The Need, Vision and Strategy of Growing in Christlikeness

^{A plenary session presentation at the European Leadership Forum. Eger, Hungary. May 20-25, 2006.}

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” 
(Prov. 4:23)

The apostle Paul tells us to “lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted by misleading desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Eph. 4:22-24)  This is only one of many biblical passages that refer to the spiritual (trans)formation we are called to in the grace-walk with Christ.  Peter tells us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 3:18)  Spiritual formation in Christlikeness is the presumed pattern for the student-disciple of Jesus.

"Spiritual formation” refers to the “shaping” of character from the inside out.  It is the training of the heart, will and character—the inner, hidden dimension of the self—which has as its natural consequence what people do and how they live their life.  Everyone is spiritually formed, everyone gets a “spiritual formation.”  Hitler as well as Mother Theresa of Calcutta.  It is simply a question of which one you get.  Everyone in this world has received a formation that requires trans-formation.  This is the deep meaning of “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23)

There is a constant battle in this world between the Holy Spirit and the “flesh” already formed against God. (Gla. 5:16-26)  Actually, there are three distinct but united forces against God: the World, the Flesh and the Devil. (Eph. 2:1-3)  Those who have confidence in Jesus Christ as Lord and Maestro can grow to live easily on the side of the Spirit.  (Matt. 11:28-30)  The Lord is the transforming Spirit. (II Cor. 3:16-18)  This process of change is the process of spiritual formation in Christ.

Christian Spiritual Formation is the process through which the will and all of the inward (the “spiritual”) dimensions of the self or the human personality take on the character of Jesus Christ.  The human spirit is the will, the executive center of the self.  Also called the “heart” in the bible.  From the surrendered and regenerated will, holiness spreads, by grace and intelligent, sustained action, to every dimension: the mind (thoughts and feelings), the body, the social dimension (relations to others), and to the depths of the soul.  Out of this comes the life of a whole persons centered on God through Christ and his Word of the Kingdom.  This is the outcome of the life of the disciple or apprentice of Jesus as he described it in John 8:31-32, 13:34-35, 15:8.  See also Col. 3:1-17 and 2 Peter 1:3-11, etc. etc.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) is a description of the kind of life that emerges as spiritual formation proceeds under his direction.  He is not there giving laws of what you must do, but illustrations of what the transformed person, living “beyond the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” (5:20), will do—without thinking much about it.

To do what Jesus said, or to keep the law, one does not try to keep the law.  That is the way of the Pharisee, and always fails.  Instead, one tries (with grace, always available) to become the kind of person who does what Jesus said (“keeps the law”) because of who they have become through and through.  To do this they must see the goodness of being that kind of person, decide to become that kind of person, and implement wise means to that end.

Let’s look at a few cases of spiritual formation in action that Jesus deals with at some length.  He is teaching in contrast to the Pharisee’s version of spiritual formation, which says: Don’t murder, and don’t do adultery, etc.  Jesus goes to the root of behavior, in the mind, feelings, will, etc.  This is the “beyond” into which one must move to enter, interact, with the kingdom of the heavens. (Matt. 5:20)

In Matt. 5:21-30, he deals with anger, contempt and purposive cultivated lusting.

To move out of anger and contempt you have to see what they are.  Anger is an impulse of will to resist and to harm.  It results from having our will thwarted, crossed.  It is naturally self-righteous and feeds on itself.  If  we dwell in it, it becomes malice and wrath.  It makes a place for the devil to work. (Eph. 4:27)  Thus Paul says: “Lay aside anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech.” (Col. 3:8)  In almost every situation anger makes bad matters worse.  “The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)  Hence: “Anger resides in the bosom of fools.” (Ecc. 7:9)  Anger makes us act unwisely.  We have to see that anything that can be accomplished with anger can be better done without it.  That will require us to see life as it is under God.  Surrender to his will releases us from bondage to our will, to having our way.   Jesus, when he was “suffering offered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.” (I Peter 2:23; see vss. 21-3:12)  THIS IS THE VISION THAT IS IN THIS CASE ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL FORMATION.  WITHOUT IT SPIRITUAL FORMATION CANNOT PROCEED.

Contempt is closely associated with anger, and it too must be seen for what it is.  To have contempt  for someone is to account them as worthless or unworthy.  To look down upon, disregard them, thrust them aside.  In American gang language it is to “diss” someone.  You will notice how anger and contempt work with each other, and you will notice the role of vile language in contempt.  Just listen to people fighting.

This three stage pattern—
vision, intention and means—
is a completely reliable pattern 
for spiritual transformation. 

We move away from anger and contempt by seeing life, ourselves and others under God, His care over all.  We see with the eyes and heart of Jesus.  Secondly, we must intend, must decide to live without them.  This decision must rest on the vision, which must be clear and strong.  And if it can be characteristic of your group it will help immensely.  But now you will rarely meet anyone who has decided to drop anger and contempt from their repertoire of resources for managing life. This can be changed.

Then, finally, we seek means to implement the decision based on the vision.  This will largely consist of standard spiritual disciplines, such as solitude, silence, worship, fasting, etc., which serve to suspend and break our habits of thought, feeling and action in terms of anger and contempt.

This three stage pattern—vision, intention and means—is a completely reliable pattern for spiritual transformation.  Run through it, now, for the case of cultivated lusting.  See that for what it is, and see why people do it.  Not pretty! The use of others to indulge our lusting, and the use of our lusting to get pleasure for ourselves.  See it under God.  Then form the intention/decision to omit it from our life.  Then find means to implement the decision.  Practice them until habits are transformed.

Now, a few closing observations:

This pattern of character formation is effectual for any of the teachings of law or scripture, and without it one cannot succeed.  We can enter with power into any of the things Jesus taught.  Thus he told us to “teach them to do all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:20)  It must be possible.

Of course we cannot carry though with vision, intention or means without divine assistance.  But we don’t have to.  That is available.  But we cannot be passive.

Spiritual formation in Christlikeness does not require money, buildings, special talents or the cooperation of the surrounding world.  When Christ sent out his apostles (Matt. 28:18-20) they had none of these.  They swept the world before them because of the kind of people they had become in Christ and because they brought others into the same reality.  The need today is exactly the same as then, and so is the opportunity and the possibility.

Let’s do it now, where we are.