Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

34
8/12/2019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/christian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1/34 Christian spiritual Formation  An Integrated Approach for Personal and Relational Wholeness D Diane J. ChanDler 

Transcript of Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

Page 1: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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Christian

spiritual

Formation

An Integrated Approach forPersonal and Relational Wholeness

D

D i a n e J

C h a n D l e r

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 234

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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CHRISTIAN

SPIRITUAL

FORMATION

An Integrated Approach for

Personal and Relational Wholeness

DIANE J

CHANDLER

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World Wide Web wwwivpresscom

E-mail emailivpresscom

copy1048626104862410486251048628 by Diane J Chandler

All righs reserved No par o his book may be reproduced in any orm wihou writen permission fom InerVarsiy Press

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Scripure quoaions unless oherwise noed are fom he New Revised Sandard Version of he Bible copyrigh 1048625104863310486321048633 by he

Division o Chrisian Educaion o he Naional Council o he Churches o Chris in he USA Used by permission All righs

reserved

While all sories in his book are rue some names and ideniying inormaion in his book have been changed o proec he

privacy o he individuals involved

Cover design Cindy Kiple

Inerior design Beh Hagenberg Images blank paper copy olga_EZCANiSockphoo

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ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048628104862410486281048626-1048631 (prin)

ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048632104862410486261048628-1048633 (digial)

Prined in he Unied Saes o America infin

InerVarsiy Press is commited o proecing he environmen and o he responsible use o naural resources Asa member o Green Press Iniiaive we use recycled paper whenever possible o learn more abou he Green Press Iniiaive visi ltwwwgreenpressiniiaiveorggt

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A caalog record or his book is available fom he Library o Congress

P 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628 10486251048627 10486251048626 10486251048625 10486251048624 1048633 1048632 1048631 1048630 1048629 1048628 1048627 1048626 1048625

Y 10486271048629 10486271048628 10486271048627 10486271048626 10486271048625 10486271048624 10486261048633 10486261048632 10486261048631 10486261048630 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155

Lis of Figures 852025

Preface 983089983089

Acknowledgmens 983089852019

983089 Inroducion 983089852021

983090 he Birhplace of Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983090852023

he Imago Dei

852019 he Love of God 852020983090

he Saring Place

852020 Spiri 852022852022Our Faih

852021 Emoions 852024852019

Our Feelings

852022 Relaionships 983089852016852022

Our Social Connecedness

852023 Inellec 983089983090852023

Our Minds

852024 Vocaion 983089852021983089

Our Lie Purpose and Calling

852025 Physical Healh 983089852024852016

Our Bodies983089852016 Sewardship 983090983089852025

Our Resources

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983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024

Our Ehical Living

983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023

Noes 983090852023852025

Subjec Index 852019852021983089

Auhor Index 852019852021852022

Scripure Index 852019852022852016

Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021

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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155

983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024

983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024

852019983089 he love of God 852020852020

852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020

852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024

852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022

852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025

852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025

852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019

852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090

983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089

983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016

983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020

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1048625

I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150

We are Godrsquos handiwork

creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works

which God prepared in advance or us o do

E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158

Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic

maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and

pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes

from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well

known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching

ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser

of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably

deerioraed

Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-

serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween

852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of

smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from

he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of

housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-

susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-

quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling

however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he

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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques

uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in

he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos

original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he

hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae

Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God

infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen

miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te

mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher

such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-

pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny

housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell

nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is

corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is

known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-

biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be

reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone

For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion

mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of

God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like

he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original

condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness

hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love

and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-

sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order

o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine

Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly

resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced

decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe

By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are

able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of

he Holy Spiri

Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983095

maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and

heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he

process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is

mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and

Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image

of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored

hrough Jesus Chris

As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be

received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih

God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough

loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough

grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply

broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by

acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal

salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and

Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed

o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional

dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-

caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each

of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper

Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o

Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-

graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an

analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he

Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris

became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-

ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven

formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in

order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human

dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly

characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF

model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017

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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734

983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 2: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 234

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 334

CHRISTIAN

SPIRITUAL

FORMATION

An Integrated Approach for

Personal and Relational Wholeness

DIANE J

CHANDLER

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 434

InerVarsiy Press

PO Box 1048625104862810486241048624 Downers Grove IL 10486301048624104862910486251048629-1048625104862810486261048630

World Wide Web wwwivpresscom

E-mail emailivpresscom

copy1048626104862410486251048628 by Diane J Chandler

All righs reserved No par o his book may be reproduced in any orm wihou writen permission fom InerVarsiy Press

InerVarsiy Pressreg is he book-publishing division o InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSAreg a movemen o sudens and

aculy acive on campus a hundreds o universiies colleges and schools o nursing in he Unied Saes o America and amember movemen o he Inernaional Fellowship o Evangelical Sudens For inormaion abou local and regional aciviies

wrie Public Relaions Dep InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSA 1048630104862810486241048624 Schroeder Rd PO Box 1048631104863210486331048629 Madison WI

10486291048627104863110486241048631-1048631104863210486331048629 or visi he IVCF websie a ltwwwinervarsiyorggt

Scripure quoaions unless oherwise noed are fom he New Revised Sandard Version of he Bible copyrigh 1048625104863310486321048633 by he

Division o Chrisian Educaion o he Naional Council o he Churches o Chris in he USA Used by permission All righs

reserved

While all sories in his book are rue some names and ideniying inormaion in his book have been changed o proec he

privacy o he individuals involved

Cover design Cindy Kiple

Inerior design Beh Hagenberg Images blank paper copy olga_EZCANiSockphoo

flames copy sbayramiSockphoo

ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048628104862410486281048626-1048631 (prin)

ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048632104862410486261048628-1048633 (digial)

Prined in he Unied Saes o America infin

InerVarsiy Press is commited o proecing he environmen and o he responsible use o naural resources Asa member o Green Press Iniiaive we use recycled paper whenever possible o learn more abou he Green Press Iniiaive visi ltwwwgreenpressiniiaiveorggt

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A caalog record or his book is available fom he Library o Congress

P 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628 10486251048627 10486251048626 10486251048625 10486251048624 1048633 1048632 1048631 1048630 1048629 1048628 1048627 1048626 1048625

Y 10486271048629 10486271048628 10486271048627 10486271048626 10486271048625 10486271048624 10486261048633 10486261048632 10486261048631 10486261048630 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 534

C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155

Lis of Figures 852025

Preface 983089983089

Acknowledgmens 983089852019

983089 Inroducion 983089852021

983090 he Birhplace of Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983090852023

he Imago Dei

852019 he Love of God 852020983090

he Saring Place

852020 Spiri 852022852022Our Faih

852021 Emoions 852024852019

Our Feelings

852022 Relaionships 983089852016852022

Our Social Connecedness

852023 Inellec 983089983090852023

Our Minds

852024 Vocaion 983089852021983089

Our Lie Purpose and Calling

852025 Physical Healh 983089852024852016

Our Bodies983089852016 Sewardship 983090983089852025

Our Resources

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 634

983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024

Our Ehical Living

983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023

Noes 983090852023852025

Subjec Index 852019852021983089

Auhor Index 852019852021852022

Scripure Index 852019852022852016

Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 734

L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155

983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024

983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024

852019983089 he love of God 852020852020

852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020

852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024

852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022

852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025

852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025

852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019

852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090

983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089

983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016

983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020

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1048625

I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150

We are Godrsquos handiwork

creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works

which God prepared in advance or us o do

E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158

Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic

maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and

pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes

from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well

known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching

ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser

of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably

deerioraed

Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-

serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween

852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of

smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from

he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of

housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-

susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-

quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling

however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques

uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in

he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos

original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he

hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae

Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God

infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen

miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te

mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher

such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-

pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny

housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell

nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is

corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is

known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-

biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be

reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone

For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion

mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of

God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like

he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original

condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness

hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love

and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-

sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order

o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine

Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly

resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced

decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe

By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are

able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of

he Holy Spiri

Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-

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In roducion 852017983095

maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and

heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he

process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is

mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and

Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image

of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored

hrough Jesus Chris

As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be

received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih

God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough

loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough

grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply

broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by

acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal

salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and

Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed

o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional

dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-

caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each

of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper

Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o

Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-

graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an

analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he

Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris

became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-

ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven

formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in

order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human

dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly

characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF

model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 3: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 334

CHRISTIAN

SPIRITUAL

FORMATION

An Integrated Approach for

Personal and Relational Wholeness

DIANE J

CHANDLER

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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InerVarsiy Press

PO Box 1048625104862810486241048624 Downers Grove IL 10486301048624104862910486251048629-1048625104862810486261048630

World Wide Web wwwivpresscom

E-mail emailivpresscom

copy1048626104862410486251048628 by Diane J Chandler

All righs reserved No par o his book may be reproduced in any orm wihou writen permission fom InerVarsiy Press

InerVarsiy Pressreg is he book-publishing division o InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSAreg a movemen o sudens and

aculy acive on campus a hundreds o universiies colleges and schools o nursing in he Unied Saes o America and amember movemen o he Inernaional Fellowship o Evangelical Sudens For inormaion abou local and regional aciviies

wrie Public Relaions Dep InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSA 1048630104862810486241048624 Schroeder Rd PO Box 1048631104863210486331048629 Madison WI

10486291048627104863110486241048631-1048631104863210486331048629 or visi he IVCF websie a ltwwwinervarsiyorggt

Scripure quoaions unless oherwise noed are fom he New Revised Sandard Version of he Bible copyrigh 1048625104863310486321048633 by he

Division o Chrisian Educaion o he Naional Council o he Churches o Chris in he USA Used by permission All righs

reserved

While all sories in his book are rue some names and ideniying inormaion in his book have been changed o proec he

privacy o he individuals involved

Cover design Cindy Kiple

Inerior design Beh Hagenberg Images blank paper copy olga_EZCANiSockphoo

flames copy sbayramiSockphoo

ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048628104862410486281048626-1048631 (prin)

ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048632104862410486261048628-1048633 (digial)

Prined in he Unied Saes o America infin

InerVarsiy Press is commited o proecing he environmen and o he responsible use o naural resources Asa member o Green Press Iniiaive we use recycled paper whenever possible o learn more abou he Green Press Iniiaive visi ltwwwgreenpressiniiaiveorggt

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A caalog record or his book is available fom he Library o Congress

P 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628 10486251048627 10486251048626 10486251048625 10486251048624 1048633 1048632 1048631 1048630 1048629 1048628 1048627 1048626 1048625

Y 10486271048629 10486271048628 10486271048627 10486271048626 10486271048625 10486271048624 10486261048633 10486261048632 10486261048631 10486261048630 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 534

C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155

Lis of Figures 852025

Preface 983089983089

Acknowledgmens 983089852019

983089 Inroducion 983089852021

983090 he Birhplace of Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983090852023

he Imago Dei

852019 he Love of God 852020983090

he Saring Place

852020 Spiri 852022852022Our Faih

852021 Emoions 852024852019

Our Feelings

852022 Relaionships 983089852016852022

Our Social Connecedness

852023 Inellec 983089983090852023

Our Minds

852024 Vocaion 983089852021983089

Our Lie Purpose and Calling

852025 Physical Healh 983089852024852016

Our Bodies983089852016 Sewardship 983090983089852025

Our Resources

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024

Our Ehical Living

983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023

Noes 983090852023852025

Subjec Index 852019852021983089

Auhor Index 852019852021852022

Scripure Index 852019852022852016

Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155

983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024

983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024

852019983089 he love of God 852020852020

852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020

852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024

852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022

852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025

852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025

852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019

852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090

983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089

983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016

983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048625

I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150

We are Godrsquos handiwork

creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works

which God prepared in advance or us o do

E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158

Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic

maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and

pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes

from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well

known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching

ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser

of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably

deerioraed

Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-

serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween

852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of

smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from

he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of

housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-

susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-

quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling

however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques

uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in

he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos

original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he

hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae

Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God

infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen

miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te

mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher

such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-

pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny

housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell

nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is

corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is

known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-

biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be

reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone

For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion

mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of

God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like

he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original

condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness

hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love

and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-

sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order

o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine

Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly

resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced

decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe

By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are

able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of

he Holy Spiri

Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1034

In roducion 852017983095

maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and

heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he

process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is

mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and

Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image

of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored

hrough Jesus Chris

As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be

received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih

God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough

loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough

grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply

broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by

acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal

salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and

Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed

o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional

dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-

caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each

of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper

Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o

Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-

graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an

analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he

Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris

became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-

ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven

formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in

order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human

dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly

characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF

model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534

983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 4: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 434

InerVarsiy Press

PO Box 1048625104862810486241048624 Downers Grove IL 10486301048624104862910486251048629-1048625104862810486261048630

World Wide Web wwwivpresscom

E-mail emailivpresscom

copy1048626104862410486251048628 by Diane J Chandler

All righs reserved No par o his book may be reproduced in any orm wihou writen permission fom InerVarsiy Press

InerVarsiy Pressreg is he book-publishing division o InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSAreg a movemen o sudens and

aculy acive on campus a hundreds o universiies colleges and schools o nursing in he Unied Saes o America and amember movemen o he Inernaional Fellowship o Evangelical Sudens For inormaion abou local and regional aciviies

wrie Public Relaions Dep InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSA 1048630104862810486241048624 Schroeder Rd PO Box 1048631104863210486331048629 Madison WI

10486291048627104863110486241048631-1048631104863210486331048629 or visi he IVCF websie a ltwwwinervarsiyorggt

Scripure quoaions unless oherwise noed are fom he New Revised Sandard Version of he Bible copyrigh 1048625104863310486321048633 by he

Division o Chrisian Educaion o he Naional Council o he Churches o Chris in he USA Used by permission All righs

reserved

While all sories in his book are rue some names and ideniying inormaion in his book have been changed o proec he

privacy o he individuals involved

Cover design Cindy Kiple

Inerior design Beh Hagenberg Images blank paper copy olga_EZCANiSockphoo

flames copy sbayramiSockphoo

ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048628104862410486281048626-1048631 (prin)

ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048632104862410486261048628-1048633 (digial)

Prined in he Unied Saes o America infin

InerVarsiy Press is commited o proecing he environmen and o he responsible use o naural resources Asa member o Green Press Iniiaive we use recycled paper whenever possible o learn more abou he Green Press Iniiaive visi ltwwwgreenpressiniiaiveorggt

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A caalog record or his book is available fom he Library o Congress

P 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628 10486251048627 10486251048626 10486251048625 10486251048624 1048633 1048632 1048631 1048630 1048629 1048628 1048627 1048626 1048625

Y 10486271048629 10486271048628 10486271048627 10486271048626 10486271048625 10486271048624 10486261048633 10486261048632 10486261048631 10486261048630 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 534

C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155

Lis of Figures 852025

Preface 983089983089

Acknowledgmens 983089852019

983089 Inroducion 983089852021

983090 he Birhplace of Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983090852023

he Imago Dei

852019 he Love of God 852020983090

he Saring Place

852020 Spiri 852022852022Our Faih

852021 Emoions 852024852019

Our Feelings

852022 Relaionships 983089852016852022

Our Social Connecedness

852023 Inellec 983089983090852023

Our Minds

852024 Vocaion 983089852021983089

Our Lie Purpose and Calling

852025 Physical Healh 983089852024852016

Our Bodies983089852016 Sewardship 983090983089852025

Our Resources

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024

Our Ehical Living

983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023

Noes 983090852023852025

Subjec Index 852019852021983089

Auhor Index 852019852021852022

Scripure Index 852019852022852016

Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155

983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024

983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024

852019983089 he love of God 852020852020

852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020

852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024

852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022

852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025

852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025

852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019

852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090

983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089

983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016

983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048625

I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150

We are Godrsquos handiwork

creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works

which God prepared in advance or us o do

E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158

Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic

maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and

pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes

from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well

known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching

ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser

of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably

deerioraed

Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-

serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween

852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of

smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from

he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of

housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-

susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-

quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling

however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques

uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in

he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos

original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he

hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae

Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God

infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen

miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te

mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher

such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-

pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny

housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell

nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is

corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is

known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-

biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be

reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone

For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion

mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of

God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like

he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original

condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness

hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love

and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-

sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order

o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine

Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly

resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced

decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe

By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are

able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of

he Holy Spiri

Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983095

maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and

heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he

process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is

mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and

Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image

of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored

hrough Jesus Chris

As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be

received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih

God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough

loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough

grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply

broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by

acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal

salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and

Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed

o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional

dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-

caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each

of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper

Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o

Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-

graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an

analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he

Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris

became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-

ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven

formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in

order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human

dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly

characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF

model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 5: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 534

C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155

Lis of Figures 852025

Preface 983089983089

Acknowledgmens 983089852019

983089 Inroducion 983089852021

983090 he Birhplace of Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983090852023

he Imago Dei

852019 he Love of God 852020983090

he Saring Place

852020 Spiri 852022852022Our Faih

852021 Emoions 852024852019

Our Feelings

852022 Relaionships 983089852016852022

Our Social Connecedness

852023 Inellec 983089983090852023

Our Minds

852024 Vocaion 983089852021983089

Our Lie Purpose and Calling

852025 Physical Healh 983089852024852016

Our Bodies983089852016 Sewardship 983090983089852025

Our Resources

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024

Our Ehical Living

983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023

Noes 983090852023852025

Subjec Index 852019852021983089

Auhor Index 852019852021852022

Scripure Index 852019852022852016

Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021

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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155

983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024

983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024

852019983089 he love of God 852020852020

852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020

852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024

852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022

852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025

852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025

852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019

852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090

983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089

983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016

983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020

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1048625

I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150

We are Godrsquos handiwork

creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works

which God prepared in advance or us o do

E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158

Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic

maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and

pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes

from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well

known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching

ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser

of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably

deerioraed

Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-

serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween

852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of

smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from

he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of

housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-

susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-

quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling

however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he

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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques

uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in

he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos

original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he

hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae

Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God

infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen

miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te

mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher

such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-

pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny

housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell

nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is

corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is

known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-

biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be

reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone

For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion

mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of

God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like

he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original

condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness

hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love

and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-

sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order

o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine

Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly

resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced

decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe

By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are

able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of

he Holy Spiri

Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-

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In roducion 852017983095

maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and

heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he

process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is

mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and

Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image

of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored

hrough Jesus Chris

As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be

received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih

God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough

loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough

grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply

broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by

acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal

salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and

Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed

o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional

dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-

caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each

of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper

Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o

Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-

graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an

analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he

Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris

became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-

ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven

formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in

order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human

dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly

characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF

model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 6: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 634

983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024

Our Ehical Living

983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023

Noes 983090852023852025

Subjec Index 852019852021983089

Auhor Index 852019852021852022

Scripure Index 852019852022852016

Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155

983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024

983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024

852019983089 he love of God 852020852020

852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020

852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024

852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022

852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025

852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025

852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019

852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090

983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089

983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016

983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048625

I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150

We are Godrsquos handiwork

creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works

which God prepared in advance or us o do

E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158

Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic

maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and

pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes

from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well

known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching

ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser

of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably

deerioraed

Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-

serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween

852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of

smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from

he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of

housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-

susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-

quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling

however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques

uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in

he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos

original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he

hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae

Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God

infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen

miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te

mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher

such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-

pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny

housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell

nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is

corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is

known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-

biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be

reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone

For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion

mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of

God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like

he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original

condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness

hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love

and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-

sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order

o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine

Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly

resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced

decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe

By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are

able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of

he Holy Spiri

Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983095

maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and

heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he

process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is

mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and

Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image

of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored

hrough Jesus Chris

As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be

received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih

God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough

loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough

grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply

broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by

acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal

salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and

Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed

o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional

dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-

caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each

of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper

Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o

Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-

graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an

analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he

Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris

became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-

ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven

formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in

order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human

dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly

characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF

model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1134

852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534

983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734

983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 7: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 734

L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155

983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024

983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024

852019983089 he love of God 852020852020

852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020

852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024

852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022

852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025

852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025

852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019

852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090

983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089

983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016

983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020

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1048625

I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150

We are Godrsquos handiwork

creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works

which God prepared in advance or us o do

E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158

Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic

maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and

pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes

from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well

known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching

ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser

of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably

deerioraed

Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-

serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween

852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of

smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from

he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of

housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-

susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-

quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling

however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques

uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in

he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos

original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he

hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae

Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God

infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen

miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te

mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher

such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-

pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny

housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell

nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is

corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is

known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-

biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be

reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone

For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion

mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of

God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like

he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original

condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness

hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love

and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-

sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order

o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine

Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly

resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced

decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe

By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are

able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of

he Holy Spiri

Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983095

maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and

heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he

process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is

mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and

Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image

of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored

hrough Jesus Chris

As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be

received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih

God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough

loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough

grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply

broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by

acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal

salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and

Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed

o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional

dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-

caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each

of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper

Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o

Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-

graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an

analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he

Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris

became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-

ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven

formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in

order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human

dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly

characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF

model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1734

852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2834

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 8: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 834

1048625

I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150

We are Godrsquos handiwork

creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works

which God prepared in advance or us o do

E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158

Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic

maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and

pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes

from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well

known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching

ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser

of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably

deerioraed

Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-

serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween

852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of

smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from

he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of

housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-

susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-

quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling

however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 934

852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques

uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in

he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos

original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he

hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae

Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God

infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen

miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te

mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher

such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-

pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny

housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell

nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is

corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is

known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-

biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be

reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone

For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion

mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of

God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like

he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original

condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness

hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love

and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-

sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order

o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine

Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly

resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced

decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe

By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are

able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of

he Holy Spiri

Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1034

In roducion 852017983095

maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and

heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he

process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is

mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and

Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image

of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored

hrough Jesus Chris

As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be

received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih

God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough

loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough

grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply

broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by

acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal

salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and

Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed

o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional

dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-

caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each

of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper

Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o

Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-

graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an

analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he

Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris

became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-

ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven

formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in

order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human

dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly

characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF

model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1134

852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534

983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734

983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 9: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques

uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in

he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos

original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he

hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae

Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God

infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen

miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te

mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher

such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-

pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny

housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell

nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is

corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is

known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-

biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be

reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone

For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion

mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of

God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like

he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original

condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness

hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love

and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-

sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order

o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine

Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly

resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced

decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe

By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are

able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of

he Holy Spiri

Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983095

maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and

heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he

process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is

mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and

Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image

of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored

hrough Jesus Chris

As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be

received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih

God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough

loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough

grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply

broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by

acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal

salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and

Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed

o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional

dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-

caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each

of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper

Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o

Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-

graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an

analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he

Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris

became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-

ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven

formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in

order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human

dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly

characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF

model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734

983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 10: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1034

In roducion 852017983095

maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and

heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he

process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is

mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and

Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image

of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored

hrough Jesus Chris

As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be

received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih

God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough

loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough

grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply

broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by

acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal

salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and

Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed

o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional

dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-

caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each

of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper

Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o

Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-

graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an

analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he

Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris

became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-

ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven

formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in

order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human

dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly

characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF

model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1134

852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1234

In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 11: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1134

852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed

approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-

sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of

he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han

simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he

Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i

is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence

imago

Dei

LOV E

e t h

i c a l l i v

i ng e t

h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v

i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v

i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c

a l l

i v i n

g

e

t h

i

c a

l l

i v i

n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534

983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 12: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1234

In roducion 852017983097

Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of

his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by

God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094

Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher

ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o

he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri

emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-

ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-

sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in

which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-

cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-

lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven

dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha

winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love

CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in

salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus

(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of

God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by

he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of

various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary

caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener

circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih

he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he

visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely

reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched

in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe

cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was

already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he

sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097

Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving

Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088

Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he

cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 13: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-

mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each

of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion

dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical

living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed

hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God

From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as

love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-

niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding

fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri

which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same

alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal

sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of

all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love

connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough

losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher

words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-

iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy

as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-

maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as

predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-

ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love

o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living

T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155

God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he

seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven

dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he

human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-

plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds

accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri

Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based

ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 14: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1434

In roducion 852018 852017

formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-

dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher

formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension

Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing

and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in

order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih

pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-

ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension

Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino

he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church

which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-

maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he

oher dimensions

Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink

reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o

nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-

lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-

juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions

Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he

image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given

giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God

in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-

iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac

across ime

Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies

which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order

o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh

underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully

formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he

oher six dimensions

Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances

maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God

Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1834

In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 15: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1534

852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150

Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across

hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-

feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are

angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry

wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship

beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092

Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness

beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and

wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances

personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-

abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih

ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-

fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and

calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and

ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-

opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen

and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094

Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-

cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o

a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and

passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and

menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues

which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns

Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha

his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-

nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-

biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o

become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real

esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble

during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2134

852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534

983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 16: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1634

In roducion 852018983091

financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-

ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples

highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven

and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-

ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140

John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-

listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as

his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the

multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that

altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in

1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation

of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm

lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton

experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-

centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-

version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade

While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God

through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-

mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires

His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example

Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the

British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17

His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from

being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican

church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits

changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were

distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and

the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions

of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as

stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1734

852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534

983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734

983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 17: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1734

852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being

By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory

Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To

glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos

supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character

and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did

after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)

Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature

and character in onersquos life and relationships

T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155

For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in

order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o

resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by

becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of

God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris

hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless

copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-

pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As

Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion

in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos

working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen

humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough

he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is

dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-

menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we

are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha

we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)

John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 18: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1834

In roducion 852018983093

ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed

person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a

journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus

beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly

he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-

coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus

respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human

agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos

acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human

aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092

A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri

working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus

ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which

promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus

becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire

Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee

us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions

and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is

he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-

ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how

Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae

divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as

evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle

Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-

inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual

direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering

personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-

ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-

ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree

focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he

riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy

Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe

each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 19: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934

852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos

faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough

he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive

winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve

provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach

Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he

inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor

no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book

of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo

graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-

passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained

on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal

journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor

983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2134

852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2334

983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534

983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 20: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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1048626

983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148

W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150

Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-

credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role

in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were

heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal

encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying

for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh

obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-

sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-

rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus

As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten

hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir

own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir

babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong

ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers

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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 21: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2134

852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional

areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te

human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-

ioning human life in Godrsquos image

Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he

imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual

formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-

raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical

perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he

perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF

e t h

i c a l

l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h i c a

l l

i

v i

n

g

e t h i c

a l

l i v i n

g e t h i c a l l i v i n g

e t h

i c a

l l i v

i n g

e

t

h i

c a

l l

i v i n g

Emotions

Spirit

Relationships

Intellect

PhysicalHealth and Wellness

ResourceStewardship

Vocation

imago

Dei

L O V E

Figure 21 The imago Dei

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734

983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 22: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097

model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives

from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-

deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen

humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life

We begin a he beginning

T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human

persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive

Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as

a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos

loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-

cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he

sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild

animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he

earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However

God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us

make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God

formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils

he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-

aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image

Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages

W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of

a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-

incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-

ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human

beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before

God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von

Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of

Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-

eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as

he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093

In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2334

983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534

983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 23: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2334

983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some

view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe

his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various

inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony

Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo

of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a

divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir

image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097

Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple

inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word

and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-

lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer

and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar

Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene

Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion

of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four

primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer

in his chaper

Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and

likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces

heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words

image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he

phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-

sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh

nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)

derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore

mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-

rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God

as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-

sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim

and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image

From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our

atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 24: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017

Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives

on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man

and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-

983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails

being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as

social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in

he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-

siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha

humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of

Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he

image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in

Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei

is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion

C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions

Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed

beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional

capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for

physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves

Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-

mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical

bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-

ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-

egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094

Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-

paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in

he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-

cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human

spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive

demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear

shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird

he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 25: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534

983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each

oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam

and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-

ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he

decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide

from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o

end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling

o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-

essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-

vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing

plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen

852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha

hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all

heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)

God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-

ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of

God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing

principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]

spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he

spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and

Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te

nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he

imago Dei ha inform he CSF model

F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive

four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he

Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos

capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-

lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship

are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion

in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for

(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734

983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 26: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2634

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091

he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he

sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal

and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei

poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by

each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions

of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he

imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-

covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088

While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-

aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue

ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human

person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore

I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha

advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of

human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion

Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and

reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago

Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy

Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c

852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and

Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around

being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-

human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-

isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy

Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness

of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu

los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily

conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-

maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa

David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o

Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090

Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of

his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734

983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2834

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 27: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734

983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding

and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind

was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of

he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley

Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he

human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal

of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-

poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o

raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-

mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive

However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-

kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-

esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came

under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans

are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-

sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion

Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension

is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person

including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model

Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship

Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-

specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of

jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-

lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God

on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o

know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough

relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy

o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since

he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher

readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion

derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were

los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles

of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2834

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 28: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2834

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093

viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094

Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his

relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more

han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on

he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou

his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago

dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For

Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion

came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God

Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body

hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God

Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei

o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human

creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of

Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis

852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-

ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his

perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being

and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o

he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I

and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis

relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers

such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and

Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions

ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-

ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions

Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion

and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he

imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring

he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue

ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on

human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ

ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 29: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934

983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150

God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God

and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of

he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-

sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy

for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-

ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei

Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth

A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional

view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he

earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis

852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply

and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea

and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he

earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he

dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-

human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion

and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-

aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing

ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for

is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-

maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource

sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for

he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of

physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh

and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model

While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he

Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-

mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original

mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-

cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha

humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension

derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and

glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 30: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095

Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny

Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha

anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092

God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him

over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs

of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God

and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like

Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence

Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-

ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-

lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh

unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process

by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he

migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of

he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih

ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime

(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo

Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe

meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed

ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny

primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which

gives purpose o he oher six

o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in

erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-

mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God

and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy

physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more

like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny

Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God

I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-

srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds

expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 31: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134

983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies

being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and

Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our

being made in he image of God in Chris

C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145

Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he

image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-

piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he

perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed

hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino

Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-

newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-

deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he

imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris

reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he

New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris

Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which

means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-

sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088

Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken

assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on

Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-

amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-

ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih

Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being

ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o

Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of

persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as

male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as

he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he

ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including

hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 32: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097

beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body

of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy

Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and

foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life

of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem

Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine

image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also

predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh

be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of

God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of

Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo

which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes

ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy

conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image

ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is

alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-

lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-

sions are o come under his lordship

In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which

Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of

Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough

he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing

he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed

ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes

from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal

of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he

Holy Spiri

Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in

852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends

his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn

heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers

o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who

is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 33: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334

1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150

ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken

back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion

experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being

he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where

God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096

In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-

preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei

He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him

all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been

creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him

all hings hold ogeher

Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of

he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he

agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he

human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he

divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe

very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him

[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word

eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and

wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and

perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089

Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image

In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-

ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec

imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and

hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on

earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul

having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor

in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world

Page 34: Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J. Chandler

8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434

he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017

in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes

clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all

his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making

hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image

of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc

one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off

he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self

which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo

(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul

affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)

Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe

is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of

Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te

Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or

die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice

versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of

he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-

ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image

of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As

Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he

hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai

every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he

Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy

Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin

Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive

a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he

divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured

image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o

be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper

hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy

Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te

process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God

hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world