Recommended Book #1

My title for this post isn't an indication that the book previewed here is the most highly recommended book I've read. Rather, as with websites, the #1 is simply a chronological ordering. This is the first book that I am recommending. It may be for some of you the best as well, but would be a happy by-product.

Which is not to detract from its great value to all of us. Richard Foster is the founder of RENOVARE, which provides conferences and multiple resources for the growth of individuals and groups in intentional spiritual formation. When he wrote The Challenge of the Disciplined Life: Christian Reflections on Money, Sex, and Power, Foster was professor of theology at Friends University, Witchita, Kansas.

Few people would dispute the importance of money, sex, and power in our lives; however, many folks might dispute the church's authority to speak to such controversial topics. The first of multiple strengths in Foster's book is precisely that -

1. It brings areas of life which might be considered 'secular,' or even 'earthy' within the arena of Christian thought and discussion. We could identify Foster's purpose to be helping us recognize that in dealing with these themes we are treading on holy ground. "To live rightly with reference to money and sex and power is to live sacramentally. To misuse or abuse these is to desecrate the holy things of God."

2. Few areas of life are more inseparably intertwined. "Money manifests itself as power. Sex is used to acquire both money and power. And power is often called 'the best aphrodisiac.'"

3. The church has a responsibility to explore the far-reaching implications of money, sex, and power into the large enterprises business, marriage, and government.

4. The church has a long history of dealing with these issues, not always in the most positive and helpful ways. Our tradition provides parallel lines of response - monasticism and Protestantism.

The monastic response to money and related issues has been the vow of poverty; to sex and, more broadly, human sexuality, the vow of chastity; and to control the impulse to power, monastics take a vow of obedience.

The Protestant Reformation developed a parallel set of expectations. People were encouraged to be both industrious and frugal. The current formulation of sexual expectations is "faithfulness in marriage and celibacy outside of marriage." And to tamp down the worst abuses of power, there developed clearly defined organizations, and all disciples were taught to live in a covenant of mutual support and responsibility.

5. Indifference and apathy by the church permits the development of the worst forms of evil. Some would even use the word "demons." When money becomes demonized rather than sanctified, there is greed. The expression of corrupted sexual values and practices is lust. And self-centered power leads to pride.

Clearly, we need a new discussion about practicing our discipleship, under the grace of God, in the circumstances of early 21st century life.

A final value of The Challenge of the Disciplined Life is that Foster not only deals honestly with the dark sides of these issues; even more helpfully, he recognizes and affirms the light or "enlightened" aspects and provides suggestions for practicing the light side of money, sex, and power. To take one example --

In the home, power is to be used to nurture confidence, not subservience.

In marriage, power is to be used to enhance intimate knowledge and authentic relationships, not isolation or domination.

In the Church, power is to be used to inspire faith, not conformity.

In the school, power is to be used to cultivate growth, not inferiority.

On the job, power is to be used to facilitate competence, not feelings of inadequacy.

Because of its timeliness and the host of questions which these themes prompt, The Challenge of the Disciplined Life is highly recommended for group study.