Discipline without direction is drudgery

This is the opening sentence in Don Whitney's Spiritual Disciplines For The Christian Life. This phrase has got to be one of my most favorite because is it so applicable. So many times we give up a discipline because we lack direction or we give up a direction because we lack discipline. Rarely do we see the two stride together.

Watching the Olympics puts me in awe of what the human body and mind can do when it works together. The mind knows what it wants and the body is conditioned to achieve no matter the cost. The men's swimming relay the other night was won with the final American in the home stretch behind the French who thought to himself that this may be his last Olympic so it's either now or never - the Americans won. These athletes from all countries did not start with boarding the plane, they started over 10 years ago preparing. When the time came it came regardless of injury, finances, training schedule, or personal life.

Life comes at the same pace and with the same apparent ignorance of our schedule or preparation. God knows this and has a way for us to be prepared if only we would set our direction on Him. That is where the necessity of the spiritual disciplines come from. That is why they are crucial to instill daily into our lives.

Many times our mind wants to know, worship, follow God. Many times we are held back because our body wants to stay up late, enjoy more sleep, be with friends, make money, and countless other little distractions. Conversely there are times that we make the physical sacrifice and go to church, Challenge, Bible study, or other activities but our mind is elsewhere. Our mind wants more sleep, be with friends, make money, and many other little distractions. The goal should be to merge the two where the mind and body have a similar fixed point that it desires to achieve.

A challenge from one of the New Testament authors, Paul, puts it this way, "I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it. Do you not know that all runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:23-27 NET Bible)

Cavities and Gingivitis

Like many people, going to the dentist is neither here nor there. It is not that I do not like the dentist but the question is why should I go every six months to hear the same thing over and over. "Your teeth look good.", "How often do you floss?", "How much coffee do you drink?", or the dreaded "You should look into braces."

After we moved to Pueblo, though Terra had dental insurance, I was without. I brush regularly, floss after a meal that requires it, drink coffee (hot coffee kills bacteria between teeth), and use mouth wash if I want a kiss from my wife. All this to say that nothing has changed for years except the additional use of mouth wash.

Last month Terra made me an appointment for the dentist since I finally got dental insurance and it has been over three years since my last appointment. When I got in the chair it was the same questions: floss, brush too hard, coffee, etc. Then things started to go a little different from previous times. The lady said that I have gingivitis and three cavities. How can you do the same thing everyday and have stuff like this happen?

The more that one avoids the dentist the more problems one will have in their mouth. The dentist can see things that we cannot. They know what to look for, how to reverse the problem, and how to educate you to keep your teeth for life.

The same principles can apply spiritually. When was the last time you went to church? I am part of that crowd that questions the church from time to time. You probably have heard all the stories from the Bible already and can fill out the pastor's outline before he can. Podcast allows you to hear from your favorites (Mars Hill's Mark Driscoll is one of my favorites- www.marshillchurch.org). You can put in a worship CD, listen to Driscoll, and check off your box for the week. This is not the reason for church any more than going to the dentist is just to hear the same old story.

Church is where a community of people who care about you personally should be allowed close enough access to look into parts of your life that you cannot see. They give encouragement, advice, and direction if necessary. It is not a weird fascination to mess with other people that draw most of us to the ministry but we know that sin ignored is worse than a cavity ignored. What once was a sensitive spot can become a breeding ground for disease which will affect beyond your teeth.

The next time you think you can skip church remember what happens when you skip a dentist appointment. You may be okay a time or two but the more distance between trips the greater the problems will be. Between appointments do not forget the daily upkeep of brushing and flossing spiritually with reading the Bible and prayer. Do this and you will get more than a free toothbrush.