A letter from Dave C.
A metric is how we measure or evaluate something. For age, it is about the passage of time, years, days. For weight, it is usually about pounds. For height, it is about inches. How do we measure spirituality? Discipleship? What is our “metric”?
We used to work at the 7 basics of the Christian life—Quiet time, Scripture memory, Bible Study, Witnessing, Prayer, Application, Fellowship. On my team we used to evaluate every week the quantity and quality of our engagement in those activities. I often say that a Navigator would make a good Pharisee. How do we evaluate if a person is a disciple? It used to be the completion of the Design for Discipleship Series, the memorization of the TMS, regular participation in the group activities, and good progress in the basics.
Of course, John 8:31,32 is the only definition that Jesus gives of what it means to be a disciple of His.
Our couple’s study is looking at Luke 18 and I was struck hard by the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in 9-14.
The Pharisee was at the top of his game in terms of religious performance. The best of the best. He was religiously righteous, and he knew it. He was outperforming everyone around him easily.
The Tax Collector was the bottom of the Jewish culture. A person working for Gentiles who was taking money from his fellow countrymen. Abhorrent. Tax Collectors and prostitutes got along well. But the Tax Collector’s statement was, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner”.
The Lord’s conclusion? “I tell you the Tax Collector went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee.”
I am beginning to think that our metric ought to be the humility of the heart and not the religious performance. Pride is a terrible thing, and I suspect we are often blind to it. I haven’t plumbed the depths of this, but I sense something profound and powerful lies here. May the Lord give us eyes to see our own hearts and the hearts of those around us and to walk in humility.
Your brother,
David
J3Khai.fun 