Some good reading: Spiritual Formation in the Church

Two books that I spent time reading this morning:

Ancient-Future Evangelism - Making Your Church a Faith-Forming Community, by Robert Webber of the Ancient-Future Faith discussion.

The Spirit of the Disciplines, by Dallas Willard.

I have been wrestling a lot with questions such as, what is authentic spirituality? how can we work towards authentic spirituality? is it largly an individual effort or a communal effort? how can the church be more intentional in its spiritual formation?

These books are both wonderful resources that begin to address those questions; both authors are well-studied in historical theology, reformed philosophy (Willard teaches philosophy at the U. of S. California), and in church history. The historical perspective they provide on the Church's conceptions of spirituality and faith-formation is very helpful for understanding and critiquing my own as a 21st century Evangelical conceptions. The common message that they emphasize is the common, contemporary distinguishing between a convert and a disciple is false, and that discipleship begins in converstion and must move through a continual, life-long process culminating in whole-being transformation and Christian vocation. They also both emphasize that the great responsability for spiritual formation, in the design of God, lies withthe Christian community and its leaders - that the Church would be a community were human beings are being guided through a process of formation where their inner and outer beings are becoming more and more conformed to the teachings and example of Christ.

Willard emphasizes how this formation in actuality leads to the full-fillment of true humanness, as God designed it, in the individual and the community. In other words, human beings will only ever reach their full potential as loving, life-producing, creative, worshiping, peaceful beings as they walk through a process of discipleship after Jesus Christ, led by the Church.

Webber emphasizes how this process traditionally (Church of 2nd & 3rd cen.) had various stages and rites of initiation to those stages which the disciple would pass through. The aim of his book is to understand the early church's method of disciple-making, re-clothe it, and re-energize it for this 21st postmodern age in which the Church seeks to minister.

I recommend both books. They helped me begin to think about how the church must seek to be intentional in forming disciples/leading them in authentic spiritual growth, which implies transformation of a person's character, identity, and worldview. They also provide just enough practical examples and starting points so as to begin to apply the material to your own church situation, without giving you a cardboard cut-out, pre-packaged ministry program.

By the way, descriptions of an author or a book are always more convoluted and obscure than the actual book, so please don't judge these books by my description of them, which is sure to be very lacking. Follow the url links and read about them on Amazon. Or better yet, read them for yourself!

can anyone tell me...

Can anyone tell me how to upload a pic into my profile? I tried uploading a pic with HELLO! but the url was too long for the field. I'm new at this so if you could leave a comment with instructions I'd greatly appreciate it.

I hate surprise photos! 

Rumors of Life

There are Rumors of Life are spreading... Whispers of death and hope, thorns and glory, mourning and resurection - they are spread by thirsting hearts who crave for a fountain of living water. Are they true? We must walk down the difficult path, seek to enter the narrow gate, lose our lives, take up the cross, become poor in spirit, hunger and thirst, follow...and then we will see.


"The Holy Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let those who hear say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let them come. And whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." (Rev 22:17 NIV)