So I’m doing the greatest blog series in the history of the world. The series is on what pastors hear so often, “I’m not getting fed.” Last time I asked: “Who says this?” and answered, “Thumb-sucking babies and pampered, pouting lazy Christians.” Today I have one more answer: Christians who miss the point.
What do I mean? Some people misunderstand “spiritual maturity.”
What do you think are the signs of a person who is truly spiritually mature? This is something I’ve studied and thought about a lot, and here’s what I’ve come to. The three greatest signs of spiritual maturity are: (1) Intimacy with God, (2) Obedience to God, (3) Serving other people. The way we’d say that at Forefront is, “Love God, Love People.” Jesus said that all the commandments hang on this. Loving God is a relational thing and leads to intimacy with Him. (So it’s sharing His heart, and sharing my heart with Him.) Jesus also taught us that to love God is to obey His commands. (So one way to measure spiritual maturity is how quickly you obey God.) Jesus also said He came to serve and we’re to follow His example. (So getting past self-centeredness and learning to put others before ourselves is what we’re after.)
We could argue about this (I guess that’s what the comment section is for) but I’m sticking with my answer, because it’s what I’ve found in the Bible.
Unfortunately, this is NOT EVEN CLOSE to the definition most American Christians have for spiritual maturity. How do they define it? I’ll tell you later today. Until then, I’ll give you $5 if you can get yourself on Cops.
- Featured on newchurches.com
What do I mean? Some people misunderstand “spiritual maturity.”
What do you think are the signs of a person who is truly spiritually mature? This is something I’ve studied and thought about a lot, and here’s what I’ve come to. The three greatest signs of spiritual maturity are: (1) Intimacy with God, (2) Obedience to God, (3) Serving other people. The way we’d say that at Forefront is, “Love God, Love People.” Jesus said that all the commandments hang on this. Loving God is a relational thing and leads to intimacy with Him. (So it’s sharing His heart, and sharing my heart with Him.) Jesus also taught us that to love God is to obey His commands. (So one way to measure spiritual maturity is how quickly you obey God.) Jesus also said He came to serve and we’re to follow His example. (So getting past self-centeredness and learning to put others before ourselves is what we’re after.)
We could argue about this (I guess that’s what the comment section is for) but I’m sticking with my answer, because it’s what I’ve found in the Bible.
Unfortunately, this is NOT EVEN CLOSE to the definition most American Christians have for spiritual maturity. How do they define it? I’ll tell you later today. Until then, I’ll give you $5 if you can get yourself on Cops.
- Featured on newchurches.com
8 comments:
Agreed and I will hold my next question until Friday. Oh and if the 5 bucks is retro active....you owe me a 10 spot!
Not just on cops, you have to either be wearing no shirt or a tank top...although I guess you cannot be on cops without that being the case so it might be a moot point.
Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do...
I thought spiritual maturity dealt with storing up treasures early (i.e. before having kids) on in your spiritual 401K so that way later on you can live off the interest and travel the church community in the Winnebago waiting to be entertained.
Man, I was way off. . .
How about $20 bucks for the COPS, America's Most Wanted, and Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator trifecta?
Dan,
...I'm scared.
All true and very well put. But here is the question I have. How, after we rule out the" Thumb-sucking babies and pampered, pouting lazy Christians” do we get the ignorant (uneducated) people past this blame game the Church is engaged in and toward mature, growing, Love God, Love people, people who are out doing and not just complaining?
After all the real issue at hand here is that people (EVERYONE)is always blaming someone else for their own failures. Non Christians blame the Christians. The Christians blame the Non Christians. The people blame the government. And in this case the Church blames the Minister for their individual lack of growth.
Heck, every night I see on the news someone telling someone else that the problems in the world are all because of someone else! Yes plenty of blame can go around but the issue I have is this passing the buck mentality does not just reside in the church and we need to change. ALL OF US...including me!
So, back to my question. How do we work on this without becoming cynical and give up? Or do we just keep pointing out the problem and sitting back and patting ourselves on the back for seeing the problem?
revealnow.com
"?"--if that is really your name--(which btw you guys should tell us who you are...this anonymous thing is driving me crazy)
Anyway, ?, I love your question...and the heart behind it. How do we make the shift from blaming to something more productive? (Of course, identifying the problem is the first step in solution finding...but what now?!)
I can only speak for what's worked for me and that's this: Us having the guts to actually live out the faith and to ask (gently at times and more forcefully at others) our fellow Christians to move into authentic Christianity that looks like what Vince described in this blog (look back at the 1, 2, 3).
The two elements are crucial, right? If we're not living it than we're just part of the hypocrisy camp. But the other part is just as important...a trusting relationship. My bros and sisters in Christ whom I've built a relationship with see me living the faith and welcome me challenging them on their faith (as I welcome them challenging me). The Christians with whom I don't have deep relationships with dismiss my ideas and thoughts about their faith.
What keeps me going and pushing ahead is having a right frame of mind about who I'm dealing with (Christian, non-Christian, mature, immature, long time friend, short time friend, acquaintance, etc.) and expecting the results that level of relationship will afford.
If I want to help change someone's perception/ action/ motivation/ maturity, then I have to build a trusting relationship with them. OR...I have to find someone in their trusted relationships circle to influence them.
There are of course, no guarantees...but definitely a greater chance of transformation through the cultivation of deeper, more intimate, trusting relationships.
That'll preach brother Kevin!!
Post a Comment