Monday, August 17, 2015

A Quick Spiritual Inventory


As a pastor it is with some regularity that I ask people under my care a very important question: “How’s your spiritual life?”

That does not strike me as a particularly difficult question. But it elicits some very odd and sometimes convoluted answers. Often it is answered by a recitation of how much scripture one has read lately or how many Bible study classes have been attended in the past weeks. Some answer by telling me of some strange, and sometimes creepy, “spiritual” experience they have had. Some tell me of church attendance and others report their giving to the church. I have been told of committee meetings attended and mission trips participated in. Some launch into political diatribes and others tell me of the impact they are attempting to have for the good of society. The answers I have received are, to say the least, all over the board.

The correct answer, it seems to me, is not what you are learning and doing (Though you had better be learning and doing all the time.) but how is your relationship with God. Is it growing deeper and closer? How are you progressing in the life-long process of being conformed to the image of Christ?

Somehow we have developed the idea that spiritual growth is learning more stuff, talking more spiritual trash, calling other people into line (whatever our line is), and throwing fits when others don’t agree with us. I don’t think that is it. The question is more about what is happening on the inside. Are you becoming more loving? Are you really helping others? Are you mentoring others in their journey toward spiritual maturity? Have you introduced anyone to Jesus lately? Are you living in such simplicity that you have plenty left over to give freely to others? Are you generous? Have you connected lately with another human being that is very different from you?
The key element in this question boils down to – how important in your life is and how central to all you do is Jesus? And does that show.
In his Christian classic, The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer issued this challenge. “Millions call themselves by His name, it is true, and pay some token homage to Him, but a simple test will show how little He is really honored among them. Let the average man be put to the proof on the question of who or what is ABOVE, and his true position will be exposed. Let him be forced into making a choice between God and money, between God and men, between God and personal ambition, God and self, God and human love, and God will take second place every time. Those other things will be exalted above. However the man may protest, the proof is in the choice he makes day after day throughout his life.” 
So join me in asking the question, “What is number one in your life and what is the proof in your life?” I would love to hear your answer.
Copyright © 2015, William T. McConnell, All Rights Reserved
 
Bill McConnell is Senior Minister at Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee and is a Church Transformation consultant and a Christian Leadership Coach. He is a frequent speaker at Church Transformation events. His latest book on church transformation is DEVELOPING A SIGNIFICANT CHURCH and is available at Westbow Press.
He can be contacted @ bill45053@gmail.com. Connect with him on Facebook @ William T. McConnell or on Twitter @billmc45053 or visit his Amazon Author Page @ Amazon