In the chapter entitled, "Discipline," Martyn Lloyd-Jones makes a case for being disciplined in our Christian lives. This is part and parcel with the scripture reference he begins with:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
Being able to "supplement" our faith may indicate the pursuit of personal discipline in our Christian lives. However, the mention of "discipline" in that area may conjure up for some the idea of a rote, repetitive faith, i.e. Protestants begin to wonder if we're not reverting back to the rituals of Catholicism. Lloyd-Jones makes an observation that I have often considered when people turn on their noses with regard to personal discipline:
It seems to me that one of the chief dangers in Protestantism today, and especially in evangelical circles is that, in our fear of the error of justification by works, we have been saying that works do not matter at all. We argue that faith alone counts, and because I am a man of faith it does no matter what I do and my life can be thoroughly lacking in discipline. Out upon that suggestion! The opposite to a false trust in works is not indolence, lack of discipline and doing nothing, it is to be diligent and more diligent, to be zealous, and to add to your faith. But all the time you must realize that your action alone will never be enough, but that God is certainly a rewarder of them that diligent seek him.
I often get the impression from fellow evangelical believers that they feel that the Christian life is to become some kind of sanctified automaton, and that God will move us around like big Barbie dolls. Christian growth demands our participation.
