The following model was created as an assignment for the Facilitation of Spiritual Formation Course in the doctorate in Spiritual Formation Program at Liberty University Seminary. The student scored 200/200 on the paper. The full title was “Emerging Model of Individual and Corporate Spiritual Formation at the Kenneth Acha Foundation (KAF).”
Introduction
Spiritual formation is the central calling of the Christian. An effective spiritual formation model helps with the discharge of this calling. During the communal process of spiritual formation, God’s Spirit forms the human spirit (heart/character) so that it looks and acts like the Spirit (heart/character) of Christ. The will (character) of the individual so formed takes on the character of Christ’s will so that this person thinks and acts like Christ and makes the same decisions Christ would make while retaining the unique individuality of his God-given personality.[1] The result of this Christlike formation of the human heart is the transformation of the entire human soul (spirit, mind, body, and social relations). Paul Petitt defines spiritual formation as “the ongoing process of the triune God transforming the believer’s life and character toward the life and character of Jesus Christ—accomplished by the ministry of the Spirit in the context of biblical community.”[2] Petitt adds that “this process should not be divided into the spiritual and physical, or private and public, or secular and sacred. It involves the integrated, whole-person—one’s manner of thinking, habits and behaviors, and manner of relating with God and others—and it should result in a life of loving God and loving others well.”[3]
Important issues and concepts
Many important issues and concepts need to be addressed when developing a biblical model of Spiritual Formation that helps pilgrims on this journey. A strong Biblical Spiritual Formation (BSF) model must be built on the solid foundation of a biblical theology of spiritual formation. Such a biblical theology provides a biblical rationale for BSF and answers questions related to the why, where, what, when, who, and how of Spiritual Formation.
The why (central purpose) of BSF is worship. The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.[4] Spiritual formation is the pathway for such glorification (or worship) and enjoyment (or Christian hedonism, as John Piper calls it). Richard Averbeck goes as far as to say that “Worship is spirituality.”[5] Another aspect of the why of BSF is the goal, which is to develop the character of Christ in the body of Christ.[6]
The where (context and extent) of BSF is the human soul planted within the body of Christ (the community of God’s people). BSF always happens within the context of a community of believers. At the heart of BSF is a community (the body of Christ) characterized by life-giving ecological interconnections and interactions between members.[7] Through these connections and interactions, the healing balm of God’s love flows as iron sharpens iron. As Lowe & Lowe have shown, these same life-giving connections and interactions can be created through ecological online networks.[8] In line with that, KAF plans to employ a hybrid structure that uses online technologies to supplement our embodied fellowship. We will also help each individual (and our organization) tell their life story (the story of God’s work in their life) to help build understanding and trust within our community.[9] Another aspect of “the where” of Spiritual Formation is the extent. It must be holistic, transforming the whole soul and its four major dimensions, not just the spirit. As Luke 2:52 illustrates from the life of Jesus, holistic growth includes the spiritual, psychological, physical, and social dimensions of being.[10] The when of BSF is lifelong, from new birth (regeneration) to death. The who includes the triune God, the individual, and other believers. The rest of this paper will address the what and the how.
What are the ingredients that facilitate and promote the spiritual growth of Christians?
Dr. Steve Lowe says there are at least four key ingredients or resources that are necessary for Christian Spiritual growth. These are God’s word (the Bible), God’s Son and the work he has done for us, God’s Spirit and the empowerment he provides for us, and God’s people (the body of Christ).[11] My GROWTH strategy for spiritual formation, discussed below, gives six ingredients for BSF in an easy-to-remember mnemonic.[12] Spiritual growth and maturation require the use of these grace resources to grow into the character of Christ.
How does one facilitate BSF?
This is a question of strategy (the how). The lifelong journey of BSF has as its starting point, the unregenerate human heart, and its final destination, the heart of Christ. From the new birth, intentional BSF can move us through stages of spiritual change from newborn babies, children, to young men and women, and finally to older people (mature believers). Advancing through these stages is not spontaneous. A strategy is needed. Dallas Willards proposes a strategy, VIM, that works for any personal or corporate transformation as well as for BSF. VIM stands for vision, intention, and means.[13] Vision (goal) is the gospel of the Kingdom of God and the joys of an eternity of knowing God. Intention is deciding to be a kingdom person. The means refer to the spiritual disciplines. I prefer my GROWTH strategy, which includes all of the VIM elements and additional guidance that helps with any change process.[14] The primary means for both congregation and individual BSF are the spiritual disciplines.[15] Other beneficial means are strategies for mortifying sin similar to what is taught by John Owen in The Mortification of Sin, and the approach used by 12-step recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. In fact, “any successful plan for spiritual formation, whether for the individual or group, will, in fact, be significantly similar to the Alcoholics Anonymous program.”[16] The means also include a growth, disease prevention, and disease treatment approach akin to what is used in medicine that is aimed at helping both individuals and congregations to continue to progress on their journey toward Christlikeness. This includes personal and group assessments, diagnosis, and personalized treatment of acute and chronic indwelling sin. Such diagnosis and treatment should keep in mind the four dimensions of the soul as ailments in each dimension, though affecting the whole being, require treatments that target the root cause. The growth programs and treatments also need to be consistent with how God has designed and uniquely called each individual. Moles and eagles glorify God differently, so their spiritual formation must look different. One’s target group needs to be selected carefully and then defined to ensure that the physician is treating a community that he or she is well equipped to serve.
God’s plan for Biblical formation within a local congregation is the Great Commission found in Mathew 28:18-20.[17] Jesus’ command, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,” means discipleship must necessarily begin with teaching disciples to love well because the greatest and the second greatest commandments are to love (Matthew 22:36-40). In fact, love is the sum of all the commandments and fulfills the whole law. From the Great Commission, Greatest Commandments, and the life of Jesus, KAF derived ten core values that guide the organization administratively and organize our means of spiritual formation.[18] These ten core values form the seven components of my Values-Driven BSF Model and can be remembered by the acrostic PRAISE GOD! They are Passion for God (Identity and Worship), Relationships (Fellowship), Authentic Christlike Character (Discipleship), Intentional Leadership, Simplicity, Excellence in service (ministry), Growth-minded, Ownership, Disciplemaking, and Praise God.[19] All our spiritual formation activities, from evangelizing unbelievers to helping disciples grow into the fullness of the character of Christ, are organized around those seven values. And so would be our staffing and budgeting.
Each of these seven values has corresponding spiritual disciplines and activities that help us grow in each area. This values-driven growth happens as we live out a vertical (primary) calling to be connected to God and a horizontal (or functional) calling to be connected ecologically to other believers and to join God on his mission to serve others and fulfill his purposes in the world.[20] Such growth happens as we live in an ecological community with other believers. It happens when people live by design (calling), not by default.
Footnotes
[1] Dallas Willard, “Spiritual Formation: What It Is, and How It is Done,” DallasWillard.org, accessed May 15, 2020, https://www.dwillard.org/articles/individual/spiritual-formation-what-it-is-and-how-it-is-done.
[2] Paul Pettit, Foundations of Spiritual Formation: A Community Approach to Becoming Like Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2008), 24.
[3] Ibid.
[4] “Westminster Shorter Catechism,” Orthodox Presbyterian Church, accessed May 16, 2020, https://opc.org/sc.html.
[5] Richard Averbeck, “Worship and Spiritual Formation,” in Foundations of Spiritual Formation: A Community Approach to Becoming Like Christ, ed. Paul Pettit (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2008), 51.
[6] Reid Kisling, Foundations of Spiritual Formation: A Community Approach to Becoming Like Christ, ed. Paul Pettit (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2008), 143-161.
[7] Stephen D. Lowe and Mary E. Lowe, Ecologies of Faith in a Digital Age: Spiritual Growth through Online Education (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2018), WordSearch, chapters 9, 10, 11.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Gail Seidel, “Life Story and Spiritual Formation,” in Foundations of Spiritual Formation: A Community Approach to Becoming Like Christ, ed. Paul Pettit (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2008), 217-244.
[10] Stephen D. Lowe and Mary E. Lowe, Ecologies of Faith in a Digital Age: Spiritual Growth through Online Education (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2018), WordSearch, 132.; Dallas Willard’s book, Renovation of the Heart, is built around these four dimensions and the soul, which is its uniting factor.
[11] Steven Lowe, “Presentation: Community Formation,” Liberty University, accessed May 16, 2020, https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_621486_1&content_id=_39960105_1.
[12] Kenneth Acha, “Ingredients That Facilitate and Promote Christian Spiritual Formation,” KENNETH MD | DR. KENNETH ACHA, MD, MA, last modified May 18, 2020, https://www.kennethmd.com/ingredients-that-facilitate-and-promote-christian-spiritual-formation/.
[13] Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ (Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 2014), Kindle, chapter 5.
[14] Kenneth Acha, “GROWTH Framework: 6 Steps for Choosing a Strategy,” KENNETH MD | DR. KENNETH ACHA, MD, MA, last modified May 14, 2020, https://www.kennethmd.com/the-growth-framework-a-great-way-to-choose-strategy/.
[15] Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart, chapter 5.; M. Robert Mulholland Jr., Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2016), Kindle, 89-90.
[16] Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart, chapter 5.
[17] Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart, chapter 13; Willard has a section in this chapter titled “God’s Plan for Spiritual Formation,” which is helpful to read.
[18] Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message and Mission (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), Kindle, chapter 5. This is similar to what Rick Warren does
[19] These are similar to Rick Warren’s five purposes; Andy Stanley’s Five things God uses to grow your faith; and the four components of The Transforming Life Model from The Hendrick’s center at DTS.
[20] George Hillman, “Calling and Spiritual Formation,” in Foundations of Spiritual Formation: A Community Approach to Becoming Like Christ, ed. Paul Pettit (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2008), ch 9.
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