January 28, 2009

• Discipline, the Glad Surrender

  I’ve (Kirsten) been reading this book by Elisabeth Elliot, and have been challenged by the many nuggets of wisdom I’m finding.

  “Where there is no “moral gravity”- that is, no force that draws us to the center- there is spiritual weightlessness.  We float on feelings that will carry us where we never meant to go: we bubble with emotional experiences that we often take for spiritual ones; and we are puffed up with pride.  Instead of seriousness, there is foolishness.  Instead of gravity, flippancy.  Sentimentality takes the place of theology.  Our reference point, until we answer God’s call, is merely ourselves.  We cannot possibly tell which end is up.  Paul calls them fools who “…measure themselves by themselves, to find in themselves their own standard of comparison!”

  “Christian discipline means placing oneself under orders.  It is no mere business of self-improvement.”

  “The disciple is not on his own, left to seek self-actualization, which is a new word for old-fashioned selfishness.  He is not “doing his thing” to find his own life or liberty or happiness.  He gives himself to a Master and in so doing leaves self behind.”

  “Salvation is a gift, purely a gift, forever a gift.  It is grace and nothing else that obtains it for us.  Discipline is not my claim on Christ, but the evidence of His claim on me.  I do not “make” Him Lord, I acknowledge Him Lord.  “

  “There is some thing that pretends to be Christianity which is mostly a mood.  The measure of its faith is merely the measure of its feeling.”

  • 9:50 am
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