On The Scales

It always strikes me odd, when going to the doctors, that the nurse has me stand on the scales as is. I'm never certain how they actually come to a determination of my benchmark weight. One day I could be wearing shorts, a T-shirt and carrying my laptop. The next time I go in, I could be wearing jeans, cowboy boots, dress shirt, and carrying my Bible. They never seem to care.

When it comes to my spiritual growth, I am often just as uncertain regarding my benchmark weight. I suspect others are also.

In a recent survey done by LifeWay, a branch of the Southern Baptists, they asked people to "describe or illustrate evidence of their spiritual growth." Some of the responses they received were:

-- "I'm much calmer."
-- "I'm a better friend."
-- "I'm a better person and more caring."
-- "My marriage is better."
-- "I am better at running my household to care for my family; I made some changes to facilitate hospitality in our home."
--"I am more tolerant of people."
-- "There aren't many outward 'signs.' The growth I experienced is manifested more on a personal level."

When I read these, I thought they were pretty weak. No real reflection of growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ, or becoming "renewed" or a transforming of the mind, etc. Then I thought, "How would I answer that question?" Here is what I might say:

• More sensitive to sin and quick to confess and repent
• More involved in God's Word and striving to become a better student of its teaching
• Aware of my personality traits and how they impact my testimony for Christ
• Struggling to stay aware that I live by grace, through faith and not by works - there is nothing I can do to atone for my past or influence the present
• Loving my wife more, being a better spiritual leader, and showing more love to my children and grandchildren (3 in 1)

I suspect there may be more I should list or could list, but that's a decent start.

It is uncertain whether my answers are any better than those from the survey. Perhaps I am couching mine in spiritual terms and the other respondents did not. However, I suspect, that when you peel back the truth of their responses, you might find some revealing weaknesses.

What precipitates the kind of responses from people listed from the survey? Is it that they are not being fed either from the pulpit or in Bible Study classes? Is it that they refuse to "eat" when they are being fed? Is it that they have never progressed from the milk of the word?

The title of the article in the BP News is Shifting Sand. Where does this sand start shifting? Perhaps poor preaching, but I suspect it comes more from weak teaching in the Sunday School class or Bible studies. This is where shifting sand and slippery slopes begin to evidence themselves in the church at large and individual believer’s lives. Whether it is an off-handed comment, an under developed theme, or neutral study materials, things like that can lead not only to a very blurry benchmark, but they also provide the kind of fodder that blurs what is and is not spiritual growth

How would you answer the question if someone asked you to describe or illustrate evidence of your spiritual growth? Can you look back at a benchmark period and say, "This is where I was then, this is where I am now as a follower of Christ."

I go back to the doctors Friday, maybe I'll go naked so they get a true benchmark and a good laugh when I step on the scales!