By Mark A. Taylor
Throughout the month of February, you’ll find many articles on this site around the theme of spiritual formation. And you may wonder why.
Barney Wells, a professor at Lincoln Christian University, says there”s a widespread “recognition that we need to go deeper in our preaching, teaching, and community life.”
Jody Owens, professor of Bible and pastoral ministries at Johnson University, adds, “All ministers are aware this is a pressing need,” but “they”re finding little time to dedicate to intentional discipleship.”
Those Christian college teachers, as well as several others included in Jennifer Johnson”s report, are giving their students the tools they need to grow spiritually and to help others grow too.
And that”s our goal for every Christian reading these posts. Christian spiritual formation, according to our definition this week, is simply allowing God to transform us into the character and lifestyle of Jesus Christ. Isn”t this a pursuit worthy of every Christian?
For some, “spiritual formation” will seem somehow sinister or confusing. Are we describing something new, something Christians haven”t known about for centuries, something beyond the directives of Scripture and the example of Jesus?
No, as our posts this month amply illustrate. This issue contains more biblical references than any since we”ve introduced our new monthly format. Writer after writer points out that exhortations to growing deeper spiritually are as old as God”s Word.
Of course, it”s possible for Satan to intrude on a Christian”s desire to get close to God. We can be proud of our prayers or our Bible-reading habit. We can believe our generous gifts should bring us greater blessings. We, like the Pharisees, the most “religious” group of Jesus” day, can concentrate on rules, rituals, and practices instead of growing closer to God.
And like hundreds of generations before us, we can confuse any spiritual activity with the work of God”s Holy Spirit. It”s true that New Agers, Eastern mystics, satanists, and cults have perverted humankind”s natural need for connection with God. But that need not scare us away from this month”s challenge to discover fresh, biblical ways to seek God and see his will.
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