Reframing Spiritual Formation

The title of this blog is actually a book I am re-reading right now. And this is an area which I am discerning and reflecting.

Earlier this year I took a course on discipleship. That prompt me to think about the needs to disciple others and have myself disciple upon.

Lately, I have been rethinking about these questions. How do one person disciple others when they do not want to? How do you share the love of Christ with another person? Does telling someone to go to Sunday School clearly a way to help them discover Christ? How do you move the heart of someone that has been going to church for years (longevity might not lead to maturity)? How did I have the heart to seek Christ? Where do the Bible holds in my life in today's context (multicultural, post-modern, individualism, subjective truth)?

And I am not asking this in a philosophical state. I am asking in a Christian who serves in a Church, who works in a cubicle and who trains for triathlon.

Sometimes I am sad to see people running around doing things. These might involve going to church or serving. Yet they fail to see or understand the heart to follow Christ. How do you tell someone like that? Do you tell someone like that? What's the best method of showing them they need to change without offending them?

I am sure these questions pastors ask as well when they are leading a flock of sheep who choose to go their own way. And at weaker times, I hope that there is a machine or a program that will change that in a sec.

Sadly, there isn't. I believe that in order to change the heart of someone requires the conviction of the Holy Spirit as well as the willingness for that person to change. This doesn't mean I am not involve. Just like the Parable of the Prodical Son, the father did not say a word when his son ask him for half of his estate. He simply let him go. I am sure the father worried about his son and pretty sure the father can go after him, find him and beat him and bring him back.

Instead, the father took a harder route. He choose to let his son make his own choice and rejoice when his son comes back.

I wonder if this is how discipleship should be. To be there for someone....

I don't have any answers. In fact, I have more questions than before.