My 10 yr old doesn't use a car-seat. Legally, she doesn't have to, but my 6 yr old has to sit in a booster seat. Meanwhile, a toddler has to sit in a harness car seat, and a baby in a special infant seat. They all get different seats based on the ages. And none of them can sit in the front seat like an adult can. Everyone has an appropriate seat based on their age.
Sometimes as Christians we can judge other Christians on where they are "sitting." Yet all Christians are at different places along the way. Some may be in the infant car seat, others in a booster or perhaps even some in the front seat.
The apostle Paul puts it another way. He explained that some Christians needed Spiritual milk, not solid food because they weren't ready for it. They were still worldly. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
Where are you on your Christian road? How about those around you? If you are a a mature Christian, don't judge those newer Christians around you by the same standard you hold yourself too. They are still drinking spiritual milk.
Instead, why not consider coming beside them and inspiring them. Teach them the elementary truths of God's word and help them move up to the next seat. And remember even if you are in the front seat, it's Jesus who is in the driver's seat.
Hebrews 5:11-14 -- We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 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! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
7 comments:
AMEN!
Kelly, this post is much needed in our homes and churches. We (Christians) are quick to judge and that is GODS job! If we were teaching, leading, and loving there would be much more growth amongst our families (physical and church).
Blessings, hugs, and prayers,
andrea
Great way to look at it! I'm glad Jesus is driving, but that is certainly a conscious decision we must make. Reminds me of that country song, "Jesus take the wheel."
I'll be thinking about where others are sitting and how to encourage and/or receive encouragement based on their seat. :-)
Great thoughts Kelly. I think we (the church) have too often neglected discipleship. The great commission is to make disciples. The church has made a lot of baby Christians but few disciples.
These verses are actually speaking to those who have been believers long enough that they should be on solid food. There is a responsibility of the mature to disciple new believers and a responsibility of the believer (new and mature) to learn and apply what they learn.
This is a great discussion topic! :)
This was great! Seriously...Great Post!
And it's not all about more Sunday School classes or Bible studies, necessarily. In understanding the "baby Christian," we need to walk in their shoes (or remember what it was like to walk in their shoes, which can be tough--and why "mature Christians" sometimes come off as arrogant).
MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is one of those kinds of ministries that is very welcoming to all women yet weaves in--through programmatic elements--the Truth of the Christian life. Not in a condemning or force-feeding kind of way, but in a very gentle, seed-planting kind of way. There is a lot of sharing of personal experiences in the light of faith, and there's a lot to be said for that approach.
What a great parallel using children in car seats and Christian maturity. Some Christians are called to keep climbing the spiritual mountain to blaze the trail. Some are called to go back down the mountain to help others climb higher. There is no room to judge because we all had to come in the same Way and climb the same mountain on the straight and narrow path. Very good post. God bless.
You're so good at drawing parallels! Love the way you pulled this together. It's so true too. I completely agree with Edie above (in the comments). As a young christian I looked for a mature christian woman to come alongside and teach me, but it never happened. I'm glad my husband was there for me. He and the Holy Spirit taught me a lot, and the Holy Spirit is still teaching me these many years later. Great post, Kelly!
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