Extreme Christianity: Extreme Maturity 7-24-22

I heard the little voice cry out through the car door, “But I don’t want to grow up!”

 

I could relate – sometimes, I would rather do whatever I want, and just not ‘grow up;’ but because I am no longer a small child, I don’t really have a choice! Sometimes, though, people resist growing up, don’t they?

 

In a passage in the book of Hebrews, the author tells the people in the early church that it is time for them to ‘grow up.’ He said it like this: “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity. . . .” The early Christians were resistant to the whole idea of ‘growing up’ in their faith! They were content to talk about things of which they already understood, and continue in the practices that were comfortable to them – even if it hurt the Church! They weren’t bad people, of course, nor were they totally ignorant of Christian truth; they just didn’t want to do any more than that! Being mature in the faith meant thinking through the hard issues of life, and even making changes to the way you lived. They were confronted with a world that was not eager to follow Jesus, and there were social issues that were very difficult to deal with; it was easier to say, as did the young child to his mama, “But I don’t want to grow up!”

 

God wants us to ‘grow up’ in the way we live out our faith! This means learning some biblical truths, to be sure – but it is more than that! It is making a sincere effort to apply your faith to the tough issues of life. It also means that even though people are not perfect, they are still worthy of love and acceptance. It also means loving people as they are, and slowing encouraging them in their faith, rather than just condemning people in their sin and brokenness. Let us make the choice to ‘grow up,’ and become the people of God!

 

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