Comments on: The Lie About Spiritual Growth

By: Tom Merchant

Tom Merchant — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:13:04 +0000

Spiritual growth requires spiritual discipline. What that means is that we have to work at it. It means being in the Word everyday. It means being in prayer and spending time meditating on the Word. We can’t wait for the proverbial bolt of lightning to percipitate spiritual growth. It’s easy to be a Christian when things are going well. It’s when things are in the toilet and our faith is being tested that we have the greatest opportunity for growth.

By: David Morris

David Morris — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:13:19 +0000

Thanks for the post. I absolutely need grace everyday a lot more than I need growth. I tend to think the idea of growth is elusive. What one needs to grow into depends on the situation they are in, the stage of life, the place, the people. But more than that, we are by nature people with foibles. One can learn to better manage them, but strangely, new ones can often come into play. You might think you are older and wiser to some, but to others you are only more set in your ways. I often think of the example of Mother Teresa, who struggled mightily with doubt, almost more so, as she became older.

By: karen swank

karen swank — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:12:32 +0000

I guess I don’t really see this piece as promoting inactivity. I see it as letting go of the need to unceasingly stop and measure from day-to-day how our progress is going.

And on that, I agree with Russ whole-heartedly. The things God teaches me amidst the falling down, falling short, and feeling like I will absolutely never get it right…well, they accumulate beautifully into real growth over time…measured more like year-to-year than moment-to-moment.

It’s a hard thing, letting go of constant in-the-moment measuring, because it feels like weakness. And I suppose in a way it IS – it is acknowledging that I am not the one working the miracle in my life…He is.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:08:45 +0000

Russ:

I get your point and upon quick observation, I have to disagree with the idea that some in the church have “overrated the concept of spiritual growth.” Paul tells Timothy that faith is something to pursue – it is in the activity that we grow.

Throughout Hebrews chapter 11 we are presented with example upon example of the blessings provided those who acted on faith – again, this is a pursuit not something “only received.”

Plenty of people make the mistake of measuring their spiritual growth in order to hold themselves in a high regard. In this, there is a lack of humility so one can challenge the idea of spiritual growth as merely being a growth in knowledge. But to believe that growing in faith is innactivity on our part misses the point.