I’ll admit the title is a bit of a lie… Because this isn’t really a blog post about overcoming. I’m more so addressing common objections. I can’t overcome these for you. That’s a journey each of us takes on our own.
Furthermore, the title may also lead you to wonder, Who is objecting to spiritual formation? Or even, What is spiritual formation? Formation is an integral part of the Christian life. Simply put, it’s “becoming more like Jesus.” Being made in the image of God and formed into the likeness of Christ is really the heart of the gospel. So if a person is committed to following in the steps of Jesus, why would they have any objections to becoming more like him? They chose this path, after all.
Nevertheless, in my work in the local church there are a few hindrances to spiritual formation I hear over and over again. No matter where I’m at–Florida, Michigan, or Costa Rica–or who the audience is–youth, women, or church leaders–these objections are often repeated.
Let’s start with the most common one.
“I don’t have time.”
I’ve heard it and I’ve said it. This is stated often, not just in conversations around spiritual formation but in conversations about doing anything of value. And it’s usually true! You probably don’t have time for everything that’s important to you.
Does your schedule reflect what’s most important to you? If not, you either need to create more time or make better decisions about what’s important to you.
I’m not being glib. You really can make more time.
What can you delegate, pay, or invite someone else to do? This is such an easy question for me. I hate using my time cleaning, driving (if the train is an option), and figuring out SEO optimization for my website. These are things I would rather delegate, pay, or invite someone to do so I have time for things that are more important to me. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how or who accomplishes these tasks; it just matters that they get done.
Another question to ask when overcoming this objection is, What is important to you? And I must be clear here. I’m not asking, “What’s the most urgent?” or “Who’s the loudest?” You’ve probably heard the phrase, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Problems and people who are louder or more noticeable tend to get more attention, whether they’re the ones who need help the most or not. This is why triage is so important in emergency situations. Someone may be visibly bleeding but not be in a life-threatening situation, while a victim next to them needs immediate life-saving treatment with no visible cuts or bruises.
The squeaky wheel is almost never the most important one. It’s almost never on your top priority list. But it is often where we spend the most time. Can you delegate, pay, or invite someone else to help with the squeaky wheel? If so, you’ve just created more time and also made a better decision about what’s important.
Objection 1 overcome. Or at least addressed. It’s your turn to take action to overcome.
“I don’t know where to start.”
The simple way to address this objection is “It doesn’t matter; just start anywhere!” But that isn’t a good enough answer for me. It might be for you (praise God you’re not as stubborn or skeptic as myself). So if it is, just skip this section, pick up the Bible, and start reading it wherever it falls open!
If you’re like me, keep reading.
Where do you start becoming more like Jesus? This is one of the most important questions some of us will ever ask! But it’s less about location and more about intention.
If we’re honest, we know where to start. We pick up the Bible and read. If we’re more honest, we’re nervous that we won’t be spiritually formed perfectly. This objection is rooted in perfectionism and procrastination, which is a very specific kind of perfectionism. It’s not actually about where the journey begins. It’s about taking the journey.
Have you ever heard the phrase, “If you can’t do it right, don’t do it at all?” The misinterpreted Christian way of saying this is rooted in Matthew 5:48, “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (NLT). If we want to use these words of Jesus as an instruction to be perfect, we need to be more clear.
A more clear translation is found in the First Nations Version. It says, “By loving and blessing all people, you will be walking in the footsteps of your Father from the spirit-world above, who is perfect in all his ways.” This, then, tells us where to start our spiritual formation journey. It also tells us how to do it perfectly: loving and blessing all people.
If we’re honest, wondering where to start also makes us wonder where to end, which might even be worse! Choosing to enter into an endless journey of becoming more perfect sounds quite exhausting and destined for failure. If we want to be formed into the likeness of Jesus, how far must we go?
Again, we can look at a verse that shows us where the journey ends. Luke 9:23 says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” In other words, spiritual formation (becoming more like Jesus) is a journey that begins and ends each day.
We start by loving and blessing all people each day. And that’s where we end, too.
“I’m too busy.”
At first glance, this might sound the same as the previous objection: “I don’t have time.” But this deals with a different, softer currency. This objection typically implies I don’t have the energy or capacity, like we can’t even fathom adding something else to our brainspace! This overwhelm can keep us from action.
Let me give you an example.
I remember taking the ACT test in high school and after sitting for hours of reading, writing, and math, I went home exhausted! I fell asleep immediately, needing a nap to recover from intensely using my brain for such a long, sustained period of time with no break. The combination of usage and focus of my mind with the nerves and adrenaline leading up to the test was unavoidable!
I didn’t even feel like I really did anything that day. No physical activity; no productivity. Just one really long test. But it took all my energy. Thankfully I didn’t have anything else scheduled that evening. I was “too busy.”
Another example from my current life is less about energy and more about capacity. I work from home, and those few minutes after my husband comes home from his day at work can sometimes really test us! If I’m in the middle of a project that’s pulling all my focus and he bursts through the door wanting to chat… Well, let’s just say I’m not the most pleasant. I’m too busy to pay attention to him. I need to finish my thoughts or take some quick notes before I can turn my attention to him. It’s not about time; I just don’t have the mental capacity to focus on both.
But if I’m working on something less intense, I readily accept his interruption! My energy and focus is available, even in the midst of my work.
Some things just take more of our mental capacity to complete. When it comes to spiritual formation, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Wrestling with our opinions, emotions, and the truth of Scripture can take a lot of energy. Daily denying ourselves (Luke 9:23) seems like it takes a lot of energy! In reality, it’s just a choice.
What takes energy is deciding if we want to. Once the decision is made, it’s quite straightforward–love and bless all people you meet today.
So what hinders us from making that decision? There’s one final objection to address today.
“I don’t deserve to be spiritually formed.”
I must respond honestly to this objection in two seemingly contradictory ways.
- No you don’t, and that’s exactly the point.
- Yes, of course you do! That’s the whole point!
What sounds confusing is actually a great mystery of God.
God invites us to so much more than we could ever ask, imagine, achieve, deserve, or create on our own! His table is full of seats that we would never earn an invitation to if it wasn’t for how he has chosen to interact with us.
Yet the invitation comes time and time again.
Accept God’s invitation to spiritual formation, not because you deserve it but because he wants you to journey with him anyway.
But the mystery is also that yes, you do deserve to become more like Christ. Because you were made in the image of God, and from before day 1 that’s been who you are. You deserve the inheritance that comes with being part of God’s family. As a child of God, wholly loved and accepted by him, you benefit from the family business. It’s your identity.
It has never been and never will be fair. It makes very little sense that God offers us so much for so little.
When this objection creeps into your mind, lean into it. Embrace the both-and of the mystery of undeserved grace and deserved inheritance.
Time for Action
As I previously wrote, spiritual formation is a journey each of us takes, but we don’t have to do it alone. With these objections plainly stated we can now walk the path to becoming more like Jesus.
So let’s do it together.***
***Overcome these objections in community this June with Summer Soul Camp, a 4-week online journey of spiritual renewal designed to help your faith grow in every season! This year’s theme is Unforced Rhythms of Faith. Explore the WHY and HOW of topics like daily discipleship, weekly Sabbath, and yearly reflection for faith that flourishes through every season. Learn more and register here.
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