I have wondered how the \u201csuccess\u201d of the spiritual life would be measured? I could imagine that the number of persons Baptized might be compared to the number of the Baptized who fall short of salvation \u2013 but there is no way to discover such a thing. In lieu of that, we often set up our own way of measuring \u2013 some expectation of \u201csuccess\u201d that we use to judge the spiritual life. \u201cI tried Christianity\u2026\u201d the now self-described agnostic relates, \u201cand found that it did not live up to its claims.\u201d<\/p>\n
To my mind, the entire question is a little like complaining about your hammer because it doesn\u2019t work well as a screw-driver. The problem is that the spiritual life doesn\u2019t \u201cwork,\u201d and was never supposed to. It is not something that \u201cworks,\u201d it is something that \u201clives.\u201d And this is an extremely important distinction.<\/p>\n
In 1859, Samuel Smiles, a Scottish author and government reformer, published the book, Self-Help, the first self-proclaimed work on self-improvement. His opening line is famous, \u201cGod helps those who help themselves.\u201d Indeed, many modern people are under the impression that this statement comes from Scripture (it does not). It is not at all accidental that Smiles\u2019 thought should echo that of the Scottish Enlightenment itself. We can build a better world, and do so more effectively by building better humans. Christianity was to be harnessed in this great progressive drive.<\/p>\n
We look to our faith to solve problems. Whether we suffer from psychological wounds, or simple poverty and failure, we look to God for help. The spiritual life, and the \u201ctechniques\u201d we imagine to be associated with it, are the means by which we \u201chelp ourselves\u201d (God will do the rest).<\/p>\n
This narrative is simply not part of the Christian faith. <\/p>\n