It’s a great question & worth answering.

I have an answer. Let me warn you though; my answer is elusive, grey, and un-concrete. What’s your answer?

We live in a world where everything needs to be measured & compared.

  1. We need firm goals – you’ll never get anywhere without a destination.
  2. Goals must be quantifiable – if you can’t measure them, how will you know if/when you’ve arrived?

Think about your health. It’s Pollyannaish to say, “My goal is to be healthier.” That’s too vague, too relative. You need to determine to…

  • Lose 10 lbs, or…
  • Lower your cholesterol 30 points, or…
  • Run a personal best in a 5K

Think about your finances. Everybody “wants” to be financially independent, but how many people are actually balancing a budget every month & measuring their net worth each year?

Is it any different with our spiritual lives?

So…….what is quantifiable & measurable about the human heart?

  • I attended church 42 times last year, so this year I’ll attend 45.
  • I didn’t go church on vacation this summer, so next year I will.

Of course, that’s silly. But, are the three “B’s” of church health any less silly?

  1. How big is the Budget? How many missionaries do we support?
  2. How big is our Building? If we don’t have one, when will we build?
  3. How many Bodies attend? Are more people coming than last year?

On paper we say these things have nothing to do with spiritual maturity, but when pastors talk to each other they compare numbers like these. I don’t think other church metrics are any better.

  • Average giving per member
  • Percentage of members involved in a small group
  • Attendance ratio between Sunday school & Sunday worship

Stats like these are like keeping track of batting averages for baseball players in the 7th inning or later, on the road, behind by 2 runs or less with runners in scoring position, facing a left-handed pitcher…on turf instead of natural grass. They’re just numbers. No, none of this will do.

We measure spiritual maturity only by the stories we tell.

In every good story, epic or tragic, the main character faces a great challenge. Through success or failure, he or she is changed.

  • No challenge is a boring story.
  • No risk is a boring story.
  • No change is a story not worth telling.

Spiritual maturity is measured by a changed heart and every changed heart has a story to tell.

Robert Quinn in his book Deep Change says, “Change is hell. Yet not to change, to stay on the path of slow death, is also hell. The difference is that the hell of deep change is the hero’s journey.”

This summer I have been very intentional about change. I’ve changed my bi-vocational work schedule, and I’ve changed my approach to disciple-making. I’ve changed my prayer routine in the morning, but not yet at night. That needs to change too.

Where do you need to change? Let’s pray for each other, so we can both live a better story.

With thanksgiving in Jesus Christ,

Ron Smith