A misguided barometer used today in churches and Christian education settings is, “We are giving them big doses of God’s Word every week. If they are not learning, it’s their own fault.” The question is, “What are the God-given evidences of learning?” Evidences of learning occur when we see manifestations of Christlike character being lived out in their lives.

Without proper nutrition our bodies will deteriorate. The same is true with our spiritual being. We need a healthy, steady diet to grow and sustain our spiritual being. However, we must ask, is the steady diet many Christians are getting across North America the one God has prescribed? An old saying I remember hearing, growing up in Kentucky, regarding preachers or speakers was “All the meat and no potatoes.” This meant the speaker had all the substance without any sustenance.

“Substance” refers to physical matter or material, while “sustenance” expresses support or nourishment necessary for life. Substance is good but it does not produce any evidence of learning or spiritual maturity. Evidence of learning cannot be found in the lives of many Christian’s because they are not receiving the sustenance, which brings about life-change. Are many of our churches serving up “all the meat and no potatoes”.

Pastors, teachers, Christian educators, and Christians in general are always looking for “spiritual maturity” in other Christians. Unfortunately, as one writer put it, we are using misguided barometers. Most often the spiritual maturity criteria we use to fill a position is: 1) Attendance, how often are they here? 2) How many jobs in the church do they have? 3) How long have they been a member? 4) Do they attend Bible study?

While regularity of attendance is important and should be looked at for most positions in the church, is it a criterion for spiritual maturity? All four are good considerations, yet not one of them reveal evidence of learning and spiritual maturity. Billy Graham has written and stated that he believed up to 50% of the members sitting in our pews every week are lost and on their way to Hell.

The level of spirituality or carnality will exhibit evidence of learning or lack of it as people attend the church and its functions. Evidence of learning comes through actions lived out at church and elsewhere seven days a week.

What barometers are you using to determine evidences of learning? What adjustments do you need to make in your discerning evidences of learning in your life and in your church? Next week we will look at evidences of learning and spiritual maturation.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.