When our first lockdown started and my church went online, I was listening enthusiastically every week. I was really loving being able to sleep in and watch church whilst making pancakes. However, like many things in this lockdown, the novelty wore of very quickly. By mid-April, I was sleeping in even more, watching church every 2nd or 3rd week and I wasn’t spending as much time turning my mind to God as I had before. I think a lot of it can be attributed to the mindfuzz we were all experiencing. I was just pleased I could wake up and feel safe. My family aren’t religious so doing ‘god’ and ‘faith’ by myself is something I’m really used to. Many people think this would be really tough but for me. It has made my faith less dependent on my upbringing or the discipline of bible reading or going to church and much more about my personal relationship with God. It has built in me a very resilient faith. Even though I wasn’t ‘churching’ as much, my faith has still remained strong.
I’m going to break a rule and use a verse a bit out of context. James 2:14 says ‘What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?’ I know this verse has been at the centre of much controversy in the church over the years. It’s been part of the faith/works salvation debate and at the root of the social gospel movement and I’m not wanting to discuss it in this context. What I think James is really doing is pleading with Jesus’ followers to ‘do something’ and remember that faith isn’t just something for us to have in our minds but to motivate us to do ‘something’. Whilst my ‘resilient faith’ at the back of my mind was lovely, I felt James’ calls for me to ‘do something’ was stronger than ever.
I was listening to a Podcast called ‘The Deconstructionist’ (you should definitely listen to them, they’re awesome) and around mid-April, I listened to Episode 38, where the hosts were interviewing Fr. Richard Rhor, a Franciscan priest from the United States. Fr Rhor, through his ‘Centre for Action and Contemplation’ has written and spoken extensively on spiritual practices as a way to connect with and encounter God and the Divine. Being realistic, I knew that my routine of church and pancakes wasn’t going to start up again so, inspired by Fr. Rhor, I decided to adopt a series of spiritual practices to help me turn my mind to God every day and connect differently in ways that didn’t rely on the routine of going to church or sticking to a bible reading plan.
My Spiritual Practices During the Pandemic
I wanted to share some of those with you, let you know what I’ve learnt and hopefully encourage and inspire you to embed at least 1 spiritual practice into your life every day. There are 7 practices I’ve adopted, some old, some changed and some new.
1. Every Sunday, I’ve been reading ‘Searching For Sunday’ by Rachel Held Evans
The late Rachel Held Evans encapsulated, better than most, the complicated relationship younger generations have with the church. Her book, ‘Searching For Sunday’, is an honest reflection on the modern evangelical church and western Christian culture. Held Evans takes you on a journey through personal stories and honest reflection in a refreshing book which ‘says it how it is’ yet leaves you a glimmer of hope of just how church can be.
2. No pressure bible reading
Instead of picking a bible plan, not sticking to it, giving up and feeling guilty (and let’s be honest, we’ve all done that) I decided to start reading the Bible from the start with no pressure. Some days I’d read heaps, some days I wouldn’t read anything. Because I didn’t have the pressure of keeping up with a plan or having the expectation of ‘finishing the bible’ I found myself reflecting and understanding what I was reading better, giving me a more indepth understanding of what I was reading. It made reading the bible more fun, intreaguing and less of a chore! I even took the time to write a reflection on a particular chapter which I was really interested in: Decentralised Power and Biblical Leadership: Reflections on Exodus 18.
3. Lord’s Prayer 3 times a day as was done by many in the early church
The Didache, an early non-canonical christian text, instructed Christians to pray the Lord’s prayer 3 times a day. Every morning, at lunchtime and in the evening, I’ve taken some time out to say The Lord’s Prayer and reflect on its meaning.
I also found this podcase episode really helpful in understanding the significance and historical context of The Lord’s Prayer: Exploring My Strange Bible – Matthew Marathon – The Lord’s Prayer by Tim Mackie.
4. Listen to new and challenging people and ideas.
One of the best things I’ve done is started listening to a range of different theological minds and ideas. The world of theology is incredibly broad with some amazing and challenging thinkers out there.
I’ve been listening to The Deconstructionists Podcast where the hosts, Adam Narloch and John Williamson interview a number of different guests with different approaches to theology and spirituality in general. Whilst I can’t say I agree with them all, it’s been great having my views challenged and hearing different ways of appproaching God, church, theology and spirituality. My absolute favourite people, and not necessarily those I agree with, have been: Peter Rollins, Alexander Shia, Saumya Arya Haas, Greg Boyd, Richard Rhor, Diana Butler Bass & Kent Dobson.
I’ve also been listening to Almost Heretical, a podcast where hosts and former evangelical pastors, Tim Ritter and Nate Hansen discuss their faith post-evangelicalism and introduce some incredible minds along the way. Some of my favourite have been: Cristena Cleveland, Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Mako Nagasawa, Brian Zahnd and Lisa Sharon Harper.
I’ve also compiled a list of my favourite talks, podcast episodes and sermons which are available on the Online Church Resources page.
5. Finding God in creation.
During the pandemic, like so many others, I’ve been going on more walks which has been made even nicer by living next to a national park. Before I go for a walk, I say ‘God made this’ to remind me that I’m walking among God’s creation. When I get back home from the walk I say ‘God made that’. This reminds me that everywhere I go, I’m surrounded by God’s creation and his presence.
6. Finding God in the secular.
Too often we separate our world in ‘the spiritual’ and ‘the secular’ or ‘church and ‘non church’. God is the creator of everything and is present everywhere. Try to look for God in those traditionally secular places like in work or music. Is there a lyric that reflects Jesus or did a co-worker show you kindness and understanding in a similar way Jesus would? When we look for god in every place, not just at church or in prayer, we notice that God is with us and shaping up more than we ever thought!
7. Tearfund Bookclub
Tearfund is a Christian aid & development organisation working to fight injustice. I was invited to help co-facilitate a bookclub exploring the intersection between climate change and faith. The book we’re reading is ‘How to Talk About Climate Change In a Way That Makes a Difference‘ by Rebecca Huntley. Whilst the book does’t have a theological focus, the group comprises of Christians from around Australia. It’s been amazing meeting together to explore this book, which is a great read, and reflect on it in a christian context.
Make Spiritual Practices a Part of Your Everyday
Since I started, I said that I’d make sure I didn’t put pressure on myself. It was never intended for me to do each of these everyday yet I’ve found I’ve done at least 1 or 2 every day and have been reminded of God’s presence and guidance in these weird and challenging times. It’s been a great way of reminding me that God is talking to me to so many different ways and in places I never thought he was.
Paul’s Words in Colossians Chapter 1:9-10 helped me as he talks about spiritiual wisdom and understanding:
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Colossians 1:9-10
Make your own list of spiritual practices and start them right now! Ask yourself what you do regularly that you really enjoy, this will help you get those quick wins. Then ask yourself, what would you like to do? Set aside some time for this and practice it! This spiritiual practice will come easier, you guessed it, the more you practice!!! Aim to do at least 2 spiritual practices each day. If you forget, don’t worry! Try again tomorrow. 2020 is challenging enough without putting extra pressure on yourself. Just work on making this an increasing part of ever day. Spiritual practices and the discipline of engaging in them requires practice so it’s going ot take time.
I hope this helps to strengthen your faith and inspires you to encounter God everyday in ways you never expected.
See Also
Decentralised Power and Biblical Leadership: Lessons From Exodus 18
Further Resources
Centre for Action and Contemplation
The Deconstructionists Podcast – Adam Narloch & John Williamson
Almost Heretical – Nate Hanson & Tim Ritter
Recommended Reading
Note: Maintaining a website is expensive! To help cover the costs, links marked with an (*) contain affiliate links. That means if you choose to make a purchase after clicking the link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
* Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality – Richard Rohr
* Falling Upward: A Spirituality For the Two Halves of Life – Richard Rohr
* Searching For Sunday – Rachel Held Evans
* Disunity in Christ – Christena Cleveland
By Nathan Linton
First published 19 June 2018. Last updated 14 April 2024.
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