I found this quote by D.A. Carson particularly helpful this morning...interestingly enough during my "devotional" time. He says,
How self-deceived we humans are. When it comes to matters religious. So many things that start off as incentives to repentance and godliness develop into vicious idols. What starts as an aid to holiness ends up as the triple trap of legalism, self-righteousness, and superstition.
He goes on to say regarding our forms of religious observance or spiritual discipline,
One may with fine purpose and good reason start journaling as a discipline that breeds honesty and self-examination, but it can easily slide into the triple trap: in your mind you so establish journaling as the clearest evidence of personal growth and loyalty to Christ that you look down your nose at those who do not commit themselves to the same discipline, and pat yourself on the back every day that you maintain the practice (legalism); you begin to think that only the most mature saints keep spiritual journals, so you qualify--and you know quite a few who do not (self-righteousness); you begin to think that there is something in the act itself, or in the paper, or in the writing, that is a necessary means of grace, a special channel of divine pleasure or truth (superstition). That is the time to throw away your journal.
I found this a good reminder. I think I can particularly fall into the trap of "superstition"--did I have my devotional time at the same time, doing the same things, for the same length of time, etc. When I don't, do I feel like something is missing because I didn't have that communion with God or was it simply that I broke a pattern...i.e. athletes who always have the same pre-game ritual.
That makes no sense. Who would honestly believe they are better than someone else because they journal? I could never imagine someone thinking that... I just feel like thats a really extreme and rare situation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ash. I can't imagine thinking that. Journaling is almost necessary for me to organize/make sense of all the disorganized thoughts bouncing around in my head. Also, regarding "regulating" devotional time, if I don't create that routine, I never keep at it. Ideally, the routine becomes so routine (and cherished) that I eventually don't need a fixed time/method. I will hunger for it and feel empty for not doing it . . . like when you get in the zone working out. You start to feel the need of it when it's become a regular/consistent part of your life. But to start off and to get to that point, disciplined/controlled/forced/regulated routine is a must for me. Most importantly though, I could not imagine "look(ing) down your nose at those who do not commit themselves to the same discipline. . ."
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