The God of the Gut: Examining the Role God Image Plays in Spiritual Formation.

This article focuses on the role of an individual's internal "god image"—the subconscious emotional representation of God—in spiritual formation and discipleship. It argues that prevailing discipleship models often overlook how wounded or insecure god images, shaped by early attachment experiences and neurological development, limit a person's ability to experience God's love and mature spiritually. Drawing on psychoanalysis, neurobiology, and attachment theory, the article explains that a god image differs from the actual, objective God ("God Actual") and that transformation requires healing these internal representations through experiential, Spirit-led processes rather than solely intellectual assent or religious activity. The author emphasizes that genuine spiritual maturity is marked by an emotional experience of God's love, which arises as the Spirit works to reshape and deepen the disciple’s god image.