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Description / Abstract
Many Christian congregants are not being adequately formed and shaped as disciples of Christ, because many contemporary churches have a distorted philosophical anthropology, and therefore approach spiritual formation primarily from an intellectual standpoint. These churches view spiritual formation as a matter of disseminating Christian ideas and information. According to Smith, this view “assumes that human beings are primarily thinking things, or maybe believing animals.” As a result, these churches neglect many of the ancient worship practices that involve bodily practices and rituals which train the hearts of believers in God’s story.
This paper supports the basic arguments made by several scholars including James K. A. Smith, and Robert Webber in advocating for a twofold solution to spiritual formation and development. First, they suggest churches adopt a philosophical anthropology of human persons not radically dualistic, but rather monistic. Smith, in Desiring the Kingdom, teaches a "philosophical anthropology that understands human persons as defined by love—as desiring agents and liturgical animals whose primary mode of intending the world is love, which in turn shapes the imagination.” Adopting his view of human beings will help contemporary churches approach Christian formation in a holistic manner—one which involves the whole person, including the body and the mind.
Secondly, in connection with the understanding that human beings are primarily lovers, contemporary churches need to incorporate embodied worship practices each week in their corporate worship services for spiritual formation. Integrating a weekly blend of embodied worship practices such as the Eucharist, recitation of the Creed, observance of the Christian
calendar, and rituals, such as baptism, will help to provide a holistic approach to spiritual formation.
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Keywordsspiritual formation, ancient worship, discipleship
Degree AwardedDoctor of Ministry
Awarding InstitutionNazarene Theological Seminary
Committee MembersDwight Gunter, Levi Jones
Supervisor or ChairMatt Rundio
Peer Reviewed?No
Pages197
Original LanguageEnglish
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Doctor of Ministry Dissertations
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