The Role of the Bible part 3
To Shape and Transform
The Station Agent Spiritual formation is primarily concerned with the transformation of a person into the image and character of Christ. This transformation process involves the progressive change of a human being becoming like Jesus in their “being” and “doing”; their understanding of identity and the way they live out that identity.
As stated earlier, I believe the primary role of Scripture is to shape and transform the reader in Christ-likeness. Both in terms of personal spirituality as well as leadership, God’s desire is to use the vehicle of Scripture to speak into the life of the reader. Mulholland points out that each one of us are a “word” of God that God wants to shape with his Word. He writes in Shaped by the Word, that the “focal shaping of our “word” into wholeness in the image of Christ comes by allowing our “word” to be shaped by the Word of God” (p. 37).
In Personal Spirituality
In personal spirituality, Scripture acts as a “living and productive scalpel in the loving hands of One who penetrates to the core of our being in order to cleanse and heal our garbled, distorted, debased word and transform it into the word God speaks us forth to be in the world” (Mulholland, p. 41). As we personally interact with God, the Scriptures are used as a primary tool to speak, teach, correct, rebuke, and train us. God speaks through Scripture to each individual in the transforming process.
In Leadership
Our spirituality is not entirely personal in that God moves us outward into community and “speaks us forth to be in the world”. Personal spirituality should naturally bleed into roles of leadership and service as we seek to live for the sake of others. The role of Scripture is primarily the same here. God uses Scripture to shape and transform the life of the leader. The Bible is not just a storehouse of leadership principles to be applied, but is the primary Word that God uses to shape the “word” of the leader. Disciples of Jesus are commanded to pass on the things that they have been taught. I do not believe though that this simply means passing on principles, but to pass on the character that has been shaped by the submissive and humble engagement with the Scriptures. Now, character itself cannot be passed on, it must be formed in each person individually, but the leader is responsible for being a living example of what a life that has been shaped and transformed looks like. As Paul instructed Timothy, “set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
part 4: Leading to Life
Discussion: How has the Bible shaped and transformed you? How would you like to see it do so in your life?
