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| photo by Jen Griffin |
I was a baby Christian for twenty some years. That is way too long to be in diapers! Unfortunately, all I saw were other baby Christians, so I didn't know what it looked like to mature spiritually.
A church with only spiritual babes has a high energy level, but no one to teach them. They are an easy target for the enemy. On the other hand, a church family of only mature members has a wellspring of knowledge and experiences with God, but no heirs to receive the legacy. Just as families need the different generations, the church family needs members at different spiritual maturity.levels.
Baby believers should be the new reborns, not those who have been adopted into God's family and just never grew. Together we can help each other mature by welcoming new additions and consistently encouraging and challenging each other as we learn to live like Christ. As a member of His church we should want to group up, not just get old.
No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love--like Christ in everything. Ephesians 4:14-15 MSG
