Book Review: Out of Formation by Gary E Gilley

There is nothing to mature in your faith nor wanting to be disciplined in the faith. However, there are some practices that have crept into the church that have come from questionable source. Some have accepted them as Christian because it has the endorsement of popular Christian authors including those who preach. In his book, Out of Formation: The Infiltration of the Spiritual Formation Movement and Its Impact on Evangelicalism, Gary Gilley breaks down the modern Spiritual Formation movement and shows us true spiritual formation from the Word of God.

In the first part of the book, Gilley addresses the history of the modern Spiritual Formation movement and who supports it. He mentions that this movement focuses more on the individual's experience rather than the Biblical truth. It is more philosophical than Biblical. A lot of the "disciplines" from the modern Spiritual Formation movement are based on the teaching of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy which are not Christian dominations. Both of these religions teach mysticism. 

Gilley addresses the "disciplines" of the modern Spiritual Formation movement that have not Biblical support such as Contemplative Prayer and Lectio Divina. He even dives into what the charismatics and other religions believe about worship, prayer, and fasting. He also shares those in this movement believe that God speaks outside of the Bible and does not question it. Those involved in the modern Spiritual Formation movement have no discernment and they do not encourage it to their followers. 

In the second half of the book, Gilley into true discipline in the Christian life. Those are speaking to God in prayer. Laying our requests to Him while giving Him praise. Second, allowing God to speak to us from the Bible. Third, grow in our fellowship with fellow believers. Finally, living the transformed life as a result of the Spirit of God working in you. 

Colossians 2:8 says that we are not to let any "philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world " take us captive yet there are some Christians who have been taking captive by these things and are teaching them in the church whether behind the pulpit, in a podcast, or the books they write. Gilley's book exposes these dangerous disciplines and where they come from. Highly recommend this book

I received this book from G3 Press in exchange for an honest review.