In the 40 years since Celebration of Discipline hit bookshelves the term ​“spiritual formation” has gone from obscurity to relative prominence. Noticing this trend, Richard Foster expressed concern that spiritual formation could become ​“just another fad in the vast kaleidoscope of Western Christianity.” (Nate Foster interacts with that comment in this Heart to Heart letter.)

So what is spiritual formation and why isn’t it a fad? Dallas Willard puts it plainly: ​“It is the process through which those who love and trust Jesus Christ effectively take on His character.” And regardless of the term we use — discipleship, apprenticeship, formation — it’s a process that takes a lifetime. 

It’s also a process we put our bodies into, not just our minds. Just as someone can study soccer without ever setting foot on the field, it’s possible to become a spiritual formation ​“expert” without actually practicing what Jesus taught. Willard reminds us that to grow spiritually we’ve got to put our body into it. And we do so with the faithful cloud of witnesses cheering us on.

Run well (1 Cor 9:24; Heb 12:1)