Formation for 2017

““It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
I’m beginning a new journey in 2017. Part of it comes after a “request” and conversation by a colleague of mine to think through Spiritual Formation and the Disciplines as a plan for our communities. It is something I have long been interested in but it something I feel unbelievably unqualified to do. It is one thing to have an interest, and even dabble in spiritual practices of this sort. It is another thing all together to devote a year to them – to not just study them but to embrace them and let them marinate within my daily steps. 

James Bryan Smith is an author whose books I treasure. In one resource, he invites his fellow adventurer to begin a year of formation by asking 2 questions related to the four functions or main ways that Jesus is known in the life of his followers. His questions are “in our relationship with Jesus, which of these four have we experienced and understand the best” and “which of these do you need/want to grow in during the coming year?” Here are the 4 areas:

Jesus as Lord: he lives at the center of my life

Jesus as Friend: he understands and comforts me

Jesus as Savior: he forgives my sins and sets me free

Jesus as Teacher: he teaches me wisdom and guides me into truth

As I begin this journey, I realize that in the last several years I have spent a lot of time with the Teacher and Friend roles. These are comfortable – places where it has been an easy focus. It doesn’t mean that I’ve reached the summit, but they are areas that I have definitely spent more time within. Jesus as my Lord is also an area that I believe has been an intellectual focus for me. Certainly, I’ve wanted this to be a part of my heart growth, but I also know that it is an area that I still struggle with. I still fight the “gods of this age” that vie for my attention, time, finances, and energies. 

But, there is one of the four are that I currently think needs to be my focus. It is an area that I’ve studied a lot of but that I’ve also allowed to rest on the shelf of my life. The area of Jesus as my savior is one that should be simple. It’s the focus of much of Christian music and worship. It’s a major highlight of a good portion of the Christian year. But it’s also something that, due to what I feel is an over saturated focus, has been something I’ve distanced myself from. Please hear me, I’m not saying that I’ve forgotten or stepped away from this life-altering element of my life, of our faith, etc. But it has been much easier to focus on Jesus as friend, teacher and even Lord than all the heaviness of Jesus as my Savior. 

Author Brennan Manning says that to missplace the reality or intensity of the “paschal of Christ” is to miss out on what it means to be His follower. Ouch. I certainly haven’t intended this – it’s really been a move against the morbidity that many followers love to focus on regarding the Christ. But, in that pursuit of the Life of Christ, is it possible that I have misplaced the death and passion of Christ? Well, that is the question that I begin my 2017. 

What about you dear friend? Maybe you and Jesus as Savior are “just fine, thank you very much.” But what about Friend – do you know that he wants to be a friend that sticks closer than a brother? What about your teacher – have you allowed yourself to fully allow the author of life to have time teaching and inviting your to deepen in your knowledge of Him and His world? Or what about Jesus as Lord – is he the real center of your life? Which of these areas are you most comfortable with and which do you feel are areas to grow in during 2017? I certainly believe that all 4 will make an appearance but which one would you need to spend some time meditating with? Which one would draw you out as you begin the year?