Lecture vs Lab

Originally sent November 20, 2023

Do you remember seventh grade science class? This is when I was first introduced to the idea of lecture and lab. Lecture, at least from my perspective, was the boring stuff. Sitting in rows, taking notes, while the teacher droned on about information that did not seem interesting or relevant. Lab was where the action was! We worked in groups to experiment with and apply what we had learned. 

Western Christianity has been weighted heavily toward lecture. Many Christians can only imagine a faith that is nearly 100% about learning information. Most can only think of church as a building where we sit in rows to hear one person lecture. Absolutely nothing wrong with learning, but lecture without lab misses the point of our faith and rarely produces transformation.

Spiritual Direction is one way to bring your faith journey out of the lecture hall and into the lab. It provides a space where you can experiment with and apply what you have learned. Spiritual Direction provides a place of radical hospitality where you can share your doubts and disappointments, and explore new spiritual practices.

Perhaps one of the reasons you feel stuck or disappointed on your faith journey isn’t that you believe the wrong things, it’s just that you’ve spent too little time in the lab.