On Spiritual "Disciplines"

Someone recently asked me about my use of the word "discipline" in a sermon.  They associated the word "discipline" with punishment; a very different use of the word than the one I had in mind.

So, I wrote back:

I don’t use the word “discipline” as a synonym for punishment.  I most often use it in the academic sense of "a field of study.”  But, in the sermon I used it as “training that molds moral character.”  I actually didn’t think about people hearing “punishment” when I said “discipline.”  Thank you for pointing out that punishment is one of the ways the dictionary defines the word (even if that it not my own usual usage).

When I was in high school there was a popular book:  https://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Special-Anniversary-Spiritual/dp/0062803883/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HIRPE7GZGV4O&keywords=celebration+of+discipline+by+richard+foster&qid=1570672698&sprefix=celebration+of+di%2Caps%2C382&sr=8-1

More recently, Diana Butler Bass wrote https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Congregation-Imagining-New-Church/dp/1566993059/ref=sr_1_13?crid=XX3HV8FG3FIE&keywords=diana+butler+bass&qid=1570673297&sprefix=diana+but%2Caps%2C335&sr=8-13

She uses the word “practices” rather than “disciplines.”  Perhaps, I should have used the word practices.

I was thinking of practices that shape or form us as disciplines.  Perhaps I could have used the habits.  I was thinking about monastic spirituality https://www.amazon.com/Rule-Benedict-Spirituality-Century-Spiritual/dp/0824525949/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2XXQX6YU7Q7AK&keywords=benedictine+spirituality&qid=1570673725&sprefix=benedictine+sp%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-2  such as one of the things one might do in a “rule of life."