Philosophy of Christian Formation in the Local Church

Thesis Statement

Every church should be involved in creating and growing fully committed disciples of Jesus Christ.

Definition

In Eph 4:13, Paul – lists the characteristics which are the goals of Christian Formation:

• Unity of the faith
• The knowledge of the Son of God
• A mature person
• To the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Christian formation is the process of being intentional about creating fully committed disciples of Jesus Christ (Mat 23:8). This includes education but is bigger than just the mind. Spiritual Growth is the real goal.

1. Christian Formation is a primary mission of the church. Jesus … (Mat 28:19-20). Role of the Holy Spirit as Teacher (John 16:13 & Newton 125-129). Eschatological - we are getting ready to meet God (Eph 5:27). Requires admitting our own inadequacy and reliance on God (2 Cor 3:5). Christian Formation is restorative. People were created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27) and since the fall need to be conformed into the image of Christ (Gen 1:27).
2. Christian Formation is primarily taught relationally, it depends on mentoring relationships (Prov 27:17). Jesus was first a mentor to the disciples (John 15:15). Jesus was the ultimate example as a teacher (Pazmino, 113-114). Building community is the overall goal (Eph 2:20-22). Christian Formation calls everyone to mutual accountability based on idea that we are all together in the body of Christ (Eph 5:21). Small groups are vital for spiritual formation (Taylor, 97, Mat 10:1, Mark 4:10) but have been seen as a panacea in the past. Need a mix of advanced, intermediate, and introductory level people (Mat 10:2). Things like patience are better modeled than taught (Rom 5:3-5). Need to be able to meet people where they are because one size does not fit all (Col 3:11). SF "…bring(s) about relational depth with God" (Root, 56).
3. Christian Formation requires teaching the basic doctrines of the faith (Rom 10:9) and trains people to be able to share these basic doctrines with others (2 Tim 4:2, 1 Pet 3:15). These doctrines are found in the Old (Psa 119:42-43) and New Testaments (2 Tim 3:15). The Scriptures are direct revelation which show us who God is (p. 35-39). The command to teach our children the commandments is very old (Deut 6:1-9, Taylor 91). Historical approach to Christian Formation has often involved delegation of this responsibility. Catechumenal schools prepared for baptism (Lawson, 19), as preparation for persecution which would follow. Catechetical schools included rhetoric and logic. Knowing facts about God is not the same thing as knowing God. Teaching needs to be affective. Sunday School movement was lay led initially in the late 18^th century and later came into the church (Anthony foreword, 11). Fowler say 6 stages of spiritual growth (Dirks, 86).
4. Christian Formation goal is obedience to God (Rom 6:17). Christian Formation involves following certain moral values from God’s Word (Psa 119:11). This obedience is more than mere externals (Deu 30:2-3). Christian Formation helps us develop a sense of sin (Root, 56). Christian Formation functions as fire insurance (Jude 1:23). Our morals/good works do not save us (Rom 3:27-28), God does. However, God has high expectations of behavior (Mat 5:48). Grace for failures (Rom 3:24 & TenElsof, 196). There is an Obedience-growth cycle (Rom 6:16).
5. Christian Formation needs to be age and generationally appropriate (Pullman, 63). The home is intended to be the primary agency of Christian Education (Benson, p. 27 & TenElsof, 195). There are a number of stages of development (Estep, 63-82 & Dirks, 83-90 & Pullman, 63) that suggest that age segregated educational programs are valuable. These stages of Developmentalism do not end when one reaches adulthood. Erickson lists ten psycho sccial crises across a lifespan (Pullman, 64). Levinson identified 11 stages of adult development (Pullman, 68). There are various models of moral development (Estep, 74-75). Christian Formation needs to take into account the differences between the different (Builders, Boomers, Gen-X, Millennial). Closely related is the issue of post-modernism where truth is relative (Benson, 33). Generational perspective differences (Black, 237-244) need to be understood. (beyond Dad’s Oldsmobile). Creative teaching methods (Cunningham, 142) need to be used intentionally.
6. Christian Formation uses different styles of teaching so that different learning styles can be accommodated (LeFever, 130-137). The church has traditionally utilized auditory methods. This misses visual and tactile/kinesthetic learners. Flannel boards visual memorable exception. Age segregation should not mean that adults do not mentor children, for instance. Inductive study techniques can incorporate the best of the best in learning.
7. Christian Formation also happens in worship. People are healed during worship of their brokeness. The music, prayers, reading of Scripture, silence, sermon are all elements of worship that form people spiritually. Worship is transcendent of reality. It is a miracle when people can transcend their difficult lives for even one hour in a week (Weborg). Other spiritual disciplines, which the church emphasizes less frequently, need to be explored. Silent retreats are one such example.
8. Christian Formation does not require innovation in the creation of new programs and materials. There are a lot of great programs out there. The Covenant Resource center has materials. Quality resources take a lot of time to create. See what can be adapted from existing materials. The Covenant Church also has a Department of Christian Formation (http://www.covchurch.org/cov/formation/) uses the GROW acronym (God’s Word, Relationships, Obedient Living, Worship).
9. Christian Formation requires an admission that Christian Formation is difficult – societal trends. family disintegration (TenElsof, 199-200), 1 hour per week mentality, decreasing Biblical literacy, lack of family devotions, post-Christian culture, church squandered their chances in the past, cultural Christianity), rise of public schools (Letterman, 277), lack of integration with para-church organizations, our own inadequacy to the task. We need to acknowledge the failures of past methods based on humanistic philosophies of Dewey and Mann (Benson, p. 31). Perfection does not come with education.
10. Christian Formation results should be measured (Mat 7:18-19), although this measurement is difficult. Historical methods involve memorizing Bible passages, catechisms, etc. (Lawson, 17-24) are inadequate. Christian Formation should be replicating. If the program is no self-sustaining and growing then the program is failing. What works should be rewarded. Often, Christian Formation should be about teaching people how to do for themselves.

Role of the Pastor

Commitment and authentic embodiment are crucial. Pastor as Servant Leader. Pastor must himself or herself be in the process of being formed. Pastor can not be an advocate of small groups, for instance, without being in one. Pastor as equipper of the saints – facilitation function rather than top-down approach. This is more than delegation of the task to a committee or even to a Director of Spiritual Formation. Pastor must call people to the accountability that comes with Spiritual Formation. The pastor needs to be the main advocate for Christian Formation in the local church. The Pastor needs to cast a vision for Christian Formation in the local church. This may involve starting specialized groups for people beyond the typical Men’s and CW groups. Special interest groups like a Christian Philosophy club, or Christian Origins Study Groups can reach out to people with special interests (Root, 58). "Evangelists should be lifelong learners" (Root, 57).

Role of the Staff

Authentic embodiment is also crucial. Staff must himself or herself be in the process of being formed. Staff as Servant Leaders. There may be a staff person whose primary focus is Christian Formation but they are not given the task of handling this alone. This is a homeland security equivalent.

Role of the Laity

Christian Formation involves everyone from infants to Senior citizens (Talyor 92-93). Christian Formation relies on lay participation (Cannister, 149-158). Not just buy in – in terms of what is being done to them, but what is being done through them. This involves the use of the giftings of the church. Teachers, administrators, helps and prophetic voices are all needed (Issler, 38).. This involves a commitment to the Christian life that is extraordinary (Root, 53.) People have multiple demands on their lives. Need to help people differentiate between commitments to programs and growth. Intentionality is the key for everyone involved. Have a congregational ministry structure based on the team model.