Formation

I was asked to give my working definition of spiritual and personal formation. This was my reply.

I do not have separate definitions for Spiritual and Personal formation because I believe they are inseparable. Often times I have heard someone ask “How is your spiritual life?” I prefer a question more like, “What is God doing in and with your life?” To separate the two seems only to serve as self-deception that beliefs are somehow different from our actions. As part of living out an incarnate faith all life is part of spiritual and personal formation, because they are one in the same.

Spiritual and personal formation are not simply meant to be integrated, they are already integrated. In “Becoming Whole and Holy” one of the authors discusses that we are finite beings and by definition that means we are in a state of becoming.  I would agree that regardless of our level of engagement with the world we are becoming and being formed through our interaction with it. Our initial efforts therefor play a major role in the direction of our formation.

I believe personal scripture reading, prayer, and reflection are and always will be important aspects of intentional formation. I don’t think these practices should be used as a means to an end, but definitely integrated as a part of a life fully engaged with God. With that said I also believe formation is done best through community. The book refers to formation as both relational and social. We are not merely shaped by other people’s ideas but by the other people themselves. Through community love becomes the formative strategy. We find God and are formed by Him in the very act of love.