2016ustrip

Session III: Individual Call and Wesleyan Tradition
by Dr Marilyn Elliot
Reflection on Spiritual Formation
Spiritual Formation is about life after one has accepted Jesus Christ as his/her
personal savior, known as becoming a Christian. In other words, Spiritual
Formation is related to Faith and the Holy Spirit. It sounds just vaguely
understandable, but Dr Elliot expounded clearly on it in her sharing.
First, she started with the term Spiritual Formation. She said that Spiritual
Formation is not about what we believe, but about who we are. She further
elaborates: It is not about head but heart. She said God made humans with the
capacity to be changed or to engage in the world or to learn. This capacity
makes humans very dangerous. Because human has longing and desire to reach their goal, and capacity to be
changed in order to accomplish their own desires regardless of whether the intention are good or bad. In other
words, each person is being formed all the time.
Then she said Christian Formation begins in the Christian life when a person meets Christ. In fact, not every
Christian is beautifully formed, but is invited to be, which means Spiritual Formation is not always positive.
I believe her sharing soothed a lot of doubts in brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes we might wonder
why Christians behave in such a way that is worse than non-Christians. This is because all Spiritual
Formation is not always positive! Sometimes we might fall backwards without realizing it. For example, I
am a Christian and I have committed my sins unto the Lord and He will forgive my sins. Shall I continue to
dwell in sins? Or shouldn’t I become more sensitive to the sins and keep myself away from it? Unfortunately,
we might keep on sinning and keep on confessing in prayer. Sometimes we can become numb to the repetition
of the sins and start to neglect the confession of sins. These are signs of falling backwards. Or sometimes we
can even become hypocritical Christians, who emphasise the law without love and care for others.
Dr Elliot further explained that in the Christian context, we assume that spiritual formation equates to positive
formation. However, following God doesn’t mean that deformation won’t happen. Spiritual Formation is
about how we live. Sin causes humans to run away from God. God hates sins because of the consequences,
hence the relationship between God and humans is affected. Sometimes we don’t know what to do, but we
trust God. Dr Elliot quoted Col 2:2-3 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love,
so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of
God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Dr Elliot concluded that Spiritual Formation is about trust, not faith. Spiritual
Formation becomes positive through a community of love.
I totally agree with Dr Elliot that through a community of love, Christians can
proceed to Spiritual Formation (positive Formation). Christians can share their
lives (struggles and joys) with each other. They can keep watch and pray for
each other. As such, they will experience God’s love and remain in Him.
Ps Alan Lau
21