Its pretty hard to improve on anything from the mind and pen of a true spiritual giant, so I won't even attempt it. I will just give it to you straight from the man himself.
3 Spiritual Lessons from Jonathan Edwards
If they were important to Jonathan Edwards,
they should be important to you!
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) is considered by
many to be one of the smartest philosophers and theologians in American
history. But more than that, Edwards is one of the great spiritual thinkers as
well. Edwards helped the churches in New England navigate the work of the
Spirit in the “Great Awakening,” and he continues to help pastors walk through
these issues through his great work, Religious
Affections (one of the most beloved spiritual classics of the
Protestant church).
How can we learn from the spiritual practices
of Edwards? Here are three lessons that are as important today as they were in
Edwards' time:
1. Spiritual
Practices Are God-Focused.
When engaging in a spiritual practice,
whether reading the Bible devotionally, praising God in church or even
listening to a sermon, it can be incredibly easy to start focusing on
side-issues. Maybe our lips are moving while singing a praise song, but our
minds are thinking about everything else we have to do. Maybe we are reading
the Bible for something to say that will sound smart and informed rather than
hearing from God.
Whatever the case, Edwards would encourage us
to have a God-focused understanding of practices. In other words, when we
engage in spiritual practices, like those mentioned above or practices like
fasting, prayer or solitude, the purpose is to be with God, rather than merely
trying to get a task done. Once we forget that, we very quickly focus on making
sure we are doing the act right.
In
other words, rather than learning to be with God, the goal becomes perfecting
the technique of a spiritual practice. This digresses rapidly to a self-focused
form of spiritual practice, which is nothing short of idolatry.
2. Spiritual
Practices Are Relational.
In light of the God-focused nature of
spiritual practices, Edwards would remind us that spiritual practices are
always relational. This can be hard to remember. Whenever we are learning a new
practice, even if it is something like reading the Bible, we have to devote a
good deal of energy and brain power on figuring out how to do it. The mechanics
are not irrelevant, but as was just noted, they must not overtake the purpose
of being with God.
Therefore, in the midst of our spiritual
practices—all our spiritual practices—God is calling us to himself. Whether we
are reading Scripture, singing praise songs, practicing silence and solitude or
fasting, we are called to be with God and to know him in relationship.
Spiritual practices are a means of grace, Edwards tells us, and grace is always
relational.
We do not come to know a distant god, or an
infinite power; we come to know God as Father in his Son Jesus Christ. In
Christ we are able to call God Father and to know ourselves as His children.
Therefore, our spiritual practices should always lead us in relationship and
should always be built upon that relationship. Once we start trying to do
spiritual practices to establish our relationship with God, even if we do so
subconsciously, we fail to embrace the free gift of God in Christ.
3.
Spiritual Practices Should Lead to Affectionate Knowledge of God.
Lastly, it is true that we can often feel
overwhelmed when we engage in spiritual practices, frustrated that we fell
asleep again in prayer, drifted off again during the sermon or found our time
in the Word dry and heartless. Nonetheless, Edwards would remind us, God has
called us to have more than just a working knowledge of Himself. God wants us
to know Him affectionately.
To paraphrase Edwards, God does get your mind
off of fleshly things by beating you up, but by showing you something better.
The something better He shows you is Himself! Jesus is God’s self-revelation to
the world, and that revelation should break open hard and lifeless hearts to
His life of love. Therefore, just as our spiritual practices should be
God-centered and relational, they should lead us in affection. But what if they
don’t? If your heart isn’t moved by God, then we pray “I believe; help my
unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) and “Without you I can do nothing” (John 15:5).
God is the one who must give us eyes to see
His beauty, but we are called to open our hearts to Him in love. Spiritual
practices are the means by which we do so. But there are many temptations when
practicing any kind of spiritual practices. At the top of the list are the
opposites of our three points here.
We will always be tempted to make practices
self-centered, becoming proud at our discipline; we will be tempted to make
practices mechanical, thinking the “right method” will solve our problems; and
we will always be tempted to use practices to cover our guilt and shame rather
than using them to turn to God in affection.
Edwards highlights these pitfalls for us and
shows us a better way. Focusing on the Christian life as a journey of love that
is God-centered, relational and affectionate reminds us who our God is. By
embracing the love of our God we can come to walk with Him in all that we do.
Edwards is a great guide to show us how we can do this in every aspect of our
lives.