Continuing from the last post, Dallas Willard states that the
instrumentalities of Christian spiritual formation involves much more than
human effort. Well-informed human effort is necessary, for spiritual formation
is not a passive process. But, Christ-likeness of the inner being is not merely
human attainment. It is, finally, a gift of grace coming from the interactive
presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who place their confidence in
Christ and associated spiritual treasures. Therefore, it is not only formation
of the spirit or inner being of the individual, but also formation by the
Spirit of God and by the spiritual riches of Christ’s continuing incarnation in
His people, including the treasures of His written and spoken word.
What are the primary
elements or activities involved in an effective process of Christian spiritual
formation? Willard says, there is first of all the actions of the Holy Spirit
and the Word of the gospel that awakens those “dead in trespasses and sins” to
the love of God and to the availability of life in His Kingdom through
confidence in Jesus Christ. We are saved because Christ died for our sins. This
makes possible their acceptance of Christ as Savior, which then opens their
souls to the influx of divine life,
making them “participants of the divine nature and in that sense children of
God. The initiative of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and of those who
minister the Spirit and the Word never cease in the process of spiritual
formation.
But, there is also a
constant seeking on the part of the individual disciple and of groups of
disciples. The “prophetic word is, “if you seek me with all your heart, you
will find me”. This seeking is driven by the desire to be inwardly pure before
God, to be wholly for Him, to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and
strength. Inseparable from this desire is the desire to be good as Christ
himself is good: to love our relatives, friends and neighbors as He loves them.
This seeking is implemented through the discovery of the state of our own heart
and inner being by study, reflection, prayer, counsel, and then through the
taking of appropriate measures to change what is not right within, as well as
in the visible, social world of which we are a part. We find what God is doing
in us and in the visible world and merge our actions into His. This is what
Jesus described in Matthew 6:33 as constantly seeking “first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness”.
Willard explains that “religious” activities can
be a part of the process of spiritual formation and should be. Public and
private worship, study of Scripture, God’s creation in nature, and God’s acts
in human history, prayer, giving to godly causes, and service to others can be
highly effective elements, but they must be thoughtfully and resolutely
approached for that purpose. Fasting, solitude, silence, listening-type prayer,
Scripture memorization, frugal living, confession, journaling, submission to
the will of others as appropriate, and well-used spiritual direction are fundamental
and profitable. All such activities must be seen in the context of an intimate,
personal walk with Jesus Christ himself as our constant Savior and Teacher. “lo, I am with you always, even
to the end of the age.”
In Christ
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