Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Spiritual Formation and The Law (pt. 1 Introduction)

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But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Galatians 5:18)

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Ibid. Matthew 5:17-19)

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. (Ibid. James 2:10)

Spiritual Formation is intentional engagement with practices such as reading scriptures, prayer and others, to renew our minds and be transformed (Rom. 12:2) from the habits and patterns of fallen man. It has as its goal, Christ being formed in us (Gal. 4:19), so for example, our attitudes being formed into the same attitude that was in Jesus (Phil 2:5). What then is the relationship between the Old Testament (OT) Law and this New Testament (NT) concept of formation?

Before we answer that question, perhaps we should answer a few other questions first. What is the relationship between the OT Law and the NT Christian? Are Christians obligated to follow some of the OT Laws, but not all? Can the OT Law be broken into different categories and we are obligated to follow some of those categories but not others? Is a Christian following the Law and keeping the 4^th commandment by going to Church on Sunday? If so, then is the opposite true, if you miss Church, you’re breaking the 4^th commandment?

A lot of Christians know that tattoos[1] are forbidden in Leviticus, but do they realize the verse prior says not to shave your sideburns (19:27-28)? Is it then sinful to get a tattoo, but ok to shave your sideburns? Along the same lines, many Christians know, the NT does away with the OT Law’s dietary codes (Lev. 11, Mk. 7:19, Acts 10:9-15). Also, the NT does away with the religious rite of circumcision (Gen. 17, Lev. 12:3, Acts 15, 1 Cor. 7:19). Moreover, the NT does away with the OT sacrificial system for forgiveness (Lev. 4, Heb. 10). What about a law like in the year of Jubilee, returning to your land and land being returned to a family (Lev. 25:10)? Does that only apply to some, but not to others? Does this mean the whole OT law is done away with? Does it mean only parts of the OT Law are obsolete, but laws not explicitly repealed by the NT are still obligatory?

It should be clear, this is a complicated subject. Therefore, we are going to take some time and examined this topic. Please join us. (Click here for Part 2)

Written by Pastor Ozzy

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Works Cited

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

[1] Is our modern tattoo the best translation of the Hebrew, kĕthobeth in Lev. 19:28? There were some forms of body lacerations in the cults of the Canaanites (1 Ki. 18:28) and the verse specificities some sort of mourning practice [Strongs 3793, Goodrick/Kohlemberger4182]

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Spiritual Formation (Spiritual Guidance part 3)

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He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Revelation 2:11a).

Now then, my sons, listen to me and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her and do not go near the door of her house, or you will give your vigor to others and your years to the cruel one; And strangers will be filled with your strength and your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien; and you groan at your final end, when your flesh and your body are consumed; and you say, “How I have hated instruction! And my heart spurned reproof! “I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to my instructors! “I was almost in utter ruin in the midst of the assembly and congregation.” (Ibid. Proverbs 5:7-14)

Of course, no one likes to be told what they are doing wrong. In such times, we may feel attacked and that will make us move to the defensive. However, if you are going to engage in Spiritual Guidance, then there may be times that your spiritual life will be scrutinized. Therefore, trust is necessary in the relationship. That trust is also a two-way street, because if you’re going to be open to receiving you feedback, then you’re also going to need to act upon it.

Perhaps, you’re familiar with the saying, “Can’t see the forest through the trees.” Many of us experience the idea expressed in this phrase and know there are times that we can’t see the big picture. It takes someone else expressing things from their perspective for us to see the big picture. This story bears repeating and may explain it better.[1] In some town, there was an only railroad bridge that passed over the main street. One time a truck didn’t have enough clearance when it tried to go under that bridge and it became stuck. There was a little boy who lived nearby, and he came out to watch the commotion. They tried to back the truck out, but it was stuck good. They tried to raise the bridge using jacks, but that didn’t work either. The whole town was in a hubbub, with some people saying they’ll need to cut part of the bridge out. Others were saying they’ll need to cut part of the truck off. Then, the little boy said, “Why not let some of the air out of the tires? That will lower the truck and then it can drive out from the bridge.”

This story is an excellent example of what a spiritual guidance can be. You may describe how your truck is stuck under one of life’s bridges and although you’ve tried and tried, it just won’t get unstuck. A guide can listen, and in a mode of prayer, also listens for the Holy Spirit to bring Scriptures to mind or thoughts from their spiritual journey. If your guide has a strong Biblical background, understands grace and love, then from their perspective, they may be able to ask questions or make suggestions on how you may continue to grow spiritually.

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

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Works Cited

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

[1] Whatever the source of this story, I've long forgotten where I first heard or read it. It's not mine and probably needs a citation.

Monday, January 14, 2019

Spiritual Formation (Spiritual Guidance part 2)

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For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1 Corinthians 11:18).

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses

trained to discern good and evil (Ibid. Hebrews 5:14).

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love (Ibid. 1 John 4:7-8).

Often, the young learn from their elders. You can read in Proverbs, “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom…” (Ibid. 4:7). A prominent place to acquire wisdom is from those who have been around a while and learned a thing or two about life. However, age does not always mean maturity. It’s likely that we’ve all seen adults act like children. In a small community, there was a group of adults who were unhappy with the leadership of their church and decided to leave*. However, this group of adults chose to make sure that everyone in their small community knew that they had left that church. They called other members of the church and told them that they were more spiritual than that church and they should leave with them. They went about spreading rumors about the pastor and his wife. Oddly, these actions and behaviors sound more like what you find amongst immature teenagers, but, these were adults. In fact, they were the parents of teenagers, adults who regarded themselves as mature and spiritual leaders.

Perhaps, maturity is found more in action than in age. We can see that very idea in the pages of the New Testament. This principle can be seen in Jesus’ own words to believers when He said that we should let our lights shine before the unbelieving world. Specifically, our actions, with the hope of bringing glory to God (Matt. 5:16). His teaching evidently rubbed off on the Apostle John, because he wrote that, we should love in actions or in what we do, as opposed to simply by words (1 John 3:18). Therefore, as you seek a Spiritual Guide, does their walk consist of gossip or in love, joy, and peace? Do they display their spirituality by causing division and factions in the body or in kindness, goodness, and faithfulness? When they speak of others is there malice and maligning or gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)? These fruits of the Spirit are real evidence of maturity.

[* People have left a church for a variety of reason, some good and some bad. However, their actions speak louder of their spiritual walks than their words.]

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

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Works Cited

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Spiritual Formation (Spiritual Guidance part 1)

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To Timothy, My true child in the faith… (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1 Timothy 1:2)

Samuel [the Prophet] said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly… now your kingdom shall not endure…” (Idib. 1 Samuel 13:13-14)

Nathan [the Prophet] then said to David … “Why have you despised the word of the Lord… Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house…” (Ibid. 2 Samuel 12:7-10)

Spiritual Friendship and Spiritual Guidance are similar in ways, because both rely on a relationship between two people and are tools for spiritual growth. Hierarchy can be a tricky topic when it relates to these relationships. In the broad sense, there is more of a hierarchical structure in Spiritual Guidance, however, I feel this can be best explained using a ladder. Imagine a ladder that is flat on the ground, you can see that the third rung is farther from the start than the first rung, but since the ladder is flat on the ground, the third is no higher than the first (Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls, Kindle Location 1088). As I understand it, Spiritual Formation is similar to this flat ladder. There are people who have had more time and opportunity to move up the rungs of the ladder and are therefore farther along; however, not higher, the way a regional manager is over a store manager, who is over a department manager and so forth.

What makes for a good spiritual guide? Let me tell you about two spiritual leaders that I have personally encountered. The first was not a mentor and the second was. I don’t know if the first loved his neighbor as he loved himself; however, I saw the second love his neighbor as he loved himself. The first once mistakenly said the Babylonian captivity lasted 80 years and when I pointed out that it was 70 years, he was gruff and abrasive that I would correct him. The second once confused the words dispensationalism and cessationism, but was accepting and grateful to be corrected.

Remember the episode where a Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner (Luke 7:36-50), and a woman with the reputation of being a sinner made her way to the dinner also. There she wept on Jesus’ feet and dried them with her hair. This made the Pharisee doubt Jesus’ holiness because He accepted the sinful woman. Jesus then told the story of a money lender and two debtors, both of whom were unable to repay their debts. In the story, the money lender forgave both debts, then Jesus asked the Pharisee, “which will then love the money lender more?” The Pharisee was right to point out the one that was forgiven the greater debt. Jesus used that to illustrate the relationship between grace and a person being changed.

That change, the kind brought about by God’s love and His grace, as opposed to a change brought by a higher religiosity, is vital in a Spiritual Guide. Because, they have be changed by God and by themselves.

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

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Works Cited

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

Moon, Gary W., and David G. Benner. 2004. Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Spiritual Formation (Spiritual Friendship part 5)

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… [Barnabas] was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith… he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers… (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Acts 11:24-26)

I get by with a little help from my friends (Beatles 1967)

If you were a fan of the American version of The Office, then you’ll remember an episode in season five where Michael Scott has quit Dunder Mifflin to start his own paper company (Novak 2009). Pam Beesly also quit Dunder Mifflin to follow Michael, and the episode begins with Michael having a breakdown and doubting his decision. Pam is the voice of reason to Michael and is there to encourage and motivate him. Later in the episode, Pam has a moment of crisis and doubts her decision to follow Michael. At that time, it is Michael that is the voice of reason for Pam. Although this is not an example of Spiritual Friendship, it is a terrific example of one person needing another person to aid them through their struggles, doubts and fears, and because they are in it together, it is even more powerful.

To this point, in the past blogs we’ve looked at examples of Spiritual Friendship in the Old Testament. However, the same concept can be found in the pages of the New Testament as well. In fact, when Jesus started His ministry, one of the things He did was call followers like Peter, James, and John. These three had a unique relationship with Jesus, they are the ones we see with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mk. 9:2-8). Then in the garden of Gethsemane, they are the ones who witness Jesus’ distress and hear his expression of deep grief (Mk. 14:33-34).

Other examples come from the life of the Apostle Paul and his relationship to Barnabas. When Christianity spread from Jerusalem to Antioch, Barnabas was sent by the Church to encourage and minister there. He was able to see that the work was too great for one person and therefore, he went and found Paul to help (Acts. 11:25-26). This year of ministering together must have forged a bond between the two, because after this, they are set apart by the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel further. Possibly as early as AD 46 and going as late as 48, these two men embarked on a missionary journey together. This included preaching the Gospel in Pisidian Antioch, where they would face criticism and conflict with Jews (Acts. 13:45).

We must keep in mind, although both were well versed in the Scriptures and both were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were still human. Therefore, they were subject to all the doubts and insecurities that all people are subject to when criticized and maligned. Perhaps, one of the reasons that the Lord put them together was so that one could encourage the other if doubts and insecurities set in during the mission.

Next week, we’ll begin to transition from Spiritual Friendship into Spiritual Guidance.

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

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Works Cited

Beatles, The. 1967. With a Little Help from My Friends. Comps. John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

Novak, B. J. 2009. Dream Team, The Office, Season 5, Episode 22. Directed by Paul Feig. Performed by Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer.