The Wrong Scorecard

I am convinced that much of Evangelical Christianity in the West has been playing with the wrong scorecard for a long time. We have measured success by the size of our buildings, by the number of attenders, by the signs and wonders produced in services, and by the number of hands raised at an alter call. I'm sure I can add several other metrics, but the common theme here is that these are all outward rather than inward. I would not assert that outward signs are a bad thing. In fact, they are important. However, outward signs are easily faked and that is my concern. Jesus has not called us to build a good show, but to make disciples. Disciple-making can only occur where inner transformation is taking place. 

There will be many people in hell who thought they were good with God, but will discover they were far from him. Rather than trusting in Jesus, they appeal to their works. They think that they are good because they raised their hand and walked down an isle during a church service. They think they are good because they speak in tongues or have performed signs and wonders. They think they are good because they were baptized. They missed the fact that it is not about outward appearances and works, but inner transformation that leads to good works. Jesus said that many would come to him saying "Lord, Lord" and appealing to their good works rather than to his good grace. Those will be cast out (Matthew 7).

People of God are a working, sign producing people. More important than the signs themselves, is the motivation behind them. Do we really love Jesus? Have our hearts been regenerated in his grace and truth? I am convinced that we Christians work from grace, not towards it. The difference is often subtle and hard to distinguish on the surface. Some discerning types of people might very well see motivation in a person, but for most people we have to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. We can't see the condition of their heart so we have to go off of what we see. It's not so with God. He knows our hearts. He knows whether we serve him because we love him, or because we want something from him.

So what is the proper scorecard? Spiritual transformation is prominent. We should be asking ourselves whether or not we are actually becoming more like Jesus. If we are not, then we must question whether the Holy Spirit is involved with out spiritual pursuits at all. I have much more to say on this, but I am going to stop here. All I know for certain is that God is about his glory and he is about redeeming a people for his glory. Those whom he redeems he does not leave as we once were. In fact, Scripture teaches that those he foreknew, he also predestined and those he predestined he also gloried. It is a foregone conclusion then, that those who are in Christ will be like Jesus one day. Right now he is working with us to move the dial a lot closer to where it should be. None of us are perfect, but if we are being worked on by the Spirit, we should be getting closer. 

So then let's not look only to the external factors, but to the inner life which should be the motivation behind any externals we produce. Amen.