perhaps John Wesley understood depravity better than we thought

In our time and culture, Christians are in need of communal accountability.  John Wesley came up with this set of self-examination questions for a spiritual accountability group while he was a student at Oxford.  His desire to be holy (Leviticus 20:26,  1 Peter 1:16) was soaked in sincerity and humility.  Imagine what would happen if our Christian communities (churches) were this open and accountable with one another.

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Do I privately pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
3. Can I be trusted?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Word of God live in my today?
7. Do I give the Word of God time to speak to me every day?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people (as the Pharisees despised the publican)?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard?  If so, what am I doing about it?
20. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?

After his time at Oxford, Wesley developed other small groups.  In order for an individual to join a group, they had to be willing to answer the following questions (if asked) at any time.  

1. Have you the forgiveness of your sins?
2. Have you peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ?
3. Have you the witness of God's Spirit with your spirit that you are a child of God?
4. Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart?
5. Has no sin, inward or outward, dominion over you?
6. Do you desire to be told of your faults?
7. Do you desire to be told of all your faults?
8. Do you desire that every one of us should tell you from time to time whatever is in his heart concerning you?
9. Consider!  Do you desire we should tell you whatever we think, fear or hear, concerning you?
10. Do you desire that in doing this we should come as close as possible, that we should cut to the quick, and search your heart to the bottom?
11. Is it your desire and design, to be on this and all other occasions entirely open, so as to speak everything that is in your heart, without exception, without disguise, and without reserve?

These next question were asked of every member at every meeting.

1. What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?
2. What temptations have you met with?
3. How were you delivered?
4. What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?
5. Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?

the upside-down role handed to the youth pastor

I don't know the detailed political positions of Nick Clegg, but this quote has something to say in regards to the church culture in the U.S.  His original statement was focused on teachers; below, I've replaced "teachers" with "youth pastors."


"We already expect our youth pastors to be social workers; child psychologists; nutritionists; child protection officers. We expect them to police the city, take care of our children’s health; counsel our sons and daughters; guide them, worry about them, and, on top of that, educate them too.  When you consider that list, it is phenomenal that so many rise to the challenge. But it is too much to ask. Youth pastors are not surrogate mothers and fathers; they cannot do it all."