Gary Gilley’s new book: Out of Formation deals with the Spiritual Formation Movement. This movement is re-introducing ancient and mystical spiritual practices to the modern Church and Evangelicals are jumping on the bandwagon to be a part of this movement. Popular Christian and Evangelical publishers have made it easy for Christians to access these Spiritual Formation practices, and have recently in the last decade produced volumes and series of books promoting it. Current popular Evangelical authors quote christian mystics in their books and recommend ancient practices as a fresh means of spiritual growth. (See pg 9)
Gilley cautions Christians to be aware and concern about the drift away from proper biblical discipleship which is given to us from the Bible on spiritual discipline and growing in Christ. Gilley cautions early in the book “It is absolutely essential to get this connection early in our study. Many if not most, of the disciplines and instructions found within spiritual formation are not drawn from Scripture; they are drawn from imaginations of men and women passed along as tradition.” (pg. 25).
Pastor Gilley examines several ancient/ and mystical spiritual disciplines of the Spiritual Formation Movement such as: Contemplative Prayer, Sacred Reading (Lectio Divina), Solitude and Silence, Journaling, spiritual mentoring, pilgrimage, Sabbath keeping, fasting and discernment and revelation to name a few, and explains their history, origin, and details about the practices, and who in modern church life are supporting and promoting these ancient and mystical spiritual disciplines and building their ministries upon their uses.
This book asks: What can be learned from this renewed interest in spiritual formation, and what are the dangers? The book is divided in two parts.
Part One of this book has been written to interact with the history, teachings and dangers of the Spiritual Formation Movement.
Part Two turns to the biblical alternatives for spiritual formation. It examines the means, or disciplines, which the Word of God clearly identify as ways God has designed for His people to be transformed into Christ-likeness, and to experience intimacy
This book is well researched and is a comprehensive study on the Spiritual Formation Movement. Serious and relevant questions are asked and answered in this book. This is highly recommended reading.
Dr. Gary Gilley has been pastoring at Southern View Chapel in Springfield, Illinois since 1975. He is author of 5 books. He also writes a newsletter Think on these Things which examines important theological issues and trends in the Church. Pastor Gilley is a board member of Brazil Gospel Fellowship Mission and the Personal Freedom Outreach, and serves on the board for New Tribes Mission.