James 1:22-24 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.”

In the eighth and final session of New Attitude 2007, CJ Mahaney turns our attention to the importance of applying the truth we have received over the last several days. Conferences are often like a “mountain top” experience, but in matter of days, weeks, or months, it becomes a fond (but distant) memory.

The entire team behind New Attitude doesn’t just want superficial or immediate fruit. They want enduring fruit. And without application, there can be no enduring fruit. They are passionate about doctrinal orthodoxy, but sound doctrine alone is not sufficient. We must apply sound doctrine to our lives.

1.) The Priority of Application

CJ Mahaney begins by looking at the above passage from James about the man who looks at his face in a mirror. He points out that we look in the mirror, not to admire ourselves, but to “assess the damage” and do something about it. The mirror alone is not sufficient. It is crucial, but it is not sufficient. In the same way, listening to truth is not an end in itself, the purpose is application and obedience.

2.) The Practice of Application.

Effective application is specific. Spiritual growth in godliness is a process, not an event. We often want our growth to be an event — a crisis experience. We hope that there will be some context that would propel us forward rapidly. But growth is a process, not an event. It’s the ongoing fight to walk in the Spirit.

As we head home we should have all the optimism found in Scripture, but also be realistic. We’re vulnerable at conferences like this to be unrealistic. At home you’re not going to wake each day rooming with godly friends, going to devotions and community groups, having corporate worship, listening to three world-class speakers and dropping exhausted into bed just to do it all over again the next day.

How can we keep from being deceived? We can be very specific in our application. David Powlison says, “Just like we don’t change all at once, so we don’t swallow truth all in one gulp. Here’s why, we are simple people.” Mr. Mahaney’s central challenge was for us to connect one bit of Scripture with one bit of life, to apply one relevant thing from our Redeemer to one significant scene of our lives. If we do this—motivated by grace—our growth will not be confined to one area of our lives. In fact, when we experience growth in one area it will affect change in every area of our lives.

Effective application takes patience with others. There can be a tendency to expect those around us to be radically changed, just because they attended New Attitude. If we find ourselves impatient with someone as they seek to apply truth to their lives, it shows an absence of humility. It shows that we have forgotten the infinite patience of God with us.

Effective application must be done in the shadow of the cross. All of our application of truth must proceed and never be divorced from the gospel. This is a distinctive of New Attitude. It is all about the gospel. The gospel is the matter of first importance. But we must desire the gospel applied.

CJ Mahaney: “My friends, until we meet again, don’t lose sight of Calvary.”