From the Pastor's Heart...

Everyone has their spiritual “curiosities” . . . things that always capture your attention, draw you in deeper, and open up new windows of insight.  One such area for me is the question of how people actually mature in Christlikeness.  There is much talk about change, but how does it actually happen in the trenches of real life?  Think it’s easy?  Then just pick one of your most persistent bad habits and try not only to stop it, but replace it with a godly habit.  When the force of our sins and the weaknesses of our willpower collide, we’re usually not much better for it.  We need help—outside help—the Holy Spirit, who interestingly enough gives us “inside help.” 

I’ve recently picked up a great book on this subject called, “The Kingdom Life: A Practical Theology of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation” that is co-authored by a group of believers committed to understanding and implementing transformation into Christlikeness.  This is not necessarily easy reading, but it is thorough and well-balanced.  This group outlines ten elements involved in this process, which I will horrendously abbreviate for space considerations. 

• Follow Christ.  Repentance and active following of Jesus begins the process. 
• Relationship.  Spiritual formation is rooted in relationship with God and others.  You don’t follow alone. 
• Commitment.  Spiritual formation involves intentional commitment to Christ in all aspects of our lives as we learn to obey Him. 
• Inside Out.  Being conformed to the likeness of Jesus is a lifelong pursuit from the inside out, not merely changing outward behaviors. 
• Transformation.  Spiritual formation is a continual process involving the whole person; it is not merely following a program or technique. 
• Redemptive Suffering.  We are shaped into Christlikeness through all of life’s events, including (and especially through) pain and suffering, as we allow God’s grace to invade and change us. 
• Mission.  In order to accomplish God’s mission, we must be ever-increasing in Christlikeness. 
• Trinity.  All spiritual formation is based in the Trinitarian nature of God—relational, loving, gracious, mutually submissive, and unified in will. 
• Holy Spirit.  Spiritual formation takes place by the direct work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts, regenerates, and conforms us into the image of Jesus Christ. 
• Bible.  Spiritual formation is based upon the Bible as God’s reliable and authoritative revelation. 

 While it’s true that none of us ever “arrive” at a perfect and sustained Christlikeness in this life, the normal Christian life means that we consistently move in this direction throughout the whole of life.  Said differently, we aren’t just saved, forgiven, and given an entry ticket for heaven, but our time here on earth is important for us to grow in our relationship with Christ by following Him so closely that we progressively become more and more like Him.  Kingdom living brings God’s will to reality here on earth as it is in heaven. 

Blessings, Andrew