WE are in the 11th chapter of our little book in Principles of Spiritual Growth, titled Self-Denial. As I said last week, I’m a little hesitant with this chapter, not completely sharing all of what is being said here, as our author is somewhat critical against different aspects of instruction that may and do contribute to our Christian walk. However, there are things here that warrant close consideration, prayerful, and critical thought. Maybe it is just a matter of defining terms and understanding the context. Clarity is needed for effective discernment.
ONE topic heading below that he uses that I think might have been rendered and subsequently viewed differently is “GROWTH;” although I’m not sure what different word I may have used. There is a valid place for “growth,” however not as it may be particularly defined here. After all, his whole premise in his book is based on the principles of growth, – spiritual growth.
“That which doesn’t grow, dies.” – anon
THE question is not so much growth, but what kind of growth. As I look out into my backyard, I see some welcomed spring growth in new buds and fresh green, and some unwelcome and very health weeds that need to be extracted before they can produced more life sucking damage to the desirable things we want to nurture and grow.
I THINK also that he would have been better served in a different choice of words regarding “TRAINING.” Whereas I understand his complaint against mere “training,” it is in the narrow focus of the “natural man” that he is speaking about. Training hearts and teaching minds is to be found in Christian discipleship that brings every thought captive to Christ, a necessity in the Christian Life which has been his focus all along in “training” others in Principles of Spiritual Growth.
SO with that caveat, let us continue to see what can be learned as good Berean’s (Act 17:11), considering these things with prayerful, teachable and discerning hearts; learning what we may in our quest for Christ at the center of all our thoughts, words, and actions, our very heart and being.
With highest regards in Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa. 30:15; Jas. 1:2
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Chapter 11—Self-Denial – Part 2
Training
Here is a favorite that has been tried and found wanting down through the ages. Good Christian training and culture in the right homes, churches and schools have been relied on to subdue the old nature and bring it into line.
Revivalism
Another failure has been the practice of holding special meetings once or twice a year. This involves outside leadership (a stranger to the individual problems) and the devastating revival routine (confession, new resolutions, etc.), in the hope that something will change—but it rarely does, and then not for long.
Growth
So many dear Christians just keep plodding (or racing) through the deadening routine of their multitudinous church activities and duties, expecting that in time self will change for the better as they grow. But self never changes into anything but more of the same! “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (John 3:6). “Sometimes this self is entirely bad, as when it is angry, spiteful, unkind, unjust, untruthful, unloving, catty. In other cases a good exterior conceals an evil heart, as when we are proud of our humility, conceited about our Christian service, boastful of our orthodoxy. And an over forwardness and obvious conceit at the sound of one’s own voice spoils many a prayer meeting.”
Experiences
Today one of the prevalent attempts for something better is to go in for “the baptism of the Spirit,” speaking in tongues, and so on. This is by far the most dangerous and pathetic trap of all, as it is simply self, neurotically and religiously rampant. “Calvary precedes Pentecost. Death with Christ precedes the fulness of the Spirit. Power! Yes, God’s children need power, but God does not give power to the old creation, nor to the uncrucified soul. Satan will give power to the ‘old Adam,’ but not God.”
Which of us does not know something of the failure of our ways, well intentioned as they may be? What most do not know is that this very failure is the path to learning, and entering into, God’s way. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8, 9). …to be continued
