As a child I had the luxury of hanging out with my aunts and uncles. Summers were spent camping on lakes and winters were spent snowmobiling in Northern Wisconsin. My dad was the second youngest of 10 kids, so my aunts and uncles were a good deal older. I enjoyed being around them. I've always been drawn to people who were more wise and mature than me. I'd sit for hours and listen to them talk about life - and learn valuable lessons. My daughter who just turned 12 does the same thing. She will sit in our home office while we talk to friends about life and spiritual matters. I'm glad she listens! She sees us struggle through our faith, reason through the Scriptures and weigh the important things in life with Jesus in mind. She doesn't see us with all the answers, but she sees us grasping for the truth in the midst of a chaotic world.
I've been told more than once that I am "too serious". I should "lighten up" they say, "chill out and take a vacation". I do take life serious! I want to grow up!
When I hear the statement "I don't want to grow up!" I'm often perplexed by such a statement. On the surface I understand. I'd rather not have all the responsibilities of being a grown up, but I enjoy all the amazing benefits of getting older and hopefully becoming more mature.
There is something so perplexing about maturity. Its no respecter of age. I can meet someone with wrinkles and grey hair and they exhibit gross immaturity, or I can meet a fresh faced person in their prime and I'm blown away by their maturity, humbled in fact.
What is maturity? I like what Merriam Webster's dictionary says on being mature, "having or showing the mental and emotional qualities of an adult." Also, "Having reached a final or desired state." I like the later statement - reaching a final or desired state.
What would that final or desired state be? For a follower of Christ it would be none other than Jesus himself. To exhibit and exude Christlikeness. And that whole subject would make another interesting blog post as well!
Back to maturity! How is it that two people can go to church faithfully, read God's word faithfully, go to conferences, watch videos of every up and coming teacher of the Word, in a sense, do all the things that Believers are known for but come to old age in vastly different maturity levels?
There are many reasons for stunted spiritual growth. Inherent personality traits or even emotional harm that has not been resolved, to name a few. However, I believe part of the answer is Hebrews 5:14.
"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish between good and evil."
WHO BY CONSTANT USE!
This I believe is one of the most important factors of maturing.
There is a danger in passively living our faith. Unfortunately a typical "church" life propagates this phenomena. The institutional church places a very high premium on the Sunday morning message. The average believer waits each week for what the pastor will share. Each Wednesday night is no difference. Conferences are like concerts, more flashy than a Sunday morning, but still a passive "feed me" approach to our walk with Jesus. I must preface that I am not against listening to a message, attending conferences or watching videos. But I am concerned if that is the bulk of your expression of your faith. There are only so many hours in the day.
Back to Hebrews 5:14.
"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish between good and evil."
"Have trained themselves"
We must as Believers seek God on our own. If we only listen to the latest teaching, read the next book, or attend the next conference, there is a danger we will train our ears to hear the word of man, and not the voice of God. Now again these activities are not wrong unless we neglect the object of our faith - Christ himself. It is our responsibility to train ourselves the truths of our faith and to work out our faith with action.
Can you hear the voice of God? Do you know what He sounds like?
What would you think about a person who went to college but never graduated and never applied his knowledge in a career. You would think that person quite immature. However, our churches are filled with people who have never graduated. Hebrews 5:12 discusses this issue.
"You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food."
Some of you ought to be teachers, but still need "to be fed" basic Christianity 101. My paraphrase obviously!
According to our faith, We are ALL called to disciple/teach others. Matthew 28:19.
It's time to use our faith, for by use we become mature, and that my friend is a very good thing!
It's time we listen to the voice of God, to understand what the Spirit is saying directly without middlemen. That veil was torn in two for a reason! We are living in crazy times and we need to know what God is doing and saying to His people.
If you are like me, we are . . .
Learning along the way,
David.
David.
No comments:
Post a Comment