A Call to Spiritual Formation

[Alex Tang]

A Call to Spiritual Formation

Renovare and Spiritual Formation Alliance, San Antonio, 2009

Christian spiritual formation is the process of being shaped by the
Spirit into the likeness of Christ, filled with love for God and the
world.

God calls us all to become like Jesus. Jesus says, “I have come that
they may have life, and have it abundantly.”* We experience this
abundance of life – here and now – as our passions, character,
understanding, and relationships are increasingly aligned with those
of Christ. This lifelong transformation within and among us is the
continual gift of God’s Spirit. We are called to be renewed into the
likeness of Jesus – but we do not always fully embrace this calling.
Sometimes we seem content to be known as “Christians” without
intentionally engaging with this work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Other times we desperately long for a new way of life, wanting to grow
in our walk with Jesus, but needing help and encouragement. We,
therefore, commit to pursue passionately and to receive joyfully God’s
grace to be more fully transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

(John 7:37–39;*John 10:10;Romans 8:29;1 Corinthians 11:1;1 Corinthians
15:49; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18;2 Corinthians 4:16–18; 2 Corinthians 5:16–
21;Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 3:16–19;1 John 3:2;1 John
4:17)

As we are rooted in Jesus and in the kingdom he proclaims, we are
progressively transformed. Jesus is the center of all life and
history, both the source and goal of all creation. God shaped this
universe as a place where the love and life of Jesus Christ might
flourish. Because we are formed in the divine image, we have the
capacity to receive and express this life and love. Although human
disobedience corrupts the divine image in us, God still forms a people
able to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind, and
strength, and love their neighbors as themselves. Jesus makes this
possible through his life, death, and resurrection. In him we
experience a restored relationship of love with God and one another,
and continual transformation into his likeness. We are becoming a
reconciled and renewed community – which is both the goal and the
substance of life in God’s kingdom. This is the good news we proclaim
with joy to the whole world.

(Genesis 1:26–28; Genesis 3:1–7;Proverbs 8:22–31;Isaiah 42:5–
9;Jeremiah 31:33–34;Mark12:28–34;John 1:1–18; John 13:34–35;Romans 5:9–
11;Romans 8:1–11;Romans 8:19–23;Ephesians 2:11–22;Colossians 1:9–23;1
Thessalonians 5:23;1 John 2:7–11)

Our engagement with God’s transforming grace is vital. Renewal into
the image of Christ is not a human attainment; it is a gift of grace.
God mercifully uses all our experiences, including our suffering and
trials, to teach and transform us. Even so, transformation requires
our involvement and effort. We need to make ourselves available to the
Holy Spirit’s work in all our life experiences, particularly through
intentional engagement with historical Christian disciplines,
including Word and sacrament. These practices open us to the presence
and grace of God. As a result, we become, through time and experience,
the kind of persons who naturally express love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self‐control.

(Matthew 5:43–48; Matthew 11:29–30; Luke 6:40; John 7:38; John 15:5–
17; Romans 12:1–2; Galatians 5:16–25; Philippians 2:12–13; Philippians
3:12–16; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 5:13–6:1;Hebrews 12:7–13; James 4:7–
8;1 Peter 2:2;1 Peter 4:1–2)

Spiritual formation happens in community. As we long to know and
follow Jesus and be formed into his likeness, we journey with those
who share this longing. God is calling the church to be a place of
transformation. Here we struggle to fulfill our calling to love. Here
we learn to attend to the invitations of God’s Spirit. Here we follow
the presence of God in our midst. Spiritual community is the catalyst
for our transformation and a sending base for our mission of love to
the world.

(Matthew 18:20; Luke 6:12–19; John 17:20–26; Acts 2:42–47; Romans 12:4–
8; 1 Corinthians 12:1–7; Galatians 6:1–2; Ephesians 4:1–16; Hebrews
10:23–25;1 Peter 2:4–10)

Spiritual formation is, by its very nature, missional. As we are
formed into the likeness of Christ, we increasingly share God’s
infinitely tender love for others. We deepen in our compassion for the
poor, the broken, and the lost. We ache and pray and labor for others
in a new way, a selfless way, a joy‐filled way. Our hearts are
enlarged toward all people and toward all of creation.

(Isaiah 60:1–4; Matthew 5:14–16; Matthew 28:18–20; John 3:16–21; John
20:21–23; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Galatians 6:10; 1 John 4:7–21)

We invite all people, everywhere, to embrace with us this calling to
become like Jesus. By God’s grace, we will seek to become lovers:
lovers of God, lovers of people, and lovers of all creation. We will
immerse ourselves in a lifestyle that is attentive and responsive to
the gracious presence of God. We commit ourselves to the community of
Christ’s beloved, the church, so that we can learn this way of love
together. We entreat you to join us.

(Matthew 5:1–10; Matthew 13:44–46; Mark 1:15;Luke 9:23–24;Romans 12:1–
2; 2 Corinthians 6:1; 1 Timothy 6:11–12; Revelation 21:2;Revelation
22:17)

read my reflections on the call here
http://kairos2.com/reflections_call2.spiritual.formation.htm

May the Lord help us each in our spiritual formation.


Alex
Kairos Spiritual Formation
Website: www.kairos2.com
Blog: www.draltang01.blogspot.com

"Becoming and making disciples with informed minds, hearts on fire,
and contemplative in actions"