Are Spiritual Disciplines Biblical? #2 Book Review: Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, and Don Whitney
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- Опубліковано 17 жов 2024
- This is part two in our series, "Are spiritual disciplines biblical?" Jon Moffitt will be doing a quick book review of the following books:
Richard Foster: Celebration of Discipline
Dallas Willard: The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives
Don Whitney: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
David Mathis: Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines
We will compare these books to the traditional views found in the reformed faith (see our first video as a reference).
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#spiritualdisciplines #reformedtheology #sanctification
I find that a lot of people who seeks a mystical experience with God and start looking into mysticism tend to fall in that trap. There is some interesting concept in terms of the personal relational experience that can be gain from it, but you have to wade through a lot of things like the disciplines. I wish more protestants would explored the subject. I recently read a book called "embracing contemplation" that looks at the contemplative traditions of the past through a biblical, protestant view. A lot of it was helpful, well-balanced and very interesting.
Hello Jon, Dallas Willard says very clearly that GRACE is opposed to MERIT but not to EFFORT. Jesus led a disciplined life. He memorised whole passages and verses. He got up early to be alone with His Father, pray and fast; went to the synagogue as was His habit. However, He was unique in that He never ever practiced these disciplines disconnected from His Father and always by the Holy Spirit. He is inviting us to follow His example. Without a disciplined life He would have never been able to stay obedient to HIs Father and accomplish HIs mission of casting out demons, healing the sick, confronting the Pharisees, teaching the crowds, preaching the good news of the Kingdom, training the disciples, and, going to Jerusalem to face death on the cross for your sins and mine. Fellowship with God doesn't exclude disciplines. And we all understand that the thief on the cross was saved by grace without ever practising spiritual disciplines but that doesn't rule out their importance for us. I don't think you are being fair in your criticism of Dallas Willards work. You're actually running the risk of misrepresenting his teaching, which is a serious matter.
@nw9497 Responding to your comment "Without a disciplined life He would have never been able to stay obedient to HIs Father and accomplish HIs mission of casting out demons, healing the sick, confronting the Pharisees, teaching the crowds, preaching the good news of the Kingdom, training the disciples, and, going to Jerusalem to face death on the cross for your sins and mine."
Jesus was able to do the things you mentioned because he was GOD in the flesh, not because he practiced "spiritual disciplines." Because Jesus died for us and rose again, we are now free in Christ to love and serve our neighbor. This should be the focus. Luther said, "God doesn't need our good works, our neighbor does!"
@@johngoddard3069 Thanks for pointing that out, John, but He was also fully human. And as such, He practiced disciplines that helped Him accomplish HIs mission, showing us in turn how to live as human beings that is "in the flesh".
I think that the spiritual disciplines must be defined by things the Bible actually talks about. And they should be done with the motive of obedience out of gratitude instead of trying to earn. Because they are used in an unhealthy legalistic way doesn't make them unhealthy or unbiblical....But some great thoughts about how they should be used coorporately, not just individually. Fellowship is in my opinion that includes all the other biblical spiritual disciplines.
Jesus constantly went and prayed in solitude. Meditation is constantly encouraged in the psalms. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Jesus studied constantly. Jesus lived in simplicity. We have utter clarity on all the spiritual disciplines throughout the Old and New Testaments. The grace of our Lord moves us and allows us to grow in grace, in relationship, through the formation of the inward life. Spiritual formation is very important, and, personally, being in the middle of studying the spiritual disciplines, reading Richard Foster and Dallas Williard, also listening to their lectures, I do not see how any of it is unbiblical. I would like to encourage anyone reading this to take a deep dive study through the scriptures on the spiritual disciplines. Don't allow your own preconceived notions outweigh the Holy Word of God.
This is a terrific and biblical comment.
The purpose of the meditation, stillness, solitude, etc is not to fill the mind but to empty it. There is a difference. Jesus never spent time alone to empty his mind. Countless Bible verses show we are to engage our minds and have our right minds when praying and meditating. Hope this helps. 1 cor 15 and 1 Peter 7.
@@ladymohan1370 if anyone is teaching you to empty your mind, then that would be wrong. I haven't seen any of these authors teach that at all.
The Bible never says we are sanctified by these acts. It does say that Jesus alone is the author and finisher of our faith.
Meditation on scripture by David meant that he read and dwelled on scripture. Not trying to find one word and focus on it and repeat it (literally how meditation is taught by Comer).
i'm a little shocked that you find such issues with solitude. Multiple times, Jesus "went to a quiet place to pray." That is solitude, and although not an explicit command, why would a Christian say it's not biblical and should not be practiced?
He’a having a problem seeing the truths expressed by these two men because some of this is found in Catholic writings. Smh
@@michaelbrickley2443 that was my thought as well. The Catholic church has some wonky theology, and some of it plainly false teaching, but there cannot be any doubt that many Catholics are born-again Christians. Many of the early church fathers (like the Desert Fathers) would be considered Catholic, yet they are a major influence on the Church today.
I hope Ignatious didn’t use a fork when he ate. If he did it would be wrong for us to use one.
Solitude as a means of “communing with the divine” to reach “Christ likeness” is a road to works. God is already near through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by the death and resurrection of Christ. Willard’s view of the crucifixion is not the view of final payment for sin, but to “get the attention of men”. Literally said that. Not a view supported by scripture.
What are the spiritual disciplines? If you ask that question to google it will give you all kinds of answers, including links to these books/authors. But if you search the scriptures to try to answer the question “How should I order my life to grow in Christ and what activities should I undertake to grow in faith?” there will be plenty of answers. “When you pray…” “When you fast…” “Study to show yourself approved…” “Do not forsake the gathering together…”. In my experience teaching “spiritual disciplines” in a way to give practical advice to follow these commands which are scriptural is kind of like going to a gym and a trainer who has experience in these ways and demonstrates them in their life. In other words - discipleship.
Hi
What do you think of Disciplines of a Godly Man by R Kent Hughes?
That book has influenced many churches.
Your video has made me see that I don't need to put pressure on myself to read X amount of chapters , pray x amount of minutes etc
Has some good, but can be very pietistic and emphasizes personal growth instead of ordinary means of grace
By all means, do not study to show yourselves approved. If you did you may find out that this guy is a false teacher.
@@ransche1 Personal bible reading is not commanded in the scriptures? The scripture you refer too was given to Timothy who was under the tutelage of Paul as an evangelist. Paul as a former Pharisee had scrolls of the Old Testament for Timothy to study. Timothy as a young man would have learned about the faith from his mom and grandma and that would have been orally, the same way they were taught.
Reading the Bible was impossible for the overwhelming majority of believers from Able until the mid 1700’s. Up to that point in history only the temple, tabernacle, church or the very rich had copies of the scriptures. It was simply unaffordable. In the early 1600’s it took a whole year’s wages to purchase one bible. In the late 1800’s, 90% of the women in England were illiterate. So, if you could afford one, most couldn’t read anyway. If personal bible reading is required by the scriptures for spiritual growth then the overwhelming majority of true believers could not have grown in grace.
How did they receive the word? Preaching... in an assembly of believers by a pastor, via a trained Timothy. Faith comes by hearing...
❤ Great job Theocast!
I googled Richard Foster. He is a Quaker. There is a very wide variety of beliefs within the Quaker faith but many Quakers would not meet the basic understanding of the gospel- that Jesus is God’s Son and the only way to be saved. Now, IDK 🤷🏼♀️ what this Foster guy believes but I wouldn’t let my name be associated with a religious group such as that.
Have you ever read Elisabeth Elliot's book 'Discipline: the glad surrender'? Is it similar to these books?
No, he can’t say that he has. Thanks for asking!
I have, and no. Elizabeth Elliott's book is not in line with foster or Willards ideas at all.
Thank you for your work on this, brother. My associate pastor just announced that he is starting a men's study group on this material. I was a little worried, but now I am prepared.
Sometimes feel the spiritual disciplines ruined my life, and sometimes it has helped? Not sure what is true
This is silly. I'm sure Moffitt goes to a Sunday church service weekly. He probably goes in, sings some praise songs (written by people post-canon), sits and hears a sermon (with interpretation and illustrations added onto scripture), and leaves. Those religious acts are not explicitly biblical.
I think what those hesitant about his writings are afraid of is an influence of Gnosticism in them.
While you're at it, add John Mark Comer to the list. In one of his recent interviews, John Mark Comer highly recommends Richard Foster's writing, and has been deeply aligning his recent teaching around the spiritual disciplines (Live No Lies).
Yes!!! He is bringing this in the younger generation. Seeing it all over my church.
Jesus went into moments of meditation and solitude a lot.
Where is meditation? It’s not there. Solitudes to pray to the father. He was also God.
Do we see this prescribed for the apostles? Prayer yes. Meditation no.
@@M2mneverend It is important to note that the specific details and practices of Jesus’ personal prayer and solitary experiences are not explicitly described in great detail in the biblical accounts. Therefore, while it is evident that Jesus sought solitude for prayer and reflection, the precise nature and techniques of his spiritual practices remain somewhat open to interpretation.
Of course this type of message is against silence and reflective prayer because podcasts are more important…we need more opions of others than entering into the presence of our Lord through scripture and prayer.
@@omarwalker3056you can meditate on Scripture (in a biblical way - not an Eastern way). To meditate in a biblical way simply means to reflect deeply on.
Dallas Willard also greatly influenced John Ortberg, who wrote Soul Keeping and founded the ECO. Never trusted any of Willard's writing.
Excellent
Funny how one of the disciplines in Whitney's book is simplicity. Seems to me there's nothing "simple" about this. What a bondage this can be.
I have no idea about why arent there people exposing Richard Foster as a false teacher ?
Theocast, be cautious of downplaying the importance of what the bible describes as being essential (like newborn milk essential!) for Christians such as reading the Word and praying fervently. I’ve seen the fruit of this teaching of yours in my life through people I know and it does not lead to a greater love of God and His word and a greater hatred towards sin and the flesh.
Prayer as a grace given by God is biblical. Personal bible reading is not. Show me the command?
Reading the Bible was impossible for the overwhelming majority of believers from Abel until the mid 1700’s. Only the temple, tabernacle, church or the very rich had copies of the Bible until then. It was simply unaffordable. In the early 1600’s it took a whole year’s wages to purchase one. In the late 1800’s, 90% of the women in England were illiterate. So if you could afford one most couldn’t read. If personal bible reading is required by the scriptures for spiritual growth then the overwhelming majority could not have grown in grace. How did they hear the word? Preaching... in an assembly of believers by a pastor is a means of grace given by God.
@ I want to ask a question first, did you read my whole post? If you did it might have saved you time. I know Ps 119 well. I totally understand the necessity of the word. Ps 119 was written by David who was the king and the king was required by the law to have a copy of the law, the first five Books of Moses, in his house, Deut 17:18-20. He was commanded to read it... know it... apply it... and rule by it. The only other copies of the law would have been kept in the tabernacle or possibly in the possession of the Levitical priests. The average Israelite would not have had a copy of the law in their possession. They would have learned key verses through oral tradition and not from the family bible. Read my whole post and again I challenge you to find the command to read the word. A command that could not have possibly been kept by believers until the last few hundred years. Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. Rom 10:17
This is an awful (and extremely lazy) review of these authors and the practices mentioned. Jesus was a rabbi who told His disciples to follow Him. They did and we should too.
Such a bad take, wow.