Virtuous Life

Virtuous Life
Responding with integrity.

The Holiness Traditon emphasizes the re-formation of our hearts so that we are able to respond appropriately to the challenges of life. The word “holiness” has some negative connotations today, but the original Greek meaning of the word virtue is simply “to function well.” Virtuous Life is not about rules or judgement, perfectionism, or some kind of merit gained by good deeds. It encourages us to the ultimate goal: not to “get us into heaven, but to get heaven into us.” It is attentiveness to the source of our actions, to the condition and motives of the heart, and taking on new patterns of life that flow naturally from within.

We see Jesus consistently doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done. We see in him such deeply ingrained “holy habits” that he is always “reponse-able,” always able to respond appropriately. This is purity of heart. This is the virtuous life.
~ Richard J. Foster, Streams of Living Water

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

ARTICLES
Renovaré Articles
Rhythms of Life: Daily Discipleship	Explorations 1/1	print
Becoming Like Jesus: Virtuous Life	Explorations 2/2	print
An Explosion of Spiritualities \| Conferences and Retreats	Heart-to-Heart Pastoral Letter 11/1994	read \| print
Looking into the Future \| Steps Toward Renewal	Heart-to-Heart Pastoral Letter 11/1999	read \| print
Reformation of the Heart: Where Will Renewal Come From?	Heart-to-Heart Pastoral Letter 11/2000	read \| print
On Christian Spiritual Formation	Heart-to-Heart Pastoral Letter 5/2003	read \| print
Writing Prayers	Perspective Newsletter 3/4	read \| print
Gender and Equality	Perspective Newsletter 6/1	read \| print
Streams of Living Water	Perspective Newsletter 8/3	read \| print
Dietrich Bonhoeffer	Perspective Newsletter 9/1	read \| print
RENOVARÉ: Vision, Idea, Message	Perspective Newsletter 9/2	read \| print
The Reformation of the Heart	Perspective Newsletter 10/1	read \| print
On The Imitation of Christ	Perspective Newsletter 11/1	read \| print
The Virtue of Fortitude	Perspective Newsletter 11/3	read \| print
The Sermon on the Mount	Perspective Newsletter 11/4	read \| print
The Wisdom Tradition	Perspective Newsletter 14/1	read \| print
Integrity	Perspective Newsletter 14/2	read \| print
Money and the Spiritual Life	Perspective Newsletter 17/1	read \| print
Rediscovering the Treasure of Devotional Literature	Perspective Newsletter 18/1	read \| print

Websites

American Association of Christian Counselers — Committed to equipping clinical, pastoral, and lay care-givers with Biblical truth and psycho-social insights for ministering to hurting persons and helping them move to personal wholeness, interpersonal competence, mental stability, and spiritual maturity.

Masters in Counseling — For students interested in a counseling degree, this website maintains a comprehensive list of all masters in counseling programs offered in the United States, including both religious and non-religious higher education institutions.

Ministry of Money — A loving, prophetic Christian ministry that encourages all persons to become free from their attachment to cultural values regarding money and to live out joyfully God's call for their lives and resources.

RPM Ministries — Equipping individuals and churches to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth through writing, speaking, and consulting on comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed Biblical counseling and spiritual formation.

The Samaritan Institute (Samaritan Counseling Centers) — The international office for Samaritan Counseling Centers and other affiliated counseling professionals in the United States and Japan that provide team-oriented, cost-efficient counseling, education, and consultation with an emphasis on the interrelatedness of mind, body, spirit, and community.

Books/CDs/DVDs