But underlying much of the conscious rejection of spiritual discipline is the fear of legalism… But nothing could be farther from the truth if you understand what discipline and legalism are. The difference is one of motivation: legalism is self-centered; discipline is God-centered. The legalistic heart says, “I will do this thing to gain merit with God.” The disciplined heart says, “I will do this thing because I love God and want to please Him.” There is an infinite difference between the motivation of legalism and discipline! (Paul) knew this implicitly and fought the legalists bare-knuckled all the way across Asia Minor, never giving an inch. And now he shouts to us, “Train (discipline) yourself to be godly”! If we confuse legalism and discipline, we do so to our soul’s peril.
— Kent Hughes (b. 1942), Geistlicher, Theologe und Buchautor
Related Bible passage: 1TI.4.7
Topics: Growth & Character, Grace & Redemption
Kent Hughes
Richard Kent Hughes (* 1942) ist ein US-amerikanischer reformiert-evangelikaler Geistlicher und Theologe, der fast drei Jahrzehnte lang die College Church in Wheaton leitete und Praktische Theologie lehrte. Er begründete den Charles Simeon Trust mit und profilierte sich als Herausgeber der Auslegungsreihe „Preaching the Word“ sowie durch Schriften zur geistlichen Jüngerschaft wie „Disciplines of a Godly Man“. Bibellesern vermittelt er schriftzentrierte Auslegungen und praxisnahe Impulse zur Lebensführung, wenngleich Kritiker seinen Frömmigkeitsidealen bisweilen eine stark moralisierende Prägung vorhalten.
All quotes by Kent Hughes (71)
When we pray, the circumstances often remain the same, but we become different.
Oswald Chambers
Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now.
Craig Groeschel
Humility is so shy. If you begin talking about it, it leaves.
Tim Keller
Prayers are tools not for doing or getting, but for being and becoming.
Eugene Peterson
Being a Christian is not a 'do-it-yourself' affair.
Jerry Bridges
Christ accepts us as we are, but he does not leave us as we are.
Ingrid Trobisch
John Newton
Charles Haddon Spurgeon