If you are looking for a modern guide to the ancient Christian Spiritual Disciplines, look no further than the gentle but firm teachings of Richard Foster.
Richard Foster is a Christian theologian and author who began in the Quaker tradition. He was born in 1942 in New Mexico, United States. He grew up in California, where he became friends with a group of Quaker young people. He graduated from George Fox College and Fuller Theological Seminary.
Foster Does Not Avoid Controversy
Throughout his life, while a student, a pastor and eventually an author, Richard Foster pursued his desire for a true, active friendship with the Holy Spirit. He created some controversy in the 1970’s as he taught spiritual disciplines such as meditation and fasting. Some in the church labeled this as “New Age” and worse. Others called the teachings “works” and resisted any concept that a human person has a role to play in responding to the loving outreach of the Father.
But if you read Richard Fosters books with an open heart, you cannot help but hear his true devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. He takes literally the scriptures that describe being friends with Jesus in a truly conversational way.
Richard Foster Explains Why We Choose Spiritual Disciplines
Richard Foster describes his overall approach to Spiritual Disciplines and Devotional Practies:
Christian spiritual formation has nothing essentially to do with such practices. Many of these practices are useful, to be sure, and some are more useful than others. But none is essential. What is essential is life with Jesus, interactive relationship with the great God of the universe, inner transformation into Christlikeness.
Richard Foster – Spiritual Disciplines.
If you are interested in exploring more from Richard Foster, you can find a list of his best texts below.
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Celebration of Discipline
Celebration of Discipline is Richard Foster’s overview of 12 classic spiritual disciplines. These include interior disciplines, such as meditation, prayer, study, and worship. But he also includes lifestyle and community disciplines such as simplicity, service and confession.
The most important thing for me about this text was a clear description of WHY we build these practices into our lives. We are not earning salvation or anything else. We are not even earning God’s approval.
Instead, we are actively participating with God as He designs our lives. Every step along the way is God’s step. We agree with Him, and cooperate with Him.
Prayer – Finding the Heart’s True Home
This detailed guide on prayer expresses the varied voices that prayer can take. Sometimes it is listening. Sometimes it is complaining. Sometimes it is requesting. It is always bathed in worship and submission to the God of the Universe.
In this simple text, Richard Foster gave credibility to the many ways I pray, and showed how saints from Moses to David to Paul had active, relational prayer lives. For a truly readable but detailed guide to the many aspects of prayer, this is the text for you.
Streams of Living Water – Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christ
This is a book of the open heart. As Christians, we usually associate with a particular church and learn a particular tradition. We focus on worship, or service, or personal holiness, among others.
This texts brings us together as we understand that each Christian tradition brings something very important to the Story of God. As we mature in our spiritual walk, we often explore aspects of the other traditions that are worth considering.
I love the gentle spirit and the respect that Richard Foster models for us as he describes and celebrates the various traditions of faith.
Other Books and Study Guides by Richard Foster
Richard Foster has been a prolific author. I have listed my favorites above. But it is worth checking out his other titles. I hope they speak to you as they have spoken to me.
To learn more about Richard Foster, and his ongoing work and ministry, click over to the Renovare‘ web site.
