Back on my post about takeaways from the churchplanters.com conference I was asked to write more about why focusing on discipline isn’t a works bases philosophy. So here is my attempt to explain what God has been doing in my heart in regard to discipline.

I should first mention that Shawn Lovejoy (the speaker I was originally writing about) commented on the post to clarify his statements, and he did a great job saying “I went to great lengths to say that self discipline is NOT self help. It’s self control, which is a fruit of the Spirit. So self-control being under God’s control…It IS a very spiritual relational exercise.”

His statement is really the launching point to this issue.

God has been convicting me for a while about my lack of self control. I have this tendency; if there is candy to be eaten, I eat it, if there is an excuse to stay in bed a little longer, I use it, if there is a rationalization as to why I can’t work out that day, I sit on my butt. That type of living doesn’t honor God. It makes my stomach, my bed, and my sofa idols that control me. Its not how Jesus lived, or any of His disciples as far as I can tell.

So, when Shawn Lovejoy started talking about how it takes discipline to be a healthy leader and to lead a healthy church, that resonated with my spirit. I don’t think that this means that by doing something we become more spiritual or closer to Jesus, there are millions of disciplined people that don’t care at all about Jesus. But, I am convinced that discipline paves the way for development.

If I am disciplined in my pursuit of Jesus that develops a stronger relationship with Him, just like if I am disciplined in pursuing and dating my wife it develops a stronger relationship with her. Its not the discipline that establishes the relationship, but the discipline helps pave the way to deeper relationship.

Shawn’s comments also helped me to realize that being self-controlled is one of the fruits of the Spirit, a fruit that has not been abundant in me. So, as I develop this fruit the practice gives God’s Spirit further control and authority over my life.

And so, I now realize that when I am disciplined in my physical life and work out that is worship to God. When I am disciplined in my spiritual life and seek after Jesus that is worship to God. When I am disciplined in my emotional life and pour into my family that is worship to God. And, when I am disciplined in building my relationships with others that is worship to God.

Discipline can and should be worship to God. This is why the spiritual disciplines (that the Church widely doesn’t practice) are so essential to our spiritual development and our development as a Church.