Week 3- Definition of Spiritual Formation

Well, here we are, finished with Week 2 of classes.  John Coe's lecture - Resisting the Temptation of Moral Formation - pricked our minds with the official definition of Spiritual Formation, which released us of all our concerns of the program being "too much of '_____'" (fill-in the blank with anything: emotion, mysticism, liturgy, psychology, self-focus, self-analysis, individualism, stoicism, gnosticism, monasticism, angst etc.).  We were relieved to find out he actually found Spiritual Formation in scripture (I guess it's in there somewhere).

(Click HERE for an Article on "Relieving Evangelical Anxieties Over Spiritual Formation" by Dr.Porter. This addresses very similar concerns we, or you, might have with this "trend")

Here is John Coe's definition as a whole, and below is how he broke it down in explanation:

As a whole:

Spiritual formation is the divinely sanctioned process by which the person is transformed into the image of Christ on the basis of Christ's work on the cross and by agency of the Holy Spirit, who, in union with our human spirit, forms Christ in our character--which begins in the life and continues into the next.

As explained in pieces:



A divinely sanctioned: (John 4.24)

-There are so many ways to form a spirit (i.e. secular, religious, mystical etc), but God has given a divinely sanctioned way. We are asking, 'what is God's way of formation?'
-This is considered Spiritual Theology, the Theology of Christian Spirituality, aka, the Christian growth process (see Spiritual Theology by Chan under books tab).


Process: (Phil 1.6)

-I.e, not instantaneous, but slow and steady


By which the person: (Col 5.23)

-God sanctifies us entirely
-A human being is a dichotomy, body and spirit, each is mean to be renewed day by day (i.e. used less and less for unholiness and more and more for holiness)


Is transformed into the image of Christ: (Col 1.28)

-This is Christ's work
-This is the goal of Spiritual Formation


On the basis of Christ's work on the cross: (Rom. 8.30, 1 Cor 6.11)

-Christ's work on the cross is our justification and reconciliation with God
-All Spiritual Formation must be birthed out of Christ's work
-B/c of Christ there is no longer any shame or guilt before God, He has already taken care of it


By the agency of the Holy Spirit, who in union with our human spirit, forms Christ in our character: (Gal 5.20)

-This is the growth that is from God, His life transferred to mine
-The Holy Spirit as the forming agent, the growth He gives is lasting
-Without the Spirit it is not growth, it is works and it is not lasting.


Which begins in this life and continues into the next:

-Formation is the eternal process of becoming fully human in God forever
-Spiritual Formation is both happening now and continually into eternal growth


It is so relieving to be reminded that spiritual growth is not based in our effort.  A free audio download is available on ITUNES on Resisting the Temptation of Moral Formation, as a exhortation for believers to rely on Christ's finished work as the source of Spiritual Formation, rather than using fortitude to build continual self-sufficiency. Other articles on Spiritual Formation are available free as well.