05 May 2008

Education and Spirtual Formation

Saturday’s graduation at Rochester College was an interesting event. I sat and watched student after student (some I know well, others seeing for the first time) receive their diploma. Near the very end, a young handicap female student came onto the stage. All of the sudden, the room changed. The meaning of the day became all together different. She carefully controlled her wheelchair and with a deep smile accepted the diploma she’d worked tirelessly to attain. And she graciously accepted the rousing applause offered by the audience.

I often forget what a privilege education is. For a young minister just beginning his doctoral work, it was a powerful reminder that each person is their own “story”—presented with challenges, questions, and obstacles unique to their own circumstances. Some folks are dealt a relatively easy “hand.” That would be me. Others are dealt a hand of hardship and adversity. And, yet, many find a way to take on the strength of that which they overcome.

-----

My small group is doing an intense study on “spiritual disciplines” right now. There seems to be a great deal of buzz around the phrases “spiritual formation” and “spiritual disciplines.” As one of my friends pointed out, this is not the same discussion as conversations of old regarding sanctification, holiness, and morality. This is an attempt to historically connect with the practices that have stood the test of two thousand (or more) years.


The formation stream has many tributaries.

  • Holiness: Having pure thoughts, words, actions, and overcoming temptation.
  • Contemplative: Spending time with God in prayer and meditation.
  • Social Justice: Helping the invisible among us.
  • Charismatic: Nurturing and exercising my spiritual gifts by the power of the spirit.
  • Evangelical: Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and reading the Scriptures.
  • Incarnational: Unifying the sacred secular areas of my life while showing forth God’s presence.

Over the next few months, our group is going to spend two weeks reflecting and responding to our study of each stream. For the next two weeks, we’re focusing on the “contemplative stream.” Silence, breath prayers, devotional reading and personal written prayers will be our focus.

Confession: I’m strong in the “social justice” and “Incarnational” streams but struggle in the “charismatic” and “contemplative” (unless academic reading counts) areas.

How about you?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have been working on the contemplative stream but didn't know that is what it is called. I have been learning silence (being in the presence of God), I just learned what a breath prayer is and have started praying those and I am about to start written prayers.

It is really amazing the change in my thinking and relationship with God as I go through these processes.

Josh Ross said...

Who came up with this list? Just curious.

Umm...recently, social justice and incarnational have come rather natural. In 2008, I've been focusing more on holiness and contemplative. It basically comes down to nurturing new habits and finding new rhythms.

What is it that lumps "sharing gospel" and "reading Scripture" into the Evangelical stream?

Josh Graves said...

bikegirl2....that's great.

Josh...this list is from the Renovare Resource "A Spiritual Formation Workbook" with Smith and Graybeal.

I think there is a close connection to people who read the Bible regularly and those who evangelize. I 'm not totally sure.

Sara Barton reads this blog on occasion but usually only writes in to make fun of me. We'll see if this smokes her out of the cave.

Barrett said...

Hey Josh,

Thought I'd check in tonight to see what you're up to. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I'm thinking about using something similar in our homechurch. We've been incorporating a lot of these streams already, but I like the clarity this list has.

As for me, social justice and contemplative disciplines have been helping me keep walking for the last few years. Silence really messes with me - in a good way.

I'm painfully aware of how much growing there is ahead for me in the incarnational and evangelical areas. All of them if I'm real honest.

Anonymous said...

Josh, thanks for the post about Autumn. For those of us who had the priviledge of talking to her in classes, it is truly an honor. She is a beautiful person. You won't ever meet someone so driven to overcome obstacles without complaint and a great sense of humor.

And it may sound cliche, but she wants to treated like anyone else. She doesn't have the "woe is me attitude". She has goals in life and plans on fulfilling her dreams. I think we can all look to her for inspiration.

Eric said...

Josh Ross,
Before the Smith and Graybeal book was published, Foster published his book "Steams of Living Water" in which he identifies and explores each of these "streams". It's a good book and serves as the focal image of the spiritual life that underpins the masters program that Sara B and Natalie are currently completing. The program is a collaborative effort between Spring Arbor U and Renovare.

Another great way to evaluate this breakdown is Urban Holmes' paradigm in his "A History of Christian Spirituality." It is similar to applying a Myers-Briggs type analysis to the spiritual life. You basically have an x & Y axes. The Y ranges from head to heart (top to bottom), while the X ranges from the apophatic (hidden/mysterious God) to kataphatic (revealed/knowable God). The four quadrants then are described from top right around clockwise as something like: theological renewal; personal renewal; contemplative or inner renewal; and societal renewal.

It's another great model of the contemplative life. I've used it to help people understand their natural tendencies and why their personal spiritual leanings might either resonate or clash with they ways that others are wired.

There's a lot to discuss and build on here, but this isn't my blog, so I'll cease and desist.

Eric said...

BTW, the Upper Room has some great stuff for small groups on this too in their Companions in Christ series.

Ok, now, i'll shut up! :)

Josh Graves said...

Barrett,

"House Church" does that mean you are a part of a new "church?" I'm interested to hear what you're up to.

David,

Great comments and insight. Were you at the graduation? If you were I'm sorry I missed you.

Eric, feel free to discuss all you want. I'm still learning a great deal about this subject.

I think all ministry staffs should have to go through this process. We'll see if I can pull that off with my own co-workers! Ha.

Barrett said...

Josh, I'm still going to Lakewood CoC. What we call "homechurches" are probably more like small groups at other places, although they sometimes get up to 30-40 participants - so not so small.

The hc's are really the heart of our body, and we get most "big church" members involved, which - hopefully - allows more depth of community and better chances for ministry. In fact, Lakewood has all but eliminated Sunday and Wednesday night big church (except once a month) to encourage more hc involvement.

Josh Graves said...

Barett: Gotcha. I like that approach. Sometimes I think the greatest gift we can give our churches is to "simplify" our culture, expectations.

We preach on being busy and then ask people to sign up for five things. Ha.

Anonymous said...

Smoke and Caves. You give the impression I am some kind of dragon.

I love your post because I love it when people get into the stuff I'm into.

As to Josh Ross's question, I understand the evangelical stream to emcompass the Word - meaning the Scriptures (OT, NT, Apocrypha in some traditions), Jesus (the living Word), and the spoken word of God in the proclamation of the gospel.

As we share the euangelion - we testify to what is in Scripture, how Scripture reveals Jesus Christ, and how we are mysteriously a part of that great narrative (of words, at least in our world).

I love Peterson's, Eat This Book which I think explores how the Word of God is in us and a part of us and our nourishment for the energy we expend in social justice, holy lives, use of spiritual gifts, sacred life as lived in secular settings - all empowered by contemplative relationship with God. The reason I so appreciate and enjoy the program Natalie & I are in is that it is holistic. We are called, not to one stream or the other. The streams come together, and like water cannot be separated.

My strongest are social justice and incarnational while the ones I need to explore more fully are charistmatic and holiness. My spiritual director is helping me address how contemplation helps make my "wheel" a bit less bumpy (you have to read the book to undertand that one).

Please note that I did not make fun of Josh's balding head or the length of his sermons in the above, very spiritual post.

Sara G B

Anonymous said...

"David,

Great comments and insight. Were you at the graduation? If you were I'm sorry I missed you."

Yes, I was in the third row. My brother graduated.

I didn't see you up on stage, but there were lots of faculty up there obviously. I was looking for Mr. Cohu too. Oh well.

I understand how it goes as far as the fact you can't talk to everyone you want. I was spending most of my time talking to Dr. Kronenwetter, Dean Cagnet(I still laugh when I type that),Rex, and Mr. Hoggatt.

I do find it comical that I had only seen you a handful of times(after your classes) during my senior year. But I've never actually gotten a chance to talk with ya except through a blog. Haha.

Josh Graves said...

Sara: thanks for clarifying and pushing the conversation further. It is going to be interesting to see how churches implement this stuff on macro (Sunday morning) and micro levels.

Dave: some day we'll actually meet!

Barrett said...

Believe me, I still find plenty of opportunities to overbook with church activities. Simplicity is hard.

How do we reconcile the fact that the kingdom invites work with the temptation to try to take the reigns from God?

Anonymous said...

Simplicity kicks me in the gut every time I see Foster's book on my shelf.

The hardest for me are holiness and charismatic -- from a Mormon background converted to Churches of Christ, I REALLY struggle with the charismatic stream.

in HIS love,
nick