Spiritual Formation as Core Reality, Pt. 2: Map or Compass?

BIZ’S SPIRITUAL FORMATION AS CORE REALITY  

CORE REALITY # 1

Spiritual formation is more of a journey than a destination.  As such spiritual formation is incremental in nature and restorative over time (in contrast with the current get fixed quick strategy of most contemporary programs, both in the church and our culture at large).  This is the '2nd' in a series, you  can find the initial article on the navigation bar to the right.

This post will lean heavily upon the definition of two important terms: Journey and Destination

A Journey

The term journey encompass all the people, places and things we encounter as we go our way in this world; the joys, celebrations, sorrows and pain (particularly the pain).  Seeing spiritual formation as a journey is to reclaim the richly biblical 'as you go' metaphor that has been all but lost.  This 'as you go' metaphor provides a powerful word picture, often utilized by Christ himself.  For example, when he issues the Great Commission he tells his disciples, 'as you are going' (rather than the more common: ‘go’) you are to make disciples.  The difference, though subtle, is canyon.  'As you go' implies a journey.  'Go' implies a destination. 

Therefore, viewing life as journey (particularly as it relates to spiritual formation) captures the image of a life lived within the flow of God's Spirit.  Such life is ever-ready to celebrate His presence and quick to learn from those moments when His presence is not so readily celebrated.

A Destination

A destination is more akin to a fixed point toward which we strive by way of strategies, methods and controls.  As such we spend a considerable amount of time identifying which of the tools at our disposal will move us toward our destination most quickly, efficiently and most of all PAIN FREE.  A destination implies a road we choose and an environment we select.  It implies controls and command which reduce our risk and, thereby our dependence upon One greater than ourselves.

AM I MORE COMFORTABLE WITH A MAP OR A COMPASS?

Those of us who view Spiritual Formation as a destination probably ask for a map for navigational purposes.  A map serves to provide necessary course corrections and mark out potential pitfalls and boundaries along the way.  A map serves to provide several 'options' that will help us plot out the safest and most expedient route to our destination.  A map, in short, answers all the question

Those of us who view Spiritual Formation as a journey would be more comfortable with a compass than a map.  While direction is desired, our way must be left open for guidance, interpretation and experiences of all sorts - the good, the bad and the ugly.  A compass provides a 'magnetic north' that is sure enough to guide us along in this as we go life, but fluid enough to absorb experiences that provide growth that might otherwise be avoided.  A compass, in short, allows space for the journey to be discovered and questions to remain unanswered.

Spiritual Formation as destination experiences life in terms of accomplishments and controls, we find ourselves asking: “where do I need to go and how will I get there.”

Spiritual Formation as journey yearns for more than mere accomplishment and control, asking the deeper question in terms of hope and surrender: “where I am I and what am I to learn in this God breathed (as I go) moment?"

When the destination becomes a Journey

The biblical writers capture this sense of 'journey more than destination' early and often.  Consider for example the life of Joseph.  He originally set out on a 'destination' to find his brothers.  God, however, launched him on a journey of dependence upon Him.  The journey ended well, but the process was grueling. Would you and I volunteer for such a journey?  Of course not!  On the contrary, we rarely volunteer to serve in the local food pantry, civic organization or religious community (particularly if such volunteerism causes a conflict in our vastly important schedules).  

Neither was Joseph a volunteer.  He was recruited by God for a task he would only accomplish through dependence upon and trust in Him!  This journey took him into slavery, false accusations, imprisonment (no doubt beating).  This journey consumed nearly 17 years of his life.  This is what a journey with the Lord might require.  There are many others - Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Ester, Elijah, Jeremiah, Paul, Timothy, etc. - all on a journey often not of their own choosing.

The question becomes, 'Are we open to the journey?'  Forgive me.  I assume too much. 

The question more rightly becomes; ‘why do I often settle for a mere destination, when God invites me upon a body, mind and life altering journey?’ 

More practically stated: what will it take for me to cease my mind numbing and highly ineffective resistance to God’s presence in my life?  Or, What is it about ME that refuses to release control?

I suspect much of what passes for ‘American/Western’ Christianity exists and replicates herself through a 'destination' mindset as described above.  Even so, we intuitively recognize this as failure.  We see its failure in our own inability to live a sustainable and faithful Christian walk in a decidedly neoChristian world.  Yet, we look not to ourselves and shoulder the blame.  No, we simply pull out our maps and chart a new course.  After all, destinations are safe.

At this stage in my own life, I am interested in those who intuitively get that we - the modern church - are charting courses to nowhere (word picture: hamster on the hamster wheel) and are hungry for a deeper, more meaningful journey toward God for the sake of others.

I think, for my next article, I will explore some of the biblical ‘destinational journies’ I cited above.  Perhaps we might find some wisdom in the ancient text that will guide us toward embracing the journey that is an adventurous ‘walk with God.’

The shape of desire!

Biz

Spiritual Formation: Clarifying Core Reality

Formation or growth and development (particularly spiritual) has been on my mind for several years now.  In fact, the desire for a 'deeper community' centered on Spiritual Formation for the sake of others, is the driving force behind the calling God placed on Melissa and me to return to Vero Beach and launch Pillar.  In previous writings I have referred to this desire with the following statement:

 'Christ is not a proposition to prove, a program to purchase or a system to manage.  Rather He is a person to discover; a relationship to explore.' 

This desire that has burned in my heart these past few years has served to remind me that growth in Christ is a journey; a 'deeper journey for the sake of others.'  This deeper journey for the sake of others is always moving us toward an eternal kingdom in the context of a 'spiritual family' (i.e. the Church).  

If you have followed my blogging, then you know that my posts have been inconsistent at best.  Yet I am going to attempt to string together a series of posts considering Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Others over these next few weeks.  Each of the following posts will begin with a core reality I am learning or have learned in regard to Spiritual Formation.  My hope is that these posts will help clarify my own thinking on the subject as well as challenge and encourage you in your own walk with Christ.

Ultimately, my hope is that these imperfect, incomplete and always in development thoughts will be utilized to strengthen the Church to become a faithful presence in midst of the world in which we live.  The following 6 core realities are a reflection of my own personal journey to date.  There are no doubt others you might be inclined to include.  I am sure there will be others that I would add to and some I might subtract from this list.  

SPIRITUAL FORMATION FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS: CLARIFYING CORE REALITY

1. Spiritual formation is a journey, not a destination.  As such spiritual formation is incremental in nature and restorative over time (in contrast with the current get fixed quick strategy of every church based program).
2. Spiritual formation is God's work.  However being spiritually formed requires an 'openness to change' in my life as will as submission to an authority greater than myself.  In other words, I will have to let go of control if I am to travel this journey!
3. The context of Spiritual formation is the world in which we live (not the small group to which we run in order to hide from and complain about the world). As such formation and development is messy, ugly and inconvenient.
4. Spiritual formation is always for the 'sake of others' (perhaps this is a 'given' within the context of this blog series.  However, the phrase as I am using it, is one I have learned from Robert Mulholland in his excellent work, Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation..
5. Spiritual formation, though personal, is never private (in contrast with the pervasive and fatally flawed American Christian Mantra: "It's just Jesus and me").
6. Spiritual formation will require the development of new habits around which my life will orient itself so that my desires might be directed toward Christ and His Kingdom, our ultimate destination.

When I look at the early church and take note of Christ's disciples and His followers -  as well as those who would follow His followers into the Church era - I see clearly that their life was a highly committed, costly and joyous 'journey deeper into Christ for the sake of others.'  They lived their life as a continuous rhythm of growth, development and sharing their growth and development with others. 

If you plan on reading this and the following blogs in this series, consider the following question: 

"Can you point to a time/season in your life when your church took YOUR spiritual formation seriously and provided a seamless and comprehensive pathway whereby you might grow toward Christ for the sake of others?

Christ's disciples would have been hard pressed to find moments when they weren't intentionally being challenged to a deeper walk and maturing growth. Growth was indeed the journey of their life - their core reality.  For we moderns (especially in the church) growth has become at best a 'stop' along the way . . . or at worst a vastly segmented and disintegrated approach that has left us more confused than ever in a world that has become increasingly more complex!

Up Next: Spiritual formation: a journey, not a destination!

the shape of desire!

Biz

Preparing for Game Day!

Football is back.  Finally, the long drought that is summer baseball has ended with the bang of opening weekend (of course, I love October baseball).  The NFL debut last weekend offered even the most casual observer and unlikely fan a wonderful weekend of great stories both on and off the field.  For those who didn’t keep up, allow me a moment to highlight some of the stories I most enjoyed or found intriguing:

1.      An unprecedented number of rookie quarterbacks debuting as their team leaders.

2.      New York Giants failing in their first opportunity to defend their championship ring – at HOME, no doubt.  Only made worse by the fact that they were beaten by the Cowboys.

3.      Tebow in New York.  I hate the Jets.  As much as I want to see Tebow do well, let it be known that I will never desire that he lead the Jets to a victory on the field.

4.      The Eagles nearly failing in their opener against the lowly Browns.

5.      RG3?         RG3.        RG3 . . .          RG3!             RG3!!      Go skins.

6.      The Miami Dolphins proving yet again they have not found the formula for success.  I do, by the way, hope they find it!  I would love, love, love to see them win!

7.      Da Bears!

8.      The 49ners SPANKING the Packers at Lambeau – AWESOME!

9.      Peyton’s comeback and ‘no huddle’ perfection.

While my list is not complete, it represents those moments that caught my attention over the weekend.  Perhaps you might even add some that I overlooked (feel free to comment below).  Of all of these stories my favorite is Peyton.  Not, however, for reasons you might suspect.  While the comeback is amazing, let’s be honest.  Did anyone who has ever followed this guy’s career believe he would come out and ‘lay an egg?’  No, what I loved the most was the way he took over the game and deftly led the ‘no huddle’ offense.  I love the no huddle.  When executed there is an aesthetic quality to it.  It contains beauty in and of itself – a true master piece to behold.  I also love the no huddle because it relates so well to life.  As I watch it, I think to myself: ‘this is how we live our lives.’  Life, as the popular insurance commercial reminds us, ‘comes at you fast.’  I watched the ‘no huddle’ in action and wondered how I might lead my own ‘no huddle’ in life as well as Peyton does on the field?  

Simple: Habits 

In order to flourish in the no huddle of life, I must develop the habits that will move me down the ‘field of life’ on its pace and in its setting.  In my estimation the no huddle offense is effective when a team masters it ‘before’ it is needed.  By this I mean, of course, in practice!  In other words you do not just show up on Game day and execute the no huddle.  If that is your team’s pattern of behavior they will find themselves pushed around, beaten back and ultimately losing valuable ground.  The same is true in life.  Living well and flourishing takes practice.

So, what are the practices that will help me gain valuable ground in my ‘no huddle’ life?  More particularly, as a Christ follower, what practices should I participate in on a regular basis so that I might be formed in such a way that I can simply ‘perform’ on game day?

Simple: Corporate worship.  Or, better yet: Liturgy

Some read this word and gasp.  They think of the stale and stodgy rituals from which we have successfully wrested ourselves free in the modern evangelical church.  Therefore, let me give you a simple definition taken from James K.A. Smith in his book, Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview and Cultural Formation.  Smith writes, “Liturgy is a ‘hearts and minds’ strategy, a pedagogy that trains us as disciples precisely by putting our bodies through a regimen of repeated practices that get a hold of the heart and ‘aim’ our love toward the Kingdom of God.”  More simply, in my own words: liturgy is a participatory and repeated practice with the power to form desire shaping habits!  As such, liturgy, in its truest sense, is designed to shape me for my public and often no huddle life in such a way that I fully represent Christ in this world and live for the good of the community, to the glory of God.

Mike Metzger, in his blog Doggie Head Tilt (http://www.doggieheadtilt.com/no-huddle-offense/), captures the heart of ‘liturgy’ as a practice for the common (public) good:

No huddles and precise practices are reminiscent of the ancient church. It knew the name of the game—loving God and neighbor. Love requires learning to die to self and seek the flourishing of others, or shalom. This required precise liturgical practices in the assembly, the ekklesia. Liturgy is training “the body and soul in suitable posture and movement,” Peter Leithart writes. Corporate standing, kneeling, singing, confessing, and reading counter our individualistic leanings. Liturgy “depicts the world as it ought to be, the real world as it is believed to be… and what we believe and hope it will one day be.

Perhaps a further correlation to the no huddle offense might be helpful.  The no huddle is effective because of the liturgy employed by the player’s day in and day out.  The no huddle liturgy is the repeated and participatory regimen the team practices day in and day out.  As they ‘liturgy’ together they develop habits which shape their desire toward a victory on Game Day.

If liturgy is a repeated and participatory practice, then every person experiences liturgy on a daily basis, ever institution utilizes liturgy for their purposes in order to shape our desires toward them and every church practices liturgy when they gather on Sunday morning.  The final statement in regard to the church gathering is important to understand.  The question to ask is not, ‘does my church practice liturgy?’ Rather, ‘what liturgy does my church practice?’ The most charismatic or Pentecostal churches practice a fixed liturgy that the congregant has become habituated to over time, thus making it almost unrecognizable.  For instance, if you doubt this, take note of your worship experience at your next visit to your local house of worship.  In all likelihood you will note how similar it was to previous experiences, rather than how vastly different or spontaneous it was.

I have been in the church for most of my life.  I cannot tell you how many times I have heard the phrase, 'Now is the time to invite Jesus into your heart.'  In fact, if I were to identify a liturgy (defined as an experience which is repeated and participatory) from my life in church, this would be it - the ever present and always repeated (endlessly at times) 'invitation.'  Based upon my own experience (or practice) of this liturgy, I could have sung every verse of the song 'Just As I Am' in my sleep by the age of nine.

In light of this reality, the question becomes, ‘Is the liturgy in my church thick or thin?’  In other words does the liturgy you experience in your church prepare you for your no huddle life or leave you guessing, confused, bewildered and concerned when it becomes time to ‘move the ball down the field?’  There is a formative and desire shaping power in the practice of liturgy.  Rather than asking how a service or liturgy makes us ‘feel,’ perhaps we would be better served if we asked, ‘has my participation in Christian liturgy (church) shaped my desires toward God or shaped my desires toward me?’  If you have trouble answering that question, fear not.  You will know soon enough.  After all, Game day is coming!

The shape of desire!

Biz

A Labor Day Litany

For those who experience worship resident in our work.  I found this corporate Litany/Prayer that we will use at Pillar this week.  I hope it provides a thoughtful and thankful moment for you as we celebrate 'Labor Day' on Monday!  In the Corporate worship setting the letters found in 'bold' would be prayed by the congregation!  May God the Father, Son and Spirit bless your life with meaningful work!

Litany of Labor
Almighty God, when you formed us lovingly out of the dust of the earth, you breathed into us the breath of life and gave us work and purpose for living.

You placed Adam in the garden of Eden to till and keep it.

Through our work, you made us co-creators with you, shaping the world in which we live.

For providing varieties of work and for blessing us by our labor:

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For those who plow the field and those who make the plow;

for farmers and farm workers, for steelworkers and machinists;

for those who work with their hands and those who move the earth:  

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For those who tend the sick and those who seek new cures;

for doctors and nurses, for scientists and technicians;

for those who keep notes and those who transcribe:

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For those who think and those who create;

for inventors and explorers, for artists and musicians;

for those who write books and those who entertain:

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For those who work in offices and those who work in warehouses;

for secretaries and receptionists, for stockers and bookkeepers;

for those who market products and for those who move them:

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For those who inspire our minds and those who motivate us;

for teachers and preachers, for public servants and religious servants; those who help the poor and those who work with our children:  

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For those whose labor is tidiness and cleanliness;

for janitors and sanitary workers, for dry cleaners and maids;

for those who produce cleaning products and those who use them:

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For those who sail the waves and those who fly the skies;

for captains and attendants, for astronauts and deep sea divers;

for those who chart and those who navigate:  

We give you thanks, O Lord.

You bless us all with skills and gifts for labor.

You provide us opportunities to use them, for the benefit of others as well as ourselves.

Guard and protect those who labor in the world.

Bless the work of our hands, O Lord.

Look kindly upon the unemployed and the disabled.

Give health to the sick, hope to the bereaved.

Keep us from laboring only for greed.

Make us loving and responsible in all that we do.

Creator Lord, you are the source of all wisdom and purpose,

you are the blessing of those who labor.

Be with us in our labor to guide and govern our world.

Give all men and women work that enhances human dignity

and bonds us to one another. Give us pride in our work,

a fair return for our labor, and joy in knowing that our work finds its source in you; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

—written by The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel,

We've Come A Long Way from the Days of Green Eggs and Ham

"I would not eat them here or There I would not eat them anywhere. I Would not eat green eggs and ham. I do Not like them Sam I Am." 

Ah, yes.  Dr. Suess.  Many of us have grown up reading and hearing his stories. Green Eggs and Ham no doubt chief among them all.  Did you know that his stories were designed to teach us vocabulary words?  Knowing this, as a boy, would have ruined the whole experience.  The stories captured my imagination first . . . taught vocabulary second.  The stories crafted tales of a whimsical nature, tales that could only be created in a robust and fruitful imagination.  Yet they were also instructive.  The stories repeated a few dozen words that children should know and would be able to use in order to effectively communicate with and connect to the larger world.  They taught us, in other words, about reality.

Last night I sat down to dinner.  Gathered at the table were my family; my in laws and my niece and nephews.  We had an interesting conversation.  My children and their cousins carried the heavy lifting in the conversation.  That was good.  For about three clauses in most of the adults were lost (my father in law didn't make it past the first clause).  It was not as much whimsical (Dr. Suess) as it was nonsensical in a uniquely modern way.  I will try to capture the thrust of the conversation in 'script' fashion.  I hope you can get past the first few clauses.

Teenager: Dad, you have a hulu account . . . you are paying for it monthly.  It is a waste of money.  It's like netflix, only sorrier.

Dad: I have a what paying where to whom . . .

Pre teen daughter: No, you mean a Vudu account.  That is good.  Keep it.  They have good movies.

Mom (who obviously gets this more than dad): No, we don't pay per month, only per movie . . . but don't you mean a Zune account??

Father In Law: Huh?  I haven't understood one word of this conversation.

Dad:  Wait a second . . . we have a Hulu, Vudu and a . . . Zune account?  Who got all these accounts for us . . . what is Zune?  I thought he was a character from the Wrath of Kahn.

Teenager:  Dad, I got them  . . . err  . . . I mean you got them . . . remember when you let me have your credit card number . . .

Mom:  You did what with our credit card number?

Pre-Teen Son:Hold on. I will Google Zune from my Droid to see if it is better than Vudu or Hulu . . .

Dad:  Life sure was easier when there was only netflix . . . someone google Zune to find out if he was a character in The Wrath of Kahn.

Pre Teen Son: Dad, Google shows nothing about Zune, I will check Bing . . .

Father In Law: Pass the potatoes . . . no need to Google that . . .

Mom: You gave our teenager our credit card number?!?!?

Dad:  Hold up a second! I don't want a hulu account, whatever that is . . .

Pre Teen Niece: Uncle Biz, hulu is like skype only better

All Kids In Unison: NOOOOOO, that is oovoo.  Oovoo is like skype not hulu . . .

Father In Law: Someone pass the Tylenol

Mom:  Honey, should you let me keep the credit cards??

Teen Age Son: So, Dad.  Here's the deal.  Oovoo is better than skype and not at all like hulu.  We like Netflix.  We could probably get rid of hulu and keep Vudu because it is a pay go service. We  should discard Zune totally . . . by the way, there are no matches on Google or Bing for the Wrath of Kahn and Zune.  May I be excused?  My buddy in Orlando just facebooked me about playing skyrim with him and some other kids from Eastern Europe.

Father In Law: Finally; some words I understand.

Teenager: You understand Facebook??

Father In Law: No; Eastern Europe.

When the dust settled that night I looked at my wife and said, "I feel like I just entered a parallel universe that is a cross somewhere between Dr. suess and Alice In Wonderland."  She laughed a bit.  Then she asked me for the credit cards . . .

Okay, back to my Dr. Suess analogy.  Dr. Suess used known language in an imaginative way to teach simple vocabulary that helped young people make a significant connection with the adult world and thereby with reality.  In modern times we use imaginative words with no contextual meaning in thoroughly normative ways.  As such, we break down the meaning between words and reality and thereby aid the collapse of reality itself . . .  If Dr. Suess were writing stories today, based on our family dinner conversation (which I confess is by no means normative), it might look something like this:

I would not hulu in a boat

I will not vudu on a float

Nor would I oovoo in a moat wearing a coat as I clear my throat

Try as I might I cannot skype

I might indeed bing, if I were a king.

Okay . . . not quite a Dr. Suess story.  Where his stories were whimsical ours have become nonsensical.  The difference between whimsical and nonsensical is vast.  It might be wise if we adults, supposedly grounded in reality, considered what desires have moved us to this new world we experience.  Is there something in both the behavior and language of our young people and culture at large that reveal desires unfulfilled or mis understood?

I wonder what Dr. Suess would say and what stories would be written today . . .

Shaping Desires!

Biz

If you would like to see a clip of Green Eggs and Ham, follow the link below
http://youtu.be/Y-OPnBz6ctU