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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Summary: Discipleship focused on five values: Contemplative rhythms, racial reconciliation, interior examination, sexual wholeness, and missional presence.
About ten years ago, I remember being struck as I read John Stott's last book (also on discipleship) how much culture impacts how we understand discipleship. Stott had chapters on environmentalism and international ecumenical cooperation (focusing on nuanced and negotiated written agreements and statements of faith). Some books on environmentalism talk about discipleship issues and some books on ecumenical cooperation also talk about the need to disciple people into church unity. Still, in general, those are unusual topics for a general book on discipleship. Stott was writing in a context where those were not unusual topics of discipleship. Stott's UK background and the US background are different, so books on discipleship have different emphases.
Rich Villodas is a pastor in NYC. Three of the list of his discipleship values will be found in many books. Two of his discipleship values are less common. According to Barna, White Evangelicals have become more interested in racial issues and are more opposed to discussing racial issues. There is an increasing divide within the White Evangelical world regarding justice issues more broadly, but racial justice in particular. Pew shows a 15-20% drop in the percent of the population that self identifies as Evangelical over the past decade. (And I antidotally suspect that it may be an undercount, but it may also just be my cohort.)
The reality is that it is becoming increasingly clear that the demographic dominance of White Evangelicals of the cultural conversation is waning. If for nothing other than pragmatic reasons, there is increasing awareness among some about the need for ethnic diversity within the church. As part of an aside in an online lecture from Esau McCaulley on theology and race, he noted that seminaries and colleges that primarily have catered to White theological training will have to change, or some of them will die, solely because of demographic trends.
The Deeply Formed Life is not taking a pragmatic/utilitarian approach to the need for racial reconciliation among Christians. He is rooting it as a central value, particularly because of our racially and culturally divided age. John 13 quotes Jesus as saying, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." But evidence of that love is often lacking.
Sexual Wholeness is more common in discipleship conversation among teens and young 20 somethings, but that is most about avoidance and purity. Many have been grappling with the repercussions of the past 20-25 years' purity movement, and there will be more grappling in the future. The key, which I think Villodas balances well, is to discuss why sexual wholeness is important and then offer grace for those who have either been sexual abused or more actively participated in sexual misconduct in their past. If polls around sexual activity are relatively accurate, teen sexual activity is down, but adult sexual activity outside of marriage (because of lower or later marriage rates) may be up. Porn use is pervasive, which seems to be correlated with reduced sexual activity. So this chapter is important, and what it means to be a Christian in a sexualized society should be part of an understanding of discipleship.
The three other topics are more traditional and tied to the historic church and traditional spiritual disciplines. The reality is that across cultures, some practices seem to be nearly universal around spiritual practices. Being quiet, seeking to hear God, working to live in a way that represents God well, and showing what it means to have good character and be impacted by Christ is no less true in NYC than in 11th century Rome or 4th century Ethiopia.
No book of discipleship is perfect for everyone. As much as we are to be oriented toward Christ's Kingdom first, the reality is that we are always Christians within a local space and culture. And how we work out what it means to be Christian must necessarily be tied to that culture, geography, and time. This is a discipleship book worth reading.
About ten years ago, I remember being struck as I read John Stott's last book (also on discipleship) how much culture impacts how we understand discipleship. Stott had chapters on environmentalism and international ecumenical cooperation (focusing on nuanced and negotiated written agreements and statements of faith). Some books on environmentalism talk about discipleship issues and some books on ecumenical cooperation also talk about the need to disciple people into church unity. Still, in general, those are unusual topics for a general book on discipleship. Stott was writing in a context where those were not unusual topics of discipleship. Stott's UK background and the US background are different, so books on discipleship have different emphases.
Rich Villodas is a pastor in NYC. Three of the list of his discipleship values will be found in many books. Two of his discipleship values are less common. According to Barna, White Evangelicals have become more interested in racial issues and are more opposed to discussing racial issues. There is an increasing divide within the White Evangelical world regarding justice issues more broadly, but racial justice in particular. Pew shows a 15-20% drop in the percent of the population that self identifies as Evangelical over the past decade. (And I antidotally suspect that it may be an undercount, but it may also just be my cohort.)
The reality is that it is becoming increasingly clear that the demographic dominance of White Evangelicals of the cultural conversation is waning. If for nothing other than pragmatic reasons, there is increasing awareness among some about the need for ethnic diversity within the church. As part of an aside in an online lecture from Esau McCaulley on theology and race, he noted that seminaries and colleges that primarily have catered to White theological training will have to change, or some of them will die, solely because of demographic trends.
The Deeply Formed Life is not taking a pragmatic/utilitarian approach to the need for racial reconciliation among Christians. He is rooting it as a central value, particularly because of our racially and culturally divided age. John 13 quotes Jesus as saying, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." But evidence of that love is often lacking.
Sexual Wholeness is more common in discipleship conversation among teens and young 20 somethings, but that is most about avoidance and purity. Many have been grappling with the repercussions of the past 20-25 years' purity movement, and there will be more grappling in the future. The key, which I think Villodas balances well, is to discuss why sexual wholeness is important and then offer grace for those who have either been sexual abused or more actively participated in sexual misconduct in their past. If polls around sexual activity are relatively accurate, teen sexual activity is down, but adult sexual activity outside of marriage (because of lower or later marriage rates) may be up. Porn use is pervasive, which seems to be correlated with reduced sexual activity. So this chapter is important, and what it means to be a Christian in a sexualized society should be part of an understanding of discipleship.
The three other topics are more traditional and tied to the historic church and traditional spiritual disciplines. The reality is that across cultures, some practices seem to be nearly universal around spiritual practices. Being quiet, seeking to hear God, working to live in a way that represents God well, and showing what it means to have good character and be impacted by Christ is no less true in NYC than in 11th century Rome or 4th century Ethiopia.
No book of discipleship is perfect for everyone. As much as we are to be oriented toward Christ's Kingdom first, the reality is that we are always Christians within a local space and culture. And how we work out what it means to be Christian must necessarily be tied to that culture, geography, and time. This is a discipleship book worth reading.
This book is a fantastic introduction to living a Christian life with depth, integration, and intentionality!
I really liked the approach of this book. Two chapters per topic. One more theological and one more practical. It’s a little choppy in that way, but that’s not a bad thing. You focus on one area of spiritual formation for a while.
I read this with a group of friends and we were very slow read it! I would have preferred to read it faster to keep the momentum going.
Rich’s personal storytelling with each of the practices was really impactful. He also takes some very popular ideas (e.g. silence prayer) and talks about them on a very digestible level.
Overall, a great book to read by yourself, but probably even better to read with others.
I read this with a group of friends and we were very slow read it! I would have preferred to read it faster to keep the momentum going.
Rich’s personal storytelling with each of the practices was really impactful. He also takes some very popular ideas (e.g. silence prayer) and talks about them on a very digestible level.
Overall, a great book to read by yourself, but probably even better to read with others.
I had higher hopes for this book, but it honestly felt like a retread of many different spiritual formation books, and the practical transformation applications were fewer than expected. If you want less pop-psychological spiritual formation, head over to the inspirations of this book (Willard, Foster, etc).
This book was the best way to start my new year. Pastor Rich broke down practical ways to live in closer relationship to God including ways to pray, keep Sabbath, approach sexuality, approach justice and racial issues, as well as how to include our relationship with God in our work. His approach made me feel less alone in my sometimes lapsed prayer life and sometimes confusion about how it all works together.
I read and re-read the chapters on contemplative rhythms and missional work as those are the areas where I want to grow most in this phase of my life.
I do think that each of the chapters could essentially become more fully fleshed out books of their own because there's so much to dig into. I also wished that the book was written a little less academically and more conversationally, to get a better feel of Pastor Rich's personality. But overall, this book served its purpose of introducing specific areas and ways of living more deeply as a Christian instead of phoning it with the shallow and performative gimmicks that are rampant today.
I enjoyed the book immensely and will be referencing it regularly.
I read and re-read the chapters on contemplative rhythms and missional work as those are the areas where I want to grow most in this phase of my life.
I do think that each of the chapters could essentially become more fully fleshed out books of their own because there's so much to dig into. I also wished that the book was written a little less academically and more conversationally, to get a better feel of Pastor Rich's personality. But overall, this book served its purpose of introducing specific areas and ways of living more deeply as a Christian instead of phoning it with the shallow and performative gimmicks that are rampant today.
I enjoyed the book immensely and will be referencing it regularly.
This is a good book. Villodas connects the dots between spiritual formation and contemporary issues like consumerism, racism, sexuality, and emotional intelligence. The mistake would be reading this book as a resource on these topics. He's only able to address them in a superficial manner. Rather, the book's aim is to illustrate how the deeply formed life works itself out in various arenas. This life successfully integrates spiritual formation with contemporary issues.
I believe the book will have served it's purpose if it inspires people to consider how disciplines such as contemplative prayer, community, or sabbath rest can form them to live in the contemporary world. We're being formed by something, whether we know it or not. And with so many voices telling us what to think about our possessions, careers, sexuality, race, politics, money, relationships, etc. it will take discipline, intentionality, and time to ensure that the voice of God is heard in our hearts.
The book could have used a more intentional focus on the connection between spiritual formation and being remade in the image of Christ. He touches on this in the introduction, but it isn't developed as deeply as it could be.
The Deeply Formed Life is an entry level book for those looking to become people of character in the modern world. It reminds us that who we're becoming is important.
I believe the book will have served it's purpose if it inspires people to consider how disciplines such as contemplative prayer, community, or sabbath rest can form them to live in the contemporary world. We're being formed by something, whether we know it or not. And with so many voices telling us what to think about our possessions, careers, sexuality, race, politics, money, relationships, etc. it will take discipline, intentionality, and time to ensure that the voice of God is heard in our hearts.
The book could have used a more intentional focus on the connection between spiritual formation and being remade in the image of Christ. He touches on this in the introduction, but it isn't developed as deeply as it could be.
The Deeply Formed Life is an entry level book for those looking to become people of character in the modern world. It reminds us that who we're becoming is important.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Super valuable book! I felt like the chapters on monastic value & emotional health were particularly relevant to my current life, but I see how each value mentioned is an important piece of walking out the Christian faith. My only criticism would be that for some sections, I was itching for more info on the topic but explanations felt a little brief and cut off.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced