Why Spiritual Formation Is More Important Than Ever

Written by Matt Boda, DMin, Ambrose University Faculty of Theology Professor & District Superintendent, Western District of The Alliance Canada 

Scottish pastor Peter Marshall told the story of the keeper of the spring who lived a quiet life in the mountains high above an Austrian alpine village. The old gentleman was hired years earlier by the town council to clear the debris from the pools of water in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing into their village.  

Silently and yet faithfully, he patrolled the hills, removing silt and branches that threatened to choke and contaminate the fresh flow of water. Over time, the village became attractive to vacationers. Beautiful swans floated on the town’s crystal-clear pond. Farmlands were irrigated and the mill wheels of various businesses turned day and night. Years passed.  

One evening the town council met for its semi-annual meeting. In reviewing the budget, the treasurer noticed the old man’s salary and asked: Who is this person? And why do we keep him on year after year? I’ve never seen him and for all we know, he’s doing us no good. Discussion followed leading to a unanimous vote by which the council dispensed with the old man's services.  

At first, nothing changed. But come early autumn, leaves began to fall. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the flow of sparkling water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring. With days, the water was much darker. Within another week, a slimy film covered the water along the spring’s banks and a foul odour was soon detected. The mill wheels moved more slowly; some finally ground to a halt.  

Swans left as did the tourists. Before long, the embarrassed council called a special meeting. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they rehired the old keeper of the spring and within a few weeks, the beautiful waters of the town began to clear up. The wheels started to turn and new life returned to the hamlet in the Alps.  

What a fitting picture of the challenges of life today for those who follow Christ! Author Meyer Friedman labelled our problem as “hurry sickness,” the continuous and unremitting attempt to accomplish more and more things or participate in more and more events in less and less time. Lewis Grant called this problem “sunset fatigue” which entails coming home at the end of a day and giving those who most need our love nothing more than leftovers. Sunset fatigue is when we’re too tired, drained and preoccupied to love the people to whom we have made the deepest promises. 

Marshall’s story contains a nugget of truth related to our relationship with Jesus. How easy it is for us to allow hurry, busyness, stress and overcommitment to disconnect us from the Keeper of our spring! The testimony of Scripture addresses this, reminding us of our need to stay connected to Him in order to experience the fullness of life He came to bring to us (John 10:10).  

Colossians 2:6-7 encourages us to continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him. In John 15:4-5, Jesus instructs His disciples that they are to remain in Him even as He remains in them because apart from Him, they can do nothing. Colossians 2:19 warns against losing our connection to Christ who is the head as it is that connection that nourishes us. Yet this is the connection our culture relentlessly pulls us away from every day. 

This fall, I am teaching a Monday evening course as part of the FAC School of Ministry that can help us with this very issue. Personal Formation and Development is a foundational course exploring the nature and goal of spiritual formation by digging into the wealth of spiritual habits, rhythms and tools that may be mined from Scripture, testimony, tradition and church history. 

Whether you’re pursuing vocational ministry or personal spiritual growth, I highly recommend this course! It will help us adapt and adopt spiritual practices and disciplines for our own time and culture, with the goal of becoming more like Jesus and more equipped to serve others in His name.  

In my role as Superintendent of the Alliance churches in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, I have the privilege of working with a variety of pastors, leaders, and parishioners who belong to Jesus. Time and again, I witness the value of building consistent spiritual formation and development into our lives. 

I'm excited to teach this fall at FAC School of Ministry, and I invite you to join our community of learners as we seek to walk closer to the Keeper of the Spring together. 

Feeling called or curious about stepping into ministry? Learn more and register for the Spiritual Formation & Development course this fall with Matt Boda, beginning September 14 at FAC Deerfoot, or join us for a free Information Night on Wednesday, September 9.