Celebration of Discipline

​Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth is a classic spiritual formation book first written back in 1978 by Richard J. Foster (no relation). He covers a lot of territory about what Christian practice is, different disciplines, and how we can use them in our lives every day. Foster has updated a “40th Anniversary” edition published 5 years ago almost to the day. 
 
It’s awesome!
 
The book’s not so much about right practice or “orthopraxy” as it is a manual for exploration into deeper and deliberate Christian life practice. It’s not so much about what’s “right” but about what’s good. It gives us some suggestions about ways to dig deeper into our faith to be more deliberate about self-training. Practice.
 
Here are the topics: 
Inward Disciplines--Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study
Outward Disciplines--Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service
Corporate Disciplines--Confession, Worship, Guidance, Celebration
 
Why don’t we use this book as a framework for the journey in Lent this year? 
 
The preaching in Lent will be a series focused on the Celebration of Discipline exploring one or two of them each week as we walk though Lent together. 
 
Here’s an interesting personal note about the updated version of the book. Early in 2015, I read the book again and discover something that just jumps off the page at me. At the time, marriage equality had just become a reality for the country and for the church. 
 
So, I’m reading the book in the section about prayer, and this hits me in the face: 
We can pray for sexual deviations with genuine assurance that a real and lasting change can occur. Sex is like a river—it is a good and wonderful blessing when keep within its proper channel. A river that overflows its banks is a dangerous thing, and so are perceived sexual drives. What are the God-created banks for sex? One man with one woman in marriage for life. When praying for person with sexual problems, it is a joy to picture a river that has overflowed its banks and invite the Lord to bring it back into its natural channel. 
 
Ouch! Not very inclusive. So, I write him about it.
 
I connect to Richard Foster via his assistant through email asking that if he were to do a 40th Anniversary update, would he consider revising this given our cultural shift? 
 
They respond!
 
Dear Scott,
 
I talked with Richard…and discussed your question regarding…the 1998 edition. He thinks your questions are valid given today's context, and he'll be sure to consider a change when the book goes into a new edition.
 
Well, sure enough! Here’s what it says now: 
 
We can pray for sexual difficulties with the assurance that genuine progress forward can occur. Sex is like a river—it is a good and wonderful blessing when kept within its proper channel. A river that overflows its banks is a dangerous thing, and so are uncontrolled sexual drives. For the Christian, the covenant of marriage defines the banks for sexual expression. When praying for persons with uncontrolled sexual drives, it is a joy to picture a river that has overflowed its banks and invite the Lord to bring it back into its natural channel.
 
Boom!
 
I put some Amazon links above, but you can pick it up on your eReader, paperback, or hardcover wherever you buy your books. 
 
So, let’s do this! I can’t wait to dig into this with you. It’s deep. It’s powerful. It’s life changing.
 
Grace and Peace,
Scott