Growing in Spiritual Maturity - Being, not doing

[Gottservant]

I know atheists that behave more like Christians than most of us.
Does that make them "more" Christian in others eyes?

I suppose you would say "it's likely that they will assume, that Christians are somewhere (on the basis of atheism)"

The point is, that faith inspires work, and work justifies meaning - if atheists consistently were inspired to do good works, I imagine a new kind of creed would develop within their ranks; good or bad I don't know, but Christians would never be less Christian (as a result)

 

[St. SteVen]

The point is, that faith inspires work, and work justifies meaning -

Faith would be the BEING part of the DOING in that equation, correct?

 

[Gottservant]

Faith would be the BEING part of the DOING in that equation, correct?

No, it is a transition to something "new" altogether. Or rather, a transition back to work, in a way that seems "new".

Faith is the CONTINUING of the "inspiration part" in a different context (one more suited to the work).

 

[St. SteVen]

No, it is a transition to something "new" altogether. Or rather, a transition back to work, in a way that seems "new".

Faith is the CONTINUING of the "inspiration part" in a different context (one more suited to the work).

How is "a transition to something "new" altogether" not BEING?

 

[Gottservant]

How is "a transition to something "new" altogether" not BEING?

It might be "being", but it might be something else altogether.

It's about what inspires you. The Devil wants to quash your faith, so he says "there is some type of rule, to your faith" - when in reality your faith could be dynamic in an almost infinite numbers of ways.

 

[St. SteVen]

It might be "being", but it might be something else altogether.

It's about what inspires you. The Devil wants to quash your faith, so he says "there is some type of rule, to your faith" - when in reality your faith could be dynamic in an almost infinite numbers of ways.

I think I am starting to follow what you are saying.
Tell us more about this inspiration aspect. Can you cite an example in spiritual maturity?

 

[Gottservant]

I think I am starting to follow what you are saying.
Tell us more about this inspiration aspect. Can you cite an example in spiritual maturity?

The simple example, is going the extra mile. If you think of faith as "works", you are prepared to go one mile, if you are inspired by faith, you are prepared to go an extra mile.

 

[St. SteVen]

The simple example, is going the extra mile. If you think of faith as "works", you are prepared to go one mile, if you are inspired by faith, you are prepared to go an extra mile.

That's good. Thanks.
I now better understand what you are trying to say.

What is the difference between the believer that goes a mile and the one that goes the extra mile?
What did the extra mile represent in that day?

 

[Behold]

That's good. Thanks.
I now better understand what you are trying to say.

What is the difference between the believer that goes a mile and the one that goes the extra mile?
What did the extra mile represent in that day?

One is more Yielded to God is the "spiritual" answer, but it could be something like this........


- A young pastor and his wife, ... are staying in a new town for a few days..., hoping to get the Job at a small church who's Pastor moved on to heaven.
So, for 2 Sundays in a row, morning and night service, the Young Pastor came in, and "preached up a storm" as His Smiling pretty wife with her overly whitened teeth shook hands till she was arm weary and yet still looked pretty in pink and white.

They were told on the 2nd Sunday night after the service by the Treasurer...that ..,"we'll let you know something this week".

On Thursday, the young couple's phone rang in their Hotel, and they were told by the Church Treasurer, ..."if you want the Pulpit, we feel that God would have this as His divine will..... what do you say""".

The young Pastor.... now pausing for effect said....."well, im humbled that you would even consider me......so..... what i need to do, is pray about it, and seek God, so that i feel the same leading as you do, which confirms that we are all in God's Will"..... So, He hung up.

His wife was looking at him from across the Hotel room, and he was smiling a big wide smile.....and she said...."well''?

And he relied.....""""We Got it !! ""



""""By their fruit you shall know them, Hallelujah Hallelujah all the Angels sang""

 

[Gottservant]

That's good. Thanks.
I now better understand what you are trying to say.

What is the difference between the believer that goes a mile and the one that goes the extra mile?
What did the extra mile represent in that day?

I think what is probably more accurate, is that some Christians will go one and a half miles - saying "oh no! When Jesus said 'extra' He meant, additional in general" - you see they are twisting His words.

Saying faith is "not of works", is not meant to mean 'inspiration takes a back seat'. If anything faith not being 'of works', should mean we have greater inspiration. As Jesus said "greater works disciples will do, because I go to the Father". If we do "greater works" how is it that our faith is not inspired? Greatest work, comes by the seed of inspiration.

I think what I need to do about this, is pray, actually. I appreciate your attention, in this respect.

 

[MatthewG]

It's good to be - and know what you believe in your heart by knowing the Lord Jesus, and who raised Christ up from the dead.

It really does make a world of difference, in my opinion.

It should be encouraged to others to read their bible of course (i feel in a setting like this) there are those who may struggle, but if they can read and write on here, it may be tough to read the bible but it doesn't eliminate the possibility of doing so.

My mother is 61 years old, and she will let me read the bible to her but she doesn't read it herself and that is fine, however, she misses out on building up on the foundation of Christ, though she is a confessed believer in the heart of God raising Christ up from the dead.

The more you grow and learn, the more you are conformed in the image of Christ - however it's so important to do it properly, because not everything written with-in the bible is directly stated as something you must do but is actually talking to the people at the time, and there has to be a distinguishing factor between the two - while teaching. There times when I stop and explain to my mother these concepts cause not everything was written for us, like predestination dealt with primarily God chosen nation of Israel, and not "every single person in the world today".

 

[St. SteVen]

I noticed a LIKE reaction to this topic OP.

I had forgotten all about this topic.

Are you a human DOING, or a human BEING?

 

[St. SteVen]

From the OP

All the stuff we do to be Christians. The expectations... (sigh)
I thought salvation was a free gift, until I learned that it will cost me everything. (sigh)
This isn't what I signed up for. (Grr...)

- Did you have your quiet time devotions this morning? (shame)
- Did you study your Bible today? (shame)
- Did you witness to someone about Jesus today? (shame)
- Did you make it to church on Sunday morning? (shame)
- How is your scripture memory program? (shame)
- Did you sign up for that project at church? (shame)
- How much time did you spend in prayer today? (shame)
- Are you going on the mission trip this year? (shame)

And on and on it goes...

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with these things.
But is this what spiritual maturity is about?
Seems more like a hamster wheel of activity. Going nowhere...

Jesus said to rest in him. That his yoke is easy, his burden is light.
That doesn't seem to level with the list the church gave you.

Maybe the Christian life is more about being than doing?
After all, you are a human being, not a human doing.

Ask yourself...
What does it mean to BE a Christian? (or Christ follower, if you prefer)

Maybe you need a day off from DOING, and a day on of BEING.

]

 

[Lambano]

 

[Lambano]

 

[Behold]

What does it mean to BE a Christian? (or Christ follower, if you prefer)



]

"following Christ" is not to be a "Christian.... its to be a follower.


A.) Being born again "IN Christ" is to "be a Christian".

God does not make "Followers"

God makes : CHRISTians

 

[Wynona]

From the OP

All the stuff we do to be Christians. The expectations... (sigh)
I thought salvation was a free gift, until I learned that it will cost me everything. (sigh)
This isn't what I signed up for. (Grr...)

- Did you have your quiet time devotions this morning? (shame)
- Did you study your Bible today? (shame)
- Did you witness to someone about Jesus today? (shame)
- Did you make it to church on Sunday morning? (shame)
- How is your scripture memory program? (shame)
- Did you sign up for that project at church? (shame)
- How much time did you spend in prayer today? (shame)
- Are you going on the mission trip this year? (shame)

And on and on it goes...

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with these things.
But is this what spiritual maturity is about?
Seems more like a hamster wheel of activity. Going nowhere...

Jesus said to rest in him. That his yoke is easy, his burden is light.
That doesn't seem to level with the list the church gave you.

Maybe the Christian life is more about being than doing?
After all, you are a human being, not a human doing.

Ask yourself...
What does it mean to BE a Christian? (or Christ follower, if you prefer)

Maybe you need a day off from DOING, and a day on of BEING.

]

What does "being more than doing" look like? And how would you define spiritual maturity?

 

[Ritajanice]

Ephesians 4:1–16
English Standard Version ​

Unity in the Body of Christ
4 I therefore, ma prisoner for the Lord, urge you to nwalk in a manner worthy of othe calling to which you have been called, 2 with all phumility and qgentleness, with rpatience, sbearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in tthe bond of peace. 4 There is uone body and vone Spirit—just as you were called to the one whope that belongs to your call— 5 xone Lord, yone faith, zone baptism, 6 aone God and Father of all, bwho is over all and through all and in all. 7 But cgrace was given dto each one of us eaccording to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,
f“When he ascended on high ghe led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”1
9 (hIn saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into ithe lower regions, the earth?2 10 He who descended is the one who also jascended kfar above all the heavens, that he might lfill all things.) 11 And mhe gave the napostles, the prophets, the oevangelists, the pshepherds3 and teachers,4 12 qto equip the saints for the work of ministry, for rbuilding up sthe body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to tthe unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, uto mature manhood,5 to the measure of the stature of vthe fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, wtossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in xdeceitful schemes. 15 Rather, yspeaking the truth in love, we are to zgrow up in every way into him who is athe head, into Christ, 16 bfrom whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, cwhen each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

 

[St. SteVen]

What does "being more than doing" look like? And how would you define spiritual maturity?

We are human beings, not human doings.
Who we are in Christ is primary to what we do. The doing should flow out of the being. That is real maturity.

]

 

[quietthinker]

What does "being more than doing" look like? And how would you define spiritual maturity?

Ahhhhh, the mystery, the secret or is it so close to the coal face its messy....ie, self sacrifice!