Always In Process

I've been writing a lesson for a spiritual formation curriculum that focuses on dying to self and serving others. My key scripture passage is Isaiah 58, but on the way to Isaiah I got sidelined by the hymn of Christ in Philippians chapter 2. So here's where I will begin and will revisit Isaiah in a later post.

M. Robert Mulholland in his excellent book, Invitation to a Journey states

 “spiritual formation is the process of becoming like Christ for the sake of others.”

There's that process word. I'm forever in process. (sigh)

That last phrase in Mulhollands definition, "for the sake of others,” is the interpersonal aspect of spiritual formation. It’s what goes on between you and another person or persons.

Consider this~

We grow in Christ to become more like Christ to be Christ for other people.

Growing in Christ is your intrapersonal journey. It's your inner transformation.

I've been considering~ 

          How have I balanced my intrapersonal and interpersonal spiritual journeys?

          How have I experienced an inbalance in my spiritual journey?

Scripture profoundly illustrates what this means to become like Jesus in Philippians 2:1-8.

I appreciate Eugene Peterson's paraphrase that follows.

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. (The Message translation)

Easy for him to say.:) Tough for me to follow.

Check out the ESV translation for a solid word for word reading.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,t6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,t being born in the likeness of men.8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV translation)

  

Becoming like Jesus for the sake of others requires something from us.

What "something" is God requiring of you? 

Anatomy of a Care Ministry: Dissecting Donna

After a summer of concentrated prayer and exploring with the senior pastor how to care for the church body, I accepted the formal invitation to consider the board position of leading Care Ministries at Park Street Church. I have never, in my thirty years of church experience, gone through this church's particular process of moving into a leadership position. The beginning steps were familiar enough; seek God's will for my involvement at church, dialogue with others currently in care ministry at Park Street Church through lay leadership, and share ideas and dreams with the pastor on what it could be.

But last night moved from these small steps to one giant leap into a place I haven't been before. I was interviewed by a large group at church  bearing the openly accountable title, Spiritual Health Team. A position on a committee with that moniker would certainly drive me to more vigiliance regarding my Christian walk! Their task was to discover if I possessed the Biblical qualifications of a leader while posing questions about my own historical walk with the Lord, my family and my leadership skills. They assured me I wouldn't fail if I didn't meet all of the qualifications (no one is perfect, right?).

For a solid hour this dedicated group of people asked probing questions in order to get to know me on both a personal and vocational level. Although you truly don't know someone until you've lived with him or her, or in the case of church ministry worked side by side with that person, I was quite impressed by the effort. But the most remarkable piece of the process for me was the request for my husband's presence. The team inquired about Jim's spiritual journey as well and endeavored to know him personally.

Inviting a spouse to this juncture of  decison making is advantageous on many levels. For me, it provided a marriage enrichment bonus as I listened to Jim's responses with curiousity and admiration. For the Spiritual Health Team, it afforded them the opportunity to see that Jim adds to my own spiritual health with his steadfastness in the Lord and even temperament. For Jim, it gave him a different venue to express his faith as well as show support for my calling and service to the Lord. All in all, if the candidate for leadership has a spouse, it is a win win situation to have the spouse present. I especially appreciate the insight the committee could have gotten if Jim wasn't supportive. Perhaps even more importantly, if marriage issues or personal problems surfaced, it would give this group of people a chance to minister to us.

Harkening back to the anatomy analogy, I do admit my bones were a little rattled while driving home from the interview last evening. But a little shaking up is good for the soul and a lot of accountability is good for the church body. I'm thankful for these "inquiring minds who want to know" if I hold myself accountable to the Bible, my spouse and God's will for my life.

This morning I praise the Lord with this psalm that expresses my thoughts about my new season of  ministry:

" You make known to me the path of life;
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
At your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
                                          Psalm 16:11 (ESV)