Where Does Spiritual Formation Begin?

There are two pole ends on this one. For some people, the essence of spiritual formation is being made holy and for others it is about being made loving. Those at the end of each pole minimize the opposite end. Many strive for a balance. It is too easy to stereotype into poles on this one because people fit onto the spectrum between the poles.

Diane Chandler, in her book Christian Spiritual Formation, begins spiritual formation with love. (I agree with her 100%.) Notice this map of formation I provided in the last post about her book, but I offer a question:

What happens to formation if holiness is the core? if love is the core? (We aren’t suggesting the two are options but that gravitating to one pole end or the other will impact formation.) Again, what are the “marks” of a holiness-centered formation vs. a “love-centered” formation?

OK, it’s a small map but in the middle is the image of God, in the middle of which is the cross, and on the cross-piece is “love.” Love is the center of spiritual formation. It begins when we recognize God as love and that God loves us and that formation is formation into God’s love. Here is her definition (almost all in italics in her text):

I define godly love as the essence of God’s character and personality, proceeding from the Father as demonstrated by the Son through the work of the Holy Spirit, which unconditionally upholds the highest good of others and fosters the same altruism and benevolence in human relationships without regard for personal sacrifice (43).

Here she sketches Augustine’s view that love was the bond of the Trinity but opts for Richard of St Victor’s more perichoretic view: that love emerges from the love the Father, Son and Spirit have among one another. The love of God is limitless.

Chandler explores both what the Bible says about God’s love and the Father’s love for the Son and for us — and then explores the importance of fathers (and parents) in our ability to receive and give love.

The love of God influences us and we become more loving through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is an ongoing transformation by the Spirit. The Spirit is God’s empowering presence. And this, too, has an end in God’s glory:

Through the Father’s love, the Son’s model and sacrifice, and the Spirit’s transformational power, believers are adopted into God’s family through the Spirit’s working. CSF is enacted through belonging to God. God is glorified when believers follow Jesus’ example and reflect his character in living out the truth of the gospel through love and humility (63).

As sons and daughters of the living God, we reflect the glory of God (gloria Dei), who made us in the imago Dei, redeemed us through Christ’s sacrifice, and sanctifies us by the Spirit into the imago Christi. Thus, our adoptive relationship with Christ should be demonstrated in family likeness, clearly entailing ethical alignment
 (64).