What mother ever gives birth to a child with the goal for the child to remain a baby, never to grow into maturity? What mother would ever delight in seeing her child go immediately from infancy to heaven? On this day, my heart is heavy when I think about the children who never get to enjoy their childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. There is one such baby that is embedded deeply in my sensory memory is the story of a baby whose life ended prematurely.
One of the saddest days of my life was April 10, 1999, while standing at the pulpit of the First Baptist Church, Eufaula, OK, looking at the tiny casket containing the body of Micah Reynolds. Days before this memorial service I was called out of our Wednesday evening Bible study; the Administrator of the hospital asked me to come to the hospital. Micah’s parents had found her floating in a pond behind the home. The memory of Micah’s parents, Doug and Kellie s will forever be etched in my mind. The best we could do was to allow Jesus to minister to them as their grief dimmed all hope of a happy future. Betty Ball played “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” “Tears in Heaven” and “Jesus Loves Me;” music that allowed the love of Jesus to sooth painful hearts. The smile I saw on Kellie’s face while Betty played the children’s songs was a sign of hope. I remembered Micah and her family each time I saw the ornamental pear tree planted in Posey Park in her memory. Micah never got to become the woman God intended her to become. Doug and Kellie would never see their baby grow into adulthood—her life came to an end after 18 months.
Parents want to see their children grow up and become mature adults, able to survive and thrive in society. I believe that a parent’s greatest desire is to know that their children are doing well, mature and prepared for all that life will bring.
In I John 2:12-14 John uses three terms:
• Children
• Young men
• Fathers
In fact, throughout the book he uses relational phrases that come from the image of a family. Yes, he sees the church as a close-knit family; however, his use of these terms is related to maturity levels of believers.
12 I write to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, pa?d???, ??, t? paidion {pahee-dee'-on} because you have known the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:12ff
Early in my Christian life and ministry, I believed the central goal of the Christian message was proclaiming a way to get to heaven. That is important; however, I do not believe that is the single message. Instead of keeping our face pasted to the window looking for Jesus to return, the Bible puts major emphasis on growing up as Christian men and women who are spiritually mature. John reminds us of the corporate and personal dimension of the call to the Christian experience. Believers need to be a part of a church–a unified functioning body.
All believers were one in heart and mind. Acts 4:32 Acts 4:32
Yet, Christianity is also intensely personal. There is a corporate and personal dimension of growing in Christ; this process is ordained of God.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16
THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF THE CHURCH:
I. NEWCOMERS: THEY KEEP ALIVE THE SENSE OF WONDER AND AMAZEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
The first stage of the Christian experience begins with the new birth. Just as a mother gives birth to a child for the child to enter the world, so must a person be born again to enter the family of God.
I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. John 3:3
Shoal Creek Community Church posted the following on their website. You may have heard someone talk about salvation, but is it a place? destination? change of heart? - or what? Many people speak of "being saved." But what does that mean? Watch the video and learn what it means to be saved and what salvation is.
Most of the time we use Christianize language; it is a language we imply we understand; however, the “nones” and “not” do not understand it. The first term John uses is “little children.” The term used is t?????, ??, t? teknion {tek-nee'-on} and it comes from the word which means to beget or to give birth.
There are several characteristics of Newcomers.
1. They are excited about their salvation. Images of their life changing experience, their “new birth” into the family of God is still fresh, often characterized by an invigorating energy. They delight in hearing and responding to the words of Jesus:
2. They are enthusiastic about the manner in which their sins have been forgiven.
The term “Forgiven” in verse 12 is rich in meaning: It is a perfect tense verb, meaning that their sins “were forgiven at a point in the past and remained forgiven.”
• Could refer to the cancellation of a debt.
• Removal of a stain–metaphorical reference to guilt, and
• Restoration of a relationship
Forgiveness is a wonderful experience by which our sin debt has been canceled, our guilt has been solved, and a relationship with God has been established. The guilt and shame are gone?
3. They marvel at the realization they know the heavenly father. “You know” is perfect tense, suggesting at some point in the past they came to know Him, and they remain in that relationship.
Becomers often have an insatiable hunger to connect with someone greater than themselves. Can you remember when you first became a Christian? The joy? The excitement? If you are like me, it was such a neat experience that I want to relive it over and over. Though I was only nine, I still remember standing and looking at the water in the baptistery in Athens, Alabama. We cannot stay there. The maturation process calls us forward.
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 childish ways behind me. I Corinthians 13:11
No spiritual passage of life is to be static or stationary. Just as parents want to see their babies grow and develop, so too our heavenly Father wants us to grow. How are you growing? How do you measure your growth?
The fellowship and ministry of a church suffers if spiritual Newcomers do not pass beyond infantile, the simplistic, naiveté stage of the Christian faith. They must progress to the next stage or the church will lose her ability to propagate herself. I recall hearing a missionary say, the church in Africa is a mile wide and an inch thick. I fear that probably characterizes Christianity in America.
THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF THE CHURCH
II. BECOMERS: THEY BRING NEW LIFE AND ENERGY TO THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH AS THEY INCARNATE THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT AND BEGIN TO REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL
I marvel at the way babies enjoy pacifiers and those little dangling crib toys. I feel like I can do a fair job of relating to children; however, when it comes to spiritual things of God, I have outgrown the childish things.
Ravi Zachariah tells about his young son who talked about how much he regrets he is growing up. Stating that he has enjoyed his childhood; yet, even as a youngster he realizes there is more to life.
This is a particularly important stage–we learn things here that are important. It is sad to see people who have not started their Christian journey until adulthood; they often fail to go through the elementary stages of the Christian faith. A man I would consider to be a Becomers was in Bible study class I was attending. He often asked Becomers questions, but the Bible study leader and class member often became frustrated by his elementary question—they were entrapped in self-inflation. I asked the pastor about starting a class for those I am calling Becomers; however, he did not respond favorably. Sad!
Remember, John is writing about Christians fully realizing their joy. Joy is complete only when we concurrently and consecutively move from our present stage to where God wants us. John addresses a group in the church he calls fathers, those who are spiritually mature. “These were the people who had moved away from the gate to venture into the pasture.” (Bryson, p. 52)
BECOMERS are those who aspire to be like the “fathers” to which John refers. They come to realize the conversion experience served as the gate to the rest of the journey. The emphasis of their joy changes. While their conversation is still worthy of celebration, they now find great joy in discovering their spiritual gifts and potentialities. They are not satisfied to hold their ticket to heaven in hand and stare into the future.
Let us face it, infancy would be hard to live with on a permanent basis. Parents really want their children to mature to the point they sleep all night and can go to the potty all by themselves!
“A major problem, oftentimes, in Christian circles is that we are constantly trying to cling to the joys of spiritual infancy. We remember the glory of that moment when we came to know the Father, the warmth of it, and the joy entering the family circle, and we are constantly trying to get back to that.” (Ray Stedman, p. 3)
The writer of Hebrews gives us the marks of an immature Christian, a babe in Christ:
• They cannot tell the difference between good and evil.
• They do not know how to apply the Word to their behavior–they are “unskilled in the Word of righteousness.”
• They cannot teach or help others–they are stuck in “need love” and have not yet understood “gift love” (Love principle
Adolescence can be an exciting time! It determines our future. If we make poor decisions during this phase, they can steer us in the wrong direction. John affirms those to whom he writes. He says, “You have overcome the evil one.” Chronologically adolescence precedes adulthood. Why, then, does John put them last? He is not making a biological statement. His point is to share with us the most important principle of growth. What is it? Look at verse 14.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
In their strength they have overcome the evil one.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11, 12
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2: 22
Wow! Young Christians refusing the schemes of the evil one! Young people are known for the energy–they are strong. Persons in the prime of their life are the ones that do the work. They fight the battles. They make a difference. What enables a child, spiritually, to become a “young man,” spiritually? What enables a “young person” to become a spiritual father/mother? John gives us the secret to how young Christians maintain their innocence: “the word of God” lives in them.
Young Christians, it is impossible to become a mature Christian adult unless the Word of God abides in you. If the evil one can ever get you to a place where you say “boring” at the idea of studying Scripture and sitting under the preaching and teaching of the Word, he has just stunted your growth. Living in the Word makes a believer stronger–much like lifting weights (have a set of curling irons). While he cannot stop us from being Christian, he can keep us from becoming strong Christians.
John is not speaking about merely reading and advancing through a systematic study of the Bible. He says the “word of God lives in you.” Last Sunday I spoke of “abiding in Jesus.” John uses the same word in his reference to the Word--????? t?? ?e??--living (µ??e?, meno {men'-o}) in 1 Jn. 2:14b, it is an active present tense word.
? The Word stirs within us.
? The Word penetrates the conscience.
? The Word directs the will.
? The Word exposes the “thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12b).
The Logos, Work living in us makes us stronger.
A healthy church is a church that continually shares with unbelievers how they can place their trust in Jesus and have an incredible life changing experience. Second, a healthy church delights in seeing young Christian develop into young men and women that are full of energy and who are strong.
I love being around young Christians that are excited about their relationship with God. Jan and I have gladly worked closely with new believers as they begin to discover their spiritual gifts and their potentialities. Yet, God also calls them forward. They cannot stay at this stage if the church maintains her health.
THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF THE CHURCH:
III OVERCOMERS: THEY PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT FLOWS FROM LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH PROACTIVE MINISTRY
Newcomers must develop into Becomers and Becomers must turn into Overcomers. The idea is for believers to move consecutively and concurrently toward maturity. Paul expresses the ultimate goal for believers.
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13
Perfect comes from the word, t??e???, a, ?? (teleios {tel'-I-os})–meaning brought to its end, fullness, completeness. These individuals are perfect, as the word is often translated.
An elementary student asked to go to the board in an English class and make a comparison, such as good, better, best. The teacher gave him the word perfect. He wrote “perfect, more perfect, most perfect.” She informed him it was incorrect, to which he said, “Well, it can’t be perfect, perfecter, perfectest.” She said, “No, it is just ‘perfect.’ If something is perfect...it is just perfect.” Stedman p. 4
Jesus calls for all believers to become perfect, mature. John says those who are spiritual leaders “have known him.”
Paul’s term in Ephesians 4:13 for “perfect” belongs to the same root word as the word Jesus used when He said, ?et??esta? (it is finished) John 19:30.
The term is actually referring to an ancient but common practice where criminals serving time in jail would have their crimes listed on a note that was posted at the prison where they were kept, and it correlated the crimes to the amount of punishment they were to serve. Then, at the end of their sentence, the jail keeper would stamp the paper with "?et??esta?", meaning "PAID IN FULL."
In John 19:30 the word means, "It is finished." Christ satisfied God's justice by dying for all to pay for the sins of the elect. These sins can never be punished again since that would violate God's justice. Sins can only be punished once, either by a substitute or by yourself.
So, how “perfect” are you?
Philippians 1: 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
13I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
The word “known”, (?????ate t??-Him) (egnokate) {verb ind perf act 2nd per pl}) is a reference to experiential knowledge—suggesting they focus on application of that which is known. It also refers to the kind of experiential knowledge that starts at a point and is active continuously. Have you noticed how John loves the perfect active tense in describing our relationship to Jesus as a disciple?
The writer of Hebrews challenges believers to consider the need to grow toward maturity.
Hebrews 5:
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Let me mention FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF SPIRITUAL ADULTS:
1. Spiritual adults REPRODUCE. Being a woman does not make you a mother, having children and nurturing them in the Lord makes you a mother.
2. Spiritual adults INSTRUCT. I love what is called the Shema; it is a spiritual guide for spiritual leaders.
Deuteronomy 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Just as parents need to review the Shema, so to do the spiritual adults in our churches need to evaluate how well they are providing instruction for maturing Christians.
3. Spiritual adults MODEL MATURITY. A healthy church has mature adults who can say with Paul, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” I Cor. 11:1
4. Spiritual adults LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY. Some take the Great Trilogy–FAITH, HOPE and LOVE and apply them to the three spiritual developmental stages. Perhaps this can be done; however, I do know that spiritual adults must know how to love as Jesus loves us or there is little hope for the future of Christianity.
The church cannot function without spiritual adults, those who have dedicated themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. They have been faithful to come alongside believers who desire to become spiritual adults.
CONCLUSION:
Healthy churches need a constant flow of people in all three stages, Newcomers, Becomerss and Overcomers. The church is energized in the process of ministering to each group. The excitement of Newcomers’ newfound forgiveness and new beginnings rubs off on the rest of us.
The hunger to grow as a Becomers motivates spiritual adults—Overcomers—to come alongside them to teach them and encourage them. While reviewing this sermon a host of people came to my mind, those who I reached out to and, over the years, witnessed them become great leaders.
How does a church begin to move toward maturity? Perhaps the starting place is with the spiritual adults. Babies do not reproduce babies. A healthy church begins with spiritual adults who enjoy the maturing process of seeing their children move through the stages of faith we have outlined.
A Japanese painter, Hokusai, died at the age of 89. Toward the end of his life, he dismissed as nothing all the work he had done before age 50. It was only after he reached 70 that he felt he was turning out anything worthy of note. On his deathbed he lamented: “If heaven had granted me five more years, I could have become a real painter.” Today in The World, Sept. 16, ‘92
Joy is inherent to our call to become a Christian. Karl Barth said, “In every man, the will for life is also the will for joy...” (Smedes, p. 117) Joy is the experience of gratitude–gratitude for the privilege to become a mature child of God. We can choose to say no to God and close ourselves to joy.
I
hope you are open to move to the next level in your Christian experience, to refuse is “to violate both the will of God and the possibility of life.”
1. Newcomers: Young children cannot lift weights because their muscles have not developed. As I have used the term, Newcomers are those who have moved from “nones” and “nots” into the early phase of Christianity. As a young child who is excited about playing with toy weights, so new believers look like they are living in la la land.
2. Becomers: Becomers are the adolescents who become interested in body building, muscle toning. They want a coach who will train them, not any coach will do. They want the best. Their development depends on it.
3. Overcomers: These are the people who learned well and now they have become coaches. Interesting, their excitement matches that of the Newcomers and Becomers. Interestingly, typically those who call themselves “mature” Christians often become the most disgruntled. I believe it is because they have focused on consuming and not producing by coaching others. In the process of coaching, we overlearn certain truths from an applied perspective.
Newcomers are those that need to hear fresh and applicable ways the story of salvation. Becomers need coaching by mature Christians. Overcomers, those who call themselves mature Christians, should be ready and willing to reach out to those who haven’t heard or responded to establishing faith in Christ.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15
The analogy of body building perhaps helps us understand this developmental process. A teenage boy begins to admire other students who work out and become interesting in taking better care of his body. He takes the step to talk with the coach of the weight-lifting team. Instead of criticizing the young man, the coach begins to teach him the basics of body building. The determination of the young man inspires the coach to take care of his body; he had grown slack in his own exercising, was not eating healthy food, and was losing muscle tone. In turn, the young man became even more determined. Unexpectedly the young man found other boys coming to him, asking to workout with him. When the coach observed this, he realized he was relinquishing some of his role as a mentor for body builder and becoming more involved in helping the young man take the next step, becoming a coach.
