disciples in a turbulent world A challenge that

disciples in a turbulent world: A challenge that is worth the struggle

Christian education - spiritual information or spiritual in/formation?

We have inherited a faith formed by a Jewish man and a band of his friends, which became a global movement with three centers (Rome, Constantinople, and North Africa) in its first 500 years. The North African center was decimated by Islam in the 7 th - 9 th centuries, leaving two centers, which coexisted until about 1000 AD, when they split.

The Roman Church became the center of Western culture until about 500 years ago. Then, the faith we have inherited re-formed in a multi-faceted argument with medieval Western Christianity … … then re-formed several more times in a series of debates within various forms nominal modern Christianity …

… the faith we have inherited was additionally deeply influenced by the skepticism, secularism, and consumerism of modernity.

… our faith was additionally deeply influenced by 19 th century revivalism and “revived revivalism” in the mid-20 th century. This version of the Christian faith which we have inherited presents us with a number of categories for discipleship or “spiritual growth, ” several of which are being re-thought (and re-formed) today.

Terms like … evangelism, discipleship, Christian education, teaching, sanctification, spiritual growth are being re-thought.

Terms like … evangelism, discipleship, Christian education, teaching, sanctification, spiritual growth are being re-thought. The term “spiritual formation” in many ways is a substitute for some dimensions of all of these terms.

Truly, the church is “semper reformanda” -- always reforming. 1. How would you describe spiritual formation in the New Testament church? 2. … in the Patristic Church (2 nd - 6 th centuries) 3. … in the Medieval Church (6 th - 16 th) 4. … in the early Reformation (16 th-18 th) 5. … in the 19 th-20 th centuries

The modern version of Christianity which we have inherited largely saw spiritual formation as a cognitive process of acquiring information through study and teaching. Bible studies, Sunday School Classes Seminaries Preaching/Teaching Courses/Lessons Booklets with blanks to fill in. . .

It was often tacitly believed (and occasionally overtly stated) that if one had the right knowledge (beliefs, doctrines, theology), right behavior would flow naturally. (Some believed that attending the right rituals had the same effect. ) Many of you may share this belief, which is still dominant in the American evangelical subculture today, I believe. But I believe. . .

Our contemporary gospel is primarily INFORMATION ON HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN AFTER YOU DIE with a large footnote about increasing your personal happiness and success through God. with a small footnote about character development with a smaller footnote about spiritual experience with a smaller footnote about social/global transformation.

self church world

world church self

The individual gospel For God so loved me that he sent his only begotten son, so that if I would believe in him I would not perish but have life in heaven after death. For God sent his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save me. (Not John 3: 16)

The ecclesiastic gospel For God so hated the world that he sent his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have life in heaven after death. For God sent his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the church. (Not John 3: 16)

faith formation in a postmodern age

Spiritual Formation is a holistic way to talk about everything God wants to do in us, including what we have traditionally meant by evangelism and discipleship (etc. ) … and more!

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect [complete, mature, fully formed] in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. COL 1: 27 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! GAL 4: 19

The Gospel of Matthew ends with these important words: Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make [spiritually form] disciples [apprentices] of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey [practice] everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28: 16 -20)

Too often, we have preached a “gospel of sin management” with an optional footnote about character development, with a more optional footnote about spiritual practices and experience. . .

… and an even more optional footnote about making a difference in the world. The gospel has become information on a fast, easy, and convenient way to go to heaven after one dies. That must change.

Our call is not to win converts or Christians. . . (We have turned a finish line into a starting line) …but rather to spiritually form disciples

DISCIPLE DIS*CI"PLE, N. [OE. DISCIPLE, DECIPLE, OF. DISCIPLE, FR. L. DISCIPULUS, FR. DISCERE TO LEARN (AKIN TO DOCERE TO TEACH; SEE DOCILE) + PROB. A ROOT MEANING TO TURN OR DRIVE, AS IN L. PELLERE TO DRIVE. ] ONE WHO RECEIVES INSTRUCTION FROM ANOTHER; A SCHOLAR; A LEARNER; ESPECIALLY, A FOLLOWER WHO HAS LEARNED TO BELIEVE IN THE TRUTH OF THE DOCTRINE OF HIS TEACHER; AN ADHERENT OR STUDENT OF A DOCTRINE OR ART AS, THE DISCIPLES OF PLATO; THE DISCIPLES OF OUR SAVIOR

Disciples are apprentices of Jesus.

From Michael Polanyi, Personal Knowledge: Toward a Postcritical Philosophy (1958) It follows that an art which has fallen into disuse for the period of a generation is altogether lost. There are hundreds of examples of this to which the process of mechanization is continuously adding new ones. These losses are usually irretrievable.

It is pathetic to watch the endless efforts -- equipped with microscopy and chemistry, with mathematics and electronics -- to reproduce a single violin of the kind the halfliterate Stradivarius turned out as a matter of routine more than 200 years ago.

To learn by example is to submit to authority. You follow your master because you trust his manner of doing things even when you cannot analyze and account in detail for its effectiveness. By watching the master and emulating his efforts in the presence of his example, the apprentice unconsciously picks up the rules of the art, including those which are not explicitly known to the master himself.

These hidden rules can be assimilated only by a person who surrenders himself to that extent uncritically to the imitation of the master. A society which wants to preserve a fund of personal knowledge must submit to tradition.

… practical wisdom is more truly embodied in action than expressed in rules of action. (pp. 53 -54)

Disciples/apprentices primarily learn not by listening or trying but by training.

Think of running a marathon Playing piano Painting a landscape Building a house Mastering kung fu …training.

What if we put everything on the table and risked everything to succeed at this one thing: …training disciples?

what is spiritual formation?

We have a rich heritage of approaches to spiritual formation: Celtic Sacramental Charismatic Ascetic Liberal/Activist Non-ascetic Monastic Anchorite Revivalist Contemplative Reformed Fundamentalist

A Triangle Spirituality Context Community External Environment Mission Experiences of life … joys, sorrows, sufferings, pleasures

“BIBLICAL LITERACY, THOUGH NOT SUFFICIENT, IS INDISPENSABLE. THIS LITERACY DOES NOT CONSIST OF HISTORICAL, CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE BIBLE. NOR DOES IT CONSIST OF THEOLOGICAL ACCOUNTS, COUCHED IN NONBIBLICAL LANGUAGE, OF THE BIBLE’S TEACHINGS AND MEANINGS. RATHER IT IS THE PATTERNS AND DETAILS OF ITS SAGAS AND STORIES, ITS IMAGES AND SYMBOLS, ITS SYNTAX AND GRAMMAR, WHICH NEED TO BE INTERNALIZED IF ONE IS TO IMAGINE AND THINK SCRIPTURALLY … WHAT IS TO BE PROMOTED ARE THOSE APPROACHES WHICH INCREASE FAMILIARITY WITH THE ACTUAL TEXT. ” GEORGE LINDBECK THE NATURE OF DOCTRINE

HOW, AS MODERN CHRISTIANS OFTEN PUT IT, DOES ONE PREACH THE GOSPEL IN A DECHRISTIANZED WORLD? …THE [POSTMODERN] METHOD OF DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM IS BOUND TO BE UNPOPULAR AMONG THOSE CHIEFLY CONCERNED TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP AND INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH. THIS METHOD RESEMBLES ANCIENT CATECHESIS MORE THAN MODERN TRANSLATION. INSTEAD OF REDESCRIBING THE FAITH IN NEW CONCEPTS, IT SEEKS TO TEACH THE LANGUAGE AND PRACTICES OF THE RELIGION TO POTENTIAL ADHERENTS. THIS HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY WAY OF TRANSMITTING THE FAITH AND WINNING CONVERTS…DOWN THROUGH THE CENTURIES…ONLY AFTER [CATECHUMENS] HAD ACQUIRED PROFICIENCY IN THE ALIEN CHRISTIAN LANGUAGE AND FORM OF LIFE WERE THEY DEEMED ABLE INTELLIGENTLY AND RESPONSIBLY TO PROFESS FAITH, TO BE BAPTIZED. GEORGE LINDBECK, THE NATURE OF DOCTRINE

Process (versus event) focus into the mission (versus lore): Induction/Initiation Transformation Transmission

1. Induction: Adapted from Hippolytus … 3 rd century

1. The Seeker Phase. Goal: Beginning to follow Christ Content: Observation of the community (belonging before believing) Milestone: Interview (behavioral questions) and permission to attend the whole service

2. The Hearer Phase Goal: Discipleship Content: Discipleship, worship, fellowship, hardship, stewardship, partnership Milestone: Requesting baptism

3. The Kneeler Phase Goal: Equipping Content: Equipping for ministry (Memorizing the Lord’s prayer, apostles creed, spiritual warfare) Milestone: Rite of Baptism (Easter)

4. The Faithful Stage Goal: Incorporate Content: Discern and use gifts, witness and outreach, induct others, prepare for martyrdom Milestone: Eucharist

after induction … what next?

… MT 18: 2 HE CALLED A LITTLE CHILD AND HAD HIM STAND AMONG THEM. 3 AND HE SAID: "I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, UNLESS YOU CHANGE AND BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU WILL NEVER ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 4 THEREFORE, WHOEVER HUMBLES HIMSELF LIKE THIS CHILD IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. BROTHERS, STOP THINKING LIKE CHILDREN. IN REGARD TO EVIL BE INFANTS, BUT IN YOUR THINKING BE ADULTS. 1 CO 14: 20