078: Formative Spirituality, Agency in the Bible, and Being Human (Dr. Richard Middleton)
Nov 8, 2023
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The podcast explores formative spirituality and agency in the Bible. Dr. Richard Middleton discusses being human and how God seeks partners. They delve into the importance of submitting to Jesus and how our perception of the future affects our choices. The topic of transformation, hope, and virtue ethics in community is also explored. Lastly, joining a new family with different values and practices is discussed, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining a biblical worldview.
35:27
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Quick takeaways
Spiritual formation should permeate every part of our lives, including the acknowledgment of our embodiment and how our bodies manifest our spirituality.
True formation and transformation come from a future-oriented perspective, where our understanding of the future affects our present choices and actions in contributing to the realization of that future through lived eschatology.
Deep dives
The Misleading Term 'Spiritual Formation'
The podcast episode starts by discussing the term 'spiritual formation' and its limitations in capturing the holistic nature of a life with Jesus. The term can be misleading as it implies that spirituality is separate from other aspects of life, and that it only relates to a specific slice of the Christian life. The guest suggests using the term 'formative spirituality' instead, which emphasizes that spirituality should permeate every part of our lives. This includes acknowledging the importance of our embodiment and how our bodies manifest our spirituality.
The Image of God and Agency
The guest highlights the significance of the image of God in understanding our purpose and agency. According to him, the image of God encompasses both a gift and a calling. As God's images, we have the privilege of representing him in the world and exercising power on his behalf. We are called to both outwardly manifest God's presence through our actions and have an intimate relationship with God through prayer and communion. Our agency is not to be seen as a loss or submission, but rather as an opportunity to use our power for the benefit of others.
The Future-Oriented Perspective
The podcast explores the idea that true formation and transformation come from a future-oriented perspective. It is emphasized that individuals need a vision and hope of the future to experience lasting change. Our understanding of the future affects our present choices and actions. The guest discusses how biblical eschatology, the belief in the renewal of the world in the new heavens and new earth, should shape our present lives. Our present actions contribute to the realization of that future through lived eschatology. The importance of ethics as a lived eschatology is highlighted.
Living Out Formative Spirituality in Community
The episode concludes by emphasizing the significance of practicing formative spirituality in community. It is important to be part of a body of believers that helps shape and form us in accordance with our teleology and shared vision. The guest highlights that formative spirituality requires practicing virtues and habits that align with our vision of the future. These habits are best nurtured within the context of a supportive and accountable community that encourages growth and mutual transformation.
What is spiritual formation? Is that even a very good term for life with and in Jesus? What are we being formed into anyway? Or, maybe we should ask “when” are we being formed?
In this episode, we talked with Dr. Richard Middleton about formative spirituality, agency in the Bible, and being human, and how God is always looking for partners to work with and through.
Dr. Middleton is Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis at Northeastern Seminary and Roberts Wesleyan University (Rochester, NY). His most recent book is Abraham’s Silence: The Binding of Isaac, the Suffering of Job, and How to Talk Back to God (Baker Academic, 2021). He is also the author of A New Heaven and a New Earth: Reclaiming Biblical Eschatology (Baker Academic, 2014) and The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1 (Brazos, 2005).