CHARACTER FORMATION/SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (II Corinthians 3:17-18).

The goal of character and spiritual formation is Christ-likeness.  It is foolish to think that this can be accomplished by pastors, parents, teachers, counselors, coaches and their methods alone.  Without the dynamic of Holy Spirit, it is futility to think that we can accomplish more than Pavlovian responses from those in our charge.  So, character/spiritual formation has to begin with prayer!

People are more than animals, they are also spiritual beings.  John Rosemond, in an article called, Children, Rats and Mazes, pointed out: . . . the principles that govern the behavior of a rat do not govern the behavior of a human being.  A rat is subject to the force of reward and punishment.  A human is not.  Reward a child for obedience and he is likely to turn right around and disobey the first chance he gets.  Punish a child for misbehaving and the misbehavior may get worse.  This is not because the child carries a gene that makes him impervious to "normal forms of discipline."  It is because of all the species on the planet, only human beings are capable of acting deliberately contrary to their best interests, even when they know where their best interests lie.  While I do not know the faith-perspective of Dr. Rosemond, I do know that what he has said is consistent with Biblical revelation.  I also infer from Dr. Rosemond's quote that external circumstances are not determiners of behavior, only dynamics.  It means that a person has it in his power to act completely different from what powerful family and work dynamics seem to dictate. 

The purpose of spiritual/character formation is not for the glory and convenience of the parents, pastors or life coaches, but it is for the glory of God and the good of those in whom the character of Holy Spirit is to be formed.  It is important to mention this because properly behaving children make life much easier for parents, but good behavior is not for the parent's convenience, it is for the welfare of the children in this life and the life to come.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom