activities shown to lead to spiritual growth. All of these habits, or disciplines, are things Jesus did and his followers have practiced as well.

I have already written (Herald, Apr. 7) about the most important discipline of abstinence: the discipline of solitude. Solitude is the habit of being alone with God, and is intended to replace the destructive habit of busyness. Busyness keeps us from listening to God, but solitude breaks that habit.

There are at least a half dozen other disciplines of abstinence. I’ll highlight two.

Silence

The first is silence. In this discipline, we train ourselves to close off our lives from sound for a period of time; we take a break from noise, music, words. Silence breaks the habit of talking.

Many of us talk all the time: at work, with our friends and family, on the phone. Through e-mail, we even talk constantly on the internet.

Now talking is not a bad thing, but it can become a bad habit. We may never listen to other people or, more importantly, to God. Silence allows God to speak, if he wants to. In silence, God shows us our true selves. We usually want to avoid facing who we really are, so we keep talking to ward off reflection.

But only as we know who we are can God shape us as he wishes. The psalmist wrote, “Search me, God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23). In another place, he asked, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days.” After this request, he went on, “I was silent; I would not open my mouth” (Psalm 39:4, 9). The discipline of silence allows a life-transforming concentration upon God.

Fasting

The other discipline of abstinence I want to mention is the discipline of fasting. To fast is to abstain in some significant way from something in which we would normally indulge. Usually this is food and drink, but it can include the telephone, television, e-mail, etc. Fasting breaks the habit of always satisfying our own needs; it makes us depend on God to satisfy them for us.

In John 4, Jesus’ disciples had gone away to buy food while Jesus waited by a well. When the disciples returned, they were amazed that Jesus was not hungry. “I have food to eat that you know nothing about,” Jesus said to them. He went on, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:32, 34). Fasting lets God feed us.

Study

The disciplines of engagement help us develop new habits that will lead to spiritual growth. First among these disciplines is the habit of study. In study, we begin to engage our minds with God, primarily through his Word, though we can also experience God in nature and in the writings, poetry, art, or music of other people.

To study is to read the Scriptures slowly and thoughtfully and to meditate on what comes before us. Many people follow a Bible reading plan, often keeping a journal of their insights.

The best way to study the Bible is to read your selected passage three or four times, slowly, and often aloud. As you read, underline or note words, verses, or phrases that speak into your life. Then, in your journal, indicate what you think God wants to do in your life through that Word. As you develop this habit, you will find that when you skip a day, you have missed something important.

Worship

Another discipline of engagement is worship. Worship and study must go together. Study that doesn’t lead to worship becomes dull and routine, and worship that isn’t based on study is empty and ritualistic. In worship, we express the greatness, beauty, and goodness of God. We tell God how very good he is. This is a discipline because we have to make time for it, practicing until it becomes natural.

Service

There is also the discipline of service. We develop the habit of serving others when we use our possessions and our strength for the good of others and to cooperate with what God is doing in the world. The purpose of this habit is to free us from being “people pleasers” and to live for God alone.

These brief sketches of spiritual habits are designed to get you started. One note of warning: don’t ever try to learn too many new habits at once. Work on one or two at a time, and save the others for later. After all, discipleship isn’t finished in a day.

And don’t forget: these habits open the curtain. As we do, God’s sun (Son) will shine in.

Next issue: the discipline of prayer

For reflection

• When I review the past few days, what level of “talking” has there been? Could I risk some silence?
• Has God ever spoken a word to me in silence?
• How have I experienced God’s feeding when I paused from satisfying my needs? When I opened a space through study, worship, service?

Jim Holm is president of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Cal.