Sometimes Christians fall into a spiritual malaise, not recognizing the key signs that have led them to that point. As doctors of the human heart, the Puritans helpfully diagnose the signs of declension in the Christian life.
According to Thomas Watson there are three signs of spiritual stagnancy:
1. The first sign is losing our savor for spiritual things. We know that we are not growing in grace when “we have lost our spiritual appetite.” Watson pointedly speaks to Christians, “Perhaps thou canst remember the time when thou didst hunger and thirst after righteousness, though didst come to the ordinances with such a stomach as to a feast; but now it is otherwise…”
If we lack the zeal with which we once attended public worship, listened to the preaching of God’s Word, came to the Lord’s Supper, or desired to pray—these are clear signs of decline. Watson highlights the example of King David, who, when he was old, could not keep warm even with many blankets (1 Kings 1:1). He helpfully applies this to degenerating spiritual life, “When a person is covered with the warm clothes of the ordinances [preaching, Lord’s Supper, singing praise], and yet has no heat of affection for spiritual things, it is a sign that he is declining in grace.”
2. The second sign is when we grow more worldly. Watson writes, “Perhaps we once mounted into higher orbs, we set our hearts on things above, and spake the language of Canaan; but now our minds are taken off from heaven, we dig our comfort out of the lower mines, and with Satan compass the earth.”
When we begin to prioritize things other than the pursuit of God’s glory and kingdom, Watson writes, “We are going down the hill apace, and our grace is in consumption.” Care for riches can be begin to choke the effectiveness of the Word. On Sundays, our minds might be distractedly focused on what Monday will bring. Perhaps when we drop our offering into the plate/box, we secretly wish we might have spent the money on something else. Maybe our religious devotion has taken on a perfunctory feel. Worldly cares and concerns are like weeds that choke the heavenly mindedness we are called to cultivate (Colossians 3:1-4). This is a sure sign we are in spiritual decline.
3. The third sign is when we are less troubled about sin. “Time was when the least sin grieved us,” Watson writes, “but now we can digest sin without remorse. Time was when we were troubled if we neglected closet prayer; now we can omit family-prayer. Time was when vain thoughts troubled us; now we are not troubled for loose practices. Here is a sad declension in religion.”
When besetting sin hinders our Christian race but we stop caring about it, this is a sure sign of spiritual degeneracy. When we cherish a lustful thought, a vengeful attitude, or a harsh word spoken to our spouse without a pang of conscience, we can be certain that we are moving in an unhelpful and dangerous direction.
But what do we do about spiritual stagnancy? The answer is found in God’s provision of repentance in the covenant of grace. When we become aware of spiritual degeneracy and the first motions of backsliding, we should make ample time in private devotion for seeking God in order to lament the reality of our loss of spiritual appetite, our worldliness, and our lack of concern over our sin.
We should confess clearly to God in what specific ways we have failed to pursue a holy and heavenly life, and then ask him to work by his Spirit in our hearts to have a growing understanding both of his forgiving love revealed in the gospel of Christ, and his empowering presence at work in our lives. The fault of spiritual degeneracy is in us (and therefore ought to be confessed), but the strength to overcome degeneracy lies in God's grace revealed in Christ, and therefore must be sought earnestly from him.
God promises to help those who express their need for his (continuing) grace, and he promises to supply his Spirit to those who pray and ask him.
Abounding Grace Radio