week 8 Final Research paper

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 28

My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation

Rawlings School of Divinity

CLED 715: Ecologies of Christian Formation

Arnita Norman

October 10, 2020

Feedback to Learner10/12/20 8:56 PM

Displays sophisticated insight and perception into all of the issues involved.

My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation

Part One: Introduction and Overview

Introduction

Whenever an average person speaks about spiritual formation, others assume that it is a contemporary or prevalent synonym for discipleship. Throughout the history of Church and Christianity, the obedience to the Lord’s command has seen believers and followers of Christ dedicate themselves to abide by the biblical policies (Boswell, 2016). In Matthew 28:19-20, the Lord’s command in the Great Commission ought to be obeyed, and this is what keeps Christians united while contributing to the model of spiritual formation. My spiritual formation model is influenced by the fact that people often get weary of using the same word always, and creativity contributes to the making of a biblical perspective of the word and spiritual training. When developing a biblical model of spiritual growth for Christians, there are salient issues and concepts that need to be addressed. Lowe and Lowe (2018) agree that there is a need for a model of spiritual formation that provides a better fit for the way people live in the interconnected age of digital relationships and interactions. Based on the biblical theology of ecology, Christians enlarge their orientation to spiritual formation and connections beyond traditional perceptions of how Christians grow through an ecological perspective.

Overview of Spiritual Formation

In this context of spiritual formation, different creative people have opted for its synonyms. For instance, mentoring is one concept of spiritual formation, which implies a one-on-one strategy of training a less mature believer by a more mature believer (Kujawa-Holbrook, 2001). However, mentoring would not be the best alternative word for “making disciples” as described in the Scripture due to its implications, background, and common use. Looking at the New Testament in the Bible, it can be discovered that making of the disciples is not obligated to individuals only, but also the entire Church. This means that disciples or followers of Christ are meant to be made by the full ministry of Christ’s body in the Church (Norton, 2008). The body of Christ is generally attributed to the journey of spiritual formation.

Every Christian has someone that he or she can attribute to their spiritual formation and growth. The concept of Trinitarian is important is addressing the importance of mentorship in spiritual formation. In his book, Pettit (2008, p. 52) argues that “spiritual formation consists of the Trinitarian work of God in the lives of genuine believers in Christ through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.” Christians should be actively involved in the same role of making disciples and also teach those who we have made disciples do the same (McMartin et al., 2013).

However, potential disciples should balance the wider membership of the Church and subscribe to the Lord’s command to become the disciples that the Lord intends (Eph 4:11-16). I believe that keeping up with the biblical terminology that describes our roles as Christians in the Church helps us understand our roles in spiritual formation. The term “mentorship” is still common and used by many people to refer to the spiritual formation and making of a disciple (Horan, 2017). However, spiritual formation cannot be a synonym of discipleship or mentoring in such a case. According to Smith (2017), “Some trace the roots of the Spiritual Formation Movement to 1974 when Father William Menninger, a Trappist monk, found an ancient book entitled The Cloud of Unknowing in the library at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. This 14th-century book offered a means by which contemplative practices, long used by Catholic monks, could be taught to laypeople.” Menninger’s concept of spiritual formation through mentorship and training was later adopted by a variety of monks, spiritual teachers, and evangelists in making disciples (Shinohara, 2002). The disciplines of mentoring by Menninger were known to people that we are very familiar with church history. Leaders repackaged and offered them as a means of spiritual development and maturity (Salberg, 2018).

As a matter of fact, the ancient contemplative methods introduced by Menninger implied that spiritual formation was impossible without them. The common acceptable biblical disciplines, like the Bible study and prayer sessions, were considered old-fashioned and simplistic. Worse enough, several believers were convinced that these biblical disciplines were copied from the Western “worldview of the head,” which was not realistic. The belief “that whenever one wants to move deeply into Godly things, these principles were now enough” led to the need for alternative spiritual formation models (Setran & Kiesling, 2013). Christianity has ever suffered much criticism from non-believers or those that believe in other religions. Every religion is specifically designed to address specific issues with beliefs and customs. Mentoring is an emerging concept that applies to teach the Scripture, sharing ideas with the less mature believers, and making them disciples (Mulholland Jr, 2016).

My choice of mentorship as one of the salient issues and concepts in spiritual formation and growth is that we live in a digital era where almost every activity is conducted efficiently through mass media. Lowe & Lowe (2018, p. 73) argues that “communion believers enjoy with Christ through the Spirit.” Additionally, the text asserts that seminarians are tasked with spreading the gospel of the gospel through evangelicalism through any tools and means that reach masses. As a result, mentoring is a possible approach to evangelism and the making of disciples since it is made possible using digitalization (Chiroma, 2015). Proper spiritual ecology is deemed to provide the necessary spiritual nutrients for growth. Furthermore, Pettit (2008) presents the approach to spiritual formation by associating in harmony and peace with one another as a leader to help others learn spiritually. The making of disciples is not an easy task with the existence of many critics, but since it is a God-ordained process that shapes the character and actions of a believer to the likeness of Christ. What differentiates spiritual formation from discipleship is its practices and philosophy (McRay et al., 2018). Therefore, mentorship is my emerging spiritual formation model that implies reaching out to individuals and masses to make them Disciples of Christ and strong believers.

Part two: Biblical Support for Identified Issues

The key identified issue of spiritual formation is mentorship, which is a wonderful means for teaching the ways of God. In the bible, there is an ecological theme that utilized the ecological growth observed in the mature to illustrate spiritual growth. Matthew 28:19-20(NIV) says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Intentional nurturing of the followers of Christ or spiritual mentorship is an issue that is lacking in most churches. Looking at the ministry of Jesus, He focused on mentoring the disciples spiritually and in ministry. Worship is the brighter center line of the road of spiritual formation because everything flows from it (Pettit, 2008). There are many instances where Paul talks about the importance of sharing knowledge, experience, and even personal life with others for the glory of God. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV): “So we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

Spiritual Mentorship in the Contemporary World

In today’s world that is greatly interconnected, spiritual mentorship is crucial because postmodernism has done away with the society that completely upheld biblical basis even in communities where Christ was not acknowledged. According to Lowe and Lowe (2018, p. 138), “connection terminology is the language of ecology that emphasizes the way in which different components of an ecosystem organically connect to each other to form a whole of interconnecting organisms that share nutrients and resources.” However, people cannot be expected to go from hearing the truth to living out that same truth without intervention. Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Christians help one another grow through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As Lowa and Lowa (2018) argued, the spiritual formation should be viewed from an ecological perspective. In this case, Spiritual ecology can be understood well from the description of the body of Christ. It is important for Christians to think from an ecological perspective so as to think more broadly regarding how they engage and interact with other believers.

The Trinitarian concept is important in understanding why mentoring is important in spiritual formation. Although the doctrine of Trinity is not mentioned explicitly in the Bible, Christians have to understand the presumed presence of God and His mighty power through the Holy Spirit. In Mathew 28:19, the great commission of God is associated with the unity of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. According to Pettit (2008) the real issue in worship, be it individual or corporate, is not the style of music, liturgy, or anything else, but the issue is the human spirit that is overwhelmed by the work of the Holy Spirit enabling a vision of God that is true and transformational. Philippians 1:2 refers to Father as God, Titus 2:13 speaks of Jesus as God, while Acts 5:3-4 mentions the Holy Spirit as God. A mentorship program especially that involves non-believers can help them understand the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and help the church grow. This will also help in ensuring the growth of one's relationship with God.

Ecological connection in Christian Mentorship Programs

Spiritual interaction between a mentor and mentee creates an ecological connection to Christ and throughout the community. Lowe and Lowe (2018, p. 146) states that “every Christians connection with the person and work of Christ, illustrated in the vertical syn-compounds and grounded in our syn Christo relationship, forms an indissoluble organic bond that forms the cornerstone of a spiritual ecology from which we grow together towards full maturity.” When spiritual leaders, who represent spiritual mentors teach those who are not mature spiritually the ways of Christ, the church grows in one direction. Spiritual formation is a process that cannot be completed by only those who are mature spiritually or even those who are on their journey to mature spiritual growth. Hebrews 13:7 (NIV): “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” A mentorship program can be used as a model of spiritual formation that utilizes ecological interconnectedness and interactive realities.

In his letter to Ephesians, Paul demonstrates horizontal connectedness that believers show as the spiritual nutrients for their continued growth. for instance, Ephesians 4:16 (NIV): “From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Every part of the body has special functions, and each part helps the other grow in such a way that the whole body is healthy and growing in full love. The same applies to where there is a mentor-mentee relationship because the parties help each other grow. Christians have a syn-connection to Christ, a connection that links them so securely that nothing can separate them from the love of God. Christians can vertically connect to Christ, but also Christians can have a spiritual connection to one another through the use of horizontal syn-compounds (Lowe & Lowe, 2018). Those who are connected to Christ through vertical syn-compounds and to each other through horizontal syn-compounds have spiritual ties that create a vast web of interconnections that through the spirit, form them into a sympsychoi, which is a unified soul (Lowe & Lowe, 2018). The overall concern for the church is represented by the syn-compounds that show how Christians can stand united in love and for the gospel of the Lord.

An adult mentor who passionately models and coaches the millennials through spiritual formation makes a personalized investment and creates a relational connection to bond them with God (Horan, 2017). This presents spiritual formation as a communal process that needs a mentor to connect the mentee with God and facilitate the journey until the mentee gains a self-understanding of God and grows like Christ. 2 Tim. 2:2 “and the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” The mentor is entrusted to speak the gospel to the mentee. The contemporary generation needs a mentor who comprehends their concerns and one who understand intergenerational relationships (Horan, 2017). Today, Christians in the journey of spiritual development are encouraged by a mentor-mentee relationship that aims to help them learn about faith and how to live in it through Christ.

Part 3: Necessary Ingredients for Spiritual Growth

Transforming people into the likeness of God through the power of the Holy Spirit and a crucial process guided by the bible. There are various elements that contribute to successful spiritual growth. Some of the ingredients that facilitate and promote the spiritual growth of Christians are the soul, love, character, and leadership as the necessary ingredients that facilitate and promote the spiritual growth of Christians (Pettit, 2008). The Holy Spirit guides us within the faith community to serve God and loves others with our hearts and soul. Each of the ingredients necessary for spiritual growth is related to earth in various ways.

Love

Love is an important ingredient in spiritual growth and acts as the motivation for spiritual formation. Pettit (2008) emphasized the importance of never losing focus on our God-given commandment to love the Lord and our neighbors with all our hearts and all our soul. Continually, it is important for Christians to measure their spiritual development and their faith by examining their love walk. Ephesians 4:16 (NIV), God created our whole body with supporting ligaments to grow and in love and work together as one. Just as our bodies work in cooperation, so do Christians have to do in support of their spiritual growth. Christians grow in God’s knowledge and love when they love each other (Boswell, 2016). Love is selfless, God-like, and unconditional.

When developing a mentorship program for spiritual formation, love should be the first concept to be considered. A group filled with love will should great progress and outcome. The program leader should focus not only on how individuals will respond to their spiritual growth journey but also love their work for their followers to love it and also love one another. That means to love one another even if some people do not deserve it. Christians love to please God and as a show of obedience to God's commandment to love Him and his creation.

The Soul

The soul/heart is the center of everything war does. In spiritual formation, our hearts function as the drivers towards the acknowledgement of God and His commandments. According to Pettit (2008, p. 121), “the good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.” The overflow of words through the mouth determines whether someone has a good or an evil heart. An individual’s heart is the center and the key to the deepest fulfillment. People experience utmost joy, peace, and unconditional love when their heart and soul is in peace (McRay et al., 2018). The heart unites Christians through love for one another. The Trinitarian concept unites the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit as one body, just like people get united through their happy and joyful souls

Character

The process of spiritual growth requires a great character for it to yield fruitful results. Pettit (2008) defines character as the attributes or traits that an individual or something is identified with. There is a vital connection between character development and spiritual formation. Pettit (2008, p. 144) argued that individuals develop a value system through their good or foundational character to help them make “moral or immoral”, “ethical or unethical” decisions in life. Spiritual change is supported and motivated by theological concepts that position Christian formation as a process that relates God in a community ultimately bringing moral and characterological transformation. According to Porter, Sandage, Wang, and Hill (2019), characterological change is the development of virtuous dispositions such as love, generosity, and kindness whereas moral transformation describes the outward manifestation of behavior like forgiveness, love for enemies, and others evidence of virtue in an individual’s life.

For purposes of this research, the spiritual formation has to do with one’s character and moral obligations in relation to what is held sacred like the love for others and God, the portrayal of God's image, and so on. Spiritual formation goes hand in hand with character formation because a mentor has to establish God’s character in a person so as to foster faster spiritual growth. In a mentorship program that concentrates on spiritual growth, a mentor or the leader disciples and trains his/her followers to win souls. Sometimes it might not be about rules, behavior, or belief system as aspects of spiritual formation, but the portrayal of love, kindness, and willingness to help others become leaders in Christ. In 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV), Paul congratulates and reassures Christians about how God cares for them to an extent of sharing the gospel with them. The willingness to share the gospel and the show for care is a character development that highly contributes to spiritual formation.

Leadership

Servant leadership is a crucial element of spiritual formation. A servant leader is never motivated by personalized powers, but God develops them according to his purpose (Pettit, 2008). Christian servant leaders should have that natural feeling to serve first, then lead. Their leadership qualities must reflect their spiritual belief for them to influence their follower’s personal as well as professional motives on the base of value. A good servant leader manifests him/herself through the care and prioritization he/she gives other people. Servant leaders who inspire, motivate, and encourages spiritual development and growth in others operate in the context of the community. Based on the class presentation about “Reaching the Goal – Process Terms in Spiritual Formation”, it was revealed that Christians work as a community to promote the growth of the church and their personal spiritual maturity. By interacting with mature spiritual leaders in both the church and the community, Christians grow their faith and start impacting others in a positive way towards a greater Christian community.

In Christian mentorship programs, servant leaders have the responsibility to teach others God’s teachings as depicted in 2 Tim. 2:2. Secant leaders act as the mentor and reliable witnesses of God and they are qualified to teach and guide those who are in their journey to spiritual maturity. Jesus is the model servant leader because he submitted and sacrificed his life under God’s will out of service for others. In the same manner, servant leaders should be a committee to serve others voluntarily and develop others to become servant leaders through spiritual transformation. They should serve and lead with God’s power and love in all aspects of their living. Hebrews 13:7 (NIV) encourages us to remember our leaders who speak the Gospel to us and consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Part 4: Facilitating Spiritual Formation

The process of being shaped by the Holy Spirit into the likeness of God is facilitated by various elements that Christians need to consider. The uniqueness of spiritual formation is found on the fact that the process combines both theory and experience. An individual’s talent, uniqueness, and personality make him or her understand his/her calling better. God design everyone uniquely such that each person has a different calling in life. Pettit (2008, p. 205) states that “ministering out of who you are is the only real key to Spirit-empowered effectiveness of joy.” Those who desire to be like Christ, need to renew their life based on biblical foundations. The need to have a calling and be willing to serve and lead.

Calling and spiritual formation

One of the key ingredients that facilitate spiritual formation is calling. Calling can be a passion, but as far as Christians are concerned, calling is not about pursuing personal happiness but the desire to glorify and serve God. What makes Christians happy is the fact that God calls them to glorify him and serve His kingdom. The Triune God is the caller, and Christians are called with a mandate to serve a Christ-like life. When a person has a longing for a bigger purpose in life, only God can fulfill this longing. According to Pettit (2008), God decisively calls us to himself such that we devote everything we have, everything we are, and everything we do by investing with a special devotion and directions lived out as a response to his summons. As Christians, we are called into a relationship with Jesus and a life of discipleship. In John 7:37–39, Jesus calls everyone who is thirsty to go to him and drink (NKJV). The Bible mostly guides Christians particularly to gain a sense of direction in their calling.

Many people do not embrace God’s calling to be renewed into the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit has a critical role in a Christian’s life especially in helping us to understand our relationship with Christ. There are times that Christians desperately desire to have a Christ-like life, but they do not allow the Holy Spirit to guide them. God’s intention for our Christian’s metamorphosis during the process of spiritual formation is to have every believer experience it in life. Our faith regenerates us and makes us new in Christ. 1 Peter 2:2 (NIV) says: “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” We eat the scriptures for us to grow in Christ through the Holy Spirit. When we get insensitive to the presence of God our Lord, there is a need for spiritual awakening.

God calls us to learn, listen, and live in Christ. God always has a purpose when he calls someone to refashion and regenerate into a new birth. We are called to learn, listen, and live in Christ. Christians learn trough the scripture on how to grow into the full stature of Christ. We learn more about ourselves through God’s redemptive history, a process that makes us desire to honor God as we grow more in faith. (McRay et al., 2018). Through listening to the Holy Spirit, we grow the desire for the living God. God calls his children to himself and his holiness throughout scriptures (Pettit, 2008). The Holy Spirit talks life in our hearts and we find the need for renewal of the inner life. We live in Christ through learning the scriptures and listening to what the Holy Spirit is telling us.

Calling can be a purely individual matter, but it can also involve the community. Pettit (2008) outlines two types of calling which include primary and functional calling. While the primary calling is to a living and dynamic relationship with God, functional calling is how we live out our primary calling. A mentor in spiritual formation is working on his or her functional calling of being a spiritual mentor. God primarily calls spiritual mentors to encourage and transform more souls in the community to live like Christ. Involving the community in ones calling is a way to serve God and live in accordance with God’s primary call.

Leadership and spiritual formation

Servant leadership is an important ingredient for spiritual growth. According to Pettit (2008), Christian servant leaders are supposed to have a natural feeling to serve first, then lead. Church leaders are always expected to practice this capacity in all their ordinary life such as when preaching, teaching, or even conversing. The class presentation about “Leadership and Spiritual Formation” reveals that Christian leaders are expected to understand humans in all sorts of conditions as they are teachers of tradition. In spiritual formation, servant leaders are to be sensitive and have hope for those who they lead about ultimate life purposes and spirituality (Norton, 2008). God uses all leaders’ teachings and preaching’s to renew others into the image of Christ. The transformation happens through grace and the work of the Holy Spirit. The Trinitarian concept that lacks in most spiritual formation processes is important in this stage because the Holy Spirit leads God’s people towards spiritual transformation.

For a servant leader to be effective in the journey towards the spiritual formation, the need to naturally show patience, love, self-control, peace, and faithfulness (Boswell, 2016). These are all sorts of practices that can make a leader open to the grace and presence of God, and for God to transform us into his likeness. II Corinthians 3:17-18 (NKJV) reads: “now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” The church is the place God transforms his people and makes them a teacher of other followers. Jesus is our leader in the process of spiritual formation. He acts as our mentor as we follow his teachings to renew our faith. Human beings are to obey the divine image of God and his teachings as Jesus did through his life death and resurrection. Christ died for us to experience a restored relationship of patience, love, should, and mind such that through him we get transformed into the likeness of God.

Discipleship and spiritual formation

The foundation of an effective and fruitful ministry is the life of discipleship and spiritual growth. Discipleship, which is the process of maturing an individual’s faith based on certain beliefs and values in the faith community, need a mentor whom is spiritually mature to disciple those who are yet mature spiritually. The ordinary maturing of a person’s relationship with Christ depends on the formatives of the Holy Spirit (Norton, 2008). Spiritual mentors, friends, and pastors who God has called to serve and lead His people to provide a room for non-Christians and Christians to reflect and get spiritual direction. Helping people stay connected with what they have passion for, and assisting them in glorifying God is a great way to promote spiritual formation.

Part 5: The Targeted Outcome of Spiritual Formation

The process of spiritual formation involves the Holy Spirit for one to become more like Christ. Since Christ is the reflection of God, the Holy Spirit restores us to the perfect image of God. The targeted outcome of the spiritual formation process is therefore having Christians who show greater obedience and strong unshakable belief and hope in the truth of the gospel. The contemporary Christian tradition emphasizes the growth of various aspects of human beings such as spiritual, emotional, or intellectual components all of which are expected to be developed in a process for the maturity of the whole person. Samra (2008) investigates the concept of maturity in the undisputed Pauline epistles concerning how it relates to the growth process and the role of the local church in facilitating the process. Spiritual formation is to Christ is a continuous process that requires the knowledge of the Holy Spirit and required one to heed to Gods calling to serve him as Christ.

Conformation to Christ

Human beings were created in God’s image. They resemble God in His Spiritual make-up at creation. When sin entered man and corrupted his mind, God still kept the door open for those who love Him and promised to restore His image in them. God knew that if he gave His children a chance, they would follow him wholeheartedly. Therefore, they were predestined to conform to Christ through the process of spiritual formation, where they fully embrace the gospel of Christ. Romans 8:29-30 (KJV) “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” God never fails at anything. If he predestines someone to be conformed to the image of Christ, that will be so. Spiritual maturity is a process that particularly entails being conformed to Christ’s image, as reflected in the undisputed Pauline epistles (Samra, 2008). Sometimes Christians will stumble, but God promises to save his children so that they see the Kingdom of heaven. God uses his servants to prepare Christians to be conformed in the image of His Son. 

Samra (2008), in chapter 2 argues that Paul understood his apostolic commission as developing mature believers for the coming of Christ. Paul focused on developing mature believers who understood Christ and his teachings. The central theme of Paul’s maturity idea was to conform Christians to Christ’s image. Paul’s maturation motif was also driven by the conviction that the attitudes of believers should be shown by their actions which should replicate those exhibited by Christ. Through the church, Christians can better align their actions to those of Jesus. Our local churches are the best places where Christians can form spiritual communities that will help them experience spiritual formation. However, the local church most of the time do not understand the constructs of spiritual formation and fails to implement effective strategies to encourage and motivate Christians to participate in the process of spiritual transformation. Church leaders are expected to be at the forefront of ensuring that Christians have access to information they need to know about spiritual maturity. Mentorship programs in the church can motivate Christians to develop an interest in growing much like Christ.

The call of God to Christ-likeness

God calls us to live a life like Christ, to leave earthily things and follow his teachings. Living a Christ-like life means being caring, loving, kind, sincere, forgiving, and accepting to help others walk through faith. Philippians 2:5 (NIV): “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” The church is one place that people can grow and nurture their call to serve God. According to Samra (2008), Paul wanted the local church to primarily help believers mature in their faith by allowing them to participate in a local assembly, ultimately getting conformed to Christ. Through the church, we will show our love for one another, mentor those who are not mature spiritually, and learn from one another. The church is a great community that helps Christians to have the same mind, which is particularly the mind of Christ.

Responding to God’s call needs us to have Christ-like characteristics. The church task a very significant role in facilitating the process of spiritual growth and maturity (Samra, 2008). The church should be united to declare the excellence of God’s grace by helping Christians get immune to the intoxicating activities of society. It is easy for human beings to yield to the pressured of society far more than they can recognize. This would be against Christ's teaching that perceives Christians as the salt and light of the world. When Christians lose their spiritual powers that is because they are not yielding to the Holy Spirit continually. Keeping a godly mind in today’s society is a great way to fulfill our call as Christians to be like Christ.

Importance of the Holy Spirit

To be conformed to Christ, the Holy Spirit has to work in the heart of the believer. As Samra (2008) articulates, there are seven marks of maturity including mature/complete/perfect, spiritual, holy, free, wise, strong, and Christ-like. The role of the Holy Spirit in transforming us into the image and likeness of God is to sanctify us through the knowledge of the truth. The Holy Spirit gives us knowledge about God, teaches us how to pray in our walk with the Lord. The Holy Spirit leads us in the journey of conformation to the image of Christ in holiness. Human beings are changed from one victory to the next, from one glory to the other until they are fully transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV). From the “Whole Person Transformation” presentation, it can be argued that transforming completely into the likeness of God must be a process that cannot happen in one day.

Sanctification happens when Christians are separated from profane things and dedicated to God. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV): “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief in the truth.” When we leave sin, purify our souls, and cleanse our spirit, we regenerate and consecrate all things to God. Samra (2008) lists various components that contribute to the maturation process which include identifying with Christ, going through suffering, experiencing God’s presence, receiving and living out wisdom from God, and imitating a godly example. These are all the different ways in which the Holy Spirit uses us to conform to the image of Christ. The idea of setting apart from the profane things of the world and focusing only on God and his teachings is what makes us Christ-like. Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Christian’s spiritual transformation process gets better. The Holy Spirit dwells in he who conforms to Jesus and resides in his heart forever.

Part 6: The Role of the Christian Community

The concept of Christian community and spiritual formation

A Christian community (the body of Christ) is important in the process of spiritual formation. Most servant leaders get more concerned and focused on helping believers grow to maturity in Christ. However, only a few pastors understand that the maturity of the whole church is a key factor in determining the growth of an individual Christian. In his journal, Norton (2008) described the spiritual formation as communal, since Christian lives his or her best life in a community, where service, worship, and fellowship are practiced. This means that spiritual formation must be extended beyond individual Christians to the church, the family, and the community. The society, in this case, can refer to small church groups, and individual spiritual practices that extend to society as a whole. According to Norton (2008), spiritual transformation, inner transformation, as well as deep discipleship happens in the context of the community in the local congregation.

The church should normalize encouraging members to share the gospel the Word of God with non-believers, motivate them to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others just like Christ did, and train them to keep engaging each other in disciplining relationships. What most churches look forward to is for Christians to show up Sunday for service but forget that Christians should pay attention to Christ throughout the week. Samra (2008) discussed the various components of the maturation process or the process through which Christians grow to maturity in Christ. Among the five components discussed, the most important is the concept of identifying with Christ, imitating a godly example, and enduring suffering. All these components have a significant contribution to the spiritual formation of believers as far as the community is concerned.

Identifying with Christ

Most Christians forget how to identify with Christ. According to Samra (2008), the deliberate mental action where Christians remind themselves that they belong to Christ is what it means to identify with Christ. Romans 6:8-10 (NIV) says, “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, and he lives to God.” Many Christian practices show they identify with Christ. Such practices remind us that we have died and raised with Christ. By accepting to get involved in activities that show that we are united with Christ and that we are one body in Him is a show that we can extend that to our communities and help even non-believers to grow in faith. A Christian community mentorship program that teachers both believers and non-believers how to grow like Christ will transform the society to full unity in the Lord.

Enduring suffering

The world is full of suffering and temptations. However, Christians should always be keen to know they have acquired through their suffering.  Philippians 3:10 (NIV): “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. Being conformed to Christ come together with suffering when Christians understand that the essence of their suffering is to identify with Christ. When we as Christians undergo suffering, we get patients with the tests of life and it is through that testing and patient that we mature in faith, Christians need to understand that Crist suffered for the sake of our survival, he died for our sins. We should therefore utilize our suffering moments to share the gospel with others and glorify his name. By sharing our suffering with others within the community, we get relieved although someone may not get spiritually mature through suffering (Samra, 2008). When we acknowledge the power of God in delivering us from all trouble and suffering in life, we grow our faith in his and it is through that an individual becomes spiritually transformed.

Imitating a godly example

Imitating a godly example is a key component of spiritual growth. The idea of the Christian community in imitating a godly example sets a pace for non-believers within a community to have someone who positively influences them and according to the biblical teachings. Paul started churches because he felt he was responsible for delivering mature believers on the day of Christ and that church was the place where and the means through which believers would come to maturity (Samra, 2008, p. 176). Christians should model true spiritual virtue in their ministry, otherwise, we will be cast into a restless sea that we cannot get out. Paul urges the church to become imitators of him in Philippians 3:17 (Samra, 2008). Paul believed that he is mature and the church can imitate him to become mature as well.

To imitate a more spiritually nature example should be done collectively within the community. Christians within local churches should seek to imitate godly examples as a community. Philippians 3:17 (NIV): “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” Servant leaders should realize that they are called by God to be examples to others. Members of the church should be encouraged to seek godly examples within their community, people who can be accountable for their spiritual growth. Pastors should be in a position to cultivate a godly culture in their churches in order for every church member to mature. They should focus on delivering sermons that apply to the growth of the church as a whole and not an individual.

Social Networks and Spiritual Formation

Today, social networks have brought a lot of Christians together. People connected in a social network influence one another in a variety of ways (Lowe & Lowe, 2018). Christians from all walks of life have connected through social networks and shared the gospel with people across the world. In the “Social Networks and Spiritual Formation Part 1” presentation, it has been identified that through social media, Christians can strengthen their tied with God. Even though social media can foster interactions with friends, family, and church members, it can also be used negatively and people lose their spiritual focus if they are not keen. On its better side, social networking provides an avenue for Christians to share the spiritual faith and insight about their lives. Lowe and Lowe (2018, p. 179) says that “reciprocal interactions play a vital role in facilitating growth in natural ecosystems from several sources such as the growth of human beings in social ecologies.”

Part 7: Application to Diverse Settings

My emerging understanding of spiritual formation is to critically incorporate mentorship programs in church spiritual formation. From the various readings so far, it has been discovered that spiritual formation is both an individual as well as a communal responsibility. A person is responsible for how he or she grows in faith, and the church, as the community is also responsible for nurturing the faith of believers. Today, media technology has shaped how Christians interact with each other. The rapid growth of technology and the church’s adoption of different media platforms has made a huge impact on the faith formation of many Christians. In this case, there are various creative ways through which I can apply my emerging understanding of spiritual formation in a variety of contexts and settings. Campbell and Garner (2016) write that creativity is one of those attributes that human beings were blessed with by God. The contemporary church and Christian communities are expected to respond to modern media technology in terms of how it practices its mission.

Growing together online

One of the creative ways through which I can apply my emerging understanding of spiritual formation is to allow Christians who need mentorship to grow as a family online. Today technology has made it easier for people to carry their Bibles. People can open the bible from their phones anytime, anywhere they want. In most cases, spiritual formation mentorship programs will incorporate the tech-saturated millennials, which makes it possible to choose a real-time setting of communal worship through online social networks. The essence of spiritual formation is to have more followers accept Christ and accomplishing God’s mission to us. Christian communities, be they formed online to physically have to grow together and help each other to spiritual maturity. Christian communities can be explained from an ecological perspective because ecology comes from the hand of God. God created the world with the utmost beauty and complexity that can mostly be understood through ecological categorization (Lowe & Lowe, 2018). A Christian community is like an ecosystem, which can be broadly described as the totality of all living things that depend on one another physically and spiritually. 

With the growth of the internet and social networks, Christians can form communities aimed at encouraging and sharing their spiritual life with one another. Christians mature in their faith across a variety of virtual, digital, and face-to-face settings. There are those who meet with their spiritual leaders or mentors physically, there are those who hold virtual meetings and there are others who utilize today’s technology and the growing use of the internet to mentor others and get mentored in their spiritual formation journey. The benefit of growing together online is that digital platforms allow Christians to grow together as a community. According to Pettit (2008), a spiritual journey is to be a community pilgrimage, but not a solitary walk because the isolated, self-guiding ascetic is vulnerable to spiritual imbalance. Attending a spiritual mentorship session online is a virtual experience of a physical worship service. In the contemporary world driven by technology, mentors, spiritual leaders or pastors should welcome people into the virtual service which are available in most social networking sites.

Social Media spiritual mentorship

Spiritual mentorship through social media would be one of the creative ways to apply my emerging understanding of spiritual formation. The technological advancement in today’s world has made of the people connected. The largest population of the world uses a smartphone, with almost everyone with a smartphone having one or more social media accounts. There are so many popular social network sites, which can not only impact our personal life but also our faith. However, Lowe and Lowe (2018, p. 91) indicates that “developing and designing a learning ecology requires the realization that technology alone cannot create or maintain human relationships and should attempt to replace them.” This is one of the negative aspects attributed to the growth of technology. The negative reputation associated with the use of social media especially in the Christian community can be less powerful than the benefits social media has for many Christians. The use of social media can realty enrich spiritual life, especially when special attention is given to the millennials and their spiritual growth.

What is important is the fact that the life of Christians is all about re-ordering the desires that bring us in conformity with the love of God. Being conformed in Christ depends on what aspect one grabs from any should of spiritual nourishment. In their discussion about web technology, Campbell and Garner (2016) considered the effects that technology has on practices and values in the religious sphere. Having social media spiritual mentorship programs that target the youth will ensure that many young people are reached and they will be allowed to share their thinking and spiritual formation journey. It will be inadequate to resists the digital culture in our Christian lives, but also, we cannot embrace the culture without considering the changes it brings into our community and personal life. As Lowe and Lowe (2018) argues, growing together online requires interdependence and interaction between the self and the communities in which one lives, serves, and learns. The idea of having shared our faith through social media is to learn from one another and serve even those who cannot go to church.

Living faith in a network society

In a network society, faith is lived through sharing and encouraging our fellow Christians to accept Christ. Campbell and Garner (2016, p. 77) argued that “networked religion presents religious practice and culture online in terms of a network approach, where identities, relationships, and realities are shaped through loosely bounded affiliations established by individual user preference and connection over traditional bounded relations established through hierarchies.” Faith leaders can help the Christian community to draw God’s heritage. According to Campbell and Garner (2016), digital media are increasingly integrated into the life of the churches and their ministers, be it for good or for ill.

Today’s network society, connected through the internet and other media technology platforms, allows every Christians to participate in accomplishing the great commission. In the presentation, “Social Networks and Spiritual Formation Part 2”, it was identified that our participation in social networks should be for the glory of God. Whatever we share on our social networks should be aimed at bringing people closer to God. Anything the leads us away from being corm formed to Christ should not be considered. What matters is cultivating a digital community where Christians can join in prayers or start bible study groups. These practices will lift someone somewhere in prayers and some individuals will find accountability for their spiritual growth when they are engaged in online communities that see God and lift one another.

References

Boswell, M. A. (2016). The way to love through hope: A virtue-based model of spiritual growth for Christian spiritual formation (Doctoral dissertation, Graduate Theological Union).

Campbell, H. A., & Garner, S. (2016). Networked Theology (Engaging Culture): Negotiating Faith in Digital Culture. Baker Academic.

Chiroma, N. H. (2015). The role of mentoring in adolescents’ spiritual formation. Journal of Youth and Theology, 14(1), 72-90.

Horan, A. P. (2017). Fostering spiritual formation of millennials in Christian schools. Journal of Research on Christian Education, 26(1), 56-77.

Kujawa-Holbrook, S. A. (2001). Courage and resistance: Spiritual formation and mentoring girls for religious leadership. International Journal of Children's Spirituality, 6(3), 299-310.

Lowe, S. D., & Lowe, M. E. (2018). Ecologies of faith in a digital age: Spiritual growth through online education. InterVarsity Press.

McMartin, J., Dodgen-Magee, D., Geevarughese, M. C., Gioielli, S. M., & Sklar, Q. T. (2013). Spiritual formation training at Rosemead school of psychology. Journal of Psychology & Christianity, 32(4).

McRay, B. W., Barwegen, L., Haase, D. T., Karianjahi, M., Larson, M. L., Ribbe, R., ... & Wilhoit, J. C. (2018). Spiritual formation and soul care in the department of Christian formation and ministry at Wheaton College. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 11(2), 271-295.

Mulholland Jr, M. R. (2016). Invitation to a journey: A road map for spiritual formation. InterVarsity Press.

Norton, E. (2008). Spiritual formation as if the church mattered: Growing in Christ through the community. Library Journal, 133(11), 74.

Pettit, P. (Ed.). (2008). Foundations of spiritual formation: A community approach to becoming like Christ. Kregel Academic.

Porter, S. L., Sandage, S. J., Wang, D. C., & Hill, P. C. (2019). Measuring the spiritual, character, and moral formation of seminarians: In search of a meta-theory of spiritual change. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 12(1), 5-24.

Salberg, K. A. (2018). Posture and spiritual formation: Sanctification in George Herbert’s country parson and the temple. Christianity & Literature, 66(1), 57-72.

Samra, J. G. (2008). Being conformed to Christ in community: A study of maturity, maturation and the local church in the undisputed Pauline Epistles (Vol. 320). Bloomsbury Publishing.

Setran, D. P., & Kiesling, C. A. (2013). Spiritual formation in emerging adulthood: A practical theology for college and young adult ministry. Baker Academic.

Shinohara, A. (2002). Spiritual formation and mentoring: An approach from the Christian tradition of spiritual direction. Christian Education Journal, 6(2), 105.

Smith, G. T. (2017). Generation to generation: Inter-gene rationality and spiritual formation in the Christian community. Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care, 10(2), 182-193.