Judging Spirituality, Perceived Versus Real

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. –Matthew 5:48 and 6:1

I know of a man who preached in a meeting where over 50,000 came to Christ. I heard of a woman who was one of the world’s great social workers. As attested to by eyewitnesses, a fellow raised a woman from the dead. Also, I have been where another woman started over 700 churches. Having traveled for years, this is only the beginning of what I have seen and heard. There is no need belaboring the point. Many, many believers have participated in seeing God perform great miracles and accomplish incredible tasks. My question is this: Were they spiritual people? The obvious answer would be, “Of course,” for too often believers judge the spectacular as being the earmarks of spirituality. But were they? Israel’s greatness was never to be found in the people but in their God. God accomplishes what He wills, and man takes the credit for it and uses it to build himself an image. To be honest, I do not know if these men and women were spiritual in the least. I have been shocked to see “great men” explode when they did not get the seat they wanted on the airline, when a car pulled in front of them, or when a subordinate questioned them. What one is at his worst is the level of true spirituality that he has achieved. Men on the platform often say, “It is only Jesus, praise God,” and then accept the praise of men. Actions speak loudly. One woman could not stand to be questioned. She would explode and leave those around her in a verbal pool of blood. Another preacher would get out of the car if anyone disagreed. Well, we all have our bad moments and the flesh never improves; it is hostile to God. My point is that none of us need to be fruit inspectors or more voices pointing out the hypocrisy of believers. That has all been done before. We must have a different way of judging spirituality than being brainwashed by the loudest, the spectacular, and the dominating. They have defined spirituality to describe themselves and their flesh. However, Jesus gives us the true definition of spirituality. If what He describes is part of a believer’s life, that one is a far greater success than any televangelist ever seen. We are blessed when we are at the end of our ropes. With less dependence on our selves, there is more of God and His rule.

Michael Wells lays down Jesus’ standard for “spirituality,” but isn’t it interesting that the “judgers” never consider Jesus’ standard…perfection.

And how many people really acknowledge an awareness of Israel’s greatness…in Bible times or TODAY!  Man’s flesh can’t get away from trusting in man’s flesh, his own or others…

But, the staggering statement of Michael’s writing is his “What one is at his worst is the level of true spirituality that he has achieved.”  What?!?  Michael, that stings!  Yikes!  I don’t want to go there…  WAIT A MINUTE…look at what Michael says just a couple of sentences later: “…we all have our bad moments and the flesh never improves; it is hostile to God.  My point is that none of us need to be fruit inspectors or more voices pointing out the hypocrisy of believers.”  I love it!  He is correct.  And to me, Michael has pinpointed the exactissue that all the “judgers” neglect: “the fleshnever improves; it is hostile to God.”  It is not our Christianity, but our flesh.  Our Christianity is Christ, Him, Christ IN us.  And He cannot be judged, for He IS perfect.  Hallelujah!  You can jump on my flesh all you want to, but you are barking up the wrong tree!

 So, we ARE blessed when we are at the end of our ropes.  And less dependence on our self, less of our flesh, brings more of God and His rule.  Well, amen.