Choosing a pathway

When we become a Christian by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we make a choice to follow a certain pathway in life. We may not know all the twists and turns that path will make, but we know our final destination—an eternity with our Lord.

But, we will have other decisions to make in our walk with Jesus. The pathway may be (will be) challenging. Jesus warned His disciples of the trials they would face.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:24-25

Making the decision to accept the gift of salvation is only the beginning. When we give up our worldly life, deny ourselves in order to follow Jesus, we face a multitude of challenges, but if we persevere, we find infinite blessings.

This blog is the first of a series focusing on Spirituality (Spiritual Formation).

What is Spirituality?

“Christian spirituality is the domain of lived Christian experience. It is about living all of life—not just some esoteric portion of it—before God, through Christ, in the transforming and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.”

Zondervan Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (as quoted by Bradley Holt)

Bradley B. Holt (2017), in Thirsty for God, states that spirituality is a “dimension of the human being that makes it possible to integrate spiritual meaning within physical activities, to integrate intellectual work with ethical action” (p. 6). Holt prefers the use of “spiritual formation” as a descriptor rather than “spirituality” because of the suggestion of development and shape within the individual.

This definition sounds somewhat complicated, but Holt (and other scholars) explain the process in more understandable terms, saying that ultimately, through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are transformed into the image of Christ. How amazing is that?

Holt does not specifically use the term, journey, in his description of spirituality, but his emphasis on the concept of formation, indicates process and the passage of time in reaching the goal of formation, thus, a journey. Robert Mulholland (2016), in Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation, agrees with this process, defining spiritual formation as “the process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others” (p. 12).

As the title of his book indicates, Mulholland views this spiritual formation process as a journey:

The way to spiritual wholeness is seen to lie in an increasingly faithful response to the One whose purpose shapes our path, whose grace redeems our detours, whose power liberates us from crippling bondages of the prior journey and whose transforming presence meets us at each turn in the road” (p. 16).

Robert Mulholland

Patricia Greene, in The Soul’s Journey, also confirms this process of journey. Writing with respect of The Interior Castle, written by Teresa of Avila, Greene emphasizes that God must be “present for the soul in that journey to be made toward sanctification” (p. 7).

Sanctification is the “process of being made holy” (Holman Illustrative Bible Dictionary). It may be hard to imagine humans as “holy,” but if we look back to Holt’s description of spiritual formation, he asserts that through the process of spiritual formation we are being transformed into the image of God.

Jesus Is Holy!

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16

Mulholland places a strong emphasis on connection and service to others as we proceed on the journey of spiritual formation. “Spiritual formation is a process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others” (p. 19). We are not in a vacuum on this journey. Part of our work is to care for others on their spiritual journey.

Spiritual Formation Journey

Choosing the path of Spiritual Formation is our decision, just as choosing salvation—our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior and the affirmation that He died on the cross for our sins. The journey to Spiritual Formation is not instant gratification, but an ongoing process that may take us a lifetime.

Are you on a journey of Spiritual Formation? Next week in Part II of this series, “Shaped by God’s Hands”

References

Greene, Patricia, PhD. (2015). The Soul’s Journey. Balboa Press: Bloomington, Indiana.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. (2003). Holman Reference: Nashville, Tennessee, p. 1443.

Holt, Bradley P. (2017). Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality, 3^rd Ed. Fortress Press, Minneapolis.

Mulholland Jr., M. Robert. (2016). Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation, IVP Books (Intervarsity Press), Downers Grove, Illinois.