Questions, Questions, Questions!

Recently I read the blog of a friend who encouraged readers to honestly examine some areas of thought and practice in their lives.  It reminded me of the list tacked inside the front of my Bible that are the questions the members of the  Holy Club asked themselves and each other when they met.  Club membership included:

• John Wesley - founder of the Methodist Church[1]
• Charles Wesley - famous hymn writer[1]
• John Gambold - bishop of the Moravian Church[1]
• John Clayton - distinguished Anglican churchman[1]
• James Hervey - noted religious writer[1]
• Benjamin Ingham - famous evangelist in Yorkshire[1]
• Thomas Brougham - secretary of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge[1]
• George Whitefield - famous clergyman associated both with the First Great Awakening in the United States and the Evangelical Revival in England[1] 

Quite an impressive group!  They were very well known for asking hard hitting questions.  Not only did they ask themselves these questions but they also asked each other these questions.  In fact, one question that John Wesley regularly asked the young ministers under his charge in their group meetings was "What sins did you commit this week?"  Ouchie!  Can you imagine trying to get away with this today?  Of course, this man and the ministers under his charge turned the world and the church upside down.  That's something I can't include on my resume.

It's easy for us to say "yes, I spend too much time watching t.v., I spend too much time on the internet, I really should stop eating potato chips and chocolate, drinking so much coffee, or spending so much time shopping."  Somehow that doesn't really seem to be all that bad, as sins go, of course but it's a whole other level to be able to say in a group "I told a lie this week, I struggled with sexual temptation or I didn't spend much time in prayer."  Below is the list of questions that the Holy Club used on a daily basis to hold themselves and each other accountable.  I had been looking at them once a day but got out of the habit.  But after reading my friend's blog, I think I'll start doing it again. It's always helpful to me to ask myself "why" when I can't answer one of these questions the way that I should.

WARNING!  THESE QUESTIONS WILL DIG RIGHT DOWN TO THE HEART OF THE "ISSUES" OF YOUR LIFE AND WILL, WHEN CONTEMPLATED, ANSWERED HONESTLY AND PRAYED ABOUT PRODUCE HOLINESS IN YOU!  So...here goes!

• Am I creating the impression that I'm better than I am?
• Am I honest in all my acts and words?
• Do I break confidence-tell other's secrets?
• Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, habits?
• Can I be trusted?
• Am I self-conscious, self-pitying or self-justifying?
• Did God's Word live in me today?
• Am I enjoying my prayer time?
• When was the last time I shared my faith?
• Do I pray about the money I spend?
• Do I go to bed on time and get up on time?
• Do I disobey God in anything?
• Do I have an uneasy conscience?
• Am I defeated in any part of my life?
• Am I jealous, impure, critical, touchy, irritable, or distrustful?
• Am I proud?
• How do I spend my spare time?
• Do I thank God that I am not like others?
• Is there anyone I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, disregard or resent?
• Do I grumble and complain?
• Is Christ real to me?