080: Finding Freedom in Constraint—Reimagining Spiritual Disciplines with Jared Patrick Boyd
Nov 21, 2023
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Jared Patrick Boyd, a Vineyard pastor and Founding Director of the Order of the Common Life, discusses finding freedom in constraints. They explore practicing spiritual disciplines in community, the obstacles to love and growth, the practice of faults and affirmations, cultivating humility in spiritual formation, and the impact of making difficult decisions with input from others.
Focusing on spiritual practices within a community can lead to the flourishing of individual lives.
Freedom can be found in consenting to constraints beyond one's control, leading to lasting change and growth.
Deep dives
The Doctor of Ministry program in spiritual formation and relational neuroscience
Sid and Jeff are launching an accredited Doctor of Ministry program that delves into the integration of neuroscience and spiritual formation. The program is designed for pastors, leaders, spiritual directors, and therapists seeking a deeper understanding of these disciplines.
Finding Freedom in Constraints
The podcast explores the idea that constraints of the spiritual life can actually lead to freedom. It challenges the common notion that freedom comes from casting off control and finding oneself individually before engaging in community. The discussion centers around the concept of focusing on practices within a community, which cultivate the flourishing of individual lives.
Reimagining Spiritual Disciplines in Community
The podcast discusses the need to reimagine spiritual disciplines as a communal way of life rather than individual practices. While individual spiritual practices hold importance, the historical context of spiritual disciplines reveals that they were primarily practiced within a community. Divorcing these practices from a communal context risks weakening the intended transformative impact of spiritual disciplines.
Finding Freedom in Constraints: The Power of Consent
The podcast explores how freedom can be found in consenting to constraints that are beyond one's control. The example of working through complex trauma is given, where accepting one's anxiety and consenting to the healing process is essential. By surrendering to the constraints and partnering with God, lasting change and growth can occur.
We often think that freedom comes through casting off what controls us, and that we need to find our true selves apart from community. But what if it is the constraints of the spiritual life that set us free? What if it is focused practices in community that lead to the flourishing of individual lives?
Today we are talking about finding freedom in constraints.