Grow Up!

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:11

Have you ever known someone who was really immature—someone who did NOT act their age? In an article in “Christianity Today,” Jen Wilkin tells about one of the most immature people she and her husband ever met. Her name was Charlotte.

 

Wilkins writes: “From the moment we stepped into her space, it was all about her. She demanded our full attention day and night. Forget rational arguments or the needs of others; it was The Charlotte Show, 24/7. She thought only of herself and demanded loudly and often that her needs be met. Our schedules bowed to her every whim. She uttered not a word of gratitude…. And we didn’t mind one bit. Because all 7 pounds and 15 ounces of her was doing exactly what she should.”

 

Then, Jen Wilkin adds: “What is appropriate in an infant is appalling in an adult.” And in 1 Corinthians 3, Paul has to call out the Corinthian Christians and tell them: “You’re acting like spoiled brats! Knock it off!”

 

Even after being saved for several years, the Corinthian Christians were still hanging out in the spiritual nursery. They were still immature. That was a tragedy in the church in Paul’s day, and it’s a tragedy in the Christian Church today.

 

So, Paul tells the Corinthian Christians in verses 1-3a: “I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly — mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly.”

 

“Milk” in God’s Word includes the entry-level teaching that new Christians should be able to digest easily with the help of the Holy Spirit – for instance, the basic Gospel message about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, as well as the beloved Bible stories about Noah, Moses and Jonah. That’s all MILK! “Solid food” is the deeper doctrine that helps us to better understand God so that we can more effectively trust, love and obey Jesus Christ. Learning how Jesus uses the cross to transform you so that you can join Him in His great ministry here on earth—that’s solid food.

 

In these verses, Paul reveals the two main characteristics of immature Christians: #1) They refuse to dig deep into God’s Word (vs. 1-2). #2) Immature Christians’ thinking and behavior are indistinguishable from that of non-Christians (vs. 3-4). As theologian John MacArthur warns, “Spiritual truths that we ignore and neglect will become less and less remembered and meaningful…. Nothing causes us to ignore God’s truth more than not living it.”

 

Christians, use it or lose it! If you don’t want to lose what you’ve been learning in God’s Word recently, you’ve gotta live it out. If you don’t live it out, you will neglect it and will most likely forget it. Jesus Christ gave His life for you. So, how can you help but dive into the deep end and live your life for Him?

 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church, now meeting Sundays at 8:45 a.m. at 17746 George Blvd in Victorville. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.