We must return to proclaiming powerfully and joyfully the event of Christ's death and Resurrection, heart of Christianity, principal fulcrum of our faith, powerful lever of our certainty, impetuous wind that sweeps away every fear and indecision, every doubt and human calculation. — B16

writes:

Another evangelical idea I’ve gladly put behind me: spontaneity as a litmus test of legitimacy.

This is actually a significant issue for me in my spiritual growth. If I were left to spontaneous fasting like TMH recommended, I would basically never fast–despite the fact that I value and benefit from the times that I do fast. Am I the only one who’s like that? That’s why I think it’s useful to have certain disciplines be enforced at the level of custom, tradition, or canon. If fasting is required, then more people will fast and more people will benefit, even if some of them fast hypocritically. The full force of Jesus’ warnings applies to the hypocrites, but the fear of hypocrisy should not encumber the rest of us.

@ 4:41 pm February 25, 2009 | Permalink