I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
I Corinthians 13:11
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in ALL things, which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:14,15.
First of all, when a person is "born again", "saved", becomes a "follower of Christ", (however you wish to put it), they become members of what? The Family of God. That's right--they are born into the Family of God. (That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6.) It did not say "born of whatever is on the name of the church building"! The Word of God tells us when we are born again, we are "born of THE Spirit". What Spirit? The Spirit of God. Our "spiritual birth" (salvation through Jesus Christ) gains us entry into the Family of God. If we have any sense of family structure at all, we know that brothers and sisters are [supposed to] to "bear one another up" in love; how much the more so when it comes to our Spiritual Siblings!
For the newborn child, mother's milk (or formula), along with loving nuture is what it needs to grow and develop beyond infancy. Milk (or formula) is its main diet (for physical development) until it reaches a stage that other food items can be introduced. The nurturing continues, as mother (and dad) and child grow stronger in their bond to one another.
So it should be with "newborn" Christians: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. I Peter 2:2. One of the very FIRST (if not THE first) things they should [be encouraged to] do is to study the Word of God. Timothy 2:15 tells us why: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. "Milk of the word": the basic truths, the roots and foundations of the Word of God that each of us needs to know as we begin our walk with Christ. As they read and study, there should be those available who will answer questions (ever praying they are qualified to do so) and lead them into further study of God's Word.
Those of us who presume to be "mature" Christians, don't do that! Someone comes to our church and accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and what do we do? Why we drop them like a "hot potato". It's "root, hog, or die"! I ask you, where does THAT come from? By what Spirit do we manifest such attitudes? It is NOT the HOLY Spirit!
Oh how we abhor the stories of those who abandon their infants or toddlers. We should be ever vigilant that "spiritual babies" are not abandoned, either. Physical babies do not come with "instruction books"--oh how many of us moms and dads have wished they did! Now "spiritual babies" do have an "instruction book"--the Bible, but until they have walked in "this way" (following Christ) for a period of time, they may not understand how to apply that which they read.
Understand this: "Babes in Christ" don't just suddenly receive all that they need to know when they are saved. You didn't. I didn't. They (just as you and I did) will need advice and Godly counsel.
There might be those (LAZY Christians) who say, "But that's different. The 'babe in Christ' is a person of such and such (physical) age, you can't force them to learn." Don't go there with me! Nobody's talking about forcing anything. Any person who sincerely regrets the sin in their life and comes to Christ for salvation WANTS to know more about Him. It is our nature! We take up the game of golf, we want to know more about it and how better to play it. We take up needlecraft, we want to know more about it--we read and practice and lay in a supply of that which is needed to do it. When we take on the Nature of Christ, we want to know more about Him!
Yet, in far TOO MANY cases, the new convert's grand experience is virtually ignored. To make this point VERY plain: if you were sitting with a group of people and suddenly your young child walked for the first time or said their first word, would you merely turn your back and walk away? I don't think so and neither do you! Well? We do that with new converts to Christ. We are NOT there to rejoice with them as they find their way along in the Christian experience!
As a newborn is nurtured and fed, it develops into a young child. In most cases, it first learns to crawl, then how to pull up to objects and steady itself, then how to walk. Their emotions are unstable: a young child may be easily frightened and sometimes discouraged. However, watch any youngster learning to walk--the desire to get about independently overrides every fear. Before long, however, for the parents it's forget "keeping up", just keep 'em in sight! It is through the pleasure and delight of others at each new accomplishment that they are encouraged to keep on learning, keep on trying, "you CAN do it!" It is at this stage of their lives that those who have studied child development tell us they learn more, in a shorter period of time, than they ever will again. It is truly fascinating to observe!
So it should be with a "little child" in Christ. They need encouragement. Counsel still needs to be made available. They should receive pleasure and delight from the older, "mature" Christian as the "child Christian" gains new understanding in their walk with Christ. Just as a physical child will err during their "learning processes", a "spiritual child" may err. We need to quit looking down our "Bertha-Better-Than-Thou" noses at folks, and reach out a hand of encouragement! That's not a call to condone error or willful sin! That's a call to reach out in love and compassion, remembering our own start however long ago, and that we didn't immediately know all there was to know! If a "spiritual child" does NOT receive encouragement from older Christians, it is very easy for them to "fall away". Let me tell you, the world will come knocking, ever ready to fold them back in its arms, if we don't have open arms for them!
To anyone who has ever worked with those "new to the faith" (new converts), it is not at all unusual to hear, "I have never had more battles than right after I became a Christian. It seemed as if EVERYTHING suddenly went haywire in my life." Our adversary, the devil, does not like to have to give up his grip on a life! He will use ALL manner of methods to try to get that "babe" or "young child" in Christ to turn back to their former life. It may come in the form of subtle temptation to gain a foothold, or by his well known "bully" attacks to frighten and intimidate. If there are not those in place who are willing to stand by that new convert to Christ, it is easy for them to slip away.
Just as with virtually any other experience in life, once the "new" begins to wear off, it's not uncommon for a person to grow lukewarm in their spiritual experience. It takes daily, I said, DAILY self-discipline: setting aside time for prayer and study to avoid the onset of "Christian Hum Drum" (lukewarmness). Let's not turn up our noses at that, either; a great many hearing (reading) this might truthfully realize they are in just such a condition if they would honestly examine themselves under the critical light of God's Word. The Bible tells us, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. I Peter 5:8. We are also told, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:11,12.
New recruits in the military are issued all manner of weapons of defense, but that doesn't mean they know how to take on the enemy and win! Those with experience train them, Amen? Well? So it must be with those who are new to the "Christian walk"--they need the guidance and loving encouragement of those who are further along the way.
The Word of God tells us, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? James 2:15,16. Do we understand that? If a brother or sister comes to us, in need of clothing or food, and all we say to them is our sweet little breathy, "I hope you will find some clothes and food," what good have we done them?
The same thing applies to "new converts in Christ": it is not enough to merely "get them to the altar"! There is life after the "altar experience". We MUST encourage them to study their Bible--we MUST encourage them as they apply that which they learn to their "new life in Christ". The two best ways of doing that is to FIRST: live a life of example before them, and SECOND: be there to pray with them, help them search out answers to their questions, and offer loving, compassionate, uplifting, Bible-based counsel. Let them KNOW they CAN depend on us to be faithful in Christian fellowship. No, they cannot be "force fed", but we can faithfully invite and encourage, letting them know we will "be there for them"!
Even the steadfast Apostle Paul said, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14.
Maturity in Christ is not measured merely by the length of time we have been a "Christian". Each of us will "mature" at a different rate; yet there are those who never seem to "develop" at all; those who have professed Christianity for years, but by their words and deeds, they show a marked lack of maturity. They have never gotten beyond the "milk of the Word". Instead of developing into warriors for Christ, they refuse to leave the cradle. They have to be "rocked", "soothed", "pampered". They sulk and pout, whine and murmur. They have never accepted (and built upon) that measure of faith that is given to each of us. They have to be "begged", "bribed", and "flattered" each step of the way.
As we travel along in our walk with Christ, through lessons learned, through time spent in prayer and study, we gain knowledge and wisdom. We get beyond the "milk of the Word" into the "MEAT" of the Word. That's a stronger diet, my friends! Far too many of us are carrying poundage of "milk fat"--we need to get on that "MEAT" diet, that diet where we no longer need to be coddled and cooed.
What is a "MEAT" diet? A meat diet is a deeper understanding of the Word of God which comes through prayer, study and a willingness to learn. It also means an application of faith, which [should be] made stronger and stronger and stronger as the Lord brings us through each day. As we are told about Abraham: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Romans 4:20,21. How grand to mature to that level of faith! Even though battles may rage all around, when the dust clears, we can still be found standing! Not in and of ourselves, but because we have matured in Christ, in our "walk" to the point that we are fully persuaded that what God promises, He is able also to perform!
None of us are perfect, as in "without flaw". That is what Paul was saying to the folks: "I don't yet know it all! I'm not perfect yet." My friends, we are going to err, we are going to have those times in which we "fall short" of the glory of God. Even so, we must keep pressing onward, not letting those things that are behind us draw us back to them. We continue to press on TOWARD THE MARK.
While we're pressing on, let's examine ourselves and make certain we are indeed maturing, that we are growing UP into Him! Let us be ever mindful of those that are coming along behind us so we can reach out a hand in loving fellowship to steady them upon their way. Let's be more compassionate towards the "babes" and "little children" in Christ, gladly sharing our testimony of victories in Jesus, always giving God the glory. We need to remember: it is not through our own strength, our own efforts alone, that we are moving forward in our Christian walk! We need to be a joyful well of love and encouragement, not a brackish pond of criticism and judgment.
May the Lord bless you abundantly today!
"From The Cradle" Copyright © 2001 by Patricia Sikes.
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