Matthew Henry once said that “when we are out of the way of duty, we are in the way of temptation.” Yet Jerry Bridges warns that the spiritual disciplines are “privileges to be used, not duties to be performed.” So are they duties or are they not?
There is no contradiction here, for the key is in the word “performed.” Whenever we consider spiritual disciplines, we need to admit and resist the temptation to misuse things—even things as good as the means of grace. Instead of understanding them as privileges given by God for our good and our joy, we are never far from mistaking them as obligations we merely carry out in a cold and unfeeling way. Instead of seeing them as habits that flow out of our salvation, we see them as obligations that merit our salvation. Instead of being freed by them, we become enslaved to them. Instead of enjoying them, we perform them.
And so we need this reminder from Bridges that they are given for our good. “Spiritual disciplines are provided for our good, not for our bondage. They are privileges to be used, not duties to be performed.” They are not the means to the favor of God, but to the grace of God.
