How can we measure our own spirituality? The question seems almost absurd, like judging how humble you are--as soon as you start measuring your humility, you lose it!There are many ways people try to measure spirituality. Some count the number of people they convert. Effectiveness at tasks may be related to spirituality, but we all know people who convert many without ever really being transformed into the image of Christ themselves.
Others judge their spirituality by their spiritual disciplines. "If I pray/memorize Scripture/fast more, I'll be more spiritual!" That's putting the cart before the horse, since spiritual disciplines are tool and products of spirituality, not spirituality itself.
I want to suggest that we cannot measure spirituality, but we can "review our course" on our spiritual journey. Reviewing our course would mean identifying challenges in ministry that God's can help us meet. By asking "what don't I do well that I should be doing better" we identify our shortcoming, those areas where God can work in us. Robert Mulholland says: "The process of being conformed to the image of Christ takes place primarily at the points of our unlikeness to Christ's image. . . . God meets us in those places of our lives that are most alienated from God. " Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation, 37.
By asking "what don't I do well that I should be doing better" we identify our shortcoming, those areas where God can work in us. This is not a way for us to beat up on our selves, nor is it an opportunity to improve ourselves. It is understanding reality—I’m not perfect but God is; I want to grow closer to him, and he can bring me to himself.
Increased effectiveness can be a part of this since defining "effectiveness" would itself become part of reviewing the course. We tend to measure effectiveness based on what we do well. (Those gifted at evangelism tend to use conversions as a positive measure. Those gifted and shepherding use leadership as a measure.) By understanding where we are more effective and less effective, we develop a richer definition of what our goals are.
Spiritual disciplines also become a part of reviewing the course. My prayers, Bible reading, etc., are ways to discover where I am most alienated from God. They are also ways God can use to diminish the alienation.
Reviewing our course is not about quantifying anything and more about understanding the reality of who I am as a person and a minister. It also means allowing God to form me in those areas I least want re-formation.
3 comments:
Mark,
I just happen to have read an interesting article (really interview) on the subject of measuring spiritual formation. I get a Christianity Today newsletter called "Building Church Leaders." Here is the link http://www.christianitytoday.com/bcl/areas/churchvitalsigns/articles/le-2000-002-10.58.html
It's mostly about how ministers might measure the progress of their members but I thought it might be appropriate for your discussion.
Bob
Good article, Bob, thanks for the link.
I like the idea that as a community of disciples we are all "measuring" each other. Not so we can judge others, but so that we can enourage each other and build each other up. As we "review our course" we have the responsibility as members of the Body to review the course of others (and to submit to their review of our own course). None of us will be very successful on the journey if we attempt it alone. Our progress will be painfully slow if we must each chart our own course.
So I say that we ought to measure our spirituality by those who have gone before and those who follow behind on the journey of faith.
Hey! Mark Parker has a blog! I'll be reading...
See you next time I'm in Memphis (or next time you're in Searcy).
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