Measuring the Heart

At Bellwood, we are just now starting to review the results of the spiritual life survey our congregation took a few months ago. There is alot of data to wade through. The survey is intended to show us (Bellwood), where we are on the spiritual life continuum. (click image)

The theory is that every believer is somewhere on this continuum and desires to progress toward the far right (being Christ-centered) - at least that is what Church leadership hopes.

So, what is the basis for this snapshot? The research used Jesus' Great Commandment as the foundational gauge: "Love God with all of your heart...and love your neighbor as yourself". This lead to asking the question, "Where are you?" - in terms of a relationship with Christ. Is it possible to measure how much someone loves God and loves others? Oftentimes, we mistakenly look at the numbers (attendance, giving, participation, etc) and think people must be growing in their relationship...not necessarily.

I think alot of us are trapped in the mentality that we have to "earn" or work for our salvation. We feel like we must "do something" before God will love us. In his book, Waking the Dead, author John Eldredge writes, "The heart is the connecting point, the meeting place between any two persons. The kind of deep soul intimacy we crave with God and with others can be experienced only from the heart". But then Eldredge goes on to say that "by worshiping efficiency, the human race has achieved the highest level of efficiency in history, but how much have we grown in love? Christians have spent their whole lives mastering all sorts of principles, done their duty, carried out programs of their church...and never known God intimately, heart to heart".

Keeping the 10 Commandments doesn't require your heart, but keeping the Great Commandment does. This is the point Jesus was making in Matthew 19 when he was approached by the rich, young ruler. This young man "did church" all his life, but his heart was never in it. Don't get me wrong: It's important to give of your time, talents and money to God, but what He really wants is your heart. Have you given that to Him?

Read Romans 10:9-10 and Ephesians 2:8-9