Last year I pitched a book on spiritual growth at a writer’s conference. When I informed the agent the book was about sacrifice and humility, she rejected me. She said that Christians just aren’t interested in sacrifice or humility.
At dinner, a publisher explained that although those are Christian teachings, Christians don’t want to invest in them, unless they are serious about growing deeper in their relationship with an everlasting God.
Another writer with us commented “Most Christians only want fire insurance and put on a light show; they aren’t serious about having a relationship with God”, a real love. Kyle Idleman wrote a book about the difference between being a follower of Jesus and being fans.
Fanatics want the benefits of a relationship without the commitment. True followers take a stand and make sacrifices for their faith because they are humbled by the sacrifice made for them (John 3:16.) Most of us have memorized that verse, but a few are willing to apply it in our relationship with God and others.
Charles Spurgeon noted, “Superficial religion will always be fashionable because it does not require our self-denial.” Truth is, most believers have only known the basics of the faith, they haven’t grown in it; nor understand the importance of applying it to their lives, they fail to understand the application of Scripture is important to spiritual growth.
When I got back into the church after my accident I would only watch a certain Christian cable channel. I enjoyed the refreshing messages from a popular television evangelist.
After nearly a decade of listening to his positive messages, I began to realize I wasn't growing as a Christian; I was becoming more focused on worldly success. It wasn't until mature Christian men mentored me that I realized I needed spiritual meat to grow.
I no longer craved the temporary happy, encouraging sermons, because I know this world isn’t my home. As a young Christian man I wanted to grow in my faith, I began to understood what the Disciple John meant about believers decreasing so that God could increase (John 3:30,) let’s get to it!
Jesus said to become like a child and being born again (John 3:1-3.) Children are eager to grow and learn, true growth always starts from nothing.
G.R.O.W.W.?
Last year I read a book on spiritual growth by one of my favorite authors. Andrew Murray shares a story to emphasize the need for growth in believers, “Suppose some friends have a baby and you move away, then 10 years later when you visit; the baby hasn’t grown at all, it is still a baby. Your first concern would be something is seriously wrong with the child because it hasn’t grown.”
Growth is a natural part of the Christian life. 2020 was a difficult year for most; hopefully, we all learned a lot about life and grew up some. As I write this blog, I am celebrating another birthday.
We all have friends who have gotten older, but not matured. Their actions are just as self-centered as when they were kids. The end result is a selfish lifestyle.
This principle is a snapshot spiritually, when we don’t mature in our faith, we can’t fully develop spiritually. The importance of growth is seen throughout Scripture. When God came to this world, He came as a baby, but He didn’t stay a baby.
The New Testament tells us Jesus grew in wisdom and knowledge (Luke 2:40–52)—the Creator studying and growing. We learn this for a reason because that is how nature works, we change as we grow.
Jesus not only followed the national course of growth, He grew up in a Jewish home where He memorized Scripture. The Word learned the wonderful Word. He kept learning it as the Jewish tradition allowed until He was 30 and became a Rabbi Himself according to the Jewish culture.
Then He was able to call His own Disciples. There were other rabbis with their disciples. Followers who learned and did what they were taught. This was the Jewish Talmidim.
They weren’t students who excelled at understanding the “law.” They didn’t just know it, they lived it! Jewish discipleship goes a lot further than our Judeo-Christian version of discipleship. The purpose was for the disciples to do what their rabbis did.
One theologian noted, “Disciples were so in line with their rabbis, they would be covered in the dust the rabbis stirred up while walking.” True discipleship is doing what we have learned.
Ironically, the Pharisees who were experts in the law failed to apply it to their own lives and Jesus called them on it! This is why Jesus told His followers not to do what the Pharisees did (Matthew 23:2-3.)
Before Jesus went to the cross, He promised His disciples they would do everything that He did (John 14:12.) Before anyone gets excited, remember what Jesus had been doing—humbling and sacrificing Himself. And then there is the Great Commission to go make more disciples (Matthew 28:16-20.)
Christianity 101!
Thus, true disciples of Jesus will do the same things, this is the meat of Christian growth, not memorizing Scripture, pursuing greatness, or being “blessed and highly favored.” Jesus was against those false teachings, hence the truth wars (Matthew 20:25-26.) As disciples grow, they become more like their teachers and less like the world around them.
While I was driving home from a mall last month, I noticed the trees along the road still had pretty leaves. As nice as they were, by December they should’ve been gone. When trees don't shed their leaves in season, it can impede new growth in the spring.
Jesus cursed a tree for not bearing fruit in season because the natural course of life is to bear fruit (Mark 11:12 – 25.) King Solomon noted that there is a time for everything, a time to sew and a time to reap. The season of reaping only comes after a season of growth, this is living.
What if I only relearned the basics of English when I attended the writer’s conference last year? That wouldn’t help me grow as a writer. So I learned how to apply what I already knew and learned new things.
As believers, we cannot keep repeating the basics of the faith or we’ll never grow. The Apostles Paul and Peter rebuked the early church for their lack of spiritual maturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-2, 1 Peter 2:2.) They noted that they should only be leaders if they have matured (Hebrews 5:12.)
We should only crave spiritual milk as new believers, there comes a time when we must crave spiritual meat (sorry to my vegetarian friends;) just like adults cannot live off of baby food because it lacks the nutrients our adult bodies need; mature believers cannot live off of spiritual milk, even if we like it on Sunday mornings.
When I was a little boy, my parents gave me Flintstones vitamins. One day I found the bottle and ate half of them, not because I wanted to grow; but because I liked the way they tasted!
Of course, my parents took me to the emergency room, they were told not to give me any vitamins for a week until my body could absorb the vitamins I had childishly eaten.
Often what we crave and desire isn’t good for us, ask any type II diabetic and they would tell you the temporary enjoyment isn’t worth the lifetime of health issues. As mature believers, the Apostle Paul tells us to put away our childish ways (1 Corinthians 13:11.)
The Apostle Paul was talking about spiritual gifts, gifts are not evidence of spiritual growth, they are evidence of the Spirit and come from Him alone. Gifts and fruit of the Spirit (God) cannot be learned or manipulated by believers. Our growth comes from becoming like our Rabbi, Jesus Christ.
Keep in mind there were other rabbis and disciples, and they taught other teachings. Jesus’ Disciples teach what He taught, He taught humility and self-denial. This is why Paul warned against teaching another “Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4, Galatians 1:6.)”
As predicted 2000 years ago there are many false teachers and beliefs in the 21st-century church (1 Timothy 4:1–6.) Jesus left many ways to help believers, not as citizens of this world, He commanded us to Get Rid of Our Worldly Wants (Matthew 16:24!)
