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Spiritual formation as if the church mattered: Growing in Christ through community

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Peer reviewed
Article
Book symposium
Published in: Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care,Fall 2008
Database:Atla Religion Database with AtlaSerials
By: Wilhoit, Jim;Hull, Bill;Johnson, Bill;Jones, Barry D
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Copyright 2008 by Institute of Spiritual Formation
Biola University,  1939-7909
Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care
2008, Vol.  1, No. 2, 232-250
B
ook
 S
ymposium
Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered:  Growing in Christ Through
Community
,  by  James  C.  Wilhoit.  Grand  Rapids,  MI:  Baker  Academic, 
2008. 224 pp. $17.99. Paperback.
P
récis
by  Ja m e s  C. W i l h o i t  
Wheaton College
“Spiritual formation is the task of 
the
 church.  Period.”  These opening 
words leave little doubt about the focus of this  book. The author first sets 
forth his rationale for “community spiritual formation”  and then provides 
practical  guidance  for its  implementation.  Wilhoit’s  Reformed orientation 
shows in his understanding of spiritual growth as a lifelong process; he also 
draws heavily from the older emphasis on 
Imitatio  Christi
 in that he delin- 
eates  a  communal  perspective  on  responding  to  Jesus’  invitation  to  love 
God  and  neighbor  which  emphasizes  shared  commitment,  practices  and 
learning.
A  distinctive  of  this  book  is  the  emphasis  the  author  places  on  the 
gospel. Writing out of a concern that much of spiritual formation can be in- 
dividualistic and narcissistic, the author wants the gospel to be the ground 
of our formation.  He writes that he was nurtured in programs  of spiritual 
formation that tended to see Christian education, discipleship, and spiritual 
formation  as things  “that happened after the gospel was preached  and  be- 
lieved.” This “gospel as pre-discipleship” sees the gospel as containing both 
the indictment of our sin and the announcement of hope through the cross. 
This  can  give  the  impression  that:  God  saved  me  (gospel),  now  I  need  to 
make  myself holy  (discipleship).  Wilhoit  says,  “the  gospel  must  permeate 
any  program  of  Christian  spiritual  formation.  Returning  to  the  cross  in 
awareness  of our sin, rebellion,  and  brokenness is the  bedrock of spiritual 
formation.”
His claim that “Much of our 

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