Stone 5 -- Part 1

Stone 5

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

          There are as many ideas of how to measure Christianity as there are people who can handle a yardstick. More than once the disciples walking next to Jesus tried to sort out which of them was the greatest. These discussions generally met with divine disapproval. Enthusiasm for the subject has cooled very little over the years.

          The temptation to measure how Christians are doing on their walk, like all temptation, should be avoided as no good thing will come of it. This is best left to God. However, scripture encourages Christians to examine themselves from time to time. Self examination can be a good thing provided the proper measure is used.

          Objective measures are unreliable and, for the most part, unavailable. Christians are not to measure themselves against one another or against unbelievers. Measuring ourselves to Christ sounds good, but serves only to show that we have not arrived. Lord willing, this is not news to anyone. Objective measures also neglect to consider the secret sin factor. David asks, “Who can understand his errors?  cleanse thou me from secret faults.” The most objective Christian is a blind judge without all the facts.

          Christian growth is measured in the arena of thought. A man is the only one who can look into his own heart. “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” Likewise no one knows all that God requires of a man except that man and his God. This is why judgment must remain between God and the individual. This may not be exactly what John the Baptist had in mind when he pointed at the direction of his own ministry, but it is the spiritual outline for every Christian walk. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This formula is the measure of Christianity.

According to John’s formula, Christianity is best measured in units of “me.” In the growing Christian, “me” is shrinking and Christ expanding. “Me” is the number and size of decisions based solely on self-interest. If “me” is the driving force behind the majority of decisions, actions, and values, then the “Me” is high and Christ likeness low. On the other hand, operating in accord with the wishes of the Holy Ghost to bless others causes a rise in Christ likeness and a shrinking me. Unique to Christianity is the fact that this shrinkage does not lead to “me” being lost or absorbed into God or the universe. Rather it produces a unique “me” filled with the power, life, attributes and spirit of Christ. Me, the selfish, becomes; me the compassionate so that not only do I appear to others, but Christ in me. This is what Jesus meant when He said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” I am “me” with my round belly, thinning hair, peculiar mannerisms and temperament. Christ is also producing the fruit of His Spirit in the “me” everyone knows.