spiritual transformation

I’ve been thinking a lot today about spiritual transformation. The goal of Journey Church is to facilitate transformation in the lives of individuals. Obviously, this isn’t (or at least shouldn’t be) a new goal in the world of church ministry. But the million dollar question remains “How?” How can a teenager move from not even having God on his radar screen to becoming an actual, active apprentice of Jesus Christ? How does an angry, abusive dad transform into becoming a man of tender gentleness? How does a violated, abused woman, consumed with bitterness, transform into a woman who is able to actually forgive those who “trespass against her”? How do selfish, stingy people become givers? How do dividers become uniters? How do prideful, arrogant individuals become humble servants? It’s obvious that this kind of transformation isn’t going to occur simply through attending Sunday morning services at a church (no matter how “cutting edge” it is).

I wish there was a quick fix… “Take three of these small pills, rinse them down with a swig of holy water, and all will be well.” But, alas, authentic transformation is much more time-consuming and painful. How can I be so certain? Because I am not yet the man that I long to be! I am still in need of transformation.

I’d love to read your comments! In the context of a local church, how have you seen authentic transformation occur in the lives of individuals?