The formation of one's spiritual self is not taken
seriously in our post-modern lives. I can admit, it has just been
recently that I have become more intentional in my spiritual
formation. That is to state that my spiritual formation has relied on
my daily devotional life, the sermon series at church or through the
popular book I was currently reading. It is easy to assume that
having a devotional life, regular church studies, and religious
readings are the typical habit of the majority, yet it is more the
truth to state that the typical American believer does not practice
just one of the three elements.
Most clergy very rarely read
books or have a study time beyond what is expected in sermon or class
presentations. It is a sad commentary, but the truth is that the
post-modern American church is lazy and has lost it's first love for
Jesus. The average American believer lacks a Christ-like faith that
is demonstrated in daily life. There is a virus among the western
church that has infected believers to compromise grace and truth so
as to be politically correct and avoid conflict.
Holt explains in his chapter on spiritual formation
that it is not enough to read or study in order to develop a
spiritual life but that it must be lived in our daily actions. These
actions are to be seen and lived in order for disciplines of faith to
be nurtured, grown and to be developed. Holt states how the, “Bible
generally views a person as a unity of body, soul, mind, heart, and
spirit.”
The elements of body, soul, mind, and heart are not given an
opportunity to be separated. Thus, it is important that any spiritual
formation take an intentional and balanced approach. There is not any
room for complacency or for lack of discipline.
Holt reveals a great truth with the statement, “the
complex ethical problems facing Christians today force us to listen
carefully to the specialist who remind us of the context and the
specifics of the Christian tradition that under girds us in making
concert decisions.”
Spiritual formation is reliant on the facts that ethics, integrity,
dedication, and spirituality belong together. It is the fruit in
which we lived that define our being in Christ. Thus, the believer
who tries to refrain from discipline or development in Christ is a
saved creature, yet lacks the essence of abundant life. It is in this
mediocre stage of development where most of the American church lives
today.
Holt assesses that the modern church is very good in
appreciation of God's goodness and in praise. Out culture thrives on
entertainment. The modern church worship service is filled with
entertainment. Normal standards includes a sermon that is easy to
listen to, the music has to be upbeat and pleasant to the ear, and
the technology must keep up with television standards. This high bar
for corporate worship has often diminished our reality of the
hardship and commitment that are a necessity in spiritual formation.
Holt finds the hope for the future with these words, “Christian
appreciation for the work for God needs to be matched in our day by
taking responsibility for lifestyle and economics in order to
preserve the creation from human destruction.”
This statement needs to be taken to heart by every believer in the
western church for a closer walk with God.
The combination of grace and truth is the remedy which
Jesus demonstrated for spiritual formation. The task at hand is to
apply the combination in our daily living. This is accomplished as
diversely as there are diverse amount of people on the planet. The
hardship is the desire to make it a reality. The pool of information
available to people is large and is a crutch that most of us lean on.
We trust the sermon will be on target and assume the latest book will
be theologically sound. We rely on others to take us to a place of
formation while we neglect the work at hand.
Another part of this combination of grace and truth is
one where we tend to lean one direction or another. The modern
believer will desire to be politically correct and lean heavily on
grace while neglecting the truth. Another option to the modern
believer is to desire to know God absolute while leaning heavily on
the truth thus neglecting the demonstration of grace. This out of
balance character is not spiritual formation as Jesus demonstrated.
Jesus was dedicated to the truth that he was the only way, the only
truth, and the only life. Jesus was also dedicated to the
demonstration of grace to sinners at every opportunity. For example,
the woman who was caught in adultery was guilty. Jesus tells the
crowd to condemn her if they have no sin, consequently they leave in
disgrace while Jesus tells the woman to go and sin no more. This is a
perfect example of a balance of grace and truth.
Holt concludes with a plea that, “we must also feel
empathy, a shared experience that allows the story of the past to
live in us.” In reflection, I agree. Our past defines our essence
in life through the experience. Thus, we can learn to demonstrate
grace because of the grace that has been demonstrated on our behalf.
We can also learn to live the truth of righteousness by the
experiences of truth that are learned in reading, study and
meditation. I agree with Holt's description of empathy as life that
is demonstrated through the practice and development of the spiritual
disciplines with in daily life.
Therefore, I believe that the antibiotic for fighting
the virus of mediocrity within our faith is to be discovered in
cultivating our spiritual formation. This is accomplished in our
study, commitment to daily development of reflection, and action
revealed through the spiritual disciplines. I believe the result is
as Holt states, “as a follower of Jesus, we must pay attention, act
responsibly, and love without limits.”
It is then that we will truly know the God we love.
Traveling this journey with you is amazing. You know I love ya, Don
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