Artist minus spritual discipline = poor communication

Are we so busy focusing on what we “do” that we forget who we are called to “be”? In this particular blog my premise is: if you’re an artist then you are a teacher by default. You are espousing something to someone each time your film plays.

In order to teach others, or espouse wisdom, you must first start with a solid foundation. I would contend that a solid foundation starts with discipline.

Why disciplines?
Because we can’t wait until the exact moment that we face “crossroads” to decide where we stand. We need to completely form ourselves in Christ so that our “knee jerk” reactions are biblical and godly. Far too many people live the Christian life like it’s a “check box” on a survey or an “a la carte” option in life’s now ever growing spiritual buffet.

I think Dallas Willard says it best in his book “The Spirit of the Disciplines”. In the chapter titled “The secret of the easy yoke” Willard says this:
“… And in this truth lies the secret of the easy yoke: the secret involves living as He lived in the entirety of His life – adopting His overall life-style. Following “in his steps” cannot be equated with behaving as he did when he was “on the spot.” To live as Christ lived is to live as he did all of His life. Our mistake is to think that following Jesus consists in loving our enemies, going the “second mile,” turning the other cheek, suffering patiently and hopefully – while living the rest of our lives just as everyone around us does. It’s a strategy bound to fail and to make the way of Christ “difficult and left untried.” Whatever may have guided us into this false approach, it is simply a mistake. And it will certainly cause us to find Jesus’ commands about our actions during specific situations impossibly burdensome – “grievous” as the King James Version of the New Testament puts it. Instead of an easy yoke, all we’ll experience is frustration. But this false approach to following Christ has counterparts throughout human life. It is part of the misguided and whimsical condition of humankind that we so devoutly believe in the power of effort-at-the-moment-of-action alone to accomplish what we want and completely ignore the need for character change in our lives as a whole. This general human failing is to want what is right and important, but at the same time not to commit to the kind of life that will produce the action we know to be right and the condition we want to enjoy. This is a feature of the human character that explains why the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We intend what is right, but we avoid the life that would make it reality.”

Q: What are some essential disciplines?
A: WASP

We must be consistently in the WORD.
2 Timothy 3:16
Why?
Our knee jerk reaction must emanate from the Holy Spirit and a Christ like Character. Art is organic and it shouldn’t be “over manipulated” – therefore, it must come from a place of spontaneity. If we as Christians are going to be spontaneous then we better make sure it comes directly from a place of confidence… that we have done our homework on who we are.

We should ATTEND a local church consistently.
Romans 12: 3-8
Why?
The obvious is so that we can know what the church needs. The deeper reason is that we are the body. Most of what we know about ourselves is what others tell us. God speaks through others to reveal our true projected character. In some ways, without assembling with other Christians, we can’t be living the full life that Christ has offered.

We should be consistently SERVING others.
Matthew 25:31-46
Why?
Just as Jesus said, “whatever you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.” Serving others puts us in the right mindset to BE Christ-like. Jesus was the greatest servant of all time and He was and is our God. Jesus also talks of the “first being last and the last being first.” The Kingdom of God is 180 degrees different then our experience in this world… therefore, serving allows us to glimpse into the backwards and beautiful world of the Kingdom of God.

We should be in PRAYER constantly.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Why?
We have the opportunity to have conversations with the God of the universe! Sometimes, when things are TOO easy, we neglect them. Talking to God and communing with Him is available 24/7 and that’s probably why we always “put it off.” Again, prayer is something that transcends this worldly existence and exports us to the Kingdom of God during that process.

So, let’s all take time to STAY TRUE and focus on who we are called to “be” just as much if not more than what we are called to “do”.