A RAMBLING DECLARATION

My vocation as a follower of Jesus Christ is to live out resurrection, to help the Kingdom of God be realized in the relationships of which I am a part. This will take form according to my own perspectives, passions and gifts.
From experiencing this life in the world, it is my sense that one profound area of brokenness in humankind relates to identity and purpose. We as people have forsaken the Biblical theology and narrative of creation, sin and redemption. Thus, we have come to accept any number of false ideologies to replace the truth. Wholeness is hindered by a lack of understanding and acceptance of God, ourselves and our place or role within the created order. It is my belief that healing and renewal happens through the acknowledgement of truth concerning God and self, repentance and the lived out expression of one’s unique personhood as an act of love for God and for the life of the world. This transformation seems to occur within the experiential context of our relationships with others as we live out truth, love one another and open ourselves to the Spirit and Word of God.
Therefore, I feel strongly that our vocational work comes out of who we are as people. The implication of this perspective would lead those of us wishing to seek the kingdom of God to begin with our own lives. How do we shape the people we are becoming? How do we participate in our own formation?
The terms spiritual formation and soul care are often used these days. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible defines spirit as the personhood or aspect of existence of an individual that is non-material and infused by deity. The spiritual is closely linked with sanctification, which is the process by which we are made partakers of God’s holiness. Sanctification is a progressive work in an individual taking place during the time between creation and the culmination of being recreated into one’s true self in the image of God, occurring when we see God face to face (1 John 3). My perception is that spiritual formation is the shaping or development of that aspect of man, which is like God.
Soul is defined as what is vital to man, to life, to personhood. It is that which is not separate from the body but rather describing man from a different standpoint. Soul care could be said to be giving concern and attention to the very being of one’s self. Perhaps I could summarize and conclude that spiritual formation and soul care is the intentional act of fostering the wholeness and completion of God’s image in a person.
Spiritual formation and soul care is the significant task at hand. It is joining the Holy Spirit in continuing the restorative work that Jesus initiated through his incarnation, death and resurrection. Indeed, this is our calling as God’s chosen people. The apostle Peter reminds us in his first epistle of God’s command, ‘Be holy, because I am holy'. Paul also exhorts believers in Colossians 3:10 to live according to our new selves, which are being renewed in the image of our creator.
How does one become holy? How does one develop the image of God within his or her own life? First we must know what goal we aspire to. In what ways does or could man image God? This question has raised many diverse answers among denominations and scholars throughout history. I believe that man images God in several ways. First, man is a relational being created to live in union with God and fellowship with neighbour. Second, man was designed to love, extending oneself for the well-being of others. Third, man has authority within creation. Man was given the role of exercising care for creation, so that it might flourish and be what God intended. Finally, man was created with freedom. He is a morally volitional being and has a will. He is not like other creatures that instinctively are according to their nature and character. Therefore, to image God man would choose moral integrity. He would not be a slave to sin as Paul describes in Romans but rather be free to obey God.
It is my sense that people are transformed or re-created into God’s image through experience and the power or work of his Spirit. Experience is our part or involvement in the re-creation process. It is the life we design for the purpose of being open to the Spirit’s work. Also, it is the path we choose when life’s happenings are beyond our control. What does this experience look like? In the Old Testament, God designed life practices for the nation of Israel, in order that they might be shaped into his chosen people according to his will. Examples of these practices include sacrifices for guilt and sin, feasts and celebrations, acts of justice and hospitality, stewardship of the earth. Later, after the earthly life of Jesus, the church established sacraments (some given by Jesus, himself) and traditions that would move people toward holiness. These include baptism and participation in the eucharist, prayer, confession of sin, footwashing and the gathered life of a community for teaching and worship. In both of these historical contexts, we see a call to remember. There is an outward expression of an inner reality. This mindfulness of who God is, the work He has done and who he has called us to be is the basis for right thinking and holy living throughout scripture. In Romans 12, Paul tells us that our transformation comes by ‘the renewing of our minds’. Similarly, the apostle Peter exhorts us to that initial step toward holiness, which is ‘preparing our minds for action’ based upon the hope we have in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (1Peter 1:13). Hindrances to our transformation unto holiness are living in ignorance, living in conformity to the world and living according to the evil desires of our flesh. I believe that it is good and right to look to these historical traditions to understand how we should design our life experiences, but that new, rich experiences of meaning can be established as well. So this brings us back to how we can form ourselves, beginning with our minds, thoughts and imagination. And so this blog...