Today, I am pondering the thought of self-evaluation. In most areas of our lives, we realize there is a need for self-evaluation, right? Whether you are at the back of the local pharmacy checking your blood pressure, or doing a personality test at work, there is a certain value in knowing where you are. None of us particularly like it though. What if I'm not as good as I thought. If I don't evaluate it, then I can assume the best.
This type of attitude is dangerous. I think we all know it. It's like turning off all the dashboard lights on your car, just to keep the "check engine" light from coming on. Just because there is no light, doesn't mean there are no issues. I love my iPhone. One of my favorite features is in the Map App. Once you open the app, you can search for anything you want. The feature I like is in the bottom left corner. It's a touch-spot that allows you to establish your "current location." Now I can map a route or get a list of directions to the location where I want to go.
How do we determine our "current location" spiritually? How do we determine our destination? If our goal is to be like Christ, what does that look like on a daily journey? Most people just go along hoping that they get there some day. They fall victim to the ancient proverb: "He who aims at nothing, hits it everytime." At our church, we are introducing our people to a spiritual self-evaluation, if you will. It's a personal survey designed to help you see where you are in relation to 30 core areas of the Christian faith. Our desire is to provide our people with a baseline for growth. I am discovering that there is a certain level of discomfort in this process, though. Thoughts race through minds like, "What if I'm not as Christian as people think I am?" "Who else is going to see this?" "Will people think less of me if I score low in some areas?"
When we stop and see where we are on the journey, we will never be where we want to be. If I am at my destination, then I don't need a map, I don't need to know my current location and I sure don't need a list of directions. When it comes to our growth as a Christ-follower, we are not at our destination. If you think you are, then there might be bigger fish to fry than an evaluation.
I'd really like to hear your thoughts. Thanks for checking in on 4three4.
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