Causes of Spiritual Stagnation

Causes of Spiritual Stagnation
Pastor Dillon Thornton

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my
presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for
his good pleasure. Phil 2:12-13
A Spiritual Checkup
Donald Whitney, a professor of spiritual formation at Southern Seminary,

wrote a handy little book, in which he gives us ten questions to diagnose our
spiritual growth. How do you know if you’ve been progressing in the spiritual
journey, growing as a child of God? Ask yourself these questions, and answer
honestly:
1. Do I thirst for God? Do I have a growing, burning desire for God? Do I

want to know him more deeply, serve him wholeheartedly?
2. Am I governed increasingly by God’s Word? Do I submit to God’s
Word? Even to the parts I don’t like? Like when Jesus says, “You have
heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I
say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
3. Am I more loving? Am I more loving now than I once was? More loving
toward my spouse, my children, my coworkers, and my neighbors?
4. Am I sensitive to God’s presence and leading? When I’m faced with
a tough decision—Which school? Which job? Should I get married?
Should I call this relationship quits?—do I find myself pausing and
listening carefully for the Spirit’s leading?
5. Do I have a growing concern for the needs of others? Do I think of
others consistently? Do I give to the work of gospel ministry regularly,
systematically?
6. Do I delight in the church? Do I love the church or loathe the church?
Jesus refers to the church as his bride. He protects the church. Loves
the church. Delights in the church. Shouldn’t I?
7. Are habits of faith increasingly important to me? Studying God’s
Word, prayer, corporate worship: do I prioritize these practices?
8. Do I grieve over my sin? Does my sin bother me? My pride? My
impurity? My dishonesty?
9. Am I a quicker forgiver? When someone wrongs me, do I tend to hold
a grudge? Am I slow to forgive because of my pride: “How dare they do
that to me? Don’t they know who I am?”
10. Do I long for heaven and the presence of Jesus? Or is my grip
on the things of this world so tight that I never think of being present
with Christ?
Two Possible Causes of Stagnation
Having asked yourself these questions, let’s say you’re less than pleased with
your progress. You feel like you’ve become stagnant in your spiritual
formation. Now that you’ve identified this problem, the question you need to
ask is: Why? Why have I become stagnant in my spiritual journey? In
Philippians 2:12-13, Paul hints at two possible causes of stagnation.
The first is prideful self-sufficiency. We sometimes think that spiritual growth

is all our own doing. “I’ve got this covered, God. You can sit the bench on this
one. I’ll go to every conference. I’ll listen to every podcast. I’ll read every
book. I’ll listen attentively to every conversation, so that I can correct
everyone’s thinking, ensuring that I help them grow in the same way that I’ve
grown.” The easiest way to spot prideful self-sufficiency in yourself is to
examine your prayer life. Self-sufficient people tend to struggle with the
quietness and the stillness of prayer. They think, “When I pray, I’m
not doing anything.” To them, prayer feels like a waste of time; it seems too
passive.
This brings us to the other possible cause of stagnation: passive spirituality.

We sometimes think that spiritual growth is all God’s doing. “God, you’ve got
this covered. I’ll sit the bench on this one. I’ll just sit in my pew. I’ll just wait
patiently for you to work. I’ll just trust.” The easiest way to spot passive
spirituality in yourself is, again, to examine your prayer life. The prideful
person tends rarely to pray. The passive person tends merely to pray. When
was the last time you studied Scripture? Really studied it? Passive spirituality
answers, “Not for a long time. But I’m praying for God to transform me. I’m
trusting him.” When was the last time you talked to your unbelieving friend
about Jesus? Passive spirituality answers, “Oh, I don’t do that. But I’m praying
for someone to share Christ with my friend. I’m trusting God.”
The Way Forward: Dependent Discipline
Prideful self-sufficiency and passive spirituality both produce the same result:
stagnation and frustration. What, then, is the way forward? How do we start
moving again? We must realize that spiritual growth is not all our doing, nor is
it all God’s doing. It involves submitting to God, cooperating with him,
participating in his plan. We move forward in the journey of spiritual formation,
not by handling everything ourselves, nor by handing everything over to God,
but by displaying dependent discipline. The way forward is the way of Spirit-
empowered human effort. We strive with the strength God provides. Our
vigorous pursuit is anchored firmly in God’s power. As Paul puts it, we “work
out,” and God “works within.”
Two texts of Scripture clearly illustrate this principle for us. In Nehemiah 4:9,
we read, “And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against
them day and night.” Nehemiah was a great leader. His task was to lead
God’s people to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. This was a considerable
challenge, and at this point in the story Nehemiah is anticipating being
attacked. How did he respond? He prayed and set a guard. Nehemiah didn’t
leave God out of the equation; he didn’t act as if everything depended on him.
Nor did he pray with a passive spirituality that refuses to plan and work. He
prayed and set a guard. He prayed for peace, and he prepared for war.
Similarly, in 2 Timothy 2:7, Paul says to his colleague Timothy, “Think over
what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Well, Paul,
which one is it? Should Timothy study, meditate, and concentrate? Or will God
give Timothy the gift of understanding? Both! Paul doesn’t say, “Timothy, all
you need is your intellect, your brilliance. You’ll figure it out on your own.” Nor
does he say, “Timothy, just trust and wait for God to zap you with a bolt of
knowledge.” Instead, Paul says, “Think deeply. Roll up the sleeves of your
mind. And rely on the Lord to give you understanding in everything.”
Maybe you’ve become stagnant in your spiritual formation because in your

pride you’ve been trying to do everything. Or maybe you’ve become stagnant
because in your laziness and carelessness you’ve been expecting God to do
everything. Dependent discipline is the way forward. Work and trust. Spirit-
empowered human effort. Strive with the strength God provides. Begin anew
a vigorous pursuit anchored firmly in his power.

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Causes of Spiritual Stagnation

Pastor Dillon Thornton

Donald Whitney, a professor of spiritual formation at Southern Seminary,

1. Do I thirst for God? Do I have a growing, burning desire for God? Do I

Two Possible Causes of Stagnation

The first is prideful self-sufficiency. We sometimes think that spiritual growth

This brings us to the other possible cause of stagnation: passive spirituality.

The Way Forward: Dependent Discipline

Maybe you’ve become stagnant in your spiritual formation because in your

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