Need for radical reimagination of spiritual formation

I am great challenged by the section "But then again, maybe things are just fine," in Doug Pagitt's Reimagining Spiritual Formation (Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 2003). He writes:

There could certainly be an argument made that Christianity is doing fine and that we are not in need of this radical reimagining. It is possible that the way forward centers on the church improving its current approach of education-based spiritual formation. Perhaps, all we need is better curriculum and better training for our pastors and teachers. Perhaps we all need a clearer call for the basics of the faith and be sure that people are well-grounded in their beliefs. Perhaps the church is actually positioned quite well in the post-industrial world and, with soem fresh models of teaching and learning, will do just fine. (pp. 22-23)

Perhaps, but I think not, or at least not for us. We join with the many people, professional and lay, who have suggested in writings, conversations, prayers, and pleadings that the Christian Church has not lived up to its potential or calling in the post-industrialized world, but that it could. Maybe there is something to the critique that the church is marginalized in the world to such a degree that the marks of a "successful" church have been reduced to tangible evidence such as size, market share, political influence, healthy budgets, and the creation of model citizens living the American Dream. This marginalization is not due to the Church's poor use of marketing techniques or lack of effort in discipleship. Rather, I've become convinced that our misguided belief that life change can come through proper knowledge acquired through education has failed to produce the kind of radical commitment to life in harmony with God in the way of Jesus that we are called to. When the realities of life crash into our knowledge of God, faith is often the prime casuality. Doesn't the role of communities of faith need to include more than making converts and educating people in right belief? Doesn't it need to also make possible corporate and personal lives lived in harmony with God? I am not suggesting that churches have not sought this holistic approach to faith in other times, but I do believe that the knowledge-based spiritual formation of the 20th century has so reduced the call of Jesus to right belief that many become confused about why mere profession of belief does not bring about life change. (Bold mine)

Having grown up and been formally trained in the education-based discipleship programs, what Pagitt says resonates with me. It also causes me to reflect on what type of training is most useful in developing faith, particularly with the youth of today and toddlers like my own kids. What kind of Christian faith community do I want them growing up in?