Whenever I tell people that I am studying “Affective Spirituality and Christian Formation” in my D. Min. program, the first question they ask is, “Don’t you mean ‘effective’ instead of ‘affective’?”

Effective and affective are two similar words with very different outlooks on spirituality. Effective spirituality appeals to the mind and will – to find and commit to the best method to become a better and more mature Christian. Affective spirituality, on the other hand, speaks to the heart – to rest in God and gaze upon Christ as the Spirit of God transforms our hearts and directs our thoughts.

What we do in each case might be exactly the same – praying, and reading and studying the Bible – but while effective spirituality employs the Spirit to empower us to perform these tasks, with the goal of accomplishing them in the most timely and efficient way, affective spirituality trusts in the Spirit of God to lead and accompany us in our daily living, with the desire to experience loving communion with the Triune God and to anticipate God working in us, whether we are being led to pray, or to read and study the Bible.

The irony is that with a plan and goal in mind (effective spirituality), I could never stick to a schedule to read through the Bible in a year. However, when I changed my focus from the mind and will to the heart (affective spirituality), I have been enjoying my Bible reading as I listen to God speaking to me each day. The difference is like that of taking your daily vitamins every morning (with no affection toward the vitamins!), versus calling or texting your loved ones each day (with no plans on how to do so effectively!).