What to me is the multitude of your
sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt
offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight
in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
“When you come to appear before me, who
has required of you this trampling of my courts?
Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an
abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of
convocations—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
Isaiah 1:11-13
The success of my current career choice is measured by
Metrics. This means that the manner of
measuring my effectiveness is numbers.
Metrics are quantitative and not qualitative, so they measure
performance, but not my love for what I do.
Metrics are concerned with questions like: How many plus sales do I have? What is my average dollar per transaction? What are my discount ratios? Metrics are about raw numbers, cold hard
facts; and I am not at all convinced they are the very best measure of an employee’s
usefulness.
Metrics were used in the Bible to measure the tonnage of
animal sacrifice, the frequency of Temple attendance and the amount of gold and
silver placed in the temple coffers. But
metrics were not an accurate measure of the heartfelt genuineness of any of
these activities. Certainly metrics
failed explain why God would have said that the observance of the Holy Days and
the daily sacrifices and offering made him sick! Why would God have been sick – the metrics
were perfect! The Temple was busy – the fires
were constantly stoked with sacrifice and offerings! The building was busting at the seams with
people busied with the business of religion.
Much too often, the metrics of religion are about the outward
show and not the inner reality. They
measure activity but not the affections of the heart. The more I think of it the more I am
convinced that discipleship must not be content with the process of merely
filling heads with religious information, or even merely “how to’s” for
effective living. Christian discipleship
must also touch upon the instruction of the heart. Corporate Worship must concern itself with “Love
Formation.” Christian Community must
emphasize that to truly Love God – we must truly love our neighbor!
I commend the folk at Salem Reformed Church in
Hagerstown. Their fellowship is sweet,
their love is genuine, and they have
taught me much (even around a campfire) about the true measurement of a great
church. (I have enjoyed spending my
early Monday morning thinking of you all, thanking God “for every remembrance
of you,” reflecting upon your generous hospitality to permit an “outsider” to
fellowship with you, and above all to pray for your continued success to the
Glory of Christ. And let the People of God say AMEN!)
