On November 30, the first Sunday in Advent, I recommended that members of our congregation make "a searching and fearless moral inventory of our lives" during the Advent season. You may know that the quoted words in the preceding sentence are the fourth step of Alcoholics Anonymous. Allow me to summarize, very briefly, why I believe this is a timely season to make a moral inventory, followed by some brief suggestions about how to do it.
The church has long believed that the yearning for renewal is at the heart of the Advent season. Just as ancient Israel longed for a messiah, we too, if we are attentive to our own best selves, long for the renewal of our lives, our churches, our community, our world. What Malachi 3:1-4, and many other passages of scripture remind us is that times of renewal are coming. To use Malachi's words, "The Lord will suddenly return to the temple." However, that time of renewal is prepared for by a season of refining and cleansing. Just as the furnace refined the gold and silver, and the launderer's soap cleansed the dirty garment, so we, too, need to be refined and cleansed in preparation for the work of renewal our God wills to do in us.
That's where the moral inventory comes in. As preparation for our celebration of Christmas, the arrival of Jesus Christ, and our hope to be renewed through him, I'm proposing that we make a moral inventory in these weeks leading to December 25. The process is very simple. The most important element is personal honesty. It works like this:
1. Find a notebook (or create a file on your computer), and place it somewhere where you will have easy access to it.
2. On the top of one page, write, "my contribution to the sickness of my relationships." On the top of another page write, "my attitudes or behaviors that are harmful to me." On the top of a third page write, "my contribution to the sickness of the world." You may, of course, choose different words. The main idea is to focus on ways you contribute to relational problems, personal problems and world problems.
3. A few times a week for a few minutes each time, jot out some of the uncomfortable truths about yourself that you're discovering. Bear in mind that some of these truths may be 'sins of omission,' as well as 'sins of commission.' In other words, your moral inventory may speak to you about things you believe you should be doing, but aren't; or things you shouldn't be doing, but are. For example, you could decide that you contribute to the sickness of the world by avoiding your neighbors (a sin of omission) or by being rude to the neighbors you do speak with (a sin of commission).
In my opinion, it's best to do this inventory throughout the season of Advent rather than at one or two settings. Time, patience and personal honest are key ingredients to an effective moral inventory. So, I'm recommending that you do this for a few minutes a day, at least a few times a week, over the weeks leading up to Christmas. I would also recommend that you do this prayerfully. The Spirit is the one who convicts and convinces us of our sin. So, invite the Holy Spirit's direction in all of this.
4. Keep in mind that we make a moral inventory before the God whom we meet in the manger of Jesus. Because we believe that God was in Christ reconciling us to himself, we can do this inventory without fear. Jesus shows that it is God's will to heal and transform.
5. In some sense a moral inventory is never finished. Over the course of their lives, growing people become increasingly aware of the imperfections of their lives. However, when you have arrived at a relatively finished inventory, you may find it very helpful to share what you've learned about yourself with a trusted friend. This is actually the fifth step of Alcoholics Anonymous, and it is also the ancient wisdom of scripture: "Confess your sins to one another." Scripture reminds us that our confession to one another is an opening to healing. In my experience, this is best done by simply reading through your moral inventory in the presence of another. (This will not be the right time for every person who makes a moral inventory to share what they've learned with another. Please use discernment to decide whether or not to take this step at this time.)
Please let me know what questions or comments you may have!
2 comments:
We often don't consider that there is nothing we do or think that is hidden from our Lord...not even our inner most thoughts or the dreams that we have at night. We can hide things from each other and even from ourselves, but not from our omniscient, omnipresent God.
Since coming to know Jesus, it has been comforting to me to know that God knows everything about me and yet...He still loves me far better than any human being ever could. I am learning that I can't do or say anything that will make Him love me more and I can't do or say anything that will make Him love me less. He is love personified but His love is a much higher form of love than we humans are able to fully grasp this side of heaven. Knowing this has made it easier to simply be honest with Him and, as a result, with myself. This has brought healing for me in ways I would've never dreamed possible at one time in my life. I look forward to that continued process even though at times I know it will be very painful and difficult...but well worth it.
Unfortunatately, I believe that honesty and vulnerability are discouraged by our culture. People wear masks so that others can't see who they really are or how they're really feeling. This can deceive even our own selves. We also have an enemy of our souls who will go to great links to keep us 'busy' and 'distracted' so that we won't take the time we need for cleansing and renewal. He may even try to convince us with his lies that we don't really need to do it. Yet, not one of us has it all down pat or all together. We all need change, healing, and continued growth in our faith. That requires our participation.
Every promise God has made in His Word has a part for us to do. This Advent Inventory is, in my mind, a huge part if we are sincere in wanting renewal and spiritual growth so that we do not become complacent; so that we grow to become more like Him (what we all want).
Thank you for leading us by giving us each an opportunity to open up...not only with God, but with ourselves. God can only heal and deliver as we openly confess and work toward change with integrity.
Thank you Eunice. You put your finger on so many important things. As I was reading your thoughts, it occurred to me how liberating it is that I don't have to live in denial about my 'dark side.' Because I believe I am loved by God, I can be honest about what I see in myself that I am not proud of. It is this freedom to be honest that, as you noted, is really a gateway to greater healing.
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