Thinking About Spiritual Formation

Paul writes – Len Hjalmarson up in Canada recently asked me a few questions about Spiritual Formation. This is part of a series of interviews he is doing; asking the same questions of a number of people. Here’s the first question and the first part of my response to it.

Read the whole interview here. The link for the “three’s” reference in question 4 is here. Thanks for asking me Len.

What is spiritual formation to you?

Paul writes - Christian Spiritual formation, in many ways hinges on how we understand the word “spiritual,” i.e. what does it mean for us to be spiritually formed? 

Spirituality, it seems to me, has a lot to do with what David Bosch describes as being in tune with what God is doing in the world and participating in God’s work (missio Dei). It also has to do with being in tune with what God is doing inwardly in us – for this too is part of the missio Dei.

At the end of the day, however, Christian spirituality has simply to do with our responding to the increasing vitality and sway of God’s Spirit within and without us. 

A friend, Mike Riddell talks about a “vibrant spirituality… [one] that needs to be earthed, conversant with human suffering, attainable within the complexities of life, holistic, creative, communal, and contextual.” Christian spirituality nourishes ways of being vulnerably and openly human in the face of such complexities. It’s concerned with the heights and depths of life...

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