Measuring Spiritual Soundness

    "But let each examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one shall bear his own load" (Gal. 6:4,5). Easier said than done. Easier typed than said. Easier read than typed. The further you distance yourself from the apostle's command the less obligatory it becomes and the more comfortable you feel with your present situation.

    But the duty remains. There is a need for us to make a regular, concerted measurement of our spiritual progress. We make measurements in every area where periodic maintenance is required. A dipstick measures the level of oil or transmission fluid in our car. A thermometer measures our temperature and to some degree -- excuse the pun -- the measure of our health. What sure means do we employ to measure the soundness of our spirituality?

    Unfortunately, many make such measurements with undependable methods.

The Comparison Approach: This method is the very one which Paul warns about in our text. "Let each man examine his own work," wrote the apostle. We often resort to this method under pressure. When confronted with faults or failures to which we can offer no justification we use the "everybody does it" or "how 'bout him?" or "at least I'm not like..." approach to answering the charges. Let it not escape us that on the judgment day we shall not stand next to anyone. Each shall stand alone before the throne and answer for the deeds HE has done in his own body. "For each one will bear his own load" (Gal. 6:5).

The Mean Between Extremes: Not unlike the former approach, this one falls by the same argument. Some folks take comfort in their average morality. They avoid being too good for fear of standing out or missing out. They avoid being too evil for fear of society's reprisals. They take society's average or public opinion or the mean morality of whatever community in which they find themselves and use that as the ethical standard for measuring their conduct. It seems in fact that most people base or excuse their baseness on such observations. As society's standards decline so does the average and so does their morality as well. Walking "according to the course of this world," the path of the average, is to cast our lot with the "children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3). Lots of average "not so bad" folks are going to be lost.

The Accounting Method: Ritual has always been a problem for religious practitioners. The problem is not the ritual necessarily, but ritual divorced from everyday morality. Men take comfort in regular attendance -- whatever is regular for them. Men find solace in writing their contribution check -- whatever constitutes contributing to them. Men find gratification in occupying their pew -- whatever occupancy involves in their thinking. If you wait until Sunday to attend the Lord's service, you're not likely to attend even on Sunday. That may constitute the essence of religion in man's eyes, but "pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father" is this: "to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (Jas. 1:27). Right ritual must be wed to right living. Neither is good without the other. Living without giving honor to God and worshiping without living for God both constitute vain religion.

The Biblical IQ Formula: In our legitimate interest in getting back to the Bible, we can so esteem the virtue of knowing the truth that we mistake Bible study for discipleship. A disciple is not just a learner but also a practitioner. How many times have you heard it said concerning someone who left the Lord, "I can't believe it -- he was such a good Bible student?" The answer to their astonishment is found in Jas. 2;17, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." It is possible for men to know, to understand, and even to be able to teach and preach and yet not practice the truths they espouse. "The demons also believe, and shudder" (Jas. 2:19).

    Let us measure our morality but by honest means. If you will make comparisons, compare yourself to the Master. "Everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher" (Lk. 6: 40). Finding the mean between extremes is wise counsel -- if you've set the right extremes. We need to strike a balance between overly passive and overly aggressive. "Blessed are the meek," said Jesus. But the mean of society's morality will never do. Ritual as well was designed by God for our good -- good habits of worship foster good morality. But to make ritual the whole of your service and that's where vain ritual begins. Let us never back away from our plea to get back to the Bible, but let us never suppose that putting our nose in the Book is enough. We must put the Book in us and put its message into practice.

---Jason Moore

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