When I was a young adult, an essay in a faith magazine influenced me deeply. An influence that has lasted my whole adult life. I loaned the magazine to a student in the high school group I was leading and never got it back. I remember the argument, but not the details.
The writer put forth the idea that life in faith is a journey and used the metaphor of a mid-19th Century wagon train heading west. Some are scouts. Some are leaders. And so forth. The magazine, and the organization that published, it was Faith-at-Work. I have been so influenced by it that I still send a donation to the group, now known as Lumunos.
Some people think that you only have to “accept Jesus in your heart” and your life will be OK. But I’ve seen many people who accepted Jesus, but remained the same people they always were–except that now they go to church on Sunday. Have you ever seen people addicted to something who change addictions–now they are addicted to Jesus rather than alcohol, drugs, sex or whatever. There is no change of personality toward embodying the fruits of the Spirit.
Andy Stanley just drove the point home talking about dating during a recent talk. He told the story of a woman who had gone through a bitter divorce and hit the bar scene. Then she met a Christian guy who embodied all the traits of a deeply spiritual person. As she gushed to her mom about how great he was, her mom said, “But honey, you’re not the type of person he will want to go out with.”
Stanley’s point was that you need to become the type of person that the other person would want to be with. It’s about becoming.
I guess that has been my view of spiritual formation for more than 40 years. I’m still becoming. How about you?
Faith Venture 
Leave a comment