2. He might not have time or energy for practising dribbling, in which
he is even more deficient (and, in fact, might do too many free throws
precisely because he is already good at it and it makes him feel good
to do them).
3. He might compete with other players in how well he shoots free
throws, letting that push aside the more important competition in how
well he plays real basketball.
1. He might eat too much or stay up too late, figuring that doing his
free throw discipline allows him some slack.
A coach faces different dangers in advising his players to
practice
free throws.
B. He might use his coaching as a way to control people for his own
enjoyment rather than to teach them.
A. He might slack off and give them just that advice, instead of more
varied advice.
Now let us return to the spiritual disciplines. The danger of, say,
fasting, is 1, 2, and 3--- "keeping score" and slacking in other areas
of
life, displacing other disciplines, and making the discipline an end in
itself. The danger to the ordinary Christian is not A or B-- he will not
use his fasting as a way to be lazy in giving advice or to control
people. Dangers A and B, however, are dangers for pastors, and for
anyone else in a position of spiritual authority (a father, for example).
[in full at 04.03.28b.htm ]
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