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Spiritual Formation: What is it?

 Until the last few years, I used the term "spiritual growth." It was what I had heard all my life as a believer, but I wondered about the "growth." Our faith was to grow, Peter says (II Peter 15: But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge....and II Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.) We are to grow into the likeness of Jesus, to grow into his character, etc. But "to grow spiritually" in those terms? Not sure. 

And how did we know if we grew enough? Galatians 6:1 - Brethren, if a man is [a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Apparently we were supposed to know....but in humility, which would be a sign of it.

The term "spiritual formation" is perhaps more apt and more visual; there are lots of verses about growing and building in spiritual character. 

This article helps:  https://www.logos.com/grow/what-is-spiritual-formation-and-why-does-it-matter/

The difference between discipleship and spiritual formation, as this writer describes them, is still fuzzy to me. Spiritual formation is dependent on the Holy Spirit and necessary to discipleship. Discipleship is more visible to the world and involves engaging others in its processes. 

In the past I thought perhaps the term "spiritual formation" was something adopted to be trendy and had a bit of new-agey feel. That is not the case, or at least not the intention. 

The reality of it and helping others toward still escapes me. Spiritual formation appears to be a private matter that is bolstered and lived out with others. 

This article by Dallas Willard, https://dwillard.org/resources/articles/spiritual-formation-what-it-is-and-how-it-is-done may help. I will explore this some more. 

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