(530) EMERGING TRENDS IN THE CHURCH TODAY: What Is Spiritual Formation & Is It Biblical?
IS SPIRITUAL FORMATION BIBLICAL?
Today’s society is filled with new words to describe items that were not a part of the vernacular 20, 30, 50 years ago.
Political issues are filled with people protesting on the streets holding up signs that describe their opponents using descriptions that appear to be complex statements that defy the previous generation’s understanding of the issue being protested. Think of the word “prejudice”. A generation ago, we would have heard this word to describe issues related to this theme and would quickly understand how it was being used. Today, there are a plethora of words to describe this issue and variations of this issue that don’t even use the word prejudice in its descriptions. Even some of the similar words seemed to have succumbed to the newer words being tossed around. It is rare to hear the word prejudice today. It is rare to hear the word bigot today. Instead, often times words such as racism, sexism, heterosexism are used. But even these are now dated. Today, many of these words have definitions that have been modified somewhat or blatantly changed to sell books or to denigrate an opponent’s view. Related words demonstrate that such as – anti-racist, woke, cancel culture, people of color, white fragility, color blind, white supremacy,….etc. All are words that originally had simple, common definitions but now mean something completely different or are defined in more complex or nuanced manner. Are these definitions valid? That is where the debate comes into play today.
It seems like the church has seen similar changes of the last few decades as groups seek to use new words or variations of existing and commonly known words in different ways. One of these words that come to my mind is SPIRITUAL FORMATION (SF). Today, this phrase can mean many different variations of a theme that does’t come directly from Scripture – which of course is not what its proponents claim. It is commonly used with SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES.
Some try to piggy back it with words directly from the Bible such as discipleship. SF is today’s version of discipleship. But again, someone saying that doesn’t make it true.
Spiritual Formation is a concept that until recently, had more in common with early church “saints” who practiced various forms of mysticism in their version of walking in faith.
For a broad definition, lets start with Wikipedia –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_formation
Spiritual formation may refer either to the process and practices by which a person may progress in one’s spiritual or religious life or to a movement in Protestant Christianity that emphasizes these processes and practices. It may include, but is not limited to,
- Specific techniques of prayer and meditation[1]
- A focus on spiritual disciplines and practices[2]
- Reference to historical religious philosophy and techniques[3]
Many authors have attempted to define spiritual formation. Christian religious writers and institutions have differing definitions due to their various conceptions of it. Some authors suggest that it is discovery of “leadings of the heart,”[4] renewal of the mind (sanctification),[5] walking in the spirit,[6] or a type of character formation.[7] In Care of Mind, Care of Spirit, psychiatrist Gerald G. May offers, “Spiritual formation is a rather general term referring to all attempts, means, instruction, and disciplines intended towards deepening of faith and furtherance of spiritual growth. It includes educational endeavors as well as the more intimate and in-depth process of spiritual direction.”[8]
This concept was once popular within early/ancient Roman Catholic mysticism and over the last few decades became popular within Protestant Churches. Proponents defined these by mimicking early church practices as well as practices commonly found today in Eastern religions (eg. Buddhism). The practices use contemplative prayer in their effort to become closer to God. Attempts are made to center oneself by pushing out of your thoughts any distracting view so that you are in a position to hear from God. Hear what from God? Not from reading the Bible. You are instead instructed to clear out any thinking so that you arrive in a place to hear God speak to you. Many of the reasons given sound religiously pleasing and don’t overtly give off any warning flags. But, upon investigating their origins, their backing by Scripture, and how they are used today, should set off warning bells.
RUTH HALEY BARTON – A contemporary proponent of SF, holds a Doctor of Divinity from Northern Theological Seminary (Lombard, IL), along with a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College (IL) and Master’s studies at Loyola University Chicago Institute for Pastoral Studies. She received her training in spiritual direction through the SHALEM INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL FORMATION (Bethesda, MD) under the guidance of Tilden Edwards, Rosemary Dougherty and GERALD MAY. She’s also a student of family systems theory as it relates to congregational life (Lombard Mennonite Peace Center) and has studied the ENNEAGRAM with Russ Hudson of the Enneagram Institute.
It is not accident that she is a proponent of SF. Her influence comes from Roman Catholicism and the Shalem Institute from people like Tilden Edwards, Rosemary Doughterty and Gerald May => all major proponents of spreading SF into the church and including Eastern Mysticism in with their teaching.
On the site Missio Alliance, an article by Ken Van Vliet, titled – Is Spiritual Formation Biblical?, addresses the topic. Who is Mr. Vliet?
His description in the article – “Dr. Ken Van Vliet is the Co-Lead Mentor of the Doctor of Ministry in Leadership & Spiritual Formation program at Portland Seminary. Ken works in partnership with Dr. MaryKate Morse, professor of spiritual formation, and a longtime Leading Voice with Missio Alliance. I literally graduated from this program last week, and recommend it deeply, without reservation! A version of this piece appears on Portland Seminary’s website as well. ~CK “
With people such as Ruth Haley Barton and Ken Van Vliety, one should look first at their background. They both were educated in schools that have some questionable characteristics that I would think any objective observer would raise questions on how much of their background influences their view.
Ken says that “Spiritual Formation is deeply biblical”. He begins by referring to Genesis 2:7 which talks about God forming man from the dust of the ground. Does that really imply Spiritual Formation?
He then moves one to Genesis 12:1-3 – “God set apart the nation of Israel to be formed into a kind of people who ever to reflect God to the world and in doing so point people back to God”. Again, the question must be asked – does this really imply Spiritual Formation?
Ken Van Vliet goes through the Bible and shows how Spiritual Formation was being used simply because the word “formation” was used in some way. Does that really imply Spiritual Formation?
I think it is simply hunting and pecking through the Bible to find a similar word and without applying the proper context using it to support a particular viewpoint. I don’t see the context supporting how Spiritual Formation is used in the church today.
Another factor is not only looking at the context of the Bible verses used, but the person writing the article should be understood in order to see what bias they are carry with them into the article. For example, Ken Van Vliet –
Dr. Ken Van Vliet is the Co-Lead Mentor of the Doctor of Ministry in Leadership & Spiritual Formation program at Portland Seminary. Ken works in partnership with Dr. MaryKate Morse, professor of spiritual formation, and a longtime Leading Voice with Missio Alliance. I literally graduated from this program last week, and recommend it deeply, without reservation! A version of this piece appears on Portland Seminary’s website as well.
He has a degree in Spiritual Formation. That may make him an expert? It may also make his view very very biased. Likewise, he teaches at a university that has programs in SF and is related to the Quaker Movement which has a long history of contemplative practices.
The main point is this. Even in Christian writings, a book or article from a Christian magazine, or a Christian school….etc., someone claiming that Spiritual Formation is Biblical needs to do more than just say that is the case. Just quoting from seemingly unrelated Bible verses does not mean this is how God wants us to engage our spirituality. The source should be the Bible. We need to be diligent in understanding what God has clearly said about these topics. Scripture is a vital piece of the puzzle that should focus our attention to grow based on what God has actually said to us in His word.
Here are some good resources to further define Spiritual Formation and the issues involved:
IronDukeblog 
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