Increasingly we live in a culture in which the source of problems is the "other." It usually doesn't matter much who the other is, as long as it's clear the problem starts and ends with anyone but ourselves. It is my belief that if we spent half as much effort being thoughtful and intentional about ourselves as we spend berating others, we may solve many of our issues. John Wesley and his small group used to ask themselves 22 questions every day, and they would hold one another accountable to answering them honestly. Here are their questions:
Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
Can I be trusted?
Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
Did the Bible live in me today?
Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
Am I enjoying prayer?
When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
Do I pray about the money I spend?
Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
Do I disobey God in anything?
Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
Am I defeated in any part of my life?
Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
How do I spend my spare time?
Am I proud?
Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
Do I grumble or complain constantly?
Is Christ real to me?
Are you content with your honest answers to these questions? I know that I'm not. The long process of reforming the heart is challenging on the individual level, but it becomes increasingly more complex when we observe it expressed on a cultural, systematic level. Head over to the "File Share" tab to check out my thoughts on the Reformation of the Heart for Christianity today and please share your thoughts, push-back, and questions in the discussion forum so that I can learn from you!
Blessings,
Ben Conrad
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