Celebration of Discipline – Richard Foster

Last updated on: October 1, 2011 at 2:15 pm by Fr. Charles Erlandson

Celebration of Discipline – Richard Foster 2011-10-01T14:15:49-05:00 Fr. Charles Erlandson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Has Led Many to Use and Celebrate the Spiritual Disciplines

Richard Foster has served the Church and Christians well by writing this book, “Celebration of Discipline.” Modern Christians have so separated their head knowledge from their heart knowledge and behavior that our faith is weak. It’s no wonder that many people are leaving the faith or that the behavior of Christians doesn’t match what they say they believe. One of the things missing from the contemporary church is discipline, the will to follow God, and also the disciplines, the particular spiritual practices that help lead us to Christ and stay connected to Him.

“Celebration of Discipline” is largely responsible for Christians knowing about and taking the spiritual disciplines more seriously. The title itself is aptly named, for practicing the spiritual disciplines leads ultimately not to oppression but to joy. Foster presents 12 key spiritual disciplines which are grouped into 3 sections:

The Inward Disciplines – meditation, prayer, fasting, study

The Outward Disciplines – simplicity, solitude, submission, service

The Corporate Disciplines – confession, worship, guidance, celebration

In each chapter, Foster explains the nature of each of the disciplines, as well as giving some good advice about how to profitably practice each. He draws upon writers from many Christian traditions, and usually his advice is very good. If this book did nothing but introduce Christians to the spiritual disciplines and help them begin to practice them, then it is a work well worth reading and calling a classic.

It’s not a book without its problems, however. It seems contrary to the Incarnation and rather Gnostic to advise Christians, when preparing for meditation, to “allow your spiritual body, shining with light, to rise out of your physical body.” While Foster does include “the corporate disciplines,” it’s too easy to get the idea from this book that Christianity is primarily an individual religion and relationship to God. He’s separated the spiritual disciplines out of the only context in which they make sense: the Church, and not the solitary individual. Even in the chapter on “Celebration,” which Foster includes as a corporate discipline, he fails to put celebration in the context of the Eucharist or “thanksgiving” of corporate worship.

Book Reviews

devotional

inspiration

spiritual disciplines

spirituality

worship

Previous Post

October 1, 2011

Addiction and Virtue - Kent Dunnington

Next Post

October 1, 2011 Christian Spirituality – Alister McGrath

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews Featured Give Us This Day Give Us This Day Devotional love me love my wife Love My Wife Reformed Catholicism Blog Spirit-Reality Take This Cup Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2022 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 September 2018 July 2018 March 2018 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In 1 Peter, what will the proven genuineness of faith result in?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Eternal life Blessings Salvation Praise, glory and honor when Jesus is revealed