Those Things We Do —

By Tammie Grimm –

“I believe that God made me for a purpose…but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure” is probably one of the more memorable lines from Chariots of Fire (cue the inspirational Vangelis soundtrack). The 1981 Oscar winning movie tells the story of Christian missionary and Olympic athlete, Eric Liddell, depicting how personal character and desire for excellence inspires disciplined dedication to sport. It also gives us insight into what it means to participate in the spiritual disciplines. 

The sport of running requires discipline, but it is not necessarily what one would classically call a spiritual discipline. Still, Liddell’s decision to train for the British Olympic team and compete in 1924 Paris Games provides us with an opportunity to consider how the spiritual disciplines we participate in demonstrate what it means to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.

The Christian life is at once a life of outward and active participation in the world as well as one of inward growth and maturity. Spiritual disciplines — or means of grace — are those activities Christians participate in that demonstrate love for God and neighbor. The activities are disciplines because we participate in them deliberately and steadily over time for God’s purposes — not our own. Disciplines become spiritual because they allow room for God’s love to operate within us. Methodists often refer to the spiritual disciplines as the means of grace. Wesley described the means of grace as “outward signs, words, or actions ordained of God” that allow God’s grace to work in us so that a person might grow in Christlikeness.

Spiritual disciplines are those classical activities Christians have participated in throughout the ages such as prayer, reading and studying scripture, or gathering with others to worship God and celebrating God’s presence. Service towards and witnessing to others are also spiritual disciplines that each of us do as we participate in the Christian life. But what those particular activities are in each life are personal, just as each of us are particularly gifted and equipped by God to do certain things. Personal spiritual disciplines are not privatized nor do they negate the need for the classical spiritual disciplines common to the Christian life. Running, for Eric Liddell, was a personal spiritual discipline through which he experienced and shared the love of God. Even as he trained and competed, he was a devout Christian who prayed, read the Bible, and accepted preaching invitations in local churches as he traveled for track meets. He lived a life of Christian discipleship common to all faithful Christians even as he utilized the gifts and talents given to him by God.

In as much as spiritual disciplines involve an outward action — the things we do — they must be rooted in an inward disposition of loving obedience for God. Certainly, there are other motivations we have to participate in the Christian life; because we want to grow in our faith, because it contributes to the wellbeing of others, or even because I want to flirt with that cute guy. But, no matter how noble or selfish our intention, human ambition on its own will inevitably crash and burn. Only love for God and the willingness to be obedient to the promptings of His grace will sustain us for lifelong Christian action in the world.

The spiritual disciplines are not merely an expression of our love for God and neighbor. In turn, they help Christians grow in faith and mature in the character of Christ through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. We need the spiritual disciplines to attend to the inner life. The spiritual disciplines become the means God uses to grow us in grace, love, and fellowship with one another. The spiritual disciplines are how the fruit of the Holy Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control — are made manifest in the lives of everyday Christians. You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to practice them.

If it has been a while since you’ve viewed Chariots of Fire or especially if the references to Eric Liddell and Vangelis have gone over your head, do yourself a favor: find the movie on a streaming service to watch in the near future. Don’t just pop a bowl of popcorn and sit down expecting to be entertained. Pray beforehand and prepared to be inspired.

Tammie Grimm is Associate Professor at Wesley Seminary in Marion, Indiana.