Mission, Spirituality, Connecting  

Some of the discussions and the purveyors of misinformation regarding spiritual formation have troubled me. Some feel that anything associated with the academic term "spiritual formation" is false and full of error. Others are very supportive of spiritual formation as a simple focus on developing a sanctified life.

Scripture lays out very important spiritual values: fervent prayer, confession, repentance, abiding in him, receiving the power of the Holy Spirit and more. From a young child, Jesus constantly was formed by his walk with the Father, and he sought to form his followers into the same relationship. His life was linear, growing in his intimacy with the Father through communion with him. The academic term for Jesus' experience is spiritual formation in the truest sense.

Is this not the greatest need for God's remnant people? So, if a deep walk, an abiding and deep, spiritually-formed life is to be our goal, why the controversy? For every truth, every godly value, every good thing, the enemy of our souls has developed one or more counterfeits. Some prime examples include the assurance of salvation versus once saved, always saved, and the grace of God making obedience unimportant versus the grace of God empowering us to obey. Read more.

The message in this section is the intro to President's Perspective, by Don Livesay, Lake Union president, reprinted from the current issue of the Lake Union Herald. It will be updated monthly.