Passenger

The experience of the Christian life follows the same pattern. When we begin there is a euphoric sense of things. All we know is that Jesus loves us and saved us. We don’t know much else. We don’t know what we don’t know and we act accordingly. We are filled with joy and enthusiasm. We tell everyone we know about Christ and what he’s done. Faith is simple. Life is simple. But, we are suffering from unconscious incompetence. We are unaware of all the pain that lies between where we are now and a life of faith.

As we begin to live the truth sets in – life is hard. Even the Christian one. Especially the Christian one. Euphoria is overtaken by reality. Sin is a struggle. Repentance is constant. Mortification is war with self. We are aware of what a true life of faith is comprised of – a strange mixture of pain and joy. We begin the process of practicing the Christian life. Training our mind and heart to think differently and desire differently. We are conscious of our incompetence. We are humbled and dependent. We realize our weakness and begin to trust in a power outside of ourselves. We are not as brash as we once were in the beginning. We are more realistic. The just shall live by faith.

It’s the third stage of competency that does not (should not) translate in the Christian experience. Unfortunately, it is too often the stage in which we end up. In the Christian life conscious competence is another description for self-righteousness and arrogance. Given the great distance between our sinful hearts and what we ought to be no Christian should ever rest in an assumed competency. Conscious competence is a contradiction as it concerns a life of faith. Mastering the rudiments of the Christian life is no indicator that one is actually living the Christian life. Furthermore, conscious competence is only measurable by comparing one competency to another. This is called pride. Conscious competence is the source of our judgmental hearts and legalism. It’s when our imperfect skill becomes the measure for other’s behavior. Conscious competency is a severe lack of self-awareness. You can rest assure anyone pointing out their spiritual or religious competency is merely blind.

Where we want to end up in the Christian life is in the last stage. Unconscious competence is comprised of humility and faith. It is freedom. Freedom to enjoy that we have been designed and trained to do – Worship. Here we are not bound by rudiments, but live by the Spirit. Those things we do – which are pleasing to the Lord – are organic and sincere. Our obedience has been informed by the instruction of pain, faith and truth. It is different than conscious competence in that it is not self-confident, but mainly unaware. The measure of competency here is neither by comparison nor mechanics, but desire. It is simple faith and uncomplicated duty. It is to “love” as Christ commanded and, thereby, fulfill the whole law. It is Jimmy in the zone.