Rule of Life - the rubric for imitation and participation
A Rule of Life has been one of the most transformative parts of my journey with Christ. My background spans Roman Catholic roots, a Free Methodist upbringing, years in the charismatic movement, a calling into priestly ministry within the Anglican tradition, and now life in a contemplative order of prayer. Through all of it, God used rhythms of prayer, Scriptural meditation, serving, Parish life and friendship to form me. Though I never would have considered the rhythm of life that I stumbled my way into a “Rule of Life,” there is no question that my soul took shape along a well-worn path from the ancient saints who went before me.
Thankfully, one doesn’t need to be an avid reader of Church history or a student of the Desert Mothers and Fathers to begin. You simply need a desire to live your life in Christ rather than letting the culture set by the hurry of the world form you. There is no doubt that the world, the flesh, and the devil have their own way, and they will form us even without our awareness. My hope is that this essay can serve as an introduction to the beauty and blessing of setting an intentional Rule of Life, so that you may be shaped by Christ to live your calling as the image and likeness of God.
Remembering Why
Simply put, a Rule of Life is a set of practices that God has given to help us participate in Him. It is an intentional way of living.
It is very important that we stop there and keep this in mind as we move forward. If we’re not careful, we can get swept up in the practices themselves, treating them as a new way to earn our welcome into eternity. Instead, we need to keep the practices’ purpose in mind. The end/telos must remain in front of us. God has given us a set of practices so that we can participate in Him. So that we can have koinonia or fellowship with Him. That is God’s goal, his telos for us. Union. Joint life. So, a Rule of Life is to help us mature and grow in our union with Him.
Laying A Foundation
When we use the word “rule,” whether we like it or not, it usually makes us think of something that takes away our freedoms or limits us. I understand that use of it, but that isn’t what is meant in the Christian context. Instead, it comes from a Latin word regula, which literally means “trellis.” The word describes a wooden frame built to encourage the growth of vines.
Of course, it is possible for a vine to grow without a trellis. If there is sun, water, and soil, the vine will still grow, but it won’t flourish, and without the trellis, it will be in danger of being trampled underfoot. It also will not bear the same level of fruit. A trellis brings about safety and flourishing for a vine. That is what a Rule of Life is meant to do for us. John 15:1-17 gives us a picture of the vine (Jesus) and the branches (us). We are meant to abide in Him, to flourish and “bear much fruit.” (v8). That is why I say a Rule of Life is about union. It is about us abiding in Christ.
Another way to understand a Rule of Life is to consider the training methods of an athlete or the years of training a professional musician undergoes. You can be great naturally at something, but that greatness will be stunted by the amount of time you train. St. Paul talks about the Christian life in this way in 1 Corinthians 9.
The purpose of a Rule of Life is not about describing “the only way to grow,” it is about choosing which direction we are growing. I’m sure you have some concept of this, but it’s important we say it explicitly. Humans are born immature and in need of growth. Consider Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:7 for help to understand what I mean.
The first thing we see is that the foundation of our existence is that we are creatures who image God. We are as He is, in a way no other creature is. Genesis 1:26-27 tells us that God created humanity in His image and likeness, creating us male and female. We, together, male and female, image the Most High God.
In the Ancient Near East, creation stories are common. Other people groups and religions had their own narratives to explain the creation of the world, humanity, and the relationship between creation and the gods. Even parts of Genesis 2 have direct correlation with the rituals of other religions in the ANE. That’s important for us to understand, especially when discussing the creation of humanity, because God has a reason and a purpose behind explaining our creation in this way.
Specifically, the rituals around the idols of other gods are important for us to understand today. There are many rituals we could reference, but one stands out as remarkably consistent with what we see in Genesis 2. After the idols were made from the material of the earth, often clay, priests for the local gods would perform ceremonies to open the mouths of the idols. The purpose of opening its mouth was for the breath of the god it imaged to fill the idol. When discussing this ceremony, Dr. Cherith Fee Nordling describes the priest leaning over the idol and breathing upon it to infuse it with the spirit of their god. When this was done, they would say that the idol had become the image and likeness of their god. Wherever that idol was placed, which was often in their temple, it signified that their god was present. They did not believe that those clay structures were animated, as if they walked around, but they did believe they were alive. They worship their gods by worshiping the idols. They believed these idols made of clay slept and ate. According to those who worshipped them, these idols were truly alive.
It is vital for us to understand this because when we read Genesis 1:26-27 or 2:7, we are meant to grasp something about ourselves that we might easily overlook. Humans are the idols of God upon the earth.
The creation account gives meaning to our physical bodies, revealing them as a description of God. We have ears because God hears, and eyes because God sees. This means that every part of us has purpose, which is why we believe the differences between male and female bodies matter. One will never understand why our physical bodies matter unless one understands this point. God chose you, made you, and intends to explain to the whole world who He is through you. Whether you even say a word about Him or not, we proclaim Him as Creator, just by existing.
Our breath, our bodies, our movements, our brains, our personalities, our speech, all of it reveals God because we are His living idols on the earth. Yet, humanity, even when we are not evil, is immature and imperfect, aren’t we?
When we read Genesis, we may tend to think of Adam and Eve as superhuman. As if they had all the knowledge God ever wanted them to possess, and physically were perfect specimens. Yet, that isn’t really the picture we get if we consider the whole story. Eve has an innocence about her that leaves her open to deception from the devil, and Adam is still morally and ethically weak in his own mind. Too weak to stop what’s happening as it transpires right in front of him, or to say no when he’s offered something he knows is wrong. Until he chooses to disobey God, he has not yet sinned, but he is obviously not perfect in the way we think of perfection, or he would have said no. St. Irenaeus, a Church Father from the 2nd century who has had the greatest impact on my formation, portrays Adam and Eve as innocent yet in need of maturation and growth. To think of humanity this way makes sense of Luke 1:80, which describes Jesus as someone who grew in spirit. He matured, not just physically, but also in His spirit.
If this is the case—that those created by God were innocent but immature—it makes sense that we who are born again through water and the Spirit, as Jesus says in John 3, are as they were. Consistently, the apostles write about the people of God, those who are united with Christ, as those who begin by only being able to receive milk, but over time, can eat whole food. 1 Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” It is also addressed in 1 Corinthians 3 and Hebrews 5. When we are made new in Christ, when we are united with Him and born again, we are spiritual babies and must grow and mature in spirit. When we consider that this is God's purposeful plan, we can view ourselves differently. We are born immature and in need of training to grow into a mature human being. It is only in our maturing that we become truly human, as Jesus is. It is by participating in the divine life of God that we grow into that which He is. As St Paul says in Ephesians 5:1, we are to be imitators of God. Why? Because that is what we were made to be, and it is through our imitation of Him that we become participants of the divine nature. It is God’s life, as it is revealed in the life of Christ, that forms the rubric for imitation of God and participation in Him.
A Brief Word of Caution
At the same time, we have to be careful not to give the Rule undue importance either. We need to be honest about our hearts’ intentions as we pursue this life of intentionality. The practices in a Rule of Life are not about how we get God, but about how we participate in Him and make ourselves available to Him. Through these practices, God prepares us for His presence and then meets us in them. We do not somehow hold Him captive through these practices. As if, when we sit down to read Holy Scripture, the words act like a magical incantation that forces Him to arrive. Logically, we know that is not the case, but we often wish it were. We wish we could control His arrival. Instead, the practices are about us bending our will to Him, being true followers, servants, and children, awaiting His goodness whenever the time is right. (On this point, meditate on Psalm 1:3, you can choose where you are planted, but not when you produce fruit.)
These practices are a part of our transformation, no doubt, but that transformation happens in ways we cannot dictate. The Scriptures make clear that divine visitation has never been about worthiness. Of course, we can sin against the presence of God, but we do not see God show up for those who do it right, and leave alone those who are in sin, the lost or the broken. No, He seeks the lost. He provides for the needy, frees the captive, and heals the sick. Our purpose in seeking to live according to a rule of life is never about attaining or coercing Christ. It is about willfully choosing His ways and maturing in Him.
What Should Be In A Rule?
Throughout history, many communities have agreed to a shared Rule of Life. Monastic communities would be the most obvious. Some of you may have heard of The Rule of Saint Benedict. It is the most famous of the Christian Monastic Rules, but there are others. The Rule of Saint Basil, The Rule of St. Augustine, and The Rule of St. Francis of Assisi are others that you may have heard of if you are interested in monastic life. These are good and right things, but not necessarily accessible to all people. Instead of seeing an ideal, which is good and right in its context, and assuming we are lesser or that we need to adopt their exact way of life to become holy, we should learn to understand what we can take from it for our learning and growth. What is important is learning to intentionally shape your life around Christ through a personal or communal Rule of Life that reflects where God has placed us.
If you were to do a quick Google search on a Rule of Life, you would find a plethora of material. Most of which is quite good. What is unhelpful is the idea that you need to read and study everything to get started. You don’t. As I said earlier, you already have a Rule of Life that is forming you, whether you know it or not. The only question is, who is behind it? Because we know that our goal is to behold the face of God, and our purpose is union with Him, we know that it is He that we must allow to form us. He is the owner of the vineyard, the vinedresser, and the vine. He is the goal and the way, so let's let Him and His word lead our formation.
Each of the practices listed below is encouraged both by Holy Scripture and the tradition of the Church. Our goal at Ora House is to provide general categories that you can adapt to your context and community.
Prayer
Scripture: Jesus gives us a foundation for prayer in Matthew 6:5-13. Then in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we read that we are to learn to “pray without ceasing.” There are many forms of prayer, but the overarching encouragement in Holy Scripture is to learn to live a life of prayer.
Tradition: Communities that followed a way of life set aside time to pray at least three times a day, and found ways to make their life and work acts of prayer. They followed Christ’s example by praying set prayers, while also seeking to live according to St. Paul's encouragement to pray always.
Scriptural Meditation
Scripture: Consistently in Scripture, we are told that those who remained set apart for God, the remnant, were those who meditated on God’s written word. Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2 are explicit examples of that.
Tradition: There were different ways the Church would meditate on Scripture in history. Some would do it through daily readings with their family or community, and others would participate in a practice called Lectio Divina. Whatever the process was, it is clear that we are encouraged to set aside time to meditate on Holy Scripture day and night.
Community (Hospitality)
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; John 13:34-35; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:9-18; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Peter 4:8 - Through one another, we participate in God. Consider what we learnt above about humans being the image and likeness of God. We are meant to see God, meet with God, and learn who God is through one another. We are meant to see the face of God in the face of another. They are not God, but they image Him. They point us to Him, and help us participate in Him. As Matthew 25:31-46 tells us, by showing hospitality to those around us, we are showing it to Christ.
Tradition: Gathering for weekly worship was part of the fulfillment of this practice in the history of the Church, but the expectation also went beyond that. Connection to the community of God’s people and hospitality to all were intentionally practiced at every opportunity.
Sabbath
Scripture: Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11. We rest because God did, because we are meant to live as He does. It is a part of our participation in Him. We image Him, we point towards Him, we proclaim Him, and we receive His rest when we choose to take the Sabbath.
Tradition: In the tradition of the Church, this was practiced weekly on the Lord’s Day. Sundays were considered the day of worship and rest in Christ because they are a celebration of the resurrection. The Church chose to keep it holy and set apart for Him. It is possible that your situation cannot set Sundays apart that way. When can you set aside a day for rest in Christ and worship of Him? Take one day a week for this rhythm or rest in Christ.
Service (Generosity)
Scripture: Mark 10:45; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Galatians 5:13 - whether it is with our time, talents, or resources, we are meant to follow the way of Christ and serve others in love.
Tradition: Not set to a regular set apart rhythm, but meant to be intentionally practiced at every opportunity.
Sacramental Life
Scripture: Baptism - John 3:5; Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:3-4; Eucharist - John 6:51-56; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-26; Confirmation - Acts 8:14-17; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; Confession - John 20:21-23; James 5:15-16; Anointing the Sick - Mark 6:13; James 5:14-15 - It is clear in Holy Scripture that we are all meant to participate in these sacraments as part of our sacramental life in Christ.
Holy Orders & Holy Matrimony - Though sacraments of the Church, these are not necessarily about a Rule of Life for all people. More could be said, but we will keep these as secondary for your rule unless that personally applies to you.
Tradition: There are differing visions of the sacramental life. We encourage people to participate in the sacraments as the majority of the Church has always received them (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Confession, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, Anointing the Sick), but we also believe the Church was meant to participate in and see reality sacramentally. We believe God is offering His inward and spiritual grace to us through outward and visible signs every day. Although these are not sacraments specifically, they are used sacramentally by God for our sake.
Silence & Solitude
Scripture: Abraham - Genesis 15; Hagar - Genesis 16; Jacob - Genesis 32:22-32; Moses - Exodus 33-34; David - Psalm 27; Elijah - 1 Kings 19:4-9, 11-13; Jesus - Luke 2; 4; 8:28, 37, 40; 9:18; 11:1; 22:39-46; 23:50-56; Peter - Acts 10:9-23
Tradition: There was no set rhythm to this, though people were expected to participate when possible. Set a rhythm of silence and solitude that works for your context, while also stretching yourself.
Feasting & Fasting
Scripture: Feasting - Lev 23:40 speaks of a commanded seven-day feast. We are no longer held to this as law, but should we still feast? The Christian Church has always seen the Eucharist as the feast of Christ, but it has also observed additional feasts. These are now called “Holy Days,” or “Liturgical Feasts.” Why do we still celebrate them? Why do we still feast? It is about the practice of joy. Deuteronomy 14:24-26 is an example of God’s desire for us to participate in the practice of joy. Even in the Old Covenant, it is about more than obeying the law. It is about joy. Do we not have even more to celebrate in the New Covenant? 1 Thessalonians 5:16 tells us to “Rejoice always!”
Fasting: Jesus - Matthew 6:16-18; Whole Church - Acts 13:2; 14:23. 1 Corinthians 7 speaks of chastity, which is a sexual fast. Even Christ Himself, in Matt 6, reveals that there was an expectation that the people of God would be participating in fasts, so much so that He gives us commands on how we should participate in them.
Tradition: As explained above, both feasting & fasting are participated in during Liturgical Holy Days. Christmas and Easter are the most obvious examples of feasts, while Lent is the most obvious example of a liturgical season of fasting. Some Christian traditions would call Christians to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year, while others would wait for seasons of fasting.
All of these are examples of ways to participate in God, practices that we should add to a Rule of Life. They are ways of building a trellis for your life that will help you abide in God and bear fruit. I commend to you the process of establishing a Rule, something formed by Christ, and intentionally designed to make you available to God daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. A way of life to keep you grounded in the gospel and consistent in returning to and growing in Christ.
If you need help with this, or want someone to walk with you as you pursue God, please reach out to us here to talk more about establishing a Rule of Life, or getting a Spiritual Director.