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
1 comment:
Exactly!
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