Introspection

Scripture

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

~2 Corinthians 13:5, NASB

Quote

There is a danger in too much introspection: what some call introspection is an examination of their feelings and feelings are notorious liars, especially in matter of faith.

~Eugene Peterson

I certainly agree with Paul; from time to time we need to examine ourselves and I also agree with Peterson; there is a danger in becoming too introspective. During the covid scare, some people bought thermometers and went around checking their temp every few minutes. These frightened people became useless to society. What did they do to help? Nothing! Most of them stayed in doors and were afraid to go out. They became totally introverted and their chief end was to stay healthy. These people were not out delivering meals to shut-in; they were shut-in themselves. It is the same with an over introspective believer. We become so focused on ourselves and our needs that we forget about others. This is just one of the problems that comes from being overly introspective; the other is that we become “Super-Saints.” We don’t need corporate worship or the fellowship of a church; all we need in our bible and our time alone with Christ. We cram our heads with knowledge from the Bible and it puffs us up. We become better than those who are out there bumping elbows with the world. We are better than the ones who attend corporate worship. We even become more spiritual than our spiritual leaders and are condescending toward all who don’t affirm us.

I admit there is an excitement about the radical conversion of an adult who has lived the prodigal life. I knew one such person years ago. He was an alcoholic and when he got saved, he became an evangelist in the true sense of the word. He told everyone he saw about Jesus. He was much better at evangelism than I was and he was more avid than his pastor. He turned the heat up; he expected others to do what he was doing and it did not happen. Within a couple of years, he dropped completely out of church. When folks encouraged him to come back, he told them point blank…“Why do I need to come back, you folks are hypocrites. You are not sharing the gospel with anyone. You just go to church; you sit and sing but you are not fulfilling the great commission.” In two years, he had advanced to such a state of spiritual maturity that he couldn’t have fellowship with the church. Eventually, he became bitter and stopped sharing his testimony all together. He didn’t understand, the church is a body and we grow together. The human body is made up of many parts but if we are healthy, all the part grow together. Your legs get longer but so do your arms. A body where one part grows and another doesn’t is freakish.

I think is is healthy to do some introspection but be careful not to go to the extreme. You do not want to become more self-centered. Our goal is to be Christ-centered.

Extra

I have always had a tendency to do too much introspection and as Bro. Inman use to say over and over, “What your are seeking is proper balance.”  Years ago, on a Wednesday night I got the bright idea of letting the congregation grade me on the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I knew going in that I would not grade well on patience, gentleness or self-control but boy was I in for a shock. I did not grade well on anyone of the nine except faithfulness. I tried not to let it show but I was a bit stunned. I know, only an idiot would do such a thing. Finally, a week or so later, I talked to a friend and of course the first thing he said, “Preacher, that was not very smart.” When I shared with him the results he thought for a minute and said, “Is there anything on the list that is more important than faithfulness?” I thought for a moment and then I said, “I don’t guess so.” I did learn from the experience: I’ve never done it again. Let me warn you: others do not see you the way you see yourself.

Mrs. Sarah Hooper is not responding. The good news is she is not suffering. She was sleeping peacefully when I left a few minutes ago.

I don’t like to invert my day but an ox got in the ditch. I am doing my QT last today. As I said, I don’t like to do it this way. Sorry about the late post.

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