Modern Christianity runs the danger of promoting a gospel that emphasises being 'fixed' by Jesus rather than 'growing' in Jesus. Our spirituality has taken on the language of psychology. We want to find ourselves, release the potential of our human spirit, center our core being, reach our potential, and be the best we can be. Sounds great.
But it's a me-centered spirituality sprinkled with God-words which puts me at the center and God at the circumference.
Our churches are full of Narcissus' on their knees instead of Davids' thirsting for God. And what makes this whole attitude even more foolish is that most of us think this is the way it's suppose to be. It's not!
It's not even close.
Paul understood with razor sharp clarity the essence of spiritual formation. "I urge you to live life worthy of the calling you have received" (Ephesians 4:1). The Greek word "worthy" was also used to describe the balance point between a pair of scales. It is the point of tension where the scales will either balance or tip to one side of the other.
Therefore, when we hide behind "God-words" and avoid dealing with God, we live unworthy, off-centered lives. When we substitute religious ritual for a dynamic relationship with the living Christ, we live unworthy, off-centered lives.
True spirituality is learning to discern what either assists or impairs our growth in Christ. Do we even know?
Once we learn about spiritual formation, we won't do it perfectly, but we will do it better than we're doing now. It's not a method, a list, or a set of principles. Spiritual growth happens little by little as we open our spirit to God's Spirit. Spiritual formation is not a list of chores; it is spirit to Spirit.
So, we have a choice: spiritual formation or spiritual deformation. To live worthily or not. God won't coerce us. He invites us to walk the Jesus way. But the decision is ours.
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