Page 41 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 19
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Comment
by Janet Warren (Canada)
Spiritual forma�on, an important aspect of Chris�an
faith and prac�ce, is especially cri�cal for the inter-
connected fields of theological anthropology, psy-
chology, and psychotherapy. It is of par�cular inte-
rest to me, as one who teaches on the theology of
the human person and one who prac�ces medical
psychotherapy. Also of interest to me, as a Canadian
post-conserva�ve evangelical theologian, are the E. Janet Warren (MD, PhD) works as
differing denomina�onal backgrounds and na�onali- an independent, interdisciplinary
�es of the authors of these ar�cles. Suffice it to say, scholar and a Family Physician who
there are many points of connec�on and inter- prac�ces psychotherapy. Janet’s re-
connec�on. search interests include the inte-
gra�on of science (especially psy-
Nicolene Joubert, from an evangelical perspec�ve, chology) and Chris�anity, pneuma-
points out that spiritual forma�on involves growing tology, demonology, deliverance,
in our understanding of God, deepening our rela�- healing, and Chris�an counseling.
onship with Jesus, and becoming more Christlike. It She is past president of the Canadi-
is a con�nual process and involves mul�ple dimensi- an Scien�fic and Chris�an Affilia�-
ons. This daun�ng task is made possible only on, and a fellow of the American
through the love of God; the saving work of his Son, Scien�fic Affilia�on. Her publica�-
who is the perfect image of his Father; and the pre- ons include Cleansing the Cosmos:
sence of the Spirit, who guides and inspires the com- A Biblical Model for Conceptuali-
munity of believers. Joubert suggests that spiritual zing and Counterac�ng Evil (Pick-
prac�ces, or shaping ac�vi�es, such as disciplines wick, 2012), Holy Housekeeping
and ministry �melines, are helpful in this process but (Essence, 2017), All Things Wise
appropriately insists that knowledge and skills are al- and Wonderful: A Chris�an Under-
ways secondary to developing our rela�onship with standing of How and Why Things
Christ.
Happen (Wipf & Stock, 2021), and
Prayer, of course, is a cri�cal spiritual discipline and Singing into Splintered Spaces: The
the topic of Marcin Gaja’s ar�cle. In his �tle, Gaja Rhythms of Mission and Spiritual
equates love of God and prayer, no�ng the la�er to Discipline (Cascade, 2022). Janet
be “the most significant ac�vity that can be underta- lives in Hamilton, Ontario, and
ken in life.” It is engaged in out of love and faithful- loves travel and outdoor ac�vi�es,
ness, and needs to be sincere. This concurs with but in warm weather only!
most wri�ngs on prayer. However, I do have some
ques�ons about Gaja’s emphases and language. For
example, he claims that “prayer causes us to regain ejanetwarren@gmail.com
our sovereignty”—surely only God is sovereign (re-
gardless of one’s denomina�onal perspec�ve)? Simi- Former contribu�on in our eJournal
larly, he states that we “seek God inside of oursel- by Janet available here:
ves,” and “he lives in our hearts.” Although not
wrong, I would prefer him to reference divine tran- h�ps://emcapp.ignis.de/7/#p=28
scendence as well as immanence, and the complex h�ps://emcapp.ignis.de/7/#p=42
interac�ons between the two. The claims that prayer h�ps://emcapp.ignis.de/11/#p=9
helps us be free of our “false selves” (presumably fol-
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