Practice Makes Practice

The Power of Uncovering Ideas in Culture and Hearts

Happy Wednesday, and welcome to all new subscribers, both free and paid. Thank you for joining us as we explore how to come together to resolve The Great Omission.

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Let’s Get Our Bearings

We are about a year into our exploration of biblical discipleship and what it means to become a person of depth. It’s been a while since I provided a recap of our journey, so here’s a brief review. For those new to the Soil & Roots community, I hope this is helpful. If you’re already up to speed, feel free to skip to the next heading.

Theologian and philosopher Dallas Willard coined the phrase The Great Omission to describe the state of modern Christianity. He was concerned that although we continue to build institutions, programs, doctrinal statements, and movements, we may be missing the point of the Christian life: apprenticing with Jesus so that we become more like Him over time.

Willard maintained that an inner life of abundance, peace, and joy—regardless of external circumstances—is possible. Jesus desires that we increasingly think, act, relate, and love more like Him. This is one of the primary ways the Kingdom comes: followers of Jesus are transformed into His character, and that love flows outward, influencing every aspect of life.

I’m attempting to expand on Willard’s conclusions by identifying three primary problems that prolong and deepen The Great Omission: the Discipleship Dilemma, the Formation Gap, and the Forgotten Kingdom.

For centuries, the theological concept of double knowledge was assumed—that to know God deeply, we must also know ourselves deeply, and vice versa. Today, however, it is often challenging to find guidance and resources for embarking on an inner journey into our hearts. In fact, the pursuit of self-knowledge is frequently rejected or even ridiculed. This leads to the Discipleship Dilemma: although we long to center our lives around knowing Jesus more intimately, we receive little support in understanding ourselves—an essential part of formation.

We’re currently exploring the Formation Gap. There are five key elements of character formation found in virtually every human ecosystem designed to help someone become more like someone else: time, habit, community, intimacy, and instruction. Yet many who wish to follow Jesus don’t have access to these kinds of environments.

Willard once quipped that genuine discipleship resembles an AA community: multiple weekly meetings, shared practices and rhythms, a relentless commitment to dialogue and character formation, radical vulnerability, and holistic instruction.

In contrast, modern Christian experience often emphasizes instruction—usually delivered through a monologue—and weekly events. And for some, church is the last place where vulnerability feels safe. In other words, we lack ecosystems that contain all five elements needed to help us become more like Jesus.

We’ll start exploring the Forgotten Kingdom later this year or in early 2026.

The good news? All three of these problems can be resolved—and in some cases, they already are. From my perspective, The Great Omission can and will be overcome.

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The Significance of Ideas

Right now, we’re intentionally spending time on the second formation element: habit. But rather than diving into wonderfully formative and classic spiritual disciplines—such as prayer, fasting, silence, solitude, service—we’re exploring other practices that help us uncover powerful inner forces known as ideas.

Ideas are assumptions, conclusions, and principles rooted deep in our hearts—often without our awareness. A deep disciple regularly engages in the habit of uncovering these subtle yet influential forces that shape cultures, churches, communities, and individuals. We do this because Jesus did—and because greater attunement to God, others, and ourselves increases our capacity to love well.

As we continue to practice uncovering these ideas, I promised to offer examples of both Ideas in the Air (those influencing entire societies) and Ideas in the Soil (those affecting us individually). So let’s continue.

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The Big Question

I was reminded of another Idea in the Air this week while listening to a podcast with New Testament theologian and historian N.T. Wright. He was discussing how Western society uniquely responds to suffering compared to other parts of the world—and to most of human history before the 1800s.

In the West, we frequently ask:

“Why does God allow suffering in the world?”

Wright noted that this question is far more common now because the West lives in far more comfort and ease than at any point in history. Death, disease, economic hardship, and pain were accepted without much questioning in previous eras. (Anesthesia wasn’t even used in surgery until the 1840s.)

Western society operates on a foundation of comfort, peace, prosperity, and progress—concepts largely foreign to most of human history. So when suffering comes, we see it as an aberration. For our ancestors, it was simply part of life.

To many today, the presence of suffering suggests that God doesn’t exist, isn’t active, or lacks the power to stop it. In contrast, previous generations looked for God’s presence in the midst of suffering—or saw Him working through it.

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The Practice of Uncovering Ideas

Now let’s shift from culture to the individual.

At the heart of uncovering Ideas in the Soil is acknowledging that our hearts often function from a different set of beliefs than our minds. In short, we are often dis-integrated: the ideas in our hearts differ from our intellectual belief statements.

I’ve confessed that my heart often functions from the idea that I must perform to earn God’s favor, even though my mind believes He loves me unconditionally. That’s dis-integration.

Several posts ago, I quoted Judith Hougen, who wrote:

“When the intellect engages with a fact, the fact is stored as truth and belief results. In contrast, the heart believes only when it experiences…We’re created to establish belief through two pathways—cognitive and experiential…only when both pathways are engaged does belief become complete.”

We place a high value on having a doctrinally and intellectually sound belief system. There are thousands of denominations and sects, each claiming to have the most accurate one.

Sound doctrine is essential. However, if Hougen is correct, then sound doctrine is incomplete unless the heart experiences it as well.

Which raises the question: How do our hearts experience what our minds believe? How do we become more integrated?

I’ve suggested that the first step is to courageously identify our hearts’ ideas—both light and dark. Though often buried beneath religious platitudes and doctrinal affirmations, our hearts bring them to the surface—whether we like it or not.

They show up through what I call the Eight Indicators: our thought patterns, emotions, behaviors, health, words, relationships, and how we steward time and money.

If we pause and examine these indicators with compassion and courage, we’ll begin to develop the skill of listening to hearts—not just words. We’ll see others (and ourselves) for who they truly are, not who they pretend to be. This enables us to love well.

This is how Jesus engaged the rich young ruler, the woman at the well, Peter, Philip, Thomas, the Pharisees, and countless others in the Gospels. He was deeply attuned and quick to discern the ideas in their hearts—not just the content of their words.

We should hope and strive to do the same.

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Can’t Buy Me Love

Here’s one more Idea in the Soil.

I have a friend who is constantly broke. It’s not because he earns too little; it’s because he can’t control his spending. His “indicator” (money habits) reveals his heart’s ideas.

His doctrine is excellent. He memorizes Scripture, articulates his theology with grace, and can hold his own with scholars. He believes that God is our provider and that we should manage our money according to biblical principles.

So why the misalignment between head and heart?

Because his heart is in pain. He uses money to soothe old wounds and comfort his soul. It’s a temporary fix—but one he can’t resist.

Somewhere deep inside, he feels he deserves it. A caretaker stole part of his childhood, and now his heart tries to reclaim it. He yearns to be seen, soothed, safe, and secure. Having not found security in primary relationships, he seeks it in things.

He knows the Bible verses. So why haven’t they traveled from his head to his heart?

First, he’s not yet ready to uncover his dark ideas. Right now, he feels compelled to play a specific role in his family, church, and social circles. He wants to be seen as a mature disciple, so he hides behind excuses about income or market conditions. Jesus is inviting him to look into his heart—but he hasn’t said yes yet.

Second, spiritual formation begins (and often returns) to the experience of being the Beloved. Because my friend has yet to receive that kind of grace and acceptance from those close to him, he struggles to imagine it from God. It’s easier for his heart to relate to God as a command-giver than as the unashamed Father rushing to embrace His wandering son.

This is one of the most vexing questions on the spiritual journey:
How do we experience Jesus and embrace the reality of living as His beloved?

For some, it’s meditating on Scripture. For others, a profound worship experience. Some meet God in nature or communion. Others through service or radical generosity. And for many, it’s suffering that draws them into deeper intimacy.

I believe people play a crucial role in helping us live into our identity as the Beloved. Next month, Jessica and I will celebrate 30 years of marriage. She has been, by far, the most spiritually formative influence in my life. My heart experiences Jesus more intimately because of her.

Perhaps what my friend most needs is a few close allies who, over time, help him experience being the Beloved—by loving him the way Jesus does. Perhaps his heart will stop relying on emotional purchases as it begins to trust, accept, forgive, and receive mercy—not just from God, but from those God has placed in his life. Maybe even from me.

Duc in altum—
Brian
Soil & Roots

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New Chat Thread

Based on today’s post, I’ve started a new chat thread. If you are comfortable, please share what obstacles you’ve encountered to living in the reality of being the Beloved. Your thoughts may well help other readers.