More Than Keeping On - Growing Towards Fullness
Several years ago I heard a speaker speak of the difference in her life when she became more than a “Believer” and became a “DISCIPLE.” She said she went from being a Christian to becoming a CHRISTIAN. She went from being “saved” to learning to develop into the “fullness of how God made her to be.” She also happened to be the wife of a Bishop when this happened and she said it changed her life completely!
Discipleship, at any age, is all about growth, about becoming, about developing in a Godly way. It is about being apprenticed, increasing in the knowledge and love of God while helping others do the same. It is about teaching and learning, striving and encouraging, building and expanding our capacity and capabilities. Eugene Peterson, in his classic work on the subject, calls it “a long obedience in the same direction.”
All of this requires self-awareness, determination, perseverance, hard work, and some assistance from Christian community and God’s Holy Spirit. It is not coincidence that Discipline and Disciple come from the same root word. David Watson, the British teacher and evangelist, said that, “Jesus repeatedly found that he had to correct his disciples as they fell into two equal and opposite temptations which crippled the spirit of service in their lives. The first temptation was ambition (Matthew 20:20-28). The second temptation was self-pity (Luke 18:18-30).” If Jesus’ disciples struggled with these and similar distractions, even when he was with them, how can we ever hope to get it right?
In some ways, for many of us this is what we have been doing for the past ten weeks. We have been going through a refresher course on Christian basics (Alpha). We have been in training. We have been reminding ourselves what we believe this life (and the next) is all about. At the same time we have been doing all this together with others who are there to help us and who we can help. This is what those several years with Jesus for the disciples was all about. They were in training.
At All Saints in the Algarve, we have a number of advantages that the ordinary church in other places probably does not have. We have experience. We have time. We have a degree of control over our lives and movements. We have good friendships, many of which have grown over years of shared expatriate life. We are not bound by all of the same expectations and patterns of life by which others in our home countries may be constrained. We do not have the limitations and upkeep of buildings nor the fixed patterns of generations or even centuries. As a Church we know what we want and can be flexible in our development.
One of the best ways to stay spiritually fit and grow in our knowledge and understanding of God is to share time with others exploring (the bible - spiritual disciplines - spiritual gifts - praying - listening, friendship and experiences) - all things for which there is not time or opportunity on Sunday. There are currently two or three small groups in formation at All Saints. These cross congregational, age, and geographical boundaries. More details will be coming out this month. These are places where the important questions of life can be discussed and we can support each other. There will also be a new Alpha experience starting the week of the 27th of September. If you have not been on one this might be the perfect refresher course or way into a deeper life with God.
To use a sporting metaphor, I see this time of pandemic like the yellow flag on a Formula One Race. This is a chance to take advantage of the slower pace and limitations. A time to refine and tune your faith and contribution to God’s Kingdom in the pits; to come out spiritually reinvigorated and with a clearer vision of the rest of your life.
Someone recently sent me the following fable entitled “Two Wolves:”
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.
One is Evil. - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'
The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'
Can I encourage you to reflect on where you are in your spiritual journey. Unfortunately it looks as though Covid (and its restrictions) are not going to go away in the next several months. Perhaps this time before Christmas would be a perfect time to try something new. Consider and to sign up to do the new Alpha or to look at joining one of the new small groups. All physically safe and interesting but informative and fun. It may never be a better time.