The Ancient Recipe for Spiritual Living
The persons and ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus himself, both rich in the practice of activities designed to strengthen the spirit, were held constantly before [early Christians].
So, wherever early Christians looked they saw examples of the practice of solitude, fasting, prayer, private study, communal study, worship, and sacrificial service and giving to mention only some of the more obvious disciplines for spiritual life.
These early Christians really did arrange their lives very differently from their non-Christian neighbors, as well as from the vast majority of those of us called Christians today. We are speaking of their overall style of life, not just what they did under pressure, which frequently was also astonishingly different.
—Dallas Willard,
The Spirit of the Disciplines
Early Christians lived significantly different lives compared to their non-Christian contemporaries and many Christians today, particularly in their emphasis on communal living, radical sharing of possessions, a strong sense of community, and a commitment to living a morally rigorous life that often put them at odds with the societal norms of the time, especially when facing persecution. Whereas today, we champion individuality and self-sufficiency and, as a society, we move with breakneck speed towards isolation—replacing authentic community with virtual—it’s no wonder spirituality atrophies. Let us look back to the way our forefathers in the faith loved and served one another; the way Jesus taught us to treat one another; the example He gave us, that we might be a shining light in dark times, places, and practices. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics