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Christianity Today, September, 2008 |

A Life Formed in the Spirit

Richard Foster's disciplined attention to spiritual formation began early on.

Interview by Mark Galli | posted 9/17/2008 10:23AM

Thirty-one years ago, not many evangelicals thought much of the "spiritual disciplines," and when they did, they thought of them negatively—as one more form of works righteousness. That began to ...

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joel V. ciriaco

Posted: September 21, 2008 10:23 AM


celebration of discipline that helps me realize that i have not even come half way on this discipline. its true many born again Christians wait God to transform them. now i have to prepare the ground to let the seed grow. I thank God for using people understand the path by discipline. I thank God

Judy	Posted: September 21, 2008 1:57 AM


I'm blessed and refreshed reading this interview. It helps me to know not only about Richard Foster's spiritual journey but also about spiritual formation. Thanks a million!

Dave N.

Posted: September 20, 2008 6:30 PM


Great article. Foster's work is so important to the Evangelical movement. Would that even more people will pay attention to it in the future.

mike	Posted: September 20, 2008 12:59 PM

Richard Foster and Dallas Willard are Quakers, not Christians. This is what Quakers are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_light http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quakers Beware Evangelicals, do not fall for mysticism or because of it. You will end up Catholics. Spiritual Formation is a false aescetic work of man that leads away from Christ. Spiritual Transformation is a true work of God that approaches Christ-likeness. Please do not be deceived by these men. In Christ Mike

Howard Pepper

Posted: September 20, 2008 11:54 AM

Interesting interview! The area of spiritual formation and/or "discipleship," should be the focus of Christian spirituality much more than other areas, for spiritual health. For virtually all its history, Evangelicalism (the predominant form of conservative American Christianity), has had a misplaced, unhelpful focus on salvation via right belief and simplistic concepts of commitment and obedience. Only when faith is looked at as a process, an inner work, as in the works of Foster, does it carry the transformative, compassionate power spoken of by Jesus. The doctrinal debates--inward or outward--that we engage matter little in comparison... even whether Jesus physically rose from the dead.

Bob Valerius

Posted: September 19, 2008 3:58 PM


Thanks for a great interview of a spiritual man. I truly love Celebration. May God continue to use him to advance his kingdom.

VanBerean

Posted: September 19, 2008 4:53 AM


Too much of a mystic for me.

JOn	Posted: September 18, 2008 7:11 AM


I believe you just missed the poin altogether John. Enough said!

Julie

Posted: September 18, 2008 6:47 AM

Blast! As soon as I resolve to cancel the emails, a great article always comes along! Paradoxically this one reminded me of my related resolves: more solitude, less giving in to the temptations to know the latest, be a part of the whole discussion, be available for any Word. Yet at some point the Lord says: Be Still. So, goodbye to the hustle and bustle of Christian News, and hello to the ancient writings, the great silences of prayer, the fellowship of my calling. Thanks for the article!!

Steve

Posted: September 17, 2008 9:47 PM

"I think that theres another agenda in a marriage, and that its better not to try to make a spiritual formation a part of the marriage covenant." What?? I would have loved to have the interviewer wake up a little and follow up with a few questions such as this pregnant quote. i.e. Richard, what is the other agenda in marriage? Let me follow that up with another question, Why is it not better to make spiritual formation a part of the marriage covenant?

wesh	Posted: September 17, 2008 5:58 PM


"Let go and let God." It is my job to do what God puts in front of me. It is his job to manage the results. thank you

John	Posted: September 17, 2008 3:19 PM

I was surprised that this interview contained no discussion of the influence of occultist Agnus Sanford on Foster. My understanding is that he was her personal disciple during his spiritual formation. This, and the encouragement of astral projection by Foster in the first edition of "Celebration of Discipline", has tended to make me shy away from his writings. I would have been interested in knowing what part this occultist's influence played on his spiritual development or how he has shed this part of his past (or if he has).

Adam S

Posted: September 17, 2008 1:47 PM


Thanks for the article.

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