Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Donald S. Whitney
NavPress, 1991, 266 pp., $26.98
Donald S. Whitney’s book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life was chosen to fulfill a requirement for Dr. Reid’s Basic Evangelism class. Donald Whitney, the
assistant professor of spiritual formation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has written a well-structured, clearly applicable and easily understood book addressing
the issues of proper discipleship training in the life of the believer. Dr. Whitney earned his D.Min. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and served as a pastor for 19 years prior to his position at Midwestern. Whitney has also written How Can I be Sure I am a Christian? (NavPress, 1994) and Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church (Moody Press, 1996.)
The basic tenet in this book is derived from 1 Timothy 4:7; “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” The entire book is an effort to apply this verse in
practical ways. Whitney strives to give us a basic framework for disciplined Christian living throughout the 13 chapters in his book.
Chapter 1 gives us the major reasons for seeking a disciplined life. Whitney reminds us freedom is not the opposite of discipline, but in actuality the final reward
of discipline. While the initial application of discipline may be difficult, its reward is the gradual assimilation into one’s life so discipline becomes the normal daily
practice and a joy unto itself rather than a tedious chore. This in turn leads to the ultimate joy–a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapters 1 through 12 cover each of the author’s suggested disciplines: Bible intake (chapters 2 and 3), prayer, worship, evangelism, serving, fasting, silence and
solitude, journaling, and learning. Chapter 13 wraps it all up under the title “Perseverance in the Disciplines.” Each chapter concludes with two or three life application questions and the author’s answers.
Chapters 2 and 3 cover the issue of Bible intake. With all the available versions of the Bibles that are in print it is surprising that evangelicals largely neglect biblical intake
outside of a 5- to 10-minute daily devotional. Today it seems that every conceivable type of Bible study is available in the church or for home. Inductive studies, small group
studies, large group studies, thematic studies, biblical character studies, men’s studies, women’s studies, and on and on. While there is nothing inherently wrong with studying
the Bible in this manner, Whitney reminds us the oldest and still most effective means of studying God’s Word is to read it. Of all the methods devised to study the Bible, simply reading it and meditating on what you have read is still the most beneficial and edifying method of all. Christians sometime get the wrong idea about meditation.
The word meditation brings up images of chanting, incense and weird body positions; but that is not what Whitney is talking about. Meditating simply means to concentrate on God’s Word and ponder how to apply to one’s life. As part of the discipline of Bible intake, we also must memorize Scripture, as well. Jesus said that out of the overflow of
the heart the mouth speaks. So if we fill our hearts with the Word of God, we will not sin against Him.
Chapter 4 covers the always-difficult subject of prayer. Perhaps no other discipline is as difficult to maintain as is a regular prayer life. We are to pray because God expects us to pray, and Whitney cites many New Testament verses commanding us to pray. Prayer is neglected because “the problem is primarily one of a lack of discipline:
Prayer is never planned, time is never allotted for praying.” He then gives us some effective guidelines for establishing prayer in our lives. One commonsense idea is that
praying daily leads to a better prayer life. In prayer, as with athletics, practice enhances performance.
Chapter 6 covers the discipline of evangelism. Evangelism is not often thought of as a discipline, possibly because evangelism is often left to those who are called to the
ministry. Many lay people believe one must have a particular spiritual gift in order to share their faith. Evangelism is in deed a spiritual discipline. Discipline is extremely
necessary if evangelism is to be effective and consistently practiced. If prayer is the hardest discipline to maintain, then evangelism is certainly the hardest discipline to begin.
Probably no other discipline creates such terror in the Christian as that of evangelism.
Whitney gives us three rules of evangelism. First, evangelism is expected. The author says, “All Christians are not expected to use the same methods of evangelism, but all
Christians are expected to evangelize.” Also, evangelism is empowered. Whitney tells us the power of evangelism is not ourselves, but is the Holy Spirit. Christians fear failure in evangelism, which to most means rejection of the gospel. However, that is not failure; not faithfully sharing Christ is true failure. We are not called to save, we are called to share the gospel. Conviction and conversion is the work of the Spirit. Success is measured by how faithfully we share the gospel, not by how many notches we put on our evangelical gun belt. “Evangelism is a natural flow of the Christian life.” One of the best pieces of advice Whitney gives for initiating a witness opportunity, especially with strangers, is offering to pray for them. This often can turn the conversation quickly to spiritual matters, presenting an opportunity for a gospel presentation.
In chapter 7, Whitney delivers this sobering message: Spiritual gifts are for using in service. If God didn’t intend for your gift to be used, there would no longer be any
purpose for your life. Why would God allow us to live beyond any usefulness to Him? In His wisdom and providence He has gifted each believer to serve and kept each of you alive to serve. Too many believers live as if they are here to be a blessing to God, rather than to serve God. We must all remember that we are called primarily to be a
blessing to others.
Overall, this book is well-written and applicable to the Christian walk. The reviewer agrees with the disciplines chosen for this book. There is no more important discipline than consistent, meditative and prayerful intake of God’s Word. Without this, the other disciplines are not possible. People, particularly Americans, always want a
foolproof system, and the previously mentioned types of Bible study programs appeal to different needs. Yet simple daily reading of the Bible remains the most effective
means for learning its content.
This book is not without its problems, however. Especially in his chapters on stewardship and fasting. When discussing giving, the author seems to limit proper biblical giving strictly to finances and not to the giving of time, resources or gifts. Yet when discussing fasting, the author concedes that it “does not always deal with abstinence from food.” Abstinence from other activities, such as people, media and sleep qualifies, as well. Whitney seems to be inconsistent in his application of stewardship and fasting. These disciplines are more closely related than they may appear.
Slightly troubling, as well is his hermeneutic in a couple of biblical expositions. In evaluating Jesus’ fast for forty days and nights in Matthew 4:2, Whitney says that
because the body can’t live more than three days without water, Jesus must have drank some during this time, though not stated in the passage. Yet when discussing Moses’ fast in Deuteronomy 9:9 and Elijah’s fast in 1 Kings 19:8, he says their fasts without water required “God’s supernatural intervention into the bodily processes and are not repeatable apart from the Lord’s specific calling and miraculous provision.” Surely Whitney is not saying God “supernatural intervened into the bodily processes” of Elijah and Moses, but not into the Lord Jesus’?
Despite some minor flaws, this is a much needed book in evangelical circles today. It reads crisply, addresses key discipleship issues, and is very convicting in areas
such as prayer, stewardship and evangelism. This book is recommended to be read by every Christian who desires a closer walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.
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