How Can I Grow?

    Some have strange ideas about spiritual growth. Unless we know what growth is, we will not achieve it. The Bible describes spiritual growth and the means to achieve it.

    There are some who equate growth with the ability to do things publicly. They think that the best church is the one which provides the most opportunities for the members to develop these abilities. An ideal church to them would be one in which every member can do something in the public worship—lead a song, preach a sermon, teach a class.

    Sometimes, when people say, "I'm not ‘growing' as I should," they mean, "I'm not leading singing enough;" "I'm not preaching enough or teaching a public class." It should be obvious that a church with a hundred men cannot provide a hundred preaching positions or song-leading jobs. We are fortunate that not everyone has this self-centered viewpoint. What about the woman? What about those who have no ability to preach or sing? Can they be saved? Can they "grow?"

    Of course they can grow, because those things are not real spiritual growth. A man could learn to do them all and not actually grow. We value those abilities and the people who have them. But, that is service, not growth. These abilities can be a means of growth for others. They should be fostered and encouraged by the church. 

    But, growth in the ability to speak or sing is not spiritual growth. It certainly is not necessary to spiritual maturity. Else, women and others could never grow. Brethren should learn to "edify one another." But, teaching and preaching are the vehicles of growth, not growth itself. A church in which every male member "holds his own" in the pulpit is not necessarily a mature church. What did James (3:1) say about that? The likelihood is that such a church is not receiving the kind of nourishment it needs. The word of God, absorbed into the life of the Christian, produces growth (Ephesians 4:11-16, etc.). Growth comes from learning, not teaching.

    Another mistaken idea is to equate spiritual growth with social growth. The social gospel measures spirituality by social pleasure. It says that, if a man feels good about his religion, he is closer to God. The opposite may very well be true.

    Surely, there are many good feelings that result from a right relationship with God. But, to mistake good feelings for spiritual growth is a great mistake. Christians develop many cherished friendships, but it is wrong to suppose that a good social life is evidence of spiritual well-being.

    As long as one enjoys the society of church life, his loyalty to the truth is not tested. When it is easy, anybody can be true to the Lord. The test comes when we are faced with the choice of compromising the truth to improve our social pleasure (and/or that of our children). This is where the Lord learns how much we value the truth. So, a church situation with good social connections may hide spiritual weaknesses, but it gives no necessary evidence of strength.

    Social relationships do provide opportunity for teaching and influencing people with the truth. They also provide opportunity for influencing people with error. Anyhow, the one who forsakes the truth to improve his social life is not much concerned about influencing others with the truth.

    Christians ought to make every effort to improve social relationships among brethren. But, we must never equate social pleasure with spiritual strength.

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