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September 2016 Spiritual Development

I remember in elementary school when I was learning my multiplication tables getting extremely frustrated at one point and asking my teacher why I wasn’t allowed to use a calculator to figure out the answers.  That seemed like such a common sense solution to me at the time.  I thought, “why wouldn’t I use a device that would instantly do the hard work for me?”  Her response was, “You won’t always have a calculator with you wherever you go.”  It made sense at the time, but guess what?  I have a calculator on my cell phone that goes with me everywhere.  So I guess my teacher was wrong.  Or am I missing the point?  My teacher knew that something as foundational as multiplication tables needed to be memorized and couldn’t be substituted by simply depending on a machine calculator.  I’m thankful for this simple, yet profound lesson she taught me.

The problem is that many of us use this same logic for our spiritual lives as well.  What need is there to memorize Scripture if I can simply access it on my phone?  Why would I wrestle with the difficulties of Scripture when I can simply rely on the opinions of others who have done it already?  The reason is because this is how we mature in faith. Relying on a “spiritual calculator” or anything other than your own personal time in Scripture will lead to spiritual stagnation.  We need to be investing in ourselves spiritually and not merely relying on sources outside of ourselves as the primary means of our spiritual knowledge.  In an age of Wikipedia and Google with every bit of information in the world at our fingertips the temptation to substitute these resources for the hard work of
learning and applying knowledge is fiercely present.  

I’ve already mentioned one of the primary ways that this shows up in our context - the lack of Scripture memorization.  We have had an English translation of the Bible for over 400 years.  There are hundreds of translations in English.  Within the last ten years we have seen the rise of the smartphone and tablet.  We can take the Bible with us in our pocket or purse wherever we go.  But for all the unlimited access, do we have much to show from it?  Have we hidden God’s Word in our hearts?  Are we well-equipped with the truth of the Bible?  Or do we treat it like a spiritual calculator?

We may be able to use technology (physical and digital) as a resource, but it can never replace the need for us to learn by application.  True spiritual maturity does not happen without the application of Scripture to one’s life.  One does not grow spiritually mature by simply having more and more access to the truth.  Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:7 to “train yourself for godliness.”  This training requires spiritual sweat.  The content of the Bible is what is able to “train you in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).  Has anyone ever become physically fit by only watching someone else work out?  Has a Christian ever become spiritually mature by only watching someone else work out their faith?  The answer is no on both accounts.  

Suggested Resources

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Don Whitney

Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes

Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes

Spiritual Development August 2016

An unfortunate way of thinking exists that says something newer should be preferred to something older. Now this logic does make sense in some regards. Do you really want to go back to the days when dial-up internet was the only option? Also, I don’t know about you, but I am thankful that our primary means of transportation no longer has to be hitched to a post. Aside from these and other technological exceptions, applying this preference for the new to other things can rob you of the riches of days gone by. As I think of how this mindset has affected the church in our culture, I can’t help but immediately think of music within the church. There is a danger within our contemporary, Christian culture of ignoring and glossing over hymns of the faith that have been around for centuries just because of their age. To some, they can seem antiquated and irrelevant to our current time. Let me say that I am glad that our church does not do this. I’m glad that we are a church that cherishes older hymns, as well as newer worship songs.

Some of my favorite songs are hymns that are hundreds of years old. But I also have songs that mean much to me that are less than a year old. My point behind this article is to point out that the age of a song should not be the determining factor of whether or not it should be used. Instead, the content of the song should determine this. Is it saturated in Scripture? Does it communicate orthodox theology? Is it a pleasure to sing? If not, throw it out.

Music is a primary tool that we use in order to worship God corporately as a church and personally throughout our day. One practice that I sometimes incorporate into my time with God, and one that I would commend to you as well, is that I will open a hymnal and reflect and meditate on the words of songs and hymns that are saturated with gospel truth. This can be a great supplement to daily quiet time and a way of carrying the truth of Scripture with you in the form of a song wherever you go.

One of my favorite hymns is “How Firm a Foundation”. This song emphasizes the strength and stability of God and the absolute trustworthiness of his character. It is based off of Isaiah 43:1-5 and is supplemented by other verses like 1 Cor. 3:11, Isaiah 41:10, Romans 8:35-39, Hebrews 13:5, and Deuteronomy 31:6. The first two verses read:

How firm a foundation you saints of the Lord,

is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!

What more can he say than to you he has said,

to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

"Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,

for I am your God, and will still give you aid;

I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to

stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.”

Do you need assurance of faith? Do you feel alone and weak? Meditate on the truth of this song and sing it in worship to God. Feeling tempted to despair? Are you lacking hope? Be reminded of the character of God and praise him for his ability to sustain you and raise you up in Jesus’ victory. Songs should not become a substitute for the Scriptures themselves, but they are a tool to remind you of Truth through music.

If you want to enhance your worship of God at our Sunday morning gatherings, I would suggest familiarizing yourself with the songs that we sing from week to week. Search the Scriptures throughout the week to learn what passage a certain song is based
upon. This will increase your participation and appreciation of worshiping God through music. Music is a blessing and a gift from God. Let us use it to make much of God and remind ourselves of the firm foundation that we have in his excellent Word – Jesus Christ.

Suggested Resources

Hymns of Grace, The Master’s Seminary Press, 2015

www.hymnary.org

Speaking the Truth in Love,

 Nick Scott