As followers of Christ, we are called to spiritually grow. This is nothing new. Many of you know that. However, the question still remains, are YOU growing? Are you making progressive steps towards becoming more and more like Christ? Are you bearing more fruit?
By fruit...I don't mean activity or things that you do such as ministry. I mean character. The way you act, is it growing in Christ likeness?
One of the greatest signs of an immature Christian...or a professing Christian who is not growing is that they will be defensive. So anytime we sense defensiveness in ourselves or others, it is an indicator of either pride or immaturity...or both.
Here is a well written example of why defensiveness is stumbling many people today from growing in maturity...
You cannot become defensive if you are going to display humility and Christ likeness.
You cannot become defensive if you are going to be teachable and taught by the Lord.
You cannot be defensive if pastors, elders, and other believers are to have their proper place in our spiritual growth.
An honest and valid question...Am I a defensive person?
If we get defensive when others try to point something out in our lives, then we are still immature to some extent. Defensiveness comes forth out of pride. Not being willing to be corrected, is defensiveness rooted in pride.
Defensiveness rears it's ugly head when anyone touches a nerve in my soul, possibly exposing that I could be wrong about something.
Defensiveness is that felling I get, when anyone challenges me on something possibly exposing that I have blind spots that they see that I don't see.
Defensiveness shows itself in touchiness, when anyone disagrees with me in any way.
If I am defensive, pride is raising it's head at me.
If I am defensive, I still think I know better than anyone who disagrees with me.
If I am defensive, I still am, to some real degree, UNTEACHABLE.
If I am defensive, I am revealing an inner attitude, that I could not be wrong.
If another Christian, or one of my pastors, comes to me to share something they feel is a need in my life, do I respond with defensiveness or do I quietly listen, truly hear what they are saying and make sure I understand it, and to thank them for coming, and then examine myself before the Lord to receive what He wants for me?
IF I DO, THAT IS MATURITY AND CHRIST LIKENESS.
HOW I RESPOND AT THOSE TIME WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL GROWTH AND CHANGE OR NOT.
If I am defensive, when another brother or sister says something I don't agree with, I am showing I still live like an island, separating myself from the body, asserting my carnal independence from the body and thus from the head as well.
Defensiveness, is so ingrained in us, it's almost like breathing. We exhibit it, even when we don't know it. If we get challenged, corrected or rebuked it is ugly immaturity in action and pride holding forth it's inglorious presence.
When I am defensive, I am far from being like the Lord Jesus right then. May God save me from this wicked and on going evil. Jesus was never defensive one time in His life not even once and He is calling me to put it off. Die to self daily and become, defenseless, with all my defense being in Him ALONE.
- Written by Matt Tomlinson.
Folks, we need to heed this. I don't care if you have been saved for one month or 50 years...if you are still defensive when it comes to these things, you are acting immature and need to change. You are only hurting yourself and possibly destroying others in the process. The true sign of a mature Christian is the one who humbles themselves and drops all the selfish pride to the ground and counts it worthless compared to the desire and will of God...which is Christ likeness.
If you read this, it's time to ask yourself an important question. Are you defensive? If you are then you need to start growing in maturity and lose the pride...it's time to grow up. Stop playing games and stop trying to make yourself appear one way when you act another. Don't be a double minded hypocrite full of pride and immaturity.
By fruit...I don't mean activity or things that you do such as ministry. I mean character. The way you act, is it growing in Christ likeness?
One of the greatest signs of an immature Christian...or a professing Christian who is not growing is that they will be defensive. So anytime we sense defensiveness in ourselves or others, it is an indicator of either pride or immaturity...or both.
Here is a well written example of why defensiveness is stumbling many people today from growing in maturity...
You cannot become defensive if you are going to display humility and Christ likeness.
You cannot become defensive if you are going to be teachable and taught by the Lord.
You cannot be defensive if pastors, elders, and other believers are to have their proper place in our spiritual growth.
An honest and valid question...Am I a defensive person?
If we get defensive when others try to point something out in our lives, then we are still immature to some extent. Defensiveness comes forth out of pride. Not being willing to be corrected, is defensiveness rooted in pride.
Defensiveness rears it's ugly head when anyone touches a nerve in my soul, possibly exposing that I could be wrong about something.
Defensiveness is that felling I get, when anyone challenges me on something possibly exposing that I have blind spots that they see that I don't see.
Defensiveness shows itself in touchiness, when anyone disagrees with me in any way.
If I am defensive, pride is raising it's head at me.
If I am defensive, I still think I know better than anyone who disagrees with me.
If I am defensive, I still am, to some real degree, UNTEACHABLE.
If I am defensive, I am revealing an inner attitude, that I could not be wrong.
If another Christian, or one of my pastors, comes to me to share something they feel is a need in my life, do I respond with defensiveness or do I quietly listen, truly hear what they are saying and make sure I understand it, and to thank them for coming, and then examine myself before the Lord to receive what He wants for me?
IF I DO, THAT IS MATURITY AND CHRIST LIKENESS.
HOW I RESPOND AT THOSE TIME WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL GROWTH AND CHANGE OR NOT.
If I am defensive, when another brother or sister says something I don't agree with, I am showing I still live like an island, separating myself from the body, asserting my carnal independence from the body and thus from the head as well.
Defensiveness, is so ingrained in us, it's almost like breathing. We exhibit it, even when we don't know it. If we get challenged, corrected or rebuked it is ugly immaturity in action and pride holding forth it's inglorious presence.
When I am defensive, I am far from being like the Lord Jesus right then. May God save me from this wicked and on going evil. Jesus was never defensive one time in His life not even once and He is calling me to put it off. Die to self daily and become, defenseless, with all my defense being in Him ALONE.
- Written by Matt Tomlinson.
Folks, we need to heed this. I don't care if you have been saved for one month or 50 years...if you are still defensive when it comes to these things, you are acting immature and need to change. You are only hurting yourself and possibly destroying others in the process. The true sign of a mature Christian is the one who humbles themselves and drops all the selfish pride to the ground and counts it worthless compared to the desire and will of God...which is Christ likeness.
If you read this, it's time to ask yourself an important question. Are you defensive? If you are then you need to start growing in maturity and lose the pride...it's time to grow up. Stop playing games and stop trying to make yourself appear one way when you act another. Don't be a double minded hypocrite full of pride and immaturity.