Organic spirituality: An organizing principle and assessment instrument for Christian discipleship

This project is the culmination of a passionate pursuit to understand and demonstrate authentic, biblical spirituality. The purpose of this project arises from the clear evidence of a failing spirituality in the contemporary church. The continuing plateau and decline of the church in the United States offers solid proof that a passion to live out Christian spirituality is lacking. Nowhere is this lack more evident than in the lives of those who lead the church. Called by God to equip and release persons into ministry, they spend much of their time in a maintenance mode of ministry, trying to keep the ship afloat, while their communities sink into the depths of separation from God.; Therefore, the project has attempted to formulate an adequate understanding and application of authentic spirituality by creating an organizing principle and an assessment instrument. A focused search of the Scriptures and the professional literature has yielded the truths and principles articulated herein.; The organizing principle for authentic, biblical spirituality is organic spirituality. The culmination of the project research and development is embedded in this phrase. It describes a spirituality that is alive and active---one that grows out of the interaction between God and his church. Thus, it is a spirituality that has as its heartbeat the mission of God in the earth.