Six myths or false models of spiritual formation 3/6

However, there is something to be said for casting a critical eye across a mode of spiritual formation that centres upon looking for change only within deeply stirred emotions.

Wilhoit suggests that The Emotional model says we are changed most when our spiritual experiences are shaped by that of what is assumed to be deeply emotional.

My generation of Salvationist will remember music or youth camps where we geared ourselves for the Thursday emotional devotional, where as young teenagers, confronted with all that was wrong in our lives, we got caught up in, what I am sure Richard Dawkins would call, induced mass hysteria! I actually look back at those experiences and can not dismiss them, for their significance remain with me even today in my faith journey. However, there is something to be said for casting a critical eye across a mode of spiritual formation that centres upon looking for change, only within deeply stirred emotions.

A model of spiritual formation that depends on feel good emotions, where growth is measured by an emotional state that is always positive, is paper thin when it comes to supporting people through dark nights, desert experiences or hitting the wall in the maturing our faith. The emotional model of spiritual formation that is exposed by descriptions of worship that centre on personal preference, rather than alignment with God's way, is often reduced to being measured by the strange concept of 'God turning or not turning up!' Being blessed, usually equating with I have got my own way!!!

I don't think that Thomas Merton got to the place of understanding where he realised that 'the desert is ... the logical dwelling place for the man who seeks to be ... dependent upon no one but God', through a series of 'real' worship emotional highs ... I could be wrong!

Wilhoit, J.C (2008:51ff) Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered. Baker

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A bit of sally bashing....

Came across a good bit of Sally bashing over at salvationsoldiers I have to say we try and make sure that everything we raise goes into projects that build local community in Poplar but hopefully if you read this blog you get that sense anyway.
Read more

Lost Voices of Mission...Fred Brown

Image
Along the world famous Oxford street in London's Westend; nestled in among the classy frontage of designer shops there is almost an unnoticeable, unimpressive wooden door. It is more or less alongside The Regent Hall's main entrance onto the busyness of Oxford Street. People pass the wooden door oblivious to the equally unimpressive wooden steps that go up three storey's to what was Regent Hall's youth club. When I was 10 I played on these bare wooden steps totally unaware of the significance behind and upon which I played. Many years later I discovered a university youth work course - as an induction to Youth Work - stopped outside this insignificant wooden door to point out that Youth Work as we know it in the UK started behind this door. ...whether that be the surbanite flower people that flooded the Westend to express their free love; or the hard core drug community this unimpressive wooden door became the 'portal' that blurred encounter between church an...
Read more

'Never waste a good crisis' ~ Winston Churchill

'Never waste a good crisis' ~ Winston Churchill I heard this Churchillian quote this morning while enjoying my traditional 'whatever the weather' porridge. A quick google turned up these interesting words written by Andrew Low for the commercial world. "In challenging times one must question the accepted reality because things are going wrong, rapid answers are needed and the solution may well be found outside the usual compass. In the world of business we are often guilty of not challenging the norm; we are instead satisfied with following procedure and tradition. It takes insight and not a little courage to question your leaders as to why are things done the way that they are? However, in times of crisis there seems to be more latitude to do so – management in fact is actively seeking input it seems. Leading companies nowadays recognise this and cultivate a more open, questioning climate within the office at all times because a degree of co...
Read more