Practice Practice
First, master your instrument; then forget all that stuff and play. Charlie Byrd
I saw this graffiti scrawled on an elevator wall at Berklee College of Music in 1982 and I have never forgotten it. The legendary jazz guitarist was saying that discipline (mastering your instrument) is the pathway to the freedom and joy of playing really well. I think there is a wealth of wisdom here for life as well as music.
As a musician I can testify that it is more fun to play than to practice. Playing is relaxation, fun, and a little bit of showing off. Practice is work, pain, and the humiliation of fumbling and struggling. It is fun to play, but for the player who wants to grow, practice is the price of freedom. Practice is the discipline of doing what is counter-intuitive until it gradually becomes second-nature.
I love to read the history and writings of those heroic Christians who preserved the scriptures and defined the faith for us in the first few centuries of Christian history. The early Christians understood discipleship as a struggle, a word they frequently used to describe the life of faith. The early saints were referred to as “athletes”, who “contested” and became “champions”. This mindset was inherited from the apostles themselves. Our most prolific New Testament writer (Paul) used the metaphors of athletics, contest and victory at every turn (e.g. “Run in such a way as to get the prize”, “I discipline my body like an athlete”, etc., etc., 1 Cor. 9:24, ff).
It is clear from reading our history and scriptures that our forebears never envisioned an easy-breezy version of Christianity. For these fiery followers of Christ, grace was received with the greatest gratitude and answered with the highest devotion. Is it any wonder why we hold the early church in such high esteem and regard this era as one of our finest hours?
The timeless voice of scripture calls us all to practice our faith with the expectation of growth and progress:
“…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)
Peter is clearly telling us that we can grow in grace. And how do we do that? Peter says we should make every effort. This phrase can also mean to hustle or get in a hurry, implying that the pursuit of spiritual growth is an important priority. By contrast, being “ineffective” (verse 8) means to be careless, idle, or lazy; basically the polar opposite of making every effort. Peter is telling us all that we must practice if we hope to improve.
The words “increasing measure” refer to ongoing growth. Transformation is a process which occurs over time. The goal we are striving for is Christ-likeness, the fruit of the Spirit and the effort required is spiritual discipline or as we prefer to call it, spiritual practice.
You might be thinking that this sounds like “works” salvation. Let me assure you that I am not even remotely suggesting that all we need to be more like Jesus is to just try harder! Robert Mulholland says it well:
In the final analysis, there is nothing we can do to transform ourselves into persons who love and serve as Jesus did except make ourselves available for God to do that work of transforming grace in our lives.*
It is precisely because transformation is a work of the Spirit that we are called to pursue this worthy goal by using spiritual means. The purpose of worship, prayer, and every kind of devotion offered in faith is making ourselves available for God to do the work of transformation within us. Sounds simple, right? And yet as anyone who has engaged the process knows, this is far more easily said than done.
My sons and I share the love of music. At least once a year we make a “road trip” to see some great guitarist up close in concert. It is both humbling and inspiring to witness the skill of someone who has made every effort to master the instrument.
I feel the same way whenever I meet someone who is a better Christian than me. I really marvel at the wisdom, grace, humility and love I see displayed in some of God’s people. I know I am looking at God’s handiwork. I also know I am looking at someone who has spent long hours in “practice”. Invariably these are people who walk in close intimacy with Christ, choosing to make a high priority out of prayer, scripture and spiritual discipline. They make me want to be more like Jesus, and I find myself convicted and inspired to follow their example.
I am convinced I will never truly “master my instrument” this side of heaven, but I am quite certain I can be a better Christ follower than I am now. So by grace I will make the effort, trusting Him to do what only He can do.
(posting by Steve Poole, VNE Director of Spiritual Formation)
*M. Robert Mulholland. Invitation to a Journey. Downer's Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1993, p. 26
