Wednesday in the Word

what the Bible means and how we know

spiritual disciplines

Spiritual Formation: a critical look

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Does Spiritual Formation Work? Answers from Haggai | WednesdayintheWord.com
“Spiritual formation” is a hot topic today. But does it work? The Old Testament prophet Haggai would answer no. Read more…

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Are Spiritual Disciplines shooting at the right target? | WednesdayintheWord.com
The theology of Spiritual Formation sounds great on paper, but it is focused on the wrong target.  Scripture defines spiritual maturity as strong, saving faith, not greater obedience.  Read more…
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Does Spiritual Formation seek the right kind of change? | WednesdayintheWord.com
The Bible teaches that spiritual maturity is an inward reality which is impossible to achieve through self-effort or outward disciplines. Spiritual maturity is strictly a gift which God gives by His grace, on His time table, according to His plan, independent of any practices I practice.  Read more….
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Prayer & Spiritual Formation: how does it work? | WednesdayintheWord.com
The biblical picture of prayer is not that it is a spiritual discipline that I use to reach a higher spiritual level. Rather the biblical picture of prayer is as an unavoidable mandatory battlefield in the war of faith.  Read more…
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Prayer and Spiritual Formation: How does it work?

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Prayer & Spiritual Formation: how does it work? | WednesdayintheWord.com
The theology of Spiritual Formation assumes there is a level a spirituality that I can have if I regularly do certain spiritual practices. Prayer is typically is one of those practices.

Advocates of Spiritual Formation view prayer as a means to an end:   They see prayer as a preparatory discipline to strengthen me for later success, like an athlete lifts weights to be strong enough to run the race.  The goal is not to lift weights; the goal is to finish the race.  Weight-lifting makes me strong enough to finish.  Similarly, prayer –in their view — is not something I do for its own sake.  It is something I practice to prepare for later victory.

Prayer is not a means to an end

Yet, the biblical picture of prayer is not a spiritual discipline that I use to reach a higher spiritual level. Rather prayer is an unavoidable mandatory battlefield in the war of faith.

Prayer forces me to wrestle with the fundamental questions of life. What I pray about reveals how I answer the “big questions” like:

  • What do I think about God?  God has made promises and given warnings. Do I in fact believe Him? Do I want what the gospel promises or am I seeking something else?
  • What do I think about myself? How do I present myself when I come to God in prayer? Do I say, “God have mercy on me, the sinner” or do I say, “thank you I’m not like that other guy”? Do I really grasp the extent of my rebellion to God?
  • What do I think about my neighbor? When my neighbor is causing me grief, how will I pray for her? Will I ask God to throw the book at that brat? Or will I ask for the same forgiveness I have received?
  • What do I ultimately want? In addition to the gospel, I have a whole menu of temptations and empty philosophies in front of me. Which will I ask for in prayer? Do I want what God offers in Jesus Christ or do I want all that other stuff?

Prayer is the battlefield of faith

Prayer is one main areas where I work out my answers those questions. I turn to God in prayer for all things because I feel the pressures of life and I believe God is one I should turn to. I continually turn to Him in prayer because I have recognized He is the only source of Life and blessing and there is no place else to go.

The admonition to “pray without ceasing” is not encouragement to keep asking until I reach a higher level. The admonition to “pray at all times” is to continue choosing to follow Jesus.

Prayer is not a means to an experience. It is the place where I make a decision about who I trust and what I believe. It is the place where I acknowledge who I am, who God is and therefore what I think is true about life and this world.

Biblical prayer is not the means to spiritual awakening; by the time I pray, spiritual awakening has already happened.  By the time I pray, the wrestling over what I believe and who I trust has finished. The resolution is I have turned to the God of my salvation in prayer.

That can’t be scheduled as a discipline, an exercise or a routine.

The Bible does not say: “Pray this way and you’ll make better progress.”  The Bible says: “The fundamental question before you is, do you trust God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ no matter what?”  If you trust Him, then you’ll pray. You won’t be able to help it. Because if you trust Him, you will know He is your only hope.

Previous: Does Spiritual Formation seek the right kind of change?

Series: Spiritual Formation: A Critical Look

Usual Disclaimer:  I am heavily indebted to other thinkers and teachers.  These posts are my attempt to clarify my own thinking, reading and research.  I hope to either learn why I’m wrong or articulate why the theology of spiritual formation is flawed.  I am NOT questioning the sincerity, faith or motivations of advocates of spiritual formation. As with any controversial topic, my goal is: 1)  to know what I believe and why and 2) to understand the other side well enough to know why it fails to persuade.

Photo used here under Flickr Creative Commons.

Does Spiritual Formation seek the right kind of change?

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Does Spiritual Formation seek the right kind of change? |WednesdayintheWord.com

Not only does the theology of spiritual formation aim at the wrong target, spiritual formation seeks the wrong kind of change.

What is spiritual formation?

The theology of spiritual formation assumes I can transform myself from a position of lesser spirituality to a position of greater spirituality through “spiritual disciplines” like fasting, routine prayer, meditation, quiet times, church attendance, service, etc.  While spiritual disciplines focus on success at outward righteous behavior, the Bible teaches that the goal of spiritual maturity is a strong unshakeable faith.

Additionally, biblical spiritual maturity is an inward reality; not an outward reality.  Spiritual disciplines can only change outward reality.

An “outward reality” is something I put on like an actor.  Most spiritual disciplines are outward behaviors (e.g. fasting, routine prayer, meditation, etc) that I practice on the outside with the goal of changing who I am on the inside.

Others are also outward but not obviously so.  For instance, creating emotions of grief through contemplation, music, or readings is an outward reality while genuine grief over my sin is an inward reality.  Making time in my schedule to thank God is an outward reality while genuine gratitude toward God is an inward reality.  That raises two questions:

First, having changed your outward practices, have you done enough?  No, if changing my outward behavior is sufficient, then the Mosaic law would have worked and we would have no need for a savior.  Most people can improve outward behavior with enough time and effort.  That kind of change does not require the Spirit of God and does not change my basic sinful nature.

Second, does outward change produce genuine inward belief and spiritual maturity?

Do outward practices produce genuine inward maturity?

Advocates of Spiritual Formation claim outward change necessarily leads to inward change usually for one of three reasons.

1) One theory is what I call the “gravity” explanation. These folks claim outward practices inevitably produce inward change like gravity inevitably makes objects fall.  So they claim fasting effects my biology to make me more sensitive to hear word of God; routine prayer naturally relieves stress and promotes gratitude; rest and contemplation fit our natural biological rhythms which increase joy and contentment, etc.

2) Others claim spiritual practices work because of supernatural laws, not natural laws like gravity.  Thus, reading the bible and memorizing scripture will make me more godly because God has supernaturally made it so.  One speaker even argued that memorizing Scripture is like water running through a funnel.  The water purifies the funnel as it passes through regardless of whether the water is retained or not; similarly Scripture running through my mind changes me regardless of whether I understand it because reading Scripture is a supernaturally blessed activity.

3) Finally, some claim spiritual practices work through divine blessing, not natural or supernatural laws.  They claim God blesses my spiritual disciplines in response to the fact that I have sought to please him.  Essentially, God said “do this (pray, tithe, fast, meditate, fill in the blank) and I will bless you.”  We act and He blesses in response.

I would argue the Bible teaches that spiritual maturity is an inward reality which is impossible to achieve through self-effort or outward disciplines.

Spiritual maturity is strictly a gift which God gives by His grace, on His timetable, according to His plan, independent of any practices I practice.  If He wishes, He can use my outward practices; or if He wishes, He can work in spite of my practices or lack thereof.  When I grow in spiritual maturity, it is because God has made it happen as a gift of His grace.

Consider Colossians 2

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations– “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)–according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. – Colossians 2:20-23

The Apostle Paul claims in Colossians 2 that while rules, regulations and practices seem holy and wise, in the end they have no value because they do not and cannot produce inward change.

Some false teaching had crept into the Colossian church which claimed true spirituality was found in rules and asceticism.  Paul urges them to hold fast to the gospel they first believed and not be taken in by other ideas cooked up by men.  The other ideas seem wise and attractive, but they have no value in solving the problem of sin.

Spiritual disciplines dangle the promise of making it possible for me to do what I can not do: make myself acceptable to God.  But practices can never do that.  That misguided promise makes Spiritual Formation attractive and gives it the “appearance of wisdom.” But changing my outward reality cannot change my sinful nature, and my sinful nature is what needs changing.

For more listen to

Romans 7 and

Galatains 3

Next: Prayer and Spiritual Formation: How does it work?

Previous: Is Spiritual Formation shooting at the right target?

Series: Spiritual Formation: A Critical Look

Usual Disclaimer:  I am heavily indebted to other thinkers and teachers.  These posts are my attempt to clarify my own thinking, reading and research.  I hope to either learn why I’m wrong or articulate why the theology of spiritual formation is flawed.  I am NOT questioning the sincerity, faith or motivations of advocates of spiritual formation. As with any controversial topic, my goal is: 1)  to know what I believe and why and 2) to understand the other side well enough to know why it fails to persuade.

 Photo taken by Petadvisor.com and used here under Flickr Creative Commons.

Is Spiritual Formation shooting at the right target?

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Is Spritiual Formation shooting at the right target? |WednesayintheWord.com

The theology of Spiritual Formation sounds great on paper, but it is focused on the wrong target.

Spiritual formation is “an intentional Christian practice with the goal of developing spiritual maturity that leads to Christ-likeness.”  The central claim of “spiritual formation”  is the belief that — in cooperation with the Holy Spirit — I can transform myself from a position of lesser spirituality to a position of greater spirituality through “spiritual disciplines” like bible reading, fasting, confession, meditation, acts of service, sabbath rest, etc.

Progress toward greater spirituality is measured by what can be seen (for example, how well I maintain the routines of sabbath, bible reading, confession;  how loving my actions are toward others; how much I experience greater joy and contentment; how well I serve and sacrifice, etc.) which means success is measured by outward righteous behavior.

But is outward righteous behavior the right target? Certainly, greater obedience is a worthy target.  Given a choice between doing right and doing wrong, I should always strive to do right.  But does Scripture define the goal of spiritual maturity as increased outward righteous actions?

No, Scripture defines spiritual maturity as strong, saving faith, not greater obedience.  By saving faith I mean a strong, irreversible belief in the truth of the gospel and an unshakeable hope in its promises.   While stronger faith may result in more obedience, the goal is mature faith, not perfect obedience.

Jesus says the goal is belief

Consider John 6.  After the feeding of the 5000, a large crowd follows Jesus seeking more miracles.

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”  Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”  Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom He has sent.”  – John 6:26-29

The burning question in John 6:28 is precisely the question of spiritual formation:  “What must we do to be doing the works of God?”  In other words, what must a believer do to be a good Christian?   I believe, what do I do next?

Notice Jesus doesn’t provide a list of spiritual practices or behavior that needs improving.  Rather he says if you want to do the work of God in this life, simply believe.

Paul’s goal is mature faith

Consider the Apostle Paul’s prayers in Ephesians.  Paul’s prayers reveal that what he thinks is most important for his readers and what he beseeches God to give them is strong, mature faith.

In Ephesians 1, after explaining the incredible blessings God has given us in Christ (1:1-14), Paul prays that his readers would fully understand these blessings. Notice the emphasis on wisdom, knowledge and mature belief in the gospel.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. – Ephesians 1:15-23

Paul prays that the “eyes of their heart would be enlightened” so that they would know 3 things:  the hope of his calling; the riches of the glory of his inheritance; and the surpassing greatness of his power.  All three phrases point to the same thing: a fully-formed, unshakeable trust in the promises of the gospel.  In other words, mature saving faith.

Paul closes the first section of the book by again praying for spiritual maturity and full understanding of the love of Christ.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:14-19

It’s interesting that he prays this prayer for folks who are already believers.   Since all believers already have “Christ dwelling in their hearts through faith” — that happens at conversion — why pray for it?  Why indeed, unless the Christian life is a progressive journey toward maturity?  Paul defines maturity in this prayer as fully comprehending the gospel.  In other words, saving faith.

Just a few verses later as he’s describing how the body of Christ works, Paul again claims the goal is faith and knowledge.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ – Ephesians 4:11-13

What are we all suppose to obtain?  Faith and knowledge.  Paul describes spiritual maturity as firmly trusting and believing the promises of the gospel and fully comprehending its implications.

John says the goal is faith

The Apostle John echoes this same idea.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  — 1 John 5:4-5

Left to ourselves, we would be trapped in our sin.  But there is a way to overcome sin (“to overcome the world”).  The path to change is not through spiritual disciplines; it is through faith in Jesus Christ.  You overcome sin by persevering in the faith and believing in the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. Who is the one who has overcome the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

The goal of spiritual maturity is not greater success at outward righteous behavior.  The goal of spiritual maturity is a strong, unshakeable faith.

Next: Do spiritual disciplines seek the right kind of change?

Previous: Does Spiritual Formation Work? Answers from Haggai

Series: Spiritual Formation: A Critical Look

Usual Disclaimer:  I am heavily indebted to other thinkers and teachers.  These posts are my attempt to clarify my own thinking, reading and research.  I hope to either learn why I’m wrong or articulate why the theology of spiritual formation is flawed.  I am NOT questioning the sincerity, faith or motivations of advocates of spiritual formation. As with any controversial topic, my goal is: 1)  to know what I believe and why and 2) to understand the other side well enough to know why it fails to persuade.

Photo taken by Boots N Paddles and used here under Flickr Creative Commons.

Why do you call me good?

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Why do you call me good?

 And as he [Jesus] was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.  – Mark 10:17-18

In this story from the Gospel of Mark, a rich young man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.  (Assumption: he can do it.)

In the first part of His answer Jesus responds, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”  In other words, ‘God is the only one who is good; do you call me good because you believe I am His Son?’  You can not be good enough to earn eternal life; the only way to gain eternal life is to believe Jesus is the Son of God who died to pay the price for your sins.

If you are a follower of Christ, you have probably believed you can not be good enough to earn eternal life  since the day of your conversion.

But how easily we live as if we can!

For many today it is a settled fact that truly good people practice certain practices.  The list varies with geography, but you’ll probably recognize it: daily Bible reading, planned Scripture memorization, a prayer routine, regular church attendance, serving the poor, etc.

Let’s call these rituals we do to express our beliefs “religious practices” —  in contrast to expressions of character — or moral practices such as compassion, mercy, kindness, generosity, etc.

How should I view religious practices?

Are religious practices essential to spiritual growth or to gain God’s blessing?  Is neglecting them a sign of unbelief or of disregard for God?  Please notice that I am not asking whether or not religious practices are good things to do;  I’m asking what our attitude toward them should be.   The answer is not simple black and white.

Like every good thing, performing religious practices with the wrong attitude is dangerous.   Too easily we develop the notion of the rich young ruler: “I’ve done all these things, God now owes me.”  Religious practices– no matter how stellar they are –are wrong when done with the attitude that God owes me.  Insofar as I do them it is God’s gift to me, not my gift to God.

Religious practices do not cause spiritual growth.  Religious practices result from growth.

Whatever joy I find in Bible study is because God has given me a longing to know Him better.  Whatever gratitude or trust I feel that results in prayer stems from God teaching me to worship Him.    Whatever encouragement I find in regularly attending church and fellowship with other believers follows from God giving me a love for the things He loves including other people.

But you will say to me, ‘you’re missing something.  Religious practice are commanded.  They are part of obedience.  There is value in doing them, whether we feel like it or not, because we are being obedient.’

And I would answer, the practices themselves are not commanded, but the moral principles behind them are.   A routine of Bible study or prayer is an expression of the moral command to love the Lord your God with all your heart.  A ritual of memorizing Scripture is an expression of the moral command to seek God with all your heart.   In each case, the moral principle is the necessity.   The ritual is one expression of that moral principle — but not necessarily the only expression of it.

No one except God is good enough. Our religious practices are evidence of maturing faith, not the cause of it.   When we see evidence of growth, like a desire to pray,  study the Bible or serve the poor, we ought to thank God — not our own good deeds.