A Hard Habit to Break
When I was in high school, there was a popular song that included the chorus“ You’re a Hard Habit to Break.” Because this song was released during the height of the “war on drugs,” the lyrics were easily misinterpreted as a veiled reference to an addiction to drugs. Instead, the lyrics referred to a romantic relationship that was difficult to end. Nevertheless, the imagery was quite compelling. There are some habits that are difficult to end. If the habit isn’t difficult to end, it’s probably more accurately described as a practice; and practices can be good or bad.
In the fourth session of the videos accompanying “Practicing the Way” by John Mark Comer, he focuses on 9 habits that parallel the actions of Jesus. Comer notes that these practices are essential to our spiritual formation because they reveal “what we can do—Sabbath, pray, read Scripture—to make space for God to transform us into the kind of people who can do what we currently cannot do—live and love like Jesus” [emphasis added]. The list of 9 habits includes sabbath, solitude, scripture, service, generosity, fasting, prayer, community and witness. Some of these practices are extremely easy, while others can seem almost impossible (try arranging these practices from easiest to most difficult).
We can easily attempt to convince ourselves that we don’t have any practices that rise to the level of an addiction or a harmful habit. However, if we reword the question in a way that doesn’t ask “what is my addiction?” or “what harmful habits do I need to change?” but ask instead “what are some things I need to begin doing to live and love more like Jesus?” we may identify potential areas for growth. The question might be more usefully conceptualized as “what habits am I willing to abandon to share the life and love of Jesus with others?” This question relates most closely to the practice of witness—how do our words and actions testify to the impact of Christ upon our lives. In other words, what are we saying or doing to present or represent the life and love of Jesus?
The practice of being a witness might be the most difficult of all nine practices to perform so often that it becomes a welcomed and effective habit (some can employ the habit of witnessing in ways that can be annoying and offensive). For some, solitude or fasting might be the most difficult practices to employ as Christ-like practices. As we attempt to become more like Jesus, we also realize that before we can implement these practices to become more like Jesus, we’ll need to eliminate some bad habits to make room for the Christ-like practices. If you aren’t sure which habits or practices that you need to change, you should ask a friend. If you don’t have a friend who is willing to help you become more Christ-like, you may need to re-evaluate your friendship networks.
Come, let us reason together, worship together and grow together. We are looking forward to seeing you in worship and in class.
In Christ,
Jon McCoy
