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I have nothing against self-discovery, or even using broad-ranging interpretive frameworks like mandalas to assist self-discovery. But sooner or later, we must realize that Christian spiritual formation is the process by which believers become more fully conformed and united to Christ. The source of transformation is the Spirit of Christ. Spiritual formation develops primarily in the context of a relationship with Christ. The aim of formation is conformity to and union with Christ. While other traditions may provide helpful and legitimate insights into human "integration," they do not (indeed they cannot) express what conformity to or union with Christ involves.

As a discipline of Tibetan Buddhist enlightenment, for example, the mandala is designed not to form a person (or self) into union with Jesus Christ, but to help a person realize that ultimately there is no self to be formed. It is not so much that Tibetan theology is explicitly emphasized in mandala seminars (or Sufi theology in the Enneagram), but by drawing in this manner from the world's religions, the seminars diminish (or leave out) the person of Jesus Christ.

In his award-winning Satisfy Your Soul: Restoring the Heart of Christian Spirituality, Bruce Demarest distinguishes authentic Christian spirituality by a few key characteristics. One of these is Christ-centeredness. Demarest writes, "The fullness of life we crave is found only in heart-to-heart relationship with Christ, in growing in his character, and in being directed by his Spirit." The best way to lead others to Christ is to lead others to Christ. We have not even begun to mine the riches of the Christian tradition for resources in spiritual formation. If we in spiritual formation intend to lead people into ever-increasing unity and conformity with the living God revealed in Jesus Christ, we are at our best and generally safest when we lead Christians with teaching and practices that are distinctive to the Christian tradition: Christian spiritual formation.

Evangelical Christians have served as defenders of the faith for generations, waving the banners of the central Christian beliefs and the authority of the Scriptures. Yet because of our role as "protectors of the faith," evangelicals have been slow to welcome the trends regarding Christian spiritual formation. The intentional use of imagination in prayer, the idea of "listening" or "centering" prayer, and the notion of spiritual "direction" have resembled, to some, too much of what we have meant to keep out of Christianity: New Age ideas and works righteousness. Hence, we have traditionally kept spiritual formation at arm's length.

More recently, however, we have seen a renewed interest in spiritual disciplines such as meditation, guidance, study, and service. We have found that there is more to the abundant Christian life than quitting the big sins and trying to bear witness to our acquaintances. We need more. And we have found that desire for more, that intentional development of our relationship with God, in Christian formation.

But I sometimes wonder if we are talking about Christian spiritual formation. Christian spiritual formation is not simply improving the regularity of prayer or Bible study. It is not merely becoming personally accountable for our sins. Christian spiritual formation is the transformation of our spirit through the Spirit of Christ.

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December 9 2002, Vol. 46, No. 13