In a recent journal
article James W. Thompson (who teaches at ACU) wrote an article on “Paul and
Spiritual Formation” [(2010). Christian
Studies. 24: 7-19.] I want to take some of the broad ideas he presented and
apply them to the larger context of the New Testament.
Why has the phrase “spiritual
formation” become a fad? My first acquaintance with this terminology was in the
late 1980’s. I was sort of officially introduced to this by reading Richard
Foster’s book, The Celebration of
Discipline. From that point forward, an entirely new world of the Christian
faith opened up to me, both its history and its practice of spiritual
formation.
From July 2000 to April 2002, I
attended and participated in The Academy
for Spiritual Formation, Academy #14. From that 2-year formative experience
my Christian life was forever changed. My breadth and exposure to the history
of Christian thought and the practice of the spiritual disciplines enriched and
deepened my own Christian walk far beyond what I even dreamed was possible.
God has used that experience to keep me
growing in my faith.
Thompson points out that “formation”
is a unique word used by Paul. But the idea is not unique to Paul. Formation
has to do with being shaped and formed spiritually into the image of Christ by
the power of the Spirit. I would argue strongly that each book of the New
Testament addresses the issue of spiritual formation. It may be that each
writer uses unique or special terminology, but the idea is consistent
throughout the New Testament.
For example, in the first temptation
Jesus responds to the devil by saying, “It is written, Man does not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
For Matthew, the concept of “living on words that come from God’s mouth” is the
sustenance of spiritual growth and formation.
In the gospel of Matthew God’s
living words sustain us. Just as bread is eaten everyday to sustain our bodies,
God’s “bread” is taken daily in order for us to grow and be formed into the
image of Christ. Next week will continue this thought.
In Christian love,
Curtis
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