“Spiritual formation is a process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.”
Robert Mulholland, Jr. An Invitation to a Journey

That’s how one of my textbooks from this summer defined “spiritual formation.” For those who don’t know, I audited “CHMN 516: Spiritual Formation” from Bethel College. It was a graduate course, my first in 25 years.

Spiritual Formation 3 Hours
A practical study of the concept of the spiritual life, its meaning, significance and development. Various models of Christian spirituality are studied. Small groups, lectures and journal-keeping are used. Students are encouraged to examine their own spiritual lives and learn about various models/guidelines for implementing a ministry of spiritual formation in the Christian community.

I took it because Hope thinks the prof is wonderful, because I’d rather take a course than go to a conference for professional development, and because I need the discipline of a course to study spiritual disciplines. It has been helpful. But then, as you will start to discover during the next few months, I need the discipline of writing for others to help me reflect on what I’ve studied.

Back to Mulholland’s definition.

There are many process of formation. Amazon is working to form us into frequent customers. Gymnastics coaches are working to shape athletes into Olympians. Committed mountain climbers are building obstacles in their yards to become “The first American Ninja Warrior.” Parents are shaping potty behaviors. Many of us are working on time management habits, better attention management, writing skills. We go to counselors to help us develop relationship skills.

So what if we considered forming the spiritual dimension of our lives to be, perhaps, more like Christ? We have to decide, of course, whether the spiritual part of us is capable of being formed. We already know that we can work on our physical health and our emotional health. We can develop our relational health and our aesthetic health.

So can we be formed spiritually?